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The Times seems to be the first media outlet to start digging into the video cache Judge Sonia Sotomayor provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee in preparation for her Supreme Court confirmation hearing in July. One news bomblet: Sotomayor admitted to benefiting from affirmative action.
Legal reporter Charlie Savage dug into the tapes and emerged with the "Videos Reveal Sotomayor's Positions on Affirmative Action and Other Issues ."
Good for the Times for continuing to probe the ethnic angle, always a touchy subject for liberals - although Savage's story was strewn with the usual biased labeling, which made the criticism look as politicized as possible.
JudgeSonia Sotomayoronce described herself as "a product of affirmative action" who was admitted to twoIvy Leagueschools despite scoring lower on standardized tests than many classmates, which she attributed to "cultural biases" that are "built into testing."
On another occasion, she aligned with conservatives who take a limited view of when international law can be enforced in American courts. But she criticized conservative objections to recentSupreme Courtrulings that mention foreign law as being based on a "misunderstanding."
Those comments were among a trove of videos dating back nearly 25 years that shed new light on Judge Sotomayor's views. She provided the videos to the Senate Judiciary Committee last week as it prepares for her Supreme Court confirmation hearing next month.
The clips include lengthy remarks about her experiences as an "affirmative action baby" whose lower test scores were overlooked by admissions committees atPrinceton Universityand Yale Law School because, she said, she is Hispanic and had grown up in poor circumstances.
"If we had gone through the traditional numbers route of those institutions, it would have been highly questionable if I would have been accepted," she said on a panel of three female judges from New York who were discussing women in the judiciary.The videois dated "early 1990s" in Senate records.
Judge Sotomayor's approach to affirmative action has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Conservatives have criticizedher remarks in speechesthat her personal experiences will influence her judging, and they have focused on hervote to uphold a decision by New Havento throw out results from a firefighters' exam because not enough members of minorities scored well.
After Savage explained that Sotomayor might be "more conservative" than retiring Justice David Souter on the issue of applying foreign and international law to U.S. cases, Savage threw in more labels:
Still, Judge Sotomayor also criticized conservative attacks on Supreme Court decisions in recent terms that mentioned foreign law - including decisions striking down the death penalty for juveniles and striking down a Texas law barring sodomy.
"In both those cases the courts were very, very careful to note that they weren't using that law to decide the American question," she said. "They were just using that law to help us understand what the concepts meant to other countries, and to help us understand whether our understanding of our own constitutional rights fell into the mainstream of human thinking."
Although her opponents are invariably called "conservative" in the Times, the paper has yet to directly call Sotomayor a liberal. As close as the Times gets are hints that she may have once fit that political label, like this from June 5:
Ms. Sotomayor's political persona hewed carefully to the contours of New York, liberal but not particularly ideological.
And this from June 7, comparing her to Clarence Thomas (perhaps the only time you'll ever see Thomas characterized as a liberal in the Times!):
The two future judges led similar student organizations - Mr. Thomas helped found a black student group, while Ms. Sotomayor was co-chairwoman of a Puerto Rican one - and shared the same liberal politics. They graduated at the top of their classes. And afterward, they each headed to Yale Law School. | <urn:uuid:6dd1c6b9-57b1-487d-ac8b-7c0cd92959d0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mrc.org/print/articles/nyt-notes-sotomayor-called-herself-product-affirmative-action | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972231 | 805 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Originally broadcast on ABC in September-October 1981, The Manions of America came about as part of the wave of miniseries mania that seemed to grip TV airwaves for a while. Set in Ireland and the U.S. over a 19th century time span that includes the potato famine and the Civil War, Manions aspires to the same historical sweep as Roots, Shogun, The Thorn Birds, and The Winds of War. While it served as the first major role for then-unknown Pierce Brosnan in a torrid romantic pair-up with actress Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager), the series has since fallen into obscurity. After watching all four and-a-half hours, I can see why - it's suitably lush and romantic, but the story isn't all that compelling.
Manions' first part (of three) begins in 1845 Ireland as the potato famine is ravaging the country's farming families - including the O'Manion clan of Galway. Brosnan enters the picture as the fiery oldest son, Rory, rushing to find a doctor as his dying mother is attempting to deliver a child. The local doctor is busy attending to the household of the wealthy British family which Rory happens to work for, the Clements. Rory's mother dies giving birth to a son named Sean, which only spurs on the guy's hatred for the upper class (strangely, his G.Q. hair isn't mussed up too much). From there it's a matter of the various O'Manion and Clement offspring having romantic pair-ups while Rory organizes an uprising with his fellow dirt-poor farmers. The headstrong Clement daughter, Rachel (Mulgrew), finds herself drawn to Rory's fighting spirit. Meanwhile, Rachel's brother David (Simon MacCorkindale) serves as a soldier in the British Army and therefore stands as one of Rory's enemies - logically, he ends up falling for Rory's pretty sister Deidre (Linda Purl). The only O'Manion sibling not romantically involved is Rory's bland brother Padric (Nicholas Hammond), who winds up getting killed in an accident. When Rory's activities brand him a fugitive, Rachel smuggles him onto a ship bound for Philadelphia - where she hopes the two will eventually be reunited.
The Manions of America was co-scripted by Agnes Nixon, creator of daytime icon All My Children, and Rosemary Anne Sisson, who penned several episodes of the addictive British production Upstairs, Downstairs. With that background, anyone might come to the conclusion that Manions is a soapy delight full of twists and turns. Mostly, however, the series serves as an ultra-earnest historical drama with nary an outlandish character in sight. It actually reminded me a lot of the plodding first season of Dynasty, with the escalating tensions between the rich and poor families against a booming industrial backdrop serving as the driving theme. What hobbles the series the worst is the ill-advised casting. Normally Kate Mulgrew (who had already appeared in Mrs. Columbo and daytime's Ryan's Hope at this point) can be counted on to bring a steely intelligence to whatever she does, but her Rachel is a cliché-ridden, mawkish drag. Although Brosnan does a decent job being contentious/magnetic as Rory, he has a strange lack of chemistry with Mulgrew. For a project like this that depends of the romantic sparks flying, the effect is deadly.
As historic drama, Manions delivers a lukewarm performance - while the Irish-set part of the tale goes in a predictable direction, the series improves quite a bit with part two's move to 1848 Philadelphia. Rory and Rachel eventually find one another and attempt to make their union succeed as Rory works his way up in the gunpowder factory run by Rachel's uncle (Steve Forrest). Despite their religious differences and the protests of Rachel's family, they marry. A disoriented Deidre also journeys to America on a disease-ridden ship, where younger O'Manion sibling Sean goes missing. While Deidre tries to have a long-distance relationship with David (who is stationed in India), she comes under the wing of the Clement's family friend Caleb (David Soul), who teaches her how to write as he gradually falls in love with her. Part three of the series continues the drama by jumping forward in time to shortly after the Civil War, where Rory (who changed his name to the more Americanized Manion) contributed heroic deeds as a Union officer. Politics, intrigue, affairs, and the sudden reappearance of characters (David, a grown-up Sean - played by Nicholas Hammond from part one) favor heavily in these final two parts - it's a veritable Knots Landing with horse-drawn buggies and hoop skirts.
Despite the lackluster drama that dogs Manions, the miniseries does remain mildly watchable throughout. Perhaps that is due to the terrific production design full of historically accurate settings, furniture and costumes (the entire series was filmed in Dublin, Ireland). Although the acting is generally middling TV-level stuff, fans of actress Linda Purl have a treat in store with her raw, honest portrayal of Diedre. While Brosnan became James Bond and Mulgrew piloted a Federation ship, Purl pretty much stuck with steady supporting roles in the years since Manions - where's the justice in that?
Entertainment One's DVD edition of The Manions of America comes in a two-disc set packaged in a single-width keep case. Parts one and two are on disc 1, while part three and the scant extras take up disc 2.
Like all '80s TV productions, Manions was broadcast in 4x3 format. The DVD edition blows up the picture to fill an anamorphically enhanced 16x9 picture. Most viewers probably wouldn't notice the difference, but several scenes contain chopped-off foreheads and legs. The enlargement also magnifies the flaws and dirt in the source print (which looks good on part one, but noticeably speckled and contrast-filled for parts two and three).
The default audio option on the discs is a processed 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack which sounds tinny and full of echoes. The mix was so bad that I ended up watching most of the series with the other option, a decent sounding 2.0 stereo mix. Convenient subtitles are also available.
The only extras are two interviews on the second disc with series creator Agnes Nixon and director Joseph Sargent, each lasting a few minutes. Although the Nixon chat was generally uninformative, Sargent reveals a few tidbits about the risky casting of Pierce Brosnan.
Lushly produced, dramatically inert relic of TV's epic miniseries craze, The Manions of America will be a slog for those who don't already like Pierce Brosnan or Kate Mulgrew. Both are magnetic actors, but their non-chemistry in this continent-spanning 19th century romance make it more of a curiosity than a must-own. Rent It. | <urn:uuid:dd817c6e-2267-4a84-a31c-1659a237fe9d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/print.php?ID=53590 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959898 | 1,459 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Charlton Heston died in 2008, but the Academy Award winner gets a few seconds of screen time in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” this summer’s prequel to the sci-fi franchise Heston launched in 1968. Heston’s moment — a quick shot of his 1965 movie “The Agony and the Ecstasy” playing on a TV screen at a nasty kennel for apes – is just the most obvious of dozens of references to the earlier “Apes” films embedded in “Rise,” a deliberate bid by screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver to acknowledge the great hairy history of the film series.
“We felt from the beginning we need to create a story that could stand on its own and totally separate from the ‘Planet of the Apes’ series, but we wanted to pay honor to the originals,” said Jaffa, whose script is the seventh in the franchise inspired by French author Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel about a planet where hyper-intelligent apes rule over human slaves. “We tried to do that in various ways– in winks and nods—but on a bigger level, we put a great amount of effort into building from the mythology of the earlier movies.”
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” stars James Franco as Will Rodman, a young scientist seeking a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and Andy Serkis as Caesar, the clever chimp borne of that research. Fans of the series will notice dozens of Easter eggs Jaffa and Silver planted in the film with the help of its director, Rupert Wyatt.
For ”Apes” diehards, here’s a guide to many of the references–and for the uninitiated, be warned, we’re willing to spoil any movie that opened before the Carter administration:
1. Will Rodman: Franco’s character’s name, is an amalgamation of the names of the screenwriters for the 1968 film, “Twilight Zone” icon Rod Serling (whose full name was Rodman) and Michael Wilson.
2. Caesar: The name of the lead ape in “Rise,” played by Serkis, was the name of the chimp played by Roddy McDowall who leads the ape revolution in 1972′s “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.”
3. ALZ 112: The breakthrough Alzheimer’s treatment Rodman creates is a timely nod to the past — 112 minutes is the running time for the original film.
4. Icarus: A TV newscast playing in the background references the space mission “Icarus, lead by George Taylor,” and a newspaper shown in the third act reveals the vessel has been lost in space. Icarus was the name of the spaceship that crashes on the “Planet of the Apes” in the original film, and Heston’s character name was George Taylor.
