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Scooter Indy 500 (feet) teaches valuable skills
When the Indy 500 came to Qualicum Beach on Thursday, there wasn’t a winner and there was nobody travelling at 300 kilometres per hour — or even close to it.
In fact, it wasn’t race cars, but rather scooters, the top speed reached was barely above that of a brisk walk, the course was not 500 miles, but rather, 500 feet and the overall goal wasn’t glory, but public safety. The event, once known as the Scooter Rodeo, was held at The Gardens in Qualicum Beach, took a Nascar theme this time around, said organizer Surjit Jhaj.
“We want to raise awareness of safe driving around the community and to learn the skills of driving safely around the streets.”
RCMP Constable Pam Bolton stressed the need for scooter users to remember that when they’re on their scooters they need to think and act like a pedestrian, which is what they are considered under the law. As well, she noted the need for riders to ensure they are highly visible, citing the flags commonly used on scooters as a good idea.
“Truck drivers are much higher than you, so you need to make yourself seen,” Bolton said.
The 18 participants then took their turns navigating an obstacle course, which included stops, starts and sharp curves. The event was sponsored by Vancouver Island Insurance Centres, Pharmasave, The Gardens in Qualicum Beach, the RCMP and Quality Foods. | <urn:uuid:47fc2dc6-98fe-49d4-9e86-8cb912c5464e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pqbnews.com/lifestyles/127270973.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97665 | 320 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Ever seen a rainbow with wings? That's how many people describe the beautiful and colorful Scarlet Chested Parakeet. Hailing from Australia, these birds have quickly become popular pets in homes all over the world in recent years.
To learn more about these intriguing little birds, check out my article on Scarlet Chested Parakeets as Pets. It discusses not only the origin and history of these little feathered beauties, but their temperament, diet, and exercise requirements as well. You may decide that the Scarlet Chested Parakeet is exactly what you've been looking for in a bird! | <urn:uuid:4a909643-661c-4021-a3a3-a6b5162959f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://birds.about.com/b/2013/02/18/scarletchestedparakeets.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952904 | 121 | 1.734375 | 2 |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- A commemorative license plate for the New York Giants was unveiled hours after their Super Bowl victory.
But two lawmakers say a similar tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks is long overdue and shouldn't take a back seat to millionaire athletes.
On Thursday, Assemblyman James Tedisco and Sen. Kenneth LaValle reintroduced a bill to create a license plate to honor the first responders and victims of the terrorist attacks.
The Giants plate was issued despite a 2004 moratorium on new commemorative plates in New York. The moratorium was issued in part because of a First Amendment lawsuit over a "Choose Life" plate.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration says the new commemorative plates don't violate the moratorium because they are a reworking of a 1987 Giants Super Bowl plate. | <urn:uuid:e12aa2b4-9b42-4731-9c3c-cd12ca8e4851> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.daily-jeff.com/ap%20sports/2012/02/09/pols-9-11-deserves-license-plate-before-ny-giants | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943232 | 170 | 1.585938 | 2 |
By maintaining this statewide collaborative program, the department hopes to encourage continued support of the citizens in the department’s pursuit of safer roadways for motorists and their families.
The grant from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety will fund 40 percent of the salaries for one officer and a sergeant, and Henry County will be responsible for 60 percent of their pay, as well as 100 percent of two additional in-kind officers.
The department has enjoyed a long-time partnership with the department of highway safety in enforcing speeding, safety restrain, and DUI laws on the county’s local, state route and interstate roadways.
Unit officers also heavily promote educational awareness for motorists through safety and road checks, school and community support visits and as instructors in the department’s Citizen’s Police Academy.
The grant began on Oct. 1, 2012 and runs through Sept. 30, 2013. The officers involved in the project are Sgt. Scott Cumbie and veteran officers Kelly Horne, T.R. Williams and Robert Butera. One hundred percent of their time is devoted to making the roadways of the county safer for citizens, employees and visitors.
Their time-in-service is designed to maximize motorists’ safety assurances through saturated patrols, road checks and priority patrol in areas noted for injuries and fatalities.
The Henry County Police Department is pleased to announce this opportunity to maintain the statewide partnership with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and other local law enforcement agencies in our continuing effort to save lives and reduce injuries and fatalities on Henry County and Georgia highways. | <urn:uuid:0c73ce7d-ba12-42b1-b7e8-ab28d6b81215> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.neighbornewspapers.com/view/full_story/21842598/article-Henry-County-police-continues-DUI-focus-with-funds?instance=henry | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960838 | 325 | 1.664063 | 2 |
The ‘Palestine Papers’ being published this week by al-Jazeera confirm in every detail what many Palestinians have suspected for a long time: their leaders have been collaborating in the most shameful fashion with Israel and the United States. Their grovelling is described in grim detail. The process, though few accepted it at the time, began with the much-trumpeted Oslo Accords, described by Edward Said in the LRB at the time as a ‘Palestinian Versailles’. Even he would have been taken aback by the sheer scale of what the PLO leadership agreed to surrender: virtually everything except their own salaries. Their weaknesses, inadequacies and cravenness are now in the public domain.
Now we know that the capitulation was total, but still the Israeli overlords of the PLO refused to sign a deal and their friends in the press blamed the Palestinians for being too difficult. They wanted Palestine to be crushed before they would agree to underwrite a few moth-eaten protectorates that they would supervise indefinitely. They wanted Hamas destroyed. The PLO agreed. The recent assault on Gaza was carried out with the approval of Abbas and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, not to mention Washington and its EU. The PLO sold out in a literal sense. They were bought with money and treated like servants. There is TV footage of Ehud Barak and Bill Clinton at Camp David playfully tugging at Arafat’s headgear to stop him leaving. All three are laughing. Many PLO supporters in Palestine must be weeping as they watch al-Jazeera and take in the scale of the betrayal and the utter cynicism of their leaders. Now we know why the Israel/US/EU nexus was so keen to disregard the outcome of the Palestinian elections and try to destroy Hamas militarily.
The two-state solution is now dead and buried by Israel and the PLO. Impossible for anyone (even the BBC) to pretend that there can be an independent Palestinian state. A long crapulent depression is bound to envelop occupied Palestine, but whether Israel likes it or not there will one day be a single state in the region, probably by the end of this century. That is the only possible solution, apart from genocide. | <urn:uuid:2e1fe17e-38f4-4a4d-af66-9b236db6f576> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2011/01/24/tariq-ali/total-capitulation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973596 | 459 | 1.71875 | 2 |
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Issue 1 featured God, who had become the greatest star of the times due to His incredibly popular Creation of the Universe, with His photograph given pride of place on the front cover. By issue 2, published shortly afterwards, the magazine was already concentrating on the sensational celebrity news - the magazine paid several million dollars for exclusive rights to publish photographs of Adam and Eve's newly redesigned garden - and had adopted the easily-recognised format that, alongside its Spanish sister publication ¡LA BIBLIA!, now sells millions of copies every year. However, it was with the April 3rd, 33 CE issue that the magazine really took off, soon becoming the best-selling magazine in the world and within just a few years it was available in hundreds of different languages around the globe.
- ↑ A spokesperson from the magazine is quick to defend this seemingly exorbitant cost: "It may seem a lot, but hey - this is Adam and Eve we're talking about here. They're A-list, the sort of celebs who are so famous they don't even need a surname, like Madonna and... er... Plastic Bertrand."
edit Notable Issues and Stories
edit The Crucifixion Issue
|Part of a series of articles on|
Even though no new issues have been printed for 1,850 years, BIBLE! remains the most popular magazine in the world today with global readership of some 2.1 billion people, outstripping its closest rival KORAN! by around three quarters of a billion. With so many issues sold, the publication is able to pay high prices to celebrities in return for exclusive material and photographs that have allowed it, on several occasions, to be the first to publish stories that went on to become global phenomena.
One example of this is the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in 30 CE, a story broken by BIBLE! in an issue devoted almost entirely to the event and featuring an interview with Christ on the Cross, with graphic photographs that proved to be the source of some controversy after complaints from the American Decency Association in the USA and British
pain in the arse decency campaigner Mary Whitehouse, who famously described the images as being "akin to the sort of thing you see only in the most hardcore and illegal-outside-the-Netherlands sado-masochist porn magazines...which I've never seen, of course." However, despite their efforts, courts found in favour of BIBLE! and as a result the magazine continues to be openly sold on the lower racks in shops (unlike adult-themed "top shelf" publications) and does not appear in "plain cover" versions as is common with other titles that may include objectionable content; despite comments from the judge presiding over the ADA and Mary Whitehouse v. BIBLE! case stating that the magazine features content of the sort unavailable in any legal British or US pornography.
Despite this, the issue proved to be a great success with readership climbing from a previous figure of a few hundred thousand - mostly confined to present day Israel - to the figures it enjoys today.
- ↑ His Lordship Justice Penfold-Farquhar, presiding judge during the case, summed up the court's findings thus: "Never before had I been aware that such shocking, degrading, perverse and vile filth was so easily available. So, erm, thanks for the heads-up, guys - this is going to save me a fortune. Dungeon of Sins Monthly went up to 30 Euros per issue last month."
edit The Pastoral Epistles
During 95 CE, BIBLE! editors made a notable break with tradition. Prior to this date, the publication had remained highly respectful of the celebrities it relied upon as a source of material and as such had not resorted to the invasive treatment of their privacy as is common among modern paparazzi. However, in the wake of Christ's second - and more permanent - death in 36 CE, the magazine found readership figures dropped sharply as vast numbers of fans were drawn away to newer titles such as Popular Cainitism, Carpocratianism Today, Thomasine Digest and various other publications that briefly flourished at the time and thus it was decided to publish a series of letters penned by teenage heart-throb Paul of Tarsus who had been voted Hottest Pharisee of the 1st Century by readers of Hasmonean Dynasty magazine after his "Mad Maximus" film series topped charts throughout the Ancient Mediterranean nations. These three letters, personal messages to Paul's close friends the saints Timothy and Titus , had been retrieved by a freelance journalist from among trash left out for collection at the million dollar mansion Paul purchased using the proceeds of his acting success - BIBLE! still refuses to state the journalist's name, saying it guaranteed anonymity as part of a deal in which it admits it paid over half a million dollars.
BIBLE!'s editor realised immediately that the letters, which later became known as the Pastoral Epistles were absolute dynamite, containing as they did a selection of the star's private opinions of well-known bishops, saints and church builders of the day and, in the letter to Titus, some highly questionable and apparently racist statements about Cretans - Crete was in those days the site of the enormous annual Apostlefest film festival and the majority of the 150,000 people who had bought tickets for that year's event had done so primarily because Paul's latest film, "Mad Maximus - Beyond the Thunderamphitheatre" was due to receive its world premiere there and, if the organisers decided not to allow the showing to go ahead, it could well have finished off his career once and for all.
For this reason, the title's managerial staff were at first uncertain as to whether or not they should publish the epistles - if they didn't, they would protect both Paul's future popularity and their own image as a decent and respectful magazine, but if they did they would see their weekly sales figures skyrocket, driving the newer rivals from the newstands into obscurity while making themselves rich beyond their wildest dreams. After a board meeting that lasted almost ten seconds and having taken advice from the company's legal department, they came to an agonised decision - publish and be damned. The effect was electric - within hours of going on sale, the issue had sold out and the company eventually had to run presses twenty fours hours a day in order to keep up with demand. Meanwhile, sales figures of rival publications plummeted, with Carpocratianism Today - which usually sold around 300,000 copies in Egypt alone and several million throughout the Mediterranean region - recording total sales for the week of zero and filing for bankruptcy shortly afterwards as a result.
- ↑ Whom Paul had personally circumcised - it's amazing what a true friend will do for you.
- ↑ Whom Paul refused to circumcise because he was a gentile, the putz.
- ↑ Because "Some Letters One Of Our Grubby Agents Pilfered Out Of A Trashcan, Proving Us To Be The Filthy Parasites That We Are" was said to lack glamour.
- ↑ It is said that the resultant article's co-writer, Joseph of Bethsura, made so much money from the piece and the subsequent book deal that he was bale to purchase a flock of 38 goats - and they were fucking nice ones, too.
- ↑ "It's, like, totally in the public interest so nobody can sue you. Oh, by the way, with the massively increased income you'll be getting, we might need to put our fees up just a tiny little bit."
edit Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Due to the enormous success of their rock and roll band The Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the best-known - and perhaps even the most loved - people in the Middle East circa the second half of the 1st Century CE after Jesus Christ Himself, and a string of ubiquitously popular records saw to it that posters of their faces were pinned to the bedroom wall of every teenage girl (and quite a few of their mothers) in Christendom. Cashing in on the band's success, BIBLE! soon formed a sort of symbiotic relationship with them which saw to it that the magazine found a new, younger audience while the lovable Halo Tops (as they were affectionately known) received even more exposure.
- ↑ Not on the walls of teenage boys and fathers, however. Homosexuality was unknown at the time, having not been invented until the 1880s by Oscar Wilde.
- ↑ Though it must be admitted that, at the time, Christendom was a considerably smaller place than it is at present despite an aggressive guerrilla advertising and internet spam campaign conducted by Christ's marketing team.
edit Moses and The Israelites
Many years prior to BIBLE!'s relationship with The Apostles, the magazine had formed a deal with The Israelites, a rock group fronted by charismatic lead singer Moses in 1450 BCE. The group had, some time previously, signed a record deal with Pharaoh Records of Egypt but had since become unhappy with the contract and wished to end the deal, citing Restraint of Trade as their reason. However, as The Israelites were one of the best-selling acts of the period Pharaoh Records was unwilling to end the contract amicably, leading to a long and protracted lawsuit during which The Israelites claimed that the terms of the contract bound them for the remainder of their recording career to the label, effectively making them little more than Pharaoh's slaves. Eventually, Moses decided that if the deal could not be brought to an end, the band would simply refuse to produce new material or perform either live or in the studio. In an attempt to soften the band's attitude, Pharaoh offered to change the terms, allowing the band greater freedom but, when Moses agreed to this, the label without warning changed their minds and returned to the original contract. This was to be repeated ten times as the two parties battled it out in the courts until The Israelites delivered a signed statement to Pharoah's legal team from First Born Son, the other chart-topping band on Pharaoh's books, saying that they too would leave Pharaoh unless The Israelites' demands were met. Realising that if they continued to hold out against The Israelite's demands they would lose both their most profitable acts, Pharoah relented and finally agreed to bring the contract to a premature termination, allowing the Israelites to go free.
Moses and The Israelites celebrated their new freedom by recording an album entitled Passover, including a free advertisement for BIBLE! on the cover in recognition of the magazine's unwavering support during the lawsuit, in commemoration of their historic victory. In return, BIBLE! wrote up the story in great detail and devoted an entire issue, known as EXODUS! to collectors, to it. Passover remains a great commercial success to this day, and has been re-released every year since then.
- ↑ Similarities between this issue and TORAH!'s PESACH HAGGADAH! special issue formed the basis of much of the plagiarism claims to come later.
edit Special Collector's Issues
From time to time, BIBLE! printed special issues that frequently fetch very high prices at auction after a few years. The rarest - and hence, most valuable - of these are the highly collectible are the so-called Apocrypha, printed in very limited numbers and not included in the majority of the compendium issues available today. These issues contain obscure facts about celebrities in which only the most avid fans could possibly have any interest. One example of this is the highly sought-after Clementine Vulgate issue, which features an article entitled the Prayer of Manasseh, outlining in full a series of torrid details concerning the life of King Manasseh whose notoriously idolatrous ways made him the subject of great public scorn and infamy during the 7th Century BCE Manasseh's lawyers were successful in preventing BIBLE! from printing further copies of this issue despite considerable public demand for the lurid details contained therein, though interest tailed off somewhat following Manasseh's rejection of his wicked ways in later life.
Another, slightly different, example would be the legendary REVELATIONS! issue penned by staff journalist Saint John of Patmos, the magazine's science and future developments writer, which was originally published as a one-off special edition for Halloween 95 CE . In it, John took a close look at the society and current trends of his time before making a series of predictions about events he foresaw taking place in years to come, including the emergence of a number of highly colourful characters such as a beast from the land, another beast from the sea, an assortment of angels, various strange creatures and - most notably - a woman clothed with the sun. Historians and others with an interest in the article have for many years put forward diverse theories as to what the fuck he was going on about but, to date, nobody has come up with any persuasive explanations. Recent archival discoveries suggesting that Saint John would often pick wild mushrooms from the hills at Golgotha and consume them without first checking the wisdom of so doing in a reliable reference book have only confused matters further, while attracting a number of non-scientific commentators with their own rather bizarre theories to the debate.
- ↑ Or frightening, frankly.
- ↑ Indeed, so shocking was his behaviour that modern historians have dubbed the king "the Marilyn Manson of 7th Century BCE Judah," likening him to the American shock rock singer (only not quite so much of a twat).
- ↑ Two years later, Saint John penned a follow-up article named "My Drugs Hell - I Was Out Of My Skull And Incoherent When I Wrote Revelations."
edit Plagiarism Claims
Many people have noted what appear to be a large number of similarities between early issues of BIBLE!, published prior to December 25th, 5 BCE, and arch rival publication TORAH!. Earlier attempts by BIBLE! to silence these claims have been criticised by some as heavy handed and an uneasy truce exists between the two publications today, though faithful BIBLE! readers - such as members of the magazine's fanclub, known as the KKK - have been accused of utilising unnecessarily harsh methods in an attempt to persuade TORAH! readers to switch allegiance.
- ↑ See BIBLE! v. TORAH! (various cases, 0 CE to present), the notorious Pogrom lawsuits and Just About Everyone v. The Jewish People (ongoing).
edit Publishing Rights Infringement
BIBLE! has long been involved in a drawn-out legal battle with bitter rivals Gideons International, a group that it alleges makes illegal copies of its publications for free distribution in hotels, hospitals and other places where people might be so bored they'll read absolutely anything. However, Gideons argues that the copyright covering BIBLE! publications has not been renewed in over one and a half millennia, making all of the organisation's output - even newly published material - effectively public domain and uncopyrighted. BIBLE! executives are believed to be currently involved in discussion with the magazine's lawyers in preparation for the next round of this ongoing dispute.
edit The Future
All rights to the trademark BIBLE! remain under the control of BIBLE! International plc which, for many years, has been hinting that at some future date the magazine will go back into circulation with new and original stories. At present, the exact date - if one has been set - remains a close company secret. Various dates have been put forward, often based on "leaked documents" claimed to have been smuggled out of BIBLE! headquarters, but since these dates have passed it is to be assumed that the documents were forgeries. Meanwhile, a brief Internet search will reveal a host of future dates; but whether or not any of these will prove to be any less of a load of bullshit only time will tell. The only certainty is that, with rival magazine QURAN! increasing its readership figures each and every week, BIBLE! is going to have to do something very soon or risk being forgotten.
edit See Also
| Cream of the Crap|
This article was one of the Top 10 articles of 2010. | <urn:uuid:86098eef-322f-4769-a9b4-2eec0fb49417> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/BIBLE! | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973041 | 3,356 | 1.632813 | 2 |
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has condemned the attacks on the British embassy on 2 April, calling them “an act of vandalism” rather than a “social protest.”
The president issued the statement today at the inauguration of the Bariloche airport. She noted that they “do not represent the policy in a time of absolute democracy” and that there is “no need to burn flags.”
“I am extremely aware that both governments have seen great progress in democratic rights,” she stated. “These groups have arisen suddenly and so violently that they are not representative of Argentina, but of opposing interests.”<
The 2nd April marked the 30-year anniversary of the beginning of the Malvinas/Falklands War. Protestors threw firebombs; police responded with water cannons.
It was reported in several publications that hundreds of members of the left-leaning groups Quebracho, Revolutionary Communist Party (PCR), and the Popular Student and Anti-imperialist (CEPA) movement were involved. However, a spokesperson from Quebracho denied their involvement.
President Fernández de Kirchner also called on judges to follow the penal code and act accordingly.
“They are not protests, but acts of provocation – but we will not give into that,” she said. | <urn:uuid:c72f61f2-3c5e-493c-9ebb-8205bf282310> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.argentinaindependent.com/currentaffairs/newsfromargentina/argentine-president-condemns-attacks-on-british-embassy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967833 | 287 | 1.554688 | 2 |
From 4-6 May, the Asia Regional Meeting on Interventions for Impact in Essential Obstetric and Newborn Care is being held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with an opening ceremony and optional supplementary sessions on 3 May 2012. Organized by the Government of Bangladesh, MCHIP, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-supported Oxytocin Initiative, in collaboration with Women Deliver, VSI, FIGO, and ICM, this three-day meeting will focus on postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), pre-eclampsia/ eclampsia (PE/E) and other aspects of maternal and newborn health.
For more information on the conference, click here. A live webcast begins May 4th, and related resources -- included presentations -- can be found here. Please also connect with the conference via Facebook and Twitter!
Below is the first of a series of blogs from conference attendees. Please find other blogs in the series by:
Ms. Alice Levisay on expectations of the conference,
Dr. Jeffrey Smith on a decade of maternal health successes and the challenges ahead, Rae Galloway and Dr. Justine Kavle on introducing and implementing calcium supplementation to prevent pre-eclampsia, and
Dr. Nuriye Hodoglugil on misoprostol use and acceptance.
On International Day of the Midwife, May 5th, conference attendees will hear from Ms. Pashtoon Azfar, the Asia Regional Midwife Advisor for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). Growing up in Afghanistan, Ms. Azfar knew from a young age that she wanted to be a midwife. “Women in my country are suffering from different miseries such as illiteracy, isolation and domestic violence,” she says, “which consequently and directly contribute to their health problems.”
Ms. Azfar completed her midwifery education before the Communist regime in Afghanistan, when midwifery training in the country followed global standards. But after the late 1970s, she says, nursing and midwifery education—like many other aspects of Afghan society—deteriorated quickly. And during the Taliban regime, they completely collapsed.
In 2002, the Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan, with the support of its development partners such as USAID, the United Nations and many others identified strategies to address the alarmingly high maternal mortality rate in the country. These strategies included strengthening the midwifery education program and establishing a community midwifery education program. As a result, a competency based community midwifery education program was started that includes a unique feature—a pre-planned deployment plan in which students are selected and deployed back to the communities where they live and where their help is needed most.
This program has proved to be one of the most successful initiatives of the Ministry of Public Health. Afghanistan now has more than 3,000 midwives and a very strong Afghanistan Midwives Association. Ms. Azfar established the Association with only 15 midwives; now the membership has grown more than 2,000 and is now considered to be one of the strongest associations in the region.
Below, Ms. Azfar talks about the role and importance of midwifery in maternal health today, and the challenges they face going forward.
Midwives are important and valued caregivers. They work hand-in-hand with mothers, considering their needs and practicing in a birth setting that meets mothers’ needs – whether in a hospital, birth center, or their home. Midwives also act as the only bridge between the community and the facility, serving as a kind of emotional support for mothers and their families. They are a main source of maternal and child health at the community level, and are also the ones who approach mothers to seek health care services at the facility.
In Afghanistan, midwives provide high-quality midwifery care and play the leading role in maternal health. Their services are cost effective and, because they live in the communities they serve, are also accessible and accepted by the entire community.
Midwives not only save lives, they also provide routine care to keep women and their babies healthy. To ensure that every woman has a qualified and competent provider by her side when she gives birth, we must continue to improve midwifery education and the enabling environment, create mentorship programs for new graduates, and provide supportive supervision. These efforts will help us to increase the number of midwives and guarantee their retention the health system.
Preventing the needless deaths of women is complex and involves a number of factors—security, poverty, illiteracy and inaccessibility to the health care services among them. We must address financial and cultural barriers, and increase awareness related to pregnancy complications.
But we must also recognize midwifery as an autonomous profession, not just one overshadowed by nursing. ICM and the United Nations Population Fund are working toward this goal by strengthening all three pillars of the profession: education, regulation and professional association. Midwives also need policy support, the authority to prescribe essential medicine according to their competencies, opportunities for professional development, and the right to be involved at decision-making forums/levels.
By providing continued education, equipment, and a safe work and enabling environment, we will not only improve the quality of our midwives, but also the quality of maternal health.
International Confederation of Midwives
Regional Midwife Advisor/Asia | <urn:uuid:5efbe066-d35a-46d4-8195-84ee77b94c10> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mchip.net/node/1021 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954711 | 1,116 | 1.617188 | 2 |
|FSMC, TITLE 20. AERONAUTICS|
Chapter 12: Federated States of Micronesia
§ 1201. Short title.
§ 1202. Establishment of Corporation.
§ 1203. Powers and responsibilities of the Corporation.
§ 1204. Legal capacity of the Corporation.
§ 1205. Debts and obligations of the Corporation.
§ 1206. Tax liability.
§ 1207. Board of Directors - Establishment.
§ 1208. Board of Directors - Composition.
§ 1209. Board of Directors - Organizational meeting.
§ 1210. Board of Directors - Terms of office.
§ 1211. Board of Directors - Vacancies.
§ 1212. Board of Directors - Removal.
§ 1213. Board of Directors - Officers.
§ 1214. Board of Directors - Regular meetings.
§ 1215. Board of Directors - Special meetings.
§ 1216. Board of Directors - Quorum.
§ 1217. Board of Directors - Executive committee - Establishment; Meetings.
§ 1218. Board of Directors - Executive committee - Powers.
§ 1219. Board of Directors - Record of meetings.
§ 1220. Board of Directors - Compensation of directors.
§ 1221. Management.
§ 1222. Budget and finance officer.
§ 1223. Budget preparation.
§ 1224. Supplemental budget requests.
§ 1225. Accounts and records.
This chapter may be cited as the "Federated States of Micronesia Airline Corporation Act of 1987."
Source: PL 4-101 § 1.
The Federated States of Micronesia Airline Corporation is hereby established as a public corporation under the laws of the Federated States of Micronesia. It may be hereinafter referred to as the "the Corporation."
Source: PL 4-101 § 2.
The Corporation has the following powers and responsibilities:
(1) to be the flag carrier of the Federated States of Micronesia, providing air transportation services throughout the Nation;
(2) to contract with domestic and foreign persons and corporations for the provisions of aircraft and services;
(3) to operate international and domestic air transportation services;
(4) to train citizens as pilots and for other related professions;
(5) to act as a "Freely Associated State Air Carrier" within the meaning of the Federal Program and Services Agreement concluded pursuant to the Compact of Free Association;
(6) to engage in support activities; including, but not limited to, freight terminal and delivery activities and passenger services; and
(7) to enter into joint ventures with other entities in order to effectuate its operations.
Source: PL 4-101 § 3.
In performing the functions authorized by this chapter or other law of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Corporation shall have the capacity to exercise all powers normally exercised by a corporation, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) to adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal;
(2) to adopt and amend bylaws governing the conduct of its business and the exercise of its powers;
(3) to sue and be sued in its corporate name;
(4) to acquire, in any lawful manner, real, personal, or mixed property, either tangible or intangible; to hold, maintain, use, and operate such property; and to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such property;
(5) to acquire and take over in any lawful manner the business, property, assets, and liabilities of any entity;
(6) to borrow or raise any sum or sums of money and to issue corporate bonds on such security and upon such terms as may from time to time be deemed necessary for the expansion and improvement of air transportation services;
(7) to retain and terminate the services of employees, agents, attorneys, auditors, and independent contractors upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate and;
(8) to do all such other things as may be deemed incidental to or conducive to the attainment of the responsibilities of the Corporation.
Source: PL 4-101 § 4.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the debts and obligations of the Corporation shall not be debts or obligations of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, nor shall the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia be responsible for any debts or obligations.
Source: PL 4-101 § 5.
The Corporation shall exist and operate solely for the benefit of the public and shall be exempt from any taxes or assessments on any of its property, operations, or activities. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to exempt employees and independent contractors of the Corporation from tax liability for services rendered to the Corporation; and the Corporation shall be liable for employers' contributions to the Social Security System of the Federated States of Micronesia in the manner provided by law.
Source: PL 4-101 § 6.
Cross-reference: The statutory provisions on Taxation and Customs are found in title 54 of this code. The statutory provisions on Social Security and Prior Service Benefits are found in title 53 of this code.
The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and its corporate powers exercised by a Board of Directors, hereinafter referred as the "Board."
Source: PL 4-101 § 7; PL 5-25 § 1.
The Board shall be composed of five members. Five members shall be appointed by the President of the Federated States of Micronesia with the advice and consent of the Congress.
Source: PL 4-101 § 8; PL 8-108 § 1.
(1) Within 60 days of the confirmation of all members of the Board, as set forth in section 208 of this chapter, and annually thereafter on such dates as are set by the Board, the Board shall meet to select its officers and to conduct such other business as it shall deem advisable.
(2) At the first such meeting, the appointed members of the Board shall determine by lot of the length of their initial terms, with two members serving initial terms of one year, two serving initial terms of two years, and two serving initial terms of three years.
Source: PL 4-101 § 9, modified.
Terms of office shall be for a period of three years, except that the initial terms of office and the filling of vacancies shall be as provided by this chapter. The terms of office shall commence on the date of the organizational meeting of the Board.
Source: PL 4-101 § 10.
(1) Each vacancy on the Board shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as originally filled. Upon determination that a vacancy exists, the chairman or, in his absence, the presiding officer of the Board shall issue a notice of vacancy to all members of the Board and the parties responsible for filling the vacancy.
(2) Any vacancy occasioned by failure to make a nomination to the Congress or a State legislature prior to the expiration of the previous term, or by failure to submit a nomination within 60 days of receipt of notice that a vacancy exists, or within ten days of receipt of notice of rejection of a nomination, shall be filled by nomination of the Speaker of the Congress or the Speaker of the State legislature, subject to advice and consent of the Congress or the legislature or an authorized committee thereof. The nomination of the President or the Governor shall be entitled to consideration if such nomination is made prior to that of the Speaker.
Source: PL 4-101 § 11, modified.
(1) Members of the Board may be removed from the Board for failure to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board.
(2) A member may be removed by a majority vote of all other members of the Board for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Notification of intent to call for removal pursuant to this subsection shall be made at least 30 days in advance, by means which shall be described in the bylaws of the Corporation, and shall include a summary of the basis of the charges against the member and identification of the witness to be called and evidence to be used.
(3) The Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia shall have jurisdiction to hear claims of wrongful removal.
Source: PL 4-101 § 12, modified.
The Board shall elect from among its members a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary-treasurer. The chairman shall ordinarily preside at Board meetings. In his absence the vice chairman shall preside. The bylaws shall provide for determination of the presiding officer in the absence of these officers.
Source: PL 4-101 § 13.
Regular meetings shall be held not less than once per calendar quarter, at such times and place or places as shall be determined in the bylaws.
Source: PL 4-101 § 14.
Special meetings shall be called by the chairman on his own initiative, or by petition of two of the members, pursuant to notice as shall be provided by the bylaws.
Source: PL 4-101 § 15.
A quorum of all regular business of the Board shall be four members.
Source: PL 4-101 § 16.
There shall be an executive committee of the Board composed of the chairman, vice chairman, and secretary-treasurer, or their individually designated substitutes chosen from among the membership of the Board. The executive committee shall meet with the chief executive officer at least once per calendar quarter at such times and places as shall be determined by the bylaws.
Source: PL 4-101 § 17.
The executive committee shall be empowered to conduct all business of the Board, except that the executive committee shall not have the authority to terminate the services of the chief executive officer, to retain the services of a new chief executive officer, to alter the senior levels of the administrative structure of the Corporation, to approve the budget of the Corporation, or to increase the indebtedness of the Corporation beyond such limits as are provided in the bylaws, without the concurrence of the Board.
Source: PL 4-101 § 18.
The secretary-treasurer, or in his absence another member designated by the bylaws, shall keep full and accurate minutes of all meetings.
Source: PL 4-101 § 19.
Directors who are employees or officials of the National Government or a State government of the Federated States of Micronesia shall receive no additional compensation for their service as members of the Board. The compensation of members who are not Government employees or officials shall be determined by the Board. All members of the Board shall be entitled to compensation for travel and per diem at established Federated States of Micronesia Government rates when serving the Corporation.
Source: PL 4-101 § 20.
There shall be a chief executive officer of the Corporation, whose compensation, title, and term of office shall be determined by the Board. The chief executive officer shall be responsible for the management of the operations of the Corporation, and shall, in accordance with the policies established by the Board, retain, direct, and terminate the services of employees. Subject to the Board's approval, in the event that the chief executive officer is not a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the chief executive officer shall select and train a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia to take over the responsibilities of the chief executive officer as soon as feasible.
Source: PL 4-101 § 21.
The chief executive officer shall appoint, with the concurrence of the Board, a budget and finance officer, for such term as shall be provided in the bylaws of the Corporation. The budget and finance officer shall receive and disburse all funds of the Corporation. The Board may require that the budget and finance officer shall execute, at the expense of the Corporation, a good and sufficient bond with sureties authorized to do business in the Federated States of Micronesia. The budget and finance officer shall serve at all times under the direct supervision of the chief executive officer.
Source: PL 4-101 § 22.
The budget and finance officer shall prepare in advance of each fiscal year, under the supervision of the chief executive officer, an annual budget for the Corporation, taking into consideration anticipated capital and operational expenditures and anticipated revenues. The Corporation shall use the same fiscal calendar as that of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia. The budget shall indicate the operational, capital, and maintenance requirements of the Corporation that will be met with the anticipated revenues of the Corporation, and such essential requirements as cannot be met without increase in the rate of revenues or outside financial assistance.
Source: PL 4-101 § 23.
To the extent that the Corporation deems it necessary and advisable, the Corporation is authorized to seek appropriations from the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, and, to the extent approved by the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, grants from sources outside of the Federated States of Micronesia, of such funds as are necessary to supplement revenues to provide for the operations, maintenance, and expansion of the air transportation system of the Corporation.
Source: PL 4-101 § 24.
(1) The Board and the chief executive officer shall be jointly responsible to ensure that the budget and finance officer establishes and maintains a complete set of accounting records consistent with generally accepted accounting principles pertinent to the nature of the Corporation and its operations.
(2) The Board, not later than 90 days after the close of each governmental fiscal year, shall submit to the President, the Congress, and the Governor and legislature of each State a complete report, including financial statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and standards, showing the activities of the Corporation during the fiscal year, the present condition of the Corporation, and such other matters as the Board shall deem appropriate. Financial statements shall include at least a balance sheet, income statement, statement of changes in financial position, and statement of changes in capital.
(3) The financial statements of the Corporation shall be audited no less frequently than annually by either the Public Auditor or a certified public accountant selected by the Board of Directors.
Source: PL 4-101 § 25. | <urn:uuid:8e868f32-92aa-4de4-ae27-783e84e9fd3f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fsmlaw.org/fsm/code/title20/T20_Ch12.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938041 | 2,930 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Google Has Lost Control Of Android Fragmentation
Fragmentation allows variety among device makers, but can cause frustration for developers and lower satisfaction among end users.
If there's one complaint you hear about Google's Android platform, it is about fragmentation. It happens at the device level, the OS level, with the UI, and even with specific apps and services some carriers or manufacturers use. There are plusses and minuses to all of these, and it looks like Google has lost control, ceding the problems to the licensees.
Microsoft went through this with Windows Mobile starting in about 2005, and it created serious problems as the platform aged. Palm also had fragmentation in the later years of PalmOS, and it caused enough issues that some developers quit developing for the platform. The economics of developing apps has changed radically in the last two years, though, so fragmentation is no longer something that can be avoided. Instead, it must be dealt with.
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As Charlie Kindel's article explains, fragmentation causes problems--but it won't be the death knell for Android.
Let's start with the UI. Users moving from one phone to another may have a very different experience because each manufacturer has customized the interface. Consumers are generally used to a consistent experience across different machines if the platform is the same. Windows computers are built by many manufactures, for example, but the desktop is the same overall. If you have an Android phone and move to another one, it can be a jarring experience to see that new screen for the first time and figure out how to do things with the new phone that were second nature with the old one.
Google is at least trying to alleviate some of the pain here. Manufacturers can put their custom UI on a device, but they are now required to also support the stock Holo theme so the user can revert to that if desired.
Another big issue is that carriers and manufacturers too often fail to provide updates for phones, even though the vast majority of phones are capable of running one, two, or more OS revisions beyond the one it shipped with. Today there are eleven major versions of Android in use on phones and tablets, and probably dozens of sub-versions. Fully 30% run Froyo, which is nearly two years old.
You cannot argue with the success Android has had in the market. But you have to wonder if Android's satisfaction rate, which is around 50%, would be higher if its fragmentation was more tightly controlled. | <urn:uuid:31788812-98ba-44c1-9b35-be404ebe7ee5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/google-has-lost-control-of-android-fragm/232500433?cid=SBX_iwk_related_commentary_Security_windows | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958905 | 510 | 1.765625 | 2 |
This Tuesday October 9th, Noodle is honored to participate in the Education Datapalooza, hosted by the White House and the U.S. Department of Education.
This event will highlight innovators and entrepreneurs in the ed tech field who are using freely available data to build products, services, and apps with the potential to advance educational achievement.
Noodle is particularly excited for this event, as we're getting ready to launch a brand new intiative at this year's Datapalooza! Keep an eye out in your inbox next week as we tell you all about our new tool in our weekly newsletter.
Special guests at this year’s event include U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, Under Secretary of Education for the U.S. Department of Education Martha Kanter and Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education Jim Shelton.
Datapalooza is a follow-up event to this year’s Data Jam, which was held in Washington D.C. in June to kick off project development with developers working in education open data. Datapalooza will allow some of the companies who attended Data Jam to present and demo their tools to an audience at the White House.
If you have to miss the action in person, Datapalooza will be streaming live and will be available to watch online following the event.
And in case you haven’t noticed, here at Noodle we’re all about big data right now (it’s very “in” this season.)
We recently submitted a panel to SXSWedu called, “Is Student Data Education's Next Frontier,” focusing on the use of student data to transform the education system and improve students' success in the classroom.
Public votes count for 30% of the selection process, so we need your help to get to Austin for SXSWedu! Just go to SXSWedu’s panel picker, register, and vote for our panel with one click of a button.
Better be quick - voting ends this Friday at 11:59pm CST! | <urn:uuid:49634ab4-f792-4fe0-ae6a-242b53c9ceec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.noodle.org/noodlings/graduate/noodle-heads-white-house-education-datapalooza | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941331 | 455 | 1.5625 | 2 |
SculptCycle Sculptures Up for Bid
State of the Arts
How refreshing it is to see a business group make a commitment to placing public art around town. That’s exactly what the Montpelier Downtown Community Association has done with the eco-conscious SculptCycle — an outdoor sculpture show that put 20 works made from, yes, recycled bicycle parts all over the capital city’s downtown district this summer. The partnership among the business community, sponsors and artists aimed to promote the reduction of CO2 emissions “by creating art that has a positive environmental impact,” according to the SculptCycle website. No word on how successful that was, but the auxiliary programming sounds like fun, ranging from a helmet-decorating workshop at The ReStore to a bicycle-themed movie series at The Savoy Theater to a number of bike rides.
Now, MDCA is buying “Whirling Dervishes” by local sculptor/jewelry maker Lochlin Smith. Until the group decides on its permanent site, the sculpture — comprising three tall poles with spinning bike wheels — will remain on the roundabout in front of The Lazy Pear Gallery on Main Street. “As a long-range goal, it would be nice to build up Montpelier’s inventory of public art,” says Rob Hitzig, co-owner of the Lazy Pear and vice president of the MDCA. He says the association wanted to see how SculptCycle played out this year before planning another one. Which means it probably won’t be back next summer, but might in 2010. After all, he notes, “The community loved it.”
“Whirling Dervishes” is the second Smith sculpture to wind up with the City of Montpelier — he and local architect Ward Joyce made the metal-and-stone work that extends from the Shoe Horn building over the North Branch River. The pair is credited with a second SculptCycle piece this summer, too — a 600-pound rectangle of crushed bicycle parts, appropriately titled “Squashed Bikes.”
What will happen to the other 19 sculptures? They’re available for sale to the public — that is, through a silent auction that’s going on right now, and a live auction at the T.W. Wood Gallery on October 4 that also sounds like quite the to-do. Vermont Public Radio personality/storyteller Willem Lang will play auctioneer; pianist Michael Arnowitt will perform, including a specially written piece called “Bumpy Ride”; the SculptCycle 2008 winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced (“We’re still collecting ballots,” says Hitzig); and, of course, refreshments will be served by the nearby New England Culinary Institute. Anyone who rides their bike up that hill to Vermont College deserves extra desserts. | <urn:uuid:80a291c8-f5a7-4819-9219-48818e800940> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.7dvt.com/2008sculptcycle-sculptures-bid | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942381 | 616 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Can you help me?
I am struggling to find out what happened to my great grand-uncle Soren JENSEN, a farmhand from Nyrup. He was born 25 April 1840 in Raklev, Holbaek.
Father Jens Christensen
Mother Maren Rasmusdatter.
AO Raklev 1848-1864 Opslag 160 records him as leaving to go to a Kalundborg Parish on 1 May 1857. Thereafter he 'disappears'. Was he conscripted for Military Service and died during the 1864 conflict, or did he simply emigrate (where)? I can find no emigration or death record.
I would be very grateful for any suggestions for further areas of research. Kathy Jensen | <urn:uuid:23b377bf-1749-4667-b674-6c1d7ff6635e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.scan-balt.denmark.counties.vestjalland/25/mb.ashx?pnt=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947438 | 152 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Lions firmly believe that money is there to give them everything they deserve, whether it be a great house, a zippy sports car, or more toys than they can play with. Extravagance is their middle name! They'll find a way to make money, because they surely know how to spend it -- and will. 'There's more where that came from' is never far from the Lion's mind.
Managing money would definitely crimp the Lion's freewheeling style -- hey, these are the folks who originated the champagne and caviar party! The accountant (or partner) can add up the damage. If Leos do overspend, they're generally resourceful enough to get back on track. When things get really bad, a visit will be paid to the banker since the proud Lion could never borrow from a friend. And admit they're not king of the hill? Never!
The Lion's secret to success, however, may be a very generous spirit. These folks would lend their last penny, and since what goes around comes around, they'll always find their way to a few more. Leo knows the cup is half full, and more often than not, their cup runneth over!
Try a free sample of the Big Picture tarot reading and get a look at the possibilities regarding career and finance from Astrology.com. | <urn:uuid:c9300ba0-e49d-4eac-ab7e-2459683c2136> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/3320518/the-leo-and-money | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965652 | 280 | 1.5 | 2 |
Ben Brooks has an excellent post on the continuing trend of making user interfaces for apps for like their real-world counterparts. But Ben argues this is starting to not make sense:
Now, I would guess that most “new” computer users actually don’t know that these things are mimicking their physical counterparts — well they know in the sense that it looks like a physical good, but I doubt they every think: “I used to have a calculator just like this one”.
I have heard the argument before that the idea of having the “Save” icon represented by a floppy disk confuses kids, because most kids under the age of say, 15, have probably not even seen one, let alone used one.
A major focus of the article are the leaked screenshots of iCal in OS X Lion which seem to indicate the UI contains some sort of “torn paper” look at the window. I have seen the screenshots and am definitely in the camp that it’s silly and unnecessary. | <urn:uuid:d4c98928-10b9-42dd-93b5-9750efca8f31> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://berserkhippo.com/2011/04/ben-brooks-says-don%E2%80%99t-mimic-real-world-interfaces/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975018 | 212 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Vannice Hughley hates the thought of seeing a road pass through a historic former park in downtown Chattanooga.
But she knows progress will happen and she can't change that. The president of the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association just wishes the city would listen to the residents' concerns as a new road is built near their homes.
"Are we in on it? No," Hughley said. "Are we up on it? No. Can we do anything about it? No."
Chattanooga is set to start an environmental study in a month on extending Central Avenue to Amnicola Highway. The almost $6 million project would build a road almost a quarter-mile long and create greater access to Erlanger hospital and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Dennis Malone, assistant city engineer, said the residents will be able to voice their opinions at public meetings within the next two months.
He said any ideas they have will be part of the public record.
"They just have to bring their comments to the meeting," he said.
Hughley said one idea residents already have is to have some type of replacement for what used to be Lincoln Park. The road is set to go right through the site of what was once the only park for Chattanooga's black residents.
The park already is mostly a memory. The swimming pool has been filled in, the recreation center abandoned and the old ball fields are unused.
Hughley said local residents might like to have a walking trail and maybe even some picnic tables in the area. But she said the neighborhood association won't have an exact idea of what is wanted until members see "what's left" after the road design.
"We're trying to see what we can do," she said.
Malone said the city will include plans for a walkway and a parking lot and at some point, the plan calls for a connection between the UTC Greenway and the Riverwalk.
The environmental study will take about six months, he said, and then the city will start acquiring property.
"We hope to begin construction by spring 2014," he said.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ... | <urn:uuid:360a9137-8148-4af2-a05e-2bdd74a6044d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/dec/28/environmental-study-next-for-central/?mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977866 | 527 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Well as has already been stated, there are no steadfast rules. They manage to suprise even the most seasoned hunter. But there are a few basic "truths" that you can use to base your strategy on.
Deer like to bed in thick cover that offers multiple escape routes. They also like to bed in areas where they can detect danger at a distance. CRP grass, cedar goves, and brush piles are good examples.
Deer like variety in their diet. White oak acorns are possibly their favorite food, but ag. crops are always good too. In heavy forest, deer often feed the regrowth of clearcuts.
As a general "rule" deer will visit these feeding areas during low light. Sunrise and sunset. In the morning, you can expect them to move from feed to bed and in the evening you can expect them to move from bed to feed. As the rut kicks in (early-mid November) you can expect more daytime movement and more erratic patterns.
I suggest locating several ambush points between bed and feed. If there is water and escape cover nearby, all the better. From the above info, you should be able to "predict" movement. Choose a spot that will allow the deer to approach from the upwind side.
Sit as still and as long as you can. Become an expert withj your chosen wepon and always wait for high-percentage killing shots.
So that's my deer hunting 101. Good luck!
.....nobody ever took a deer while at home watching TV.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest | <urn:uuid:e55f9c58-7513-4053-8495-b88ebd780279> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=16208 | 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 | 0.969551 | 333 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Questioning women: Inquiring minds / meaningful looks
March is Women’s History Month, and currently two of the brightest art sparks in town are either femme-powered or femme-focused. In the case of the former, seven women artists and art historians are fostering intellectual inquiry into all things art-related with a new community website, theartklatch.com. Meanwhile, the Niche in the Fine Arts Library is screening Kate Gilmore’s performance videos dealing with feminine expectations.
I’ll give you a topic: Art. Discuss.
Cvillemuse.com may be no more, but the tireless Kate Daughdrill, cofounder of The Garage, and six of her friends– Leah Cupino, Jenny Garnett, Carissa Henriques, Lauren Maupin, Stephanie deSocio and Kathryn Wagner–have created a new blog, the Art Klatch, dedicated to critical discourse about art in the Charlottesville community. Arising from a desire for serious conversation, the website officially launched February 20.
According to Daughdrill, Art Klatch’s organizers will contribute posts every Tuesday and Thursday, while Wednesdays will feature a guest blogger. The site also features a sidebar of suggested articles, exhibitions, and other items of interest to art-lovers. Daughdrill says the group plans to host monthly Art Klatch meetings at a local bar to discuss specific topics, which she hopes will lead to “little moments of community in real life.”
With posts ranging from a reflection on the power of moving images to a lament about factors that deter devotion to art, the site is already averaging 80 hits a day. “We would just love to see an active community of people who are commenting,” says Daughdrill. “We need a forum like this to engage and learn and to have people respond to ideas.”
The Niche in the Fine Arts Library continues its series of women’s videos involving performance with three shorts by New York-based artist Kate Gilmore, whose work humorously yet painfully depicts the difficulty of fulfilling and/or breaking free of society’s feminine dictates. In each piece, a fixed camera records Gilmore, all girlied up in lipstick and frilly clothes, as she inhabits a world of childlike stars and hearts. Try as she might to perform her roles prettily, she nevertheless gets brutally assaulted with rotten tomatoes in With Open Arms, and scratched by splintering wood in Star Bright, Star Might.
Any woman who has had a male stranger admonish her to “smile” will recognize Gilmore’s artistic territory. Fortunately, Daughdrill and the Art Klatch crew would rather hear her talk about art.
The Art Klatch is at http://www.theartklatch.com. Kate Gilmore’s videos, With Open Arms, Star Bright, Star Might, and Baby, Belong to Me, are on view through March 8 at the Niche in the Fine arts Library. Fiske Kimball Fine Arts Library, Bayly Dr. (across from the Architecture School). For more information, visit The Niche's blog: http://thelibraryniche.blogspot.com | <urn:uuid:247a473c-da09-4dc0-981b-29bb71887e9a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.readthehook.com/72436/questioning-women-inquiring-minds-meaningful-looks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938599 | 669 | 1.648438 | 2 |
WHILE poor little Clotelle was being kicked about by Mrs. Miller, on account of her relationship to her son-in-law, Isabella was passing lonely hours in the county jail, the place to which Jennings had removed her for safe-keeping, after purchasing her from Mrs. Miller. Incarcerated in one of the iron-barred rooms of that dismal place, those dark, glowing eyes, lofty brow, and graceful form wilted down like a plucked rose under a noonday sun, while deep in her heart's ambrosial cells was the most anguishing distress.
Vulgar curiosity is always in search of its victims, and Jennings' boast that he had such a ladylike and beautiful woman in his possession brought numbers to the prison who begged of the jailer the privilege of seeing the slave-trader's prize. Many who saw her were melted to tears at the pitiful sight, and were struck with admiration at her intelligence; and, when she spoke of her child, they must have been convinced that a mother's sorrow can be conceived by none but a mother's heart. The warbling of birds in the green bowers of bliss, which she occasionally heard, brought no tidings of gladness to her. Their joy fell cold upon her heart, and seemed like bitter mockery. They reminded her of her own cottage, where, with her beloved child, she had spent so many happy days.
The speculator had kept close watch over his valuable piece of property, for fear that it might damage itself. This, however, there was no danger of, for Isabella still hoped and believed that Henry would come to her rescue. She could not bring herself to believe that he would allow her to be sent away without at least seeing her, and the trader did all he could to keep this idea alive in her.
While Isabella, with a weary heart, was passing sleepless nights thinking only of her daughter and Henry, the latter was seeking relief in that insidious enemy of the human race, the intoxicating cup. His wife did all in her power to make his life a pleasant and a happy one, for Gertrude was devotedly attached to him; but a weary heart gets no gladness out of sunshine. The secret remorse that rankled in his bosom caused him to see all the world blood-shot. He had not visited his mother-in-law since the evening he had given her liberty to use her own discretion as to how Isabella and her child should be disposed of. He feared even to go near the house, for he did not wish to see his child. Gertrude felt this every time he declined accompanying her to her mother's. Possessed of a tender and confiding heart, entirely unlike her mother, she sympathized deeply with her husband. She well knew that all young men in the South, to a greater or less extent, became enamored of the slave-women, and she fancied that his case was only one of the many, and if he had now forsaken all others for her she did not wish to be punished; but she dared not let her mother know that such were her feelings. Again and again had she noticed the great resemblance between Clotelle and Henry, and she wished the child in better hands than those of her cruel mother.
At last Gertrude determined to mention the matter to her husband. Consequently, the next morning, when they were seated on the back piazza, and the sun was pouring its splendid rays upon everything around, changing the red tints on the lofty hills in the distance into streaks of purest gold, and nature seeming by her smiles to favor the object, she said,--
"What, dear Henry, do you intend to do with Clotelle?" A paleness that overspread his countenance, the tears that trickled down his cheeks, the deep emotion that was visible in his face, and the trembling of his voice, showed at once that she had touched a tender chord. Without a single word, he buried his face in his handkerchief, and burst into tears.
This made Gertrude still more unhappy, for she feared that he had misunderstood her; and she immediately expressed her regret that she had mentioned the subject. Becoming satisfied from this that his wife sympathized with him in his unhappy situation, Henry told her of the agony that filled his soul, and Gertrude agreed to intercede for him with her mother for the removal of the child to a boarding-school in one of the Free States.
In the afternoon, when Henry returned from his office, his wife met him with tearful eyes, and informed him that her mother was filled with rage at the mention of the removal of Clotelle from her premises.
In the mean time, the slave-trader, Jennings, had started for the South with his gang of human cattle, of whom Isabella was one. Most quadroon women who are taken to the South are either sold to gentlemen for their own use or disposed of as house-servants or waiting-maids. Fortunately for Isabella, she was sold for the latter purpose. Jennings found a purchaser for her in the person of Mr. James French.
Mrs. French was a severe mistress. All who lived with her, though well-dressed, were scantily fed and over-worked. Isabella found her new situation far different from her Virginia cottage-life. She had frequently heard Vicksburg spoken of as a cruel place for slaves, and now she was in a position to test the truthfulness of the assertion.
A few weeks after her arrival, Mrs. French began to show to Isabella that she was anything but a pleasant and agreeable mistress. What social virtues are possible in a society of which injustice is a primary characteristic,-- in a society which is divided into two classes, masters and slaves? Every married woman at the South looks upon her husband as unfaithful, and regards every negro woman as a rival.
Isabella had been with her new mistress but a short time when she was ordered to cut off her long and beautiful hair. The negro is naturally fond of dress and outward display. He who has short woolly hair combs and oils it to death; he who has long hair would sooner have his teeth drawn than to part with it. But, however painful it was to Isabella, she was soon seen with her hair cut short, and the sleeves of her dress altered to fit tight to her arms. Even with her hair short and with her ill-looking dress, Isabella was still handsome. Her life had been a secluded one, and though now twenty-eight years of age, her beauty had only assumed a quieter tone. The other servants only laughed at Isabella's misfortune in losing her beautiful hair.
"Miss 'Bell needn't strut so big; she got short nappy har's well's I," said Nell, with a broad grin that showed her teeth.
"She tink she white when she cum here, wid dat long har ob hers," replied Mill.
"Yes," continued Nell, "missus make her take down her wool, so she no put it up to-day."
The fairness of Isabella's complexion was regarded with envy by the servants as well as by the mistress herself. This is one of the hard features of slavery. To-day a woman is mistress of her own cottage; tomorrow she is sold to one who aims to make her life as intolerable as possible. And let it be remembered that the house-servant has the best situation a slave can occupy.
But the degradation and harsh treatment Isabella experienced in her new home was nothing compared to the grief she underwent at being separated from her dear child. Taken from her with scarcely a moment's warning, she knew not what had become of her.
This deep and heartfelt grief of Isabella was soon perceived by her owners, and fearing that her refusal to take proper food would cause her death, they resolved to sell her. Mr. French found no difficulty in securing a purchaser for the quadroon woman, for such are usually the most marketable kind of property. Isabella was sold at private sale to a young man for a housekeeper; but even he had missed his aim.
Mr. Gordon, the new master, was a man of pleasure. He was the owner of a large sugar plantation, which he had left under the charge of an overseer, and was now giving himself up to the pleasures of a city life. At first Mr. Gordon sought to win Isabella's favor by flattery and presents, knowing that whatever he gave her he could take from her again. The poor innocent creature dreaded every moment lest the scene should change. At every interview with Gordon she stoutly maintained that she had left a husband in Virginia, and could never think of taking another. In this she considered that she was truthful, for she had ever regarded Henry as her husband. The gold watch and chain and other glittering presents which Gordon gave to her were all kept unused.
In the same house with Isabella was a man-servant who had from time to time hired himself from his master. His name was William. He could feel for Isabella, for he, like her, had been separated from near and dear relatives, and he often tried to console the poor woman. One day Isabella observed to him that her hair was growing out again.
"Yes," replied William; "you look a good deal like a man with your short hair."
"Oh," rejoined she, "I have often been told that I would make a better looking man than woman, and if I had the money I might avail myself of it to big farewell to this place."
In a moment afterwards, Isabella feared that she had said too much, and laughingly observed, "I am always talking some nonsense; you must not heed me."
William was a tall, full-blooded African, whose countenance beamed with intelligence. Being a mechanic, he had by industry earned more money than he had paid to his owner for his time, and this he had laid aside, with the hope that he might some day get enough to purchase his freedom. He had in his chest about a hundred and fifty dollars. His was a heart that felt for others, and he had again and again wiped the tears from his eyes while listening to Isabella's story.
"If she can get free with a little money, why not give her what I have?" thought he, and then resolved to do it.
An hour after, he entered the quadroon's room, and, laying the money in her lap, said,--
"There, Miss Isabella, you said just now that if you had the means you would leave this place. There is money enough to take you to England, where you will be free. You are much fairer than many of the white women of the South, and can easily pass for a free white woman."
At first Isabella thought it was a plan by which the negro wished to try her fidelity to her owner; but she was soon convinced, by his earnest manner and the deep feeling he manifested, that he was entirely sincere.
"I will take the money," said she, "only on one condition, and that is that I effect your escape, as well as my own."
"How can that be done?" he inquired, eagerly.
"I will assume the disguise of a gentleman, and you that of a servant, and we will thus take passage in a steamer to Cincinnati, and from thence to Canada."
With full confidence in Isabella's judgment, William consented at once to the proposition. The clothes were purchased; everything was arranged, and the next night, while Mr. Gordon was on one of his sprees, Isabella, under the assumed name of Mr. Smith, with William in attendance as a servant, took passage for Cincinnati in the steamer Heroine.
With a pair of green glasses over her eyes, in addition to her other disguise, Isabella made quite a gentlemanly appearance. To avoid conversation, however, she kept closely to her state-room, under the plea of illness.
Meanwhile, William was playing his part well with the servants. He was loudly talking of his master's wealth, and nothing on the boat appeared so good as in his master's fine mansion.
"I don't like dese steamboats, no how," said he; "I hope when massa goes on anoder journey, he take de carriage and de hosses."
After a nine-days' passage, the Heroine landed at Cincinnati, and Mr. Smith and his servant walked on shore.
"William, you are now a free man, and can go on to Canada," said Isabella; "I shall go to Virginia, in search of my daughter."
This sudden announcement fell heavily upon William's ears, and with tears he besought her not to jeopardize her liberty in such a manner; but Isabella had made up her mind to rescue her child if possible.
Taking a boat for Wheeling, Isabella was soon on her way to her native State. Several months had elapsed since she left Richmond, and all her thoughts were centred on the fate of her dear Clotelle. It was with a palpitating heart that this injured woman entered the stage-coach at Wheeling and set out for Richmond. | <urn:uuid:707d4842-8201-4ed4-95de-13d8b9a4baa9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/wwbrown/ch14.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.992091 | 2,784 | 1.664063 | 2 |
NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation health department has decided to initiate stern action against private physicians, hospitals and pathology laboratories if they fail to give details of patients of 16 notified disease to the civic bodies in their daily reports.
Deputy director (Health) Dr Rajan Pradhan said as per a 2006 high court verdict and Maharashtra health services directives, it is mandatory for pathology laboratories and private physicians and hospitals to inform the NMC health department, if they come across cases of malaria, rabies, tuberculosis, encephalitis, polio, typhoid, jaundice and gastro etc.
Recently, state government decided that all pathology laboratories, clinics and hospitals should submit daily reports of any type of blood investigations of notifiable diseases to local civic body. This was to enable civic body to take action in case of outbreak of any major disease. The directives also empower the NMC health department under Section 8 of Mumbai Hospital and Nursing Home Act 1949 to suspend registration of doctors and pathlabs in case of violation, Dr Pradhan said.
Dr Pradhan said that in city, out of 641 private hospitals and 112 pathology laboratories, hardly 10 or 15 send daily
reports about patients. "Soon notices will be issued to hospitals and labs if they continue to neglect reporting communicable diseases to NMC," he added.
"We have also identified many hospitals and clinics that were denied registration because their building was not as per sanctioned plan or had no no-objection certificate from neighbouring residents but are still working. We have asked zonal offices to inform the exact number of such hospitals in their area. They will be served with closure notices," he added.
Offences will also be registered if these hospitals fail to get registration soon. The hospital owners also face six month imprisonment or Rs 10,000 fine for the same reason under Sections 4 and 6 of the Bombay Nursing Home Act 1949, he added. | <urn:uuid:3954fd67-21a1-4239-a2bc-a6fc616a9eb3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-03/nagpur/28298180_1_pathology-laboratories-hospital-owners-nmc-health-department | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966367 | 388 | 1.664063 | 2 |
(RAMALLAH, West Bank) -- One day after President Obama praised Israeli leaders and reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel, he spent the morning in the occupied West Bank, meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other political leaders who are frustrated with the frozen peace process.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Abbas, Obama vowed that the United States remains “deeply committed to the creation of an independent sovereign state of Palestine” and as part of a two-state solution.
“We cannot give up. We cannot give up on the search for peace, no matter how hard it is,” he said.
“The Palestinian people deserve an end to occupation and the daily indignities that come with it. Palestinians deserve to move and travel freely, and to feel secure in their communities. Like people everywhere, Palestinians deserve a future of hope,” he said.
But there is little hope here that the Obama administration will be able to jumpstart the peace process.
“The people of Palestine, Mr. President, who receive you today aspire to attain the simplest rights,” Abbas said. “The right to freedom, independence and peace, and look forward to that day to come in which they exercise normal and natural life over the land of the state of Palestine.”
“We, Mr. President, believe that peace is necessary and inevitable, and we also believe that it is possible,” Abbas continued. “We believe that peacemaking, as much as it requires political courage, also requires an expression of good faith, a recognition of people’s rights, respect for the other, and dissemination of a culture of peace and a commitment to international legitimacy and its resolutions.”
But peace, Abbas said, will not come "through violence, occupation, walls, settlements, arrests, siege and denial of refugee rights.”
Lowering expectations ahead of the trip, the White House made clear the president would not be laying out any new peace initiative during his visit.
Obama reiterated that his administration remains "committed to realizing the vision of two states" and underscored that the only way to achieve that goal is through direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. "There is no shortcut to a sustainable solution,” he said.
Marine One touched down in Ramallah a little before 11 a.m. local time in a cloud of dust.
Obama was greeted by Abbas who led the American leader down a red carpet to review a uniformed guard and then into the headquarters where Yasir Arafat’s picture still hangs in a place of honor.
The two leaders then huddled behind closed-doors for what Abbas described as a “good and useful round of talks.”
The president’s West Bank visit was brief. He spent roughly five hours in the there before returning to Jerusalem to deliver a major address to Israeli youth on the strong ties between the U.S. and Israel.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio | <urn:uuid:4cab171c-9457-45ca-b627-ef945e26ace5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.600wsom.com/common/more.php?m=58&ts=1369486438&article=E68AC274926211E286DEFEFDADE6840A&mode=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959243 | 621 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Rethinking Performance Royalties for Sound Recordings
In my previous article, I addressed the concept of piracy as an effective marketing strategy. Ten years ago such a strategy would have been taboo, but the creative community is being forced to think outside of the box more and more to find commercial success. It is somewhat ironic then, that in an era of iTunes and Spotify, Sirius XM and Pandora, most people still find the latest and greatest popular music by tuning their radio dial. In the past, copyright holders were given quite a boost from radio airtime—a catchy single might lead to over one million albums sold and a successful tour. For this reason, broadcast radio has spent the past century free of performance royalties—money paid to owners of sound recordings whenever their recording is performed.
However, developments in digital technology over the past twenty years have made broadcast radio more about content and less about promotion. Kevin Parks, an IP attorney and author of Music & Copyright in America, supports this conclusion with a direct quote from Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters. “Terrestrial broadcasters have long enjoyed the freedom to use the newest record releases without any payment to the artists or the record companies. While in the past, broadcasters’ argument that airplay promotes the sale of records may have had validity, such a position is hard to justify today.” For example, hearing the song “Gangnam Style” on the radio may drive you to purchase the song for $1.29 on iTunes (or download it illegally), but it will not likely compel you to buy the artist’s album or attend a concert. This fact is not lost on the creative community, whose desire for the next big hit is tempered by the desire to be fairly compensated for the exploitation of their intellectual property.
Because broadcasters have always operated without paying performance royalties, the concept of a “pay-per-play” system in music is still somewhat novel. Performance royalties in this context first appeared in the late 1990s to alleviate the concern that digital music would ruin the industry by allowing on demand access to streaming content. The government feared, as did musicians, that streaming content would replace the need to purchase sound recordings and discourage recording artists from creating new and original content.
If this sounds familiar, it is. The success of digital media has turned the tables on broadcast radio. More and more, the Copyright Royalty Board and Congress are lobbied to lower royalty rates for Internet and satellite radio companies while forcing broadcasters to pay-per-play. In 2009, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) submitted the Performance Rights Act (“PRA”) to the House Judiciary Committee with the support of a number of recording artists. Smashing Pumpkins guitarist/vocalist Billy Corgan, spoke before the Judiciary Committee on behalf of The Music First Coalition, a group whose sole purpose is to secure performance royalties from broadcast radio play. Mr. Corgan remarked:
All areas of the modern music business are currently feeling the shifting tides as new models emerge and old ones are broken up. Ours is a business that always begins with the brilliance of the artists. Contrary to long-held myths, it does take money to create new music. As the traditional revenue streams have dried up, most notably in the overall decline of record sales, it has placed stress on who continues to benefit from the old models. The future demands new partnerships and a rethinking of long-held practices about how artists should be compensated for their music.
The fact that broadcast radio accounts for the majority of radio listenership is even more telling. If copyright holders are still losing money, it cannot be from Internet and satellite radio alone. To create a system that is fair for all parties involved, the promotional value of broadcast radio must be reconsidered.
At the same time, it is just as important for Congress to address the need to lower performance royalties for Internet radio stations like Pandora. Last week, the Internet Radio Fairness Act of 2012 (“IRFA”) was introduced in the House and the Senate. The goal of the act is to address prior laws implemented to directly disadvantage Internet radio, encourage innovation in digital broadcasting, and increase competition in the music marketplace. By allowing Internet Radio to operate at a lower cost, the government is opening the market to more companies capable of delivering a diverse blend of new musical content. It is imperative that Congress supports bills like the PRA and IRFA to continue promoting the progress of useful arts. | <urn:uuid:7dabd59d-c23c-496f-98c6-09e7f251d2d5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ipbrief.net/2012/10/01/rethinking-performance-royalties-for-sound-recordings/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952705 | 915 | 1.75 | 2 |
Experts Debate Solutions to Global Financial Crisis
Columbia Law School and the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy recently hosted a conference examining several regulatory proposals that could help address the global economic crisis.
Professor John C. Coffee Jr., the Adolf A. Berle Professor of Law and Director of the Center on Corporate Governance at Columbia Law School, organized the event and opened the day’s first panel with a question: “What can be done?”
Among the experts and scholars on hand to offer answers was Joel Seligman, the president of the University of Rochester and one of the nation’s leading experts in securities law. “We have unlearned lessons of the past,” he said. To regain economic stability, Seligman called for greater transparency, as well as uniformity in regulation and oversight.
Professor Merritt B. Fox, the Michael E. Patterson Professor of Law and the NASDAQ Professor for Law and Economics of Capital Markets, moderated the event’s second panel, titled “Legislative Changes on the Horizon.” During that session, Nell Minow, whom Businessweek.com called “the queen of good corporate governance,” raised the issue of culpability. “Executive compensation is at the absolute core of everything that’s gone wrong,” Minow said.
New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. agreed. Amid a day of analyzing solutions to systemic problems, Thompson maintained a focus on what brought about perhaps the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. “Absolute greed got us in the situation we’re in now,” Thompson said in his keynote address. He deemed the crisis “a perfect storm of financial chaos.” | <urn:uuid:ea05c120-d328-46bb-845c-ab59e8e1720d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.law.columbia.edu/magazine/162095/Experts%20Debate%20Solutions%20to%20Global%20Financial%20Crisis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948132 | 365 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Alright, so the term “Lesbian[Gay/Bi] Until Graduation” exists. It seems a bit busted and biphobic, but I can see how it could be problematic.
Now, a lot of colleges are safe bubbles. You can “experiment” without serious risk of any problems compared to the “real world”. You’re unlikely to be fired or expelled at most schools, you can generally get a circle of friends who’re accepting, and you’re generally far enough from your parents that if there are familial risks there isn’t much danger. The real world generally isn’t so forgiving unless you live somewhere that’s cLG(b) accepting, and not everyone can. There are still camps for all-too-often-married cis guys to try and get rid of their homosexual desires, and they aren’t always bi, this is how strong homophobia and biphobia in the world still is. It’s not really surprising that people would take advantage of a safe bubble then revert back to presenting as straight afterwards.
This isn’t an inherently bad thing, it’s good that people have a safe space to be able to explore other parts of themselves even if they ultimately decide either that isn’t who they are or that it isn’t worth the risk to be out. But I can see how it’s hurtful to people who are lesbian, gay, and bisexual (and generally non-het). For the ones who were used as an “experiment”, if a proper relationship happened, they may feel that their feelings were being toyed with. It also can make the community as a whole look “less valid”, because it’s turning their sexualities into fads. It’s difficult.
Let me make something clear, though: I do not consider this to be the same as a bisexual person meeting someone of the opposite sex after college and getting married while still identifying as bi. Sometimes the term has been applied to people who do this, and I think that’s busted.
Now… trans until graduation. I found a post about it and it seems like it’s far more a touchy issue. Here’s the more relevant bit:
Being transgender has become a fad at Smith College. Yeah, I said it, a fucking fad. Women, especially lesbian women, have come to eroticize and fetishize the trans men in this community or really anyone who expresses masculine traits. I’ve had friends who have had strangers come up to them and ask if they were transitioning simply because they display traits that are not traditionally feminine. When they say they are not, the stranger will respond, “Well, you’d be hotter if you were.” What? Every week I hear of someone else who has changed their name, who’s taking T. Whatever, I guess, you’re choice. But here’s the question no one is asking, after college, will this still be your choice? Some may say, so what if it isn’t? And here’s my response: by co-opting trans identity and shucking it off when it’s no longer convenient or no longer useful, it trivializes the real struggles that transgendered and genderqueer folks have to go through because gender-variant folks can’t do that. They’re playing with oppression, an oppression that they do not have to experience and may not actually fully understand. For so many people, it’s a deeply personal and intensely difficult struggle. Also, it’s a highly politicized identity, which these kids are only playing with, without having to experience the real oppression or the real personal and political struggle.
I still don’t like the word gender-variant and this person is doing nothing to fix that, can’t believe a trans person would actually say “Isn’t transitioning just reinforcing the gender binary?”. That said, I think I know someone who was Trans Until Graduation. I don’t know if she identifies as such, but it seems to fit the bill. Now, I know trans people who don’t medically transition at all are out there, and they can’t always stay out after college, I won’t try to describe the differences as if they’re all-encompassing, but there are differences between that and this. Again, not what I’m talking about. This is much more related to cis appropriation of genderqueer identities.
This whole thing is complicated, obviously. Being too wary of cis appropriators could end up as a dangerous witchhunt of who’s “trans enough”, which we have enough problems with already. There’s no decent way to tell someone to stop identifying as they do, and it’s a slippery slope. But cis people appropriating our identities has its problems. It can end up with skewed ideas about trans people, make people who are trans doubt themselves more than they already do, make others more suspicious of people who only come out as trans after meeting trans people (even though this makes perfect sense) which limits the amount of support the people just coming out get, egg on the trans fetishists who can be very dangerous to our community, etc. | <urn:uuid:c195d953-dd2e-4548-81b0-bf5bebacd4d5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://binarysubverter.wordpress.com/tag/kyriarchy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966053 | 1,136 | 1.609375 | 2 |
I posted a few times at E-Sangha and then came across this forum by accident. I am a lay follower of the Buddha, living in Illinois in the U.S. At this time I am studying and practicing Theravada on my own. I am grateful for a forum like this.
One of the things that drew me to Theravada is that a surprising number of the core teachings are truths that anyone can observe right now: All compounded/ conditioned things are impermanent. They are subject to change. Whatever arises ceases. All compounded/ conditioned things are unsatisfactory (dukkha) in that temporary, finite things do not bring ultimate fulfillment, do not consistently conform to our wishes, and cause us pain if we cling to them when they cease. All things are not an independently-existing, immutable Self. Craving and attachment cause pain. Ill will is a form of suffering. Suffering and happiness arise in dependence upon causes and conditions. And so on…
I love the emphasis on verification in Theravada: that the Dhamma invites us to come and see (ehipassiko) for ourselves, that we can, in principle at least, come to know and see the truth of the full range of the original teachings directly by experience, that the Buddha challenged the monks to investigate him to see if he had really eradicated the defilements within his mind (MN 47), etc.
I look forward to conversing with you all.
P.S.: For those who don’t know: My username, sukhamanveti, is a quotation from verse 2 of the Pali Dhammapada: “happiness follows.” (“If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows like a shadow never departing.”) | <urn:uuid:b9c69993-0c6b-4d0d-8107-f9334410cc2c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?p=10775 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94056 | 371 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Home » Opinion » Editorials
Shaheen's approach: More treatment, fewer 'assault' guns
Three days after the unspeakable tragedy in Newtown, Conn., Sen Jeanne Shaheen, the senior senator from the pro-gun state of New Hampshire, proclaimed that the federal government must "get deadly assault weapons off our streets." Oh, boy.
To her credit, Shaheen has not been reflexively anti-gun in the Senate. In 2009 she voted to allow firearms in national parks. And on Monday she indicated that she did not view the problem as entirely gun-related. "We need a comprehensive approach that includes improving access to mental health services, better enforcement of our current laws, and we need to get deadly assault weapons off our streets," she said.
Her first point is an immensely important one. According to a review by the left-wing Mother Jones magazine, 38 of 61 mass-shooting perpetrators in the last three decades had some sort of mental illness. The most horrifying mass shootings in the United States in recent memory - Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, Columbine - all involved shooters with histories of mental problems.
Shaheen has long advocated expanded insurance coverage for mental illness. When she was a state senator she sponsored a bill requiring insurers to cover certain mental health issues, and she signed a law expanding such coverage when she was governor. She brings a lot of experience on this issue that might be useful in the Senate.
However, her statement about assault weapons is concerning. "Asssault weapon" is a term defined many different ways by many different people. If it means "automatic weapon," the federal government bans those made after 1986 already. If it means "semi-automatic" weapon, that would include every firearm that does not require manual cocking or reloading after every shot.
Politicians and anti-gun activists often use vague terms like "assault weapon" to stigmatize broad categories of guns or to hide their own ignorance about firearms. Shaheen needs to clarify what she means by "assault weapons," how she would propose removing them from "our streets," and why she thinks doing so would reduce mass killings.
READER COMMENTS: 11
- Another View -- Glenn Normandeau: Protecting endangered non-game species a NH success story - 1
- Charles Krauthammer: Redacted truth, subjunctive outrage - 0
- David Harsanyi: Get the IRS out of the speech business altogether - 9
- Another View -- Ryan Gallagher: The U.S. government spies on reporters all too frequently - 4
- John Stossel: Who has true grit anymore? - 0
- Another View: New Hampshire would take a risky bet on casinos - 6
- Ramesh Ponnuru: In flextime fight, liberals play to their stereotype - 0
- Jonah Goldberg: Benghazi's smoking guns - 1
- Another View: Nashua does need to conduct its own review of commuter rail - 1
READER COMMENTS: 3
- Two sustained minor injuries in Rochester crash Sunday - 0
- Boat crash in Tuftonboro investigated - 0
- Manchester alderman urges review of police phone use - 12
- Updated: Man fatally shot on Manchester street; neighbors shocked - 0
- Nashua mayor to recommend Bennett for corporation counsel - 0
- Claremont group disputes incinerator plant's permit - 0
- Goffstown artisan gives new face to Wolfeboro tower - 0
- Katie McQuaid's Scene in Manchester: Kiwanis and the kids - 0
- Town may have to fix grave error - 2
Town may have to fix grave error
UNH hires firm to redesign one of its logos
Disengaged: Obama's lousy excuse
Chechen decries Boston attack | <urn:uuid:906a6f65-5392-40b3-aa24-7eb7cc81a0b9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unionleader.com/article/20121218/OPINION01/121219257/0/no-text7763728366331391561 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936919 | 781 | 1.5625 | 2 |
By Nicole Jones
$58 million dollars – that’s how deep in the red Oakland’s city budget is this year. Mayor Jean Quan has been proposing several budget solutions – the most extreme being an “all cuts” budget. This would give the green light to slash many of the city’s public services, including libraries. It would leave four branches for the nearly 400,000 Oakland residents who live in the city. Librarians and their supporters say this would hurt low-income neighborhoods the most – and it would risk the future of a generation of young readers.
On Friday, 16 people were arrested in a protest in downtown Oakland, condemming cuts to the libraries. Demonstrators chanted about cutting the police department, rather than the libraries, as well as “books not banks,” saying financiers are getting rich while public services are being gutted across the nation.
Today, Save Oakland Libraries is hosting an all day “read in” in front of City Hall. Tomorrow evening, June 21, the Oakland City Council will present budget recommendations.
While the city council will make final budget decisions due in July, librarians are taking the battle beyond the bookshelves and into the streets with some very creative tactics. KALW’S Nicole Jones has more.
* * *
NICOLE JONES: Librarians and megaphones might not seem like the most natural combination. Add a bloody face, ripped t-shirt, and a groan from beyond the grave, and you get something one might call supernatural: zombie librarians with megaphones.
AMY MARTIN: Where will our children go after school? Just hang out at the graveyard?
As the Oakland City Council considers killing three-quarters of the library budget, librarians like Amy Martin decided to take part in a zombie walk to dramatize the effect of shutting down 14 of 18 libraries.
MARTIN: It would pretty much decimate the library system, and we think that would be the end of the world so we’re coming out to say zombies support the Oakland Public Library.
Zombies need libraries open. Keep Oakland’s brains delicious.
It’s a post-apocalyptic parade down the sidewalk of Telegraph Avenue. Zombies young and old lurch past gas stations and coffee shops filled with the living – and confused. Believe it or not, undead librarians crawling down city streets is not a new concept, according to Martin.
MARTIN: The librarians of Brooklyn did it a few years ago. We have an employee who came from Brooklyn and she suggested that we repeat it here since it was a successful tactic there.
METTIN SVEEN: The sign says, “As a zombie, I say have a heart, if you know what I mean, and save the brains and support Oakland Public Library.”
I’m Mettin Sveen, I’m a volunteer at the Rockridge branch library in Oakland, and once a week I’m there for a few hours and I see the kids come in, and the retired people, and the unemployed.
Those are among the last populations Oakland’s elected officials want to cut from. But the city has been suffering budget crises for years. It’s laid off police officers, it’s created furlough days, and it’s closed library branches one day a week. The latest proposal would cut the number of library jobs in the city from 215 to 23.
SVEEN: We’ve been here almost 50 years now and this is about as serious as I’ve seen it. We would hate to see it get any worse.
PROTESTER: Libraries give brains. Brains.
The zombie crawl is just one tactic Oakland library lovers like Mettin Sveen and Amy Martin have taken.
MARTIN: We’ve also been doing some direct public actions that are peaceful and cheerful and family friendly. We did two guerilla story times so far and we’re going to do more.
Those are surprise story times that happen in public places.
MARTIN: And the end of which we announce the libraries may be closing forever if you don’t support and contact your city council representative.
Oakland libraries have been threatened with closure before. But in 2004, voters saved them by passing Measure Q. It’s a parcel tax that funds libraries with up to $14 million annually. However, the money only kicks in if the city dedicates at least $9 million from its general fund – and that’s very much in question in the mayor’s latest budget scenarios. The branches most at risk for closing are in the lower-income neighborhoods of East and West Oakland. Right now, they’re job centers for the unemployed. They provide Internet access for those who need it.
LAURE WILHAM: Libraries aren’t just libraries – they’re the whole community.
Main branch children’s librarian Laurie Wilham says the city council needs to consider all the intangibles, including Oakland’s literacy rate. According to recent California standards test scores, 73% of second graders in the Oakland Unified School District are at risk because their reading skills are not up to grade level.
WILHAM: There’s a ton of kids who come to libraries after school and it’s really the one place that they’re safe. They may not be safe at home, they may not be safe at school, but they are safe at the library.
The library’s total budget last year was about $23.6 million. That’s 2% of the city budget. Parks and recreation takes up 3%; police services – 40%. If Mayor Quan’s all-cuts budget were to pass, four fire stations, five recreation centers, and 14 libraries would go.
METTIN: Brains, brains, books, brains.
Whether the stake is put in the heart of Oakland’s libraries, or other services, people in the city are sure to be feeling the pain when the final budget is signed.
In Oakland, I’m Nicole Jones, for Crosscurrents.
How are libraries doing in your neighborhood or city? Let us know on our Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on KALWNews.org | <urn:uuid:29ba97a1-e16e-4187-b095-a5747efc52b8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.sfgate.com/kalw/2011/06/20/zombies-protest-proposed-oakland-library-closures/ | 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 | 0.949348 | 1,347 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Baseball coach John Anderson's long campaign for a new university ballpark appears about to pay off.
Former Gophers ballplayers recall the little things when asked what made Siebert Field such a special place.
Terry Steinbach, a third baseman in college, has fond memories of the huge, black batting eye in center field. Mark Merila, a second baseman, was always amazed at how well-groomed the field was.
The last game in the 41-year history of Siebert Field is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Tuesday. The Gophers will face the University of St. Thomas in the 756th game there -- but the only one this season in the past-its-prime ballpark.
Two of the program's best-known alumni -- Steinbach and Paul Molitor -- former coach George Thomas and Marilyn Siebert, the daughter of the late Dick Siebert, will throw out the first pitch. Siebert coached the Gophers from 1948 to ' 78.
Next month, if everything goes as Gophers coach John Anderson hopes, the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents will approve at its June meeting the first phase of construction for a new Siebert Field. Groundbreaking ceremonies will be held June 11, and the ballpark will be ready for the 2013 season.
It's long past time for a new ballpark, supporters of the U's baseball program contend. The Gophers play almost all their games at the Metrodome now, but the long-range future of the Dome is murky, dependent on the twists and turns of the Vikings' stadium situation. Anderson has helped raise $7.5 million for the new ballpark -- enough for the first phase, but only half the money needed for the project that he envisions.
"Home plate will be almost where the mound is," Anderson said, describing the new Siebert Field. "When we get done with our facility, there still will be six or seven facilities in the Big Ten better than ours [after the] first phase. ... But it will be better than what we've got. It is going to be a functional, 21st century stadium."
The current version is not. The bleachers along the third-base sidelines were deemed unsafe eight years ago, and those along the first base line met the same fate a couple of years ago. Both have been removed. Even the field, which still looks picture perfect, is deceiving. "It looks good until you get on it and start playing," said Anderson, lamenting the sinking spots in the infield. "It needs to be scraped off and redone."
The field at the new ballpark will be sunk on purpose, 4 feet below ground level, and will have artificial turf.
From the early 1990s, there has been talk of building a baseball facility, Anderson said, so the university didn't invest much money in the existing ballpark. "It is like your home," he said. "If you don't do regular maintenance on it, it is going to fall apart."
Close to his heart
The man touched most by the fate of Siebert Field -- built for an estimated $175,000 and originally named Bierman Field -- is Anderson. He arrived at the U as a player in 1974, stayed in the program as an assistant and, in 1982, became the head coach.
NCAA regionals were held at Siebert Field in 1974, 1977 and 2000, as well as six Big Ten tournaments, the last one in 2004. In 1977, Molitor's junior season, the Gophers were 26-0 at home, including 3-0 in the regional in front of overflow crowds of more than 3,000.
"People were standing on the field in foul territory," Anderson said.
The Gophers have a .764 all-time winning percentage at Siebert Field, and Anderson's team -- 26-20 this season -- still uses it for practices. But since 2007, the number of games they have played there has steadily dropped, from 18 to 12 to seven to two, total, since 2010, counting Tuesday's finale.
"I have spent thousands and thousands and thousands of hours here," said Anderson, who recently signed a contract extension through 2016. "[But] it has been hard to come out here the last five years. It has been depressing for me. No. 1 because it has Dick Siebert's name on it. I think everyone knows my admiration and my feelings for Dick. The place had to be perfect, the playing surface had to be perfect or it wasn't acceptable [for Siebert]. And to see the place gradually deteriorate and fall apart with his name on it. There are some days I felt responsible for that and I felt terrible."
So Anderson has been at the forefront of fundraising for a new field. The Pohlad Foundation pledged $2 million to the new field in 2010.
"It's been a grind," said Molitor, honorary chairperson of the campaign. "Thankfully for the Pohlads, [owners of the Twins] -- without their lead gift, it probably would have never fell into place."
It's what Anderson wants, even if has to start small, with permanent seats for 1,200 the first season, a plain scoreboard and probably no lights.
"It is not going to be fancy," he said. "We hope we can add some fancy down the road."
Baseball alumni have been invited to return for Tuesday's game to take swings during an early batting practice, to be part of a group photo at home plate and to rekindle memories.
Steinbach and his two brothers played for the Gophers in the early 1980s. "I remember coming from New Ulm, a small town," said Steinbach, "and being in a place with a great history with [players such as] Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield. It was a potential stepping stone to a possible career."
He had 165 RBI in three college seasons. Steinbach went on to be a major league catcher for 14 years, primarily with the Oakland A's, but also with the Twins. Merila, a scout for the San Diego Padres, was the Big Ten player of the year in 1994. Siebert Field, Merila said, had the best infield in the Big Ten by far. He called it immaculate.
Kerry Ligtenberg, a Gopher in 1993 and '94, liked being able to walk from his home to practice or games at Siebert Field. The dimensions -- 330 feet down the lines, but only 380 to center field -- are another story. The new ballpark will be slightly bigger.
"We had good crowds," said Ligtenberg, who pitched for four teams in the majors. "My only complaint was the tons of home runs hit there. That was not as much fun for me. It was a hitters' park."
Twins pitcher Glen Perkins played for the Gophers in 2003 and '04. "Those were still the two best years of my baseball life," the lefthanded reliever said. "It seemed [after high school] like the greatest thing ever to play in a stadium like that. It was nice. It went downhill fast after I left. I'm excited for the next chapter."
Staff writer Joe Christensen contributed to this article.
|Minnesota - LP: V. Worley||3||FINAL|
|Atlanta - WP: P. Maholm||8|
|Cincinnati - WP: A. Simon||7||FINAL|
|NY Mets - LP: B. Parnell||4|
|Los Angeles - WP: H. Ryu||9||FINAL|
|Milwaukee - LP: W. Peralta||2|
|Oakland - LP: J. Parker||1||FINAL|
|Texas - WP: R. Wolf||3|
|Arizona||1||Bottom 6th Inning|
|Washington||0||Bottom 5th Inning|
|Tampa Bay||2||Top 3rd Inning|
|Chicago Cubs - J. Samardzija||6:05 PM|
|Pittsburgh - F. Liriano|
|Detroit - J. Verlander||6:05 PM|
|Cleveland - U. Jimenez|
|NY Yankees - H. Kuroda||6:05 PM|
|Baltimore - J. Hammel|
|Seattle - B. Maurer||6:05 PM|
|LA Angels - J. Williams|
|Philadelphia - C. Lee||6:10 PM|
|Miami - K. Slowey|
|Boston - C. Buchholz||7:10 PM|
|Chicago WSox - H. Santiago|
|Kansas City - J. Shields||7:10 PM|
|Houston - J. Lyles|
|St. Louis - T. Lyons||9:10 PM|
|San Diego - B. Smith| | <urn:uuid:c2dbad19-7270-493e-b181-d472837f60c8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/149584655.html?source=rss_teams_Minnesota_Golden_Gophers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960093 | 1,856 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Published on December 14th, 2012 | by John I.0
An overview of Global internet connectivity
Akamai the content distribution company has been publishing internet reports for the past four years. This has been essential in ascertaining the level of internet connectivity on a global scale. The report looks into details about countries, regions and cities, the common denominator being broadband capabilities. When using the average connection to users- as a yard stick, South Korea Came first at 17mbps.
It also retains the same rank when it comes to the average peak delivered and it stands at 49.9Mbps. This is capable of downloading a typical movie at an average of 30 minutes, while a song at less than three seconds.
The report by Akamai also showed countries that are on the losing end. These countries generally have less connectivity, and they include: Cuba, the Comoros, Burundi, the Republic of Congo, Niger, Mali, and East Timor. All these countries had less than 300 Kbps, and downloading the same movie would take well over 24 hours. The US was position 13 averaging 5.8 Mbs the same movie would take more than an hour to download- considering that all other relevant factors remain constant, which is not always the case.
How did Akamai Make the Assessments?
Akamai is well positioned to gather relevant information without necessarily asking questions about the services of internet providers- this would otherwise reveal details to their competitors. It is one of the largest content delivery services mirroring data across the globe, playing an essential role by assisting servers that would otherwise be overwhelmed by data load.
And also it readily avails it to the end user who connects to the internet. The end user does not have to connect half-way the internet to get what he/she requires. Apart from handling software updates and video streams, it also acts as a mirroring service for sites, acting as a back up for sites like Netflix, Twitter, and Facebook. It is estimated that Akamai handles 15-30 percent of web traffic, which is about 2 trillion interactions in a single day.
The data provided by Akamai showed the following countries to be on the top ten list based on the average broadband connectivity speeds. The list included: South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, followed by The Netherlands, Latvia, Switzerland, and Ireland. The others on the list were Czech Republic, Romania, and Belgium. Although there was a shift in position with some countries improving while others dropping, the bottom line is that there are several factors that dictated the situation. Consumer habits and change from landline broadband to mobile broadband connection played an essential role. And also change in policy affected the end results a good example being Libya.
It is paramount to note that calculating averages can be skewed in the sense that you need to understand how access is broken down. Calculating the average speed of a few people having high connectivity in a large population will not give you clear end-results. This is due to the fact that it will not clearly show the experience of majority users. If this criteria is used then the result will definetely change as follows ;South Korea, Netherlands, Japan, followed by Hong Kong, Belgium Switzerland, then Latvia, the last three on the top ten list are Romania, Czech Republic and Denmark. | <urn:uuid:9e4513c7-26b6-4307-86fd-878c94f67164> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://simplelize.com/internet/an-overview-of-global-internet-connectivity | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95715 | 680 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Not every device is going to be high powered and able to render every manner of script, plugin and rich media thrown at it. The Web as we thought of it, now needs to learn some heavy lessons from the Mobile Web. Here are a quick few thoughts why I believe it is time for many heavily used desktop web sites to go back to some basic principles, and learn from the mobile web.
One of the problems with an open medium such as the web, where you can use plugins it is naturally open to abuse, you don't need to work within or understand the limitations of the browser. Well time to go back to school ... it really is all about design, something that a huge number of websites appear to have forgotton or ignored. For instance, I don't always need autocomplete when searching, it really slows down my user experience (Google, Amazon etc...) when I know what I am looking for. Commercial pressures to litter every page with every possible way of catching the user out seems to be on the increase ... whatever happened to good, simple design?
Several years ago, there felt to be a bit of an industry epiphony moment when the now very well coined phrase Web 2.0, or at least many of the design principles behind it, were seen as the future. "Less is more" seemed to be the way forward (and that was an idea dating back to the 1920s from architect Mies van de Rohe). Which is a driving force of the mobile web, typically because of on screen space and bandwidth. It appears sites are now being greedier and greedier for resource, running multiple scripts, animations and so on, this just makes my laptop processor hot, switches the fan on and gets on my nerves. Didn't think that was really an aim of the web page but perhaps I am wrong?
I think the web of 2011 should revisit these basic principles, start the building blocks to creating content that can be elegantly purposed to use from small screen, to mid screen and onto large screen. If you don't start from these principles, you are going to find it very hard down the line retrofitting to whatever devices come in the near future. Architect quote time ... Walter Gropius, the founder of Bauhaus said "many of the things that seem to be luxuries today will become the norm in the near future" ... I like to feel he was talking about design but you can assume the top end devices we see today will eventually become the norm. Otto Wagner said "something impractical cannot be beautiful", I totally agree. Alvar Aalto said "Modern Architecture does not mean the use of immature new materials; the main thing is to refine materials in a more human direction", the richness and level of content on your web site and individual pages needs to address the human in front of it ... I think these pioneering thinkers could still teach us something! | <urn:uuid:7bcd5993-4701-4e41-8276-83a1bf68fc32> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://alexcraxton.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9648 | 590 | 1.671875 | 2 |
September 8, 2011, in Baghdad, Iraq
Al-Mahdi, 45, a journalist, filmmaker, and playwright, was shot in his Baghdad home by assailants using pistols outfitted with silencers.
Al-Mahdi had hosted a thrice-weekly radio show, "To Whomever Listens," on independent Radio Demozy. The show covered social and political issues, including government corruption, bribery, and sectarianism. A Shiite, al-Mahdi had defended the rights of Sunnis.
On his Facebook page, al-Mahdi organized regular pro-democracy demonstrations and publicized threats he said he had received. Growing fearful for his safety, al-Mahdi had stepped down from the radio show about two months prior to his death, news reports said.
Al-Mahdi had spent 18 years in exile, returning to Iraq in 2008. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Job: Broadcast Reporter
Beats Covered: Corruption, Politics
Local or Foreign: Local
Type of Death: Murder
Suspected Source of Fire: Unknown Fire
- Iraqi journalist shot dead in Baghdad, September 9, 2011 | <urn:uuid:14c42cf1-348d-466a-afa0-d9feca28bb52> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cpj.org/killed/2011/hadi-al-mahdi.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975175 | 233 | 1.609375 | 2 |
A True Necrophile
Ed apparently just loved bodies. He was a true necrophile (also called a necrophiliac). Body parts excited him and he had no trouble having them in his home, no matter what their state of decomposition. From the bodies he dug up, he cut off the heads and shrank them, putting some on his bedposts. He also formed lampshades from the skin. Storing the organs in the refrigerator, and possibly cooking them, he made things like soup bowls out of the bones for his own use. Sometimes he had sexual contact with these bodies (though he denied it), and eventually he just went ahead and dug up his own mother. Rather than get a sex-change operation, he simply made himself a female body suit and mask out of the skin, and he would wear this outfit to dance around outside. Sometimes he even donned it to dig up a grave.
Finally, when it was clear that the skin would harden and crack, he decided to get bodies that were more pliable. That meant someone really fresh. In 1954, Gein shot a woman, Mary Hogan, who resembled his mother in size and brought her to his farm. No one suspected a thing. Three years later, he did it again to Bernice Worden, and this time the police decided to have a look.
What they found was a house of horror. Inside, they discovered numerous body parts: four noses, several bone fragments, nine death masks, a heart in a pan on the stove, a bowl made from a skull, ten female heads with the tops sawn off, human skin covering several chair seats, pieces of salted genitalia in a box, skulls on his bedposts, organs in the refrigerator, a pair of lips on a string, and much more. It was estimated that he had mutilated some fifteen women and kept their remains around him.
In the barn they found the corpse of Bernice Worden, hung from the ceiling feet first. She was headless and slit from her genitals to her neck, gutted and with her legs splayed wide apart. Her head was found beneath a mattress inside the house with nails in her ears.
At his disposition hearing (since he was judged incompetent to stand trial), Ed Gein was found to be insane. He seemed not to be aware that what he had done was wrong, and he died in 1984 at the age of 78 in a psychiatric institution. Since he never had actually hunted for deer, neighbors wondered what had been in the packages of fresh venison that he'd so generously brought them.
While Gein fails to display the compulsive lust characteristic of many necrophiles, he does represent the type of person who enjoys the company of the dead, sexually-speaking, as did the pair of killers we'll look at next. | <urn:uuid:5fa37410-2be6-45f7-836d-d23226d4b4fb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/necrophiles/index_1b.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990498 | 582 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Thu June 28, 2012
Live From Tanglewood: The Boston Symphony Orchestra
Originally published on Mon July 9, 2012 6:59 am
Seventy-five years ago, an American institution was born: Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a cultural mecca to arts lovers and the musical refuge for generations of young artists.
To celebrate, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's opening-night performance for this season was a replication of the very first concert they gave under Serge Koussevitsky's baton at Tanglewood in summer 1937. Guest conductor Christoph von Dohnanyi led Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth Symphonies and the Leonore Overture No. 3, which the late critic, musicologist and BSO program annotator Michael Steinberg called "one of the great emblems of the heroic Beethoven."
As Howard Taubman of the New York Times wrote after a 1938 Beethoven Ninth that celebrated the dedication of the venue's famous Shed, "More than ever the festival appeared to have caught the public's imagination. Hours before concert time every one of the 5,600-odd seats under the new shed was sold, and hundreds of additional chairs had to be placed under the colonnade that circles the shed ... Here was great music superlatively played in verdant surroundings that could only intensify the emotional impact." The glow of that Tanglewood magic, so strong even seven decades ago, has only intensified with time. (Have your own memories of Tanglewood to share? Head over to Classical New England's "Tanglewood Tales" project, where they're inviting fans to share stories, photos and video links.)
Leonore Overture No. 3
Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral"
Symphony No. 5 | <urn:uuid:63c15911-52b0-4cfe-9055-5d13597775a6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kwgs.org/post/live-tanglewood-boston-symphony-orchestra | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93355 | 375 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Seanad Éireann - Volume 69 - 11 March, 1971
Membership of EEC: Motion.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach An Leas-Chathaoirleach
An Leas-Chathaoirleach: Before the debate begins I would remind Senators of the arrangements that have been made in regard to the debating of motions. The time allowed on any motion shall, unless the Seanad otherwise orders, not exceed a period of six hours in the aggregate. Accordingly, if the debate is not concluded earlier, it is proposed that the question be put at 10 p.m. this evening and that the proposer of the motion be called on at 9.40 p.m., at the latest, to reply. It is implicit in this that if the House wishes to adjourn for meals for longer than an hour it is thereby curtailing the six-hour period allowed for the debate.
Mr. O'Higgins Mr. O'Higgins
Mr. O'Higgins: I move.
That Seanad Éireann notes the White Paper “Membership of the European Communities—Implications for Ireland”.
This is a motion that was put down to enable this House to discuss the question of Irish membership of the EEC or Common Market. It is advisable that discussions, not merely in the Seanad but generally throughout the country, regarding our entry into the Common Market should be undertaken and encouraged. It is not my purpose in moving this motion to suggest that either the Government or anyone else should particularly take the initiative in that direction, although I think it is clear that it is the duty and the responsibility of the Government to see that not merely the two Houses of the Oireachtas but the community and the country generally are kept fully informed both of the negotiations that are at present under way and of the implications for the various sectors in business and industry which would ensue from membership of the Common Market. The White Paper referred to in the motion is entitled Membership of the European Communities— Implications for Ireland. That White Paper sets out the general framework of the Community which we propose to enter if our application is approved.
I think it right to give very briefly my understanding of the structure and framework of the Community which we are seeking to enter. The Rome Treaty prescribed that the tasks entrusted to the Community would be carried out by four institutions. These are the Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Courts. We could roughly equate the Council with a cabinet as we know it in this or any other democratic country. We could, speaking broadly, equate the Commission with the Civil Service in a parliamentary democracy. So far as the courts are concerned that needs no particular explanation.
The four institutions that I have mentioned can act through the Council and through the Commission in a number of different ways. There is, first of all, the authority to adopt regulations which can be of general application and binding on all member states. Secondly, they can issue directives which may be addressed to one or to more of the member states, and so far as the directives go they are intended to achieve a particular result without detailing the manner in which that result is to be obtained. The method or procedure for achieving the result sought in the directive is left to the individual member or members to which it is directed. They can also take and issue decisions. These decisions may be addressed to a Government of a member state or even to individuals. So far as the decisions are concerned, the intention is that they will be binding in every respect on the Government, individual or firm or whatever, to whom they are directed. Recommendations can be suggested. These recommendations are not intended to have any binding force.
Broadly speaking, that is the structure of the Community which we are seeking to enter. Every Member of the Seanad has already formed his own views and appreciations of the relative importance of the various institutions which I have mentioned. The Commission which, as I said, I equate to a Civil Service, appear to be an extremely important part of the framework of the Common Market Community. They could be regarded as the executive body of the Community and they have responsibility as regards the formulation of the Community policies.
So far as the courts are concerned, they also have particular functions. I can correctly summarise the four main functions of the courts by saying that it is the duty of the courts to interpret the Treaty and the Community laws; secondly, to adjudicate on the legality of the Acts of the Council and the Commission; thirdly, to adjudicate on disputes between member states in relation to matters falling within the scope of the Treaty; and fourthly to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty by the various institutions of the Community.
As I see it, that is the general structure and framework. The decision which faces this country—and it is a decision which faces everyone in the country—is whether we want to enter that Community. It is frequently said that we have no real choice in this matter—and that if Britain goes in, we have to go in, and that if Britain stays out, we must stay out. I do not accept that point of view. I favour our application for entry into the Common Market; I favour joining the Common Market if our application is accepted; but I do not agree with the view that we have no choice in the matter. We have a choice and it is one which it is our job, as public representatives, to explain as clearly and as explicitly as we can to the people. It may be a difficult choice for some people, but it is a choice which does exist and should be made by this country as a sovereign nation freely making a positive choice.
We are entitled to make this choice from the standpoint of what we regard as our own best interests. It is a choice between remaining in isolation politically, culturally and economically or joining freely with other countries in building and developing a new European Community. The choice should be made in the knowledge that it is a realistic one, that we have the option of accepting membership or of rejecting membership.
This brings us to the question of arguing out the pros and cons of membership. I do not accept that, merely because Great Britain enters, we have no choice in the matter. I do not accept that, if Great Britain is not accepted as a member, or if her application is not accepted ipso facto, our application for membership should be withdrawn and determined. I appreciate, and I think it is important that we should look on this aspect of the matter, that the freedom of our choice, the difficulty in some way of many people in making that choice, will depend on the emphasis which they, as individuals, may place on different aspects of the implications which exist for us in this matter.
It is true to say that there are a number of arguments which have been advanced against membership of the Common Market. I could summarise these by saying that the principal arguments are, first of all, that it would lead to a loss of national identity; secondly, that it would involve a surrender of our sovereign rights as a nation; thirdly, that it would lead to our domination—because we are a small nation—by bigger nations; fourthly, that it would and must mean increased competition so far as our industries and products generally are concerned, and because of that that it would involve large-scale unemployment in this country.
It is easy to dismiss the argument about loss of national identity. At times I feel that there is no great realism in that argument. At the same time, we must take many factors into account. When we talk of national identity and surrendering or losing some of our rights as a sovereign nation, we must see the thing in perspective and we must realise that, no matter what agreements are made between different nations, any agreement involves a certain limitation for the parties to the agreement. If there is a loss of sovereignty involved in going into the Common Market, there is also a loss of sovereignty involved for every other State—that is in the Common Market or is seeking to get into the Common Market—and to my mind, the bigger the State the bigger the loss of sovereignty involved. Viewing the matter in that light, we can see that the sacrifice we might make in that way will be less than the sacrifice made by other countries.
However, the argument does not end there. There are certain cultural values that could be in some way endangered, and this is the kind of problem that we have to weigh up for ourselves. So far as I am concerned, I want my children to grow up in a country that would maintain the kind of Christian values which were treasured by my parents and their parents before them. I do not mean merely the question of civic codes, or criminal codes, or codes of conduct, or standards of behaviour, but also the deep spiritual and cultural values which exist in this country, and which some of us may not have any confidence of being fully maintained in our time. That is the kind of thing that troubles people in relation to entry into the Common Market.
I take the view, rightly or wrongly, that a nation that has been able for 700 years or thereabouts to maintain its national identity, to maintain the kind of values about which I have been speaking, even in face of foreign occupation, is hardly likely to lose these values or its national identity by associating freely under treaty arrangements with other nations. That is the point of view which I would express in arguing out the question of cultural values, or the possible loss of national identity and the question of possible surrender of our national rights.
As regards the point of view expressed that our entry into the Common Market would entail being dominated by the big countries who would be our partners in that venture, it is true to say that in the modern world a small country living in isolation must pay the penalty of that isolation. One of the penalties is that a small isolated country has virtually no influence on the course of events, whereas if through community effort, through joining with others under treaty arrangements, they are enabled to have a say in the shaping of that community—in this instance, the shaping of a new Europe —then, at least, there is something concrete being gained. We cannot live entirely in isolation. We must trade. If we can have a voice in trading arrangements or in political decisions, then so far from being cowed by the argument that we would be dominated by larger countries, I would feel that we were making an advance for this country by putting ourselves in a position where we would have at least some influence on the course of events.
The other arguments are that there would be increased competition and that this would result in dislocation of industry and in large-scale unemployment. There is no doubt that there would be increased competition, and what we must do is to try to weigh up the situation and to see if the advantages which might accrue from membership would outweigh the disadvantages which would be posed by increased competition. In addition, with regard to employment and unemployment, we must make the best assessment possible as to what will be the effect on employment in this country. We must assess the degree of redundancy that would come about and if redundancy can be offset in the ordinary way by wastage, and figure out the net result at the end of that to give the net unemployment likely to result in Irish industry. That is the kind of information that can only come through the vocational organisations dealing with various industries and must be compiled and issued by the Government in order to get informed discussion and informed views with regard to the implications in that field.
I have been dealing as briefly as I can—and we can only deal briefly with this matter today because we are limited in time—with the arguments as I see them against entry into the Common Market. There are however a number of arguments of a solid sort for entry into the Common Market. I feel that the Government and those who feel as I do that it is a good thing to enter the Common Market should emphasise in a discussion like this the arguments we see in favour of it.
The first argument I made a note of is one which I notice is dealt with in the conclusions in the White Paper. It is that we are Europeans traditionally, historically, geographically and culturally. We form part of Europe, and forming part of Europe as Europeans, it seems to me we should play our part in Europe and particularly when the opportunity arises, as it does through the Common Market, of shaping a new Europe.
Secondly, I think the objectives to which the Community have set their faces are worthwhile objectives, particularly for a small country. I do not know whether I am entirely correct in saying that the objectives I have noted down here are spelt out in the same kind of detail as I see them. I think that, broadly speaking in any event, one of the worthwhile objectives of the Community is to seek to end the conflicts which have divided Western Europe so often in the past.
Another object is to restore Europe's self-respect, to enable Europe to play a role in the world which is commensurate with her cultural heritage and economic strength.
Another objective which I think would find a very responsive chord in this country is by joint action to seek to improve the working conditions and living standards of the people—to try to abolish outdated barriers which split Western Europe into small fragmented markets.
Another objective which again would find a responsive chord here is to seek to help the less favoured areas of the Community and their associates, and the final objective is to try to form the basis of a united states of Europe or whatever you like to call it.
I feel that the penalties for staying out of a European movement are also likely to be so heavy, even if we look on it in a purely material plain, purely from the point of view of economics, that it would not be worth our while to contemplate that seriously.
On the other hand, if we go in we have access to larger new markets, some of which we tried and failed to gain access to in the past. I believe all of these things are worthwhile. I wonder what we, in our turn, can offer to Europe. It may seem to many that whatever we can offer will be very small, but I think we can offer something. In the past this country, small as it is, has had an influence and an effect in Europe far outweighing our size either in terms of acres or population. I think that we can make a contribution to Europe, and the best summary I can find of my views on this appeared in a pamphlet called Ireland and Europe, written by Deputy, then Senator, Garret FitzGerald which states:
What can we bring to the new Europe? We can add something small but distinctive to its cultural heritage. We can help to strengthen the great Christian tradition of Europe which is still so powerful a force in our country and we can bring our unique blend of the Christian and liberal traditions which have made our country a real Christian democracy. Moreover, we can bring the power to act in a small way as a bridge, a bridge between the British and the people of the Continent, a bridge between the peoples of Europe, to which Ireland belongs, and the United States, so much of which belongs to Irish people; and finally, a bridge between our Europe and the new States of Africa and Asia, some at least of whose leaders regard Ireland as the country which gave the lead to the anti-colonial struggle of the 1950's. These contributions are small things and they will be willingly given. In return, Ireland seeks full partnership with the other nations of Europe within an enlarged Community. We hope it, too, will be willingly accorded.
I think that summarises the kind of contribution we can make for our part even though it may not, in terms of material wealth or manpower, be any great contribution. Nevertheless, I believe it is a real contribution and the kind of contribution which the developing Europe, as we see it before us, would welcome from a small country.
Mr. Russell Mr. Russell
Mr. Russell: I second the motion and wish to avail of the opportunity to make a brief contribution to the debate. I do not propose in the short time at my disposal to cover the ground already adequately covered by Senator O'Higgins, except to say that I agree completely with his views in regard to the often discussed and I think sometimes greatly exaggerated question of the loss of sovereignty by this country. If the nations of Europe who have been at war for centuries, like Germany and France and other countries, are prepared to suffer some limitation to their sovereignty in the interests of lasting peace in Europe, we in this small country, who have always regarded ourselves as a bastion of freedom and an example to other freedom-loving countries, should be prepared to suffer some limitations of our sovereignty, too.
I should like to deal more specifically with what has perhaps caused more concern even than the cause of national sovereignty, and that is the question of the position of Irish industry if we enter the Common Market. At the outset we should accept—and I do not think everybody in this country has yet accepted it—that the European Economic Community are a fact of political, social and economic life. I sometimes feel that our attitude to the Common Market is something like our attitude up to quite recent months in regard to the coming of decimalisation. It just could not happen. But it has happened. Now I think we have accepted the fact of decimalisation and it is remarkable how the country and all its various facets, financial and commercial, has settled down to operate this system effectively and with an increasing degree of expertise.
Whether the country becomes a member of the Community or not it will have to face fundamental changes in all its institutions in the years ahead. It is right and necessary that there should be a full and free discussion on all aspects of our membership or nonmembership of the Common Market. Every effort should be made by the Government and the Opposition to provide dialogue for or against Irish entry. Belligerent speeches by Government Ministers in which the views of anti-marketeers are belittled or denigrated are not the way to secure support for the European Economic Community. Arguments against entry should be answered in full by Government speakers and others. The disadvantages of free trade, of which there are many, should be spelled out clearly and honestly. The Irish people, over the years, have demonstrated their capacity to face up to difficult situations provided they believe in the rightness of the cause and appreciate fully its ultimate advantages. The fact that the Irish can be led and not driven is as true to day as it was over the course of centuries.
The disadvantages of the Common Market have been played up to too great an extent. It is time a more realistic and better effort was made by the Government speakers to highlight the advantages of entry into the Common Market, not only the advantages of entry but the disadvantages of staying out. The Treaty of Rome states that we will have to endure freedom of movement and of labour between our small country and the Continental countries. This is a fact of life that we must accept.
In this regard it would be as well to look back a little to the position of Irish industry and how it has developed over the past 40 or 50 years. I feel it is necessary to do that so as to make a proper appraisal of our current situation and what needs to be done to equip the industries of this country to face up to competition and take the advantages that are undoubtedly available in the very enlarged Common Market.
Irish industry, as it now exists, developed mainly under the high protection policies in the period after 1932. Prior to that the policy was one of moderate protection for industry with the emphasis on agricultural exports. Whatever merits protection may have had nearly 40 years ago, the Government certainly did not visualise an industrial structure that would be called on to compete in conditions of free trade. The Common Market could not have been foreseen 40 years ago when the then Government decided on a vigorous policy of protection for Irish industry. The aim then was largely to cater for a small market to make the Irish economy self-sufficient to the greatest possible degree. Under that policy of protection the sole aim of an Irish industrialist was to cater for a small market which was widely diversified, often irrespective of the increased cost to the Irish consumer.
Every encouragement was given to Irish and foreign firms to set up plans inside the tariff wall and to provide the necessary goods for the small Irish population. This country was not alone in adopting a protectionist policy 40 years ago. Protection in industry was an accepted policy by countries all over the world, many of these countries being far greater and far richer than our small country.
We now face a situation where, under the Treaty of Rome, the position is almost completely reversed. Irish manufacturers and industrialists, instead of being called on to serve a small market, will now have to compete not only in their own country against outside industrialists and manufacturers but they will have to seek viable and profitable markets among the 250,000,000 people who will constitute the enlarged Community. This will call for a vigorous and realistic policy of adaptation of existing industry and, even more important in my view, a marketing policy to ensure that whatever emphasis is laid on the adaptation, reorganisation and rationalisation of Irish industry will be directed to those industries that can hope to compete successfully in the European market. Instead of adopting a policy of trying to make every Irish industry efficient or low cost to some degree, a realistic policy should be adopted by limiting our scarce funds to those industries that offer a genuine hope of expansion under free trade conditions.
However unpopular it may be, it should be realised that certain industries, not necessarily small ones, cannot and will not compete in free trade conditions. Provision should be made now, and not when the industry is forced out of business by competition from abroad, to look at the situation realistically and begin finding alternative employment for the staffs involved. A number of cases have occurred recently where well established, or apparently well established Irish industries, have suddenly closed their doors, leaving hundreds of Irish workers without employment. It would have been far more realistic, but perhaps less advantageous from the point of view of getting votes, if a few years ago the Government, with the information at their disposal, had taken steps to anticipate the closing of these factories and arranged to have either alternative industries, which would be viable in free trade conditions, or else arrange for the retraining of the workers so that they would be ready when the closure came to enter new and more viable industries.
We have seen recently that the Minister for Finance has increased taxation on companies. This is a retrograde step in view of the necessity for all firms and companies to re-equip and modernise in the face of European competition. Any company, whether big or small, can find the necessary capital to re-equip itself from only two sources. It can either do it from internal sources, which is the most desirable way because it means it must accumulate capital out of profits, or else it must borrow money from the Government or from the bank or get handouts by way of grants. By far the most desirable of these three is the type of financing that comes from internal sources. Several Senators, including myself, paid tribute in that regard to an Irish State industry in this House yesterday, Irish Steel Holdings, which managed to finance its extensions and modernisation programme mainly from its own resources. It is quite unrealistic to rely on any Irish business or industry to accumulate sufficient capital to modernise its plant if it has to pay taxation in the region of 60 per cent.
Along with emphasising the importance of it, and assisting industries that would be viable in free trade conditions to modernise their plant in good time, we should be taking the necessary steps to organise our education and training establishments. In this regard, I should like to pay tribute to the steps that have been taken, particularly by organisations such as AnCO and others, to train and re-train Irish labour for higher skilled jobs.
The Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement must be considered in the same context as the European Economic Community. In my view, the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement has been a disaster for a number of our industries. It has had very serious repercussions, as we all know from the mounting volume of consumer goods that are coming into the country, without any compensating advantages accruing to the agricultural sector. It is now obvious that the timing of the Agreement was wrong; and the country was quite unprepared for the rush of imports that have caused serious unemployment, particularly in the textile and footwear industries. In my view no further tariff reductions under the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement should take place until our negotiations with the EEC are concluded. Meanwhile, steps should be taken, where serious injury has been done to certain industries such as the footwear industry, to invoke the relevant article in the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement whereby up to 3 per cent of the value of total imports can be relieved of the reduction in tariffs. That 3 per cent would, in fact, mean a very small percentage in terms of actual imports, but it would mean a tremendous lot to the men and women who have lost their jobs in the affected industries during the past few years.
There is an obligation on those who oppose our entry into the Common Market to demonstrate that the alternative offers better opportunities. One of the most important things in the Treaty of Rome is its regional policy, where it provides for aid to less favoured regions in order to encourage balanced regional growth. Our regional policy is being developed, I hope, with that end in view. Every effort should be made to make it compatible with the requirements of the EEC so that when our negotiations come to a successful conclusion, which I hope they will, we will be able to adapt straight away to the regional requirements and ensure that the necessary assistance is forthcoming to the west and south-west of Ireland, an area that has suffered so much from emigration over the years.