5. Dodge Landon: The cruel ape tender played by Hogwarts alumnus Tom Felton is named after Dodge, who was a crew member aboard the Icarus and played by Jeff Burton.
6. John Landon: Brian Cox plays the dark-spirited owner of a primate house and the father of Felton’s malicious character. Their last name, Landon, is the name of the Icarus crew member played by Robert Gunner in the classic film.
7. Maurice: The name of the orangutan who befriends Caesar in the new film is a nod to actor Maurice Evans, who played the orangutan Dr. Zaius in the vintage films.
8. Saddle up: The scene where Caesar emerges from swirling fog astride a mounted policeman’s horse is a nod to the signature early moment in the first film when Heston is shocked to see an ape wearing clothes and riding on horseback.
9. Buck: The big gorilla’s name is a nod to actor Buck Kartalian, the former pro wrestler who played Julius in the classic.
10. Nova’s Café: The coffee shop in the lobby of the biomedical company Gen-Sys is named after Linda Harrison’s character, Nova, who becomes the mate of Heston’s character and appeared in the first two “Apes” films.
11. The Golden Gate Bridge: The scene evokes the scene in “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” when apes charge across a bridge in the climax of the 1972 film.
12. Rocket: The mean ape who makes peace with Caesar after a cookie moment gets his name from Norman Rockett, a set decorator on the 1968 movie.
13. No means no: Caesar’s powerfully enunciated “No!” is a major moment in the new film and ties back into “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” when Cornelius explains that the ascent and revolt by his species began when an ape first uttered the word “No” to protest the human treatment of his kind.
14. Cornelia:: The name of another ape in the new movie, Cornelia, is a nod to McDowall’s role as Cornelius in the original film.
15. Jacobs: David Oyelowo plays the mercenary bio-med executive Steven Jacobs in the new film. The character’s name (which is written on a board by one of the chimps at one point in the film) is a tribute to Arthur P. Jacobs, who produced the “Apes” films in the 1960s and 1970s. Jacobs, who had heart problems, died at age 51 in 1973 not long after the fourth sequel was released.
16. Hosed: When Dodge blasts Caesar with a water hose, it’s a nod to Heston’s character being hosed in the ’68 film — which in turn was a reference to police attacking civil rights demonstrators in the real world.
17. Bright Eyes: In the original film, it’s the nickname given to Heston’s character by the ape scientist Zira. In the new film, it’s the nickname given to the intellect-accelerated ape who gives birth to Caesar.
18. Statue of Liberty: Before he attacks a neighbor, Caesar is constructing a model of the Statue of Liberty in his suburban San Francisco home. It is, of course, the sight of that statue demolished on a beach that reveals the true setting of the 1968 film is actually far-future Earth.
19. Linda: The lab assistant named Linda in the new film is another nod to Harrison, who played Nova in the vintage movies.
20. Franklin: Taylor Labine plays Robert Franklin, a heartfelt lab worker who is destined to play an ominous role in human history. The character’s name acknowledges Frankin Schaffner, who directed the 1968 “Apes” movie and went on to direct “Patton,” “Papillon” and “The Boys from Brazil.”
21. Had to say it: Felton’s character, Dodge, gets the honor or delivering two of Heston’s most memorable lines from the 1968 film: “It’s a madhouse! A madhouse!” and “Take your stinkin’ paw off me you damn dirty ape!”
RECENT AND RELATED | <urn:uuid:633c180b-bb75-4bf4-b11d-8d67822231a8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-21-nods-to-classic-apes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938993 | 1,589 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Grant: $443,919 - National Institutes of Health - May. 5, 2009
No votes have been cast for this award yet
Award Description: One-half of all depressed patients present for treatment with serious and distressing symptoms of anxiety or panic. Patients whose depression is complicated by co-existing anxiety features display a more severe and recurrent form of depression, poorer work and social function, a greater risk of suicide, and a poorer response to traditional depression treatments. While medication treatment may reduce symptoms among depressed and anxious patients, medication treatment alone is insufficient to produce full symptom remission and functional recovery in this population. Given the severity and poor prognosis displayed by depressed and anxious patients, combined treatments including both medication and personalized psychotherapy (talk therapy) may be required to achieve full and sustained symptom remission. This project will test the feasibility of a model of care designed to improve treatment outcome among depressed patients whose anxiety symptoms place them at risk for non-remission with traditional depression treatment. Our research group has developed a structured yet individualized intervention that can be combined with medication treatment to address depression and a variety of the anxiety symptom profiles that commonly accompany major depressive disorder. Specifically, we have developed an intervention that integrates interpersonal treatment for depression (IPT) and adapted components of cognitive, behavioral, and emotion-focused therapies to treat co-occurring symptoms of panic, anxiety, and avoidance. We call this treatment interpersonal psychotherapy for depression with panic and anxiety symptoms, or IPT-PS. As part of this study, we will recruit 40 depressed and anxious adults to receive a 20-week course of treatment with medication and psychotherapy. All patients will receive medication treatment with citalopram. In addition, patients will be randomly assigned to receive 16 outpatient sessions of psychotherapy with either: (a) IPT-PS, or (b) a standard depression psychotherapy, brief supportive psychotherapy (BSP). We hypothesize that combining medication management with a therapy specifically developed to address patients' unique anxiety symptoms will lead to superior outcomes with respect to reductions in depression and anxiety as well as enhancements in work and social function. The proposed work will also provide infrastructure support to move our research clinic away from pencil-and-paper assessments and toward more cost-effective and environmentally-sustainable computer-based patient-reported assessment systems. We view the integration of computer-based assessments as a promising tool to facilitate personalized depression care. During the first year of the project, we will purchase three tablet computers and will undertake programming and data systems work to convert study assessments from pencil-and-paper to computer-based formats. Then, during year 2, we will conduct surveys of clinic patients regarding the acceptability, ease-of-use and perceived confidentiality of computer-based assessments. Thus, the proposed project will support the infrastructure development needed to incorporate novel computer-adaptive testing (CAT) strategies to minimize patient assessment burden while providing clinicians with the personalized patient information needed to optimize depression treatment selection and delivery.
Project Description: The first quarter of work on this project saw the initiation of both the proposed treatment trial as well as the initial infrastructure development work needed to move our research clinic toward a model of computer-based patient assessment. Within these first three months, we have focused on modifying our IRB protocol to reflect the proposed study design; staff hiring and training needed to support project completion; development of data entry and quality control systems; and development of study recruitment materials. Initial study start-up activities have also involved conducting therapist training modules and initiating weekly therapist supervision meetings to oversee the manualized IPT-PS and BSP psychotherapy interventions. Patient recruitment was initiated in August. As of September 10, we had consented 4 patients to undergo study evaluation, 1 of whom has been enrolled into the trial and has initiated treatment. [Reasons for study exclusion include: uncontrolled medical illness (N=2), and anxiety symptoms did not reach threshold for study entry (N=1).] With respect to developing the computer-based patient assessment infrastructure, we have now purchased two tablet computers, which are in the process of being formatted for patient use. We are also in the process of converting our pencil-and-paper assessments into computerized assessment formats. Of the 20 self-report assessments eligible for conversion, we have now entered and formatted 13 (65%) into computer-based formats. Plans for next quarter include: implementing additional advertisement and recruitment initiatives; continuation of patient recruitment, assessment, and treatment as per the pilot RCT study; completing initial conversion of the remaining self-report assessment materials into computer-based format; conducting computerized form checks and initial (non-patient) testing of computer forms; and developing data systems associated with the computerized assessment forms.
Jobs Summary: Prime Recipient created a Research Project Clinician(pt) and a Research Project Assistant. Prime Recipient retained an Associate Professor, Assistant Professors, Research Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Social Worker II, Project Coordinator, Research Systems Specialist II, Clinical Research Manager, Senior Clinician, Computer Programmer, Computer Consultant, and Clinic Coordinator. (Total jobs reported: 3)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on May. 5, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below. | <urn:uuid:1fc5654b-23e1-4141-a199-d2acfcceba6b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://stimuluswatch.org/2.0/awards/view/46670/personalizing-first-line-treatment-for-depression-complicated-by-panic-features | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930443 | 1,071 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Windows API Tutorial - Part One
Hello and welcome to this groovy Windows API tutorial, hosted exclusively here on VB-World.net.
In this two part series, I'll be giving you enough ammo to start using and exploring that thing they call the Windows API. Yessiree, by this time next week you too could be an API guru!
I personally remember my first encounter with the Windows API. I was in a programming class and asked lecturer Mark Jones his thoughts on the curious acronym.
"The API?", laughed that huge mound of blubber. "Hah, you don't want to use that. There are already enough ways to crash your program without using the API!".
As his huge belly wobbled off a final chuckle, the first impressions of Windows API started to slowly set in my mind. Even though I wasn't entirely sure exactly what it was, I knew it was bad. It was evil. It held more crash potential than the F1 Grand Prix track on a snowy day.
A couple of years later, I stumbled across a problem that one book suggested I overcome using the Windows API. So I did. And it worked.
At last, my lifelong fear had vanished. And by the end of today, I hope you too will feel a lot more comfortable with this technology. In fact, I guarantee it*.
* The VB-World network cannot be held responsible for Karl's flatulent use of the word 'guarantee'. After all, readers of the last tutorial were never sent the promised three-year old Mars Bar. Please... please don't sue us. It's not our fault. Blame Karl. We're good people, really.
But enough blabber -- let's ask ourselves a fairly elementary question. What exactly is this API thing?
Note: This tutorial is designed for those using Visual Basic 5/6. The calls represented herein may not work with other versions | <urn:uuid:a2cb46b2-3779-46f1-a0d0-b1ccc846af1d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.developer.com/net/vb/article.php/1539721/Windows-API-Tutorial---Part-One.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958486 | 398 | 1.6875 | 2 |
What qualifies as a potential case for a dog bite?
Although many dogs are beloved pets, some dogs bite viciously or attack others without cause. This makes them potentially dangerous, and their owners are not properly and responsibly handling them.
Who is responsible?
The pet owner may be responsible for an injury that is caused by his dog, particularly when the dog bites without having been provoked. The owner may be responsible if he knew that the dog was likely to bite or was aware of the dog’s aggressive tendencies. The pet owner may also be responsible if his carelessness in handling the dog resulted in the injury.
Pet owners are not responsible for injuries that result from a dog biting a trespasser.
What should I do if I have been bitten by a dog?
Most importantly, you should seek immediate medical attention for your injury and then report the incident to the animal control agency in your area. Get copies of your medical records and the animal control agency report. It is helpful to take pictures of your injuries and to keep all receipts from medical bills and prescribed medications.
Free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.
Put my 30 years of experience in personal injury law to work for you! I’m on your side - ready to listen, guide you through the legal process, and demand justice for you. I will fight for what you deserve. Contact me now. | <urn:uuid:ce5ec87b-c81e-42c5-bc59-93d22a3d200f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.floridainjuryaccidentlawyer.com/ap-dog-bites.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965683 | 284 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Looks like Florida's program to drug test welfare recipients will save the state $40thousand to $98thousand a year, not including cost of administering the program, at a cost of only $178million. tbo.com
This has nothing to do with Florida governor Rick Scott's shadow-ownership of the major drug testing company in Florida.