Mr. E. Ryan Mr. E. Ryan
Mr. E. Ryan: Many people seem to approach the question of membership of the European Economic Community on the basis that we have already a satisfactory economy, that we have a viable economic system and that we can compete indefinitely in a reasonably satisfactory way on the basis of this system. That, of course, could be taken as a compliment to the present Government. To that extent I welcome this approach; but it is an assumption which needs very careful examination and one which, I think, is not entirely true.
At the present time we have approximately 30 per cent of the population depending mainly on agriculture, but only half of what our agricultural community produces can be used at home. This means that we have to find markets abroad for approximately half our agricultural produce. These markets are almost all buyers' markets. They are markets in which a very poor price is paid. Very often they are markets in which we can sell only by heavily subsidising agricultural produce.
This is one of the basic problems we face today. A second basic problem is the one of unemployment. This is a chronic problem which has been with us for the past 50 years—that we have been unable to absorb all those who wish to find employment in this country. It is almost certain that in the future agriculture will absorb even fewer people in employment than it has in the past. In the last ten years something in the region of 100,000 people have left agriculture, and this drift from the land will undoubtedly continue whether or not we are in the European Economic Community. It may not be quite as rapid a move from the land as it was in the past, but it certainly will continue to a greater or lesser extent.
Employment therefore will have to be provided mainly in industry. A certain amount of increased employment can be provided in the services sector, but the bulk will have to be provided by industry. In addition to those who are moving out of agriculture, we have the school leavers. It has not been possible to fully absorb even those up to now. If more people continue to move from agriculture, if emigration is curtailed —it is less than it was in the past and this is certainly something we all hope will happen—and if the population increases, and again there are indications that it is doing so, then we will have a significant increase in the number for whom employment must be found. This employment must be found in industry which means that there must be a very significant expansion of industry to provide the necessary employment.
The question which faces us is this: can this be done? Can more employment be found? Can industry be expanded under our present economic system? Every politician, every party, has its own views, its own policies, its own pet ideas as to how industry can be expanded and how employment can be found. Many of these ideas are good, but, nevertheless, I believe that these are only marginal helps. They may help to some extent but they will not bring about the significant improvement, the significant expansion, that is necessary to deal with this problem.
If these two basic problems—finding a satisfactory outlet for our agricultural products and finding increased employment in industry—are incapable of being solved under our economic system, or our present economic circumstances, then I think we are bound to consider very carefully any other solution to these problems. I believe that it is in this context we should consider membership of the EEC. If membership of the EEC will solve these problems, or will show a prospect of at least improving this situation, membership is something we must seriously consider.
In considering membership of the European Community we should not approach it—and many people seem to do so—as though it were a club that we might join for certain benefits that are available; but, on the other hand, if we do not join we can go on in much the same way as we have hitherto. In certain circumstances, if we do not join, things will not by any means be as they were before. If we do not join the EEC we may be facing a completely new situation. To give the most extreme example, if Britain, for instance, joins and we do not, then things certainly will not be as they were before. It is not a simple alternative of joining for benefits or of just going on as we are. It is a dynamic situation, a situation which is changing all the time. It is not a question of joining a club or not joining. It is a matter of opting for one of two buses, each going in a completely different direction. We cannot stand still. We must decide in which direction we are going. Consequently, it is a very difficult problem and is one about which we have to make a positive decision one way or the other.
I have suggested that we should consider membership of the European Community as a means of solving two of our basic problems. Of course, we must ask ourselves: can membership solve these problems? Is membership likely to solve these problems? So far as agriculture and agricultural produce are concerned, it is almost certain that membership would, if not solve this problem, certainly improve the situation very considerably. We would have in the European Community a guaranteed market for our agricultural goods. We would have fair prices and very much higher prices. We would have an enlightened effort, under the Mansholt Plan, to improve the conditions of the agricultural community generally.
I do not propose to go into the details of these improvements or to go into the prices that are being paid in EEC countries. However, we should consider one very dramatic contrast in regard to agricultural prices. In considering the circumstances under which we sell our goods at the moment we should consider the policy of the country to which we sell most of our goods as compared to the policy of the European Community. We sell most of our agricultural goods to Britain and the policy there is to pay as little as possible for these goods—to get them as cheaply as possible—whereas the policy of the European Community is to give a fair deal to farmers and to pay prices which will ensure, as far as possible, that the farming community have the same standard of living as the rest of the community. There is a diametrically opposite point of view and policy in regard to what the Government of Great Britain will do in regard to the farm produce we sell them. Without going into details and without measuring exactly the different situation in which we are going to find ourselves in the EEC we are, undoubtedly, going to get a better deal for our farm produce and for our farmers in the EEC.
As regards industry and employment, the situation is not by any means as clear cut. We will, of course, have a huge market. We will have unlimited opportunity to sell our goods. This is very important because our home market is not large enough to absorb the necessary output of industry which would, in turn, give the employment that is so necessary. We must have a large amount of exports and we must have them in favourable conditions and in a market where we would, at least, get a fair deal and where we would not be deterred or hindered by tariff walls. We will have favourable conditions in the European Community. We will have as good a chance as any other member of the Community to sell our goods.
That does not mean of course that in the Community we are going to have a guaranteed market, guaranteed prices or guaranteed success. If our industry is to succeed in the Community it must be highly efficient industry. We must have industrialists and staff who are imaginative in their approach, skill and marketing and we must have competitive prices. The fact is that the opportunity is there in favourable conditions and favourable circumstances. There is the possibility that we can expand industry and provide increased employment in industry in the European Community. If we do not succeed in the Community, then it is fair to say that we cannot succeed anywhere. Consequently, there are strong arguments for joining the Community from this point of view.
Industry must expand and there is no reason why our various industries should not be successful in the Community. Already we have many industries which are exporting successfully. They export to various countries throughout the world and export to countries within the Community. There is no reason why many more of our industries should not do likewise given the proper opportunity. Of course, it is true that some of our industries will collapse under the competition which will exist in EEC conditions. It is true that some of them, through no fault of their own or some of them through inefficiency, will be unable to stand up to the competition in the EEC. On the other hand, we will have many industries which will expand and thrive within the Community.
Some people who are opposed to our joining the Community talk about the dangers of some of our industries closing down. We are not in the Community at the moment and some of our industries are closing down. Industries have closed down over the last 20 or 30 years. This is a fact of life in every country. Every country has had the experience where, for one reason or another, some industries were not able to compete. This is nothing new. In the Community, our industries will have an excellent chance and wonderful opportunities. I am confident that our good industries will expand and that we will have further industries. It will give an opportunity to industry to expand and to give the employment which is vitally necessary if we are to survive as a country.
The main objections have been made in regard to our membership of the Community. One of these objections was that our industries are too small, that they would be unable to compete against the huge industries and huge cartels that exist in the European Community. The other objection—which I will deal with in greater detail in a moment—is the fact that we are a small country and that we would be powerless. The Community has many, many small industries and many successful small industries. Not only in the Community but in most of the developed countries of the western world small industries do very well and play a large part in all of the big manufacturing countries.
In Great Britain 91 per cent of all manufacturing industries employ less than 100 people. In the USA the figure is almost the same. In the USA 68 per cent of industries employ less than 20 people. In Japan 98 per cent of the industries employ less than 100 people and Japan gives the impression of a country with huge industries. In France 95 per cent of the industries employ less than 50 people. In Sweden the figure is 85 per cent employing less than 50 people. In Norway, 94 per cent employ less than 50.
It may be seen from these figures that small industries can thrive in the Community or in any developed manufacturing country. It is not a question of big industries; it is a question of efficient industries. It is a matter of industries which have carved out a niche for themselves in that they can make something people want and can make it better than any other country. There is no danger, therefore, because our industries are small by international standards.
We will also be told that we are a small country, that our power in the EEC will be small too, and that we will not be able to fight our corner or make our will felt. Every effort has been made to ensure that the small countries in the Community are able to get their points of view across and considered. In regard to the Council of Ministers, the Commission, the Parliament, the small countries have voting powers and have strength in these institutions which is far greater in proportion than those of the bigger countries. I do not propose to give all the figures, but in the Parliament the Big Four would have 36 members each. Ireland, Norway and Denmark would have ten each. This is out of all proportion to the relative populations of the big countries and of the three smaller countries. This exists right through all the institutions, every effort being made to ensure that the small countries have the opportunity to have an effective vote, and are not outvoted or dominated by the larger countries.
It is not usual for the big countries to be voting against the small countries. They will be voting on issues which vary from country to country. They will often be voting on agricultural questions. When agriculture is an issue, France will almost certainly vote with us, as well as several other countries. On every issue there will be a different line-up, so that the small countries are most unlikely to be frequently dominated by the bigger countries. The most conclusive argument that I can make about the suggestion that the smaller countries will be dominated is that the existing small countries in the EEC are the most enthusiastic members.
I should like to say a few words about the question of sovereignty. This is a question about which many people are unhappy and it is true nobody can be completely happy about the fact that our sovereignty will be affected to some extent. We are naturally reluctant to give away part of something for which we had to fight so hard for many hundreds of years. Political sovereignty is not of much use if we are to be economically dominated. It is not simply a matter of giving away everything and getting nothing in return. We are sharing in the sovereignty of all the countries in the Community. We are getting something as well as giving away. The sovereignty that we are giving away or sharing is limited and clearly defined and not anything like the exaggerated picture which is painted by those who oppose membership of the Community.
We are not the first country to be asked to surrender some of our sovereignty. All of the existing Six have done it. Most of these are countries with long historic traditions, proud countries, who have, nevertheless, surrendered some part of their sovereignty and do not appear to have regrets. All the applicants are fully conscious of what is involved and yet they consider it is worth doing.
Professor Quinlan Professor Quinlan
Professor Quinlan: It is time a critical attitude was brought to bear on this. I hope to be constructively critical. I regard that a person is either a fool or a moron if he has made up his mind completely on the Common Market. We have not yet got the facts. A negotiating team is being sent out to probe and bring back the facts and enlighten us. When they come to an agreement, only then will we be in full possession of the facts. Then it will be up to us, as responsible Irish men and women, to assess the situation calmly and decide by referendum whether we accept or reject what the negotiating team has brought back.
I do not intend to cause any embarrassment to our negotiating team who are doing a vital and essential job but I would caution the political parties. Even if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are endorsing completely our joining the EEC and saying we have no alternative, I am not at all sure that the Irish electorate, when confronted in a referendum with the problem of answering the question for or against, will accept the decision of the two parties concerned. There will be a great deal of individual thinking. The influence of political parties is not what it has been in the past and, therefore, I regard this issue as far more open than Dáil debates would suggest it is. We should then get on with the probing.
If I might interpret Senator Ryan's very fine speech in favour of EEC, the dominant fact emerging from it was that we are part of Europe and, therefore, we should play our part with Europe. I suggest we are doing that. In fact, we regard ourselves as part of the human race. We are trying within the limit of our resources in all the organisations concerned—European-based ones in Strasbourg, Commonwealth ones based in England, or UN in New York—to play our part to the fullest in them. I hope that we may continue for a long time to do that. Therefore those arguments based on our great standing as Europeans, and so on, I take with a grain of salt.
By and large, the main argument that comes down is an economic one. We want to get into this because we want to sell beef and milk and milk products. There is a great deal of substance in that argument. To whom are we going to sell the milk? Who is going to buy our milk products within that Community, but England? In other words, joining is a device for trying to extract a certain higher price out of England and to get a greater slice of the British market. Make no mistake about it, our selling teams have tried hard enough in past 30, 40 or 50 years to sell on the Continent.
You have only to look at the adverse balance of trade, which is at least four to one, with France, Germany, Holland, all the other countries, to see how we have failed to sell on the Continent. Guaranteeing access to the market does not guarantee that you can sell there. Guaranteeing us the right to place Irish butter on the French market does not guarantee that we can make the Frenchman eat it. We can take the example from 15 years ago, when Denmark sent butter here during a period of shortage. The Irish people took very unkindly to that because it was a different type from what we were used to. The people of the Continent have their types and already have their marketing organisations going. Therefore, let us not delude ourselves that we shall be selling anywhere else but largely in the British market, if we enter the European Economic Community.
We want to get there to sell beef and milk products. That brings the Common Market down to bedrock. In other words, it is a plan by economists.
Goodness knows, if this country were to be saved, we had the second and Third Programmes. Targets were set. An increase of 4 or 5 per cent was projected in regard to employment and production. Dr. Lucey has remarked that the only figure on target is that for the removal of people from the land, which has even surpassed the target set in the economic development programme.
Once more I wish to be critical. I take the advice of the economists again with a large grain of salt. By and large, the science of economics is a very indefinite and very inexact one. At times we are inclined to give a kind of scientific credence to their figures which is not deserved at all. Look back to the past 20 years and tell us how often have the economists been right in this country? That is not criticising economists but criticising the science of economics and its present inadequate state of development. We should, therefore, be careful. If I am to bank on the future and look ahead, I see in that future not the Common Market—a type of a closed club within narrow boundaries. I see the world responding to a call to feed the hungry or perish. After all, Pope Paul has reiterated that call again and again. U Thant has called from the UN for a realistic involvement in feeding the hungry. This means that the better off people of the earth amongst whom we must rank very high, must give of their wealth to help their less fortunate brethren.
Surely a regional policy today should be concerned with the world as a whole? We are looking at the world as a whole, not merely concerned with making richer a little part of that world—this part now called Europe. Surely our horizons are far beyond that? Would somebody tell me who is mad in this talk about increased population and we unable to feed I think 300,000,000 people—I get lost in figures; it is some fabulous number? The population will have doubled in the next 40 years. Surely the presence of such a population calls for the fullest possible utilisation of the world's food resources? Surely that must mean that agriculture comes into its own? Surely it must mean that our agricultural potential can be tapped within that framework on a state which would be utterly impossible in the future? Either we accept that as a vision of the future or else we reject completely all this talk about the brotherhood of man and about concern for the underprivileged in the other continents. The two bob we give to a collection is not a measure of what the nations will have to give.
Indeed what I am advocating is only prudent self-defence. As soon as the United States gets out of its unfortunate involvement in Vietnam, I am certain that it will be spearheading a move to protect the world by removing the causes of injustice and oppression. This agricultural era will come. Therefore, if I am to put my money on anything, I am prepared to plan on that rather than on anything else being offered to us.
Looking at it in another way, we have much more than economics with which to concern ourselves. Indeed, it is a poor reflection on our country to say that, after our 700 years struggle, economics is the only criterion. I would go so far as to say that had a bunch of economists, at any time during that 700 years, given a blueprint for the future, it would have been integration with England. It would have been full development of the resources of our combined community, with a regional policy that would save the west. That is obvious.
Even though we may be called on to be more realist at this present stage, I hope we shall examine carefully the credentials of the group we see emerging. This group as it emerged in the fifties was highly attractive. It was dominated by the Christian Democrat philosophy. It had mighty statesmen of the calibre of de Gasperi, Schuman and Adenauer planning the future. It was outward looking. It was concerned with the peoples of the world. It was concerned, first of all, with preventing conflict within Europe. Secondly it was concerned with meeting the challenge from Russia on its eastern flank. These were real situations in the fifties. The tanks that rolled into Hungary could well have rolled right to the Channel. But ten years later, examine how that has changed, and changed very dramatically. Does anyone here today say that Russia poses a serious threat to Western Europe? I do not think anyone could hold that. Russia has her own troubles with China. There is also the fact that all Eastern Europe is held. At the least sign of Russia embarking on any aggression obviously the whole of Eastern Europe would go up in flames. Nobody takes it that at present Western Europe has to organise its own defence or perish.
Again the idealism of the fifties has been replaced by the pragmatic approach of the Social Democrats. It might be symbolised by Herr Willi Brandt of Germany. This approach has been completely inward-looking. Today there is very little emphasis on aid to the world outside The Six, or The Ten, or whatever it will be. In fact, the only concern that The Six have for the world outside is whenever they have a surplus. Then in violation of all their ideas of free trade and of fair trade, they dump that surplus on any market that pleases them and it is of no concern to them that the dumping crashes the market on the genuine suppliers to that region. That, to my mind, is not a healthy approach and I question it.
I suggest in the months ahead that we should look very coldly at how this Community is really emerging. Indeed, I sometimes smile when I hear the great reliance placed on the fact that we must get in, or that we can influence the Community in its structure, in its policies and all the rest of it. If I have taken Senator Ryan up correctly, we are going to have ten members out of an assembly of about 300, that is, one in 30. I am almost one in 30 in this assembly and I do not believe that I have had a tremendous influence on national policy. I do not delude myself into believing that I have had a tremendous influence on national policy just because I happen to be in this assembly, despite the fact that I have tried, and tried hard, to press for progressive schemes but the response has nearly always been the same: “Take your time; we cannot do that just now.” I am afraid, I regret to say, that our position in Europe will be largely that, except that here we speak the one language. In Europe I do not feel our ten members of Parliament will be as fluent in the European languages as they should be even to exercise their rights or their weight as ten of the 300.
A more important objection is that this group is not basically a democratic group. It is a group that is basically governed by the Commission, because the Commission is a Civil Service in five languages. Goodness knows we have one in two languages and I shudder to think of what one in five languages would be like. There is genuine concern in Europe at the stranglehold the Commission has got. The Council of Ministers only consider what the Commission sends up to them. If the European Parliament pleads, it is like, the Opposition, in outer space. Again, that is something that is very dangerous. The main problem we face here at the moment is that we are a Civil Service-run State. We have difficulties in education. Fianna Fáil may replace the Minister for Education, Deputy Faulkner, by somebody else. The country may replace Fianna Fáil by a Fine Gael-Labour group but who will replace Mr. FitzGerald and who will replace Mr. O'Connor, and they are educational policy in this country? Unfortunately, it is going to be the same in the thinking of the Commission. Again, the links to the Commission will be links from the permanent Civil Service here. Politicians may come and go but the Civil Service will remain, and therefore the complete links to the Commission will be from Civil Service channels. Again, I query that. If the type of society we envisage for the future is not democratic but managerial, well it is not my type of society and I do not know whether it is really what we should look for in the future.
I should now like to speak on education. What is the view of Denmark on this? What are they telling their people about the advantages they see for their country in the Common Market? We could learn a lot from that. I have not got the answers but we are setting up a study group in UCC. We are just all questioning.
Tomás Ó Maoláin Tomás Ó Maoláin
Tomás Ó Maoláin: Why should you not get a chance?
Professor Quinlan Professor Quinlan
Professor Quinlan: At the end of this period when we look at that I, and I am sure all the others, will study it in the same way. We will look at it sincerely and honestly. Then, with the Minister, we will say: “There will be more joy in Heaven for the one sinner who repents than for the 99 just men who have swallowed the Common Market without looking at it.” We intend to do what we can. In conclusion, I think I would lay odds of about four to one against England ever going in. These odds are lengthening every day.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Hillery) Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Hillery)
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Hillery): I will take that.
Tomás Ó Maoláin Tomás Ó Maoláin
Tomás Ó Maoláin: Does the Senator remember when he spoke a few years ago of England as “the sick man of Europe”?
Professor Quinlan Professor Quinlan
Professor Quinlan: This is based on the many things which England will have to give up and also the present economic situation there which is not one that will admit of the imposition of the hardships, supposedly short-term, that will have to be imposed for England to get in. That will create a very new ball game and one, I hope, which will open up the world as a whole. I hope then it will be a question of getting together to feed the hungry and in that situation I feel our agriculture will come into its own and we will still retain our own limited sovereignty here to plan in our own way without dictation from Brussels, London or New York.
Mr. Kennedy Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Kennedy: The first thing that occurs to me about the White Paper is that it is quite inadequate, and indeed incorrect, since it was compiled on the premise that it would be to the advantage of this country to go into the EEC and that, in fact, eventually we shall do so. It is beyond all doubt that, proceeding on that basis, and indeed on the instructions of the Government, the Civil Service, who prepared this White Paper, deliberately downgraded the disadvantages of entry. From the very beginning the Government proceeded in the wrong way completely. The Government made up their minds that it would be a good thing to go in and then, having decided that, proceeded to bolster up a case for entry. Unfortunately, as far as I can see, other sections of the community adopted a similar procedure. In other words, they decided first of all whether it would be a good thing to go in or to stay out, then they proceeded to make their case for or against, with the result that when new evidence is produced they are quite unable to depart from their original decision. Fortunately, however, the largest representative group in this country, because of lack of full consultation and lack of knowledge, are unable to make up their minds. I say fortunately, because I am referring to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions which represent 500,000 workers. Because of lack of adequate information being passed on by the Government to Congress and also because of lack of full consultation Congress have been unable to make up their minds about this vital matter and therefore they are unable to advise their aggregate membership of 500,000 people.
My own union, the largest in the country and which has 150,000 members employed in practically every industry and service throughout this country, are asked questions about the Common Market every day of the week and we are quite unable to answer them. I am referring to the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union. First of all, we are asked: “What about our jobs?” Secondly: “What about our wages? Will wages go up when we go into the Common Market?” Again, we cannot answer these questions with any degree of finality. They ask us: “Is it possible, if we go into the EEC, for foreign industrialists to come into this country, take advantage of the grant system through the IDA and then proceed to employ foreign workers in those industries?” None of these questions has been answered and there are many more. We are not in a position to answer them and I doubt very much if the Minister can answer them. He cannot answer them because all the facts are not in this document.
In relation to this absence of facts in this document there is an extraordinary statement on page 13 of the Report on the Progress of Negotiations. Under the heading “Likely Developments of the Negotiations” it is stated that:
The period since our negotiations opened can be regarded as essentially the fact finding stage.
I suggest that the fact finding stage was before we committed this country to entry. I suggest to the Minister and to the Government that the vast majority of our people have not been told the facts. They were probably not told these facts because the Government themselves do not know the facts. Even at this late stage, I suggest that the Government should set up an independent commission, representing all political parties and other outside interests, including the trade union movement. That commission should be sent for six months to Brussels, or to any of the six countries, so that they could ascertain all the facts.
Not alone do the trade union movement not know the facts, and are not able to make up their minds on this vital matter, but the farming community are in exactly the same position; professional people are in the same position; employers are in the same position. Every day of the week we are asked by employers to advise them if they should reconstruct their plants, restructure their industries, get in new machinery. They do not know what the future will hold for their plants and industries. The same applies in Britain.
I read recently that it has just been revealed that, since the EEC was set up in 1958, the EEC Commission has handed down some 40,000 decisions— most of them, admittedly, of a minor nature. The British Foreign Office have, to date, translated only 30,000 of those decisions. This means that there is no knowledge of 10,000 decisions made by the EEC Commission. In respect of the 30,000 that have been translated there is great doubt about the interpretation of most of them. In the interests of the community the Government should, even at this late stage, set up an impartial commission representing every interest in this country to try to ascertain all the facts and then let the people know them so that when the referendum takes place, they will vote on the facts and not on a purely political party basis. Furthermore, I would suggest to the Minister that all the vital interests in this country, not alone the Government but other political parties, the farming community and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, should not only be consulted in regard to the progress of the negotiations but they should be invited to participate in such negotiations.
Mr. Keery Mr. Keery
Mr. Keery: The implications of being a citizen, or Government, of the European Community, bound by the Treaty of Rome are challenging. In the context of Ireland, and from the standpoint of the Fianna Fáil Party, they may well prove revolutionary, in my view, in the long term. For example, as a people who are accustomed to talk of emigration as a haemorrhage of our life's blood we will find it difficult to get used to the mobility of labour inside Ireland and Europe, which will be an inevitable part of the rest of this century, inside or outside the EEC. Think, too, of the shock the North of Ireland may get when Stormont find it impossible, under the Treaty of Rome, to restrict any movement of labour from the Republic northwards.
In the past year or so we have felt the domestic strain of pursuing, on the Border issue, a policy of pacifism and the resolution of political differences by negotiation. This is a policy which, in the international scene, we have been proud to pursue through the United Nations for years. As members of a European Community committed to the defence of that Community we will be in a power bloc where nine out of ten members belong to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. In this environment it will become all the more important that our well established approach to international affairs through the United Nations should be maintained.
The compatibility between the agricultural proposals of European Commissioner Dr. Sicco Mansholt and the fifth aim of Fianna Fáil, “to establish as many families as practicable on the land”, depends on recognising that “practicable” should mean “as can enjoy a standard of living comparable to families living in urban areas”. Entering the Community will mean many such agonising reappraisals for us all. Particularly for young people the logic of the future must surely lead to a clear “yes” for EEC entry in any referendum. Young people are for peace. not war. Young people are internationalists, not nationalists. As citizens of the global village created by today's educationalists and the mass media, they are for technological progress and effciency, provided it is democratically controlled and committed to the good for all. This commitment is enshrined in the preamble and principles of the Treaty of Rome. I will not delay by placing that preamble and those principles on the Official Report; Senator O'Higgins has summarised them and they may be found in the Official English Translation reprinted in 1962 of the Treaty of Rome, pages 13 to 21.
One probably cannot argue with the type of opponent of EEC entry who dismisses the preamble and principles as “pie in the sky” and who questions the bona fides of the present members of the Community towards those objectives. I can only assert that my reading of the history of the Community in the 13 years since its foundation is that it has fitfully but faithfully followed the objectives of the Treaty of Rome. It must also be recognised that the institutions set up under the Treaty, particularly the Commission and the Court of Justice, are bound to seek the carrying out of the Treaty obligations, and this in itself seems to me to be a fair guarantee of the future pattern of Europe.
No doubt there are some young people, particularly those with a socialist inclination, who are apprehensive about any treaty based, as Deputy Brendan Corish has put it, “on the principles of laissez faire and free competition”. When will Irish socialists realise that the attitudes and sloganising of the twenties and thirties are irrelevant today—that the socialism of J. K. Galbraith is different from the socialism of Karl Marx because the world today differs more every day from the world of 1916?
In Ireland we have accepted a mixed economy and accepted the existence of multi-national business corporations as a fact of life. It seems to me that the preamble's and the Treaty's commitment to improving the living and working conditions of peoples and the equalising of regional prosperity provides a working framework for socialist ideas in national governments and community institutions. This is certainly the view of the majority of political parties and trade unions in the EEC countries today. It cannot be stressed too often that the European Community is a community of democratic States accepting applications for membership from none but democratic States and engaged, itself, in the democratisation of its own institutions. This means that the future development of the Community is inevitably influenced by political developments in each European country.
The policy emphasis of an enlarged Community will change as, for example, the fortunes of Britain's Conservative Government or Germany's Social Democratic Government change. The scope for change, taking account of the various European governments, is enormous. Part of my own optimism about the future of Europe—and here is the difference between myself and Senator Quinlan—springs from my choice of scenario to the Europe of the late 20th century. In my view the flow of European thought will be to the left, will be towards neutrality in international affairs, and will slowly but surely be towards taking on, on a Community scale, the real evils of our time: poverty and pollution at home, and hunger and deprivation in the Third World.
Ireland's voice should play an honourable part in all these trends. If I am correct in the view that the future of the European Communities will be dictated by the political development of the member States and the growing democratisation of the Community institutions, the urgency of a greater appreciation by Irish people, political parties and legislators, of European politics is underlined. While, to a large extent, it remains with Seán Citizen and our political parties and Members of the Oireachtas to help themselves, this education process could be greatly assisted in a number of ways. I hope the news coverage of the Press, radio and television will continue to become more European oriented. I hope our schools and universities—I was glad to hear Senator Quinlan's good news— will pay special attention to the history, the culture and the social, economic and political development of Europe. I hope our libraries, including the Oireachtas Library, will recognise the need to build up their stock of contemporary European material. I am sorry to hear Senator Kennedy's pleas, because the trade unions can do a great deal from their own resources to make inquiries about the future of Europe, in close consultation with the European trade unions, and so on. I am surprised that they have not been able, from their resources and with their fellow trade unionists on the Continent, to get the answers to many of the types of questions he raised. I hope trade unions, professional institutes and parliamentarians will make more efforts to get to know their European counterparts and the framework in which they work.
There are two approaches to the discussion of the pros and cons of Irish entry into the EEC. First, in the vein in which I have been speaking so far, there is dispute about the future vision of Europe. This is a debate which, although it may appear a mere exchange of pious generalisations, is nevertheless extremely important. The ideas which change history are those which can be exchanged in one or two sentences. My vision is of an Ireland playing an integral part in a European Community with the collective strength to lead the world as well as its member States towards peace and prosperity. I am happy to let that vision stand against the Sinn Féin and Labour vision, as I understand it, of our relatively insignificant State standing alone and attempting, through its own resources, to offer its people a standard of living equivalent to the world around it, while admonishing that world for its involvement with big business and its disregard for the Third World.
The second type of discussion of the pros and cons of Irish entry to the EEC hangs on one's assessment of the detailed implications of membership, one's understanding of the technical details of the Treaty and the Community's directions and regulations, and one's estimates of the transitional arrangements for exceptional measures necessary to meet specific Irish problems. As a person who is neither an agriculturist, a fisherman, a businessman, or an industrialist, I am not in a good position to adjudicate on matters of this kind. It seems to me, however, that the Government's view is that we have no worthwhile alternative but to enter, and their approach to the membership negotiations is sound. I welcome the circulation by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Report on the Progress of Negotiations. Looking at the continuing negotiations all I wish to say is that it is extremely important that the documents and memoranda we submit should be of the quality and detailed thoroughness of the best academic research and that they should be backed as far as possible by full consultation with the domestic interests involved.
I would say to anyone who suspects that his interests may be affected in some important way by entry to the EEC that now is the time to inform yourself, now is the time to put your case to the Departments so that, if there is some difficulty that requires attention, it may be raised if necessary in the course of the negotiations. I may say that anyone I know who has followed this advice has been impressed by the assistance he received and I would stress that the White Paper on the implications for Ireland of entry, which we are discussing now, is a general introduction to the subject and not the last word.
When making any assessment of the implications of EEC entry it is important that people should realise that the Community, as Senator Ryan has pointed out, is a dynamic and evolving institution. It is more important that individuals and organisations should appreciate the working principles of the Community and its institutions than to assume that prices and trading conditions which Ireland would face as a member of the Community at the end of the five year transitional period would remain the same as they are now. The future of the Community's common agricultural policy, and the Community's new steps towards economic and monetary union are, for example, likely to be of greater import to agriculture and our economy than the immediate benefit of higher agricultural prices, or the threat of free competition to sensitive industries. Again, I am prepared to be optimistic about the future, because as yet I have to meet a problem on which we must stand alone. In fact, it is for me an attraction of the European Community that in any matter about which we are concerned—regional development or fisheries, for example— we shall almost certainly find a fellow pleader in at least one of the other member States of the enlarged Community and almost certainly in one of what will be the Community's Big Four: Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
My main apprehensions about the prospect of Irish entry to the EEC spring from my doubts about the preparedness of Irish industry for free competition and my fears that our national planning and, indeed, national attitudes towards planning, may not be as geared for entry as I would like. Appendix 3 of the White Paper outlines the measures taken, or in progress, to prepare industry for free trade conditions. My experience, which may not be representative, has been that there is widespread cynicism about the work of the CIO and all the other bodies and incentives which one finds detailed in the Appendix. Cynicism is a curse in this country; and I should like to urge management and employees alike to shake off any scepticism they may have about aid that may be available to them, or indeed any false assumption they may make that nothing is available to them. They will have only themselves to blame if they find themselves pinched by free trade having made little effort to adapt.
I welcome the reports issuing recently from the Committee for Industrial Progress. Any time I meet someone engaged in one of the industries covered by the report I make a point of inquiring whether he has heard of the report and noted the recommendations made in it. So far, I regret to say, I have always been answered in the negative. I suggest that management and labour should do more to help themselves and that further publicity should be given to the availability of these reports and other aids to adaptation.
An example of an area in which I have fears that our policy making is not sufficiently advanced to take full advantage of the developing community is regional planning. This is a point I already referred to in the debate on the Appropriation Bill, 1970, in Volume 69, No. 1, of the Official Report. I now welcome the assurance given by the Tánaiste, in the Dáil, last night and reported in today's Irish Press:
Our new regional planning machinery is expected to provide a basis for as detailed regional policy as any in Europe well before our entry into the Community. I hope that the proposals for north-south co-operation in this regard made by the Taoiseach at the recent Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis will also bear fruit.
Negotiations for our admission to the EEC have got under way because the heads of state or governments of the present six members of the Community decided to have a summit meeting in The Hague in December, 1969. I should like to quote from The Hague Declaration which is included as Appendix I of the White Paper, at page 112:
In so far as the applicant States accept the Treaties and their political finality, the decisions taken since the entry into force of the Treaties and the options made in the sphere of development, the Heads of State or Government have indicated their agreement to the opening of negotiations between the Community on the one hand and the applicant States on the other.
Therefore, those of us who accept the Government's decision to enter the negotiations have thereby accepted that the Treaty of Rome and all that it has led to is not negotiable. One must therefore be either for or against the Community and its objectives, whereas there is room for shades of opinion on whatever entry terms may be negotiated. Those terms will be placed before the Dáil, for approval, in due course. If the Parliament and people of Ireland endorse the entry terms negotiated by the Government we shall, in all probability, accede to the Treaties in 1973.
The Third Programme for Economic and Social Development is due to complete its term in 1972. I must confess I am beginning to sympathise with the many people who feel that economic and political developments have made this programme somewhat irrelevant. Indeed, part of this sense of irrelevance must stem from the context in which the programme was produced vis-á-vis the EEC. On page 15 of the Third Programme it says:
The choice of period, 1969 to 1972, was governed by a number of considerations, among them the fact that there was no longer any realistic prospect of Ireland becoming a member of the EEC in the immediate future. The changed circumstances made irrelevant some of the assumption on which the Second Proramme was founded.
Again, we see how quickly times change. I should like to end by suggesting that if we accede to the EEC the country would be well served by a programme of economic and social development specifically geared to make the most of the transitional period negotiated. If we decide to join the die will be cast and surely then the whole community will be prepared to respond to the challenge of change and progress in the modern world of which it has fought shy for so long in so many ways.
Professor Kelly Professor Kelly
Professor Kelly: I am not about to give the House a lecture on economics or agriculture because they are two subjects about which I know little. Nor do I want to range widely over the larger implications of our application to join the European Economic Community. I want to make two points of a specialised kind which have not yet been made and which, perhaps, this debate might otherwise terminate leaving untouched.
The first is a professional question to which the attention of the House ought be drawn. If this country joins an enlarged economic community it will mean increased contact between various professions here and the corresponding professions abroad. That will not cause any great difficulties other than linguistic difficulties in a large number of these professions. The medical profession here has common terms of reference with the medical profession abroad; they can understand each other. Given the linguistic difficulties, they talk about the same pathological conditions, the same drugs, the same forms of treatment, and so on. Analogous words could be used of the engineering profession. But that is not the case with the legal profession. Although I know that lawyers enjoy very small consideration within the community as a whole—I am conscious of the legend that my party contains more lawyers than Fianna Fáil, although a simple head count will reveal the opposite—I feel I must say something about the difficulties which the legal profession here will face if we are admitted to the European Economic Community.
Our profession consists, roughly, of 2,000 members, most of them general practitioners in the way that a country doctor is a general practitioner, and not many of them are specialised in company or contract work which would involve them in correspondence with their colleagues abroad. That situation is certain to change, if I understand anything about the EEC, quite quickly and the profession must be ready to talk on equal terms with lawyers who have been brought up in an entirely different way, trained according to a different system and using a codified law with a completely different historical background, base, structure and pattern from that which we are used to in this country. Our system, whether we like it or not, is basically English.
The people in this country who are responsible for legal education do not often come into the public eye. Perhaps for that reason they have not felt a sense of urgency about this matter. It is an urgent matter because the number of lawyers in this country who understand the first thing about a continental legal system, let alone the jurisprudence which is being rapidly built up by the judicial institution of the European Community itself, is very, very small. In the law faculty in UCD—I hope the House will allow me to give myself credit where credit is due—we foresaw this problem about three or four years ago and we set up a course leading to a diploma in European law. I will not make exaggerated claims for that diploma; I regard it as a rock-bottom diploma but it is the best we could do in the circumstances because of the severe staffing difficulties which every law school in Ireland experiences and which is also experienced by faculties other than law faculties. I know that a course in European law is provided also in University College, Cork. I do not want to do an injustice to Trinity College—Trinity College has a distinguished representative here who can contradict me if I am wrong—but I do not think any specialised teaching of this kind has, as yet, begun there. The Law School in UCD is by far the biggest law school in the country and we recognise that we have a special responsibility in this regard.
We have done our best to make this diploma course useful. We provide course in comparative law which are intended to introduce students to the legal systems of the major continental countries. We also provide a course in European institutions which is intended to introduce graduate lawyers to the legal institutions and the governmental institutions of the Community itself, and a course in the conflict of laws or private international law. I have already described it as a rock-bottom course, but I hope we will be able to improve it, according as our facilities improve. The reason why I mentioned that course here is not simply to advertise our own exertions—although I believe we are entitled to some credit for them and we do not often get such credit—but because we deliberately and consciously recognised it as a national need.
University College, Dublin, like all the university and educational establishments in this country is fighting a battle against shortage of facilities and shortage of funds. I do not criticise the Government for that. This is a small country and we have—as Ministers are always saying—to cut our cloth according to our measure. For anything which happened in the years 1948 to 1951 and 1954 to 1957, of course, that excuse is not accepted, but in any other years, since I was a baby six months old, it has been a question of “cutting one's cloth according to one's measure” or having to “roll with the punch” or having to “suffer the deleterious effects of external influences over which we have no control”, and so on. I recognise that these are valid excuses. My complaint is that they are not accepted for both sides.
The money available to university law schools is limited but the number of students who prepare themselves for the professional difficulty they are going to find themselves in, in this enlarged community, if we join it, has been pretty small. We have a large drop-out rate during the year because the going is tough. It has to be a night course, because these are all people who have already graduated and are practising as barristers or solicitors and it is not easy to spend two hours three nights per week in a university classroom when one is tired after a day's work.
That is part of the reason for the drop-out. But another reason why we do not get enough students for this is that they are deterred by the fact that we have to charge a fairly stiff fee of £50 or maybe £60 for the year. I urge the Minister to bear in mind that we are doing this not for purely academic reasons, and we would not contend that the academic content of this diploma is very high. We are doing it out of a sense of national responsibility, and we are having to find the money for this course out of a very limited budget. The money we provide to pay staff or buy books in order to prepare the legal profession for the challenge we are always hearing about, means that much less money for the job which the university, on one view of what a university is there for, ought to be doing. The Minister might ask his officials to consider whether some help might be given to this course, and to any other university law school which begins such a course, by way of grants to meet the cost of students' fees, or by way of scholarships to enable lawyers to travel to Europe and to familiarise themselves at first hand with some of the European institutions.
Mar mhalairt ar an ghná-scéal ba mhaith liom críochnú i nGaeilge i leaba tosnú le Gaeilge agus cúpla focal a rá mar gheall ar staid na teanga i dtaca leis an gCómhargadh. Faoi mar is eol do gach Seanadóir, aithnítear ceithre teangacha oifigiúla sa gCómhargadh, eadhon, an Fhraincis, an Ghearmáinis, an Iodáilis agus an Ollannais nó b'fhéidir gur cóir teanga na nÍsiltír a thabhairt uirthi. Ach is dócha go n-áireofar an Béarla orthu má ligtear Sasana isteach sa Chómhargadh gan trácht ar an Danmhairgis agus ar an Ioruais. Ach go dtí seo focal níor chuala mé faoi stáid na Gaeilge má ligtear muidne isteach. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Aire 21 Samhain, 1970:
We wish to participate in the study of any technical adaptations which might have to be made to Community regulations to take account of the enlargement of the Communities and also in the preparation of the English language texts of the Treaties and of Community legislation.
Ní mise a mholfadh don Rialtas airgead a chailliúint ar chúrsaí aistriúcháin agus ar chúrsaí ullmhúcháin in aisce. Ach is í an Ghaeilge an phríomhtheanga oifigiúil i bhfus, gidh go ndeireann an Bunreacht in Alt a 8:
Ach féadfar socrú a dhéanamh le dlí d'fhonn ceachtar den dá teanga sin a bheith ina haonteanga le haghaidh aon ghnó nó gnóthaí oifigiúla ar fud an Stáit ar fad nó in aon chuid de.
Gidh go bhfuil sé dleathach go leoz an t-aon leagan amháin, an Béarla, a bheith ar Chonradh na Róimhe níor chóir dúinn bheith in dtuilleamaí leis an leagan Béarla amháin. Caithfidh an tAire féachaint chuige le go mbeidh leagan Gaeilge ann chomh maith agus feidhm dlí leis an leagan céanna. Ní bhíonn feidhm dlí leis na haistriúcháin a dhéantar ar gach ionstraim reachtúil i bhfus. Níl feidhm dlí de shaghas ar bith ag baint leis an gcuid is mó acu. Caithfidh leagan Gaeilge a bheith againn a mbeidh feidhm dlí ag baint leis. Sin é an rud is lú is féidir linn a dhéanamh le haghaidh gradam na Gaeilge a chaomhnú i gcomhthéacs an Chómhargaidh.
Ní mór an meas atá agamsa ar dhíograis nó ar dháiríreacht an Rialtais i dtaca leis an Ghaeilge dhe. Ní ag maslú Seanadóirí atá mé—go háirithe Seanadóirí ar nós an Seanadóir Ó Maoláin agus an Seanadóir Brugha, daoine gur cás leo an Ghaeilge. Ach is dóigh liom gur cuma le Fianna Fáil, mar phairtí, an Ghaeilge a bheith beo nó marbh.
Le caoga bliain anuas foilsíodh leaganacha Gaeilge de Achtanna an Oireachtais agus ionstraimí reachtúla eile le cabhair airgead poiblí agus níor baineadh úsáid ar bith astu agus níor léigh duine ar bith iad. San am gcéanna tá téacsleabhair scoile i nGaeilge de dhíth. Is cruthú é sin domsa ar aon nós gur cuma leis an Rialtas an teanga bheith beo nó marbh. Dá bhrí sin, táim ag iarraidh ar an Aire féachaint chuige nach bhfágfar an Ghaeilge ar lár i gcomhthéacs an Chómhargaidh agus go mbeidh leagan Gaeilge den Chonradh againn a mbeidh feidhm dlí leis. Rud eile, tá súil agam go mbeidh sé ar chumas chuile Éireannaigh gur cás leis an teanga gach gnó a bhaineann leis an gCómhargadh a dhéanamh i bhfus in Éirinn tré Ghaeilge más mian leis é.
Ruairí Brugha Ruairí Brugha
Ruairí Brugha: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha. Is dóigh liom gurb é seo an chéad uair sa tSeanaid dó. Tuigtear dom gur aistríodh teideal Bhéarla na Roinne.
I should like to welcome the Minister. I think this is the first time I have seen him in the Seanad.
Measaim go bhfuil an ceart ag an Seanadóir Ó Ceallaigh i dtaobh na Gaeilge sa chás seo. Má táimíd dáiríre i dtaobh ár dteanga féin ba cheart go mbeadh na téacsanna a bhaineas leis an gCómhargadh le fáil acu súd a dteastaíonn siad uathu i nGaeilge.
This is the first opportunity we have had in this House to discuss the question of the European Economic Community and the possible implications involved if we become members thereof. The Treaty of Rome, as Members know, arose out of discussions over a number of years between European nations following the signing of the Coal and Steel Agreement. In my view the Treaty is one of the most important developments in history. I am satisfied, having studied it, that the philosophy underlying it, which led to the setting up of the European Economic Community, is fundamentally Christian in its thinking although this is not expressed in actual words. It is a charter which has heralded the end of centuries of civil war in Europe. These were wars in which many thousands of people lost their lives, particularly during the last two Great Wars. Many Irishmen lost their lives earlier on, on the side of European nations against Britain and, in later years, on the side of Britain and France against another European nation. The ultimate long-term implications—and they are very long-term—are part of an evolutionary process which will embrace all European nations as they come together.
The aspect of this that I should like to talk about is not only on the question of milk and beef referred to by Senator Quinlan, but rather on the underlying philosophy—arriving at a conclusion of what is best from a philosophical point of view and also from the point of view of our country. First of all, one should refer to our own historical association with Europe. Although we are not attached to Europe, Ireland is largely a European nation. We cannot regard ourselves as Asian, African or American. Throughout our history, when it was permitted, we have had links directly with Europe, not only in the Middle Ages but right through the long periods of occupation when we looked towards Europe for moral, and sometimes military, aid in our efforts to free ourselves. We also derived from Europe considerable cultural and educational benefit which came to us directly from some of the centres of European education. There was a time in our history when the only learning that Irish children received was in the hedge schools where, knowing no English, they learned to speak Latin fluently.
As long as those links with the Continent were maintained we were at least helped to retain a hope of freeing ourselves. It was only at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when our neighbour succeeded in putting through the Act of Union, that we were finally cut off from Europe. However, that is in the past and it is not my wish to indulge in any recriminations. It can be shown that, to a considerable extent, our survival and salvation as a nation can be greatly strengthened by reestablishing our links with the European nations.
In this situation, which has been developing for some years, we are approaching a crossroads. When we arrive at that crossroads we have to decide what direction to take, because the opportunity is not likely to arise again. There is naturally a considerable degree of anxiety and uncertainty in trying to determine where the results of our decisions may lead us. It is not possible to determine everything in advance. A person who puts everything he can into the setting up of an industry cannot answer the question of where it will be in five or ten years time. There must be a little confidence, enterprise and hope that one is doing what is best.
On the philosophical side there are a number of questions with which I should like to deal. One of them has already been mentioned, the question of sovereignty. This is a word which has a special meaning to many people in Ireland. It is a word to which we are particularly sensitive because it evokes in many of us memories of the tremendous efforts and sacrifices made in the past in order to secure freedom and the right to determine our own future. Here, there is a difference in our thinking and how this word has an impact on us as compared with the more pragmatic approach of nations like the Belgians, the Dutch and the French. Where we were deprived for many centuries of any right to determine our own destinies, these nations —two or three of them—in these centuries were on a couple of occasions deprived of all rights almost overnight. Perhaps, in those circumstances, it was easier for them to decide on this question of sovereignty than it is for us. However, I interpret the question of sovereignty as our having the right to take decisions for and on behalf of the people, decisions that we believe will be in Ireland's best interest, that we should be able to take those decisions, not at the behest of any authority whatsoever except our own elected authority.
The other questions to which I should like to refer, and which are causing some unease, relate to the division of our country and to what is known as NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. In relation to NATO one must try to bear in mind that this organisation, which was established during the last war, was really continued only because Europe, as we knew it after 1945, was in need of protection from another super power. In the context of a developing and a strengthening Europe I would see institutions such as NATO becoming anachronisms. and what is important is that we should have in due course a Europe which will not need to be protected by any super power but which will be in a position to take its own decisions and, one would hope, to influence the world situation for good as a strong community of nations.
On the question of the division of our country, we here represent three-quarters of the people. We have, I believe, the right to take a decision. I do not think that we have the right to postpone such a decision, if we believe it to be the right one, merely because our country is divided. The decision that we should take in relation to the European Economic Community should be the sort of decision that we would take if we had a united country. I also believe, in the context of the European Economic Community, that our influence should have been felt earlier on, and that it certainly should be felt on the Council of Ministers in the formative decisions that will be made over the next five to ten years in relation to Europe.
I do not believe that in the context of the evolving situation we have a right to remain isolated and so deprive Europe of whatever good influence we may, through our representatives, be able to bring to bear in the councils of the European Community. I might add perhaps that I am quite sure that an Irish Minister on the Council of Ministers would be far more concerned about the regional situation as it may relate to the North of Ireland than any other Minister would be.
Another sensitive question which has been raised from time to time refers to the supposed danger to our culture and identity. Some people have expressed the opinion that we are in danger of losing our identity entirely and that our culture may be obliterated. I feel that this is a rather frightened and lonely outlook. It is the outlook of people who have not got real confidence in the future of the nation. I believe that once we come in close contact with other peoples—something that we have not been accustomed to for many centuries—who as a matter of course accept that they have an identity, a culture and a language of their own, we will find that our own people will begin to appreciate what is best in our own traditions here and will feel the need to strengthen identity.
There are many problems that we will be discussing around and about the country over the next 12 months which are important and will be part of the negotiations. There are questions which have been mentioned here regarding the movement of workers. Some questions which have not been mentioned, but which are of considerable importance to us, are being discussed at the present time in relation to our fishing industry. There is also, one would hope, the progress that we should be able to make in the negotiations in regard to a balanced development of regional areas such as we have in the west and in the north-west.
I feel that overall we, as a people, should have the courage to go forward into what may seem to some people to be the bearna baol. I believe that we have proved in recent times here and elsewhere in the world that we, as a people, have the capacity to adapt ourselves and to meet challenges, even the challenge of modern conditions of change and stress. I believe that we have got the courage and the ability to make a success of our life in Ireland and as a part of the European Community. I would see if this develops— and there is no certainty as to the outcome of negotiations—that we should be able to exercise a quite significant influence, an influence out of proportion to our size, in the affairs of Europe and through that to influence for good the contribution which Europe should be able to make to that larger section of people who are less privileged in the world.
Mrs. Robinson Mrs. Robinson
Mrs. Robinson: I find that the difference between debating this motion in the Seanad—and may I say that I am very glad we are doing so—and debating it in the Dáil is that in the Dáil one has anything up to three hours and one can go off into spiritual pastures. With only 20 minutes at my disposal, I do not propose to follow Deputy Oliver Flanagan into his pastures. I will instead confine myself to the only area on which I have any possible qualification to speak and that is to the constitutional and local implications of the Common Market. In doing this, I must necessarily express disappointment at the way in which this is treated in the White Paper which we are discussing. The constitutional and legal implications were treated in three pages in a very vague way. With the Minister present, I should like to stress the importance of not overlooking the constitutional and legal implications.
I will take first the legal implications because I think many people have adverted to the constitutional position and the importance of studying this but there are also other legal implications. Senator Kelly referred to the position of the legal profession. In this respect the profession itself is aware and is negotiating with the liaison committee in Brussels with a view to stating the case for the legal profession. Apart from that, the White Paper states that:
The Attorney General's committee is examining with the individual Departments the changes which would be required in our domestic laws in order to adapt them to the provisions of the Treaties and action taken in implementation of these provisions.
I would submit to the Minister this is not at all an adequate procedure. The one major area of great change and of great significance in the area of legal implications will be the fact that in signing the Treaty of Rome, if we do, and accepting the implications of the European Economic Community, we will sign as part of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments. This will substantially change the conflict of laws in operation in Ireland at the moment in the enforcement of foreign judgments. It enlarges the area of jurisdiction and it will have immediate impact on any law with a foreign element in private international law in Ireland. I do not think this has been sufficiently adverted to.
Similarly, I think there are grave implications for the courts themselves in the decision to join the European Economic Community. In relation to the workload in the courts at the moment, under the Constitution, Article 34, the Supreme Court has the final decision in any matters, whereas when we join Europe there will be the requirement under Article 177 that, if a matter of interpretation of the Treaty comes up, the Supreme Court must, and the High Court or a lower court may, refer any matter of Treaty interpretation to the European Court.
This cannot happen automatically. There is no procedure for this. This is a matter we must study and we must look into the implications of this. I would call on the Minister not to leave such important long-term implications merely to the Attorney General's interdepartmental committee of civil servants. I would ask him—and this has been suggested by others—to set up an independent commission comprised of judges, lawyers and experts on the Common Market, to look into legal implications and the implications for the various laws, and particularly the private law implications. This is extremely important.
Regarding the constitutional implications, here I should like, as other Senators have done, to begin by mentioning the concept of sovereignty. I would not agree with the statement on page 2 of the White Paper which says:
Among the provisions of the Constitution which have to be considered in this regard are:
(i) Article 5 which states that Ireland is a sovereign, independent, democratic state;.
I do not believe that this will undergo any particular change because the concept of sovereignty is a legal concept which does not have a fixed content. I agree with Senator Ryan that it is an elastic concept, that a sovereignty can be shared, that any country which participates in any charter or agreement, such as the Charter of the United Nations or the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, gives up a certain amount of sovereignty. Any country that joins GATT gives up economic sovereignty in some sense, so that in talking of sovereignty we are not talking of a fixed concept.
I am certain that each of the six countries which at present comprise the Common Market would state that they were sovereign, independent, democratic States. This is not one of the matters which need be taken into account in speaking of the constitutional aspects. It is important to realise, when talking about sovereignty in the Republic of Ireland in contrast to the situation both in North of Ireland and in Britain, the significance of the fact that for us sovereignty can be reduced to the concept that we will need a constitutional referendum and therefore that the people will have a vote as to whether we go into the Common Market or not.
The terms of the Treaty of Rome and the other treaties do not square with the Constitution of 1937. The reason for this is obvious. The 1937 Constitution was drawn up without any thought of Ireland participating in an international organisation such as the European Community. The distribution of organs of government is tightly drafted in the 1937 Constitution without any idea that this would be shared with a supranational authority, without any idea that the exclusive jurisdiction in legislative matters would not be with this body of the Oireachtas, that the exclusive jurisdiction in executive matters would not be with the Government and that exclusive jurisdiction in judicial matters would not rest with the courts.
The real meaning of sovereignty, in so far as the Republic is concerned in this area, is the fact that this sharing of the sovereignty of the country can only be undergone with the acquiescence of the people themselves.
I should like to join with other Senators in taking issue to some extent with the Government in the way they are projecting the whole question of the Common Market. It is much more than joining an economic community; it is a fundamental constitutional change. From my recent travels to Galway, Cork and, to some extent, the midlands, I feel that the Government are failing to explain to the people exactly what is involved in the Common Market. I do not mean an indoctrination or a propaganda campaign of a slanted nature giving only the advantages. The result of this failure to communicate is that the people are turning more and more against the Common Market because they do not understand the implications of it and their natural instinct is to say “No”. This may be an increasingly dangerous climate of opinion of which the Government should be aware.
Considering the amount of detailed and intensive explanations that went into the transfer to the decimal system by the use of television, the use of newspapers, the attempt to explain, in very simple terms, to the man in the street exactly what was involved in this other complex change, why has the same approach not been taken in relation to the Common Market?
It is necessary to explain—first of all, perhaps, to ascertain—what are the problems. We have heard some of them today. What are the problems in the agricultural area? What is the problem as far as industry is concerned? What are the problems as far as the trade unions are concerned? What are the questions they are asking? These must be ascertained and must be answered in a fair way by presenting both the advantages and the disadvantages of the position. If this is not done the people will realise that they are not getting a real choice because they do not know upon what issues they are voting. They would be more inclined to say “No” than “Yes” unless the timing of the referendum makes it impossible for them to have a fair vote on the issue.
I urge the Minister to set up an independent commission on the legal implications of the Common Market, particularly this Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments. I would emphasise the need for an entirely new explanation of the idea of the Common Market to the Irish people if there will be the possibility of having a real choice on it and if the question of sovereignty will have any real meaning.
Another point I should like to make is that the debate on the Common Market to date has tended to be too narrow. It has tended to deal with the economic aspects of it in relation to agriculture and to industry. Yet, it is quite evident that the Europeans themselves who are involved in the Common Market think less and less of the economic implications and more and more of the wider political implications. These must be faced by Ireland if we are seriously considering joining.
I should like to refer to a passage from the address of the President of the Commission, Signor Franco Mario Malfatti, to the European Parliament on the 10th February. On page six of this report he said:
1971 will be a year of fundamental importance in the life of our Community. Today we must realise that we are faced with an objectively different situation. There is an external political situation driving us faster and faster towards political awareness of our responsibility as a unit at world level. What significance can otherwise be attributed to current negotiations with the United Kingdom and the other countries that have applied for membership in order to build up a ten nation Community? Does the aim we have set ourselves not perhaps signify an important political contribution towards the better balance of forces in the world? Is it not an event pregnant with significance for the future of the Community? In this connection I have the impression that in face of difficulties still ahead of us in negotiation we are not paying sufficient attention to what has already been achieved and this is important if the Community's nature and its development as an enlarged Community are to be ensured.
In other words, the President of the Commission was stressing to the European Parliament the political role, as he conceived it, of the European Community.
Senator Ruairí Brugha has referred to the possible implications of NATO and the possible implications of our defence commitment. This is another subject like the question of sovereignty. Neutrality, if we have a policy on it— and I have yet to hear a coherently argued Irish policy on neutrality—is not an issue that can be avoided by saying nothing. It would be much stronger to have a genuine policy on neutrality, to state it now, and to state it as part of our commitment to the development of the European Community. This is a matter which should not be neglected. We should know what the intention of the Government is in this area.
Professor Kelly Professor Kelly
Professor Kelly: It is like their policy on the North of Ireland: one thing for home consumption and something else for abroad.
Tomás Ó Maoláin Tomás Ó Maoláin
Tomás Ó Maoláin: It is a pity you drink so much vinegar. You would be quite good otherwise.
Mrs. Robinson Mrs. Robinson
Mrs. Robinson: The final point I should like to make is in relation to the cultural and social implications of the Common Market. These will be very significant in Irish life. One of the places where this must start is in the schools. The apparently operative date of the first phase of the Common Market for us, if we join under the present terms, will be 1st January, 1973, which is less than two years away. Is there any attempt to educate in the schools, with a view to creating a new awareness by young students that they are growing up in a European country, that they are going to take part in the development of Europe in a much more integrated way than they could have conceived before?
Is there any attempt to teach living languages in the schools? I was very disappointed recently to find that the oral examinations in foreign languages are not to be carried out this year. I think that is a backward step. Foreign languages should be taught as they are spoken, not in a book sense. They must be spoken languages and it is essential for this purpose that there be an oral examination and that this be adhered to by the Department in the examination system. Much more so, there is a necessity to encourage young people to travel. I agree with Professor Kelly that this should be subsidised to an extent until we have a pool of fluent young people speaking various languages, having a feeling of being Europeans and a feeling that we can participate more fully in the wider real sense in the European Economic Community.
Just as a final word, the Government will do themselves an injustice if they confine themselves merely to economic arguments in relation to the Community. These are extremely important but they are only one aspect of this question of not simply joining a European economic community but of joining a new political and social entity and taking our place as a European state.
Mr. McDonald Mr. McDonald
Mr. McDonald: What has come very much to the fore in this is the fact that Members do not just want to make speeches but all the contributions are laced with questions. This is really what the people throughout the country want. The problem with the EEC is that it has been hanging over us for the past ten years. People have been reading and hearing various pieces on it. Yet I do not think people have got down to understanding what it is all about or how their own particular station in life will be affected. The present Minister for Foreign Affairs, and indeed the Government, must bear the responsibility of ensuring that the public at large know, and that the various sectors of the community know, what is in store for them, should we join.
It is most important that people in industry, and workers generally, should be given a better idea of what conditions are like in the EEC countries and of the type of competition that they must face. If we are to compete we must be prepared to work more or less to the same extent as people in the EEC countries. For instance, we have the example of the hours people work in Germany and other highly industrialised countries. Are those people all working a 40-hour week and are labour relations much the same? This is important. If we go in we do not want to suffer any redundancies in any industry. It is time that the country geared itself for this.
I cannot say whether industries in this country are geared for entry into the EEC. I do not know whether the workers in industry are geared for entry into the EEC. As a farmer, I can say that the farmers are not geared for entry into the EEC. It would appear that the policies of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are partly at cross purposes with the agricultural policies laid down in the Mansholt Plan.
It is very significant that the first time we heard of Mansholt and the first time his plan was discussed a different slant was given to his theory. Whether his theory has been watered down or whether he has had second thoughts, I do not know. So far nothing has been done on the question of the larger units. For instance, have the Irish Land Commission taken cognisance of the possibility of our going into Europe in the next couple of years or so? There has been no change in this very important section of the Department of Lands. If the policy is for larger units, then the Land Commission should be setting about increasing the size of farm units, or at least maintaining a greater number of larger farms throughout the country rather than breaking down the estates into farms which are too small. Again, it is worthy of note that even in the last couple of years the Land Commission have not increased their average size of their holding. They still talk of an economic holding as a holding of 50 acres. I do not know whether this will stand in the larger Europe framework or not.
Then we have the questions of quota restrictions. We will be restricted to producing certain acreages of any of the catch crops that our farmers have been producing over the years. It stands to reason, therefore, that we should be endeavouring to increase the acreages of the crops that would be the hardest to compete with. Yet the fact remains that the price of beet remains the same to our Irish farmers for the second year running, notwithstanding the fact that production costs have gone up substantially last year and this year. Even with the increase in the acreage of beet made available to farmers this year, if we were under EEC conditions the production of sugar in this country this year, taking the yield as being average, would not be able to cater for this island as a whole. I think I am correct in saying this would be regrettable, because if the French sugar producers were able to get even a foothold into the northern market, it would not cost them that much to send in some extra in order to compete with home production.
We all know that cattle constitute the greatest share of our agricultural exports. Yet you have Government policy, this year and last year, designed to reduce the numbers of cows, to reduce the amount of milk. This has brought about the result in the milk areas in the south that people have turned away from milk production and this, in turn, will cause a reduction in the number of such calves available in the midlands. This must have, next year, a direct bearing on the numbers of store cattle and fat cattle we will have for export.
The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries should have had second thoughts before he threw the dairying industry into reverse gear. I know the Minister claimed recently that there was an increase of 5,000,000 gallons in milk last year, whereas before that Bord Bainne, who are charged with looking after milk production and the export of milk products, claimed that the production of milk last year was down by 12,000,000 gallons last year.
An Leas-Cathaoirleach An Leas-Cathaoirleach
An Leas-Cathaoirleach: I hesitate to intervene here but I should like to remind the Senator of the good resolution he declared on the Order of Business of not going into detail on agricultural matters in view of the fact that Motion No. 10 will be taken in the near future. It is quite in order to discuss broad aspects of agricultural policy, such as are summarised in the document which we are debating at the moment, but I feel, having listened to the Senator, that he is perhaps going into detail which would be more appropriate on Motion No. 10.
Mr. McDonald Mr. McDonald
Mr. McDonald: I quite agree. I mentioned that at the beginning, thinking that everybody else would do likewise. People have availed of the opportunity of mentioning agriculture because the main benefit to be gained from our entry into the EEC is said to be agriculture. We are told that the farmers will gain from our entry and yet we are not told exactly what they will gain. Even in a full debate on agriculture it would be rather difficult to cover all the aspects of farming in 20 minutes. However, I am endeavouring to get rid of this one grievance which seems to be the thorn in the side of the farmers at the present time.
The main question facing us is whether we should enter the EEC but there is also the question of the choice between full membership and associate membership. Whatever disadvantages may be involved, in the initial stages, if we become full members, the disadvantages of associate membership would be far greater. Were we to become associate members, with no voting rights, no opportunity of influencing decisions and no voice in policy formulation or policy review, we would get a very bad bargain.
The case for membership of the Community does not rest merely on the argument that we have no alternative. The objectives of the EEC are objectives which we, as a nation, would wish to play a full part in achieving. We would all like to see the objectives laid down by the EEC, in the book that we are now discussing, achieved. Our main problem is that we all cannot see these objectives being achieved without some of our people being adversely affected. I cannot imagine any person, who has experience or knowledge of this country's policies of self-sufficiency, as experienced in the rural areas in the 1930s and 1940s, wishing to remain outside a larger, more powerful and more influential community. This will be a very strong factor in influencing members of the farming community to opt for the greater scope and larger markets that will be offered in EEC conditions.
Now that we have the Minister here, I should like to ask him, should our country accept the Treaty of Rome in full, must we also become members of the European Coal and Steel Community and EURATOM. What advantages will accrue to us from becoming members of these communities? Another very pertinent question is the case of membership. What will our financial contributions be to these various bodies and commissions?
Our application to join the Common Market should not merely be for economic or political considerations. The history and culture of Europe, I feel, should be looked upon as the birthright of us all. All European countries have contributed to it and we should all share in it. Our application, therefore, should be looked upon as flowing from a historical development of our continent and from the sentiments which we, as Europeans, all share.
Business suspended at 6 p.m. and resumed at 7 p.m.
Mr. McDonald Mr. McDonald
Mr. McDonald: The booklet Membership of the European Communities: Implications for Ireland published last year, has been a valuable asset to the people who have studied it. However, it puts questions into a person's mind, rather than answers. We had here this week the Minister for Transport and Power with the Transport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and I took the opportunity of asking him if he was doing anything to provide for competitive transport when we go into the EEC. He replied that this was something which did not come under his Department. I should like to remind the Minister and the Government that we are the outpost of Europe and we will not be able to compete with transport costs. I hope that CIE or their competitors, the progressive licensed hauliers, will be enable to equip themselves with the same type of transport as is used on the Continent for trading purposes.
This is very important especially if we are considering the export of lamb to the Continent, and lamb could be a good export commodity. The transport costs will have to be slashed and since the continental type freezer containers are not manufactured here, they should be allowed in duty free in order that our hauliers can equip themselves to compete effectively and efficiently and as cheaply as possible. The haul from our meat factories or from our farms will be the furthest away from the markets to which we propose to sell in Europe. Therefore, the transport section of our industry should get reasonable concessions and sufficient help to equip them for the tremendous task they will have to face.
In this booklet is a chapter on tax provisions. I should like if the Minister would explain the position of this country vis-à-vis the rates. In Europe there are no rates on land and, though I know there is a commission looking into this problem, I should like to know if we will go into the EEC equal with our European counterparts and that we will not have to suffer the ridiculous rating system that exists throughout the counties. If there are changes to be made in this, they would need to be made well in advance. We should not leave all these major changes until the last few months before our accession. I should like to quote a prediction from the Genuine Irish Old Moore's Almanac for 1971.
Mr. Crinion Mr. Crinion
Mr. Crinion: I did not know it still exists.
Mr. McDonald Mr. McDonald
Mr. McDonald: It states:
A bombshell announcement from Britain concerning the Common Market which will affect Ireland.
With Ireland as a member of an enlarged EEC, we will have a say and a vote in a Europe which will be enabled to play a greater role in terms of power and influence and to contribute in a greater measure not only to the development of her own potential but to that of the world as a whole. We have the opportunity to take this progressive step now towards this unity and the Government must convince the people that it is the right step. The way to do that is to put all the answers clearly before the people so that nobody will be misled in regard to the difficulties and challenges which may face us.
Professor Jessop Professor Jessop
Professor Jessop: I agreed with Senators O'Higgins and Russell when they proposed and seconded this motion and indicated that we should join the European Economic Community if we have a chance to do so. We should not stand on the sidelines at this time. Our civilisation and traditions would make such an attitude quite unworthy of us. There are difficult problems for Western Europe at present and we should do our best to help to try to solve these problems. We made our contributions in the past and have shown that our contribution need not be small in relation to our size as a nation. We were in the League of Nations in the days before the war and we remember, with some pride, the part we played in that assembly. At the present time, we play a similarly worthy role in the World Health Organisation which has its headquarters in Geneva.
I am rather less clear about our position vis-à-vis the entry of the UK. Senator O'Higgins held the view that the entry of the UK should not influence our attitude one way or another. I am not satisfied that we can adopt such a completely independent attitude. I should like to hear the Minister, when he speaks in this debate, deal with this problem. If the UK does not join the Common Market, should we join it independantly? If the UK does join, everyone is agreed that we should also join. I agree with Senator Eoin Ryan that the alternative of not joining the Community would be very serious indeed for us. As Senator McDonald has just said, I have always felt that the larger the unit these days, the more important it is from the point of view of its all-round functioning. The smaller units remaining in isolation get themselves into a less and less favourable situation. We should avoid getting into that situation ourselves.
Senator O'Higgins mentioned the theory that some people have that we may lose our identity. I do not regard that as a danger which is necessarily very serious for us. We have many examples of small units that have joined up with larger ones and have succeeded in preserving their identity. I shall mention only one, Scotland. It is 370 years since Scotland came to share the same monarch as England and it is 270 years since they came to share the same parliament. I do not think that anybody would have much difficulty in distinguishing an Englishman from a Scot, even today, 300 years later.
I should like to refer to some particular points which have worried me and certain other members of various professions in this country and in England. Professions are in a rather special position. The White Paper refers to the necessity for allowing freedom of movement of workers as between the various countries in the Community. It mentions certain types of workers but they are almost entirely involved in industrial occupations, at specialist or less specialised levels. I could not see any reference to the professions and it is to them that I wish to refer particularly.
During the last 200 years a great amount of effort has gone into designing a system for the proper education and development of medical practice. This has been primarily designed entirely for the protection of the public, although many members of the public think it was primarily designed to protect the doctors. Medicine is the first profession that had this sort of control. Other professions followed and this kind of thing now extends through the range of all the sections of engineering, through various sections of science, of dentistry, where everything is controlled by supervisory bodies. Usually we have our own bodies here in Ireland but they are affiliated with larger bodies in Great Britain, so we manage to have some degree of reciprocity.
These bodies safeguard the standards of education and safeguard the standards of practice but there are great differences in the conditions here as regards the standards of education and practice compared with those existing in many continental countries. I should like to mention one. In many of the European medical schools classes throughout the undergraduate period are very large. The numbers of students taught at a time often reach several hundreds. They rarely see the head of a department, except at a distance, and, of course, they never have direct personal contact with patients until examination time.
In these islands students begin to see patients from the time they enter most medical schools—certainly in mine. From the time they are within two years of being qualified they get increasing degrees of clinical responsibility. They may have one or two particular patients and be responsible, under the supervision of qualified doctors in the hospital, for the care of those patients. At that stage, as they pass their final examination, they enter the hospital as interns and become part of the machinery and part of the staff of the hospital. If you take a corresponding graduate of a continental European medical school, who has just passed his final examination, he may not be able to accept that sort of responsibility at all. He will never have had that introduction to the development of clinical responsibility. If the free movement of workers—and I suppose doctors must be included among the workers—takes place and this is interpreted literally, we may have people, who happen to know enough of the language to get away with it, applying for and having to be considered for appointment as interns in our hospitals and as members of our junior medical staff. This may lead to great difficulties.
There are similar problems about practice. During the last few years in these islands we have only recognised the need to develop special areas in medical practice—the same is probably true of engineering. Certainly it is true as regards dentistry—and we have evolved a special training programme, so that a person is not recognised as a specialist in a particular area unless he has had the advantage of this training. In most European countries they have a training programme, but it is vastly different from ours and is not nearly as rigorous. There is nothing to prevent a doctor from calling himself a specialist of some kind without having gone through this programme. You might have such people coming here and setting up as specialists when, in fact, their degree of expertise is very small.
Another function of these supervisory bodies is to safeguard the ethical standards of medical practice and the same is true of the other professions. Again, this is largely to safeguard the public. A doctor is not allowed to advertise. You cannot imagine a situation in which a number of doctors advertise themselves, each as the best doctor practising in the town. How is a patient to judge which one he would go to? This is very seriously regarded by the supervisory bodies in this country and in the United Kingdom. There are very severe sanctions applying if a doctor transgresses this rule. Their relationships with their patients must be on strictly professional lines and it is one unpleasant duty, from time to time, to sit on the Disciplinary Committee of the General Medical Council and to remove from the register a doctor who has not conformed to the standards meted out.
This is necessary for the protection of the public but I am not satisfied that the same ethical standards exist in the continental European countries. This is not to say that doctors there are unworthy. I am quite certain that many of them are as good as, if not better than, ours. However, we have the safeguard of these regulations here and to admit to practice here people who are not used to this sort of restriction will lead to complications. From a professional point of view, the Minister, of course, is interested in this, too. I should like him to tell me if any thought has been given to this. I know that our professional supervisory bodies may have thought about it, and I know that the Department of Health and the Minister for Health have considered it, but I am not quite clear as to what they propose to do in this difficult situation.
Arising from that, I should also like to raise the question of general higher education. In most continental countries almost every school leaver is entitled to enter a university. The entry to a particular university faculty in Paris or Rome might be 1,000 in a year, whereas we might be admitting 100 or 150. This leads to enormous difficulties in teaching. These students are taught in very large classes and at the end of a year they usually have a stiff examination and the size of a class gets very much smaller. It is a different approach to the whole system of higher education and if it were introduced to this country and if we had to conform to the practices in the European countries, I think we would be in great difficulty. I should like very much to know if the Minister or his colleagues in the Government have discussed this, and, if so, have they come to any conclusion about how we might sort this out.
I should just like to add that again I hope we will go along with the proposal to join the European Economic Community if the opportunity offers but in doing this I agree that we have many problems to face and in regard to those I am particularly interested in I should like to know if any thought has been given to them.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Hillery) Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Hillery)
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Dr. Hillery): I am not concluding the debate, as would happen normally in the Dáil. First, I welcome the opportunity which the motion gives for debate in the Seanad because, since the White Paper which we are debating was published in April last year, events have moved quite rapidly in relation to our application and that of the other applicant countries. I would say that the negotiations are now at a crucial stage, or the crucial stage is beginning.
With the negotiations advancing and the date of accession drawing near, it is essential that people become interested in the Community and the effect of membership for Ireland. I am constantly hearing about this matter of communication and information. People say the Government have not informed the people. I am quite well aware of the problem because having myself had to study what is normally the information available to four or five Departments of State so that I could deal with different aspects of membership as well as political studies, I know it is almost an impossible task to expect everybody who is interested to sit down and do the same study. It would be desirable if everybody could do so, but this is the problem. It is not a question of the Government not giving information but the information available is such as to require really considerable study by everybody who is interested. Apart from the type of factual information which is available, there is the fact that the future in or out of the Community is not clear to any country. Decisions however have to be made on the information available.
However, we have been talking for ten years about membership of the European Economic Community. Now there is increasing attention and this encourages me to think that the information which we are making available will be studied by everybody who feels that he wants to make a personal decision and a personal contribution to the debate. It is not necessary to say that for people who feel they have not the time to study and are willing to accept the study done by all the officers of the State plus the Government since 1961, there is no onus on them to engage in a detailed examination of the subject. But anybody who would make a decision against membership of the Community at this time, against the considered judgment of the Government, should study all the information available. That is fair enough to ask.
The debate has naturally covered a wide range and some questions have been raised which I will try to answer, but I propose to concentrate on some aspects of our application which, I think, have particular relevance at the present time. I do not intend to go into detail on the pros and cons of membership for Ireland. This ground has been covered. It has been covered by me, by the Taoiseach, by former Taoiseachs and other members of the Government and it will be covered again. There will be continuing discussion on this. The pros and cons can easily be marshalled and examined, and they will be.
I think that we should take more into account now in our discussions the rapidly developing position in which we find ourselves in relation to the Community. Talking about EEC is no longer an academic exercise. The facts are, and we will have to bear them in mind, that a decision was taken by successive Governments that we should join the Communities. An application was made for membership and we are now very much involved in negotiations to determine the terms of our entry into the Communities. It is most important that our thinking and our actions should be increasingly oriented towards these facts.
It is ten years since the Government applied for membership. The decision to apply was based on exhaustive studies. I do not accept Senator Kennedy's view when he said we decided first and then brought up the arguments. There was an exhaustive examination of the economic options open to us and how we might best ensure the national interest and the welfare of the Irish people in a situation where the countries of Europe were moving closer together in economic groupings better to achieve their own national economic goals and to advance the prosperity of their peoples.
The negotiations in 1961 did not succeed, as everybody knows, but we regarded that as a temporary setback and we still believed that the move for the creation of a wider and more united Europe would continue. We remained convinced that the future of Ireland lay in Europe. We maintained the efforts which had been initiated in the beginning of the sixties with the EEC in prospect, efforts aimed at increasing the competitiveness and efficiency of Irish industry and in preparing the economy generally for the obligations and opportunities of membership.
One of the things I find in any argument is that people will not face the real alternatives. We have examined the alternative to membership. If people feel we are not competitive enough now for membership of the EEC, I tell them that we would want to be a great deal more competitive to stay out and find markets outside that situation.
The Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement was mentioned here and this should be seen in the context of developing the country towards free trade. Senator Kennedy took part with me in preparing legislation for redundancy and re-settlement, the setting up of AnCO, the training and re-training of workers—all these were preparing for free trade and competitiveness. I think the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement was always described by Mr. Lemass as a logical outcome of the efforts already made in terms of EEC application and preparedness. Anybody who feels that the effort of the Free Trade Area Agreement with Britain has not altogether been to our benefit must remember that one of the main benefits we sought to derive from that Free Trade Area Agreement was increased competitiveness, increased attention of Irish management to the absolute need for proper equipment, proper management, training of managers. As everybody here knows, the years of exhortation produced very little response from some managers. They had to find the competition before they would respond to it and the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement was an essential part of our preparation for free trade conditions.
When the opportunity presented itself in 1967, we reactivated our application for membership of the Community. This reactivation was again based on study and the firm belief of the Government that the future of our country would best be served in economic and political co-operation with the member states of the Community and those other countries seeking membership, and in that way our own best interests would be served.
With the approach of the opening of the negotiations for enlargement, in June we again undertook an assessment—by this time it could be called a reassessment—of the implications for Ireland of joining the Communities. These implications are set out in the White Paper which is the subject of the motion before the House. The reassessment which we made last year has reinforced the Government in their conviction that the original decision to apply for membership of the Communities was the right one. With the opening of negotiations we felt that we should press ahead with our application and this we did.
I should like to make it clear once more that the Government, having considered exhaustively all the implications of membership, are fully satisfied that the aims of national economic policy are much more likely to be achieved within the EEC than if Ireland stayed outside. I do not know if it is necessary to restate what the economic objectives are—the expansion of our economy at a pace and to an extent that it will enable the country to achieve full employment; the cessation of voluntary emigration; and a standard of living for our people comparable to that of other countries in Western Europe. They are the targets. I do not think that there is anybody in the country who would not agree or fully support these national objectives.
It is in relation to the means to be employed for achieving these objectives and the environment in which our efforts should be undertaken that we find differences. The Government are convinced that membership of the European Community will provide the scope and the dynamism whereby we can reach the goals on which we have set our sights.
I listened to Senator Kennedy who speaks, as he says, for the trade union movement. We share a great deal of his membership in one form or another with the Fianna Fáil organisation. If he is bothered about the future of workers, and I am sure he is, then he has worries about these workers if we do not become members of the European Communities. He has to consider the position if we stayed in a narrow home market without any expansion in employment, and he has to consider whether, if we do not become competitive, this home market will itself survive? The survival of the present employment level and the creation of new employment are at stake too.
I appreciate that busy trade union officials must find it difficult to get clear information. I would suggest that the trade unions should contact trade unions in the countries which are already members. Perhaps we could come to some arrangement for having meetings, not in Brussels with officials of the Community but with people who have experienced this period of lack of information. I have met people from member countries who went through all the anxieties which are now being expressed in trade union circles, and in the Seanad and the Dáil. It would be a very valuable exercise if the trade union movement here would make contact with the countries which are already members.
I believe that the great majority of people in Ireland support entry into the EEC. It is reflected in the support of both sides of the House. I do not agree with Professor Quinlan that the Houses do not reflect public opinion. There is wide acceptance that membership of the Community represents the means, perhaps the only means given the limitations necessarily imposed on us in the world of today, to act independently in economic and trading matters to achieve the national objective of which I have spoken.
There are those who disagree but there is no evidence that they represent much more than a small minority. In disagreeing and making assertions to a public which has not the time to do all the study which I spoke of, there is obligation on them to put clearly before the public how otherwise than as a member of the enlarged EEC we could hope to pursue effectively and realise the economic objectives on which we are all agreed.
During the debate I was very much annoyed with people who say: “We do not know.” They are always saying that. Unless we can make everyone in the country as fully informed as I have made myself, then they will not join. The opposite should be the case. Those who say that we should not join in spite of the Government's examination of the situation have an onus to put clearly before the people how we will be able to supply jobs, how we will get a better standard of living, how we will get markets for our farmers. They have failed to do this. I am not surprised that they have failed. Much of their arguments are based on a misunderstanding of facts and of a failure to face up to the facts. There seems to be a disturbing refusal to consider the nature of the Community and the progress within the Community during the past 13 years. They have refused to examine objectively the fact of our own economic situation and our prospects for development in the light of the options open to us as a small country.
I have heard people who oppose the EEC assert that membership would spell ruin for our economy. I do not think that they could believe that: it is only an excuse with them. I said at one time in the Dáil that, if they felt they could succeed in this campaign and then be held responsible for succeeding, they would not try it at all. They could not believe it in the face of all the experience of the member countries during the last 13 years. It is extraordinary that in all the criticisms of the EEC and our joining it there is no effort made to relate the prospects for Ireland to the experience of the small member countries such as Belgium. Luxembourg and the Netherlands, who had the same worries and anxieties 13 years ago that we have now. Membership has meant for them economic prosperity and social advancement on a scale that they had never experienced before.
Still, people say that we do not know what will happen. Of course, we do. We know what happened to other countries who are members of the Community. It is only fair that we should measure the possibility of our future by what has happened to other small countries who have joined the Community.
I have heard no mention from the opponents for membership of the underdeveloped area of southern Italy— Mezzogiorno—which has, by a combination of national and community endeavour and financial assistance, achieved as high a rate of economic growth as anywhere else in the Community. Before membership the rate of growth in Mezzogiorno was going down while the rate of growth in northern Italy was going up. Membership has equalised this. That underdeveloped area has a higher rate of growth than what was envisaged for them so that now they are equal to the others. I would suggest that people who are honestly responsible to memberships, such as the trade unions for their members, should visit the countries which have joined the Communities and whose people have experience and have had these anxieties. I am not saying it is wrong to have such worries. I think it is quite natural that people with such a responsibility should have serious anxiety and want to get fuller information. The best thing they can do is visit the countries, visit the trade unions and the parties that have gone through the same experience.
There has been some mention by opponents of entry into the EEC of some form of trade agreement or association with the Community. This is not a serious alternative to full membership. With Britain a member of an enlarged EEC, a trade agreement or association relationship with the Community would place in jeopardy our exports, particularly our agricultural exports, to Britain. The very limited benefits we would hope to gain would never make up for the loss or the serious diminution of our agricultural exports to Britain. In this situation of whatever external relationship with the Community they envisage we would have no say in the decisions of the Community and, no matter what Professor Quinlan smiles at, this Community now and in the future will be making decisions which seriously affect our trading position and our political future. If serious decisions are being made about our future, political and economic, then we should have some say in the making of those decisions.
These considerations should be placed squarely before the people. We have been endeavouring to do so. Much valuable information has been made available. The fact is that, if communications break down, it is not always the fault of those at the sending end. If you send people information and if they do not read it or listen to it or study it, it is not your fault. Much valuable information has been made available. We have an Information Unit set up recently in my Department with the specific function of informing people on the EEC. The first booklet and some leaflets with information for the public will be published shortly. As Senators know, the Irish Council for the European Movement has already published some leaflets. As the negotiations go on the Oireachtas and the general public will be kept informed of developments. When negotiations are concluded full information on the terms of our accession will be made available by the Government and will be the subject of debate in the Oireachtas. As regards this question of information, I would advise people who want information to seek it from this Information Unit. Certain specialised forms of information should be available from the Departments of State concerned.
I wish to refer to the point raised by Senator Jessop about the right of establishment and the right of free movement of workers. There are in the Treaty provisions concerning the mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications, but not much progress has been made in the freedom of movement at professional level. But there have been set up in Brussels groups representing the professional bodies of The Six and my Department has contacted the corresponding professional bodies here and given them details with the names of officials in these groups. They have been urged to make their own direct contact. It is thought desirable that professional bodies should make their own direct contact with groups in Brussels, set up to represent the professional bodies in The Six. Their names will be available to the bodies here or in my Department or in the Department of Health in the case of doctors.
With regard to the negotiations, Members will have received recently the report which I circulated on the progress of our negotiations. It is a clear and comprehensive report giving full information on matters which have arisen in our negotiations or which will arise, the problems as we see them and the positions we have taken in regard to the matters which present problems and the progress made under the various items. Anyone reading that will agree that the Irish negotiators, far from being passive participants, as has been suggested, have taken the initiative in putting forward detailed proposals in all sectors where our vital interests are concerned. This includes the major question of transitional measures to apply to industry, agriculture and financing, which is common to all the applicant countries as well as matters which are peculiar to this country.
Sometimes it seems to me that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of what the EEC and the negotiations are all about. The Community is built on the Treaty of Rome. Its very nature requires acceptance by each member state of this Treaty. There can be no question of selecting the part of the Treaty which suits you and not accepting others. Each member in The Six already has had to accept the Treaty of Rome and its objectives. A sine qua non of membership, indeed of negotiation, has been the acceptance by the applicants of the Treaty of Rome in full, the objectives of the Treaty, the decisions made under the Treaty and the options taken up under the Treaty. Our acceptance of this had to be affirmed and was affirmed in the realisation that, without doing so, membership would be an impossibility and in the conviction that membership would be of benefit to this country and her people.
This is basic to our understanding of what is going on at the negotiations. We are not negotiating changes in the Treaty of Rome to suit us. The Treaty of Rome is not negotiable by us, by Britain, by Norway, by Denmark or by any of the Six. The negotiations are mainly concerned with working out with the Community mutually acceptable terms of accession for the applicant countries. What is involved here are transitional arrangements to enable both the applicants and the member states to make the necessary adaptations and adjustments. I can assure this House that, in working out the transitional arrangements we are, and will, be concerned to ensure that Ireland's particular interests are taken fully into account and provided for.
There are some special matters which, by the nature of the problems they pose, require to be considered in the negotiations, separately from those being dealt with in the context of transitional arrangements. I refer to the question of fisheries, and the purchase of land by non-nationals. Both these questions and the positions we have taken in the negotiations in relation to them are fully covered in the report on the progress of the negotiations which I have circulated. Therefore, I will confine myself to reassuring the Seanad that the Government are fully aware of the problems which would be involved for this country if the provision of the Community's common fisheries policy—which includes common access to fishery waters—was to be applied here or if the Community were to introduce the full right of establishment in agricultural land, without our special situation in relation to land purchase being taken fully into account. These are matters which we shall be pursuing and pursuing forcefully in the negotiations.
A question which is looming very largely in the Community now and which is of major importance to us is regional policy. As a result of decisions taken recently by the Council of Ministers of the Community in relation to the creation of an economic and monetary union the question of regional policy has taken on added importance in the Community. I stressed, at the last meeting of our negotiations with the Community, that structural and regional problems take on a new and vital significance for both individual members states and for the Community as a whole in the context of the proposed evolution towards economic and monetary union.
There is a question here of shared responsibility. Our own Government, like the governments of the other member states of an enlarged Community, continue to have the responsibility of promoting the economic and social progress of our people. We see also a need for community action. I am glad to say that the Community has recognised that regional policy is the most efficient means of ensuring progress towards economic and monetary union because it aims at the correction of existing disequilibria and permits the various regions to resolve any difficulties of adaptation that might arise.
It is realistic to expect, as a result of the recent Community decisions on economic and monetary union, greater progress in future in the evolution of a Community regional policy. The precise path which this evolution will take has not been decided. Once we become members of the enlarged EEC we will be in a position to influence the working out of the community regional policy in the direction we would favour. In the meantime, we must continue to press ahead with our own regional development efforts.
There is a double opposition in this area of regional development. There are people who want more community activities and in answering them I have to deal also with people who feel that national policies will not be permitted by the Community. My information, from my discussions with the Community, is that the most the Community would want to do is to co-ordinate national policies and after that to give an incentive for the improvement of national regional policy. There is some element of fear in the minds of the people who do not want the Community to become too active here that the decisions and options open to national governments would be reduced. From the experience of the countries already in The Six, those who are anxious to have more community activity are those who need more regional policy developments. Therefore, they do not see community activity as anything but beneficial to them.
I should like to say something now about our underdeveloped areas in the west. The Government are convinced that entry into the EEC will work to the benefit of the west, not the reverse. It is important that people in the west should grasp that and should not be misled into expecting some kind of doom. I was disappointed by some of the people who predicted doom— a doom I believe will never come —to the west in the context of EEC membership. The shocking economic and social past of the west has inevitably left a legacy of insecurity, a feeling that the west is always on the losing side. At its worst this attitude created a sense of defeatism in regard to the economic problems in the west but I think this attitude is now almost dead. However, it did constitute a psychological obstacle to development and was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. The most hopeful portent for the future of the west is the newly-strengthened belief of its people that it has a future and their determination to ensure that future. It is vital that this determination should not be weakened in any way by fears of imaginary dangers of what will happen to them when we enter the EEC. If the west itself came to believe that it was finished nobody or nothing—in Dublin or Brussels—could save it. Entry into the EEC will not finish the west. The conditions under which the people in the west strive for economic and social advance would be improved by membership of the EEC, not worsened; their confidence in the future, in the context of EEC membership, should be greater, not less.
I am afraid I have taken more than 20 minutes but——
An Leas-Chathaoirleach An Leas-Chathaoirleach
An Leas-Chathaoirleach: Under our present resolution the Minister is not confined in any way.
Dr. Hillery Dr. Hillery
Dr. Hillery: Thank you. I should like to emphasise how rapidly developments are taking place in relation to our application. We are in the middle of the negotiations, a crucial stage has been reached, and we expect in the coming months that it will be possible to reach agreements, at least in principle, on the major issues arising in the negotiations with all the applicant countries. In the White Paper of April, 1970, the Government stated that it would not be unreasonable to expect that negotiations and ratification would be completed in time to allow accession to take effect in 1973. On the basis of progress made to date in the negotiations and the prospects ahead I think that that forecast still stands. In fact the 1st January, 1973, is the date of accession being postulated on all sides at the negotiations. Our concentration, therefore, must increasingly be on the preparation of the country and of all sectors of the economy for membership, so that we shall be fully prepared to face the challenges of membership and avail fully of the great opportunities that membership will present to us.
The evolution of economic and trading conditions in Europe, and in the world, the remarkable growth in co-operation between countries in the post-war period, must make us realise that Ireland cannot, any more than the other countries of Europe, large or small, acting alone, hope to gain the things which we desire for our people in terms of economic and social progress. We can achieve these goals, which we have set ourselves, only by integrating our economy and our market with those of other countries in Europe. The most advantageous environment, from our point of view, in which we can do this is in membership of the European Economic Community.
Somebody asked what would happen if British negotiations do not go through. We have made studies on what facts are available but the decision of the European Community was to complete the transition period and strengthen their institutions and to enlarge. If the negotiations with one of the four applicants break down theoretically the section under which application is made is still there. Any country willing to accept, and able to carry, the obligations of membership can apply but if the negotiations break down this time—and I do not think they will break down—I imagine a totally new situation will be created not alone for us but for the communities. While we would have to examine the options then open to us, the Communities would find themselves greatly changed. It would not be a useful exercise to publicly examine the possibility of a breakdown. I believe that the four applicants will be members by 1st January, 1973.
Mr. A. O'Brien Mr. A. O'Brien
Mr. A. O'Brien: Today's debate will serve a very useful purpose in initiating a nation-wide discussion about our entry into the EEC. I hope what has been said here today will be widely reported by the mass media and that a better informed public will be able to discuss the pros and cons.
I am on the side of those who favour membership. I believe our future lies in joining the EEC. This is a turning point in the history of our country, as the Treaty of Rome will be regarded, in years ahead, as a turning point in the history of Europe. On the threshold of a period such as this, it is right that people whose interests are at stake should have sufficient knowledge to discuss the matter intelligently. I have been impressed by the contributions made here in today's discussion and I hope it will be a forerunner of more discussions, not only here, but in the other House and among the people throughout the country.
Our entry into the EEC can be a distinctive one, perhaps not as distinctive as it would have been if we had obtained our freedom at an earlier date in history. If we had obtained our freedom in 67 or 98 and had been allowed to develop our own Celtic way of life down the centuries, we would have been able to make a more distinctive contribution to the EEC. As was said by Senator O'Higgins and other Senators, we can make a distinctive contribution. We are the only Celtic nation on earth and we are a people who have been for a long time subject to another nation. Now we can sit at the conference table with people who were domineering. Our viewpoint may modify theirs and in that way we should make a valuable contribution in the years ahead and perhaps alter the line of thought that might prevail without our presence.
It is no harm to emphasise the part we played in the Dark Ages when our missionaries and scholars went to labour in the very countries with whom we now join as a member of the EEC. People living in those countries who have read our history are aware of the role we played then, and they should be anxious to welcome us into their midst. Later on in our history we turned towards Europe for aid. It is sometimes said that the countries who did offer help may have had ulterior motives but that is not true in every case.
European trends had an effect on our attitudes here, for example in the days of Wolfe Tone. The thoughts of the French people definitely moulded the thoughts of Wolfe Tone and the thoughts of the Hungarians and other peoples in central Europe moulded the mind of Arthur Griffith. Although separated for geographical reasons from the people of Europe, we were part of these people.
I hope we will be successful in our application for entry into the EEC and that it will prove to be beneficial. When we take into account the struggles we have had in undoing the ravages of centuries of occupation, we have played a noble part in world affairs. We joined the League of Nations, we joined the United Nations, we have sent Peace Corps to various parts of the world where trouble existed. Despite our insular position we have proved to be an outward looking people and that qualifies us at least for consideration as a member of the EEC.
It is not enough for the leader of a political party or the leader of the Government to say “In my opinion this is what should be done”. The democratic process means that all political parties should do their utmost to ensure that the citizens are well informed and know what they are talking about. I am not naïve enough to think that everyone should understand the full implications in regard to such aspects as sovereignty, agriculture, industry and so on, but every intelligent adult should know what our entry into the EEC means. I do not want to be critical but I feel the Government are falling down on this.
Senator Robinson brought up a point which I intended to refer to. That was the difference between the publicity effort in gearing the public for Decimal Day, which was an insignificant event compared with our entry into the EEC, and publicity in regard to EEC membership. I have heard discussions on our entry into the EEC among intelligent young people and I felt they were discussing something about which they had not sufficient knowledge. I hope that today is the beginning of a campaign that will undo all that. By the time another year has gone by we shall have a much better informed people.
It is too bad that at this time of all times in our history our image as a people should be carved by events that have happened in Northern Ireland. The masses of people in Europe, thinking in terms of Ireland, regard it as a small island on the western seaboard of Europe. They do not think of it in terms of being divided, and trouble in Belfast, Derry, or Dungannon has an unfortunate effect on our image in Europe. I hope that that sort of image will be improved in the near future and that wiser counsels will prevail. It will be to their detriment as well as to ours if we continue to present an unfavourable image in Europe.
While I do not wish to score a point on anybody, it is unfortunate that in this part of the country we, ourselves, over the last 18 months have not been presenting a favourable image to Europe. I hope that what we have been doing among ourselves will not have caused irreparable damage to us. Apart from the image that they have been presenting, Ministers who have allowed themselves to be distracted—to put it mildly—during the past year could not have been giving the necessary concentrated effort to the job of preparing the Irish people for entry into the EEC. I hope that wiser counsels will prevail at Government level and at all other influential levels north and south and that we will get down to the business of being practical people and set about restoring our image and making our country fit in every way to become members of the European Economic Community.
It is also unfortunate that we are high in the European league table for strikes. Industrial unrest that has prevailed here during the past few years cannot have created a very favourable impression for us and, worse still, it will have the effect of frightening off industrialists from, perhaps, North America. In the course of time they might come here to set up industries in order to be able to operate from Ireland in the European Economic Community to advantage. I hope that the industrial unrest will not be the cause of our inability to develop industrially. I am not attempting to apportion the blame to anybody for what has happened. We are all in a position to see that it has not done us any good. I hope that it will bring people together where wiser counsel will prevail and that in the interval between now and the conclusion of our negotiations, our image will have been improved.
Among the farming community there has been a great deal of unrest because they are not well enough informed. I am not speaking of the average man who works in the fields. I attended an NFA seminar as an onlooker some time ago and I was astonished to hear it said there that it was not exactly known what was expected from agriculture when we enter the EEC. In my innocence I thought we knew that we were to benefit through the beef trade. I understood that recent Government policy had been geared towards that objective.
They believed that after New Zealand we have the most favourable climate on earth for the development of the dairy industry. They are at a loss to understand why we are not developing the dairy industry; they did not say that it was the fault of the Government here. They did think that we were in the process of being pressurised by European countries who are not as favourably placed as we are, climatically or otherwise, for dairying. They considered that that was an unfair practice in some of these countries to put us out of the dairy industry. That is something that troubled some speakers at top brass level in the NFA.
They were also anxious about the possibility of the withdrawal of subsidies on fertilisers and lime. They believed that when we become full members of the EEC subsidised fertilisation of soil will be prohibited. If they are wrong, it should be retracted. If they are right, we should now be engaged on such an active policy of refertilisation and the rehabilitation of our land that we should have everything shipshape by the time we become members. They believed that work on the land project scheme is largely thwarted because of the failure, down the years, to have got down to the problem of arterial drainage. In County Cavan, where I live, there are thousands of acres of land that are less than productive because of the fact that the River Erne was not drained. For many years farmers in that area were told that it could not be done until the Northern Ireland Government drainage department drained part of the Erne in Fermanagh. That was done but we are no nearer having the Ernc or its tributary, the Annalee, drained. The farmers in that area are of opinion that that will be the cause of our being unable to produce as much as we could produce.
They also said that there was a great outlet for sheep, especially for the early lambs from Easter until 1st June. They quoted figures to show that our sheep population has declined. If one of the most worthwhile markets in the European Economic Community is the production of lamb, then it is a sad commentary that our sheep numbers should be declining.
Everybody knows about the prevailing unrest with regard to the belief that foreigners can come here to buy land. A statement was made about that in the other House yesterday. It is something that has caused annoyance among many people and I should like to know that, if we become members of the EEC, will we have a period with special concessions——
Mr. J. Fitzgerald Mr. J. Fitzgerald
Mr. J. Fitzgerald: We will be able to buy it all ourselves.
Mr. A. O'Brien Mr. A. O'Brien
Mr. A. O'Brien: ——and if the Minister is negotiating towards this end. People would like to be reassured on matters like this. What was said by me and by the members of the NFA at the seminar was not solely for the purpose of criticising the Government or anybody on our negotiating team. I am the first to admit that our Minister for Foreign Affairs and his team of negotiators have a very difficult job on hands. I quite realise that these gentlemen are up against the best brains in Europe and that it will strengthen their hand and their ability as a team if they know that they have the backing and the guidance of a well-informed people and if they are not annoyed and run from one side to the other because of the fact that pressure is being put on them by people who are not as well informed as they should be.
Senator Jessop spoke about the education of doctors. Senator Kelly and Senator Robinson spoke about the legal aspect. It is not for me to go into these points but it is rather unfortunate that at this stage in our development we should be cutting down on the oral examinations in continental languages rather than developing them. Surely proficiency in a language depends on proficiency in the spoken language first. That is what the test should be. This is not strictly relevant but I always thought that we would have made much greater headway with the revival of the Irish language if we had given a very large percentage of the 600 marks in the leaving certificate for proficiency in speaking the language rather than for proficiency in dealing with archaic points of grammar and old poetry that was handed down.
Mr. O'Higgins Mr. O'Higgins
Mr. O'Higgins: Hear, hear.
Mr. A. O'Brien Mr. A. O'Brien
Mr. A. O'Brien: That was my belief all along and I further believe now that it is a great mistake that we should get away from examinations in oral French, et cetera at this very time when we want to get into closer communication with students. I believe we should be able to talk to these people. You can always get the bloke sitting at a desk in a back room some place who will do the writing for you and communicate with the person in Paris or Marseilles or elsewhere. If you want to do business with him you need to be able to talk to him and you do not want to be reduced to the level of writing a note and handing it over to him and waiting for his reply. That was a mistake.
Ruairí Brugha Ruairí Brugha
Ruairí Brugha: Hear, hear. I agree with the Senator.
Mr. A. O'Brien Mr. A. O'Brien
Mr. A. O'Brien: I think, too, that we should have been geared for this down along the line in the leaving certificate by insisting on a more detailed study of the history and geography of the countries of the EEC rather than range all over the world.
Mr. O'Callaghan Mr. O'Callaghan
Mr. O'Callaghan: After some of the more erudite speeches, I am afraid I will be a little bit plebeian possibly in my approach to this whole aspect. Basically, I belong to the agricultural panel here and it is with agriculture I feel I should deal The question about the entry into Europe is whether we should, in fact, join the greater Europe and reap the benefits accordingly or whether we should stay outside Europe in an economic wilderness
One or two speakers have already raised the question as to whether we knew anything about agriculture in our approach to Europe It has also been suggested that most of the benefits that will flow to this country will flow to us through the agricultural sector of our economy and then only to a small section of our farmers. I do not entirely agree with this. I do not agree with it at all, in fact, and I will endeavour to show by what I have to say that the benefits that will flow here through agriculture will flow to all sectors of the economy as well as the agricultural section. We are an exporting country. We must export what we produce in order to pay for what we import. We have to import raw materials for our industry. We have to import farm machinery, tractors, road transport machinery and many other things. All these have to be paid for and so it is incumbent on us to sell what produce we have, to sell in the best markets and at the best prices that we can possibly get.
Traditionally, and, indeed, geographically, England has been our best customer mainly for agricultural goods. During the past ten or 12 years we exported a fair amount of industrial goods to Britain as well but in the main we regard her as being the big customer for our agricultural produce. Strangely enough, it is true to say that we have never regarded her as being a good customer. She is a big customer but not a very good one. She has not paid properly for our agricultural produce except when she had to.
In 1965 the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement was initiated and this was designed to phase out certain duties on British goods coming into this country. As the Minister said this was a good thing in its own way. The duties will be phased out by 1975 and over that period industry could make a gradual adjustment to free trade when it would eventually come about. In return for this we got certain concessions on the British market for our agricultural produce. Our beef and store cattle benefited substantially from the subsidies paid to British farmers but, unfortunately—and this is the kernel of some of the questions that were raised here tonight—we are on a quota basis of supply in certain commodities to Britain, mainly butter, bacon and cheese. We supply these on a quota basis. I believe this inhibits our production at home for the simple reason that when we get up to quota we have to sell in very indifferent markets outside of Britain and receive very bad prices. This is not much good to our farmers and, indeed, it is a very heavy cost on our taxpayers too.
Other quotas apply also to agricultural products. We have a beef quota to the USA. We have a levy imposed on our wheat production as soon as we hit 350,000 barrels of wheat. We have an acreage quota on our beet and vegetable acreage. All these restrict farm output and because of this I maintain that when we go into Europe, with the guaranteed prices which we will get there and the open market which we will have, provided Britain goes in with us—Britain has never been a good customer—we will have her where we want her. She will have to be a good customer whether she likes it or not. Britain likes cheap food and it is costing our taxpayers £90 million to support this cheap food. This means that our taxpayers have to find £40 to £45 per head of population to support agriculture every year.
In Britain where because of the high population they can subsidise agriculture to a greater extent, the comparative tax per head of population is only £8 or £9. When we go into Europe it is confidently forecast that our contribution to the Community Fund for agriculture will be £19 million or £20 million. This will mean a per head of population tax of about £8 or £9 to support agriculture and this will give an idea of the saving that will accrue in taxes to the ordinary taxpayer in this country.
I believe that with stabilised prices within the Community for our agricultural goods, with our goods free from quota or levy, Irish agriculture will surge forward within the Community. If we value our present agricultural production at Common Market prices we find that the value would be £92 million more than what we are getting for it at present. Related to a small farm in any part of the country producing milk this means a 20 cow farm which would be, say, a 35 to 40 acre farm producing milk and calves, will give a gross output of £1,000 more in terms of money in the Common Market than it would give now. There are 80,000 viable farms. There are 40,000 that are almost viable, or just about viable, and there are 67,000 farms that are non-viable.
I contend that as a result of the boost in income which all farmers will get when we enter the EEC many of these near-viable and non-viable farms will become viable. The result of this will be that it will certainly slow up the drift from the land. It will help relieve pressure in our industries for a time after entering the Common Market. Any commodity prices acceptable to Europe are more than acceptable to us. We have the right soil, climate, longer growing season and a shorter winter. We can produce grass at £6 which is equivalent to a ton of barley. It costs the Europeans £40 per ton to produce the same commodity. We can winter our cattle in housing at a cost of £10 to £20 for a herd of cows. It will cost a European £150 to £200 to house his cattle satisfactorily over the winter period. This gives an idea of the capital cost which the Irish farmer can save in comparison with his European counterpart. Our farmers in this sort of environment will have their production surging forward and this in turn will increase the numbers employed in our food processing industries.
There are 7,000 people employed in the meat processing industry. There are about 7,000 people employed in the milk processing industry. There are 3,000 people employed in the vegetable processing industry. It is safe to forecast that on our entry into Europe, after an interval of time which it will take for us to expand, we will be able to employ possibly up to 20,000 more people in the food processing industries in this country. This is a very substantial volume of employment and will possibly ease the employment situation generally throughout the country. Everything indicates that vast opportunities exist for agriculture in the Common Market. Benefits will flow through the whole Community as a result of our entering the market. There will be many more jobs in our food industries. There will be many more jobs in our in-put industries for agriculture and for service industries as well.
I have always felt that industry based on agriculture would be the ideal situation in which to promote industries. I still believe that that is the case. We have a most glorious opportunity on entering Europe to ensure that there is a surge forward in this type of food processing industry. After all, we are the people who are able to provide food at a cheaper rate and we are the people who should be able to do this far better than anybody else within the ten countries that will eventually make up this Community. I appreciate the improbability of full employment as a result of this. But we can make a very great contribution to employment as a result of this boost forward in agricultural production.
If we are to derive the greatest benefits from entry there are certain things which must be induced in some particular sections of agriculture. I would point to the rationalisation of our creameries as being a step that must be taken. It must be hurried along so that these creameries will be doing their job at the cost at which they ought to be doing them. Likewise, rationalisation within the bacon industry is absolutely essential. When I say “within the bacon industry” I mean that the whole industry from top to bottom needs rationalisation and this must be undertaken in no uncertain fashion. It is true that there will have to be some rationalisation on our farms. With the increase in incomes which our farmers will achieve in this new environment many of our farms, particularly the non-viable ones, will become viable to some extent for a fairly considerable period. This will, of course, ease the whole situation.
Mr. Horgan Mr. Horgan
Mr. Horgan: I should like to express my very sincere thanks to the Leader of the House for his efforts on our behalf. I am grateful to the Minister for Foreign Affairs as well. As a permanent critic of the Leader of the House, it is a matter of great satisfaction that the source of irritation is removed and I look forward to many more debates of this kind in the Seanad. This is a very genuine thank you to the Leader of the House because I believe that his efforts in this regard were made on behalf, not only of this side of the House but, indeed, on behalf of many members of his own party as well.
I have two very brief points to make. The first is a minor point but the second is more important. The first point is that we are all discussing this question of our entry into the EEC in a rather fatalistic atmosphere. This atmosphere is conditioned by the fact that if Britain goes into the Common Market we, as far as I can see, have simply no logical economic alternative to going in alongside her if, inleed, we can. It is an atmosphere which is only very slightly lightened by the thrilling possibility of having to elaborate a new policy in the event of Britain deciding to stay out.
One thing that has amused me, and other people inside and outside the House, with regard to the almost certainty of our accession to the EEC on some terms, at some time is that it is strange, to say the least of it, that the two political parties in this House and in the other House which have declared themselves to be most strongly in support of the whole European idea have completely neglected to make any attempt to group themselves with any of the political groupings that are at present working within the European Parliament. While the third political party represented in this House, the one which has been strongest in its opposition not only to Irish membership but to the whole concept of a Common Market, is the only one of these parties to have adopted formal links with the political groupings in the European Parliament.
I know that there has been a long tradition in the Council of Europe of Irish nonalignment carried to an almost ludicrous extent. I have often wondered to what extent this nonalignment was dictated by a genuine desire on the part of the politicians concerned to make a genuinely independent political contribution to the deliberations of that council and to what extent it was dictated by the rather frightening realisation that if they were to make these political choices they might find themselves with some very strange bedfellows. It has been said before, and I see no reason for doubting it, that in the European Parliament the two main parties in the other House might very well find themselves on the same political benches—Christian Democrats— and sharing them not only with each other but possibly with members of the Conservative and Unionist parties from the northern side of the Border.
I have often wondered if the parties concerned have really thought about the implications of this and I look forward with considerable interest to seeing the final decisions of the case.
The second point I want to make is about our neutrality. It is a word which was very much in vogue in the early fifties when the question of our application was first considered and has sunk almost into disuse since then. This is a pity because if we examine the question of our neutrality seriously and carefully we can find in it the elements of part of our contribution to the European Economic Community. I have been reading through debates and speeches on the subject and it is quite obvious that our neutrality in the last world war was, to a large extent, the creation of Mr. de Valera. It is also true to say that it was a creation which was very strongly supported not only by the political parties at that time but by the vast mass of the people. It seems to me that our neutrality had two separate strands, two separate reasons for existence. The first was connected with Partition. There was a widespread feeling in the country and in the Dáil that if we were to abandon our neutrality in the context of the second world war, and later in the context of possible agreement to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, this would in some way involve us in a recognition of the Border situation. Mr. de Valera may have thought this himself and perhaps this was one of the two main motivating forces behind his decision to uphold neutrality. Indeed, it is a motivation which also appears as recently as January of last year, in an interview with the Taoiseach, Deputy Lynch who said—I am quoting from The Irish Times of the 21st January, 1971—“We have indicated that we would not join NATO because of the suggestion that we might be accepting existing limitations to our political boundary.”
The idea that joining NATO involved an acceptance of Partition loomed very large in Mr. de Valera's mind. It has, however, been chipped away at, consistently, through the years by Mr. Seán Lemass who, on several occasions—and I will give just three very brief quotations—made very clear his own personal opinion that this interpretation of neutrality, if you like, was not the correct one—Mr. Seán Lemass, it will be remembered, made this distinction, that Mr. de Valera was referring to the second world war; Mr. Seán Lemass was referring exclusively to the question of NATO. But it seems to me quite obvious that Mr. Seán Lemass began seriously to consider the possibility of our joining NATO and to see whether our constitutional and territorial question would have anything relevant to say to that. In the Dáil in 1962, in volume 193 of the Official Report, column 1321, Mr. Seán Lemass said:
...I began to ask myself was it wise in the national interest that we should persist in forcing that interpretation on the Treaty Article.
He was referring to the Treaty Article which refers to disputes between member nations, about territory. Later, at column 1132, he said:
I began to doubt the wisdom of our straining the meaning of that Article of the Treaty....
Later on again, on the 14th February, 1962, in volume 193, column 11, the then Taoiseach, Mr. Seán Lemass said in relation to that Article: “In my view” and note that in all these quotations he is stressing that it is his view, he says “in my view”, “in my opinion”—
In my view, it is not in the national interest to represent that as an undertaking to preserve the Partition situation....
Mr. Lemass was looking into his own heart in a changed situation and seeing different reasons and a different set of circumstances which encouraged him to believe that Ireland could, if necessary, join NATO without recognising the Partition situation.
I think it is true to say that he was right and I think it is equally true to say that Government thinking on this matter has been changing over the past two decades, but I also think that there is diminishing political capital to be made by Opposition parties or Independents out of the Government's change of heart on this matter. At the same time, we must realise that the whole question of Partition was not the only reason why Mr. de Valera created and forged Irish neutrality. He also created and forged Irish neutrality because he had a particular belief about the way in which a small nation should conduct its business and it is, therefore, all the more worrying that we see over the same period of time a collection of statements, again from Mr. Lemass, in which he implies that the joining of NATO is something that could be done by the Irish people almost without a thought. He said in the Dáil in 1962:
We think the existence of NATO is necessary for the preserving of peace and for the defence of the countries of western Europe, including this one. Although we are not members of NATO we are in full agreement with its aims.
Again, in February, 1962, volume 193, column 6, of the Official Report, he said:
I think it would be highly undesirable that remarks made here should give the impression in Europe that there is a public opinion in this country which regards membership of NATO as something discreditable. The view of the Government in that regard has been made clear.
But with all due respect this is not a negotiating position on our defence commitment in the Common Market. It is an invitation to international rape and what do we have to protect us against a surrender of something as precious to us to as this concept of neutrality? Well, in the first place we have the Labour Party who have consistently mentioned neutrality in their policy statements. In the second place we have the Fine Gael Party whose Foreign Affairs spokesman, Deputy Richie Ryan, has committed the party to a defence of Irish neutrality. I sometimes think, however, that Deputy Richie Ryan's ideas about neutrality do not altogether square with those of a former Leader of his party, Mr. Dillon, who, I always suspected, regarded NATO rather as the Reverend Ian Paisley regards Major Chichester-Clark, a rather inadequate instrument for the defence of all that he holds dear. Nevertheless, it is true that both Labour and Fine Gael are artificially opposed to any deviation from our traditional status of neutrality. In this they are joined by a strand of opinion within Fianna Fáil which to my mind is more authentic than that represented by the statements by Mr. Lemass which I have just quoted. It is a strand of opinion which goes back to Mr. de Valera himself who said in the Dáil in 1938:
A small nation like Ireland, if it involves itself in war, risks the loss of everything, even its liberty. It should avoid war if at all possible.
Before that, in 1935, he had said in the League of Nations at Geneva:
Make no mistake, if, on any pretence whatsoever, we were to permit the sovereignty of even the weakest State amongst us to be unjustly taken away, the whole foundation of the world system would crumble into dust.
This statement by Mr. de Valera in 1935 is echoed again in 1943 when he spoke in the Dáil on November the 16th. He said:
It is not enough to declare a policy of neutrality. You have to defend it and uphold it. The upholding of neutrality, if you are sincere about it, means that you will have to fight for your life against one side or the other, whichever attacks you.
That is the position we were in and it is the position we are in today. I find some support for this strand of thought within Fianna Fáil in an interview the Taoiseach gave on RTE on 20th January in which he said, with regard to the EEC:
If the group was attacked I do not think we could opt out of our obligations to defend it. It is not a question of neutrality but of meeting your obligations within a complex of that nature.
I do not think there has been sufficient stress placed by the Government on this aspect of our policy or, indeed, sufficient clarity about what neutrality involves. If I read Mr. de Valera, the Taoiseach and Deputy Aiken correctly, it means that we will resolutely, in or out of the EEC, adopt a policy which keeps us away from military alliances in times of peace. Deputy Aiken said in the Dáil in 1961, and I quote from Volume 189, column 461, of the Official Report:
Irrespective of the question of partition, important as that is, in our view the most important contribution which Ireland can make in international affairs is to play its part as an independent nation, free from alliances, in reducing tensions between States, and in forwarding constructive solutions for the sources of such tensions. We have endeavoured to do so, in the UN and elsewhere, by, for example, proposals aimed at restricting the spread of nuclear weapons and at encouraging the growth of areas of law. It is because our position is now internationally understood and accepted that we were free to make such proposals and that we were able to make our contribution to world peace by sending our soldiers to the United Nations Observation Force in the Lebanon in 1958 and last year to the Congo where combat troops of nations belonging to NATO and other military blocs are not acceptable.