Republicans are against government intrusion into people's private lives. This is not an intrusion into anyone's private life, either.
I think it's pretty blatantly classist to employ drug testing in such a selective manner. This type of law assumes that the only people that receive government money are the poor when, in fact, there is a large amount of money going out the door in oil subsidies, farm subsidies, business "incentives", tax breaks to the ultra wealthy to "create jobs", etc.
Let's not forget that there is also non-cash governmental funding in the form of free schooling for our children, free police protection, the court system (which the wealthy and corporations benefit more greatly from), fire protection, military protection, etc.
If we are going to really drug test people who receive "hand-outs" from the government, shouldn't we be testing pretty much every US citizen rather than just the poorest ones? The problem is that some people assume that poor = drugs. Coincidentally, I would think you'd find a fairly large number of drug abusers among the wealthy (i.e. musicians, actors, executives). We all pretty much know that Bill Maher smokes pot, but he recieves a substantial tax break because of how much money he makes. Documents coming out of Enron showed an environment of drug use among upper management as part of the "fast" lifestyle. I could go on...
In general, while I am willing to pay taxes to fund a welfare safety net, I am much less willing to pay for a welfare feather bed. The worry of large scale drugs testing is always Quis custodiet ipsos custodes : it adds another layer of bureaucracy.
Your first paragraph touches on an excellent point. As you pointed out, subsidies to various sectors are considered welfare. So yes, in turn, there should be a way to make this applicable to the corporations and sectors that receive government funding. However, a lot of those sectors are established, usually providing significant monetary returns. And I think that's the significant difference between private sectors and private, impoverished individuals.
Furthermore, you'd have to provide a significant amount of statistics to show drug use within sectors. On the contrary, drug use statistics are based on the class systems and illicit drug use is statistically higher in the poor, so it only makes sense to issue drug tests, especially if we all want to see returns and an elevation of the poor to a higher income bracket.
This is a really clever allegory - I like it!
Oh, so do you get drug tested? I would hope so since you get some sort of "handout" from the government, whether it be tax credits, subsidized student loan interest, etc. I'm sure we can find something that you receive from our tax dollars that you should be tested for. | <urn:uuid:b6c68cb0-d04b-46d4-9980-b6c525b29abe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/drug-testing-welfare-recipients?x=1&id=2182797%3ATopic%3A1596341&page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965393 | 647 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Daily Links, May 30: A bishop, an atheist, and a woman religious all walk into a bar...
Atheists and religious adherents both do good but have different motivations, a study from the University of California at Berkley finds. “Across three studies, we found compassion played a much bigger role in the way that less religious people treated others. Religious people, in contrast, tended to behave as generously as they would regardless of how compassionately they felt,” said Robb Willer, an assistant professor of sociology at Berkeley and a co-author of the studies.
The bishops intend to include this letter in church bulletins this Sunday. It includes references to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” as well as comparisons between their fight against HHS and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s as both were about awakening consciences. But, as Eduardo Peñalver at dotCommonweal points out, “[I]t’s hard to visualize people refusing to obey a mandate to issue insurance covering contraception. It certainly doesn’t have the visceral (and visual) punch of students being physically attacked or dragged off by police for refusing to leave a segregated lunch-counter...” Likewise, Peñalver adds that the bishops “share very little with 1963 Birmingham black community in terms of their political influence…”
As editors, we’re likely to geek out over the discussion of grammar rules. Hopefully, because I just used the word “hopefully” as a sentence adverb, you will not think I’m wrong. The Associated Press is now including it in their style manual, after all. (Though, you might disagree if you find AP Style inferior to Chicago.)
The national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious began a four-day meeting yesterday to discuss the findings and the report by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith on their organization. According to the LCWR website , “The conference plans to move slowly, not rushing to judgment. We will engage in dialogue where possible and be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. We ask your prayer for us and for the Church in this critical time.”
Catholics around the country are joining rallies and prayer groups in support of the sisters. | <urn:uuid:891ccfcd-ee38-4ca1-ac38-8f9aad761650> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uscatholic.org/print/25849 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969962 | 486 | 1.507813 | 2 |
In Cub Scouting you’ll have lots of fun, adventure, and activities with your den and pack! Cub Scout leaders work with boys and their families to improve their communities by enriching the lives of the families who live there. Cub Scout leaders take an active part in helping to strengthen families and their boys by providing a fun-filled, worthwhile program that teaches values.
Cub Scout Den Leader
As the Den Leader, you are responsible for carrying out the pack program in the den.
Everything the Cubmaster does is aimed at helping the individual boy. | <urn:uuid:abc4ff5d-89fd-4515-af7b-56c8d046cc15> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://svmbc.org/svmbc/resources/cub-scouts/ | 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 | 0.951181 | 113 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Judge in Colorado shooting must decide fair trial versus transparency
(Reuters) - The proceedings against accused Colorado shooter James Holmes will run into a tough question this week, one faced in many high-profile criminal cases: How do you balance the defendant's right to a fair trial with the public's right to know?
Holmes is accused of killing 12 people and wounding 58 others at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" movie in a Denver suburb last month in one of the worst outbursts of U.S. gun violence in recent years. He is charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder and 116 counts of attempted murder.
In most court cases, documents are available to the public, but Judge William Sylvester sealed the Holmes case on July 20 at the request of prosecutors. Major media organizations have asked the judge to unseal the documents, citing the public's right of access.
Sylvester has set a hearing for Thursday to decide whether to do so. He has asked prosecutors to respond to the motion by Monday and Holmes's lawyers by Thursday, according to an attorney for the media companies.
Among the documents the media want to see are affidavits that law enforcement officers would have filed before arresting Holmes, which would show why the officers thought that Holmes was the shooter.
The media companies also want to see the prosecutors' motion to seal the case, other motions that have been referenced in court, plus two defense motions "that we don't know what they are about at all," a lawyer for the media companies, Steven Zansberg of Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, said in an email.
It is unclear whether prosecutors or Holmes' attorney will oppose the media's request.
In similar cases, the government often raises concerns that making certain documents public would jeopardize an ongoing investigation. Defendants, meanwhile, often raise privacy concerns and the fear that pretrial publicity would jeopardize their right to a fair trial. Judges may also lean toward sealing such cases out of respect for victims and their families.
A representative of Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers said her office is not commenting on the case. Douglas Wilson, a court-appointed attorney for Holmes, did not return a call seeking comment.
PUBLIC'S RIGHT OF ACCESS
In their motion, the media companies argued that Sylvester's order "violates the public's constitutional right of access to the records of criminal prosecutions, and undermines our nation's firm commitment to the transparency and public accountability of the criminal justice system."
The outlets that filed the motion include The Associated Press, ABC Inc, Bloomberg LP, The Denver Post, and The New York Times Co. Thomson Reuters was not part of the motion.
The media companies cited a Colorado Supreme Court case that adopted American Bar Association standards governing public access to criminal court records.
Under those standards, the media companies argued, public access can only be denied when there is a "clear and present danger to the administration of justice, or to some equally compelling governmental interest, and no alternative exists to adequately protect that interest."
It is up to Sylvester to weigh the competing interests. But law and precedent require that judges start with the presumption that all court records should be open to the public, according to experts.
"You don't have a presumption of sealing," said Jonathan Sherman, an attorney at the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner who has worked for media companies. "You have a presumption of openness."
In addition to sealing court records, Sylvester also sealed the court docket, which lists what documents have been filed in connection to the case. "We don't know how many other documents are in the court file because there is no public docket," said Zansberg, the attorney for the media companies.
Legal experts said the move is highly unusual.
"You can't even see the progress of the case and make an assessment of what should be unsealed," said Thomas Julin, an attorney at the law firm Hunton & Williams who has represented media companies in disputes over access to court records.
The media has recently been successful in getting some documents unsealed in the case of Jared Loughner, who was charged last year in a deadly shooting spree that gravely wounded Representative Gabrielle Giffords.
As the Holmes case gets further under way, there may be other parties who express concerns over what is sealed. Julin of Hunton & Williams said attorneys representing victims of the families may insist that certain photographs from the crime scene not be released.
The issue was raised in the death penalty phase of Danny Rolling, who admitted to killing five students in Gainesville, Florida, in 1990. In that case, Julin represented Florida media outlets that opposed a motion by prosecutors to keep pictures and videos from the murder scene under seal. The government request was supported by the parents and siblings of the murder victims, who said their privacy would be violated by the disclosure of the photographs.
A compromise was reached that allowed reporters and the public to review the material in the presence a court clerk but prohibited them from reproducing the material.
"Some, including the trial judge, thought that having the right to see the photographs was cathartic for the community," Julin said.
(Reporting by Andrew Longstreth; Editing by Eddie Evans and Cynthia Johnston; Desking by Cynthia Osterman)
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- Digg this | <urn:uuid:bd0f2598-ab86-404e-823b-d190f1ccf4a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/05/us-usa-shooting-denver-rights-idUSBRE8740FF20120805 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96328 | 1,113 | 1.539063 | 2 |
1974...It was year of the Watergate scandal, The Sting was a box-office hit, and aspiring artists and entrepreneurs George Chandler and Reed Hampton fired up their first blacksmithing forge in a drafty old Vermont barn. With anvils, swage blocks, trip hammers and other tools from a bygone era, the two set out to revive the nearly forgotten craft of hand-forging raw metal into functional art. Their innovative designs became recognized for their simplicity and integrity. From these humble beginnings, one of the most respected brands in the industry was born. Today, Hubbardton Forge is the oldest and largest commercial forge in the country with a team of over 200 people creating hand-forged lighting of timeless beauty and artistry…an American wrought-iron renaissance. | <urn:uuid:c3490450-6ed4-4e9d-abde-664634d1c895> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lbclighting.com/hubbardton-forge?dir=desc&global_finish=6934&order=sales_rank&special_price=600-700 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937943 | 157 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Q&A with STELLA
What does sustainable fashion mean to you?
I design clothes that are meant to last. I believe in creating pieces that aren’t going to get burned, that aren’t going to landfills, that aren’t going to damage the environment. For every piece in every collection I am always asking what have we done to make this garment more sustainable and what else can we do. It is a constant effort to improve.Our philosophy is that it is better to do something than nothing. For me, it’s about the basic principles: Sustainability is important, as is recycling. Everyone can do simple things to make a difference, and every little bit really does count.It’s really the job of fashion designers now to turn things on their head in a different way, and not just try to turn a dress on its head every season. Try and ask questions about how you make that dress, where you make that dress, what materials you’re using. I think that’s far more interesting, actually. I think that the way to create sustainable fashion is to keep asking these questions while making sure to make desirable, luxurious, beautiful clothing and accessories that women want to buy.
It is well known that you don’t use any fur or leather in your products. Why did you decide to create your collections this way?
I was brought up as a vegetarian on an organic farm in the countryside way, so it kind of came very naturally to me. However, the decision not to use leather or fur is not just because I don’t eat animals or that I think that millions of animals each year shouldn’t be killed for the sake of fashion. It’s because I also believe in the connection between fur and leather and the environment. There’s a huge connection.
Many people claim that leather is okay to use because it is a by-product of the meat industry, however, livestock production is one of the major causes of the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Tanneries are listed as top polluters on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Superfund” list, a list that identifies the most critical industrial sites in need of environmental cleanup.
Ethical fashion covers a range of issues such as working conditions, child labor, fair trade and sustainable production. Do you address all these issues?
First of all, we are not perfect. We have always been committed to ethical production and we recently joined the Ethical Trading Initiative. We are also working with the Natural Resources Defense Council on its Clean by Design program. We are the first luxury brand to team up with them and we are working with them to improve the environmental impact of our textile mills. By working with organizations like these and by working directly with the people making our products, we are trying to improve our overall sustainability as a brand.
What are some of the obstacles to creating more sustainable products?
We don’t make our own fabrics, so we have to use what’s available on the market. Colors can be very limited in organic ranges – often there’s not the same richness of texture. We are always looking for more sustainable material options, but we often find that the market hasn’t caught up with the demand. It would be amazing if we were able to create luxury fashion out of 100% sustainable materials, and although that isn’t really possible today, I hope that suppliers will continue to move towards more sustainable options. New techniques and supplies are discovered each season, but they have to be tested before we can use them. I am always on the lookout for naturally sourced yarns, and the cotton we use changes almost every season. We try to use organic fabrics and low-impact dyes, but we won’t do so unless we can achieve a high-quality product.
Many people still think of eco/sustainable fashion as baggy clothes made of hemp – what are you doing to change that perception?
I don’t think that ‘eco’ should be a word that immediately conjures up images of oatmeal-colored garments or garments that are oversized or lacking in any sort of luxury or beauty or detailing or desirability. I don’t think that things have to look ugly because they’re organic; why can’t they be beautiful as well? You can’t ask a consumer to compromise. I don’t think you can say “Here is this jacket that looks terrible but its organic, and here is a really beautiful jacket that’s cheaper but don’t buy it because it’s not organic.”
My job is to create beautiful luxurious things. I love that people come into the store and don’t even know that something is organic or in faux leather. That’s the biggest challenge, having people not notice. We do great knitwear, which is where organic is most successful—you can get very delicate natural dyes. So many friends turn up in my knitwear and say how much they love it, and when I say it’s organic it’s a little added bonus to them, rather than a choice. I prefer it that way.
In working with the NRDC what have you found to be most alarming about how textile mills produce fabric?
Although we are still in early days of the project, so far we have found that the mills in Italy are significantly better about monitoring their impact on the environment than the mills that NRDC previously worked with in China. However, there is always room for improvement. The dyeing process can be a very inefficient use of resources and can be incredibly damaging to environment. In some of the extreme cases in China mills were turning entire rivers red with clothing dye. Water is an increasingly vital resource, so to think that an entire water source could be ruined because of fashion is just awful.
Do you think that ethics and sustainability are just a trend for the fashion industry?
Anything—this subject or in general—is in danger of becoming a trend or a one-off. The important thing is that everyone keeps an interest in it, and there is a vested interest because we live on this planet and we need to look after it, as without it, we have nothing. So it’s just not the fashion industry, it’s every single industry.
It seems to me that fashion is the last industry on the planet to address ethics. That’s something I hate about my industry. Sometimes you get the idea that all these designers are up on their high horses looking down on mere mortals, saying, “Fuck it, it’s fur, it’s beautiful darling!” Those people are out of touch. The high street is actually much more in tune because they are trying to get fair trade and organic products. At least they’re trying to cater to a need in the market.
What little things do you do in your everyday life to improve the environment?
I’m not perfect, I travel on airplanes, I drive a car but I recycle and the electricity in the house comes from wind power. However, to be a true environmentalist you would have to live off the grid. I‘m aware and I ask questions. I shop in health food stores. I live in a nice house and I have electricity, but I turn the light off when I leave the room. I am definitely not perfect and I don’t think I’m perfect in my job. If I were, I would have 20 things in 20 shops in England and I wouldn’t sell them abroad to keep it local and I would live on my farm. When we can make things better, we do it. We do things on an achievable level in order to make it happen. If we were too extreme it would get in the way of my job.
Your fragrances are made by L’Oreal – how are you able to work with a company that is known to test on animals?
None of our products are ever tested on animals. We have been very clear on this issue even though it means that we are losing money by not entering the Chinese market with our perfumes. Every large fragrance/cosmetic company states that they only test on animals when it is required by law—however we have stated that that isn’t good enough for us, and we are willing to wait until the law catches up science. There are plenty of in vitro tests available now that can replace outdated and cruel animal tests.
You are often questioned about how you can claim to be animal friendly company while still using silk and wool in your collection. How do you address these questions?
The issues with using silk and wool are something that I struggle with. We have asked all of our wool suppliers to make sure that none of the wool that we use comes from sheep that have undergone inhumane mulesing practices. Mulesing when done without anesthesia is a brutal practice of cutting off skin and flesh from the hindquarters of sheep. However, when done correctly, with anesthesia and careful wound treatment, it can save the animals lives by preventing a gruesome death caused by infection and toxic shock. We work closely with our suppliers to assure that all of our wool comes from farms that care for their animals in a kind and honest way.
When it comes to silk there are unfortunately fewer options. We use peace silk when possible, however we have had problems with quality and quantity. We are always looking for new suppliers and would love to someday be able to use 100% cruelty free silk—but it really just isn’t possible at this time, but we try. | <urn:uuid:f9b10523-0309-4ab8-8627-61ba907d8827> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stellamccartney.com/experience/us/stellas-world/sustainability/stella-interview/ | 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 | 0.971478 | 2,030 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Rumors about Hillary Clinton’s next job abound. Will she challenge President Obama in the primary? Or swap with Joe Biden for the vice presidency? Now that she’s reaffirmed her intention to retire if Obama wins a second term, expect the speculation to redouble.
So what are Clinton’s options? First off, she isn’t going to challenge Obama in a primary race. Clinton and her advisers have repeatedly and unequivocally shot down such speculation. Responding to Dick Cheney’s possibly goading recommendation that she run against Obama, Clinton said there is a “below zero chance.”
The Biden-Clinton switch, a gambit most recently put forward by The New York Times’s Bill Keller, has more going for it. Clinton is a more exciting campaigner than Biden, it would set her up for a 2016 run, and Biden has always wanted to be secretary of state. Nevertheless, Clinton has given it the same response treatment as the primary challenge, saying she has “absolutely no interest and no reason to do anything other than dismissing these stories and moving on.”
Clinton’s repeated denials aren’t the only thing going against a bid for the presidency. There’s also the weight of recent history. Going from secretary of state to the presidency is more of a 19th-century career path, says Edward Burkowitz, a history professor at George Washington University. Recent secretaries tend to retire, like Colin Powell, occasionally supplementing their pensions by giving speeches.
Secretaries who came from academia, like Condoleeza Rice, Madeleine Albright, Henry Kissinger, or George Shultz, usually go back. Similarly, secretaries who came from legal careers often return, like John Foster Dulles. James Baker also followed this course, while aiding and advising his party in times of need—Bush v. Gore, for example.
Like former presidents, former secretaries of state can serve as their party’s eminence grise. Baker is one example. Dean Acheson, secretary under Harry Truman, is another. Kennedy called him out of retirement to act as a liaison with Charles de Gaulle during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Obama administration has asked Powell for advice and used Albright as a representative at summits. “That’s a tradition and that’s certainly a possibility for Hillary,” says Burkowitz. “She could be called to Haiti if there’s a disaster or sent to state funerals.”
But Burkowitz says that if anyone can buck the historical trend, it’s Clinton. She was the first first lady to run for office, and the first to hold a cabinet position, and the first female senator to represent New York. Add to this the last four years of foreign policy experience, and she has a uniquely strong resume for a presidential run. There’s the added bonus that unlike, say, Timothy Geithner, she’s presided over one of the more successful and popular aspects of Obama’s presidency. She could claim credit for Osama bin Laden and Libya while washing her hands of the bailouts and lethargic recovery. “If she still desires to be president in four years, she’ll have a wonderful portfolio,” says Burkowitz.
Of the possible post-secretary jobs for Clinton bandied about recently, by far the most credible is president of the World Bank.
Clinton did seem to leave the door open to an eventual return to politics, though she’s said on other occasions that she has no interest in reliving 2008. After telling an audience of State Department employees Thursday that “It would be a—probably a good idea to just find out how tired I am,” she conceded that “Everyone always says that when they leave these jobs.”
Even if she decides to run in 2016, she’ll still have four years to kill. She has indicated she might spend them working toward women’s and children’s rights, possibly starting a foundation. During a speech in Bahrain two years ago, she said, “I think I’ll serve as secretary of state as my last public position and then probably go back to advocacy work, particularly on behalf of women and children.” Advocacy work would be a return to the beginnings of her legal career, when she served as a staff attorney for the Children’s Defense Fund in Massachusetts, but now she’d have the clout that comes with decades spent at the top of the political world.
But in another scenario, Clinton wouldn’t have to wait nearly as long before taking on an executive position. Of the possible post-secretary jobs bandied about recently, by far the most credible is president of the World Bank.
Rumors of Clinton’s going to the bank first circulated this summer, when Christine Lagarde took over the International Monetary Fund from the disgraced Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Traditionally, a European and an American have headed the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, so if France gets the IMF, the U.S. is under pressure to put forward a candidate powerful enough to quiet objections from Brazil, India, and other countries that want a shot. Clinton, with her experience in the White House, Congress, and the cabinet, would be a strong contender, and her longstanding interest in development work would make it an attractive position. | <urn:uuid:daba01f6-8b30-4b0e-8a57-db29cedf64d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/28/what-will-hillary-clinton-do-after-leaving-the-state-department.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965733 | 1,126 | 1.578125 | 2 |
By ELAINE KURTENBACH and PAUL WISEMAN
AP Business Writers
TOKYO (AP) - Japan is taking aggressive action to lift consumer prices, encourage borrowing and help pull the world's third-largest economy out of a long slump.
Like the U.S. Federal Reserve, Japan's central bank plans to flood its financial system with more money _ its most far-reaching step to date to get consumers and companies to borrow and spend.
The Bank of Japan's action will also drive down the value of the yen. A cheaper currency will make Japanese goods _ from Toyota cars to Sony TVs _ less costly for Americans and other foreigners. And it will make U.S. and other exports more expensive in Japan.
The move comes as major central banks around the world are acting to stimulate their economies. On Thursday, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the ECB is considering doing more to shore up the ailing economy of the euro alliance. The ECB left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.75 percent, but Draghi said an interest rate cut was discussed Thursday.
Draghi also said the central bank is considering "various tools" beyond lower rates in case Europe's economy needs more help.
And the U.S. Fed has said it expects to keep short-term rates at record lows at least until unemployment falls to 6.5 percent from the current 7.7 percent. The Fed also plans to continue buying $85 billion a month in bonds indefinitely to keep long-term borrowing costs down.
"The central banks are being more activist than we've seen in decades," said Timothy Duy, an economist at the University of Oregon. "One central bank after another has to do more because economies aren't improving as fast as would have been expected."