This, I believe, is the true strand of Government, and indeed Irish policy, about neutrality. I should like to see more mention made of it explicitly and clearly by the members of the Government in their speeches. I believe, among other things, this would help to cut through the public fog which surrounds so much of the EEC debates at the moment. The idea that we should not join military alliances in times of peace is, I think, the nature of our possible contribution to the development of the EEC. Mr Walter Halstein of the EEC once said that: “We are not in business at all, we are in politics.” The Government's White Paper, which we are debating today, refers to Ireland's role in the political development of the EEC. It seems to me that the main and, perhaps, in many ways the decisive contribution this country might make to the political development in the EEC, after we join, is our history of neutrality. This particular tradition of ours would, I hope, completely break the almost total identification of NATO with the EEC, as it exists at the moment, and help in the creation of an enduring witness for peace.
Mr. McElgunn Mr. McElgunn
Mr. McElgunn: Níl fúm morán a rá ach ba mhaith liom ar an gcéad dul síos cúpla focal a rá i dtaobh cúrsaí na teanga mar fheictear dom féin é san CEE. An chuid is mó de na hargóintí a chualamar anseo inniu b'argóintí iad a bhfurmhór faoi dhul isteach nó fanúint amach as an CEE. Cúrsaí eacnamaíochta a bhí i gceist. Níor dearnadh aon tagairt do chúrsaí cultúra. Tar éis dó machnamh a dhéanamh ar an scéal ní feidir le duine a thuigeann stair ár dtíre gan ach aon tuairim amháin a bheith aige i leith na teanga agus an CEE, sé sin, go raibh sé de cheart againn dul isteach ann. Leis na céadta bhliain anuas tá an tír seo agus a muintir faoi thionchar Shasana agus le blianta beaga anuas ní amháin go bhfuil sí faoi thionchar Shasana ach tá sí faoi thionchar Stáit Aontaithe Meiriceá. Táimid faoi thionchar na telefíse, an radio, na scannán agus na nuachtán. Is dóigh liom gurb í an tubaiste ba mhó a thárla sa tír seo iompódh ón Gaeilge go dtí an Béarla. Nuair glacadh leis an mBéarla chaitheadh an Ghaeilge i leataobh. Níor thuigeadar go bhféadfadh dhá theanga a bheith ann—an Ghaeilge agus an Béarla i dteannta a chéile. Chaill muintir na hÉireann an Ghaeilge agus ghlac siad leis an aonteangachas mar rud nádúrtha. Dá bhrí sin san lá atá inniu ann ceapann an gnáth-dhuine in Éirinn gur rud nádúrtha é gan ach aon teanga amháin a bheith ag duine agus gur rud mí-nádúrtha é dhá theanga a bheith aige. Ní mar sin atá an scéal ar Mhór-Roinn na hEorpa. Ar MhórRoinn na hEorpa is gnáthach dhá theanga nó níos mó a bheith ag duine. An geas seo faoi aonteangachas is dóigh liom gur cosc mór é ar labhairt na Gaeilge agus ar an athbheochan.
Nuair a bhí mé thar lear in éineacht le Gaeil eile agus go raibh teangacha iasachtacha á labhairt ag daoine inár dtimpeall bhíomar ar bís chun an Ghaeilge do labhairt. Nílim a rá gur leigheas ar fhadhbanna na Gaeilge an Cómhargadh ach beidh orainn ár n-intinn a dhéanamh suas cé acu cúige den Bhreatain Mhór sinn nó tír neamhspleách. Mura gcloiseann muintir na Mór-Roinne ach Béarla uainn ní thogtha ar aon duine é dá gceapadh sé gur leis an Bhreatain Mhór a bhaineamar. Mar sin, ní thuigim cén fá go bhfuil na daoine a deir go bhfuil siad i bhfábhar athbheochan na Gaeilge agus a thógann orthu cúram na Gaeilge ar fad go láidir i gcoinne dul isteach sa Chomhargadh. Cad atá uathu? An áil leo an tír seo a bheith i gcomhnaí faoi anáil Shasana nó an mian leo bheith scartha ón Eoraip ar fad mar a bhí Tibet céad bliain ó shin? Ba mhaith liom freagra a fháil ar na rudaí sin. Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá i dtaobh ceiste eile— fadhbanna an iarthair.
I was very pleased to hear the Minister mention the problems of the west of Ireland in the context of the EEC. The Minister mentioned the long history of insecurity that the people of the west experienced. The biggest problem we have, with regard to the people there—the Minister mentioned this—is their likelihood of losing faith in themselves. As the Minister said, the people of the west have begun to gain confidence in their own ability with the help of Government agencies, and particularly with their own drive and confidence, to solve their own particular problem.
There are a few reasons why our accession to the EEC will be of benefit to our western counties. One of the main benefits will be for agriculture. Agriculture is still the main source of income of the west. Senator O'Callaghan—in an excellent speech—outlined how accession to the EEC would benefit even the smaller farmers and some of the farmers not at present considered viable. By our joining the EEC there will be an increase in incomes in the west even in the case of the smaller farms not considered viable. Therefore, there will be an increase of income in the west.
The second point which arises is that more funds will be available for western development. The Minister mentioned the developments which have taken place in southern Italy with aid from these funds from the EEC. If we obtain entry to the EEC it should benefit the western counties. The people who forecast that the EEC will result in the ruination of the small farmers in the west of Ireland are doing a disservice because this could cause the people in that area to lose their nerve, and to lose confidence in themselves. It is very annoying to those of us who are living and playing our small part in the western counties in helping with their development, when pundits, even though they be natives of the west, jibe at every effort that is made by the Government to help in this development. These people are regarded as damn nuisances. It is my hope, therefore, that accession to the EEC would be of benefit to the western part of the country and would provide us with an opportunity of developing our own culture.
Mr. J. Fitzgerald Mr. J. Fitzgerald
Mr. J. Fitzgerald: As one of the minority referred to by the Minister— the insignificant minority—who are opposed to entry into EEC, I should like to say a few words on this motion. One aspect of the Minister's speech here this evening, and the excellent speech we had from Senator Eoin Ryan earlier in the day, saddened me, because the essence of both those speeches was that there was no economic future for this country if we did not enter the EEC. If Britain does not obtain membership of EEC we cannot go it alone, and one is entitled to ask what are the alternatives or what of the future.
The Labour Party have consistently voiced their opposition to entry into the EEC. We are entitled to voice that opposition in spite of the fact that both the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Parties are as one party so far as our application for EEC membership is concerned. The Labour Party have been criticised, in all quarters, but particularly by the Government party. In 1965 the Labour Party opposed the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement. I heard reference here today by Fine Gael to the disastrous effects of the free trade agreement on industry in this country. I should like to remind the Fine Gael Party that in 1965 they were as enthusiastic about the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement as were the Fianna Fáil Party. They trooped into the Lobby in Leinster House with the Government Party to vote for the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement and the Labour Party voted against it.
It is no consolation to us to say here tonight “We told you so” when factories have been falling like ninepins over the past few months as a result of the free trade agreement. It is no consolation to the employees in these industries that we, in the Labour Party, said that this ill-conceived free trade agreement would bring about a serious reduction in employment in our tariff protected industries at that time.
If the free trade agreement could have such an adverse affect on employment in our industries as it is having now, when the tariffs are only half way towards reduction, what chance will those industries have of operating successfully in a free trade area? I fail to see how any of these industries can survive when they meet the full blast of European competition. Basing the future on the experience of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement, the outlook for those employed in the industrial sector is not very bright.
Many speakers in this debate mentioned the benefits membership of the EEC will bring to the agricultural community. The advocates of membership of the European Economic Community point to the high prices which will be available for beef, mutton, dairy produce and they look forward to entry as if this was going to be the Klondyke which the agricultural community were looking forward to. Certainly there will be higher prices for cattle, for beef, for sheep, milk, dairy products, but nobody ever mentions, in that context, the price that the consumer will be compelled to pay for these commodities.
I should like to quote a paragraph from the booklet “The Common Market—Why Ireland Should Not Join!” by Anthony Coughlan, Common Market Study Group. I do not agree with everything in that booklet but there is one paragraph which is worth studying, the paragraph on the soaring cost of living, page 14.
The high price agricultural policy means high food prices for the housewife. In the Common Market at present, for example, a lb of butter cost 10s, which is double the present Irish prices; a lb of steak costs 15s; a lb of pork costs 10s and a lb of sugar costs 1s 10d. On joining the EEC, our level of food prices would approximate to the level prevailing in other member countries. The Government's White Paper estimates (par. 5.23) that there would be an increase of 11-16 per cent in present retail food prices on joining the Common Market.
If one accepts this probably conservative estimate and takes into account the effects of added value tax, already mentioned, an increase of one-fifth in food prices becomes quite likely. Such a big increase in living costs would have the effect of raising labour and industrial costs in Ireland. It would make Irish products much more expensive at a time when we would be facing extreme competition from the products of other Common Market countries that would have access to the Irish market with the establishment of free trade. The White Paper makes no attempt to estimate the effects of these high prices on Irish exports. That is a valid point. Those enthusiasts who feel there is a great time to be had by everybody in the agricultural community, when we join the Common Market, will have second thoughts when they are paying 10s-12s a pound for butter instead of the current price.
I should like to refer to another matter that is causing some anxiety and one to which the Minister referred in his speech. That is the availability of Irish land to non-nationals when we enter EEC. As the Minister has pointed out, the EEC is based on the Treaty of Rome. In essence this means that free movement of men, money and materials is granted to member countries within the Community. I fail to see how the Minister or his negotiators can negotiate our way out of having our land become available to any German, Frenchman or Italian who feels that he would like to buy a large slice of an Irish farm. In the event of our land being open for sale to any citizen of any of the European Economic countries, I fail to see how Irish people can compete with the wallets and the guaranteed cheques of these people.
It is only five years since we debated a Land Bill in this House and one section in that Bill, now an Act, attempted to prevent the sale of land to aliens. I wonder will that section be relevant now, to prevent the sale of land to citizens within the European Economic Community? Or will it apply only to Americans or Russians who might like to buy Irish land? It is very important for the Minister to spell it out that the land of Ireland will not be at the mercy of any of the European tycoons who wish to come here to buy it. In spite of the fact that we believe the price of Irish land to be high, by European standards it is still very cheap. If that is so, there is a grave danger that in 1972 and 1973 the cheque book will be able to do what the invader failed to do during the last 700 years: to take the land of Ireland away from the Irish people.
The Minister referred to the fact that there was very little hope for the future of Ireland if we did not become a member of the European Economic Community. At the same time I think that he realised, just as we all realise, that if Britain does not become a member of the EEC we must stay out. As one of the minority opposed to entry, I can only hope that Britain do not get into EEC in the near future. A Fianna Fáil Deputy, whom I shall not name, said last year:
Our options in so far as entry to the EEC is concerned are next to non-existent once Britain decides to enter.
In a nutshell that is our case as far as our application to membership of EEC is concerned.
Tomás Ó Maoláin Tomás Ó Maoláin
Tomás Ó Maoláin: Might I say a couple of words. I did not intend to intervene in the debate but Senator Fitzgerald's statement inspired me to interrupt.
Mr. J. Fitzgerald Mr. J. Fitzgerald
Mr. J. Fitzgerald: It is time someone inspired you.
Tomás Ó Maoláin Tomás Ó Maoláin
Tomás Ó Maoláin: It inspired me to ask if he were serious in saying that the factories are closing down because of the Free Trade Area Agreement. Surely he realises that there are more factors than the Free Trade Area Agreement connected with the closing down of factories? Surely he realises that the people are not all fools? As a consequence of the campaign that has been waged during the past four or five years to get much more of the cake than was available, they know very well that that was bound to have repercussions on business and employment, and that is now beginning to happen.
In addition, it recalls to my mind an incident, to which I drew attention in the Seanad at the time of the Free Trade Area Agreement, and about which I made a very strong plea to the members of the trade union movement. At that time—I am sure Senator Fitzgerald will remember it—the cement workers in Drogheda were given boots by the firm. The boots were made in Drogheda by a firm that employed Irish workers and paid them good wages. The workers in the cement factory refused to wear those Irish manufactured boots. The firm were compelled to buy English made boots for the trade union workers of Drogheda, who did not give a damn about their fellow-trade unionists in the boot factory, who might have lost their employment. In due course the factory closed down and those trade unionists who insisted on getting English-made boots to work in the cement factory are probably whinging, worrying, crying and asking who is responsible.
At that time I made a plea to the leaders of the trade union movement that they should not be so complacent about social services, welfare benefits, doles and hand-outs. They should stand on their own feet. As the watch word of Labour, which they faintly sang at the end of their conference in Galway——
Mr. J. Fitzgerald Mr. J. Fitzgerald
Mr. J. Fitzgerald: It is well we were singing anyway.
Tomás Ó Maoláin Tomás Ó Maoláin
Tomás Ó Maoláin: Well, very faintly, very faintly indeed.
Mr. J. Fitzgerald Mr. J. Fitzgerald
Mr. J. Fitzgerald: More than you were.
Tomás Ó Maoláin Tomás Ó Maoláin
Tomás Ó Maoláin: As it says, “Get up off your feet”. I appealed to them to get off their knees and do something for their fellow-workers and not to be depending on the State and on insurance and everything else. What I suggested was that the Trade Union Congress, with their tremendous power and influence, should organise a Statewide campaign in every trade union branch, in every factory, in every shop and on every shop floor, to urge the members of the trade unions to buy Irish goods which were equally as good as any other goods and that this would give employment to Irish workers. Apparently, the Trade Union Congress did not think very much of the suggestion because, although it was stated that they were urging their workers to buy Irish goods, my information was that very little progress was made in the matter.
Again whether we enter Europe or not, there is an opportunity here for the Trade Union Congress to do something for the workers, whom they claim to represent, that is, to put a little bit of Irish economic patriotism into them because they do not seem to have it. If you go to any shops where there are buyers you will find the same story I am telling here now.
I am sorry that Senator Kennedy is not here because he spoke of the half million workers whom the Trade Union Congress represent. I saw a figure quoted in the paper the other day by a research student under the trade union movement which stated that the number of organised workers represented by the Trade Union Congress was 237,000. It would be interesting to find out which was which and what is wrong with the other quarter of a million that apparently are outside the control of the Trade Union Congress.
Senator Kennedy also was worried that no information was available about the situation in regard to entry or alternatives to membership of the European Economic Community. As far as I know, the trade union movement are affiliated to the Socialist International, so is the Irish Labour Party. In every country the trade union movement have their contacts and their research services. If my memory serves me right, the Irish Labour Party delegation which went to Brussels some time ago consisted of the leader and several other leading figures in the party. They made an on-the-spot study of the European Economic Community, came back and apparently must have made a report to their movement. Surely, if they went to Brussels, were not able to find out the answers to their questions, came back and are waiting until now to find out information that was available to them in Brussels and which they could get on application to any of the trade union research centres in the six member countries of the European Economic Community, then they must be very slow indeed.
It is up to the Labour Party, who appear to be spearheading this drive against membership of the European Economic Community, to put the case against our joining. It is up to them to give us the alternative. It is up to them to show us who is going to buy our produce and the products of our factories if we do not go in. It is up to them also to show us how we are going to maintain the standard of living which the workers of this country have now if we do not go in to some association such as the Common Market, which will at least guarantee us a market for the products of our farms and factories. The sooner the Labour Party make up their mind to put all their cards on the table—and not wait till the last moment when they may have done a considerable amount of brain damage to people who might take them seriously—and to change their mind, the better for the country and the better for the movement as a whole.
Professor Dooge Professor Dooge
Professor Dooge: We have had on this motion a wide ranging debate, with many points of view and many different points of emphasis. It has, I think, despite what was said by one Senator, been representative of public attitude and public opinion. Public attitudes and opinions in regard to this question are wide-ranging. There are many points of view. People tend to take one aspect rather than another and to talk about one aspect to the exclusion of others. In this, our debate has been representative. So far as our debate has been confusing at times, I think it has also been representative of the state of the public mind.
I do not know that we have in these six hours done very much to remedy the situation. We have talked about general consideration. We have talked about special problems. We have had during the debate a good mixture of both of these. Again this, I think, is reflective of the problem because the problem of whether or not we should go into Europe, exactly how we should negotiate, exactly how we should prepare, both in the work place and in our own attitudes, are all things that are affected by general considerations and by special factors.
The first general point that I think we must be clear on, and it was one of the first points mentioned by Senator O'Higgins when opening this debate, is a clear realisation that no matter what our attitude, no matter what our avocation, no matter what our political views, every one of us as Irishmen and Irishwomen are Europeans in our blood and our bones and that we cannot get away from this fact. We tend to lose sight of it because, though one might think looking at the geography of the situation that the island of Britain which lies between us and Europe would be a bridge between Ireland and Europe, we find in fact that Britain is now, as she has always been, a barrier between Ireland and Europe. We have had difficulty, both before we freed ourselves from Britain, and almost as much since we started to use our own freedom, in seeing clearly beyond Britain to Europe. Nevertheless, when we manage to get through that barrier we find that we are Europeans. We find that we have more in common with Europe, and I do not speak only of Western Europe and the Six, than we have with Britain.
I am sure there are Members of this House who have walked the streets of European cities, streets on the European Continent, and felt that it was more like walking the streets of Dublin, Cork or Limerick than one feels when walking the streets of London or Birmingham. We can feel more at home in Europe and we are Europeans. It is not merely the Spanish ale that brought us hope or the French aid or the seas but the fact we are a part of an integral European tradition.
There are fears that if we now link ourselves with the European mainland this would be a repudiation of the ideology that brought us freedom, that this would be to turn our backs ultimately and for the last time upon Sinn Féin. For that reason I think it was appropriate that Senator Andy O'Brien tonight reminded us that, if we go back to the fountainhead of Sinn Féin, go back to the journalist who first brought to the minds of the people this idea of self reliance. If we go back to Arthur Griffith we find him looking for his inspiration in the work of Deák and the Hungarian Freedom Movement of the mid-19th century.
This State was founded on idealism. We are nervous about turning our backs on that idealism. Let us realise, even though Brussels is staffed by capable realists as the Minister well knows, that the Community we seek to join was founded on idealism. The Community we seek to join was based on the dreams of men like Schumann. Because they found a happy marriage of idealism and realism the Community they founded has been a success. Not all the expertise and skills of the polytechnicians and graduates of the higher education institutions of Europe would have been enough to make the Community a success if it had not been founded on idealism.
United Europe is a great ideal. It is this ideal that has brought fundamental strength to the Community and we should not forget this. This may well be the appropriate time when small European countries such as ourselves would have something real to contribute. It may well be that the original Six who signed the Treaty of Rome on the basis of idealism are now so concerned with the minutiae of regulations, so concerned with the working out of detail, that some of the original idealism has been lost. If we go into Europe to accomplish an ideal, then perhaps we can be the inspiration for a renaissance in the idealism of the Community.
Let us realise what we are doing. This is important in regard to the anxieties in regard to NATO, and in regard to neutrality that Senator Horgan spoke about tonight. We do not go into the European Community accepting that the European ideal is a confrontation against the powers of the Warsaw Pact. This is not the idealism that the Community was founded on. The idealism that founded the Community was to put an end to war in Europe. The first phase of that was to bring the 20th-century enemies of two world wars together in one Community. That Community can go on to the ultimate ideal, the Community can ultimately find a basis for unity for those who are ranged against one another in the cold war of the 20th century.
If we look back for the first origins of this ideal, and where the example of co-operation came from, we will come up against the Marshal Plan and to the efforts in 1948 of Europe coming together and putting herself on her feet with the aid of American money. Once again, the money would not have been enough without the aid of the ideal of co-operation. When the Marshal Plan was announced, Czechoslovakia expressed her willingness to join and was only prevented by “Big Brother” from doing so. Now we should look forward not to a Community of The Ten which will stand ranged on the Czechoslovak border and looking across it in enmity, but to a Community of The Ten that will look forward to the day when the Czechoslovak application of 1948 is finally accepted.
Let us be clear that the idealism involved in the idea of a united Europe is not represented by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. When we say that we are prepared to undertake the defence commitments of a European Community we are not pledging our loyalty to NATO. We are saying that the European Community which we wish to join is something worthwhile and therefore worth defending, but it is only worth defending for itself and not defending for any other ideology outside itself.
We must be careful, as the Minister must be careful in his negotiation, to distinguish our attitudes from those of Britain. It may be difficult for Britain to see the difference between the defence of the Community and the problems of NATO, but to us there is a real difference. We are not bound to go to the aid of certain European countries which have not got enough democracy in them to be considered for membership of the Community. Our attitude to them is quite different from that of Britain. We must look beyond Britain to the ideal that lies behind.
I said that the Community has achieved success because of a mixture of idealism and realism and I would be as well not to spend all of my 20 minutes talking about idealism. I will turn to the realistic part which has in a way tended to dominate this debate, as it has dominated the discussion in the country. It is the realism of our economic position. Senator Jack Fitzgerald said that the Fine Gael Party were just as enthusiastic in regard to the Free Trade Area Agreement with Britain as Fianna Fáil were. I do not know what the level of enthusiasm was in the Fianna Fáil Party for that agreement. I certainly know that it was not supported with any real enthusiasm by the Fine Gael Party.
It was not accepted in the sense that we accept the move towards Europe. It was proposed in the other House as being something which had already been agreed with Britain. It was accepted by Fine Gael as the first move towards an early entry into Europe. As such we were prepared to accept it; but looking back on it perhaps we were wrong because it was not the prelude to an early entry and the disadvantages of it were great. The greatest disadvantage was that Britain did not keep the agreement. If she kept it in law she certainly did not keep it in spirit. In our opinion she did not keep it in law either.
Senator Jack Fitzgerald asked if we could be deceived in regard to the Free Trade Agreement with Britain could we not be more deceived in regard to the Community? The answer is “No” because there is a world of difference. The Community is not just an agreement, a treaty or a set of rules. It is based on a treaty that sets up institutions to see that the rules are kept. When Britain in the time of economic necessity decided to break the rules, or, as she would probably say herself, to bend them, she was constituting herself as referee and umpire on that occasion; but she cannot do that to us if we both go into Europe. If we both go into Europe, subject to the European institutions, Britain can never do to us what she did under the Free Trade Area Agreement.
This is the realism, this is what makes the Community worthwhile. The Community is a safer place than the big jungle of the world for small nations like ourselves. It is a place where the big powers have to obey the rules just as much as the little ones. When it comes to the question of a conflict of interest between the large and the small, having the rules and having an impartial umpire is the only chance of fair play for the smaller partner. We must realise that there is a world of difference here between the position under the Free Trade Area and the position in the Community.
We may say that the Community has not done all it might. We can say that it has yet no Community regional policy, that it has not done many things. I think we should look at these things we complain about. Our complaint should not be that the Community has moved in the wrong direction but rather that it has moved too slowly. With regard to matters such as the democratisation of the European Parliament, regional policy, matters of this sort, the Community has certainly moved in the right direction, but, in my opinion, it has not moved fast enough.
So much for the general problems. As I say, we should look at these. To my mind whether we look at them as idealists or as realists the place for Ireland in the future, in my opinion, lies inside the Community. There are many special problems which were raised during the debate. Senator Jessop mentioned the peculiar difficulty that the liberal professions are under in facing this particular future. If I might be permitted, I would like to add a word from the point of view of my own profession. The professions are in great difficulties here because they fall both under the right of establishment and under the right to work. The difficulty of working out their position under the Community rules is very great.
The Minister has offered to put professional bodies in touch with bodies in Brussels. I would like to bring up one point here, very briefly. The Institution of Engineers of Ireland, which is the professional body in this country which controls the engineering profession, has already joined the appropriate European body, FEANI, that is the Federation of National Associations of Engineers, a body that originally was confined to The Six but was open afterwards to anybody who was eligible to be a member of The Six. In fact, the Institution has been carrying the burden of a subscription, the burden of sending delegates to meetings, in order to prepare its own profession for entry into Europe.
I would say to the Minister that there is a case to be made here. While the profession were largely interested in their own position and in their own members they were also fulfilling a national function here, and there is a case that the Minister might support what has been done by individual bodies in this regard. Even though grant-in-aid is something of a dirty word nowadays, I would suggest that the Minister should consider helping bodies who are helping themselves in regard to this adaptation. This is just one of the special points. The problem of the harmonisation of diplomas, which is a very difficult problem was also mentioned and this is true of all the professions.
I would like to come, finally, as a general topic, to a problem which, in spite of what the Minister says, I think really worries him, and this is the problem of information. The Minister has said, and rightly, that if one wishes to oppose the body of official opinion one must inform oneself, but I do not think he is entitled to leave it there. This is a somewhat authoritarian attitude. He is like a scholastic philosopher, who insists that you must accept the conclusions, if you cannot follow the scholastic arguments or if you have not studied the complete problem.
Dr. Hillery Dr. Hillery
Dr. Hillery: The Senator left out a bit. I gave them the information.
Professor Dooge Professor Dooge
Professor Dooge: Certainly. I am saying this not in any sense of criticism of what the Minister or his Department have been doing. However, the Minister has admitted he has made available information which is not in very digestible form and which the Minister himself found difficult to assimilate. The Minister and the Government have a duty not only to provide the basic information, not only to pass on the information which is available from Brussels but also to do a certain degree of interpretation.
I know this is asking a good deal at a time of heavy negotiation, when the Minister and the section of his Department dealing with this matter are heavily engaged in these vital negotiations. Nevertheless, I would ask the Minister to accept the fact that more must be done in this regard. Up to now the Irish Council of the European Movement, which has been carrying out excellent work in this regard, as the Minister mentioned in his speech, has I think been quite outstanding among similar bodies in Europe in not receiving substantial Government support. I do not know if in the coming financial year the Minister will be in a position to do anything in this regard but I certainly would urge him to do anything that is possible. Once again the Minister would be able here to act through agents who will add to the financial resources he can make available, an enthusiasm in regard to this issue that is difficult to purchase with money.
With regard to this general problem of information I would like to say another word and again recommend to the Minister's munificence the European Association of Teachers who, this week, are marking their 10th Anniversary. They have through the teaching profession—the whole profession, because this is a body which brings together teachers in primary, secondary, vocational schools and universities—they have, through the teaching fraternity, and through the schools, done an immense amount of good.
We have not discussed today whether or not there should be a referendum. Whether there is a formal referendum with a tá and a níl, it will be a tragic day if we go into Europe without an effective vote of confidence from the Irish people. Unless the people are really convinced, then it will be almost dangerous to go into Europe not bringing the people with us. This is not a matter of constitutional change. This is a matter of what this change means.
I go back to the point I made originally. We must in this venture have the right mixture of idealism and realism. It was on these two that the Community was founded. It is on the basis of these two aspects that we must judge our situation. When we do, I think we must conclude we should enter the Community, that we should enter it with enthusiasm, not merely to accept what has been done but to make our contribution, conscious that it is a real contribution and conscious indeed that here lies economic opportunity and political idealism which may bring back some of the spirit which, as we all know, we have lacked in this country for many years past.
Question put and agreed to.
The Seanad adjourned at 9.50 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 31st March, 1971.
Seanad Éireann 69 Membership of EEC: Motion. | <urn:uuid:9340cd36-9785-4b10-bb3c-d0abcdbfd8a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/S/0069/S.0069.197103110003.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971972 | 47,346 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Reviewed by Matthew Roper
On Cynics and Swords
The Christian Research Journal is published by the Christian Research Institute, a California-based "cult-watching" organization founded by the late Walter Martin.1 The Summer 1996 issue contained a contribution by James White, who heads an anti-Mormon ministry based in Arizona. White complains that Mormon apologists are nasty, sarcastic, and unscholarly. He refers to a lighthearted review by Tom Nibley in which that writer poked fun at Jerald and Sandra Tanner and their book Covering Up the Black Hole in the Book of Mormon (p. 32).2 I personally found Nibley's style quite funny, although it is understandable that critics like White and the Tanners would not. Perhaps they should lighten up. While White criticizes Nibley for his satirical tone, our somber critic fails to address any of the substantive issues Nibley raised in response to the Tanners' book.3 Neither does he address the more sober and detailed criticisms raised by John Tvedtnes and myself.4
While White asserts that recent Latter-day Saint scholarship on the Book of Mormon is unscholarly, his article suffers from its own problems. In a brief section on Latter-day Saint views of Book of Mormon geography (pp. 33-4), White refers to John Sorenson's book, The Geography of Book of Mormon Events: A Source Book, as one "which presents maps of where cities theoretically might be located, where battles took place, and so on" (p. 33).5 While this description may aptly refer to Sorenson's book An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, which attempts to place such events in a real-world Mesoamerican setting,6 it is not an entirely accurate characterization of The Geography of Book of Mormon Events, which reviews the history of Latter-day Saint treatments of Book of Mormon geography. In that book Sorenson does not attempt to place Book of Mormon events at specific New World sites, but simply analyzes and develops an internal map based on textual references alone. Readers will also be surprised by White's erroneous claim that, "FARMS apologists . . . come up with two different Central America locations for "Cumorah'" (p. 34, emphasis added). Oddly enough, White accuses Latter-day Saint writers of using "faulty arguments and inadequate evidence" (p. 34).7 According to White, "A careful reading of the sources used [by those associated with FARMS] will reveal support outside the LDS community for only non-disputed issues that are not, therefore, at issue when it comes to the historicity of the Book of Mormon" (p. 33). White does not offer much by way of evidence for this blanket assertion; however, he does discuss a recent study by William Hamblin and Brent Merrill on swords in the Book of Mormon, which presumably supports that claim. In responding to each of White's criticisms, it will be necessary to restate significant points raised by Hamblin and Merrill but not addressed by White; however, lest I be accused of citing only Latter-day Saint scholars, I will also document evidence supportive of those views from relevant non-Mormon scholarly sources.
When Is a "Sword" a "Sword"?
Several recent studies by Latter-day Saint scholars suggest that the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican weapon known as the macuahuitl or macana best fits the criteria for the Book of Mormon "sword."8 White dismisses this equation as an act of desperation by Mormon apologists. The macuahuitl, argues White, cannot be a sword, but "a war club with sharp rocks imbedded in it!" (p. 35). To call such a weapon a sword constitutes, in White's view, "the most egregious redefinition of terms" (p. 35). White's criticisms of the macuahuitl are seriously misinformed. In a recent article
I showed that the earliest Spanish sources almost universally describe the macuahuitl as a "sword."9 Many contemporary Mesoamerican scholars call it a sword.10 White is simply wrong.
Nephi records that Laban, a powerful military official in Jerusalem around 600 B.C., possessed a sword with a blade "of the most precious steel" (1 Nephi 4:9).11 White admits that he finds no problem here (p. 34). It is worth noting, however, that many critics of the Book of Mormon have cited this passage as evidence against the Book of Mormon's historicity. "Steel," it is argued, "was not known to man in those days."12 Today, however, it is increasingly apparent that the practice of "steeling" iron through deliberate carburization was well-known to the Near Eastern world from which the Lehi colony emerged. "It seems evident that by the beginning of the tenth century B.C. blacksmiths were intentionally steeling iron."13 A carburized iron knife dating to the twelfth century B.C. is known from Cyprus.14 In addition to this,
A site on Mt. Adir in northern Israel has yielded an iron pick in association with 12th-century pottery. One would hesitate to remove a sample from the pick for analysis, but it has been possible to test the tip of it for hardness. The readings averaged 38 on the Rockwell "C" scale of hardness. This is a reading characteristic of modern hardened steel.15
Quenching, another method of steeling iron, was also known to Mediterranean blacksmiths during this period. "By the beginning of the seventh century B.C. at the latest the blacksmiths of the eastern Mediterranean had mastered two of the processes that make iron a useful material for tools and weapons: carburizing and quenching."16 Archaeologists recently discovered a carburized iron sword near Jericho. The sword, which had a bronze haft, was one meter long and dates to the time of King Josiah, who would likely have been a contemporary of Lehi.17 Hershel Shanks recently described the find as "spectacular" since it is the only complete sword of its size and type from this period yet discovered in Israel.18 Such discoveries lend a greater sense of historicity to Nephi's passing comment in the Book of Mormon.
White reasons that since Nephi possessed Laban's "sword of most precious steel," all subsequent "swords" mentioned in the Book of Mormon must also resemble Laban's. After his arrival in the land of Nephi, he wrote,
And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us. (2 Nephi 5:14)
White insists that this passage proves that all subsequent Book of Mormon swords were made of steel. This, however, is an erroneous claim since at the very most it might indicate that the swords Nephi made in the sixth century B.C. to defend his small colony were made of steel. It is of course possible that Nephi's "swords" were metal weapons modeled after the sword of Laban, but this is not the only or even the most plausible interpretation. Whatever metallurgical knowledge Nephi had of "steel" could have been subsequently lost. Macuahuitl style blades might then have replaced earlier ones made of steel.19 This argument for subsequent loss of steel and iron technologies among the Nephites finds support in the Book of Mormon text. Chronologically speaking, steel is never mentioned after Jarom's day (Jarom 1:8). And iron, although known to some of the Zeniffites in the land of Nephi, is never mentioned after Noah's day (Mosiah 11:3, 8). This tends to support the idea that some metallurgical technologies possessed by Nephi and others may have been lost over time. Other interpretations are also possible. For instance, the phrase "after the manner of" is ambiguous and could simply mean that subsequent Nephite blades were made after the general pattern of Laban's sword—a straight double-edged blade.20 Many Near Eastern blades from Nephi's day were of the sickle-sword variety. Nephi may mean that he followed the straight-sword variety as opposed to the cimeter. While these New World blades might have been steel, they could just as easily have been of meteoric iron,21 obsidian, flint, jade, or even fire-hardened wood.22 The obsidian blades of some macuahuitl were often placed closely together, forming an almost continuous cutting edge similar in many respects to metal swords.23
Stains and "Brightness"
White does not address one of the more interesting reasons for equating Book of Mormon swords with a macuahuitl-like weapon. King Anti-Nephi-Lehi admonished his fellow converts, "Since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren" (Alma 24:12). Concerning this passage, Hamblin observes,
Although today we speak of "stainless steel," in Joseph Smith's day, metals were not generally thought of as becoming stained. Staining was a term that generally applied to wood, cloth, or other substances subject to discoloration. Reference to staining swords with blood is not found in the Bible. Thus, although not impossible, the metaphor of staining metal swords with blood is somewhat unusual. However, if the Nephite sword were the Mesoamerican macuahuitl with a wooden shaft, blood would naturally stain and discolor the wood when an enemy was wounded. Furthermore, if a metal weapon becomes bloody, the blade can be easily wiped clean. Removing a bloodstain from wood is virtually impossible since the blood soaks into the fibers of the wood. Thus the metaphor of the great mercy of God in removing bloodstains from the swords becomes much more powerful and understandable if it refers to wood stained with blood, which only a miracle would remove, rather than if it refers to metal stained with blood, which a piece of cloth would clean.24
White asserts without evidence that the reference to Lamanite weapons being made "bright" can only make sense in terms of steel swords (p. 35). Hamblin notes, however, that "brightness can refer to any object that shines—metal, stars, or stone. Many types of obsidian have a fine luster and the stone edges of the macuahuitl could easily be described as bright."25 Torquemada, for example, described obsidian as "a stone which might be called precious, more beautiful and brilliant than alabaster or jasper, so much so that of it are made tablets and mirrors."26
Drawing a Sword
White argues that since Laban's Old World sword had a sheath, all other Book of Mormon swords must have had one (p. 34); yet, as Hamblin indicated, Laban's sword is the only Book of Mormon weapon said to have had a sheath. White assumes that subsequent references to men "drawing" their swords imply a sheath; however, weapons could just as easily be "drawn" from a bag or basket in which weapons were stored or carried.27 Hamblin and Merrill noted that the mural from Chichen Itza shows a Toltec soldier carrying a bag or basket holding several macuahuitl on his back.28 The Maya in highland Guatemala had portable ammunition carts that carried weapons.29 Mesoamerican soldiers sometimes wore belts in which weapons could be carried. The Toltecs, for example, had a round shield which they carried into battle, "and the swords were fastened with belts."30 While the Nephites may have had sheaths, they could also have "drawn" their swords from a bag, basket, or belt. Another possibility is that "these references could describe grasping or brandishing a sword before combat rather than actually "drawing' it from a sheath."31 Support for this view can be found in several accounts from Spanish chroniclers that describe native American macuahuitl as being "drawn."
And he flattered himself, that his Sword being once drawn, he might have a Chance to reach the Crown.32
None of the caciques dared to draw a sword against them.33
Using White's reasoning, we would have to conclude that these historians had reference to steel swords with sheaths, yet they refer to the stone-bladed macuahuitl. If these historians can describe warriors brandishing the macuahuitl as "drawing their swords," then why must there be a problem when Mormon, the Nephite chronicler, uses similar language?
Sharpness of Blades
White cannot understand how Ammon could cut off the arms of his Lamanite enemies at the waters of Sebus (Alma 17:37), or how the Nephite soldier could cut off a part of Zerahemnah's scalp with one defensive blow, if they were using a macuahuitl which White thinks was just a club (p. 34). Those familiar with Mesoamerican warfare and historical descriptions of this weapon would not view this as a problem. Those Spaniards who encountered Mexican "swords" in battle were deeply impressed by their deadly cutting power and razorlike sharpness.34 Here are a few statements that adequately illustrate this point:
These swords cut naked men as if they were steel.35
Their swords, which were as long as broadswords, were made of flint which cut worse than a knife, and the blades were so set that one could neither break them nor pull them out.36
They slashed at his mare, cutting her head at the neck so that it only hung by the skin.37
They killed the mare with a single sword-stroke.38
There were shields large and small, and a sort of broadsword, and two-handed swords set with flint blades that cut much better than our swords.39
White cites two Book of Mormon references which suggest that at least some Nephite swords were pointed (p. 34-5).40 In Alma 44:12-3 Mormon describes Zerahemnah's unsuccessful attempt to kill Moroni in which a Nephite soldier wounds the Zoramite, taking off part of his scalp. White correctly notes that the soldier's weapon in this case definitely has a "point," yet it may be significant that the scalp is apparently not spitted as one might expect, but picked up and "laid" on the point of the soldier's sword. The second passage cited by White (Alma 57:33) may suggest that some Nephites had pointed swords, but it is more ambiguous. White unfortunately only cites a part of the passage in support of his point; however, the full passage may suggest another possibility:
And it came to pass because of their rebellion we did cause that our swords should come upon them. And it came to pass that they did in a body run upon our swords, in the which, the greater number of them were slain; and the remainder of them broke through and fled from us. (Alma 57:33)
Contrary to White's assertion, it is not clear that these prisoners were impaled, since they were attempting to escape while the Nephites were already using their weapons. Even if we assume that some of these prisoners were impaled on the end of the Nephite swords, those weapons would not necessarily have to be pointed, since the top edge may have been sharpened without coming to a point.
Be that as it may, some pre-Columbian "swords" were clearly pointed, as several Mesoamerican codices clearly show. According to Hassig, "Drawings indicate rectangular, ovoid, and pointed designs.41 The Mendoza Codex, for example, shows Aztec and Tlaxcalan warriors with pointed, wood-bladed swords.42 One of the most impressive battle scenes portrayed in Maya art can be found at the three-room palace of Bonampak in Chiapas, Mexico. On the west wall of room 2, "A large leaf-shaped blade with a short handle is brandished by a warrior at the top center left of the battle." This weapon is clearly pointed.43 Some Mesoamerican stone-bladed swords were definitely pointed as well. According to Solis, when marching to battle, the Tlaxcalans "carried their Macanas, or two-handed Swords, under the Left Arm, with their Points upward."44 White ignores evidence for this in Hamblin's original article, which shows an early representation of a pointed macuahuitl in the right hand of the warrior figure at the Loltun Cave.45 The structure of this weapon is very similar to the obsidian-pointed macuahuitl held in the hand of a Tlaxcalan noble during Aztec times.46 Examples of the curved Mesoamerican blade, which Hassig calls a "short sword,"47 are also known to have had points of obsidian. Clearly, Book of Mormon references to pointed swords can be easily explained in terms of the macuahuitl.
White notes that the Book of Mormon contains several references to sword "hilts,"48 but makes the erroneous claim that this poses a problem in equating Book of Mormon "swords" with Mesoamerican blades such as the macuahuitl (pp. 34-5). Again he simply ignores Hamblin's discussion of this issue: "Structurally, the macuahuitl does have a hilt. The lower portion of the weapon lacks obsidian blades so it can be held, which thus functionally distinguishes the handle or hilt from the blade." Zerahemnah's sword, it will be remembered, "broke by the hilt." Concerning this passage Hamblin notes, "If a macuahuitl were to be broken when struck by another weapon, one expected place for such breakage would be where the obsidian blades did not protect the wood of the shaft, leaving the wood directly exposed to the blades of the other sword."49 According to Gomara, "The swords could cut cleanly through a lance or the neck of a horse, and even penetrate or nick iron, which seems impossible."50 This seems to have been what occurred to Zerahemnah's sword.
In any case, Mesoamerican swords definitely had "hilts." According to one conquistador, the Mexicans "have swords that are like broadswords, but their hilts are not quite so long and are three fingers wide."51 According to the Spanish historian Solis, Montezuma possessed "Two-handed Swords, and others of extraordinary Wood with flint Edges, and most curious and costly Handles."52 Ross Hassig, a historian who specializes in Mesoamerican warfare, also notes, "Some swords had thongs through which the user could put his hand to secure the weapon in battle."53 Mexican codices frequently show the macuahuitl as being knobbed at the bottom of the handle, a feature which would obviously help keep the weapon from slipping out of the hand during combat.54
L. Ara Norwood recently observed that White "evidently didn't read Hamblin's work on the subject carefully." That also seems clear to me, based on my own examination of White's arguments on the sword issue, which I have discussed above. He also suggests, "Perhaps White can be excused for commenting on fields in which he has no training."55 I am not so sure. After all, White himself argues that he and fellow Christians should seek "the highest level of accuracy and integrity" in their scholarly endeavors. "In a culture accustomed to sound bites and surface-level thinking, we need to learn to look below the surface and ask logical, insightful questions" in order to avoid a hollow "veneer" of scholarship (p. 35). With that statement at least I can agree. Unfortunately, the author's recent article falls far short of that worthy goal.
1 On the interesting background of Walter Martin and CRI, see Robert L. and Rosemary Brown, They Lie in Wait to Deceive: A Study of Anti-Mormon Deception, vol. 3. (Mesa, Ariz.: Brownsworth, 1986).
4 L. Ara Norwood, Matthew Roper, and John A. Tvedtnes, reviews of Covering Up the Black Hole in the Book of Mormon, by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 3 (1991): 158-230; Roper, "A Black Hole That's Not So Black," Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/2 (1994): 156-203; Tvedtnes, review of Answering Mormon Scholars: A Response to Criticism of the Book "Covering Up the Black Hole in the Book of Mormon," by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/2 (1994): 204-49.
6 John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1985). For a more recent follow-up on Sorenson's views, see Sorenson, "Viva Zapato! Hurray for the Shoe!" Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (1994): 297-361.
8 Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting, 262-3; William J. Hamblin and A. Brent Merrill, "Swords in the Book of Mormon," in Warfare in the Book of Mormon, ed. Stephen D. Ricks and William J. Hamblin (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1990), 338-51. See also a forthcoming article by William Hamblin and myself on swords in the Book of Mormon.
11 Noah Webster's 1828 English dictionary defines steel as "iron combined with a small portion of carbon; iron refined and hardened, . . . particularly useful as the material of edged tools." Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 ed., s.v. "steel."
20 Webster's 1828 An American Dictionary of the English Language offers a variety of definitions for "manner," including: "1. Form; method; way of performing or executing. . . . 3. Sort; kind. . . . 4. Certain degree or measure. It is in a manner done already. . . . This use may also be sometimes defined by sort or fashion; as we say, a thing is done after a sort or fashion, that is, not well, fully or perfectly."
21 Ixtlilxochitl affirms that the Toltecs had "clubs studded with iron." Alfredo Chavera, ed., Obras Historicas de Don Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl (Mexico: Editora Nacional, 1952), 1:56. The Aztecs possessed knives and daggers made of meteoric iron, but another West Mexican tradition relates that Cuanomoat and Ceutarit, the pre-Columbian cultural heroes of several native west Mexican groups, "taught them to make fire and gave them also machetes or cutlasses of iron." Robert H. Barlow, "Straw Hats," Tlalocan 2/1 (1945): 94, emphasis added. These were primarily possessed by the elite. H. Hensoldt, "Meteorites and What They Teach Us," American Geologist 4 (1889): 28-38.
26 P. Marcou, "Procédé des Aztèques pour la taille par éclatement des couteaux ou rasoirs d'obsidienne," trans. by Edward B. Tylor, Journal de la Société des Americanistas de Paris 13 (1921): 19, emphasis added.
43 Karl Ruppert, J. Eric S. Thompson, Tatiana Proskouriakoff, "Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico," Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 602 (Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1955), 62.
47 Ross Hassig, War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992), 243 n. 121. For additional representations see my article on Mesoamerican cimeters in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies.
54 Doris Heyden, ed. and trans., The History of the Indies of New Spain by Fray Diego Duran (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994), plates 12, 14, 21-5, 27, 31, 35, and 39-40. The Inca also apparently possessed a macana. According to Fray Bernabe Cobo this double-bladed weapon "ends in a rounded hilt and a pommel like a sword." Roland Hamilton, ed. and trans., Inca Religion and Customs by Father Bernabe Cobo (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1990), 218, emphasis added. | <urn:uuid:fb8f850f-cdbb-4c08-85ed-4d3011db5617> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?reviewed_author&vol=9&num=1&id=250 | 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 | 0.961889 | 5,268 | 1.742188 | 2 |
By Judith L. Lichtman
Friday, June 4, 2010
Elena Kagan's nomination is particularly sweet for women who personally know the milestone it represents. Judy Lichtman remembers being the token woman in her law school and having the question about rape reserved for her.
I've known Kagan for many decades and I am so gratified to see a woman of her caliber nominated to this important post. In all her endeavors--as a practicing attorney, a law school professor, the first female dean of Harvard Law School and as our nation's first female solicitor general--Kagan has shown herself to be a woman of towering intellect, a fair and independent thinker and a fierce defender of justice for all. She is an inspiration to me and to all of us who strive for justice.
Even though Kagan is not the first woman to take a seat on the High Court, her appointment is still an important milestone in our long journey toward equal rights. That's because Kagan's nomination is about more than just numbers.
If she is confirmed, we will be one step closer to the day when a female nominee's gender is no longer remarkable, closer to that elusive cultural tipping point when it is no longer unusual to see women on the Supreme Court or in other positions of significant power. If three women are serving on the nation's highest tribunal, perhaps the gender of the fourth female justice won't be a focal point. I'd like to believe that her qualifications may be scrutinized, but her outfit won't.
We're still a long way from that day, but we're a lot closer to it than when I started working to fight sex discrimination more than three decades ago.
It has taken much, much too long to get to this point. But at least now, as I reflect on that recent White House ceremony, I can imagine the day when there are four--or even five!--female justices and, someday soon, true equality.
It's about time.
Judith L. Lichtman is the former president of the National Partnership for Women and Families. She is currently a senior advisor at the organization.
National Partnership for Women and Families:
By Sharon Johnson
By Sharon Johnson
By Sally J. Kenney | <urn:uuid:fa9a4152-e239-49ee-a0ed-f9f6a5809223> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://womensenews.org/story/in-the-courts/100604/kagans-nomination-sweet-smell-progress?page=0,1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953368 | 457 | 1.5625 | 2 |
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By Cassidy Olivier
VANCOUVER — Crack addicts in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside have started receiving free crack pipes as part of a Vancouver Coastal Health Authority harm reduction strategy aimed at curbing the spread of disease.
Part of a $60,000 trial project first announced in August, the pipes are just one piece of drug paraphernalia found inside kits that have been distributed to users in the troubled neighbourhood since the beginning of the month.
The glass pipes are heat-resistant and shatterproof, which experts say should reduce injury to the users’ lips and mouth — wounds that can make them more susceptible to diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C.
Also included are mouthpieces, filters, alcohol swabs, screens and push sticks.
While harm reduction tools such as these have been made available to addicts in the past, this marks the first time that they have been combined in a single kit, said Trudi Beutel, a spokesperson for the health authority.
In total, 60,000 kits are expected to be distributed at five locations during an eight-month trial period.
“What this boils down to is it’s about disease prevention,” said Beutel. “It’s about preventing more communicable diseases which land these people in hospital on a frequent basis and clog up emergency rooms.”
Beutel said the project, which comes at a time when crack is enjoying a local surge in popularity, also will allow health officials to determine if the distribution of the kits is an effective way to engage users and steer them toward detox services.
It will also help them quantify the number of crack smokers in Vancouver and provide insight into crack addiction, she added.
In this vein, the five distribution centres — the Washington Needle Depot, the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), the Portland Hotel Society, the Lookout Shelter and the Drug and Alcohol Meeting Support for Women — have agreed to report back data collected throughout the project.
Hugh Lampkin, the president of VANDU, estimated that his organization, which puts the kits together before distributing them to the four other centres, is handing out an average of 70 to 90 kits a day.
He said the ratio of users has been roughly 65 per cent male and 35 per cent female, with their ages running anywhere from 20 to 65. Right now, he said, VANDU is following a one-pipe-per-day policy.
“I think what this is doing right now is starting a dialogue about crack smoking,” he said of the project, which has been criticized. “And asking what is the best way to combat this drug problem.”
The B.C.-based director of the Drug Prevention Network of Canada offered a far less optimistic opinion.
“Programs like this ignore the problems of addiction,” said David Brener. “All this does is aid and abet. What we should do is put that same amount of money into treatment and prevention. Because treatment and prevention work.”
On Friday, federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq issued a statement through her spokesman, saying the Vancouver health authority is completely within its rights in handing out crack pipes.
But the federal government would rather see health care funding funneled into addiction treatment and prevention programs, said spokesman Steve Outhouse.
“This is an area of provincial jurisdiction, so that’s their call,” he said. “Our preference for our initiatives that we fund specifically with targeted funding is on prevention and treatment versus harm reduction models, but this one falls to the province.”
The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent ruling to allow InSite, Vancouver’s supervised injection site, to continue operation does not affect the government’s stance, added Outhouse.
“They’re kind of apples and oranges,” he said.
Although the crack pipe program and InSite have a common thread of a harm reduction strategy, only InSite was required, under section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, to secure Health Canada’s permission to operate.
Handing out a medical device, like a crack pipe, is simply considered to be primary care and does not require federal government approval, said Outhouse.
With files from Thandi Fletcher
Big Data is now being used by advertisers to test the efficacy of traditional and digital media campaigns, but can it be considered a panacea?
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One of the largest storms on the planet is forecast to bring heavy rain and snow to much of the country from tomorrow.
While the storm, the size of Australia, was likely to remain at least 1000km south of New Zealand it was still expected to bring winds strong enough to bring down trees, power lines and even damage poorly built roofs in some areas, Phillip Duncan, head weather analyst for Weatherwatch.co.nz, said.
Blustery conditions would affect the entire North Island with severe gales likely about Wellington, Wairarapa and the tops of ranges, Mr Duncan said.
Strong winds would make driving much more difficult, especially for motorbikes, vans, trucks and other high-sided vehicles.
Heavy rain was expected for all western regions from Fiordland to Waikato starting tomorrow, with a number of fronts lasting until the weekend.
Eastern areas, including quake-hit Canterbury, should miss most of the rain.
Southland and Otago could expect heavy snow with a southerly change coming directly off the Antarctic shelf during Friday and Saturday.
Mr Duncan advised farmers in the middle of lambing to move vulnerable stock into barns or sheltered areas by the end of Thursday as wind chills dropping to between -10degC and -20degC could hit some exposed farms.
MetService spokesman Peter Kreft said the weather system would bring strong westerlies and Southern Ocean like conditions.
"For a few days, New Zealand will be well and truly in the roaring 40s," said Mr Kreft.
Heavy ocean swells were also expected off the western coasts of both islands, with the coast from Taranaki northwards expected to be struck by particularly rough seas for a few days from Friday, he said
"These wild seas will need to be treated with respect," Mr Kreft said.
Meanwhile, Environment Waikato (EW) has stepped up its flood monitoring for the Waikato and Waipa rivers in response to ongoing rain and the forecast of more over the next few days.
As a precautionary measure, EW has activated a flood operations centre at its Hamilton headquarters so that it is ready to swing into action if river levels rise higher than currently forecast, duty emergency management officer Greg Ryan said.
"The region is sodden, river and lake levels are high throughout the region, and will remain high as we approach this next spell of rain," Mr Ryan said.
EW would work closely with Civil Defence to advise people should river levels reach dangerous levels, he said. | <urn:uuid:bb9c1857-5237-4ed7-b69e-d4788d21b1bf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10673650 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969688 | 520 | 1.796875 | 2 |
April 27, 2013 from 7pm to 8pm – Village Books Goats, chickens and cows were common in cities until the early 1900s, at which time, all across America, they were banished to the rural outlands. Today, the idea of keeping chickens and goats in an… Organized by Christina Claassen | Type: village, books, literature, live
April 27, 2013 from 12pm to 2pm – Bow Hill Blueberry Farm Bow Little Market in collaboration with Bow Hill Blueberry Farm, Chuckanut Transition, Friday Creek Habitat Stewards and the Skagit Conservation District is hosting a Neighborhood Plant Extravaganza!… Organized by Sarai Stevens | Type: a, collaborate, plant, extravaganza!
April 27, 2013 from 12pm to 1pm – Bow Hill Blueberry Farm Improving Your Soil, with Harley Soltes of Bow Hill Blueberries and Bow Hill Organics. He will go beyond soil testing for N-P-K. He will address minerals such as calcium, and how to use composts, c… Organized by Sarai Stevens | Type: free, workshop
April 27, 2013 from 1pm to 2pm – Bow Hill Blueberry Farm Seed-Saving, Perennial Plants and Food Forest Culture, with Nancy Chase of Shambala Farm and Nursery in Stanwood. She will cover perennial vegetables and permanent food forest designs, combined with… Organized by Sarai Stevens | Type: free, workshop
April 27, 2013 from 1pm to 2:30pm – Details will be emailed. Develop an ongoing family tradition of making your own bread and pizza. Learn the very simple process to have dough on hand at all times. Register through Whatcom Folk School Organized by Joy Patterson | Type: food, prep, class | <urn:uuid:b55de0f6-0e38-461b-81dc-4b9c11fc9e6e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/event/listByDate?date=2013-04-27 | 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 | 0.9454 | 369 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Fallen Earth is a post-apocalyptic massively multiplayer online game that mixes first person shooter and role playing game style mechanics. The game is set in 2156, one hundred years after the world is brought low by a plague known as Shiva that killed 99% of the population. The game takes place in and around the Grand Canyon, one of the few habitable places left on Earth, which makes it a place many are willing to kill to control. Our world is one where mankind teeters on the edge of extinction, clinging to the bones of the old world while trying to recover their lost secrets. It's a world of scavengers and desperation. The players are those who choose to rise above the hardships of this new world and work towards a better world, or decide the old world was corrupt and all signs of it must be erased completely.
"Our main focus is to make sure that Fallen Earth is easily accessible to as many fans as possible," said Jessica Orr, product manager for Fallen Earth. "We are working on initiatives that are near fruition and we simply need more time."
Pre-order customers will still enter Early Access on September 9, with an additional six days of access before the live program begins.
The core functionality players expect from an MMO, such as raids, clans, auction house, and a mail system, are now up and running in Fallen Earth. Players can combine their efforts in raids of up to four groups or thirty-two players, allowing them to tackle larger threats and compete more effectively in PvP activities. Clans allow players to form large social groups with a number of different ranks, each with its own configurable name and permission list. The auction house system allows players to sell goods to each other with ease, and to search the auction house for items needed for a specific recipe. The mail system enables players to easily stay in contact and trade goods among themselves through the vigilant efforts the Franklin's Riders, the postal service within Fallen Earth.
- First Person Shooter/Role Playing Game Hybrid: Engage in intense FPS combat with the depth and customization of RPG character advancement
- Classless Advancement: Utilize the robust skill-based system to build characters with multiple stats, skills, mutation paths, tradeskills and factions
- Massive Real-Time Crafting System: 95 percent of the in-game items—vehicles, consumables, weapons, armor and more—can be made by the players as they scavenge and harvest
- Unique Faction Systems: Ally with or rally against six factions to determine how the post-apocalyptic world is rebuilt
- Multiple Game Play Modes: Experience multiple types of game play including crafting, exploration, vehicle combat and scavenging in both solo and group play
- Tactical Player vs. Player: Battle in one of the open PvP zones or wage war with the factions to claim control of a town
- Vast Explorable World: Put survival instincts to the test while experiencing 70 towns with more than 5,500 missions spread over 1,000 square kilometers of zoneless territory
Fallen Earth will be released on Sept. 22, 2009.
More articles about Fallen Earth | <urn:uuid:6c412c09-79e7-4f11-87af-5e43aabd0a73> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://worthplaying.com/article/2009/9/8/news/68210/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947567 | 637 | 1.648438 | 2 |
I am thoroughly confused about whether I as a Sjögren's patient should take the H1N1 vaccine. I am 62 and have heard so many opposing views from the media and even froom my doctors? What are you saying to your patients?
The Doctor replies:
At this time, (November, 2009), I am not recommending HINI vaccine to other than those given priority by Health and Human Services .There is a shortage of the vaccine. Children and pregnant women should go first.
Most people past their teens will have seen parts of this virus before and therefore have some immunity. If flu symptoms do appear the Doctor may recommend tamiflu or relenza to lessen the effect.
Furthermore it is a new vaccine. From what i can tell and because of being pushed thru using some old technology not used anymore I prefer to be on the cautious side. So until time goes by and we see the pluses & minuses of the vaccine more clearly-I prefer to wait and watch. Just as an aside I might add that I have had a few patients who got the injection and have done fine so far. | <urn:uuid:2297fb10-3068-431c-a3d4-fc9c051be023> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sjogrensforum.com/medications/h1n1-vaccine/ | 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 | 0.965173 | 230 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Llandudno north shore beach to be re-stocked with sand
A thousand tonnes of sand is being moved across a popular resort to re-stock one of its beaches.