Dan Akerson, CEO of General Motors Co., told CNBC that he feared the Bank of Japan's policies would give Japanese automakers a price advantage over GM in the United States.
"They're an export economy," Akerson said. "You have to be suspicious of what they're doing and why."
But many economists say the rest of the world will benefit, too: A faster-growing Japan will buy more products and services from the United States, China and Europe, helping boost their economies.
"We could see some faster and sustainable growth now in Japan," said Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at the Economic Outlook Group. "That will obviously help the global economy."
Japan's economy has been sputtering for two decades. Last year, weak consumer spending kept prices flat. The Bank of Japan hopes to increase inflation to 2 percent within about two years. Economists say Japanese consumers will start spending if they know prices are going rise.
Eswar Prasad, an economist at Cornell University, cautioned that Japan needs more than easy-money policies to repair its economy. It needs to reduce its debts and reform policies that protect weak firms from competition and undercut the country's productivity.
"Japan would no longer be a drag on the global economic recovery if it had stronger domestic demand and positive inflation," Prasad said. "However, it is far from clear that the Bank of Japan's actions will be able to deliver these positive outcomes in the absence of broader structural reforms that are essential to revive Japan's productivity and competitiveness. `'
Critics also say that without wage increases to match the price hikes, many consumers may be even less willing to spend.
"The new BOJ's willingness to experiment should be welcomed," said Uri Dadush, director of the economics program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "But they are also inevitably wading into unknown waters. There is no certainty that the new approach will work."
Baumohl added that BOJ's move could backfire if other countries deliberately push down the value of their currencies to regain a price edge for their exports.
"It does increase the risk of other countries taking similar moves in what they perceive as a currency war," he said.
In its announcement, the Bank of Japan said it plans to buy more than $530 billion a year in government bonds. BOJ governor Haruhiko Kuroda described the scale of monetary stimulus as "large beyond reason," but said the inflation target would remain out of reach if the central bank stuck to incremental steps.
"We'll adjust without hesitation if need be, while monitoring economic and price conditions," he said.
The Bank of Japan said it intends to "drastically change the expectations of markets and economic entities."
Since taking power late last year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration has pursued an aggressive stimulus program of government spending, monetary easing and planned reforms aimed at improving Japan's competitiveness.
Fans have hooked up RG3 and his fiancee for their wedding.
Scenes from last night's show and spectacle in Las Vegas.(Photos)
An 18-year-old creates a tiny device that charges a phone quickly. (Video)
What famous actor should be cast to play this guy? | <urn:uuid:693e3fc0-daf7-4486-8af6-ff829101c6f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wtop.com/628/1485608/Survey-finds-Japan-business-confidence-improves | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962186 | 1,031 | 1.75 | 2 |
Oznur Kirmemis, Aysenur Birturk
Personalization has become a powerful approach for constructing more precise and easy to use information search and recommendation systems. The quality of the personalization is heavily dependent on the accuracy of the user models created by the system and it is very important to incorporate content information of the working domain in order to enrich these models. This paper proposes a content based movie recommendation algorithm to make recommendations for the target user through building content based user models from collaborative-based user models and characteristics of the movie domain. Constructed user models are fine-tuned through highly liked, highly not liked, and don't care flags. The user models are presented to the users in terms of the most important features and dimensions in their profile. This makes explicit the users' implicit and unknown preferences of the movie domain. The system is evaluated and the results are presented using decision-support metrics.
Subjects: 1.7 Expert Systems; 6. Computer-Human Interaction
Submitted: May 8, 2008 | <urn:uuid:653ada68-bf09-4dbf-af20-bfab0adcf06f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aaai.org/Library/Workshops/2008/ws08-06-009.php | 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 | 0.936777 | 211 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson has been confirmed to a special new position in the United Nations.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed her as the Special Envoy to the troubled Great Lakes region of Africa.
Security Council members had until this afternoon to object to her appointment, but all members supported her candidacy.
Mrs Robinson will be charged with implementing a UN supported agreement to end the vicious cycles of violence in the central African region.
In a statement, Mrs Robinson said she is honoured that the UN Secretary General had entrusted her with this important responsibility.
Hundreds of thousands of people have died in the region with allegations that powerful countries in central Africa and those with significant economic interests have been stoking conflict in neighbouring countries.
It is understood that she and her team will be based in Dublin and Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, for the duration of the appointment.
Mrs Robinson is expected to visit the region in the coming weeks.
She will also continue as president of the Mary Robinson Foundation, Climate Justice.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore welcomed Mrs Robinson’s appointment.
He said her exceptional skills and experience as well as her global profile and reputation make her the ideal choice for the role.
"Ireland has had a long and significant involvement in efforts to promote peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country which has for far too long endured conflict and tragedy," Mr Gilmore said.
"Ireland strongly supports the leadership offered by the United Nations, and in particular the personal diplomatic engagement of the Secretary-General, in this renewed effort to break the cycle of violence in eastern DRC."
Justin Kilcullen, Executive Director of Trócaire, said Mrs Robinson was a champion for social justice and advocate for the rights of others.
"She has vast experience and leadership skills and the announcement that she is now to become UN Special Envoy to the region will give great hope that at last a solution will be found to the conflict in this complex part of the world which for so long has endured immense suffering," he said. | <urn:uuid:840c8ece-997b-4617-a170-e88ef465ab92> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0318/377231-mary-robinson-un-africa/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97132 | 432 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Shares of power producer Calpine have gone into mild brown-out since May, when investors started to get nervous about energy names if U.S. economic growth sputtered. The stock dropped from a 52-week high of $19.02 to around $17.50, pressured as well by big sales from SPO Advisory, a San Francisco-based private-equity firm that was lightening a position acquired as part of the company's bankruptcy reorganization in 2008.
The flicker in Calpine's (ticker: CPN) price presents investors with an excellent opportunity to bet on America's shift to natural gas. The company, with a market value of $8.4 billion, is the country's largest independent producer of gas-powered electricity and runs, by industry standards, some of the newest and most efficient generating plants just as demand has begun to grow. It also makes its home in Texas, where demand for power is expanding at twice the national average.
Calpine's turbines are spinning so fast because natural gas is so cheap. It is currently selling around a 10-year low of about $3 per million British thermal units, down from $13 in 2008. And the U.S. is sitting on a 100-year supply due in large part to technical advances in drilling and discovery–including controversial hydrofracking–that have vastly increased reserves. Gas also produces electricity more cleanly than its longtime rival, coal, which comes from plants that are an average of 40 years old, to natural gas' 10 years. Coal faces substantial new regulatory costs from two Environmental Protection Agency rules that are being phased in and could force some plants to close.
The "low natural-gas price environment is driving opportunities for Calpine that have not existed in the history of the company," says Jack Fusco, the company's president. As he recently told Barron's: "The discovery of these huge deposits of shale gas has been a game changer. All of the secular shifts point in our favor. Gas is becoming the primary feedstock of the electric industry."
Some of his enthusiasm is reflected in the stock, which has gained 7.6% in the past year. Still, the recent dip, coupled with tangible signs of progress at the restructured company, give the shares more room to run. The primary driving force, however, will be "the remarkable rate of switching that's already going on from coal to gas," says Charles Lemonides, founder of ValueWorks, a New York boutique with $175 million under management. "If the expected does materialize you can expect a 50% return. If it doesn't transpire you'll probably break even," says the Calpine shareholder.
One of the company's current advantages is unused capacity that came about as a result of some poor past decisions. Under founder and former CEO Peter Cartwright, Calpine, originally based in California, put down a huge bet back in the 1990s that natural gas would eclipse coal. By 2004 it had taken on $18 billion in debt, building and buying more than 100 plants. Cartwright's wager didn't pay off as a number of environmental restrictions on coal were rolled back in the early 2000s. In 2005, Calpine entered bankruptcy proceedings and by 2008 had reorganized with the aid of investors like SPO, which retains a $1 billion stake.
It's still struggling to grow. Even with the surge in demand for natural-gas-generated electricity, revenue growth has been sluggish owing to unseasonably warm weather that has depressed overall power consumption. In its first-quarter results, revenue came in at $1.2 billion, down 17.5% from a year ago, and it reported a loss.
DESPITE THESE REAL shortcomings, Cartwright's unused capacity is now an asset. In the first quarter, Calpine increased usage from 37% of capacity to 55%. Stephen Byrd, an analyst at Morgan Stanley who has a $27 price target for the stock, says the rising value of these gas plants will become evident once utilities start to buy capacity to replace outmoded coal plants.
The shift toward natural gas and away from coal has reached a key stage. The Energy Information Administration reported earlier this month that for the first time gas had tied coal in its share of American electricity production. Each was responsible for 32% in April. Only five years ago coal contributed 48% of the nation's April production, while gas kicked in just 20%.
Coal must contend with many new obstacles. The EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, adopted in 2011, limits electrical-plant emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which means coal-based plants must either shut down, install new control equipment, curtail generation, or use emission credits. Compliance will be phased in during 2012 and 2014, pending court decisions. Another EPA mandate–whose effective date President Obama delayed to 2017–will reduce permitted mercury and air-toxin emissions for coal- and oil-fired plants.
In place of coal, Calpine offers a national portfolio of gas-fired turbines that can generate about 28,000 megawatts, enough energy for more than 21 million American homes. Its output is broadly distributed: the North gets 28%, the Southeast, 22%, the West, 24%, and Texas, 26%.
Natural-gas' contribution to U.S. electricity production recently hit parity with coal.
The company's Texas base is particularly important. The Lone Star State is the country's biggest electricity consumer and faces a power shortage that is forcing an overhaul of its quasi-regulated system. Utility commissioners have already approved raising the state's peak wholesale power price cap by 50% to $4,500 per megawatt hour, a measure of electrical generation. That is set to double to $9,000 no earlier than 2014.
These higher peak prices are vital because they are likely to prompt more construction of plants and more interest in Calpine's output. A number of studies show that Texas needs new plants just to keep pace with the growth in power demand over the next decade.
Surging demand is helping extricate Calpine from its messy past. In the first quarter, it had record-breaking production of 29 million megawatt hours. Despite the decline in first-quarter revenue, Calpine's operating-profit margins rose to 15.8% from 1.2% and its loss narrowed to $9 million, or two cents a share, compared with a shortfall of $297 million, or 61 cents a share, a year earlier. Management was able to raise its 2012 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization guidance to $1.74 billion from $1.66 billion. It also doubled its share buyback program to $600 million. Although debt levels remain high at 70% of capital, the company says they're manageable with no significant near-term maturities.
Fusco says that for the "last four years we have been getting our own house in order increasing efficiency and effectiveness. We've done all the basic blocking and tackling. We have our sales teams out there. Now we just have to execute."
On the face of it, Calpine shares don't look like a bargain, trading at about 25 times 2013 earnings estimates of 71 cents a share. But it will make its first full-year profit in two years in 2012; analysts expect earnings to hit 33 cents a share this year and to more than double in 2013. The company's estimated 2012 free cash flow of about $1.23 a share provides a cash-flow yield of 7%, which should reward patient shareholders. Morgan Stanley analyst Byrd predicts that Calpine's free-cash-flow yield could climb to 25% by 2016, compared with an average of 10% for two of its competitors. That's because it's not paying a dividend and share repurchases will take stock out of the market.