Llandudno has two beaches, but one has hardly any sand left and the other has too much.
Officials at Conwy council said moving spare sand to north shore beach was an obvious solution, though they stressed it would only work in the short term.
Hoteliers in Llandudno claim sand has been disappearing from the beach for several years.
Geoff Lofthouse, the general manager of the Imperial Hotel, cancelled a sandcastle competition last summer because there was not enough sand.
End Quote Mike Priestley Liberal Democrat councillor
There's an issue on the north shore that the sand has been disappearing, and people on the West Shore side of Llandudno have been complaining for years about sand blowing about”
He said: "I think everyone when they come to the seaside expects to see a sandy beach.
"We used to have one many years ago, but when they put new sea defences in, we seemed to lose it.
"I think it makes a big difference if people can get on the beach and play with the children.
"We still give away buckets and spades to all the children when they check in during the summer, so it would be nice to have a bit more sand there."
Work to move the sand will cost £10,000, and is being done at the same time as other beach maintenance to keep costs down.
Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Priestley, the council's cabinet member in charge of the work, said: "There's an issue on the north shore that the sand has been disappearing, and people on the west shore side of Llandudno have been complaining for years about sand blowing about.
"There's a large mound of sand about four feet high on the west shore which is just causing problems.
"This is an obvious opportunity to move sand from one place to the other.
"We'll also be improving our beach management to try and keep the sand in the right places."
Independent councillor Graham Rees, cabinet member for tourism, said the decision showed the council was listening to people in the tourist trade.
"This will help tremendously from the tourism point of view," he added.
"That's where the money comes in to this area. Tourism is worth around £600m a year to Conwy county. It's important we protect the industry."
Mr Priestley added: "We can only re-stock part of the north shore beach, and we need to look at ways to stop the sand washing away in the long term.
"Someone did ask if we'd be doing it with buckets and spades, but we'll be getting some large mechanical equipment coming in." | <urn:uuid:5f3b052a-d8f4-4b9f-a4af-6a13867c1bea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-21610436 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975179 | 589 | 1.679688 | 2 |
At least six people have died and thousands more were displaced by the tsunami that struck the Solomon Islands on Wednesday, just a few hours after it experienced a powerful 8.0 magnitude undersea earthquake.
The casualties were five elderly villagers and a child. But the number could still increase.
"There are signs that there might be increases in the number of casualties," Cameron Vudi, Red Cross disaster manager, told the AFP.
"There are still reports coming in. Most of the reports are confined to areas that are accessible by road but there are a lot more communities that have been damaged."
The number of people displaced by the metre-high tsunami were placed at 3,000, while initial reports indicated at least 460 homes had been destroyed, as per figures estimated by Mr Vudi.
The islands up till now continue to feel aftershocks.
"People are still scared of going back to their homes because there's nothing left, so they are residing in temporary shelters on higher ground," George Herming, a spokesman for the prime minister, said.
"In the Solomon Islands when we talk about villages there can be anything from 10 to 30 houses,'' Joanne Zoleveke, Solomon Islands Red Cross secretary general, said.
Adding more insult to injury is the current state of the airstrip in Lata, the island's main town, which was littered with debris as a result of the tsunami, ultimately causing a problem for relief workers to reach the region by air.
"The airport is being cleared by some workers, by the end of today the airport would be clear of all the debris so people are now working on it and any time tomorrow or the following day airplanes should be landing," Temotu Province Premier Father Charles Brown Beu said.
Tsunami Warning Up in Philippines, NZ, Other Nations in South Pacific
Solomon Islands Earthquake Update: Casualties Feared Rising as Tsunami Hits Coastal Villages
To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail:
To contact the editor, e-mail: | <urn:uuid:0188826c-c78d-430a-b7f7-281e11916dfe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/432428/20130207/six-people-died-thousands-more-displaced-tsunami.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969088 | 421 | 1.773438 | 2 |
[ ALOHA FESTIVALS ]
The annual event has overcome some lean years to keep alive the islands' culture for kamaaina and visitors
The Aloha Festivals, conceived six decades ago as a way to boost visitor industry revenue during the soft season, has taken on a value far beyond its financial impact.
Like the cowboys of old Hawaii that it is honoring this year, the Aloha Festivals is an expression of the islands' cultural fusion, celebrating the Pacific, Asian and Western influences with events ranging from the Japanese Bon Dance to the traditional Hawaiian hula.
It has taken true paniolo grit to grow the festival from its beginning in 1947 as a weeklong festival of music, dance, games and feasting into the far more ambitious two-month-long, islandwide celebration it has become. Last year, events at the Aloha Festivals generated $500,000 in taxes and approximately $5.09 million in visitor spending.
"It's really quite phenomenal what they have done considering that it is an almost all-volunteer effort," said Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, who serves as second vice president for the Aloha Festivals and works in the government and community relations department of Hawaiian Airlines, which sponsors the event.
"These are sharp, savvy business people who really care about this place and the host culture and want to ensure that it will be here for generations to come," Nakanelua-Richards said.
The event, celebrating its 60th anniversary as the only statewide festival in the country, is both a throwback to old Hawaii and a modern-day champion preserving the future of island culture by promoting the past.
"We're here because of the legacy of folks that have come before us," said Mark Polivka, Aloha Festivals president, who moved from Nebraska to the islands in the 1970s for a short-term lark.
But like many others who have found their way to the islands, Polivka's plans changed. He fell in the love with the islands, married a Hawaiian girl, Nani, and never left.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Moanalua Elementary School teacher Doris Boushney and fourth-grader Abigail Lawton, 10, posed for a picture at Pearlridge Center earlier this month. Abigail was the grand-prize winner of the third annual Aloha Festivals Keiki Art Contest Display. The contest drew more than 200 entries based on Na Paniolo Nui O Hawai'i: The Great Cowboys of Hawai'i.
"When you get up and see the beauty that is around you, it becomes a spiritual thing -- not that you aren't grateful in other places, but around here there is an awful lot to be grateful for," said Polivka, who got involved with the Aloha Festivals as a way to learn more about the host culture of his chosen home.
While each island features a block party and a parade, the Aloha Festivals also showcases events that are unique to each island such as the Ms. Aloha Nui Contest on the Big Island, which pays homage to the island's largest women.
From the ceremonious investiture of the Aloha Festivals royal court in the lava fields of Pele to the infamous falsetto contest, that recalls a time when Hawaiian women were forbidden to sing and male performers took their place at the top of the musical scale, the celebration brings to life the spirit and culture of Hawaii's people and sets the destination apart from other sun-and-sand locations.
"People actually plan trips around the Aloha Festivals," Polivka said. "This is a celebration that stays with people. Once they've experienced it, they want to come back and participate in it again."
The Aloha Festivals, which will begin on Aug. 25 and include about 300 events, requires the support of about 6,000 to 8,000 volunteers, a paid staff and close to $1 million in contributions, said Charlian Wright, who took over as Aloha Festivals executive director in 2004.
"This is truly a momentous year for Aloha Festivals," Wright said. "We plan on pulling out all the stops for our 60th anniversary."
The Hawaii Tourism Authority contributes about $300,000 a year to the festivals and title sponsor Hawaiian Airlines gives about $100,000 in cash, $50,000 in advertising and promotions, and $25,000 in seats and cargo. About 30 to 50 businesses sponsor specific events or offer in-kind donations, Wright said. Other costs are met through the sale of Aloha Festivals ribbons and merchandise, as well as additional corporate and private donations, she said.
"About 75 to 80 percent of our contributions are visitor-industry based, but we're trying to branch out so there will be more community-based support as well," Wright said.
Aloha Festivals, which only generates about $80,000 a year from ribbon sales, has become much savvier in its efforts to raise money with Wright as the executive director, said Nakanelua-Richards.
"I think they are more self-sustaining, and that's important from a sponsor's perspective," she said. "It's important that we know that there are people who are business savvy that are looking at our contributions and spending them well."
Wright has diversified the efforts and is trying to raise funds through grants, merchandising, and events sponsorship. The recent keiki art contest and Hawaiian language competition held at Pearlridge Center has helped Aloha Festivals get increased community involvement and garner more support from local businesses outside of the visitor industry, Wright said.
Adding events for local keiki increases the Aloha Festivals relevance for young people and encourages them to participate when they become adults, said Polivka.
"We want our kids to be proud of who they are and where they came from and to share that pride with others," Polivka said.
Getting the funding to support so many cultural events for kamaaina and visitors hasn't always been easy, Polivka said. In 2004, the Aloha Festivals faced what it called "possibly the most difficult year in our history," after sponsorship contracts with the Bank of Hawaii and American Express expired. During their three-year commitments, the two companies saved the Aloha Festivals by donating about $450,000 to make up for several years of slow sales for the festivals ribbons and merchandise.
Hawaiian Airlines, which is still determining the level of sponsorship it will take in 2007, stepped in to save the Aloha Festivals in 2004 because of the event's importance both to tourism and to the carrier's corporate culture, Nakanelua-Richards said.
"A large part of our sustainability at Hawaiian Airlines comes from tourism and we just think the Aloha Festivals is a perfect match for us," she said. "It's an event that promotes tourism, which impacts our bottom line, and it's something that makes our employees happy and proud." | <urn:uuid:c43f4297-b253-4c8f-b21e-3c058667da5b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/05/21/business/story01.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968872 | 1,481 | 1.765625 | 2 |
BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the number of obese children has more than doubled in the last 30 years. A group of local cyclists are working to raise awareness of the issue.
A four person team will ride 860 continuous miles to raise awareness of childhood obesity and veteran suicide. The Race Across the West goes from Oceanside, California all the way to Durango, Colorado.
The team says they hope to compete the trip in two days. It's the second longest non-stop endurance race in America, taking riders through four different states.
They're getting a taste of what it will be like, as they ride for 17 hours straight at Salty's Barbeque on Rosedale Highway Thursday from 5 am to 7pm to raise money for the cause. | <urn:uuid:e9a86e61-a65e-47fd-b0a0-6ceb507f7a1b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Cycle-A-Thon-raises-awareness-of-childhood-obesity/TV5s7JW9i06TzmjN31kqZQ.cspx?rss=91 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942025 | 166 | 1.625 | 2 |
Students Say Fight Does Not Define Meramec
Staff at "The Montage" highlight the campus' dynamic and united community.
The April 9 fight at St. Louis Community College at Meramec does not define the institution of higher learning, The Montage says in a staff editorial that calls for all students to be treated with respect and as members of the community.
The campus came under the media spotlight after a bystander video of the fight was posted to YouTube.
"Meramec students define success through their values, not the values depicted in a YouTube video," The Montage writes.
The editorial highlights characteristics of the campus that make it strong learning environment, such as personalized attention from instructors, the ability to develop networks and real-world opportunities.
Read the staff editorial, "United We Stand as One Meramec." | <urn:uuid:40975f5f-ae30-435c-9901-d21b1ac23891> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kirkwood.patch.com/articles/students-say-fight-does-not-define-meramec | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930331 | 172 | 1.6875 | 2 |
KY FACE #95KY03901
Date: 19 June 1995
Farmer Killed in Tractor Rollover
A 66-year-old male farmer was killed in a tractor rollover incident. The victim was discing a small tobacco plot near his home when he lost control of his tractor. It went over an embankment, rolled one-half turn and landed on the victim before rolling further down the embankment. It was not equipped with a rollover protective structure (ROPS) or a seatbelt; its brakes were inoperable. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner. In order to prevent similar incidents, the KY FACE investigator concluded that:
On 8 May 1995, KY FACE was notified by a coroner of the death on 7 May 1995 of a farmer. An investigation was immediately initiated. The case was discussed by telephone with the county coroner, and on 31 May 1995, a KY FACE investigator traveled to the scene to continue the investigation. The coroner and the victim's widow were interviewed, measurements and photographs of the scene were taken, and copies of the coroner's report and photo negatives were obtained and reviewed. The emergency medical personnel who had responded to the call were not available on the day of the investigation, but were later interviewed via telephone. There were no eyewitnesses to this incident.
The victim had been a farmer all his life, raising tobacco on his 80 acres of land. He had also been a maintenance supervisor for a state university until 1984, when he retired from that position. This was to have been the first season that he planted only a small portion of his land, a relatively flat plateau of ground behind his house. He had a history of heart disease (spasms), and was on several medications for this condition. He had complained of not feeling well for several days prior to this incident, but his wife reported that he seemed to have been all right when he went out that morning to disc the small field.
The International 424 diesel tractor was manufactured in approximately 1966. Its rear tires were half-filled with fluid and it had spread front wheels. Horsepower (PTO) was 36.91, weight 3888 pounds. It was not equipped with counterweights, seatbelt, or rollover protective structure (ROPS). Its brakes had not worked for some time, according to family members. Its only attachment was the disc that the victim had been working with just prior to this incident.
Although there were no eyewitnesses to this incident, the victim was working near enough to his home (1000-1500 yards) that his wife could hear the tractor's motor running. At about 1:45 pm she heard a "clang" and then the sound of the tractor idling, so she went to check. She found her husband gasping or attempting to talk, so she ran to call for help. Neighbors arrived and turned off the tractor; they believed the victim to be already dead. Emergency medical personnel, as well as the coroner, who received the call while on duty with the fire department, arrived at 2:03 pm. EMS personnel detected no pulse or respiration. The coroner pronounced the victim dead at the scene at 2:15 pm.
From the evidence available, the following scenario is offered as a possible explanation for this incident: The victim was working in a relatively small and level plot which drops off on one side at a slope of about 13 degrees for a distance of about three feet, and then continues to drop at a slope of approximately 25 degrees. His tire marks indicated that he had been turning around at the ends of the rows, very near this drop-off. Apparently the rear tires of the tractor went over the edge and the tractor rolled backward 180 degrees, landed on the victim, and then rolled another 180 degrees, finally coming to rest upright when stopped by trees on the hillside. The victim's body was found lying approximately 20 feet down the hill, with no open wounds. He had scrapes, bruises, and displacement of the left side of the chest and stomach, indicating blunt-force trauma. The tractor came to rest another 30 feet farther down the hill (a total of 50 feet from the field).
CAUSE OF DEATH
Cause of death as stated on the coroner's report was (a) blunt force trauma to chest, (b) due to farm tractor accident, (c) possible MI. No autopsy was performed.
Recommendation #1: Tractor owners should contact their county extension agent, equipment dealer or equipment manufacturer to see if retrofit rollover protection and operator restraint systems are available for their equipment.
Discussion: The tractor involved in this incident, manufactured in 1966, was not equipped with ROPS or a seatbelt, which protect the operator in the event of a rollover, and in this case might have prevented the operator being crushed by the tractor. ROPS first became available as optional equipment on farm tractors in 1971. These safety features were not required on tractors, however, until 1976, when OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1928.51 went into effect. Although this standard does not apply to tractors manufactured prior to 1976, and thus would not apply to the 1966 model tractor in this case, it is possible to retrofit older tractors with ROPS and seatbelts, and it is strongly recommended that this be done whenever possible. Tractor owners should contact dealers, manufacturers, or county extension agents for information on sources of retrofit ROPS and operator restraint systems.
Recommendation #2: Equipment should be kept in good working condition.
Discussion: The brakes on this tractor were in need of repair. Although it is not known whether it would have changed the outcome in this case, proper preventive and routine maintenance can reduce risk and minimize injury due to equipment failures.
Recommendation #3: It is recommended that operators of farm equipment and machinery have regular examinations by a qualified physician.
Discussion: Although the victim in this case had been under the care of a physician, he had not reported to his doctor that he had felt unwell in the days just preceding this incident. A physical examination might have revealed symptoms that would have caused his doctor to advise him not to operate his tractor or other farm machinery.
Standard Number 1928.51, Subpart C, US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA CD-ROM (OSHA A94-2), February 1994.
To contact Kentucky State FACE program personnel regarding State-based FACE reports, please use information listed on the Contact Sheet on the NIOSH FACE web site Please contact In-house FACE program personnel regarding In-house FACE reports and to gain assistance when State-FACE program personnel cannot be reached. | <urn:uuid:015c42b6-8460-4964-960a-2bc672c0ea3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/ky/95ky039.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98323 | 1,364 | 1.703125 | 2 |
I can give you quite a few detailed examples, but you'll need to allow me a wee bit of time to get out the books in question and give them a quick scan through.
With James Cowan, he never really put himself forward as the expert, he was more the inquisitor initially.
I think i made a comparison with HG and James Cowan on an early posting when i joined the forums, in which i quoted from James Cowan's books preface in which he explains his passion for Glasgow and his inquisitive nature which led him to want to learn about the city.
"From Glasgow's Treasure Chest" as you may be aware, is basically a collection of James Cowan's newspaper columns on discovering "Hidden Glasgow" as "Peter Prowler" from the Evening Citizen which he wrote in the early - mid 1930's, which was printed as a collected volume in 1950 or thereabouts.
In the book at the end of some articles, he has added at the time that the volume was being prepared, notes on what had been found out since the article was published. Also letters from readers who wrote into his newspaper with more information or correcting points etc were added.
The book as i said, came out in 1950 or thereabouts and was reprinted several times shortly thereafter. I do not think there has been further impressions since the early 1950's.
With regards to some of his articles on Mount Florida, Deaf and Dumb Institute, a hidden garden off Great Western Road, a building in Argyle Street etc, and a good few more, i have noted, not so much errors - i would like to call them more like assumptions which he has left a bit open ended until further information came to light.
With Jack House if you read an early edition of any of his Glasgow book's and then look at the same book - later edition you will find that information has been added and corrections made due to new information coming to light.
Again, it has been some time since some of Jack House's books have been revised / updated, so it is only natural that with the passage of time and the more openly available resources that things which may have been assumed, taken as the accepted history have been clarified and corrected.
There is one particular passage in one of his books where he gets into a bit of a muddle about the history of the Saracen's Head. I'll have a look for it later and post the bit i am referring to.
Jack House for me was a good story teller and undoubtedly he did a lot for preserving and promoting the history of Glasgow, and he no doubt turned a lot of people's interest towards the history of their City.
But for me a lot of his stuff seems to be the same material chewed over again and again. But it was a winning formula, so why not repeat it. | <urn:uuid:12f9ea2a-2516-4af4-91ef-9c916eccc1f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=65542 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990536 | 586 | 1.59375 | 2 |
These are all of the homes of Twilight Saga characters, which are described in the books and featured in the films.
In Twilight, Bella is known to have two homes. Her mother Renee and step-father Phil's house in Phoenix, Arizona is where she grew up, and is not described. Her father Charlie Swan's house, where she moves at the beginning of Twilight, is small, with white wooden siding. It is located in Forks, Washington, and Bella lives there until Breaking Dawn, when she moves in with her new husband Edward.
The Cullen house is first seen in Twilight, when Bella Swan goes to meet Edward's family. It is a large, graceful house, rectangular and well-proportioned, painted a faded white. The southern wall is almost entirely made of glass, with a view of the Calawah river; it is equipped with a steel shutter to protect the Cullens from an attack. In the movies, the house is very modern and open, and Edward says that "it's the only place we can be ourselves".
In The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide, the house is described as over 100 years old and restored by Esme. It is three stories tall, with a deep porch that wraps around the front of the house and painted white.
The inside of the first story is open and bright, with few internal walls, with a wide central staircase to the left and a raised area with a grand piano in the center to the right as well as a rarely used dining room and kitchen. Behind the stairs is the office of C.E.E. Inc., the Cullens' personal company, where they manage all of their business dealings.
On the second floor, Rosalie and Emmett's room is at the top of the staircase. Moving around clock-wise is Jasper's study, Alice and Jasper's room with an attached closet larger than the room itself. Carlisle's office is next, with an area inside for Esme's study and Carlisle's personal library.
On the third floor, Carlisle and Esme's room is at the top of the staircase. Edward's room is facing south. The remainder of the third floor is called the library and is used for any technically illegal activity, such as forging birth certificates and hacking into computer systems in order to maintain the various identities needed to live unnoticed in human society.
Emily Young's houseEdit
First mentioned in New Moon, Emily Young's house serves as a den for the La Push shape-shifters, as well as being her home. Bella describes it as being "a tiny house, that had once been gray. There was only one narrow window beside the weathered blue door, but the window box under it was filled with bright orange and yellow marigolds, giving the whole place a cheerful look."
First visited by Bella in New Moon, it is the residence of Jacob and Billy Black, and later Rachel Black. It is described as "a small wooden place with narrow windows, the dull red paint making it resemble a tiny barn". Jacob's garage is located around the side of the house, hidden from view by a thick band of trees and shrubbery.
House on Isle EsmeEdit
Isle Esme, an island given to Esme as a gift from Carlisle where Edward and Bella spend their honeymoon, has a large house where the newlyweds stay. It was furnished by Esme while residing on the island, and is described as being large and airy. It has large glass windows dominating most of the house and the same light color pattern as the Cullens' house in Forks. There are two bedrooms (a white one and a blue one), one large bathroom, a polished, modern kitchen, and a window overlooking the beach.
Bella and Edward's cottageEdit
- "There, nestled into a small clearing in the forest, was a tiny stone cottage, lavender gray in the light of the stars.... Honeysuckle climbed up one wall like a lattice, winding all the way up and over the thick wooden shingles. Late summer roses bloomed in the handkerchief-sized garden under the dark, deep-set windows. There was a little path of flat stones, amethyst in the night, that led up to the quaint arched wooden door."
- ―The cottage as described by Bella[src]
The cottage was a gift to Bella and Edward from Esme and Alice, given to her on her nineteenth birthday in the third book of Breaking Dawn. Before it was given to Bella, the cottage was run down and had been falling apart for almost a century. Esme thought that the newlywed couple might want a house of their own, so she renovated it for them as a gift.
There is a room for Renesmee which has a little tower and later a crib made of iron, and a room that leads out of Bella's bedroom which houses her large collection of clothes, picked out by Alice. The bedroom is designed to resemble the one at the house on Isle Esme, where Edward and Bella spent their honeymoon.
- "The bed was huge and white, with clouds of gossamer floating down from the canopy to the floor. The pale wood floor matched the other room, and now I grasped that it was precisely the color of a pristine beach. The walls were that almost-white-blue of a brilliant sunny day, and the back wall had big glass doors that opened into a little hidden garden. Climbing roses and a small round pond, smooth as a mirror and edged with shiny stones. A tiny, calm ocean for us."
- ―Bella describing the master bedroom[src]
The Volturi maintain a permanent home in Volterra, Italy, which most of the actual coven - Caius being the exception - rarely leaves. The Volturi founded the town of Volterra 3000 years ago, during the time of the Etruscans. The Volturi still own almost all of the property in the vicinity.
The main structure of the Volturi's actual home is a palace constructed during medieval times, built into the walls of the ancient city. The most noticeable feature of the palace is the large turret that rises above the rest of the structure. Most of the living space is located below ground, in tunnels that runs 3 stories beneath the town.
There are several entrances to the Volturi palace. The front door is located at street level. It opens to a reception area, where there is always a very polite human to receive visitors, as well as several inconspicuous surveillance cameras. All the doors in the room lead to dead-end, innocuous offices, and the elevator is heavily secured. This door is never used by the Volturi, their guard, or anyone who has real business with them. The elevator leads to another reception area, with even higher security.
The palace can also be accessed from Volterra's sewers. Several drainage holes in the stone-paved streets lead to often-used Volturi passageways. These drains are covered by iron grilles that are too heavy to be lifted by several human men together. These passages also lead to the second reception area, where the human in charge is aware of the nature of her bosses.
The most often used door is not actually located within the city. Rather, this door is located in the cellar of an ancient church outside the walls, somewhat hidden in the hills. Heidi's tours always end in this quaint, concealed historical landmark located beside a small private landing strip (owned by the Volturi). Just in case someone were to recognize the Tuscan landscape, there is no cellphone service available. Thanks to Heidi's gift, when she asks her tourists to follow her into the beautiful, ancient tunnel that leads to an amazing palace, none of them refuse. This tunnel bypasses both reception areas and leads directly to the Volturi turret.
The turret contains the main meeting room of the Volturi, and also the dining room. They have made no attempt to make it comfortable for humans; the stone walls are not insulated, and there is no heat or cooling or artificial lighting. The room is lit by the arrow slits higher above. The lone furnishings are three massive throne-like chairs that belong to Aro, Caius, and Marcus. They use these thrones when they are acting as magistrates, hearing cases against vampires who have infringed on the law. In the center of the room is a slight depression that contains a drainage grate. The Volturi dispose of the bodies of their victims through this hole, which sits above a very deep cavern. Routinely, these remains are reduced en masse to pulp by acid.
The Denali house is the Denali coven's residence located somewhere in Denali, Alaska. The house is only seen in Breaking Dawn - Part 2, when Edward, Jacob and Bella Cullen travel to Denali to ask the local coven for help.
|Washington cities||Forks • La Push • Port Angeles • Seattle|
|Other cities||Denali, Alaska • Jacksonville, Florida • Biloxi, Mississippi • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Phoenix, Arizona • Volterra, Italy|
|Businesses||The Lodge • Newton's Olympic Outfitters • Thunderbird and Whale Bookstore|
|Other locations||Character homes • Forks High School • Forks Hospital • Isle Esme • La Bella Italia • The Meadow| | <urn:uuid:f04ec282-888b-4ff8-aae9-57d7e68844fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://twilightsaga.wikia.com/wiki/Character_homes?oldid=553945 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965551 | 1,946 | 1.796875 | 2 |
‘Push to talk’ poised for Europe launch
Walk the Talk
European mobile operators are following the example of their peers in the US as they ready the launch of new "walkie talkie" style services for 2004.
According to Chris Haddock, director of European marketing for Ubiquity Software, handsets could hit the European market as early as this Christmas, incorporating normal GSM phone functionality as well as the new "push-to-talk" (PTT) facility that is already available on special handsets in the US, from operators like Nextel.
Haddock, who was speaking at the Pulver.com Voice on the Net conference in Boston, said European telcos are tight-lipped about their plans to launch push-to-talk, but the services are expected to hit the European market during 2004.
"Push-to-talk is analogous to SMS; this type of service will hit the same community as messaging did," said Haddock, whose company makes specialised application servers for mobile operators. "It's a young person's service."
Push-to-talk is what it sounds like: instead of dialing a number to start a conversation with a friend, users just select someone from their buddy list, push a button on the handset, speak, and their voice is instantly heard by the recipient. Like a walkie-talkie, push-to-talk is uni-directional, so callers can't talk over each other and must wait their turn to speak.
Nextel in the United States already offers its customers handsets that feature its "Direct Connect" walkie-talkie service, but Haddock says push-to-talk has been slow to hit Europe because it would have required operators to build an expensive, separate, dedicated radio infrastructure. But now, mobile operators can use their existing infrastructure: the push-to-talk signal can be carried over the same IP channel that connects the user to Internet services, such as Vodafone Live.
Those services, of course, entail a well-known delay when the user first connects, which is likely to dampen the immediacy of a walkie-talkie service. But Haddock said he believes that users -- especially those in the under-35 market who will be the prime audience for push-to-talk -- won't be put off by the delay. Once the first connection has been made, subsequent back-and-forth messages are instantaneous.
Eventually, operators are likely to upgrade to real-time systems that give subscribers an always-on IP connection for services like push-to-talk, but that requires an investment in new infrastructure. Haddock said operators could be inspired to make the upgrade if push-to-talk works as well as they hope it will.
"Mobile operators would see push-to-talk as a way of pushing up minutes of use," said Haddock. Operators will also be hoping to inspire greater loyalty among subscribers, and the service could also work to inspire whole groups to move to or stay with a network that offers push-to-talk. "The operator who's first to market could end up having the biggest share of all," he said. | <urn:uuid:33b0ce93-88c5-46d5-8dca-daab510625bc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/09/26/push_to_talk_poised/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972104 | 658 | 1.59375 | 2 |
PARKERSBURG A team of students from Parkersburg High School on Saturday won the 22nd Annual West Virginia Regional Science Bowl at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown.
The students defeated 12 other teams to earn an expense-paid trip to the National Science Bowl April 25-29 in Washington, D.C. The National Science Bowl is sponsored by the Department of Energy.
Members of the winning Parkersburg High Team A are Ian Collins, Ben Kepple, Eric Eisenmann, Trent Cheuvront and Nanda Siva. Lisa Berry is the coach. In addition to the Washington trip, the team also will receive a traveling trophy to keep for a year, individual medals and other prizes.
Students from Parkersburg High School Saturday won the West Virginia Regional Science Bowl held at the the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown. From the left, Kirk Gerdes of the National Energy Technology Library, students Nanda Siva, Ben Kepple, Eric Eisenmann, Ian Collins and Trent Cheuvront and Coach Lisa Berry.
The second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers were, respectively, Wheeling Park High School, Morgantown High School and Bridgeport High School. Nitro High School and Oak Hill High School tied for fifth place.
Parkersburg High had two teams. Members of Team B are Elliott Clark, Chase Campbell, Reid Strobl, Paul Fernandes and Andrew Mommessin and the coach is Wayne Clark.
At the National Science Bowl, Parkersburg High will compete against high school science teams from around the country. Students also will participate in science seminars and related activities.
Top teams will receive trophies and other awards, including science-related trips.
The Department of Energy created the National Science Bowl and regional competitions to encourage high school students to excel in math and science and pursue careers in those fields.
This year's event in Morgantown included a welcoming address from U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., an engineer, and a keynote address by Bill Flanagan, executive vice president, corporate relations for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. McKinley and Flanagan encouraged students to pursue careers in the sciences and technology.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory researches technological solutions to America's energy challenges at three research sites in Albany, Ore., Morgantown and Pittsburgh. For more than 100 years, the laboratory has focused on developing tools and processes to provide clean, reliable and affordable energy. | <urn:uuid:c92eae75-8f50-4b19-baac-1a40ad8c58fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/570375.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934361 | 530 | 1.789063 | 2 |
00:04Mobile GIS helps us better use our maps in the field, collect information, and collaborate with others.
00:12And now we can leverage the capabilities of the iPhone into our existing GIS workflows.
00:17ArcGIS for iPhone is part of the existing ArcGIS system, and it's a great way to not only capture information and look at maps…
00:27…but probably more importantly, it's a way for us to leverage our existing enterprise GIS services and really extend our GIS to a much wider audience.
00:37Let's take a look.
00:40This is the ArcGIS for iPhone application.
00:43Using this application, we can find and discover content.
00:46I can search galleries of information.
00:49I can browse by most popular maps, the highest-rated maps…
00:53…or I can access and use my own maps that I publish and host myself.
00:59And I've created a group called ArcGIS 10, What's Coming?
01:02So here are some maps in this group.
01:04I'm going to open the Fort Pierce dashboard map.
01:08So here we see a map of Fort Pierce, Florida.
01:11So using all of the iPhone applications, I can tap and zoom in, pan around this map.
01:17But what's really interesting about this map is that it was authored with a stored query.
01:23So if I want to search for service requests in and around the city of Fort Pierce, I can do that.
01:28So let's search for all the closed requests.
01:30Here are all the staff in the field right now.
01:33Let's go take a look at the map, and we can see the requests that they have completed in the field.
01:39So we'll zoom in just by tapping.
01:42So here are the service requests; I'll touch this one.
01:46We can see Steve Jones and the information that he has captured and updated about a streetlight, a repair project that was happening in the city.
01:54This is one example of how we can use the ArcGIS iPhone to solve problems in and around our community.
02:01I'm going to find another map.
02:03This is a tax parcel map that I'll open up.
02:07So this was designed for our property tax assessors so they can enter in a property ID…
02:16…locate that parcel on the map…
02:21…and find out information about assessing this property.
02:24So if I wanted to identify this feature, there's the parcel, and there's all the information that's recorded with this particular parcel.
02:33But as a property assessor, I need to know as much information as I can about this particular property or this area.
02:42So I can bring in a different service and we'll see that this map actually hosts multiple services.
02:49So not only do we have a basemap, but we also have operational information.
02:55Here I'll turn on the operational information.
02:57Let's identify this; this is for recent sales and foreclosures that have occurred in this area.
03:03So I can bring in a totally separate layer of information into my map.
03:06And here we see all of the information that's there that's going to help me make a better decision about how this property is assessed.
03:17So far, all of the examples I've shown you are using the standard ArcGIS for iPhone application.
03:22There are going to be scenarios where you may want to develop or customize your own branded iPhone application.
03:29And to handle that, we're releasing an ArcGIS API for iPhone.
03:34So let's take a look at a customized application to see a good example of when you might want to customize your own.
03:41This is an example of a custom ArcGIS for iPhone application in which a city can leverage their existing enterprise GIS services…
03:50…to reach a much wider audience with their GIS workflows.
03:53In this case, we're creating a service request in which the citizens of this community can interact with their local government.
04:00So I may identify an area, and using the GPS functionality of the iPhone…
04:05…I can just GPS something I might notice or observe in and around the city.
04:11So I'm going to enter the details about this.
04:13Maybe use the phone, the phone's camera, to take a picture.
04:17I already have a picture.
04:19So I'm just going to grab something that I have noticed in the community, a problem with a pothole here.
04:25So I'm just going to choose what type of problem I'm observing; in this case, it's a pothole.
04:31I can give it a description.
04:34Update my contact information to send…
04:38…if I want to be notified or stay in the loop of what's happening with this particular incident.
04:42I can submit this back to the city, and then they can take this, leverage it right in with their existing workflows, and address this problem.
04:50I'm certainly helping them generate and maintain the city around us.
04:56The iPhone provides a powerful and easy-to-use interface.
04:59And thanks to the ArcGIS for iPhone application, we can leverage our existing enterprise GIS services…
05:06…and extend the reach of GIS to a much wider audience.
05:10ArcGIS for iPhone is going to be a freely available app from the Apple App Store, and you'll be able to download it soon.
Extend GIS to the iPhone
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- HTML5 Video (Off) Play videos using HTML5 Video instead of flash. A modern web browser is required to view videos using HTML5. | <urn:uuid:6f5edefb-3188-4a0f-ac24-e484eef5709f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://video.esri.com/watch/27/extend-gis-to-the-iphone/00:01:02 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930677 | 1,394 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Report of Maj. John B. Walton, Washington Artillery, of Operations July 18
O.R.– SERIES I–VOLUME 2 [S# 2] — CHAPTER IX, pp. 465-467
HDQRS. BATTALION WASHINGTON ARTILLERY,
Camp Louisiana, August 2, 1861
GENERAL: Referring to circular order under date of August 1, requiring a detailed report of the operations of all the troops under my command, including a list of the killed and wounded during the action on Thursday, July 18, I have the honor to report that during the night of the 16th of July I was informed by letters that my batteries might be required on the following day, to be distributed according to the following order:
Distribution of Major Walton’s Battalion, July 15, 1861
Second Brigade, General Ewell, in advance of Union Mills Ford, two 12-pounder howitzers, two rifled guns; Third Brigade, General Jones, at McLean’s Ford, one 6-pounder, one 12-pounder howitzer; Fourth Brigade, General Longstreet, at Blackburn’s Ford, two 6-pounders; Fifth Brigade, Colonel Early, at or near Union Mills Ford, one 12-pounder howitzer, one rifled gun; position of Union Mills Ford, one 6-pounder; total number of pieces, 11.
By command of General Beauregard:
Subsequently, on the morning of the 17th of July, I was instructed, through Captain Ferguson, your aide-de-camp, to send immediately, via Camp Walker, to the farm house on the hill just this side of the encampment of the company then holding Union Mills Ford, the pieces of my battalion designated for the brigades of Ewell and Early and the one for the defense of said ford, and enter into communication with General Ewell and Colonel Early and await their orders. The other parts of my battalion and my command it was ordered should take post at or near McLean’s farm, and await orders. In obedience to these instructions I at once, upon receipt of the last orders, moved my whole command to the positions indicated, and reported to the officers of the brigades respectively. A battery of four guns, two 12-pounder howitzers and two rifled guns, under command of Lieutenants Rosser, Lewis, and Slocomb, were sent to Union Mills Ford, and reported to General Ewell. A section of a battery–one rifled 6-pounder and one 12-pounder howitzer–under Lieutenant Squires, commanding, and Lieutenant Richardson reported to Colonel Early near Union Mills Ford. The other parts of my battalion, 6-pounder guns and one 12-pounder howitzer, under my immediate command, took position on McLean’s farm, commanding McLean’s Ford, there awaiting your further orders. About 6 o’clock p.m. 17th ultimo I received from yourself in person orders to go at an early hour in the morning to Union Mills Ford with one 12-pounder howitzer in addition to the battery I had previously ordered to that position upon the road.
Whilst crossing Camp Walker I encountered Colonel Early, in command of his brigade, who communicated to me an order to exchange two rifled guns of Rosser’s battery for two howitzers, one of Squires’ section and one I was conducting to Union Mills Ford, which was promptly accomplished. The distribution of the batteries and command then was as follows:
Four 12-pounder howitzers, Lieutenant Rosser, Union Mills Ford; three 6-pounder rifled guns, Lieutenant Squires, with Colonel Early’s brigade; two 6-pounders, under Lieutenant Whittington and Lieutenant Adam, at McLean’s farm house; two 6-pounders, under Lieutenant Garnett, at Blackburn’s Ford; two 6-pounders, under Captain Miller, at McLean’s Ford.
Subsequently the two 6-pounders of Lieutenant Garnett and the two of Lieutenant Whittington were joined with the three rifled guns of Lieutenant Squires, making his command seven guns, which were all of the battalion of the Washington Artillery actually engaged in the action of the 18th ultimo. The two guns under Captain Miller, with Jones’ brigade, though frequently in position and under fire, did not become engaged. The battery under Lieutenant Rosser, with which I remained, under the orders received on the evening of the 17th ultimo, was constantly in position during the day, in momentary expectation of an attack on that point from the enemy, who had been seen the evening before and during the entire day reconnoitering our position, small squads frequently emerging from the woods on the other side of the ford near the railroad. This battery, however, had no opportunity of firing a gun, thus disappointing as brave and efficient a command as any in the engagement on that memorable day.
In consequence of my absence from that part of the field where the engagement took place I am obliged to refer you to the annexed copy of the report of Lieutenant Squires, who commanded the seven guns engaged in the action, from which, general, you will be enabled to estimate the gallant services which that small portion of my command rendered in that artillery duel against the odds of more than two to one. My loss in this engagement was six wounded–Captain Eshleman, Fourth Company; Privates Zebel, Tarleton, and G. W. Muse, of First Company, and Privates Baker and Tully, of Third Company. Private Muse died during the night from the effect of his wounds.
I would ask your attention to the report of Lieutenant Squires in relation to the brave conduct of the officers and non-commissioned officers especially named by him, and avail myself of the opportunity afforded me to confirm his report of the gallant conduct of all the officers and the rank and file who were so fortunate as to be engaged on that day.
To Lieutenant Squires is due great credit for his coolness, skill, and daring under the peculiar circumstances by which he was surrounded. Never before having been under fire, and having under his command guns and men other than those of his own company, he on all hands is acknowledged, assisted by the devotion and courage of the brave officers and men who acted with him, to have done much towards the accomplishment of a wonderful victory, as honorable to his State and his corps as gratifying to his companions and to his country.
I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,
J. B. WALTON,
General P. G. T. BEAUREGARD, C. S. A.,
Commanding First Corps, Army of the Potomac | <urn:uuid:4825f58a-e3ef-4c97-8a14-021dd36c5395> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bullrunnings.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/78-maj-john-b-walton/?like=1&_wpnonce=5e79d40c83 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978812 | 1,427 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Posts tagged ‘dama del rovere’
Garganega is the grape of Soave and gives to that wine its body, acidity and structure and well as wonderful aromatics of honeydew melon, pear and yellow flowers. While many examples of Soave are steel aged, some vintners age their wines in oak casks, yet most of these wines have relatively similar profiles that emphasize the brightness of the Garganega grape.
I just tasted a wine made entirely from the Garganega grape that turns everything you thought you knew about the variety and its resulting wines on its head. It’s from a artisan producer named Dama del Rovere, managed by Massimo Prà. Located in the hamlet of Brogoligo di Monteforte d’Alpone in the eastern reaches of the Soave Classico zone, the winery was established by Prà in 2003.
Prà works only with the Garganega grape and produces sparkling Durello from the hills near Soave along with a traditional Soave Classico, named “Tremenalto”. The 2009 is the current release and it is nicely balanced with fresh melon and pear perfumes backed by lively acidity and good depth of fruit. It is a typical Soave and a fine example of the quality of this zone.
But it is the 100% Garganega bottling he calls “Spinaje” in which Prà really displays a uniqueness rarely seen with the variety. The 2006 is the current bottling and it is identified as an IGT Veneto Bianco, as this is not anything like the Soave Classico he produces. The grapes are from vineyards in Monteforte d’Alpone, ranging from 10 to 76 years of age; after manual harvest, Prà lets the grapes dry naturally in the appassimento manner for several months; this is the same drying process as is used for Amarone as well as the sweet Recioto di Valpolicella and Recioto di Soave.
The wine is then partially fermented in various sizes of French oak for approximately twelve months and is then bottled. The result is something truly special, which you note with one glance at its color, a brilliant orange/amber. Not knowing anything about this wine before I tried it a few nights ago, I thought that given this was a wine from the 2006 vintage, I must have received a flawed bottle, given its deep color. Boy was I wrong!
The wine features aromas of Bosc pear, dried honey, a hint of pineapple and wheat germ (!). Medium-full, the wine has a dry, clean finish with very good persistence, pure fruit flavors, good acidity and notes of sweet brown spice. What I love most about this wine is its remarkable freshness; many white wines that have undergone appassimento often have a dried, slightly oxidized character to them, almost like an older sherry. Not so with this wine, which tastes much younger than its age. I expect this wine to drink well for another 3-5 years, perhaps longer.
Dama del Rovere is one of thirteen producers of Soave that has joined together in an organization called Vignaioli del Soave, whose stated goal is to “restore the dignity” of Soave to consumers. Other producers include such renowned estates such as Pieropan, Inama and Ca’ Rugate; on the website, you can learn more about this organization in general as well as each specific producer. While the “Spinaje” from Dama Del Rovere may not technically be a Soave Classico, it shares the same base material. It’s how Massimo Prà used the Garganega grape to fashion such a remarkable wine that is the story here; a new wine from an ancient variety. | <urn:uuid:b541f722-eec1-487c-ab37-9412095953da> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://learnitalianwines.wordpress.com/tag/dama-del-rovere/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962822 | 808 | 1.546875 | 2 |
This week the Board will, almost certainly, enact a Program Placement Policy. This Policy will have two major impacts.
The first will be a new Program Placement Process. The current process does not reflect the District's values regarding openness, honesty, transparency, engagement or accountability. The Superintendent and her team will develop a new process which will reflect the District's stated commitment to those values. Of course, she will need some time to create this process and to implement it. Then, after the first roll-out there will probably need to be some adjustments made. We'll have to be patient as we await a new process that works well.
We won't have to wait for the other impact, though. That will be a change of principle. In the new Policy, anyone can propose a Program Placement and all program placement proposals are to be treated equally. Anyone means anyone. You or I could propose a program placement and it has to be treated with the same regard, put through the same process, and judged by the same Standards as any other proposal regardless of source.
Of course, the new process isn't in effect yet, so all of these proposals will have to go through the current process. And fast, because program placement decisions for next year have to be done by December.
I don't know about you, but I've got about eight program placement proposals lined up and ready to go. I can't wait for Thursday when I'll send them in.
First on my list will be an elementary Spectrum program for the West Seattle-South cluster. There isn't one there now, despite promises from the former Superintendent - in writing - that there would be a Spectrum program in every cluster and region. At last count, there were 82 District-identified Spectrum-eligible elementary students in the West Seattle-South cluster - enough to form a viable learning community - but there is no designated Spectrum site in the cluster. The District says that West Seattle Elementary (formerly High Point) is the Spectrum site for West Seattle-South, but there are so many reasons that isn't true: never met the certification requirements, never met any annual re-certification requirements, no trained teachers, only three students, no Spectrum classrooms, clearly rejected by the community, clearly not supported by the administration or staff, and, of course, the fact that it isn't in West Seattle-South.
After that, I have proposals for other elementary Spectrum programs - Leschi isn't proving an effective choice for the Central Cluster, Lawton isn't proving an effective choice for the Queen Anne / Magnolia Cluster, Wing Luke isn't proving an effective choice for the Southeast Cluster, etc. Then there are proposals for middle school Spectrum programs: the small cohort in the Southeast Region shouldn't be split between two schools, the West Seattle Region program belongs at Madison instead of Denny to be close to the students' homes and for feeder patterns out of Lafayette, Meany should have the Central Region program instead of Washington to relieve overcrowding at Washington and to be closer to the students' homes. Like that.
Program Placement has been driven by operational expediency - they put programs where they have room for them - and by political preferences - Principals trade programs like baseball cards and they - wrongly - have veto power over what should be a District level decision. When Program Placement is driven by a set of clear and rational rules, it will quickly become clear that a number of them make no sense at all and need to be changed immediately.
None of the program placement proposals listed above are my idea. In all of these cases the District committed to make those changes years ago, but they are hoping that no one remembers those commitments or has any means to hold them to them. They are going to be sorely disappointed. I remember the commitments, I have them in writing, and I will hold on like a bulldog. These people will keep their word and do what is best for the students.
Weird, isn't it? I expect to meet a lot of resistance. Wouldn't it be something if I showed up, reminded them of their promises, and they responded "Oh yes, that's right. Okay, we'll do it just like we said that we would." Why doesn't anyone think that will happen? Why do we presume that they will writhe like rats in a trap and try to get out of keeping their commitments? These are commitments that they made of their own volition. No one held a gun to their heads; they set these deadlines and Standards for themselves. Yet now, they will pretend like they didn't make these commitments or they didn't mean what they obviously mean or the promises are stale and no longer enforceable. That's were accountability is necessary. If everyone were honorable, we wouldn't be so tweaked up about accountability. If everyone were honorable, we could accept their promises to hold themselves accountable as effective. Alas... | <urn:uuid:03458191-cd9c-486b-bdf4-426cfef633dd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-program-placement-policy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971352 | 1,001 | 1.507813 | 2 |
A selection of images representing communities.
Following the change of government we are reviewing all content on this website.
This is a series of five booklets (revised versions published on 26 October 2004), which explains, in simple terms, how the compulsory purchase system works. If you think you may be affected by compulsory purchase you should read these booklets.
This guidance is not a substitute for professional advice. If you think your property may be the subject of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) you should seek advice from a professionally qualified person such as a chartered surveyor or solicitor, who should be able to advise on your rights and also act on your behalf if appropriate. It is best to seek professional help as early as possible.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors operates a Compulsory Purchase Helpline which can be contacted on 0870 333 1600. This helpline puts you in touch with experienced chartered surveyors in the local area who will provide up to 30 minutes of free advice. | <urn:uuid:ba795cce-631a-435a-a2b2-0dcefa66c6f9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/planningpolicyimplementation/compulsorypurchase/compulsorypurchasebooklets/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944146 | 207 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday it would be a “mistake” for the United States military to take unilateral action in Syria to stop President Bashar Assad’s bloody crackdown — but promised “one way or another, this regime will meet its end.”
Panetta, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, said the violence in Syria has “become increasingly dire and outrageous,” but that the administration is not looking to use military force at this time.
“Although we will not rule out any future course of action, currently the administration is focusing on diplomatic and political approaches rather than military intervention,” Panetta said.
Sen. John McCain, the panel’s top Republican, pressed Panetta to give a point when the administration would consider using the military option, asking “How many more have to die? 10,000 more? 20,000 more? How many more?”
Panetta reiterated that building an international consensus is currently the most effective course of action, and “what doesn’t make sense is to take unilateral at this point.”
McCain pushed back, telling Panetta that in the past, “America has led. Yes, it has been multilateral and multinational, this is absolutely vital. We’re not leading, Mr. Secretary.”
Later on, Panetta noted that the U.S. is “not divided and we are not holding back.”
“When we do it, we’ll do it right. We will not do it in a way that will make the situation worse,” Panetta said.
Both Panetta and Dempsey emphasized the need to work with international partners on the Syrian situation. Unilaterally launching airstrikes against Assad’s regime would be a “mistake,” Panetta said. McCain has called for U.S. led airstrikes with involvement from key Arab partners and European Union and NATO allies.
“This situation demands an international response, and for that reason the United States has been leading efforts within the international community to pressure Assad to stop his violence against the Syrian people and to step aside,” Panetta said. “Unfortunately, this terrible situation has no simple answers, so the result is a great deal of anger and frustration that we all share.”
The best answer at the moment, the Pentagon chief said, is to isolate Assad’s regime diplomatically and politically — but Panetta said he would not take the military option off the table and noted that the administration is continuing to evaluate the situation and will “adjust our approach as necessary.”
Dempsey reviewed several possible military options with the panel, while emphasizing the importance of working with the international community in any future capacity.
“We always provide a better and more enduring outcome when we work with partners, especially in that part of the world,” Dempsey told the panel. “The ability to do a single, raid like strike would be accessible to us. The ability to do a longer-term sustained campaign would be challenging and would have to be made in the context of other commitments around the globe.”
Syria has a biological and chemical weapons stockpile that is 100 times larger than in Libya, Dempsey noted, and the country has more effective air defenses than Libya did.
“We also need to be alert to extremists, who may return to well-trod ratlines running through Damascus, and other hostile actors, including Iran, which has been exploiting the situation and expanding its support to the regime,” Dempsey said. “And we need to be especially alert to the fate of Syria’s chemical and biological weapons. They need to stay exactly where they are.”
Clarification: An earlier version of this story stated that McCain favored unilateral U.S. airstrikes; he backs U.S. airstrikes only in conjunction with American allies. | <urn:uuid:eb3eb531-2f14-4aca-b868-e3760ac64b76> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=4B26A8A3-AFEB-7F34-8C5B7C38BB9EC17F | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960618 | 820 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Arts, sciences and humanities build healthier, more livable, vital communities. They are essential to a strong education system. They contribute enormously to our economy.
Homemade hard “likker”, moonshine, is still made in many parts of the country. But are these moonshiners the cartoonish Appalachian hillbillies with patched genes and corncob pipes or are they romantic rednecks like in Robert Mitchem in Thunder Road? Writer and correspondent MAX WATMAN set out to meet some genuine bootleggers and thus begins a wild tale of dangerous nip joints, the “Andy Warhol of hooch” and something called “turbo yeast”. Along the way, Waxman tells the complex history of homemade liquor in America, the Whisky Rebellion, the coming of the “Revenooers” and the “The Big Lie” of Prohibition. He also cooks up some of his own illegal white lightening for good measure. Tune in for a very unique and wild Inquiry when we talk with Watman about his book CHASING THE WHITE DOG: AN AMATEUR OUTLAW’S ADVENTURE IN MOONSHINE. | <urn:uuid:078e5a30-6ecf-47b0-a992-149858cf3294> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wicn.org/podcasts/audio/inquiry-max-watman-chasing-white-dog-amateur-outlaws-adventure-moonshine | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932487 | 252 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Gay Marriage, DOMA And The Dramatic Shift In Public Opinion In One Year
Originally published on Mon March 18, 2013 11:36 am
It is remarkable how fast the issue of same-sex marriage has moved the American public. Of course, some long-time proponents will argue the opposite, that it has taken far too long for it to gain acceptance. And they say that there is no shortage of efforts around the country to block or overturn the practice.
But there is no question that since Vice President Biden first announced his support for the issue last May — jumping the gun on President Obama, whose position on the issue was said to still be "evolving" — things have changed rapidly. Almost immediately, and far more significant, was Obama's declaration he felt the same. After that came dramatic shifting in public opinion, where for the first time ever, polls show that more people support gay marriage than oppose it. It became a cause to be celebrated at the Democratic National Convention last summer. Voters in three states, after an unbroken string of defeats, chose to legalize gay marriage in November. And it got considerable attention at Obama's inauguration in January, where he said, "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."
Now, not even a year since Obama's switch, it has become a Democratic Party policy given, akin to abortion rights or increasing the minimum wage.
And there may be some shifting on the Republican side as well. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, a leading GOP voice and thought to be on Mitt Romney's short list for VP last year, announced Friday that he was ending his opposition to same-sex marriage. His reasoning is personal; he has a 21-year old gay son and said he does not want him treated any differently because of his sexuality. But he is the highest ranking Republican (and the only sitting GOP senator) to take that position. If Obama's 2012 reversal put him in better stead with members of his own party, Portman's shift has probably resulted in the opposite. Still, in an op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch, Portman tried to frame it as a conservative staple:
"We conservatives believe in personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives. We also consider the family unit to be the fundamental building block of society. We should encourage people to make long-term commitments to each other and build families, so as to foster strong, stable communities and promote personal responsibility. ...
I've thought a great deal about this issue, and like millions of Americans in recent years, I've changed my mind on the question of marriage for same-sex couples. As we strive as a nation to form a more perfect union, I believe all of our sons and daughters ought to have the same opportunity to experience the joy and stability of marriage."
The New York Times' Jeremy Peters noted that religious conservatives "reacted strongly" to Portman's switch, "with some saying that he had turned his back on Christianity":
"'Senator Portman speaks like so many who call themselves Christians but actually don't spend much time dwelling on the Word of God,' wrote Erick Erickson, the conservative commentator, on Twitter.
Others were harsher. The Traditional Values Coalition, a religious group that is often vocal on gay issues, issued a statement that equated homosexuality with drunken driving and mocked Mr. Portman, writing, 'My child is a drunk driver and I love him.'"
But if we're talking about politicians who have had a change of heart, add former President Bill Clinton to the list. The issue here is the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (known by its acronym DOMA), which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and which would deny federal rights to same-sex spouses. (Portman, then a House member, was a sponsor of the Act.) Recently Clinton penned an op-ed in the Washington Post saying it should be overturned. Clinton, of course, was president when he signed DOMA into law on Sept. 21, 1996. The issue of overturning it comes before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 27, when the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 — a 2008 anti-gay marriage initiative passed by the voters — will be decided.
Though there are certainly notable exceptions — and we saw it last month, when dozens of prominent Republicans signed on to urge the Court to overturn Prop 8 — gay marriage is one of those issues that often separates Ds from Rs. But that leads to an e-mail that arrived a few weeks ago from Teri Donaldson of Wichita, Kansas, which asked:
"If the Democrats were in control in 1996, would Congress have passed the Defense of Marriage Act? Did many Democrats vote for it?"
A better question might be would the Democrats have allowed the bill to reach the floor at all, had they controlled Congress back in '96. We'll never know the answer to that. But we do know how they voted.
The Act was introduced in Congress on May 7, 1996 by Rep. Bob Barr, a Georgia Republican. (That Barr, who opposed same-sex marriage, anti-drug laws and the Patriot Act, could wind up as the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee in 2008 always fascinated me, but that's for another time.)
But Clinton, who in 1992 was clearly more aggressive in seeking votes from the gay community than any other major presidential candidate in history, nonetheless continued to state during his re-election campaign four years later that he believed marriage was between a man and a woman. So while White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry called the Defense of Marriage Act "gay baiting, pure and simple," and while Clinton himself said that DOMA was "unnecessary" and "divisive," the president reiterated that he would sign it.
(A very interesting read by Richard Socarides in the March 8 issue of The New Yorker: "Why Bill Clinton Signed the Defense of Marriage Act".)
The House passed the measure on June 12, 1996 by a vote of 342-67. Republicans supported it by a margin of 224 to one (Steve Gunderson of Wisconsin). Democrats, though, also overwhelmingly backed it, by 118 to 65. Among those Democrats who voted "yes" were many leaders, progressives and up-and-comers, such as Rosa DeLauro (CT), Dick Durbin (IL), Ben Cardin (MD), Steny Hoyer (MD), Dick Gephardt (MO), Bob Torricelli (NJ), Bob Menendez (NJ), Bill Richardson (NM), Chuck Schumer (NY), Nita Lowey (NY), Marcy Kaptur (OH), Jack Reed (RI), Jim Clyburn (SC) and Tim Johnson (SD).
It was a similar landslide in the Senate on Sept. 10, where the vote in favor was 85-14. All 53 Republicans voted yes; Democrats favored this "gay baiting" and "divisive" bill by a 32-14 margin. Among the Dem "yes" votes: Chris Dodd (CT), Joe Lieberman (CT), Joe Biden (DE), Tom Harkin (IA), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Carl Levin (MI), Paul Wellstone (MN), Bill Bradley (NJ), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Harry Reid (NV), John Glenn (OH), Patrick Leahy (VT) and Patty Murray (WA).
So, it's difficult to answer your question. We assume many Democrats would welcome the dismantling of DOMA in the present day. But we do know that an overwhelming majority of them voted for it back then.
Political Updates. I post periodic political updates during the week — some serious, some not — on Twitter. You can follow me at @kenrudin.
TOTN Political Junkie no, Podcast yes. Each Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET, the Political Junkie segment appears on Talk of the Nation (NPR's call-in program), hosted by Neal Conan with me adding color commentary, where you can, sometimes, hear interesting conversation, useless trivia questions and sparkling jokes. Last week's show was about 10 minutes old when the news broke that a new pope was chosen. Habemus Papam, it was announced, which roughly translates to "Get Ken Rudin off the air and out of the studio." Fortunately, there is the new episode of the weekly podcast, "It's All Politics," that you can feast your ears on (assuming ears can be feasted). My partner-in-crime Ron Elving and I discussed the ongoing CPAC event, the going-nowhere budget talks (zzzzz), Sen. Carl Levin's (D-Mich.) decision to retire, and next week's congressional primary in South Carolina. You can listen to the latest episode here:
And Don't Forget ScuttleButton. ScuttleButton, America's favorite waste-of-time button puzzle, can usually be found in this spot every Monday or Tuesday. A randomly selected winner will be announced every Wednesday during the Political Junkie segment on NPR's Talk of the Nation. You still have time to submit your answer to last week's contest, which you can see here. Sure, there's incredible joy in deciphering the answer, but the winner gets not only a Political Junkie T-shirt but also a 3-1/2-inch Official No-Prize Button! Is this a great country or what??