Fusco concedes that Calpine needs natural-gas prices to remain in the range of $3-$5 per million BTUs for the foreseeable future for natural-gas to establish a dominant position in producing electricity. Given the supply, that seems like a reasonable bet. And if it is, Peter Cartwright could turn out to be a visionary who was right, but about a decade–and one bankruptcy filing–too early. | <urn:uuid:4c584f95-45fc-4e8a-8cdd-3c892fa0b4de> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111904346504577531031771902166.html?mod=WSJ_qtoverview_wsjlatest | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962456 | 1,699 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Written with Permission
By Kendra Fletcher
You may have heard this before, but I think we all need to be reminded: Putting a routine into place will be the single most helpful weapon in your arsenal to assure homeschooling success. At the very least, having a routine (or a schedule or a battle plan or a flow chart) will bring a measure of peace to your home simply because you won’t have to fly by the seat of your pants and think through decisions all day long.
Those decisions are exhausting, and often they are the deal breakers for me—questions like these: What’s for breakfast/lunch/dinner? Where do you want me to put this finished worksheet? When can we go to the craft store to buy more paint? How many pages do I have to read? Can I give the dog a bath in your bathroom? Times about 500 hundred. Seriously.
One evening my husband came home after work and didn’t say a word to any of us. He signaled to me to just go with it, so I didn’t act as if anything was wrong, although I wasn’t sure what he was up to. As we sat down for dinner he announced: “Fifty-seven. From the time I walked into the kitchen until we sat down for dinner, you guys asked mom fifty-seven questions.” Even I was stunned, and I know that they pepper me with questions all day long. My stress level and exhaustion at the end of the day are sure indicators that I’m fielding way too many questions and solving a ridiculous amount of problems every day.
So how do we go about eliminating the most basic of questions? The questions that probe “What’s next?” and “Who’s doing that job?” and “What am I supposed to be doing?” Simple. Create a routine.
On the front end, sitting down to figure all of this stuff out seems like a ton of work. It seems easier to fly by the seat of our pants. What seems easier, and what actually is easier, however, are two different things. Consider this: If you wake up each morning and have to stare into the refrigerator to decide what’s for breakfast, and then try to get a load of laundry running but are torn away from that by the helpful older child’s breakfast preparation catastrophe, then answer your phone to discover that you missed an early morning dental appointment because you forgot, then return to the kitchen to realize there’s really nothing decent to prepare for dinner, and then try to get everyone dressed (where are the toddler’s shoes?) so that you can go to the grocery store, exactly what time will it be before you can get everyone seated and concentrating on homeschooling?
Sure, it will take some time to jot down all the things that need to be considered when writing a daily routine, but it is time well spent. On the back end, you’ll discover you can actually accomplish more because you’ll have the necessary items crossed off and can then spend the remainder of the day doing those things that everyone loves to do. Even unschoolers can benefit from having some sort of a daily routine in place. Delight-directed learners get to plunge themselves into their studies head-on without the nagging thoughts of all those other things left undone.
To begin, ask yourself what the priorities are in your home. Pray about it all, and ask your spouse too. Make a list of everything you need to accomplish during the day, and don’t forget to add the things you’d like to accomplish and enjoy as well. Then do the same for each child. If you only have preschoolers, their list may look something like this:
Personal hygiene: brush hair, brush teeth, wash face, clean nails
Little chores: Empty the bottom half of the dishwasher, unload the clothes in the dryer into a basket, fold rags, vacuum with a small vacuum, water the potted plants, rock the baby, feed pets, throw diapers away
Daily walk or exercise
Free play time
Table time: coloring, clay, sorting beads, lacing cards, etc.
Build train tracks or play with blocks
Sandbox or other outside play
Meal prep: Little ones can crack eggs into a bowl and fish out the pieces, slice bananas with a butter knife, peel garlic or onions, wash lettuce and tear it into pieces, arrange cheese and crackers on plates, or squirt out ketchup and mustard. If all else fails, I give my preschooler a carrot to munch on while he or she watches me.
Story time, both at home and at the library
If you have older children, you’ll make a similar list for them, but it will of course include their schoolwork and outside commitments or classes.
It’s a little daunting to see everything listed like that, isn’t it? Sometimes when I write it all out, I have a better picture of the craziness we’re trying to accomplish over the course of a school year, and it helps me to pare down. Conversely, I can see where we might be able to add an activity or how we can map out the year. I like a long summer, so seeing that we can finish a subject or two in May makes me very, very happy.
Once you have everything listed, begin to arrange your day. I use a Microsoft Excel or Macintosh Numbers spreadsheet because that’s what works for me, but you can do it any way that works for you. I make columns with each child’s name across the top and then time periods down the left side, in rows.
Sticking to a time schedule in a rigid manner just stressed me out, and I wasn’t a nice mom when I tried that style. Instead, I use the schedule more as a flow chart, and I glance at the clock every now and again to make sure we’re moving at a reasonable pace. Mealtimes are pretty set; they anchor the rest of the schedule. Quiet hour/nap time is a non-negotiable, as are our devotional times, chores, group teaching times (we call them “Circle Time”), and bedtime.
The key to a successful routine? Flexibility. Sounds a bit counterproductive, but it’s just what our unpredictable lives require. We’ve spent weeks in the ICU with two different children, the results of emergency situations we could never have planned for. We’ve had high schoolers change their minds about their course of education just weeks before school was to begin. Job changes, moves, new babies, relationship issues—they’re all a part of life, and they aren’t there by accident. As such, we need to learn to hold our plans loosely.
Our sixth baby was born a week before Christmas, and I made a schedule for January that I felt would get us back on track once the excitement of her birth and Christmas wore off. After the first day, I knew I had to make revisions. So we tried the revised plan the next day. Within a week, I realized that I had to make some more major changes. We were now onto schedule number three, and it was drastically different than anything I’d done before.
My then-2-year-old was extremely busy, and I was increasingly frustrated by her innocent interruptions, things such as falling over and whacking her head on the coffee table or eating a whole stick of butter. I revamped our mornings to be more toddler friendly, at least until we were over that hump. We did everything together in the mornings, so our whole spring that year went something like this:
Walk or play games
Little ones down for naps
It worked well for us then, and I’ve even returned to a similar schedule during different seasons of our lives that have required more focus on little people in the mornings, with concentration on academics with the big kids while those little ones nap in the afternoons. Really, do what works! You need to feel the freedom to make adjustments, depending on what is going on in your life at the time. This is the beauty of homeschooling, and knowing when to change your approach and then doing it will go a long way toward preventing home school burnout.
Kendra Fletcher is the homeschooling mother of eight, aged 18 down to 3. She has never known what it means to home school without the presence of preschoolers and loves to encourage other moms who are beginning their home school journeys with little ones underfoot. Her website and blog can be found at www.preschoolersandpeace.com.
Copyright 2012, used with permission. All rights reserved by author. Originally appeared in the February 2012 issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, the family education magazine. Read the magazine free at www.TOSMagazine.com or read it on the go and download the free apps at www.TOSApps.com to read the magazine on your mobile devices. | <urn:uuid:326c5945-545b-4634-a265-12caee1fc27e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://arkansashomeschool.org/index.php/2013/02/01/57-questions/?wpmp_switcher=desktop | 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 | 0.962773 | 1,908 | 1.5 | 2 |
Had this tea last night at a puerh class held by the owner of Teance Fine Teas in Berkeley, California.
She outright refused to tell us its name, how it was processed, and why it was in such tiny bits in between the size of fannings and dust grade tea particles until we all tasted it. Looks like very finely sifted CTC tea (or coffee grounds) but what we were drinking was older than Cut Tear Curl manufacturing method’s spread into China. She did let on that animals were involved by asking “Are any of you vegan?” before pouring, and let on that some folks call it “Poo Air” based on its aroma, so it wasn’t a total mystery.
To clarify, many teas fall into the realm of non-vegan, and moreso than this one. Oftentimes there are bits of insects inside the leaves (I’ve found a live Walking Stick in a large retailer’s airtight tin of Bai Mu Dan that haad been sealed for over a year) and teas such as Oriental Beauty Oolong rely on herbivory and excretions by leafhoppers on the leaves to produce some of the inherent sweetness. If you’ve ever eaten an invertebrate in its entirety (insects, crustaceans, and mollusks are in the diet of most of the world’s cultures) you’ve consumed what’s in the animal’s gut as well and bear in mind that honey is basically bee puke, so try to put your squeemishness on hold for a moment.
Okay, flavor-wise this is a hard tea to put a rating on.
Elements of the flavor really demand a spectacularly high rating – tasting it really did have a “wow factor” both before and after learning what the heck it was we were putting in our mouths and swallowing. It blows away many puerh teas in terms of clean-yet-earthy taste, dense body, balance of body to liveliness, interesting tactile impression beyond simple astringency or thickness of body, range of expressed flavor, lasting quality in terms of possible number of rebrews, and length of aftertaste. However, I can certainly see this as a “love/hate” tea. If you dislike earthy tastes or can not stand the presence of any metallic, pepper, or wood notes you will not like this tea. Same goes if you only tolerate teas with a very short aftertaste.
If you like Indo-Pacific coffees – aged or monsooned coffees in particular – you may really enjoy this tea.
Winnie prepared this with a generous amount in a pair of gaiwans. I really have no point of reference to estimate the mass used… If it was equivalent to CTC, I’d say something like 8g per 150ml, but I got the impression it’s more like using fannings – more like 4g per 150ml. Brew time was intended at something like 10 seconds each infusion, but actual contact time ranged from 30 seconds to 3 minutes because of the time necessary to pour out through the tiny leaf bits (and then, if the pour was fast, it would take forever to go through the strainer). Water at about 95 degrees C was dispensed into a thermos that was used for each infusion, so temp probably started at about 85C and steadily declined to 70ishC until the water was refreshed.
Leaves are tiny little pellets. Hard and fibrous when dry – like sifted CTC. When wet, it’s possible with a bit of effort to squeeze/grind between fingernails into a semisolid.
Liquor is completely opaque, shiny dark dark dark red-brown in a wide, shallow 45ml cup. “Puerh is supposed to look like soy sauce when aged well enough,” Winnie said while pouring. I’ve had soy sauce and Turkish coffee less dark than this. Aroma is mellow woody base with a prune-like accent and tart&sweet aromatics of Balinese long pepper or Grains of Paradise. Blood-colored liquid sticks to the sides of a cup in a way that makes me think of oil… or the Venom Symbiote from Spiderman.
Surprisingly similar to two of the first four puerhs I ever had (young mini shou tuochas from Jingmai Shan) but a whole heck of a lot more complex. The whole tacky-thick body, light muddy yeast-like quality and feeling of “it tastes like a well-worn boot” very similar. This has a very slight astringency that balances the syrupy body a bit and goes well with the black peppercorn notes in the aftertaste. Coppery and malty like flavors provide a second tier on top of the woody flavor base. Very light aroma, but the nose while drinking presents notes of humus and damp leaf litter – very foresty. The afteraroma is mild again but has more going on with spiced bean notes (yes, this tea has notes of humus and hummus!), dried fruits like fig and raisins/prunes, clay, arbol chilies, toasted wheat bread crust, honey, barley, and oak bark.