ON THE CALENDAR:
March 19 — Special primary in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District to replace Tim Scott (R), who was appointed to the Senate.
April 2 — Runoff in S.C. 01. Also: St. Louis mayoral election.
April 9 — Special election in Illinois' 2nd CD to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. (D), who resigned.
April 30 — Special Massachusetts Senate primary.
May 7 — Special election in S.C. 01.
May 21 — Los Angeles mayoral runoff. Also: Pittsburgh mayoral primary.
June 4 — Special election in Missouri's 8th CD to replace Jo Ann Emerson (R), who resigned.
June 25 — Special Senate election in Massachusetts to replace John Kerry, who is now secretary of state.
Aug. 6 — Seattle mayoral primary.
Mailing list. To receive a weekly email alert about the new column and ScuttleButton puzzle, contact me at email@example.com.
******* Don't Forget: If you are sending in a question to be used in this column, please include your city and state. *********
This day in campaign history: The Harris Survey has Sen. Ed Muskie of Maine five points ahead of President Richard Nixon in a hypothetical 1972 three-way trial heat, with Alabama Gov. George Wallace in the race as a third-party candidate, as he was in 1968. The poll shows Muskie 44, Nixon 39, Wallace 12. Without Wallace, Muskie — the Democratic VP nominee in '68 — led Nixon by six, 48-42 percent (March 18, 1971).
Got a question? Ask Ken Rudin: firstname.lastname@example.org | <urn:uuid:c6c6dc03-c930-4a07-9a1a-71b1b565294d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wvasfm.org/post/gay-marriage-doma-and-dramatic-shift-public-opinion-one-year | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964812 | 2,312 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Well, would this fu...ng X11 foundation do its job right - providing a platform independend graphical users interface as they did in the great time of the UNIXes - their wouldn't be this backporting issue. The OSF blames the *BSD to being behind, the *BSDs blame the OSF for being Linux-nailed. It would be of great interest to figure out what's right and where the truth lies. Indicating that, for instance, the *BSDs are behind is KMS: it is said, that this technique is important to get rid of a root-driven Xorg server, and this should be of great concern even for the OpenBSD people. But there is not much efford to create a platform independend solution. So, at least OpenBSD is behind?The long-awaited Intel KMS support for FreeBSD is quite exciting though it's a constant challenge of back-porting changes from the Linux kernel. There's also no official Radeon or Nouveau driver KMS/DRM drivers in FreeBSD.
On the other hand, people developing on the drivers are obviously Linux-only and a kind of narrow minded when it comes to more broader views and independend solutions. It seems to be a bit as they are only capable of engineering. Well, that is bad, since engineering makes things, that already exist, better, but it makes us never getting beyond it to gain access to new territories - it is like jet engines and rocket engines. All what's done today is clearly engineering.
The great time, when development was mor open and broad-minded is definitely over and an echo of the past. Today it seems everything is Linux-related in a very clumsy way. | <urn:uuid:7e0e967b-62a4-40a9-bea9-480c48db923b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?76391-FreeBSD-9-1-Officially-Released&p=304119&mode=threaded | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97346 | 350 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Ashland University is on Google (Gmail) for all our student and employee email. As a result, the amount of fraudulent email (spam or phishing) has decreased substantially. Still, every once in a while an email gets through that is not legitimate. Here are the tell-tale signs that give an email away as spam or phishing:
Anything from the "HelpDesk", "Help Desk", "Customer Service Department" or "Information Services" - None of these departments or areas exist here at Ashland University We changed the name from our Help Desk to the Technical Support Center (or TSC) so anything from the "HelpDesk" is likely not worth opening. The Help Desk is an ubiquitous term - that is why they use it and that is one of the reasons we no longer use it.
Anything starting with "Dear Sir or Madam" or "Dear Account Holder" - Really, we know your name and we will use it if there is something we need to contact you personally on.
Anything with "Your account is about to expire" or "Account limits exceed" - These are intended to make you worry about losing access and, in haste, click on a link that takes you to places you should not to in order to gain more information about you that you should not be parting with. If your Ashland University password is about to expire then you get a warning at login and you can change it yourself using the self-service password reset tool. While our password reset tool does send out reminders about password expiration and resets, the email will contain your first and last name in the salutation. This from address used is email@example.com.
Anything with a foreign address unless you do business with people from outside the US - The two letter country code designation (.cn, .se, .nl, etc.) indicate an email is from outside the US. If you see this two letter code in the link you are being asked to go to then that too is outside the US. If you have prior business with a company or person in the company from which the email is originating then give it a close look, otherwise it is probable junk email.
Anything from someone you do not know or email from someone you do know but were not expecting - If I haven't heard from my old Navy buddy in 30 years and suddenly get an email with an attachment I will not be opening the attachment. Likewise, if someone I talk with often sends me attachments or links to websites then I am going to be very skeptical. Sometime legitimate email accounts are compromised and taken over by spammers so if the email address is known, but the subject and content are out of place then I would pick up the phone and give them a call. | <urn:uuid:67c490b5-6465-4d2f-a4eb-51528e07ccd5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ashland.edu/news/2012-07-02/current-students/5-giveaways-email-spam-or-phishing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949858 | 563 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Determining the causes of product success has been the subject of great interest and rigorous study since the beginning of the modern marketing era, starting in the 1950s.
From academia to large companies, from consultants to advertising and public relations agencies, from businesspeople to sociologists, psychiatrists and even neuroscientists, there has been a determined march forward to discover the mysteries of why people buy the products they do.
The guesswork of the distant past has been replaced with high-quality research and well documented field experiments. It may not be physics, but important principles have emerged from this collective effort, validated time and again through decades of application.
New Product Development is now more a science than an art. | <urn:uuid:4040de2d-9168-4f84-b186-0e12c1baf056> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.browncompany.com/category/general/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964894 | 144 | 1.835938 | 2 |
JERUSALEM, Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hadasit Bio-Holdings Ltd. (TASE: HDST, OTC: HADSY), a publicly traded portfolio of biotech companies, based on intellectual property developed and owned by Hadassah University Hospital, Israel's foremost medical research center, today announced that its portfolio company, KAHR Medical Ltd. ("KAHR"), was granted a U.S. patent approval (U.S. Patent No. 8329657).
This patent approval follows other patents already received in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Israel, protecting different combinations of KAHR's 'Signal Converting Proteins (SCPs)', which are bi-functional chimeric proteins with synergistic effects that improve the efficiency of pharmaceutical treatments. The newly issued patent protects one of KAHR's products in development, KAHR-101, which has been shown to be effective in the treatment of various cancers, arthritis and multiple sclerosis in animal models.
Ophir Shahaf, CEO of Hadasit Bio-Holdings, stated, "KAHR Medical develops ground-breaking products and we are constantly working to strengthen the company's intellectual property. The company uses a novel technology by which two therapeutic pathways can be simultaneously stimulated by a single protein drug in a synergistic manner, optimizing the care provided to patients. The completion of a recent fundraising round a few months ago will allow for further development and advancement of KAHR's drugs. We believe that in the coming year our portfolio companies will continue to present considerable clinical and business developments increasing their value as well as ours."
About KAHR Medical Ltd.
KAHR Medical is developing an innovative platform technology that produces a large number of protein-based drugs with two complementary targets. The leading products in KAHR's pipeline are designed to treat several types of cancer and diseases of the immune system. The Signal Converting Proteins (SCPs) can activate or block two biological signals in parallel, as opposed to the conventional drugs available today which address a single aspect of the disease. The original SCP technology was developed at the University of Pennsylvania and at Hadassah by the Head of the Nephrology Department, Dr. Michal Dranitzki - Elhalel. Hadasit Bio-Holdings currently holds about 55% of the company, Sanofi owns approximately 20% of the company and Thomas Eldred, owner of Recipharm (a leading European drug manufacturer), holds approximately 15%.
For more information about KAHR Medical please visit: www.kahr-medical.com
For more information about Hadasit Bio-Holdings please visit: www.hbl.co.il
KCSA Strategic Communications
Phil Carlson / Josh Dver
212.896.1233 / 1239
email@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.org
SOURCE Hadasit Bio-Holdings Ltd. | <urn:uuid:a5808caf-31d3-4e54-8a2b-13c380f8a4d9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?StoryID=286592 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932426 | 615 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Fire kills 14 at workshop for disabled in Germany
November 26, 2012 -- Updated 1912 GMT (0312 HKT)
Firefighters stand in front of house with a workshop for handicapped people in Titisee- Neustadt on November 26, 2012.
- NEW: President of German Caritas mourns victims of fire
- Workers and a counselor killed, several hurt in blaze in southwestern Germany
- An explosion in a storage room may have started the fire, police say
(CNN) -- Fire raged through a workshop for the disabled in southwestern Germany on Monday, killing 14 people, police said.
The victims were identified as workers and a counselor at the Caritas workshop in the town of Titisee-Neustadt, said Karl-Heinz Schmid, a Freiburg police spokesman.
Several other people were hurt, he said.
Another member of the Freiburg police said an explosion in a storage room may have caused the fire that prompted a major response from firefighting crews.
Dr. Peter Neher, president of the German Caritas Association, extended sympathies to the victims' families.
"We know that the responsible colleagues on site will do everything to find out the causes of this horrible event," he said in a statement.
Caritas International is a "global confederation of 165 Catholic organizations working in humanitarian emergencies and international development," according to its website.
CNN's Stephanie Halasz and Claudia Otto contributed to this report
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Robert Fowler spent 130 days held hostage by the same al Qaeda group that was behind the Algeria massacre. He shares his experience.
February 6, 2013 -- Updated 0507 GMT (1307 HKT)
As "We are the World" plays, a video shows what looks like a nuclear attack on the U.S. Jim Clancy reports on a bizarre video from North Korea.
The relationship is, once again, cold enough to make Obama's much-trumpeted "reset" in Russian-U.S. relations seem thoroughly off the rails.
Ten years on, what do you think the Iraq war has changed in you, and in your country? Send us your thoughts and experiences.
February 5, 2013 -- Updated 1215 GMT (2015 HKT)
Musician Daniela Mercury has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide over a career span of nearly 30 years.
Photojournalist Alison Wright travelled the world to capture its many faces in her latest book, "Face to Face: Portraits of the Human Spirit."
February 6, 2013 -- Updated 0006 GMT (0806 HKT)
Europol claims 380 soccer matches, including top level ones, were fixed - as the scandal widens, CNN's Dan Rivers looks at how it's done.
February 6, 2013 -- Updated 1237 GMT (2037 HKT)
That galaxy far, far away is apparently bigger than first thought. The "Star Wars" franchise will get two spinoff movies, Disney announced.
February 8, 2013 -- Updated 0718 GMT (1518 HKT)
It's an essential part of any trip, an activity we all take part in. Yet almost none of us are any good at it. Souvenir buying is too often an obligatory slog.
Today's five most popular stories | <urn:uuid:2e8b67c0-e473-408d-a0b3-7d9ae7487a04> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/26/world/europe/germany-workshop-fire/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948111 | 821 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Did You Know
CHILDCARE LEARNING CENTER PARTNERS WITH YALE UNIVERSITY
Stamford, CT (March 7, 2012) Childcare Learning Centers (CLC), a non-profit provider of early childhood education in the Stamford area for 110 years, has just been chosen to be Yale University’s lab school for an exciting three year grant program that will develop, implement, and test a preschool program designed to improve emotional literacy in children. The project will be funded by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute for Education Sciences and will create, implement, and test a preschool program designed to improve emotional literacy in children.
With the belief that emotional literacy is a precursor to social competence and a predictor of academic achievement, a Yale team of researchers from the University’s Department of Psychology, led by Dr. Susan E. Rivers, hopes to increase understanding of how emotional literacy relates to academic outcomes and help all children enter school ready to learn. The testing ground will be CLC’s 49 classrooms where three years of development, research and teacher training will take place.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Yale on this project as it gives us another opportunity to provide cutting edge training and programming to our children, their teachers, and their families. Our priority is to have our children enter elementary school system with the best advantage possible,” said CLC’s Chief Executive Officer, Barbara Garvin- Kester.
Barbara Garvin-Kester, and the CLC board of directors will honor Rivers and her team for this project at their annual benefit in April. Dr. Rivers’ team includes Dr. Peter Salovey, Provost of Yale University, Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology and Director of Health, Emotion and Behavior Laboratory (HEB), Dr. Walter Gilliam, Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry and Psychology and Director of the Zigler Center and Dr. Marc Brackett, Research Scientist in the Department of Psychology, Head of Emotional Intelligence Unit in the Zigler Center and Deputy Director of the HEB Lab.
Childcare Learning Centers (CLC) is a state and national educational model and the largest provider in Fairfield County, CT, offering comprehensive, high quality early childhood education and care programs to nearly 1000 children who are predominately from underserved families. In addition, CLC provides a wide range of family services to include health maintenance, nutrition counseling, family literacy, and family social services. CLC’s state-funded programs have earned top accreditation scores from the National Association for the Education of Young Children and its Head Start and Early Head Start programs have earned top monitoring scores from the U.S. Office of Head Start Monitoring.
For more information on Childcare Learning Centers call 203-323-5944 or visit www.clcstamford.org.
Contact: Barbara Garvin-Kester, 203-653-1326
Click here to see CLC featured in Great Expectations: Raising Educational Achievement, a CT PBS special that highlights models for closing Connecticut’s achievement gap while raising educational achievement for all students.
CLC is Having an Impact
- CLC has a major cultural and economic impact on Stamford and the surrounding region.
- CLC serves nearly 1,000 of Stamford’s children 0-5 – representing nearly 80% of children 0-5 who would otherwise not have a pre-k option.
- CLC's $15,000,000 budget has a $105,000,000 impact on the local economy. CLC employs nearly 200 individuals, offers work opportunities for bilingual speakers and provides continuing education for its teachers. Click Here to read the full research report.
- CLC's strong, community-based board and leadership council, along with its partnerships with the City of Stamford and other area nonprofits, create a unique program delivery model.
- CLC's early childhood education reduces future social services costs from at-risk behavior, remediation, early pregnancies, drop-outs, homelessness and incarceration.
- CLC reaches beyond the classroom into the home as an educational/social service resource for parents.
- CLC collaborates with other organizations to provide a continuum of services from early childhood to work, while consolidating efforts.
“The children at CLC now comprise well over 50% of every new kindergarten class in the Stamford Public School system. Our work is focused on getting every single one of those children ready to learn and succeed beginning on their very first day of school. That simple purpose is the key to both their future success and the future success of our entire community.”
- CLC Board President, SCOTT CONLEY
More Did you Knows….
The Foundation for Child Development (FCD), a national, private philanthropy dedicated to the principle that all families should have the social and material resources to raise their children to be healthy, educated, and productive members of their communities, launched its PreK-3rd Map to recognize states "on the path" to creating a well-aligned, high-quality primary or PreK-3rd education system. Connecticut is now on the map! The components recognized include: Wiliam Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, CT Early Childhood Alliance, ExecutiveOrder No. 11, and the grassroots effort of the Age 3 to Grade 3 Stakeholders Group.
Malloy: Early Learning Programs Remain Priority
Connecticut was not among the winners announced Friday who will receive federal grants for pre-kindergarten programs, but state officials said that will not derail their plans to add more preschool seats and overhaul the way they rate those programs. For more information Click here.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
We Can't Wait: President Obama Takes Action to Improve Quality and Promote Accountability in Head Start Programs
Early Childhood in the News
Late Friday, news broke that the U.S. Department of Education is proposing the creation of a new Office of Early Learning to oversee the Early Learning Challenge Grants and to coordinate early learning programs across the department. The proposal names Jacqueline Jones, the senior advisor of early learning to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as the head of that office. To read the release issued by the U.S. Department of Education, click HERE. The Early Ed Watch also takes a look at the proposal.
Letter from Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director, National Head Start Association
This morning at Yeadon Regional Head Start in Pennsylvania, President Obama reiterated his commitment to high-quality early education for Head Start children, saying, “I firmly believe that Head Start is an outstanding program and a critical investment. The children who have the chance to go to the best Head Start programs have an experience that can literally change their lives for years to come.”
The President’s speech accompanied the release of the final rule implementing re-competition, or “designation renewal.” Under the final rule, there will be no arbitrary number of programs that must re-compete for funding; only programs that do not meet certain standards of high quality will do so. As the President said this morning, “If a program meets these standards -- and we believe the majority of Head Start programs will -- then their grants will be renewed.” This change responds to concerns expressed by many in the field and by NHSA.
As a community, we are all committed to innovation and effectiveness in order to keep open a Window of Opportunity for children and families. The Administration’s steps to excellence ensure that we can reach these goals together through thoughtful and forward-thinking measures, resulting in efficient service delivery and the highest quality services to children and families. We look forward to working with the Administration to make sure the implementation of the new rule about grantee designation and competition is fair, transparent and accountable. | <urn:uuid:c7e027b3-8767-46ea-8872-16028ef0f09b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://clcstamford.org/about-us/did-you-know | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935201 | 1,629 | 1.8125 | 2 |
E-commerce websites EBay & Walmart are said to be developing their own internal search engines. The e-commerce companies are set to release major updates to their internal search algorithms in order to facilitate faster search results that are relevant to the potential customer.
Why the concern about internal search? Amazon is winning since their internal search is continually revised & currently sits on version 8. Ebay’s search engine nicknamed Voyager is at version 2 & the company is about to release a major update that will be marked as Cassini. The growing number of shoppers who visit the website, type in their query at the search box usually located at top of the portal. If this internal search is not fast, accurate & relevant, one loses customers to rival websites.
What are the companies doing about it? Ebay’s Voyager simply checked for matching words & that too mostly in titles. The newer Cassini is much more intuitive. It will carry full product descriptions, rather than just the titles of listings, and match search queries to photographs of products, while taking into account information about the seller and the buyer. Meanwhile, Walmart’s search engine focuses on groups of related terms and phrases which people use when describing products, rather than matching queries to exact words in listings.
Is Google being threatened here? Apparently YES. “Google doesn’t want you to go directly to eBay to search for products,” says Oren Etzioni, a search expert, “A lot of what funds these search efforts are e-commerce ads. If eBay and others stop advertising as much on Google, that would be a problem.” | <urn:uuid:39b537d3-8fb6-476e-af5c-76925539ceb5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.watblog.com/2012/05/07/e-com-websites-to-revamp-their-search-engines-google-threatened/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953142 | 334 | 1.84375 | 2 |
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has officially begun his ministry as the 266th pope, receiving the ring symbolizing the papacy and a wool stole symbolizing his role as shepherd of his 1.2-billion strong flock.
A cardinal intoned the rite of inauguration at the start of Tuesday's Mass, saying "The Good Shepherd charged Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep; today you succeed him as the bishop of this church."
Later a half-dozen cardinals approached the Argentine-born pope to vow their obedience.
The installation occurred in sun-drenched St. Peter's Square before tens of thousands of people, princes, sheiks, rabbis and presidents.
By NICOLE WINFIELD
The Associated Press | <urn:uuid:fda39fa1-9326-4972-afed-e1d4feee4bf7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wkyc.com/(S(5gc40445twtwgj453gk2liai))/news/national/290119/22/Pope-Francis-opens-ministry-with-installation-Mass | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970813 | 152 | 1.570313 | 2 |
This morning’s weak Q2 stats (pdf) would be worrying in any recovery. But in the aftermath of such a deep fall in output their implications for real trends in living standards are particularly bleak. The UK economy still has a long way to climb back to pre-recession levels of output. Chart 1 below (now updated from a recent post to include Q2 stats) puts the scale of the task in perspective.
If today’s 0.2 per cent figure proves right, GDP remains 3.9 per cent below it’s pre-recession peak. Even if we see a strong rise in Q3, this will still have been by far the longest period in recent memory in which GDP’s upward march has lost its feet.
The big question now is not just what happens next, but also what underlies today’s figures. We’ll need to wait until the publication of the Quarterly National Accounts on October 5th before we know how much of today’s anaemic 0.2 per cent growth rests on households sweating their savings to keep consumption moving. | <urn:uuid:4ab22f88-f47d-4440-85f8-42a48420510a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/07/2011-q2-growth-figures-implications-for-living-standards/ | 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 | 0.945755 | 228 | 1.601563 | 2 |
David Brandon and Jo Payne
This chapter contains two personal accounts of psychiatric breakdown while studying at university. David Brandon was a student first at the University of Hull and later undertook a social work course at the London School of Economics (LSE). While at the LSE he had a 'breakdown', but still qualified and later became Professor of Community Care at Anglia Polytechnic University (APU) and a Chair of the British Association of Social Workers. Jo Payne was a student at Durham University studying Philosophy and Politics; she later became a social work student at APU in Cambridge, where David Brandon supervised her second placement. She qualified in 1998 and has mainly worked as a researcher. The chapter ends with some conclusions about responses, treatment and recovery.
Going to Hull University in 1960, as a young social studies student, was an immense challenge. I came from a poor home in Sunderland – itself a town of poverty. My dad was in and out of mental hospital, with a track record of erratic behaviour and regularly beating up my mother and myself. I'd already spent some time living on the streets of London and carried the shadows of many beatings from the age of two years onwards. Attending the university was an alien and unsupportive experience. Sitting at the long tables in the halls of residence, the public school, para-military culture seemed a very long way from growing up on a council housing estate just
Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Book title: Students' Mental Health Needs: Problems and Responses. Contributors: Nicky Stanley - Editor, Jill Manthorpe - Editor. Publisher: Jessica Kingsley. Place of publication: London. Publication year: 2002. Page number: 37. | <urn:uuid:a635fb72-aadd-4544-bc05-99af5cd752aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.questia.com/read/119205541/students-mental-health-needs-problems-and-responses | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962305 | 364 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Security is always one of the top concerns for developers and professionals in the tech industry who try to make quality products. Millions of people across the world entrust tons of sensitive and personal data on mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. Banking and credit card information, documents related to businesses, personal photos and notes, emails, and so much more is stored on the average smartphone or tablet. Such rich stores of information make easy targets for hackers and other people who would use your information for their own selfish purposes.
Fortunately there are a ton of apps out there designed specifically to repel hackers and secure sensitive data from prying digital hands. Let’s look at three apps in particular that could really help you tighten the security on your mobile device.
Lookout Mobile Security
A proven brand for all mobile devices, Lookout Mobile Security is among the best at what is does. The app allows you to backup sensitive data, to protect it with powerful encryptions, to redirect you from harmful web content, and to find your device should it get lost or stolen (you can track your device using its GPS). The app will even scan unknown wifi sources to make sure that you connect to a secure network. All in all, this app is the one stop shop for people who want to have peace of mind when it comes to storing information on their mobile device. Best of all, it works for nearly any smartphone or tablet. Highly recommended!
Secure Folder Pro
Secure Folder Pro is an app designed to secure the most sensitive information housed on your mobile device. The app boasts powerful encryptions and security measures designed to hide your personal info—things like phone numbers, email addresses, bank account numbers and the like—in a secure folder on your device. The folder itself is protected by a password that only you will know, but there’s little chance that someone would check the folder if they even took your device. The secure folder is designed to look unassuming and boringly average—the perfect hiding place for your information.
eWallet gets high praise for being one of the better password management apps out there. We have so many passwords that we have to keep track of—passwords for email accounts, social media profiles, bank accounts, and online retail services just to name a few—that it’s nearly impossible to remember them all without writing them down. eWallet does the grunt work for you, keeping track of your passwords and sensitive data so that you won’t have to. Imagine a world where you don’t have to remember that random string of twelve digits and letters that make up your password in order to access your profile. eWallet can make it happen.
Jane Smith works as a freelance blogger and writer for a number of high quality sites including backgroundcheck.org. Though she writes often about issues involving tech, security, and criminal justice, Jane also enjoys writing fition—usually in the vein of popular thrillers and mysteries. Feel free to leave Jane a comment below! | <urn:uuid:eaa3ee79-dcd1-46b4-b588-c2003bcc02bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://slices-of-life.com/author/admin/page/87/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945416 | 608 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Front Page Titles (by Subject) CHAPTER VIII. - Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans
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CHAPTER VIII. - John Calvin, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans
Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans, trans. from the original Latin by the Rev. John Owen (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1849).
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1There is now then no condemnation to those who are in2 Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me3 free from the law of sin and of death: for it being impossible for the law, because it was weak through the flesh, God, having sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, even by a4 sin-offering condemned sin in the flesh; that the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5For they who are after the flesh, think of the things of the flesh; but they who are after the Spirit, of the things of the6 Spirit. Doubtless the thinking of the flesh is death; but the7 thinking of the Spirit is life and peace: because the thinking of the flesh is enmity against God; for to the law of God it is8 not subject, nor can it be; they therefore who are in the flesh, cannot please God.
9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you; but if any one has not the Spirit10 of Christ, he is not his. But if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead with respect to sin, but the spirit is life with regard11 to righteousness. If then the Spirit of him, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will quicken your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12So then, brethren, debtors we are, not to the flesh, that we13 may live after the flesh; for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the flesh, ye14 shall live: for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.
15Ye have not indeed received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, through16 whom we cry, Abba, Father: the very Spirit itself testifies17 together with our spirit, that we are the sons of God: and if sons, then heirs; the heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.18 I indeed judge, that the afflictions of this time are not to be compared to the future glory which shall be revealed to us.
19For the intent expectation of the creation waits for the revelation20 of the sons of God; for to vanity has the creation been subjected, not willingly, but on account of him who has subjected21 it in hope; because the creation itself shall also be reclaimed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty22 of the sons of God; for we know that the whole creation23 groans and labours in pain to this day: and not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the beginnings of the Spirit, even we ourselves do groan in ourselves, waiting for our adoption,24 the redemption of our body; for by hope are we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope; for what one sees, how can he25 hope for it? If then for what we see not we hope, we wait for it in patience.1
26And in like manner the Spirit also assists our infirmities; for what to pray for as we ought we know not; but the Spirit27 himself intercedes for us with groanings unutterable: and he who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit; because he intercedes according to God’s will for the saints.
28We further know, that to those who love God all things co-operate for good, even to those who are called according to29his purpose: for whom he has foreknown, he has also predetermined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might30 be the first-born among many brethren; and whom he has predetermined, them has he also called; and whom he has called, them has he also justified; and whom he has justified, them has he also glorified.
31What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us,32 who can be against us? He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33Who shall bring an accusation against the elect of God? God34 is he who justifies. Who is he who condemns? Christ is he who died; nay, rather who has been raised, who also is at the right hand of the Father, and who intercedes for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger,36 or sword? As it is written, “For thee we die daily, we are37 counted as sheep destined for the slaughter:” but in all these things we do more than overcome through him who has loved38 us. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present39 nor things future, neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.
[1 ]To exhibit the meaning of this passage according to what is advanced in a note in pp. 306, 307, it shall be presented here in lines,—
We may indeed consider “every creature” in verse 22 as referring to every renewed creature then living, (except the Apostles and those endowed with the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit,) and all such from the beginning of the world. In this case, “to this day” has a striking import. All God’s servants from the beginning had been groaning under the body of sin, and not only they, but even those who had enjoyed the first outpouring of the Spirit, and had been endued with extraordinary gifts. The gifts of the Spirit, however abundant, did not free any from the bondage of corruption, from the body of sin; but this was an object of hope, for which they were to wait. The context, before and after, clearly shows that the present condition of God’s people is the subject.—Ed. | <urn:uuid:344740db-39d7-4bc5-b4f3-f49c54c884c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=537&chapter=85582&layout=html&Itemid=27 | 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 | 0.960788 | 1,465 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Rowley Shoals decision shows area tough
- From: AAP
- February 04, 2013
THE decision not to re-release an oil and gas exploration permit near the Rowley Shoals Marine Park shows the offshore Kimberley region is proving difficult for the sector, an analyst says.
Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson will not re-offer the exploration permit W11-5, some 200km from the Kimberley coast and close to the Rowley Shoals, because no companies have applied for it since it was put up for grabs in April last year, his spokeswoman has confirmed.
There were also community concerns, she said.
Conservationists were up in arms in early 2012 when three permits including W11-5 were offered for exploration, although the hunt for oil and gas has been going on in the area for many years.
Shell's East Mermaid 1 well - smack in the middle of those three permits - was drilled in 1973 but abandoned due to technical problems and poor geological conditions.
Woodside, no stranger to protests by conservationists with its contentious Browse gas hub plan at James Price Point north of Broome, is currently conducting seismic studies on permits north of Rowley Shoals, but says that activity is just to meet its obligations to retain the leases.
The Rowley Shoals are a popular scuba diving site and are considered among the world's healthiest atolls.
"This whole area is very difficult - you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get it going," State One Stockbroking analyst Peter Kopetz told AAP.
While WWF Australia was pleased the W11-5 well was temporarily off limits to the oil and gas sector, it urged the federal government to create a permanent exclusion zone to the industry in the area.
On Browse, Mr Kopetz said it would be the economics of the project, not the vocal opponents, that would be the deciding factor in whether it proceeded.
Shell, with its preference for floating gas production, did not appear to be pushing the operator Woodside hard and was sitting back to see what happened, Mr Kopetz said.
While WA Premier Colin Barnett remains insistent the Browse hub must be built onshore where royalties will flow through to the state - rather than offshore, where the royalties will go to the Commonwealth - the project proponents would only choose a site that met their profitability criteria, he said.
"Why would someone lose money to appease someone?" Mr Kopetz asked.
national top stories
Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson A GROWING number of the Aussies are using social networks in workplaces, schools, bedrooms, and even the toilet cubicle.
Angela Saurine, National Travel Reporter TRAVELLERS should consider locking in exchange rates before they head overseas as the Aussie dollar hit its lowest point for nearly a year.
Ian McPhedran, National Defence Writer ON the 45th anniversary of battles of Coral-Balmoral, veterans still wonder why the fighting has not been given due historical recognition. | <urn:uuid:d5485bd2-f387-4eff-a754-88669caa739d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mobile.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/rowley-shoals-decision-shows-area-tough/story-e6frfku9-1226570258262 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965276 | 607 | 1.609375 | 2 |
The Jehovah’s Witnesses up 2.12% from the year before.
According to the 2009 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, only four churches reported an increase in converts for the year 2008. These churches were:
Jehovah’s Witnesses (1,092,169 members, up 2.12 percent )
Church of God of Cleveland (1,053,642 members, up 2.04 percent)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (5,873,408 members, up 1.63 percent)
Assemblies of God (2,863,265 members, up 0.96 percent)
The LDS church remains the 4th largest denomonation behind the Methodist, Baptist, and Catholic churches but is quickly approaching the number 3 spot and will the Methodist church within the next 2 -3 years. For the past few years the only churches to consistently gain in membership include the LDS and Jehovah’s Witness churches. The LDS church maintains around 1.6% growth whereas the Jehovah’s Witnesses gain over 2% on average and have doubled in size in the last 5 years. (However, I’m not sure how accurate these numbers are because according to the 2006 report the LDS church had 5.9 million members and now only reports 5.5 million but the report stated the growth was maintained each year at 1.5%) For a more detailed statistical analysis of the LDS church check out the post over at Times and Seasons that was postes a few weeks ago.
IF these statistics are even close to being accurate this shows an overall decline in Christianity as a whole in the United States. According to Mormon Metaphysics, there has been a decrease of 10% overall in Christianity. Also, those churches such as the LDS and J.W. churches show significant gain, but they have a very aggressive missionary effort as well. It does raise the question though of why those two particular churches are attractive to people. Even with the missionary efforts if they churches didn’t have something to offer and if there wasn’t a need out there people wouldn’t join their organizations.
So in conclusion I ask the following questions.
1. Why do you think Chrisitanity is on the decline?
2. Why do you feel those religions such as LDS and J.W. see growth each year?
3. What could be done to bring retention and conversion rates up? | <urn:uuid:373465a1-4a64-456f-bb7a-ce2772f424c8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://graceforgrace.com/2009/05/05/the-united-states-fastest-growing-christian-church-in-2008-is/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971283 | 505 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Tag Archives: cows
East Hampton, NY — Last week, local rancher lucky stetson was working his cattle when a rogue cow set off for the hills.
DENVER — Local authorities used explosives to drive a herd of frozen cows out of a cabin in the Rocky Mountains.
The miracle birth happened in Velistsikhe, Georgia.
AMSTERDAM – Lab-grown burgers are now a reality!
ENGLAND – Cows have been bred to produce human breast milk!
WASHINGTON — High levels of radiation have be found in milk samples in two Western states. Officials say there is a significant public health threat.
BOURBON COUNTY – Killer Cows, first discovered in South Texas last year, ambled into Kansas today. Local residents are frightened. | <urn:uuid:7e75fe56-5ebe-4d89-afd8-4ec769ea64c5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://weeklyworldnews.com/tag/cows/ | 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 | 0.9354 | 160 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Last Saturday Marie and I had a great time watching Repertory Philippines musical Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the Greenbelt Theatre with our friends the Barkers.
Picture shows from left: Trisha Amper Jimenez (who gave us our tickets and played Emma’s understudy and a part of ensemble), Menchu Lauchenco Yulo (the director), Paul and Aleta Barker, Mayen Bustamente Cadd ( as Lady Beaconsfield) and her husband and Steve Cadd (as Sir Danvers Carew). Trisha and the Cadds are members of Victory. Thanks Trisha we really enjoyed ourselves.
If any of you are looking for great play to watch, here’s one I highly recommend. But don’t bring the kids, the play’s brothel scenes was suggestively intense.
Apart from great acting and singing the spiritual undertones of the play could not go unnoticed. That’s why I’m using it as my day off meditation this week.
It was Fr. Sullivan, my English literature teacher in high school who insisted on reading the classics. He tried hard to convince us that Beowulf was exciting and worth the read. Maybe for children in England during the Middle Ages but not a fifteen year old in the seventies in the Philippines.
I must admit there were a few that were interesting, Robert Herrick’s “To the Virgins’” and some of Alfred Tennyson’s works. And of course Robert Louis Stevenson’s Victorian classic: “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The idea of a man struggling between two personalities with hints of Sherlock Holmes had enough excitement even in the seventies. I was never the literary kind. But I still thank Fr. Sullivan for the exposure.
Dr. Jekyll’s name was not unfamiliar. Back in the sixties I have watched a variety of renditions of the story from ”The Adventures of Mighty Mouse” and other cartoon adaptations. I didn’t have the gall to tell the old priest that their versions were more entertaining than the original. But what did I know, I was a kid.
Watching the play as a 54 year old last Saturday, and having a better understanding of the human soul was a treat.
It was clear to see that even in Victorian England that prided itself with a greater sense of social and sexual restraint, things were not under control. You could see why Stevenson’s classic was a hit.
It bled with the reality of the human soul’s yearning to explain the wrestling between good and evil within. What Freud defined as split personality is really what the Bible simply explains as sinful man. Struggling to survive the inner wrestling of wanting to comply with God’s laws but unable to do so.
Dr. Jekyll who knew the fundamentals of what was righteous but on the inside had a wanting for the vile, the beastly and the wicked. His answer was a potion that could transform him and justify the fight within. Only to gradually be taken over in a fight that cannot be won. Sin always wins and takes over.
This was the warning that God gave Cain -
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7
God was warning Cain, its one thing to be tempted to sin from without, its a totally different matter to let the vile creature in. Dr. Jekyll unable to contain the lusts of his heart took the potion in the hopes of containing and assuaging his passions, if not altogether justifying his duplicity. But sin is systemic and as God warned has a life in itself.
That’s the true picture of our state of affairs. Sin is in our system. Unless taken out we will forever wrestle with it from within. And there is no concoction that can save us from its venom. Like Henry Jekyll we try to manage Edward Hyde - a lost cause that has a declared winner even before it started and that only ends in death.
We cannot manage behavior.For it is only an outworking of something from within. There is only one potion to combat the sin within – Jesus.
“Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” John 6:53 | <urn:uuid:a77f2d1f-5e21-4d20-9ba6-9fb2b48eb7a3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://joeybonifacio.com/2012/04/dr-jekyll-and-mr-hyde-day-off-meditations/ | 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 | 0.970971 | 967 | 1.578125 | 2 |
The Government Accountability Office recently reviewed 18 federal programs that provide food and nutrition assistance to low-income households, a subset of the nearly 70 programs that provide food and related subsides.
Peter Wallison calls attention to President Obama’s amnesia regarding events that precipitated Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s collapse. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Wallison points out that in 2005 then-Senator Obama joined with his Democratic colleagues in stopping legislation that would have helped rein in the government-sponsored housing duo’s risky behavior:
Food stamp enrollment has reached a record high of almost 40 million people. You can blame the recession and legislated benefit increases under presidents Bush and Obama. According to Obama’s latest budget, the total cost of the program will reach $73 billion this year, or more than double the 2007 price tag.
Comments from members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee at a recent hearing on the U.S. Postal Service’s woes indicate they don’t appreciate the USPS’s union problem. Postmaster General John Potter went before the committee to make his case for restructuring the postal operation, including greater labor flexibility.
According to the Congressional Budget Office’s recent estimates of President Obama’s current budget proposal, debt held by the public relative to the size of the economy is heading toward heights last seen since the end of the Second World War:
The 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act sparked a huge increase in federal education spending and regulations. The legislation’s Title I was supposed to provide aid to K–12 schools in high-poverty areas, but by the end of the 1960s it was providing aid to 60 percent of the nation’s school districts. Today, Title I is the largest federal subsidy program for K–12 education.
The budgetary recklessness that was a hallmark of the Bush presidency has gotten worse under President Obama. Like the previous administration, the Obama administration was fully aware when it took office that the country is facing an entitlement-driven budgetary crisis.
One of the topics Chris Edwards will be discussing with Glenn Beck this evening (5:00 EST, Fox) is the “Not-So-Great Depression” of 1920-21.
A couple of weeks ago I discussed the rising cost of the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Pentagon officials told the Senate Armed Services Committee that costs for the F-35 had jumped more than 50 percent since the program began in 2001. Now the Pentagon has informed Congress that the price tag is going to be even higher when new estimates are completed in the summer. | <urn:uuid:49dba411-0253-4fac-8b02-247abb8a1a34> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/blog?field_themes_tid=All&field_departments_target_id=All&page=76&%3Bfield_departments_target_id=1&%3Bpage=6 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949729 | 537 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, features a number of popular beaches and sights.
Welcome to a city of historical importance, with the famous Providence Island and its deep-rooted african culture. Symbol of the Freedom, Providence Island is famous for welcoming liberated African slaves returned to their homeland. It is a site of great historical importance for the people of Liberia. Traditional dances and concerts are also frequently held there.
Other attractions include the Waterside Market and the National Museum. You can buy beautiful African batik goods and woodcarvings at the Waterside Market, which is held in an old area near the centre. The National Museum is known mainly for its collection of old Liberian art. | <urn:uuid:4e0d519c-98aa-4d9d-b37f-d81541b52dcf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://brusselsairlines.com/en_gr/look-for/destinations/liberia/monrovia.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965445 | 143 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Egoboo: The Cute Way to Dungeon Role Playby Howard Wen
In the land of Bishopia, King Bishop has been kidnapped by evil forces. To rescue him, you must traverse dungeons in search of the "Sporks of Power". (Yes, these objects do look like the spoon/fork hybrid utensil.) This game premise might sound, well, silly, but it's silly by design. The creators of Egoboo--brothers Aaron and Ben Bishop--have aimed to make their game the most accessible and cutest open source dungeon RPG.
Egoboo features real-time action and 3D graphics. As is standard in dungeon adventures, game play consists of combat against monsters, spell-casting, and exploring a variety of map levels. The world of Bishopia consists of seven environments. You choose to play as one of eight hero characters, including an elf, rogue, soldier, or wizard. While the game is nowhere near complete, Egoboo's current form still has plenty of dungeon romping and monster-bashing. The game runs under Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.
Egoboo was originally developed by Aaron Bishop. Ben Bishop, his brother, a former computer science professor at the University of Georgia, currently maintains the game. Both brothers currently reside in Danville, Pennsylvania.
The motivation for the ongoing work of Egoboo has been the brothers' desire to make a modern Roguelike game. In terms of its design, the inspiration for its game play draws upon NetHack. The graphics exhibit a Japanime style; specifically, the artistic look of Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series is obvious.
Figure 1 -- a hero in distress
From the Classroom to Open Source
Egoboo development began in 1999. In its simpler form, it started as a Direct3D Windows game Aaron did as an assignment for one of his college classes. Ben eventually convinced his brother to release it as open source. They then rewrote Egoboo for cross-platform portability by using SDL and OpenGL. They also credit other open source programmers specializing in graphics for contributing the help they needed to accomplish this specific task. (When Aaron started Egoboo, his graphics card only supported Direct3D.)
"Converting Direct3D to OpenGL was like getting teeth pulled," describes Ben. He recalls this as the biggest challenge in Egoboo's development. "If anyone reading this ever writes a graphic program, wrap the graphics API calls in macros!"
Ben points out that OpenGL itself was not the problem in this process: "OpenGL has been a pleasure to work with. The original code from Direct3D was a complete mess. There are still some lingering problems from the conversion, though, such as our flaky support for particles. They don't rotate properly."
Aside from the OpenGL and SDL APIs, the rest of the codebase is original and was written in C by the Bishop brothers. They did borrow the Quake II model format for game characters, however, to avoid the work of writing their own modeling program from scratch. An extra, obvious benefit is that this decision makes customizing Egoboo much easier: the mod community is full of people who are familiar with creating Quake II models.
"We are working with the Quake II model format to simplify the lives of character developers," says Ben. "Users have been able to contribute new models, and I hope some of these start making it into the game soon."
While the character models are done in Quake II format, Egoboo uses a separate tool, developed for Egoboo, called Cartman, for map generation. Other map-making tools for Egoboo are also available and in development, including EgoMap, which adds random level generation to the game.
As far as the game's AI, its scripting is specific to Egoboo. Ben, who wrote some of the AI, feels this is unfortunate because it has probably hindered further development by others who might want to help to improve it. It is possible for others to study the existing AI scripts and documentation, but he admits it is not easy to figure out. Some have suggested to the Egoboo developers that they use Lua for scripting the AI functions, but there has been no significant progress on this idea. Ben says this may partly be because support for the Lua language in egoboo "is not 'fully baked' as of now, from what I know."
The Egoboo graphics engine itself is not limited to dungeon crawlers. Other kinds of games can be built upon it. In fact, Ben says his brother has already developed some of his own: "Aaron always seemed to get distracted and [would] code up new games using the Egoboo engine. He had a simple real-time strategy test, as well as a bumper car game."
Figure 2 -- a peaceful outdoor scene, unless you're a sheep
To those interested in modifying the Egoboo code to create an entirely different type of game, Bishop warns that the learning curve for the engine is pretty steep. He suggests that it might be best to start by contributing to the development of the original dungeon crawl, a more likely way to gain better technical insight into the engine's code.
Figure 3 -- a little lightning
A Much-Needed Fixing and Polishing
Before any new features can be added to Egoboo's game play, Ben says a couple of existing technical issues need to be addressed, particularly with its graphics. As mentioned above, particle graphics do not rotate in the OpenGL version of the game like they do in the Direct3D original. Another partial feature is transparency. Egoboo is also supposed to have a network play feature, but it's broken in its present state. Fixing the particle graphics is easy, says Ben, but the network issue will be tougher to resolve.
The networking challenge is typical for this type of game. "Being an action game, network code timing is a big concern. In something like a real-time strategy, you might not notice if your units take a half-second to start moving. On Egoboo, this is not the case," says Ben. "Our main problem is that we haven't gotten around to porting the network code from the original DirectX. I think it would be a pretty straightforward job for a competent programmer with some spare time."
The Egoboo project could also use contributions of character and object models for the game and definitely needs more level maps. While the game looks very good in its current form, it does not have a polished feel of a commercial game, which Ben admits and wants to see improved. He invites others to contribute to Egoboo's development; outside submissions of any sort will encourage the release of more official updates to the game:
"It takes some effort to put a new release out. So I'd like say what would get me to do a new release: A new level, significant bug fixes (networking, particles, etc.), and a good new [development] tool. If you want to get to work on the code, consider setting up your own CVS. The code in Version 2.22 is current."
In the end, Ben is proudest not of the technical achievements that he, his brother, and various volunteers have made to Egoboo, but, rather, the game's very place within the overall open source gaming scene. "Good open source games are few and far between," he says. "So I think Egoboo is contributing by enlarging the pool of games."
Return to the Linux DevCenter.
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Where is the OS X version? *NM*
2004-01-20 02:17:53 anonymous2 [View]
2003-03-24 01:09:19 anonymous2 [View]
2003-03-29 17:42:34 anonymous2 [View] | <urn:uuid:7965dc37-16a5-40aa-8798-cb2c918beed2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2003/03/13/egoboo.html?page=last | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962128 | 1,697 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Some neighborhoods in Grand Forks get revitalizedGrand Forks, ND (WDAY TV) -- Two programs try to make a difference in neglected neighborhoods in Grand Forks. The goal, provide low income housing and update an old neighborhood.
By: Meagan Millage, WDAZ, WDAY
Grand Forks, ND (WDAY TV) -- Two programs try to make a difference in neglected neighborhoods in Grand Forks. The goal, provide low income housing and update an old neighborhood.
Emily Wright, GF Community Land Trust Executive Director: "The primary goal is just to revitalize this neighborhood that was once such a thriving neighborhood, and now really needs that energy put back into it."
The Grand Forks Community Land Trust is relatively new and the first of its kind in the state. Its goal is to provide affordable housing for low and moderate income families. The non-profit just received 11 city-owned lots.
Emily Wright: "We have more families on the waiting list than the number of lots that were donated and that waiting list is filling very quickly, so we don't anticipate any issue there."
The donation of these lots isn't directly part of the urban neighborhood initiative. But the new construction will help the city revitalize the Near Southside.
Meredith Richards, Community Development Manager: "this will be a great partnership for everyone"
The Mayor's Urban Neighborhood Initiative started in 2007 with its pilot project in the Near North Neighborhood.
Meredith: "It was never meant to be a one size fits all. What worked in the north end, some of that will work in the south end. But the south end residents will have their own wish list and their own needs."
The Near Southside Neighborhood is one of the city's oldest residential districts.
Meredith: "The neighbors should be very happy to see new constructions in a style that will fit the neighborhood. It'll build the tax base, it'll bring families, it'll just be a real nice benefit for everyone."
Emily: "We already have one home under construction in the neighborhood that's going to close within the next few months. And then we're anticipating building probably four to five homes per year, and that's a very reasonable realistic goal for us."
Those lots were left vacant after flood demolitions. | <urn:uuid:1b1723e3-f05f-4d06-9822-838e87cccf45> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/60458/publisher_ID/29/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972696 | 474 | 1.53125 | 2 |
UPDATE: Scroll to the bottom of this post to see a response from Durham Public Schools security director Tina Ingram.
Last week a students at Southern High School was charged with carrying a loaded gun to school. In tomorrow's Durham News we're following up with a story that shows crime and violence in Durham Public Schools rose 20 percent last year from the previous year.
There are 17 acts that school systems must report to the state Department of Public Instruction. Those reports are available to the public on the department's web site. The incidents that must be reported included possesson of drugs, alcohol and/or weapons, various kinds of assault and arson, among other incidents.
In 2007-08, DPS reported 388 total acts. That was up 20 percent from 322 acts in 2006-07, according to the data. Statewide, reported incidents of crime and violence rose just 1 percent.
Weapons possession, which started us on the story and can include anything from box cutters to handguns, accounted for 147 incidents last school year in the Durham Public Schools. That was up 12 percent from the previous year's 131 incidents.
Of course higher numbers can mean a bigger problem or just a better job of discovering problems. We've called DPS security director Tina Ingram this morning to ask her what she makes of the statistics. [SEE UPDATE BELOW]. We'll also have more on this story in tomorrow's Durham News. In the meantime, what questions do you have about our local schools' safety? Tell us now and we'll share your questions with Ingram.
UPDATE: Good information from security director Tina Ingram just now on the phone. She agrees the numbers alone don't tell whether Durham has a growing problem or is just detecting more incidents. But she did say last year's spike reflects the first year metal detectors were added to the middle schools. Before that, the detectors were at high schools only.
"We did expect to have an increase because we were looking for the contraband more aggressively and more frequently," she said.
I asked for a breakdown showing a) how many of DPS incidents last year were at the middle school level and b) what types of weapons were involved in the incidents. She said those are also available on the state web site, which I'll try to look later today. | <urn:uuid:8d0671c9-b875-4b7f-9954-09fc4dfc953f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.newsobserver.com/category/tags/Durham-Public-Schools?page=13 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980356 | 461 | 1.6875 | 2 |
This weblog doesn't have a regular religious column, and doesn't intend to start one now. But every so often the Kats are concerned with religious topics -- two of which are mentioned here.
Several readers have sent links to this story about giant electronics retailer Best Buy, which is threatening to sue Fond du Lac (Wisconsin) priest Reverend Luke Strand. The bone of contention here is Reverend Strand's "God Squad" Volkswagen Beetle which, says Best Buy, sports a logo on the clergyman's Volkswagen Beetle which is identical to its own "Geek Squad" design. Reverend Strand has stopped using the logo, following receipt of a cease-and-desist order. As usual, the news reports can't make up their minds if this is a copyright matter or a trade mark dispute.
"Geek Squad" is a Best Buy subsidiary which sells computer-related services to customers. It's known for its use of a black Volkswagen Beetle with a catchy sticker logo on its front door. Said a spokesman for the church: "They feel that the shape and the font of the logo and the fact that it's on the Volkswagen bug causes confusion with their Geek Squad", adding that the minister had "driven the 'God Squad' around Fond du Lac for a "number of years" as a "creative way to bring God to the streets." The IPKat thinks he has just seen the light, recalling that his own car has a Rev counter ...
The second story concerns Richard Taylor (joint UK head of patents in law firm DLA Piper's Intellectual Property and Technology Group and, for his sins, the IP/IT columnist for the famously unread Law Society Gazette). Richard confesses that, in his spare time, as is appropriate for someone with an interest in trade marks, he has an interest in art and symbolism. He explains:
"A few years ago I wrote a book on symbolism and imagery in churches, called How To Read A Church. The book inspired a BBC TV series, called "Churches: How To Read Them", which I wrote and am presenting. The series starts next Wednesday, 1 September, 8.30pm on BBC4. It consists of six episodes, so running on Wednesdays through September and the first couple of weeks of October. Here's the trailer, which is quite fun".The IPKat, who understands that the publicity folk are making a lot of the "IP specialist-turned-presenter thing", is sure that readers will find this quite in-spire-ing. | <urn:uuid:1fdeeabf-e681-4ff3-9e58-f5be72d176bf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ipkitten.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/for-those-who-read-this-weblog.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974185 | 518 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril Side Effects
Please note - some side effects for Hydrochlorothiazide and moexipril may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.
Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals
Applies to: oral tablet
Moexipril-hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has been evaluated for safety in more than 1,140 patients with hypertension with more than 120 treated for more than 1 year prior to its approval by the FDA. The overall incidence of adverse side effects was slightly less than in comparable patients treated with placebo. Adverse side effects were usually mild and transient, and there was no relationship between them and gender, race, age, or total daily dosage (except for serum potassium decreases associated with daily doses of HCTZ greater than 50 mg). In controlled trials, discontinuation of therapy was reported in 5.3% of treated patients due to adverse side effects, compared with 8.4% of patients who were taking placebo.
Rare cases of interstitial nephritis have been associated with the use of HCTZ. Although HCTZ has been used to treat nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, a case report in which the drug was believed to have caused this condition has been reported.
Renal side effects including new or worsened renal insufficiency, defined as an increase in serum creatinine concentration to at least 140% of baseline values, has been reported in 2% of patients taking moexipril-HCTZ. The presence of the following risk factors may significantly increase the likelihood of nephrotoxicity: heart failure, intravascular hypovolemia or dehydration, renal artery stenosis, and underlying renal insufficiency.
Patients with intestinal angioedema generally present with abdominal pain (with or without nausea or vomiting) and in some cases there was no prior history of facial angioedema, and C-1 esterase levels were normal. These symptoms resolve after stopping the ACE inhibitor..
There have been approximately 34 known cases of thiazide-induced pulmonary edema, encompassing 52 episodes of pulmonary edema, as of 1991 (per a 1996 review). In some cases, doses as small as 12.5 mg were associated with the development of pulmonary edema. The average time to onset of this adverse reaction was 44 minutes, women have a relative risk of 9:1, and the average age was 56 years. The mortality rate was 6%. Some experts consider this side effect grossly underreported.
Hypersensitivity reactions to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may be life threatening. Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis and/or pharynx have been reported rarely in patients receiving ACE inhibitors. In addition, intestinal angioedema has been reported in patients treated with ACE inhibitors. It is recommended that any patient with dyspnea, dysphagia, or significant facial angioedema stop therapy immediately and avoid ACE inhibitor therapy in general.
Urticaria, rash, pemphigus, pruritus, and photosensitivity have also been associated with moexipril.
Hypersensitivity reactions to HCTZ have included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash in less than 1% of patients. Acute pulmonary edema, interstitial cystitis, interstitial nephritis, and anaphylaxis have rarely been associated with the use of HCTZ.
Metabolic side effects including hypokalemia associated with the use of HCTZ is much less likely with the addition of moexipril because ACE inhibitors decrease serum aldosterone levels. By the same token, the mild hyperkalemia, although clinically insignificant, that often accompanies the use of moexipril, is much less likely due to HCTZ-induced kaliuresis. HCTZ can induce metabolic alkalosis, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, and elevated serum uric acid levels. It may also increase serum cholesterol.
Since HCTZ may increase total serum cholesterol by 11%, LDL lipoprotein cholesterol by 12%, and VLDL lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 50%, and may reduce insulin secretion, caution is recommended when giving this drug to diabetic patients or those with hypercholesterolemia. Irreversible glucose intolerance may develop in approximately 3% of patients. It is typically reversible within six months after discontinuation of therapy.
Hyperuricemia may be an important consideration in patients with a history of gout. Hypophosphatemia and low serum magnesium concentrations may occur, but are usually clinically insignificant except in malnourished patients.
Cardiovascular side effects include dizziness, symptomatic hypotension, postural hypotension, or syncope in 0.5% to 1.0% of patients. Angina, myocardial infarction, palpitations, rhythm disturbances, and stroke have rarely been associated with the use of this drug or one of its components.
Hematologic side effects associated with either component of this combination drug have been extremely rare, but very serious in some cases. Rarely, the use of moexipril or other ACE inhibitors has been associated with the development of agranulocytosis, myelosuppression, or hemolytic anemia. Hematologic side effects have only rarely been associated with the use of ACE inhibitors in patients with uncomplicated hypertension, and have been almost exclusively been associated with the use of these drugs in patients with renal impairment and/or collagen-vascular disease (such as lupus erythematosus or scleroderma). Although more data are needed with regard to moexipril, monitoring of white blood cell counts is recommended in cases where these risk factors are present.
A retrospective study has revealed a significantly higher incidence of discontinuation of ACE inhibitor therapy due to cough among black patients compared with nonblack patients (9.6% vs. 2.4%).
Respiratory side effects including cough is associated with moexipril and other ACE inhibitors. It has been associated with the use of moexipril and moexipril-HCTZ in up to 6% and 3% of patients, respectively. Cough has been the most common reason patients on moexipril discontinue moexipril therapy. Dyspnea and wheezing have rarely been associated with the use of moexipril, and acute pulmonary edema, presumably due to hypersensitivity, has been associated with the use of HCTZ.
Thiazide diuretics may increase serum cholesterol and triglycerides, resulting in an increased risk of cholesterol gallstone formation. Reports of bowel strictures associated with thiazide ingestion were reported in the 1960s (although patients in these reports were on a combination HCTZ-potassium product).
Gastrointestinal side effects are uncommon, and include abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting, appetite or weight changes, dry mouth, and rare cases of pancreatitis, hepatitis, and cholecystitis.
Dermatologic reactions to thiazide-type diuretics have rarely included erythema annular centrifugum, acute eczematous dermatitis, and morbilliform and leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Thiazides may induce phototoxic dermatitis. In addition, a rare, distinct entity with clinical and laboratory features indistinguishable from those of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus has been associated with the use of HCTZ.
Nervous system side effects associated with the use of moexipril include drowsiness, sleep or taste disturbances, headache, nervousness, mood changes, tinnitus, and anxiety. Rarely, stroke due to cerebrovascular insufficiency and intravascular volume depletion has been associated with the use of HCTZ.
Immunologic side effects associated with the use of HCTZ have been rare, and have included allergic vasculitis and hemolytic anemia. There have been numerous case reports of patients developing a rash histologically identical to subacute cutaneous lupus following HCTZ administration.
A prospective study of 34 patients who received oral thiazide diuretics for 14 years without interruption revealed significantly increased average fasting blood glucose levels. Withdrawal of thiazide therapy for 7 months in 10 of the patients resulted in average reductions of 10% in fasting blood glucose and 25% in 2-hour glucose tolerance test values. A control group was not reported.
Endocrinologic problems associated with the use of thiazide-type diuretics include glucose intolerance and a potentially deleterious effect on the lipid profile. This may be important in some patients with or who are at risk for diabetes or coronary artery disease.
Musculoskeletal side effects have rarely been associated with the use of thiazide-type diuretics and have included myalgias and chills.