What really sets this apart is the quantity of two effects I’ve only had in a handful of puerhs before and the presence of two effects I’ve never experienced in puerh before (only in aged, traditional oolongs).
First and foremost is the prevalence of the “Chen” note – an “antique” quality that arises out of the light camphor-like notes 20+ year sheng cha develop. As I’ve only had 12 teas that meet this criteria other than this one, it is a quality that really jumps to mind and this just rolls in it. The tea tastes like it has actually matured in character to a point where it has combined and produced tastes and sensations not possible in younger teas. This is not some hokey thing about “oooh, this tea is aged so it is gooood” either – it takes a certain amount of time for the oils, acid-sugar combinations, and fungi&bacteria byproducts to chemically interact based on ambient humidity and temperature fluctuations over years for a resulting change that affects the tea’s biochemistry at a level where the fundamentally acidic character of the leaves actually changes to a more alkaline state. Many, many people have tried replicating “chen” and was one of the drives to develop the wo dui style of manufacture, resulting in shou cha. Best anyone can do, though, is age in certain dramatic climate conditions with great effort.
Next is the perception created by drinking this of feeling sort of a swirling of energetics through the upper body and particularly the head. I tend to not buy into the concept of Qi, though I acknowledge the sensory effect of the supposed key physical points of qi in the body and of the loci where the chakras are purported to reside as well as the beneficial therapeutic effects of training in “energy movement” for physical and mental health… I just happen to have more faith in actual physiological connections within the body and chock bodily connections up to neural connections, hormone signalling, physical strain on connected groups, and psychosomatic reactions. However, it’s hard to figure into that the repeatable sensation of movement provided here. This is one of those rare teas that does invoke a significant, palpable feeling of motion along the deep tissue, skeletal, and nervous system corridors towards the head and swirling within. How can you feel something create a reeling effect in your head without affecting oxygen? Dunno what on earth to call this other than the tea’s “strong qi” despite my reservations about the existence of such a thing.
Then there’s the first quality I have yet to experience in a puerh – a “ripeness” I associate with aged and/or well-roasted oolongs. Like the phenolic sensation of biting into an almost-overripe apricot, plum or nectarine minus the actual fruit notes. The flavors associated with it are more spice notes of peppercorns, coriander, cinnamon, sage… just with that extra deep-chest “oomph” of ripe fruit. This really accentuates a beet note and he potent savory character of the tea.
Finally, this tea has heat to it in terms of spice. Not nearly as hot as actually eating a pepper, but it has a residual heat and even a bit of flavor that has me drawing similarities to Adobo and Chipotle Peppers. I’ve had puerh that exhibited some of these taste/aroma notes and some that draw perspiration after many cups, but this leaves the tingling heat of eating a steak that had been rubbed in powdered adobo, chipotle, paprika, and black pepper. That lingering spiciness stuck with me for well over half an hour after drinking… could’ve gone for an hour or more had I not had a different tea and dinner cutting it off. Funny thing is I was left with a strong desire for barbecue pork (I rarely touch pig) and got some pulled pork with mustard bbq sauce that mimicked the flavor and sensation.
Another interesting bit is the presence of flavor. It sort of pushes open the doors in your mouth in an effect somewhat similar to MSG, beets, or red meat. It’s a good example for most of the vocabulary I’ve adapted to my own use in my notes; It throws a bunch of tastes at you at once (“range” or what I call “horizontal complexity”) and then runs with a progression of flavors into the aftertaste (“depth” or “vertical complexity”) coupled with maintaining a steadfast predominant flavor (“static profile” or “baseline fidelity”) yet showing a shift of flavor and sensations in progressive infusions (“dynamic profile” or my infrequently used “realized complexity” when featured alongside steadfast character) and producing many, many infusions (a “durable” tea). It really covers all bases.
This tea is a truly unique experience, though you may have to muscle through a mental block against it to taste more than one cup. Really, if it were not for the generally mild aroma and the serious distinction I get of it being one of those teas you either love or you hate, I have no other reason to not score this a 100… I’m sure some would throw it to the very end of the other side of the spectrum, though. If you have the opportunity to taste this – the well aged version, not just this type of tea – you really should not pass it up. Kinda gives me a headache thinking of the fact I’m recommending people try a tea that has gone through both ends of a caterpillar, but there you have it. This excreted tea isn’t “shit” – it’s well harvested tea that was carefully processed then painstakingly turned and stirred whilst aging for decades then carefully introducing a single type of invertebrate in a controlled manner to eat the leaves, followed by hand-sorting the little pellets out of the tea mass and rested for more time still.
Remarkable in so many ways but still… Caterpillar droppings… | <urn:uuid:f524e8bb-ca9d-4bb6-9d52-e66d4ee7ccbe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://steepster.com/companies/teance?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951754 | 2,443 | 1.53125 | 2 |
- What is Atheism
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- Christians Take Over Interfaith Army Chapel in Combat Zone
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- 9/11: 'Never Forget' Must Include All Victims
- Atheists Advocate Separation of Church and State at DNC
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- ITALIAN JUDGE LUIGI TOSTI ACQUITTED!
- American Atheists to Protest Bradford County, FL Decalogue on May 19
Supporting Civil Rights for Atheists and the Separation of Church and State
Alabama Governor Insinuates Non-Christians Are Second-Class Citizens
Governor Bentley did not waste any time creating controversy in the state of Alabama. The new governor stated during a speech at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church, “Now I will have to say that, if we don't have the same daddy, we're not brothers and sisters. So anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother.”
Bentley later said he did not intend to insult non-Christians with his comments. Bentley’s Communications Director had to back pedal his comments a bit and said, “He is the governor of all the people, Christians, non-Christians alike.” I hope Bentley’s Communications Director advised him of that.
Bentley may not have intended to insult non-Christians in Alabama, but he did. And Bentley’s view that only Christians are his “brothers and sisters” relegates non-Christians in Alabama to a second class citizen state in his mind. How can we trust Bentley now when he has to choose between two competing bids for a state contract and one is owned by a Christian and the other a Hindu, Wiccan, Buddhist, Muslim, or atheist?
The irony of Bentley saying this where Martin Luther King, Jr. used to preach, where MLK spearheaded the quest for Civil Rights, does not escape me. If Bentley does not view all citizens of Alabama as equal, and elevates Christians higher than non-Christians, then he has failed Mr. King’s test and ideals. Civil rights are not just about race. Civil rights encompass race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, etc.
Bentley said he wasn’t trying to insult anybody. That is not good enough for me. I want to know that he will actually treat all of Alabama’s citizens equally and that he is truly sorry for making non-Christians in Alabama feel like second class citizens.
Mr. Bentley, I would ask you to re-read your inauguration speech where you said, “I am the governor of all Alabama: Democrat, Republican and Independent. Young and old, black and white, rich and poor.” You also said, “I have said all along, now I work for you, the citizens of Alabama.” You mentioned several times that you were a “servant of the people.”
Well, Mr. Bentley, I am one of those people you serve, and if you view me as a second-class citizen because I am not your “brother in Christ,” then you do not serve me. Reaffirm your oath and your vision and reassure every Alabamian, regardless of religion, that we are all equal and you will uphold your oath to the Alabama Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom and has one of the best Establishment Clause statements of any state constitution (Article I, Section 3).
I will not hold my breath waiting for your apology or your assurances.
by Blair Scott
Since posting this blog, the following news items have come up with the American Atheists' response:
Alabama Governor: Only Christians are my Brothers
Faith leaders consider Gov. Bentley's brother-sister classifications
Gov. Bentley's Religious Comments Stir Controversy
New Alabama Gov. Criticized for Christian-Only Message | <urn:uuid:f4212408-e738-476a-a647-1a9ed8094871> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.atheists.org/comment/2093 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946774 | 919 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Recent polling indicates that seventy-six percent (76%) of voters say the country is heading down the wrong track. Clearly, something needs to be done to turn the train around and head in a different direction.
By Marita Noon
First we need to know where we’ve been headed and then make a conscious decision to do a 180. Three recent news stories—all under-reported—offer a snapshot of the wrong direction.
THE JULIA FIELD
Exxon is in a legal battle with the US government. The company has a new oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico in what is called the Julia Field. Exxon reports an estimated one billion barrels of recoverable oil—worth potential royalties to the government of $10.95 billion. The discovery is believed to be the largest in the Gulf of Mexico. (Note: we are not out of oil; we keep finding more.)
In its exploration, Exxon is known for moving slowly and studying all the options before committing billions of dollars—using the best technology and science to utilize the shareholders’ risk capital. This is good. Deep-water exploration is difficult and complex. It needs to be done right.
However, apparently, the process was so lengthy, it butted up against the end of the lease period. Exxon applied for a routine extension. It was denied. A series of appeals have taken place. Finally, the Interior Department’s Office of Hearings and Appeals ruled against Exxon. Now, potential jobs and monies paid to the federal coffers are delayed.
The Julia Field debacle is reminiscent of a decision earlier this year that forced Shell to shelve Artic drilling plans after they spent nearly $4 billion in preparation to conduct exploratory drilling in Arctic waters. In dispute is what amounts to a clerical error that requires Shell to start over and puts off the creation of new jobs and revenue another year.
BLACK ARCTIC GOLD
It has just been announced that Exxon Mobil Corp. has entered into a deal with Russia to develop Arctic oil resources. The company has agreed to invest $2.2 billion to explore a potential oil field in the Kara Sea and to spend $1 billion in exploration in the Black Sea. The ventures are politically risky, and there is no certainty that oil will be found. The deal includes Russia’s state-controlled oil company, Rosneft, acquiring stakes in Exxon’s US projects.
Exxon expects to spend tens of billions of dollars just to start producing, with a potential direct investment of $500 billion in Russian waters. With an estimated 90 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the Arctic, someone is going to go after it. Unfortunately, the revenues are going to Russia, not the US.
North Dakota is home to a series of newer US oil discoveries—known as the Bakkan Field. As a result, North Dakota enjoys the lowest unemployment rate in the country—3.3%. It is widely known that the energy industry creates jobs, and not just minimum wage jobs. A report released this week shows that the industry is ready to create 1 million jobs over the next seven years and a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers estimated that each direct job in the U.S. oil and gas industry supports more than three jobs elsewhere in the economy.
With the obvious economic success story of the Bakkan field, you’d think that President Obama and his advisors would be looking to what is working and trying to replicate that nationwide.
Instead, development is being thwarted, hassled, and punished.
In the case of the Julia Field, the Interior Department could work with Exxon, perhaps charge a fee to expedite a permit. Instead, Exxon has to file a lawsuit to receive the deserved return on its investment. What company would want to invest billions and then have to fight the government for the payback?
In the Arctic, companies want to explore, expand, and extract the resource. But, as Shell experienced, the agencies are looking for reasons to reject or revoke permits rather than working with companies. No wonder Exxon has chosen to do business with a risky Russia—at least they can do business.