Ocular side effects have included idiosyncratic reactions to the hydrochlorothiazide component resulting in acute transient myopia and acute angle-closure glaucoma.Top
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. | <urn:uuid:dc3cb5af-a4b9-4233-8182-78d413b88ffe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydrochlorothiazide-and-moexipril-side-effects.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933131 | 2,151 | 1.679688 | 2 |
One of the most lasting lessons from the 2008 elections has to be the power of crowdfunding. President Obama’s ability to raise loads of money from loads of people isn’t a huge mystery, there are concrete things you can do to emulate his success. IndieGoGo’s founder, Slava Rubin, offers a few tips. For example:
Make it a team effort
Starting off a solo campaign may seem sensible, but actually campaigns with at least four people on the team outperform solo ventures. That’s partly because teams bring to campaigns wider social networks. Indeed, on IndieGoGo teams raise 70 percent more than ventures with just one person involved.
Consisting of six team members, the in.gredients campaign is well on its way to funding its endeavor for a package-free grocery store.
Full story at the Huffington Post.
Top fundraising news.
Photo credit: Fotolia | <urn:uuid:cae89928-d049-437f-8671-e810e619812f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://holykaw.alltop.com/create-a-successful-crowdfunding-campaign?like_type=post&post_id=173299878 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950775 | 189 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Mobile Phone Tariffs
There are a number of mobile phone services providers like O2, T-Mobile, Orange, 3, Vodafone and Virgin. All these providers provide different mobile phone tariffs which range in price, service and the amount of free minutes and texts you receive. A mobile phone tariff is basically the way you pay for your mobile phone, a bit like a finance agreement. Some tariffs may offer a lower monthly line rental but it will be on a longer contract.
There are 2 popular types of tariffs available, pay as you go or payg for short and contracts. With payg you pay for your calls and texts in advance. This type of pre pay mobile phone tariff options usually involves you buying a top up card which loads credit into your account, this can also be performed at ATM’s or cash points. It is also now possible to top up your pay as you go account over the internet. By having a payg tariff you are not tied into a monthly contract and gives you control over how much you spend each month on your month phone. It has to be said though that calls and texts costs are often higher with a pay as you go tariff.
Another way to pay for your phone service is with a monthly contract. These usually come in 12 month contract and 18 month contract tariffs. By having a Contract mobile phones tariff your phone usages is recorded and you are sent a bill at the end of the month. With so many competitive contract tariffs available you can now get hundreds of free minutes and texts thrown in. Due to this you often know how much your bill will be as long as you don’t go over your monthly allowance. Many mobile phone service providers will send you a weekly text with you current bill amount so you can check how much you have been using and not get a nasty shock at the end of the month. | <urn:uuid:c48f9a8d-24e3-44dd-a8a1-bcc3960b1ab4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mobilefonereviews.co.uk/mobile-phone-tariffs.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957892 | 380 | 1.609375 | 2 |
The Panerai you see above might look a lot like every other Panerai, that is unless you're a Paneristi. You see, the PAM 399 (and 398 - which is the same watch, but in gold) is actually a new case and crown design for PAM, and a watch that collectors are already going nuts for. Just how is it any different? Let's explain:
The Radiomir is the Panerai that we're told was built in the 1930s, and it features lugs that are actual wires welded to the case. You all know the type. Then, in the 1950s, Panerai was known for its Luminor case - the one with the beefy crown guard that looks like this. What the PAM 399 is, or rather the Radiomir 1940 is, is a watch built in tribute to the Radiomirs not of the 1930s nor the Luminors of the 1950s, but of the oft forgotten Radiomirs of the 1940s which featured lugs attached directly the steel case - in fact they were carved out of a single block of metal. Other distinguising traits include the oversized, but historically accurate 47mm dimater, Plexiglas crystal, the round, cambered bezel, the cylindrical crown and the screw back. If you still don't understand the difference between the standad Radiomirs, the new Radiomir 1940, and the Luminor, this should clear things up:
Also, the PAM 399 doesn't use an in-house PAM movement, but it doesn't use a Unitas either. In fact, the PAM 398 and 399 use a movement from Minerva, which as you may know, now belongs to the Mont Blanc family (Panerai laid claim to this small batch of Minerva movements years back). Here's a look:
Both the PAM 398 (Radiomir 1940 Oro Rosso) and PAM 399 (Radiomir 1940) will be limited to 100 pieces each worldwide. But, out of those 100, 50 of each watch will come in a box set with the two watches together, to be sold exclusively at Panerai boutiques. If you're interested in either, it'd probably be wise to contact your Panerai boutique ASAP, because we al know how these Panerai peeps love their limited editions. | <urn:uuid:4678835f-eefa-46ae-8c44-4af1d368c09c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hodinkee.com/2012/4/3/hands-on-with-the-panerai-radiomir-1940-a-pam-with-a-slightl.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94552 | 491 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Private College Scholars at the Capitol
Help members of the Minnesota legislature and the Governor understand the important role that involving undergraduates in research, scholarly, and creative work plays in their education and professional development.
The Minnesota Private College Scholars at the Capitol will display, in poster format, the work of undergraduates from Minnesota's 17 private colleges and universities in a one-day program at the state Capitol rotunda (2013 date TBA).
This year's event, organized by the Minnesota Private College Council and faculty members at participating schools, will feature the work of exceptional undergraduate students from a variety of academic disciplines.
All academic disciplines are welcome, from Art to Zoology. Our hope is to present the breadth and depth of undergraduate research and creative scholarship at the Minnesota's private schools.
On the day of the session, students and their mentors will meet with State Senators, State Representatives and staff, present their research findings, and discuss with legislators and visitors the positive impact of undergraduate research on higher education, their local community, and the state of Minnesota.
Campus contact persons at each college/university help to publicize the event on their home campus and coordinate the selection of student presenters. | <urn:uuid:1fd6eb17-4e3d-44cb-9602-111ba6d790ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.csbsju.edu/ELCE/Undergraduate-Research/Student-Opportunities/Private-College-Scholars-At-The-Capitol.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949381 | 240 | 1.617188 | 2 |
HOUSTON -- In Arkansas, the law may be bringing guns closer to God. Lawmakers have passed a bill that will allow concealed weapons in churches, synagogues and mosques.
In Houston, Pastor Patrick Ngwolo of the Resurrection Houston church believes that is unnecessary.
“I think at a certain point it becomes ‘are we living our lives’ or are we living in fear of the one day we might die?” Ngwolo said.
History has shown that houses of worship are not always places of peace.
In 2007, two people were killed when a gunman opened fire outside a church in Colorado Springs.
Last year, six people died when a gunman shot up a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.
In Little Rock, preacher Elmo Johnson said his church was robbed during morning services, and he wishes someone could have stopped it.
“We need to make sure that we have adequate protection for our self,” Johnson said.
Other preachers in Texas agree.
Last weekend, a Beaumont pastor taught teachers how to shoot, free of charge, for their own protection.
“Being a man of God and an ordained minister my conscience is totally at peace with it,” Pastor James McAbee said.
But not all consciences see the same, and neither do all churches.
In Texas, it is up to the discretion of each church to allow concealed weapons. Lawmakers appear to be keeping it that way.
Churches that do not want concealed weapons inside are required to post a sign. | <urn:uuid:6c58bb5a-d03a-4612-a1c8-618efaeee2d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Preachers-weigh-in-on-allowing-guns-in-church-189945701.html?ref=next | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964928 | 321 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Now you can search for articles in back issues of Contingencies from July/August 2000 to the present. Simply type in subject words, author's name, or article title in the box at right and click Search.
Can Education Substitute for Actuarial Exams?
EVIDENCE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
by Robert L. Brown and Conrad Ciccotello
RELYING ON DATA FROM ACTUARIAL EXAMS over the period from 2000 to 2002, we find that candidates who are currently students in academic institutions pass actuarial exams in Courses 1 through 4 at a higher rate than candidates in the workforce. Consistent with changes in the 2005 Society of Actuaries syllabus, the findings suggest that exam credits could be obtained from suitable academic educational attainment. Unlike recent academic studies of other financial services professions, however, this analysis was not able to control for other candidate attributes, such as experience and aptitude. Additional analysis is needed to inform the ongoing debate about syllabus changes and the protection of actuarial trademarks in the changing financial services marketplace.
The Actuarial Profession
Long thought of as belonging to one of the most stable and exclusive of professions, actuarial professionals in North America currently number about 20,000. They qualify through the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) or the Society of Actuaries (SOA), which set standards of qualification for their membership.
Actuaries evaluate business, economic, and financial implications of future contingent events using economic and statistical techniques. Actuarial candidates can effectively qualify in one of five specialty tracks: finance/investments, group and health benefits, individual life insurance and annuities, pensions, and property/casualty insurance. The actuarial profession has recently experienced some stagnation in the number of fully qualified members, and has expressed concerns for how to address that issue (although very recently, entry-level candidate numbers have grown significantly). Changes in service provider (life insurance companies, in particular) and employee benefit (defined contribution versus defined benefit) structures have intensified the debate about the profession’s future.
The actuarial profession also faces a growing threat from business, where actuarial students’ skills are in high demand. Many excellent actuarial students are tempted by Wall Street offers to use their quantitative skill sets immediately for salaries well in excess of what actuarial firms offer entry-level candidates. Faced with a series of professional examinations before attaining professional status, these candidates often choose to exit the exam qualification process.
According to a 2003 article in the American Business Law Journal: “The best candidates attract the lucrative business offers, and might be the first to jump ship and avoid the high costs of professional exams. If exams actually improved the candidates’ ability to serve clients, the result might be different. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that the best candidates are increasingly forgoing exams.”
Actuarial exams are notoriously difficult. Does that notoriety keep otherwise well qualified math students from the actuarial profession?
Actuaries in the United States achieve professional status by passing a set of examinations prescribed by the CAS or SOA. For example, if candidates pass nine examinations and attend a capstone course on professionalism and ethics, they’ll satisfy the membership requirements as a fellow, CAS. For the SOA, beginning in 2005, there are nine formal examinations, and a similar capstone course in professionalism and ethics required for fellowship.
There are now about 12,500 fellows in the two societies. Associate membership in the SOA is available after six examinations (seven for the CAS) and an associate professionalism course (in both societies). Exam requirements progress from more technical topics in the early exams toward more applied topics in the latter ones.
The examinations for both associate and fellowship levels are difficult. Generally, well under half the candidates pass a particular exam. Data from the SOA indicate that average age at the attainment of fellowship is now 33, suggesting that a typical candidate could take 10 to15 years to complete the sequence. This distribution is quite skewed. Some candidates take a very long time to qualify, and there are no limits on how many times any exam may be attempted.
Regarding education, the SOA recommends that in addition to a strong math background, candidates take a variety of college “classes that prepare them to apply a well-rounded business approach to problem-solving and to develop communication skills.” Three years’ experience is also required to be a member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), which defines a licensed actuary in the United States. All actuaries follow a code of ethics in practice.
In Continental Europe, the qualification process is quite different. There, the process is entirely a matter of university education within an approved program (usually resulting in a master’s degree). In Australia, all but two of the required exams can be waived based on academic education in one of four approved academic programs. The United Kingdom uses a mix of professional examinations and waivers (for approved academic courses).
Only in North America do candidates have to pass all the professional examinations, regardless of parallel education. But changes in the SOA 2005 syllabus begin to permit educational attainment to substitute for examination. Beginning in 2005, the SOA will no longer test macroeconomics, microeconomics, corporate finance, and applied statistical methods. Students can get credit for these modules with a “validation of education experience,” obtained by completing approved coursework.
We obtained data from the SOA to analyze pass ratios for recent candidates in Courses 1 to 4. We have two sittings for each exam from 2000 through 2002, or six data sets in total per course. The data contain a flag that allows the identification of those candidates currently in an academic program. To obtain a student discount, academic students must identify themselves as students. The presence of a discount thus provides the incentive to report truthfully.
The raw data contain the following inputs: candidates who are at school full time and applying for a student discount; candidates in the workforce who have identified with the CAS; candidates in the workforce who have identified with the SOA; and candidates in the workforce who have not indicated a societal identity.
At this stage, we have no access to data regarding: (1) aptitude, measured by the candidate’s Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) math and verbal percentile ranking (potentially ranging from one to 99); (2) total number of college credit hours; (3) math or quantitative hours; (4) whether the candidate has a graduate degree; (5) whether the academic program the candidate took would be labeled as an actuarial program; (6) whether the candidate took any review courses for the four exams; (7) whether the candidate has worked with an actuarial firm and for how long; (8) performance on or time taken to pass previous exams; (9) the types of dedicated exam review courses taken; and (10) time from completion of academic program or review course until exam sitting.
The results can be seen in Exhibit I. The data clearly show that candidates who are currently students pass exams at a higher rate than candidates who are not students. This is the case in all four courses, although the differences in pass ratios in Courses 3 and 4 tend to be wider than those in Courses 1 and 2. In sum, the results seem to suggest that education can substitute for exams. Without additional data analysis, however, it’s impossible to discern to what extent these differences derive from education or from other candidate attributes. Education might be a proxy for other candidate characteristics, such as aptitude. Recent research in the Journal of Accounting and Public Policy finds that a candidate’s math aptitude is the strongest contributor to success on the CPA exam.
Policy Issues Surrounding Entry Barriers
Despite their preliminary nature, the Exhibit 1 results raise a question for the actuarial profession: “If education can substitute for performance on the professional exam, why have separate exams at every level of requirement?” More particularly, would it be possible to design a set of criteria (similar to current policy in the United Kingdom and Australia) so that a mark of “x” from academic program “y” in course “z” would indicate an extremely high probability that the student would pass the parallel professional examination?
Is the actuarial exam sequence a barrier to entry that contributes to unfavorable implications (e.g., monopoly pricing)? The requirement could allow those who have already “scaled the wall” to “pull up the rope.” Over the past several years, the CPA educational requirement was raised from between 120 and 128 academic credit hours (the normal bachelor’s degree requirement) to 150 hours in most states. Surprisingly, researchers found evidence that the rule will reduce overall audit quality. Some pre-rule CPA candidates, who would not otherwise enter the market, will do so to reap higher fees. Some post-rule CPA candidates will not enter the market due to higher entry costs.
What impact does the actuarial exam sequence have on the actuarial profession? Is it a necessary barrier to entry, or is it chasing away the best and brightest candidates?
Exam Sequence Redesign
A narrow set of coursework in the early actuarial exams creates an “eye of the needle” problem for the actuarial profession. Other professions, such as medicine, begin with a broad base of knowledge, followed by more specialized training. Conversely, actuaries first require candidates to pass a challenging yet narrow set of exams (one through four) based on applied probability, statistical modeling, and evaluation of contingent events. Later exams are broader in scope and more applied.
If the technical exams at the beginning of the sequence can be satisfied by approved education, as is done in countries outside of the United States, this eye-of-the-needle problem may disappear. The larger issue for the actuarial profession is that issues about design of the exam sequence are confounded by issues about the evolving nature of the profession. Do actuaries want to be generalists who need broad knowledge and considerable interpersonal skills? Or are they specialists to whom only narrow problems are referred?
The CPA experience is instructive for the actuary. Professional success in accounting is increasingly linked to breadth of knowledge and skills, but CPA exam requirements are narrow and technical. Planned changes to the CPA examination structure emphasize a broader set of competencies and adaptability.
Professional accounting is in a period of unprecedented restructuring that is forcing CPAs to become more adaptive. That profession is undergoing a paradigm shift to skills-based learning rather than knowledge-based requirements because the accounting body of knowledge is changing so rapidly.
If the actuarial profession is to follow the accounting profession, then actuaries will need to be more broadly trained, and the actuarial exam sequence will have to assess a broader skill set. Recent surveys of actuarial employers done by the SOA show that actuaries rank very high in four attribute areas:
The examination process as currently structured tends to reinforce the strengths and ignore the weaknesses. De-emphasizing the technical course exams by allowing education to substitute
Need for Additional Research
Do dedicated exam review seminars substitute for education on actuarial exams? How important is aptitude to success? Can education offset a disadvantage in aptitude? What impact does actuarial practice have on exam success? Currently, lack of data makes these questions difficult to answer.
Additional data could also permit an analysis of endogenous relationships. Perhaps stronger students take exams earlier. Or education might allow students to assess their strengths, thereby timing the taking of exams more effectively. In either case, the causal link between education and exam success could be undermined.
This analysis is particularly important given the changes in the 2005 SOA syllabus. If education isn’t a strong input to success in the presence of other candidate attributes, then allowing educational attainment to substitute for exams might not be appropriate.
Removing exams if they’re a proper barrier to entry also removes a credible indicator of success to both recruiter and candidate. With fewer exams, employers will have to rely on grade-point averages and other measures of quality to distinguish students. If education isn’t strongly related to exam success, then relying on these indicators might be a faulty signal.
Research that addresses marginal explanatory power of candidate attributes and endogenous relationships is critical to inform the future of the actuarial profession. Similar to the accounting profession, it may be that changes in actuarial entry are only in the beginning stages.
The protection of professional actuarial credentials from competitive erosion is more important than ever before. Professional certification primarily connotes trust, a function of both client recognition and provider reputation. What role does the actuarial exam sequence play, and what is the role of actuarial education in the support of actuarial credentials?
The strategy for a particular profession in choosing its barriers to entry often depends on its existing trademark position. Such position is a function of size (impact), distinction (strength of mark and competition), and exclusivity (measured by entrance difficulty).
As we’ve seen, actuaries probably have the greatest entry barriers of all financial services professions. Their situation is complicated by the profession’s relatively small size and historically narrow institutional focus in the insurance industry and on defined benefit pension plans. The trend is toward integrated large financial service providers and defined contribution plans. In general, the threat of disintermediation in the cyber-economy is pushing all financial service professions closer to their customers for fear of being “cut out” of the primary adviser role by another provider. This is clearly a business threat to actuaries if the profession remains “experts to whom narrow, technical problems are referred.”
While the policy implications of our results suggest substitution of educational attainment for exams would align well with the evolving marketplace for actuaries, such a change necessarily means that two individuals will hold the same designation with the senior of the two having gone through the more costly exam entry sequence. Existing professional members might not appreciate what they consider to be the resulting “brand dilution.”
Leadership of the profession articulates concerns for the profession’s long-run viability, but members tend to be concerned with short-term pricing power. Some members, who are well established, really may not “need” the credential anymore, absent a legal requirement to have one. Standards dilution might concern the members who are building practices more than well-established professionals.
Leaders are also prone to ad hominem attacks that their efforts to increase the size of the profession coincide with increased prestige for the leadership of the profession.
Candidates who are currently full-time students in academic programs tend to pass actuarial Exams 1 through 4 at a higher rate than those candidates who are not currently academic students. The differences are stronger just after the exam change (in May 2000) and stronger in later exams (2 through 4) compared to Exam 1.
The results suggest that technical exams early in the sequence could be replaced by an educational requirement, which is done virtually everywhere else in the world. But the results are certainly preliminary in that a number of candidate inputs to exam success (and thus entry into the actuarial profession) remain unknown.
Continued research into the factors linked to success on actuarial exams has implications for both the design of the exam sequence and for the competitive positioning of the actuarial profession in the increasingly competitive financial services marketplace.
ROBERT L. BROWN is a professor, Institute of Insurance and Pension Research, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario. CONRAD CICCOTELLO is an associate professor and director of Graduate Personal Financial Planning Programs in the Department of Risk Management and Insurance, Georgia State University, Atlanta.
ACTUARIAL BOOT CAMP
by Debbie Shapiro
“I did yard work right after my exam, and it was awesome.” Rocky LaTronica, actuary, NCCI Holdings, Inc.
You’re having that nightmare again—the one where you’re back in college, rushing frantically to get to an important final—but you’re hopelessly unprepared! You wake up—what a relief—it was only a dream, and you don’t have to deal with tests anymore. But if you’re an actuary, you probably wake up many mornings to the reality of a huge exam looming on the horizon.
Most of us know that actuaries take exams—and that they’re difficult—but we don’t know the full story. While lawyers and doctors take the bar exam and medical boards, the actuarial profession may be the only livelihood that requires its members to pass a series of tests over a period of years in order to advance in their field.
To attain fellowship in the Casualty Actuary Society (CAS), a candidate must pass nine long exams. Fellows in the Society of Actuaries (SOA) pass seven exams and complete 50 hours of professional development activities. Testing takes place twice a year, and the exams are so rigorous that up to 400 hours of study are recommended in order to pass each one.
Says NCCI’s Scott Sobel, “You might spend the equivalent of 20 work weeks a year studying for two exams—you absolutely cannot cram for these tests.” Candidates must be able to solve complex problems as well as memorize vast amounts of information on all aspects of the insurance industry. (See opposite for a sample question.)
The exams are graded on a curve, and only 30 percent to 40 percent of all candidates make the cut each time.
The Secret Life of Actuaries—Revealed
Although some companies allow their actuaries up to 120 hours of study time at work, the remaining 280 hours per test must be accomplished while the rest of us are enjoying our evenings and weekends—hanging out with friends, watching American Idol, doing Disney World with the kids, folding laundry, and sleeping. The key to the secret life of actuaries is that for several months each year, they have no life.
The average “travel time” (industry lingo for the time it takes to complete all the exams) is 10 to 12 years. It’s very common to fail an exam on the first or even second attempt. Being single seems to be an advantage when setting aside time to prepare without guilt. But even with no immediate family to alienate, the single actuary still runs the risk of being all but forgotten by friends who tire of getting turned down for socializing two or three months running.
Dennis Mealy solved that problem during his early years at Wausau. He did his studying and socializing with a “fraternity” of coworkers who all had the same goal—getting through the exams quickly. “We’d meet for early weekend breakfasts,” he says, “and then hit the books.”
Several married actuaries reported that although their spouses were extremely supportive, the time away from the family during “study season” could take its toll. While spouses do all of the household chores, attend social functions alone or not at all, and tend to children and in-laws, exam takers may be found at any hour of the day or night curled up in a cocoon of study materials, either revved up on caffeine or asleep and drooling on a pile of books.
Poor eating habits and lack of sleep and exercise can lead to health problems, fatigue, and weight loss or gain. After weeks of sitting inside in solitude, Rocky Latronica couldn’t wait to get out in the sun: “I did yard work right after my exam, and it was awesome.”
Companies Offer Encouragement
Experienced actuaries are highly valued, and most companies provide theirs with a great deal of support throughout the exam process. Benefits include study time at work, paid attendance at review seminars, and reimbursement for study materials and exam registration fees. When candidates pass exams, they’re often given salary increases and/or bonuses.
Neither Rain nor Sleet ...
After months of preparation, the actuary’s drive to take the exam, no matter what, is comparable to a sea turtle’s compulsion to lay her eggs in the sand. Brett King left for his honeymoon two weeks before Exam 2 and didn’t lift a book for the duration. Still, he sat for the test. Another actuary checked herself out of the hospital following an appendectomy and had to be carried into the exam room. She passed.
But Angela McGhee wins the award for pure dedication. She took an exam at home after giving birth just two days before. Her next child was born only two days after she took an exam.
Exam Day: Actuaries on Edge
In the exam room, distractions like a ringing phone or noisy candy wrapper can drive the test taker to madness. Panic may set in. Robert Moss said, “I went through the first 10 questions and didn’t know a single answer. I felt my heart sink.” Eventually he relaxed, regained his memory, and passed the test.
Decisions must be made—drinking lots of coffee to stay sharp increases the chance of having to visit the restroom, which can waste precious time. (See opposite.)
Some actuaries rely on rituals or superstition to give them a psychological advantage. Dennis Mealy wore green to every exam and sat in the exact same spot. Another candidate carried a “lucky” pencil from a friend who’d passed all the exams—it worked for one test but not the next, so he threw it away.
Then there are times when all the planning and studying imaginable won’t help if your luck has run out. Imagine how Scott Sobel felt when told that his exam was lost en route to CAS headquarters. He had no option but to take the same exam all over again.
About two months after exam day, results are posted online. It’s awkward to get the news at work—if you haven’t passed, you want to be alone, and if you have, you don’t want to show too much excitement in front of others who have nothing to celebrate. Rocky Latronica’s ritual works for him. He prints and folds the list without looking at it and runs outside to the parking lot. He opens the list. “Then,” he says, “I’ll either cheer or cry.”
Is It Worth It?
If they were able to do it all over, would they choose to be actuaries? Of those polled for this article:
So what keeps actuaries going as they travel the grueling path to CAS or SOA fellowship? “Dreaming of how good life will be after these exams are behind me” is a typical response. Rocky Latronica thought for a minute about what motivates him. “Pride,” he said. “Passing these exams is one of the things I did that very few people have done.”
DEBBIE SHAPIRO has been an editor at the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) in Boca Raton, Fla., since 1989.
SAMPLE EXAM QUESTION
A survey of a group’s viewing habits over the last year revealed the following information:
28% watched gymnastics
Calculate the percentage of the group that watched none of the three sports during the past year.
COFFEE/RESTROOM PROBABILITY FORMULA
The goal is to drink the optimal amount of coffee that maximizes test performance and minimizes trips to the bathroom:
where: flr = food leverage ratio; CB2 = caffeine buzz ratio; bfbeg = bladder fullness prior to coffee intake; sf = stomach fullness; dt = digestion rate (d) x time (t); bmsf = bladder/mental sharpness ratio; dbf2 = dam breakage factor
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Elliott, Robert K. 2000. “Who Are We as a Profession--and What Must We Become?” Journal of Accountancy 189 (2), 81-85.
Grange, E. V., V. Hampton, R. Cutler, T. Langdon, and M. Ryan. 2003. “Factors
Grant, C. T., Ciccotello, C. S. and M. Dickie. 2002. “Barriers to Professional Entry: How Effective is the 150-Hour Rule? Journal of Accounting and Public Policy 21, 71-93.
Lee, C., C. Liu, and T. Wang. 1999. “The 150-Hour Rule.” Journal of Accounting
Leland, H. 1979. “Quacks, Lemons, and Licensing: A Theory of Minimum Quality Standards.” Journal of Political Economy 87 (6), 1328-1346.
Melancon, B. 1998. “The Changing Strategy for the Profession, The CPA and the AICPA: What This Means for the Education Community.” Accounting Horizons 12 (4), 397-406.
Roberts, R. and J. Kurtenbach. 1998. “State Regulation and Professional Accounting
Zeff, S. 1987. “Does the CPA Belong to a Profession?” Accounting Horizons 1 (2), 65-68.
Contingencies (ISSN 1048-9851) is published by the American Academy of Actuaries, 1100 17th St. NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20036. The basic annual subscription rate is included in Academy dues. The nonmember rate is $24. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC, and at additional mailing offices. BPA circulation audited.
This article may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official policy of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Inside Track: Anecdotal Evidence | <urn:uuid:ddc47ba3-cfa1-451e-8fcc-896e9560ab74> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.contingencies.org/marapr05/0305exams.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936373 | 5,488 | 1.53125 | 2 |
|Home | Bookmark | Tell||Active petitions in over 75 countries||Follow GoPetition|
Allow disabled people access to all on street parking bays 24/7
Petition Background (Preamble):
These changes include restricting access to the majority of the on road bays immediately surrounding the town centre so that they may only be accessed from 11am to 4pm and again after 7pm.
The roads most affected are St Mary's Butts, West Street and Friar Street
This has made it unreasonably difficult for many disabled people to access the shops and other facilities in the town.
A council representative has claimed that the the majority of people are happy with the changes, this is obviously true as the majority of people are not disabled and have little or no understanding of the real life ramifications of these changes for disabled people.
Examples of things that are now virtually impossible for many disabled people to do include:
A drink out with work friends/ family after work,
A meal before seeing a show at the local theatre
Early morning shopping to beat the crowds
Staying in town after shopping to eat out
Getting to one of the opticians who has served the community for many years
Getting to a number of well known high street shops
The current proposals to resolve the access issues appears to be to force all blue badge holders into wheelchairs of some form (Shop mobility) regardless of their individual needs and to expect the local shops/traders to cover the cost.
With economic downturn comes cuts, and the proposals leave disabled people reliant upon the funding of retailers/traders and upon charities. If they decide to remove the funding in the future, disabled people will be yet again unable to use the town and its facilities
The only long term way to ensure access to the town for disabled people during the same periods as able bodied people is to provide appropriately placed kerbside parking that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Allow disabled people access to all on street parking bays 24/7 petition to Reading Borough Council and local/regional MPs was written by K Hounslow and is in the category City & Town Planning at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags: disability, disabled, blue-badge, access, driving, reading town, disabled driver, disabled access, reading | <urn:uuid:46b92187-652c-4e5c-ba01-c92d44856d57> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/allow-disabled-people-access-to-all-on-street-parking-b.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961595 | 480 | 1.648438 | 2 |
February 10, 2005
Down Terror’s Deadly ‘Road’
Portland author Anne Marie Oliver has seen suicide bombers and other Palestinian extremists up close, and she says the cultish world of the terrorist group Hamas has "its own momentum and driving force and it has nothing to do with almost anything else."
Oliver and co-author Paul F. Steinberg have written the "The Road to Martyr's Square: A Journey Into the World of the Suicide Bomber" (Oxford University Press, $26). On Feb. 17, at the Los Angeles Central Library, they will sign copies of "Martyr's Square" and discuss their dispassionate journey into suicide bomber culture during the 1987-1993 intifada.
The well-documented book does not examine the current intifada, but instead shows the roots of the waves of the suicide bombings that have terrorized Israelis in recent years. It also showcases the highly scripted, ritualistic world of suicide bombers who take calls to arms against Jews literally, something that started in the late 1980s and is now become a self-sustaining killing machine.
"We saw the making of this culture; I don't think anybody could have predicted that suicide bombings would become a major tactic and strategy in the intifada," Oliver told The Journal. He said Hamas has proved attractive to Palestinian men because "it offers a complete way of life, a complete system of charitable institutions across the West Bank and Gaza, a system of personal salvation."
Publishers Weekly described "Martyr's Square" as "relatively nonpartisan and deeply skeptical and smart ... giving a chilling sense of what it was like to live in Gaza as it was engulfed by an Islamism that professes, 'not only not to be afraid of death, but to love it passionately.'"
Research for the book included interviews with Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was killed last spring in a targeted assassination during ongoing counterterrorism measures. The Georgia-born Oliver, 45, expressed little patience for how some newspapers and peace activists described Yassin as the "spiritual leader" of Hamas.
"Spiritual has a positive connotation to most people," she said. "I would hesitate to call him a 'spiritual' leader. There's something slightly off there, in that description."
The authors will discuss and sign their book, "The Road to Martyr's Square: A Journey Into the World of the Suicide Bomber," during "ALOUD at Central Library" Thursday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m. Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles. To R.S.V.P., visit www.lapl.org/events or call (213) 228-7025. | <urn:uuid:47a7752f-f54f-4c7c-89e8-e2f33f855bf8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/print/down_terrors_deadly_road_20050211 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96208 | 562 | 1.671875 | 2 |
In Texas alone, more than $4 billion of bond proposals will be decided, including a record $2.7 billion of city, public school and community college bond packages in greater Houston.
The largest component of that debt would be $1.9 billion for the Houston Independent School District, a proposal that earned support from 54% of those polled by a team of researchers from the University of Houston and Rice University.
Despite concern that such large amounts of debt might be rejected on a long ballot of candidates, researchers said the ongoing recovery tends to favor the bonds this year.
“Voters in Harris County are very bullish on the economy,” said Rice University professor Robert Stein, who led the poll with University of Houston professor Richard Murray. “Bonds are more likely to pass in high-turnout elections.”
According to the poll, “more than two-thirds (69%) of HISD voters believe ‘things in Houston are on the right track,’” researchers wrote. “District voters are optimistic about their family’s economic future. Almost half (47%) of the district voters believe their family’s financial situation will be better over the next 12 months. This figure is up 12 percentage points from the May/June survey.”
An expansionist mood colors many of the bond proposals in the region, including an Austin vote on raising tax support for a proposed medical school alongside the city’s $385 million bond package.
A continuing economic recovery is expected to help cities pass bond proposals, regardless of whether it helps President Obama win re-election.
In Dallas, a 2% increase in the Dallas property tax base in fiscal 2012 gave City Council enough headroom to ask voters on Tuesday for $642 million of GO bond authority without raising the tax rate. The council had initially considered a $500 million bond request in late 2011 with no new taxes, and raised the estimate to $600 million in April. The $642 million bond package was approved by the council in August. Dallas voters approved $1.35 billion of GO bonds in 2006.
In far west Texas, El Paso is asking for $473.3 million of general obligation bonds in a “quality of life” referendum that includes $245 million for park and zoo projects and $223.3 million for a downtown multi-purpose event center as well as library and museum upgrades.
Voters will also be asked to increase the city’s hotel tax by 2% to 17.5%, the highest rate in Texas, to support $15 million of tax-exempt bonds and $35 million of taxable debt for the public-private stadium project.
El Paso City Hall will be demolished to make room for a downtown minor league baseball stadium to be financed with the hotel tax revenue.
Voters in the coastal Texas city of Corpus Christi will decide on $89.7 million of general obligation bonds in an eight-part referendum.
Denton, north of Dallas and Fort Worth, is seeking a $20.4 million GO bond authorization. The proposal includes $20 million for upgrades of existing city streets and $400,000 for public art related to an expansion of Interstate 35 through the city north of Dallas.
In Arizona, supporters of a measure to continue a temporary sales tax to support education are hoping that the recovery is strong enough to bolster support. The Arizona Sales Tax Renewal Amendment, also known as Proposition 204 or the Quality Education and Jobs Act, would renew a 2010 voter-approved one-cent sales tax to provide funding for education.
In the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, city officials are hoping that voters will allow a tax measure to survive, even though revenue would go toward what many residents consider a mistake. The initiative, placed on the ballot through a petition drive, would reverse a 0.7% sales tax increase City Council approved to be used for municipal operating costs, including a $17 million arena management payment to a likely buyer for the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes.
The city has voted to subsidize a new owner of the team if it will continue to play games in the city owned $180 million bond-financed Jobing.com arena.
In Arkansas, voters face two constitutional amendments with debt implications.
Issue No. 1 is a 10-year, 0.5% increase in the state sales tax rate to support $1.3 billion of general obligation bonds for highway projects.
Proceeds from the road bonds would finance construction of a network of four-lane state roads between major cities and add capacity to existing highways.
The additional revenue would also provide a total of $700 million over its lifetime for local transportation efforts, to be split equally between cities and counties. Cities are allowed to issue bonds supported by their share of the revenue, and counties are expected to seek similar authorization from the 2013 General Assembly.
The temporary increase would bring the state sales tax rate to 6.5%.
Scott Bennett, director of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, said the $1.3 billion of bond proceeds and the other revenue would finance a $1.8 billion highway program.
Madison Murphy, chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission, said the current highway funding system that relies on revenue from motor vehicle taxes is outmoded and inadequate.
Murphy is co-chair of the Move Arkansas Forward Committee, an advocacy group that supports the road bond proposal.
The state has $20 billion of highway needs over the next 10 years, Murphy said, but only anticipates $4 billion in revenues from current taxes.
“This is a long-term obstacle to better highways because fuel consumption that contributes to highway revenue is flat or declining,” Murphy said.
Arkansas Issue No. 2 would authorize sales tax revenue bonds.
Patterned upon a similar program in Kansas, the STAR bonds would be supported by the local sales tax revenues generated in a development district designated by a city or county. The economic development proposals would have to be approved by the state before the local district could issue STAR bonds.
Local governments would also be allowed to issue STAR bonds to retire unfunded liabilities of closed local police and fire pension systems that otherwise would face insolvency. Voters would have to approve the tax increase supporting the bonds.
In Colorado, an estimated $926,860 has been raised by campaign committees that support passage of bond issues and operating tax increases in 22 school districts, according to the nonprofit Public Education and Business Coalition.
This year, 30 districts are proposing 37 bonds and overrides, including four of the state’s largest districts.
Proposals by the Aurora, Cherry Creek, Denver and Jefferson County districts account for $664 million of the $1.03 billion being requested by districts statewide. Campaign committees in those four districts have raised $736,523 of the $926,860 total, which is based on campaign finance reports filed with the secretary of state’s office as of Oct. 16. Aurora is seeking a property tax rate override for operating expenses; the other three districts all are proposing bond issues and overrides.
Only $7,775 has been raised by the three opposition committees registered this year, two in Jefferson County and one in Denver.
Municipal bond firms, construction companies and architects are among the largest contributors to the campaign funds, according to PEBC. | <urn:uuid:61d59799-54dd-497e-8ea6-bfef5d1b051c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bondbuyer.com/issues/121_214/southwest-billions-tax-bond-propositions-await-them-on-ballots-1045595-1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958617 | 1,511 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Qantas Australian Grand Prix
Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne
Circuit length 3.295 miles
Race length 191.071 miles
First held 1928
The Australian Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia. It was originally held at Phillip Island in 1928 though this wasnt part of the FIA calendar, but part of the National Australian Championship.
But in the 1985 Formula One season the race became part of the FIA Formula One World Championship.
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne is its current venue.From 1985 to 1996 Adelaide Street Circuit in Adelaide, South Australia was the previous venue.
The Australian Grand Prix has been an opening race of the season for a few years. When it was held in Adelaide, the Australian Grand Prix was the final round of the Championship. | <urn:uuid:b1cb7088-e9d2-4124-95fc-edabfaeecc0f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.f1planet.co.uk/f1-tracks/australian-grand-prix/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957963 | 167 | 1.773438 | 2 |
CREDIT: Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
Economic impact study affirms boost to personal, local and state revenues over past decade
Fort Worth, Tex (Sept. 27, 2011) -- Robust even in the face of recession, the Barnett Shale play has emerged after 10 years as an immense, resilient and growing economic engine in the 24-county North Texas region and Texas, an economic and financial analysis has found.
Commissioned by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and conducted by The Perryman Group (TPG) of Waco, “A Decade of Drilling” examined Barnett Shale activity and impact on local, regional and state business activity during 2001-2011.
The study found massive past, present and future economic impact and billions of dollars generated in local and state tax revenue. TPG estimates that the cumulative economic benefits during the 2001-2011 period include $65.4 billion in output (gross product) for the region, and $80.7 billion in output for the state.
Approximately 38.5 percent of the region’s economic growth since 2001 stems from Barnett Shale activity. And that activity constitutes about 8.5 percent of the local business complex.
“It is truly an amazing story,” said Ray Perryman, TPG founder and president. “Even though the level of drilling activity in the Barnett Shale started declining in late 2008, TPG found that the economic impact of the Barnett Shale activities has continued to grow.”
“We commissioned the study to see how or if the economic downturn had impacted past projections about the industry,” said Bill Thornton, president and CEO of the Chamber. “What we found was that it’s a bulwark of our economy. Here’s an activity that was virtually non-existent a decade ago and now -- thanks to new technology developed here – is generating huge benefits in terms of tax revenues, payroll and personal income for our region and the state.
A winning play
The Barnett Shale has yielded more than 9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Although a difficult economy slowed exploration, production from the Barnett Shale has continued to rise, topping 1.8 trillion cubic feet in 2010. More than 70 rigs in 24 counties are currently drilling.
TPG estimated the 2011 total regional effect of Barnett Shale activity to include $11.1 billion in annual output. For Texas as a whole, Barnett Shale-related activity leads to estimated 2011 gains in output (gross product) of almost $13.7 billion.
Such stimulus, the Perryman Group found, flows from (1) exploration, drilling, and related activity; (2) pipeline investments and related operations; (3) royalties and lease bonuses; (4) local and state tax revenues; and (5) direct/indirect jobs and increased business in the private sector.
“The economic impact of the Barnett Shale activities goes far beyond just the drilling of new wells,” Perryman said, “which says that these economic benefits will continue as long as the wells produce, which can be 40 or 50 years or longer. There are obviously challenges to drilling in an urban environment, but efforts to work cooperatively to overcome them will pay handsome dividends.”
Jobs and income
Regionally, Barnett Shale-related activity has created 100,268 jobs, the Perryman Group found. For Texas as a whole, more than 119,200 jobs have been created. (This figure includes direct employment by the energy industry as well as related jobs.)
Wage and salary employment in the region is about 8.7 percent higher than it would be without the Barnett Shale. Personal income in the region is almost 8.5 percent higher than it would be in the absence of Barnett Shale-related activity.
In terms of the number of jobs created directly and in related sectors, the report states, “the Barnett Shale’s effects are now larger than other, long-time sources of economic success in the Metroplex: about 5 percent higher than that of aircraft manufacturing, 10 percent larger than air transportation (including Dallas Love Field, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Fort Worth Alliance Airport), and 83 percent larger than motor vehicles (manufacturing).”
Tax revenues and philanthropy
At a time when most government entities, on local and state levels, and schools must contend with difficult budgetary conditions, the Barnett Shale delivers an important source of additional revenues. Over the 2001-2011 period, local taxing entities received an estimated $5.3 billion in tax receipts. The state received $5.8 billion.
This year, the Barnett Shale and related activity will generate around $730 million in additional revenues for counties, cities and school districts in the region. The state will likely receive another $911.8 million, for a total gain in local and state taxes of an estimated $1.6 billion.
Barnett Shale activity also benefits both state and local governments through property taxes, severance tax, enhanced retail sales and real estate development, permits and fees, and other types of levies such as hotel/motel occupancy taxes and receipts stemming from various taxable activities.
In 2010, independent school districts in the Barnett Shale region received approximately $2.7 million in royalty payments, $2.5 million in bonuses, and $45.8 million in tax revenue from natural gas and mineral rights. Indirect revenues from collateral development are even higher. At the University of Texas at Arlington, $5 million in royalties has been paid since wells on campus started production in 2008.
Impact extends to revenue-challenged area charities, which have received millions of dollars in donations from oil and gas companies, TPG found. In 2010 alone, companies donated at least $9 million to organizations in the Barnett Shale region.
To view or download a copy of the complete study, go to
Andra Bennett House, APR
Senior Director of Communications
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce | <urn:uuid:e7b82622-54f6-4d93-a71f-47af29659b7a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bseec.org/content/study-decade-drilling-has-expanded-barnett-shale-regional-economy-38-654-billion | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95108 | 1,235 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Highway opens as Tas bushfires downgraded
Tasmania's major bushfires have been downgraded and a major highway has been re-opened as interstate crews get set to fly in to help the fire-fighting effort.
The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) downgraded a fire at Bicheno in the state's east to advice level, the third most serious level for bushfires. It had been at the emergency warning level earlier on Saturday.
The Tasman Highway was reopened after the downgrade.
The development means there are no more emergency warning-level bushfires in Tasmania.
Fires at Nubeena, Forcett and Lake Repulse are listed in the watch and act category by the state fire service.
A crew of 65 Victorian firefighters is preparing to head to Tasmania on Sunday night for four days.
It is feared that more than a 100 properties have been lost in the fires.
The Forcett blaze on the Tasman Peninsula, east of Hobart, has claimed least 80 properties and left thousands of people isolated overnight.
Recreational and commercial vessels were used to bring in thousands of meals and other essential supplies and to evacuate people on Friday and Saturday.
Police said 600 people, many of them visitors to the area, were likely to spend a second night at convict ruins. There were 2000 people at a temporary refuge in Nubeena and another 100 at the Dunalley Hotel.
The road into the peninsula, the Arthur Highway, has been closed since Friday.
Acting police commissioner Scott Tilyard said he was hopeful some vehicles could be escorted from the peninsula.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard threw the federal government's support behind the firefighting and support efforts in Tasmania and said disaster assistance would start flowing in coming days.
Insurers declared the bushfire-hit towns a catastrophe and police powers were increased when the Tasman Peninsula was declared a serious-incident site.
Electricity company Aurora said it could take several weeks to restore power in some areas, with 300 poles down on the Tasman Peninsula.
Property losses have been huge, with 30 per cent of the buildings in the small community of Dunalley destroyed, including the school and police station.
At Connellys Marsh, 40 per cent of the buildings are gone, along with three houses at Copping and several at Primrose Sands.
Twenty houses have been lost around Murdunna and there are reports of more at Eaglehawk Neck.
No deaths or serious injuries have been confirmed, despite conditions comparable to 1967 when 2000 homes and 62 lives were lost.
Brought to you by | <urn:uuid:d2a41931-ce26-44bb-9c6e-d696ae3e5b2d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/highway-opens-as-tas-bushfires-downgraded-20130105-2c9ip.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979765 | 530 | 1.632813 | 2 |
They say you shouldn’t change a winning formula. Sex sells – it’s been doing it for Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood for decades. And it goes for development too.
Rob Burnet, of Nairobi-based social communications company Well Told Story, is the man behind Shujaaz.fm, a radio drama, comic book and lively online community, that is changing the way young people in Kenya think, work and act.
Shujaaz (‘heroes’ in sheng, Kenya’s street language, a mixture of Swahili and English) tells the story of Boyie, a 19-year-old from the outskirts of Nairobi. He’s finished school but he can’t find a job. His friends from school are pressuring him to join their ‘self-help group’, demanding protection money from the local community. But Boyie isn’t interested. And he hasn’t got time. With a talent for technology, he’s managed to build a secret pirate radio station in his bedroom, allowing him to hack into radio stations across Kenya, putting out a daily show, Shujaaz.fm, under the alias of DJB.
The stories and characters (beautiful Maria Kim who lives in a slum, football-mad Charlie Pele, who lives on a small farm, and rebellious teenager Malkia are fans of DJB’s show and call in to report their own adventures) are continued in a monthly 32-page comic, distributed free in the Nation newspaper and at Mpesa (mobile money) kiosks. Though their adventures young people get advice, tips, ideas and contacts about topics such as better ways of farming, small enterprises, job creation and ways to hold government to account.
The scale on which Shujaaz operates is quite phenomenal. Launched in early 2010, Shujaaz now reaches more than five million Kenyans a month. More than 16.5 million comics (600,000 a month) have been distributed – grabbed from the hands of those giving them out, passed around among friends, read and re-read at least ten times, according to research. The radio programme (Kenya’s only syndicated show) is broadcast on 25 different channels.
Starting a conversation
“The station’s audience is more than happy to tell DJB and his friends what they think,” says Rob. “Fans interact with the characters like they are real people and, because the story lines are similar to their own lives, the line between fact and fiction becomes blurred.”
DJB’s Facebook page has nearly 18,000 likes from people who interact with him on a daily basis and he receives 2,000 text messages a month from fans. If a fan has a bright idea they are invited to the show to tell others about it.
Rob himself admits the tools they are using are not new – comic books and radio have been used as communication tools in development for decades. So how have they been so successful?
Sex and money
The team of young Kenyan writers and artists working on Shujaaz are the same age as their readers and listeners. The average age of the team is 22; the youngest is 17.
“We try to make sure our stories meet what they are interested in, which is sex and money,” Rob says with a smile. Kenyan boys (like boys the world over) mainly want to attract Kenya girls. And the girls won’t really look at them unless they have some money.
So Shujaaz gives tips on how to make money: starting a small business, ways to improve your crop, better types of seed, how to vaccinate your chickens, recipes for silage. It also tells readers about their rights, about health, governance, safer schools, stock-outs in hospitals, peace, tribal issues, blended with a little romance.
“We get 25 calls a week from guys asking for Maria Kim’s number,” says Rob.
Shujaaz is a parallel universe that reflects the reality of life for the readers and listeners – life in slums, small towns and on small farms – something almost unheard of in the Kenyan media.
Even the Kenyan Communications Commission seems to believe in DJB, tweeting @shujaaz to ask how they dare to run a pirate radio station!
In short, Shujaaz knows its audience (16- to 24-year-olds), speaks their language (sheng), and focuses on what they want (ways to improve their lives).
Entertainment comes first
Messages are woven into the stories but getting the story right comes first.
“Our first goal is to entertain our audience and be cool and be fun. It’s not to deliver development ideas, that comes later,” says Burnet.
When Shujaaz won an Emmy award earlier this year, what pleased Rob the most was that they didn’t win it for their development work, they won it for the strength of the story.
NGOs and companies come to Rob and his team with information they want delivered and pay for the service. But they only take ideas and research that they know works. Google, for example, was deemed interesting and relevant to their audience. USAID’s message of abstinence wasn’t.
“We have an internal filter that makes us ask ‘does this story have a benefit to our audience?’ and if it doesn’t, we don’t do it,” Rob explains.
But does Shujaaz inspire people to take action?
In an independent Kenya-wide survey of 17 year olds, 62 per cent said they follow Shujaaz every month. Of this number 36 per cent reported that they have taken action based on stories in Shujaaz. And 32 per cent said they have talked to other people about the comic and about the stories they’ve encountered.
How does behaviour change happen? Rob told us about his ‘behaviour change continuum’, a series of steps that they aim to take their audience on.
1. Unaware of the problem
2. Introduce new concepts
3. Illustrate merits of action
4. Empowerment (“I can do it”)
5. Share skills and innovate
6. Taking action
7. Repeat messages and rewards
8. Maintaining best practice
Stages one to four are tackled through the radio programme – listeners become aware of issues in the radio story as they go about their day. The next four are carried on in the comic book, where websites and phone numbers can be published, recipes and tips listed. Seven and eight are also the point at which Twitter and Facebook are relevant – the point at which followers can interact. And by stage eight Shujaaz offers push SMS, a service where people pay to be texted reminders and information such as when to vaccinate their cows.
“You have to be aware of where your audience is. You can’t skip a stage,” says Rob.
He added that he classes people into three groups: innovators (people who are ready to go as soon as they have the information they need), developers (interested but not convinced) and traditionalists (no desire to change). In a group of 25 you might have two innovators, four developers and 19 traditionalists.
What helped Rob and his team was the realisation that you only need to focus on the innovator.
Over time, by reinforcing the message and by seeing the example of the innovators, some of the developers might make the leap from awareness to empowerment and so on.
“It’s much easier to have a conversation [with an innovator],” he explains. “When we realised that it made our lives so much easier.”
“We celebrate people’s successes to fight against the naysayers,” says Rob. “In the comic we name people who have succeeded, people who have written in to say they’ve tried planting kale in a sack, or started a business, or are saving money.”
What I took away from all of this is that communication in development is critical. What’s the point in finding solutions to problems or carrying out research if you can’t get the information into the hands of those who need it? The key is knowing your audience and what they want. It sounds simple but very few people do it well. Shujaaz shows us how.
Rob’s top tips
- Social media: find clever ways to get into the hands of your target audience
- Meet your audience where they are – be relevant, and helpful; don’t patronise or romanticise
- You only need a few innovators to bring change. | <urn:uuid:d9a94077-b604-4456-9367-c1e66c42a41c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://panos.org.uk/2012/10/25/comic-book-hero-for-kenyas-twitter-generation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957362 | 1,850 | 1.726563 | 2 |
There is no doubt about it. Startups are hard. You have to do everything -- and I mean everything -- yourself.
You have to do all the technical work, including prototyping, research, coding, web development, design, data analysis, metrics, system administration, networking, hardware procurement, and database administration.
There is marketing, including advertising, press relations, viral campaigns, framing the product, and pitching to influencers.
There is business development, including handing requests for technology licensing, talking about cross marketing deals, exploring feed licensing, and investigating partnerships.
There is management, including project management, building a culture, choosing founders and advisors, hiring, mentoring, setting expectations, and building teams.
There is legal, including creation of and modifications to the corporate structure, non-disclosure agreements, licensing agreements, employee incentive packages, patents, intellectual property assignments, and frameworks for partnerships.
There is finance, including accounting, taxes, licensing, managing cash flow, business planning, and pitching potential investors.
There is customer service, including building help pages, creating customer self-service features, and handling incoming contacts with suggestions, complaints, requests for information, and requests for help.
All this for incredible risk. Often, it is your own money being poured into the company. There typically are no or limited salaries and no benefits.
That incredible risk comes with many rewards. Though unlikely, there is a large potential payoff dangling off at the horizon. Startups are building something new, the exciting tip of the cycle of creative destruction. And, running a startup, you have much freedom in what you decide to pursue.
However, that freedom can be a curse. There are so many degrees of freedom, it can be overwhelming.
What should the company do? Even more important, what should it not do? Does it have enough money to pursue X? Can a competitor better implement feature Y? What really matters to the company?
There are so many options, but so little time. You must keep moving, keep making decisions, but always be willing to stop or reverse if something looks wrong.
You learn a lot, but it is incredibly difficult. It is a remarkable challenge, an incredible experience. | <urn:uuid:a3214604-91a3-4a56-a72e-25de577feea2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://glinden.blogspot.com/2006/08/starting-findory-startups-are-hard.html?showComment=1154461500000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945151 | 454 | 1.726563 | 2 |
She can still see his face.
The little boy was about 10 years old, transitioning out of homelessness, and Averie Clark knew only a few things about him.
"He wanted to make a scary monster. He wanted it to have scars, and he was acting kind of macho about it," she said.
Using materials "people always seem to have lying around," Clark taught the young boy and other families how to make their own monsters.
As his hands started to work, she watched his toughness fade.
"I found out he actually slept with his monster and even took it to school the next day," Clark said.
Seeing his joy is a rewarding part of an effort that combines skills gleaned from her day job at Bell Socialization Services and a
Calling themselves The Bees, seven local women recycle materials and repurpose them into merchandise, including crocheted bags, T-shirt totes, scarves, headbands, covers for electronic devices and other items.
Founded in March 2011 by Clark, the group "gathers with a purpose," she said. "We're not just shooting the breeze. We want it to be known we have more of vision and mission."
Boutique Week: Most recently they helped fulfill that mission by making about 50 tote bags to be sold for $20 during York City Boutique Week, scheduled Sept. 4-8, at participating merchants.
The totes were handmade from painters' drop cloths, umbrella material from York Tent & Awning Co., and old tablecloths. Each bag is rubber-stamped with the Boutique Week logo.
Hilary Arthur, Boutique Week chair, local fashion blogger and online merchant of couture items, said she's already started using her bag.
"They're beautifully executed," she said. "They're truly a local product, designed locally, repurposed with local materials and created to promote local businesses."
The Bees previously have sold merchandise at local shops, including Sweet Melissa's Dream, at 51 N. Beaver St.
"They are an awesome group of women," said Melissa Grove, owner of Sweet Melissa's Dream. A self-proclaimed "hoarder of fabric," Grove has donated fabric scraps to the group for their work.
"I love what they're doing as a community effort. It's important for people to see what can happen when people come together and repurpose old materials into something new."
Getting creative: Clark first learned to repurpose what she had around her when she was a young, married mom. She and her husband faced "lean times" while they expected their first daughter, but that only inspired Clark to get creative.
Using old jeans that belonged to her and her husband, she cut the denim into patches that became a quilt for a cradle, she said.
After their second daughter was born and Christmas neared, she got creative again. Clark looked around the house for old clothes and mismatched socks, repurposing them into rag dolls. Her daughters, now 31 and 29 years old, still have those dolls, she said.
"I want to teach families that you don't have to buy kids the next best thing, and you're not failing them if you don't. Instead, you're helping them by teaching them to create things with what's on hand," she said.
-- Candy Woodall can also be reached at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:bcf649e8-cd67-4518-a396-21f98ad7a4ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.yorkdispatch.com/news/ci_21362276/websubscribe | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988006 | 716 | 1.59375 | 2 |
A dog named "Lagniappe" was found weighing only 10-lbs. (half of what she should weigh) and suffering from hypothermia, anemia and malnutrition. The poor pooch also had an infection in both her ears, swollen gums and was infested with parasites, according to a news release from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
The dog's owner, Ynid Marie Fitzwilliams, 48, denied owning the dog, saying Lagniappe belonged to a male acquaintance. However, Fitzwilliams refused to provide a name or contact information for the acquaintance. Court documents later confirmed she had owned the dog for years, records state.
When Fitzwilliams was a no-show at an ex parte petition for animal cruelty hearing to determine if she was fit to have custody of the animal, a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Now she gets to stay in the dog pound.
And there is some good news: Lagniappe appears to be on the mend, eating ravenously after being taken in by PAWS and gained more than six pounds, according to a deputy.
Get the DUHtails from the news release.
Photo: Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office | <urn:uuid:0ae3a1b7-9262-4318-9767-7febcea7db49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/specials/weirdflorida/blog/2012/02/dog_found_near_death_owner_cha.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980669 | 256 | 1.789063 | 2 |
|Reviews for THESE TEARS|
| Stonehartdreamer27 7/7/12 . chapter 1
Like I said before, tears are so many things to each of us, and we'd never be what we are without them. Great poem.
| bookppl93 6/21/12 . chapter 1
I understand. There is a lot of intense emotions. When you cry you feel better cause ur being freed of what you've done bad. It just helps you to rise up.
| Escape16 6/19/12 . chapter 1
This is a very emotional poem though short, it's great:)
Keep it up :p
| Letters97 6/18/12 . chapter 1
this was beautiful... i should, err stop saying that... cos i think you've got the point by now:D good job
to me this meant that tears offer liberation and make you feel lighter, instead of being a sign of weakness. thanks so much for writing this! | <urn:uuid:694498cf-a3be-4402-ba23-afbb0609f2d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fictionpress.com/r/3033652/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943763 | 206 | 1.757813 | 2 |
by waterstruck - 12/1/12 6:18 PM
I was going to tryt he whole hook up an antenna and see if I get any channels so I can drop my cable. One question I have is do I need a digital to analog converter if my TV is HDTV flat screen? I didn't think so but just wanted to check. Also, is this really worth trying? I checked to see how far the towers are at the FCC website and mine are only 4 miles away. SO I was thinking about trying an indoor amplified multidirectional antenna. The reading I did said the multidirectionals are good for under 25 miles from a tower and then an amplified would be good if one lives near trees or tall buildings etc, and I live next to the woods but the trees are not that tall so I guess I could go either way...Does anyone have any suggestions? Does this really work? | <urn:uuid:7b1486ac-0d65-4ee4-8b83-361f22ac32db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7596_102-579181/tv-antennas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979607 | 188 | 1.53125 | 2 |
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