In North Dakota, seven oil companies were recently charged with killing migratory birds. These are not endangered species—these birds can be hunted and killed. But if they die because they—of their own free will—landed in an oil waste pit, operators face a penalty of six months in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Currently there is no proof that the companies did anything wrong, but 28 birds died at a few of the 6000 well sites—as a result, companies have been charged in federal court with killing birds—when a fine and a slap on the hand would probably be sufficient. (This, in contrast to the nearly half a million birds killed a year by administration-touted wind turbines—not to mention the deaths of thousands of agriculturally important bats.)
And the President wonders why companies are sitting on their money. A payroll tax holiday won’t do it. Infrastructure spending is not a solution. Reversing one onerous, cost-increasing regulation will not turn the economy around.
These three little stories—all within the past few weeks, represent the overall attitude of this administration toward businesses that create jobs and revenue. Until the administration decides to work with, and not against, the job creators in the economy, growth will remain flat—or worse.
Tonight before the joint session of Congress, President Obama could say, “I have heard you, loud and clear. My decision last week to dial back the EPA was just the first step. I have seen that agencies, bureaucrats who are under my control, have been overzealous. Tonight, I am here to announce a new attitude. As of this moment, I have instructed all departments to stop any action that has the potential to slow the economy and work with business, not against…”
Oh wait! I am dreaming. He’ll never say that. But he did back off that one regulation. Surely that was not his idea. He did it because of public pressure, Yes, if re-elected, he’ll probably tighten the regulatory screws. But we, the people, can continue to pour on the pressure—we can help steer the train back to the right direction. One thing politicians understand is re-election. Therein lies the power of the people.
Marita Noon is the executive director for Energy Makes America Great Inc. and the companion educational organization, the Citizens’ Alliance for Responsible Energy (CARE). | <urn:uuid:44de27f2-e343-45e9-9e2c-9c0954d75d0b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://coloradoenergynews.com/2011/09/what-obama-could-say-in-his-speech-that-would-really-turn-the-economy-around/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96546 | 1,349 | 1.664063 | 2 |
suraj.sun sends along this quote from an Associated Press report: "Opening a government meeting on auto safety, the Obama administration reported Wednesday that nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction, a striking indication of the dangers of using mobile devices behind the wheel. The Transportation Department was bringing together experts over two days for what it's calling a 'distracted driving summit' to take a hard look at the highway hazards caused by drivers talking on cell phones or texting from behind the wheel. ... Driver distraction was involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws making texting while driving illegal and seven states and the district have banned driving while talking on a handheld cell phone, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Many safety groups have urged a nationwide ban on texting and on using handheld mobile devices while behind the wheel." | <urn:uuid:071b4c56-affd-4547-be81-e5140676496e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/09/09/30/1422243/federal-summit-eyes-crackdown-on-texting-while-driving?sdsrc=next | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954973 | 189 | 1.726563 | 2 |
by Cynthia Price, ChildFund Communications Director
My book club was gathered together eagerly looking through a catalog trying to find the perfect gift.
Should we get a bicycle? Or a dictionary? The new mom in the group liked blankets. And what about toys? Such a clatter arose as this literary group tried to decide how best to spend its pooled funds.
It reminded me of my childhood when the Sears Wish Book would arrive. I always enjoyed thumbing through all the pages and dog-earing some of them in hopes that my parents would share my wishes with Santa.
The catalog my book club was so animatedly studying was ChildFund’s Gifts of Love & Hope. In year’s past, we’d always done a gift exchange but this year we decided we’d buy a gift for someone else. One member suggested giving through ChildFund’s catalog. Of course, since I work for ChildFund, I thought it was a wonderful suggestion. As did the others.
But what to give? Alicia, an avid kite boarder who loves the water, was in favor of a gift of clean water. Gloria loved the image of the goat on the catalog cover and was in favor of giving a farm animal. I liked the bicycles because I knew it meant girls who travel long distances to school would be able to get to school more easily. If they weren’t so tired from walking, they could concentrate better.
It was so hard to decide. We debated. We counted our money. We increased our limit. In the end, we remained true to our literary side. We chose a classroom map and dictionary. As Rowena said, “We’re a book club. We have to buy a book!”
But that wasn’t enough for us. Tena, the new mom, made a good point about toys helping children develop. So we added in toys for an early childhood development center caring for sick children in Ethiopia.
We left book club without packages, boxes or bags. But like the Grinch, our hearts “grew three sizes that day!” And we left with a merry feeling.
Have you thought about giving a gift that will change a child’s life? | <urn:uuid:a318922f-220a-44e1-b136-eed913150351> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.childfund.org/2011/12/06/gifts-from-the-heart/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=d42062ed33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968403 | 465 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The death of Dee Spears: Could Botox injections hurt your child?
This morning, I called the doctor who gives Max Botox injections and left a voicemail about scheduling an appointment; his occupational therapist at school says she thinks his thumbs are getting much tighter. The Botox injections Max has gotten over the years have really helped loosen up his tightness and made it easier for him to pick up and grasp things.
This afternoon I found out about little Dee Spears, whose mother is suing the makers of Botox for causing her death. Dee, a 7-year-old with cerebral palsy from Potters County, Texas, had been getting injections in her legs to alleviate muscle spasms. Evidently, she started having issues with breathing and swallowing afterward. She died in 2007 from respiratory failure and pneumonia. Her mother is saying an overdose of Botox caused her death; Allergan, the company that makes Botox, is blaming a bacterial issue unrelated to Botox. The case is being tried in court now.
My heart aches for this mother, whose grief must surely be laced with so much anger, perhaps even guilt. Botox was supposed to improve her child's life; instead, it might have killed her.
If you're a mom of a kid with special needs you know just what it's like to want to do something, anything, to help your child, enable him function, allow him to live a life less challenged.
Have you tried, or considered, Botox for your child? | <urn:uuid:6ae05528-62c3-4d44-bc19-a4cbb3c60102> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lovethatmax.com/2010/01/death-of-dee-spears-could-botox.html?showComment=1264747757800 | 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 | 0.9832 | 316 | 1.59375 | 2 |
In a world run by moonbats, the only way to get ahead is to be a member of a victim group. What are white guys to do? In Australia, they adapt:
Sydney law academic Mark McMillan, has won one of our richest prizes for Aboriginal students — the Fulbright Indigenous Scholarship.
Aboriginal, huh? Here’s a picture of McMillan:
If he can pass for an Aborigine, why not a woman of color?
McMillan has gone one better still: he’s also won the Black Women’s Action in Education Foundation Scholarship, originally intended to help educate black women, not white men.
The lucky beneficiary of politically correct spoils explains why looking like any other white guy makes him all the more the oppressed black Aboriginal female:
“I am a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned Aboriginal Australian …
“As a child, I grew up expecting everyone to be like me, to look like me — with the blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Clearly, my naive ideas about how Aboriginal people were ‘supposed’ to look were wrong. But being Aboriginal and fair and blonde was normal to me and I grew up in a world where I was treated ‘normally’ …
“Impeding my growth from that young person into the adult I wanted to become was the profound issue of identity. I was a white black man … I was becoming a victim.”
Incredibly, his shtick is on the level — and it works. MacMillan evidently has an Aborigine somewhere up his family tree. It’s unclear how he convinces people that he’s a woman, but he does proclaim himself to be a “proud gay.”
McMillan isn’t the only one working this swindle:
Sydney arts academic Danie Mellor, this week won our richest prize for Aboriginal artists — the $40,000 Telstra Award.
Here’s the allegedly Aboriginal Danie Mellor:
Given the requisite lack of honor, only the thinnest strains of non-European ancestry are required now to achieve the treasured status of sniveling victim. | <urn:uuid:2898bdb5-400c-47a4-9b58-4395200ee19d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rightwingnews.com/political-correctness/blond-aborigines-claim-pc-spoils-in-australia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967626 | 471 | 1.820313 | 2 |
How To Buy A Tent for Camping? It goes without saying, you can’t camp without a tent. That is unless you camp with an RV or some other vehicle. But camping is a lot of fun with a tent and something everyone should try once. If you want to buy a tent, there are several things to keep in mind so you get the exact tent you want so you can enjoy it for years to come.
How Big Should the Tent Be?
Unless you are canoeing or backpacking with the tent, the size and weight of it really don’t matter. The tent’s capacity is determined by square footage and how many standard size sleeping bags will fit in it. That means if you buy a two person tent for two people, there will be very little room for anything but two sleeping bags. A four person tent would accommodate two people, their gear and a little elbow room.
If you have a large family or plan on camping for an extended period of time, you may want to check out the multi-room tents. This affords some privacy as there are two rooms separated by an inside tent wall with a zippered door. They also make three room tents, too.
The rainfly acts as the tent’s umbrella. They are waterproof. Tent walls are only water repellant. The bigger the rainfly is, the better. Find a rainfly that comes down the sides of the tent instead of just across the top.
Adequate Guy Lines
Guy lines are loops sewn into tent walls near the middle. Sometimes rainflies have them, too. These are used to attach guy lines that pull the walls out so they are taught. This keeps the tent walls from flapping in the wind and making the tent become unstable.
Folded Seams and Double Stitching
It’s important to buy a tent that is well constructed. If you can pull the material up on either side of the seam and see any light through the stitches, the tent will most certainly leak. Also, be sure to use seam sealer on all seams to ensure that all water is kept outside.
One Piece Tub Floor
A big concern when you have a tent is water leakage through the floor. That’s why it’s important to get a tent with a floor made of waterproof material. It should also come a few inches up the side before it is sewn into the tent walls. There shouldn’t be a seam in the floor so there is absolutely no place for water to seep in.
There are a number of things to keep in mind when buying a tent. Everything from the size of the tent, the size of the rainfly to keep water off the tent, and the type of stitching the tent has is a consideration. In the end, a quality tent will lend to a much better camping experience. | <urn:uuid:3cfe8af9-0eed-49c4-9670-cfd99ab58a2e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://health-individual.com/how-to-buy-a-tent-for-camping | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958602 | 593 | 1.5 | 2 |
If the print dialog box does not automatically appear, open the file menu and choose Print.
Article published December 10, 2012
Avoid the tingling
Danny W. ShultzEast Brady
I consulted my doctor about numbness and tingling in the tips of my fingers after using a weedeater for long periods of time, and in the tips of my toes while showering. The doctor said the tingling was a result of use of alcohol. She said the alcohol had affected my nerves — even though I haven’t had a drink of alcohol since 1987. The doctor said heavy use of alcohol can affect the brain, liver and heart, but not the kidneys — although drinking can result in urination in alleys and storefronts after the bars close. So, I would like to warn college students and teenagers who do a lot of binge drinking (like I did) that in about 30 years they might be suffering long-term effects of alcohol abuse. | <urn:uuid:455904f3-ab11-4f04-83b3-a9ffa297bb86> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20121210/EDITORIAL02/121219979/0/Business03&Template=printart | 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 | 0.94968 | 198 | 1.632813 | 2 |
For the first time in 400 years the Catholic Church has authorized an official universal catechism which instantly became an international best-seller, the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Using this official Catechism, the highly-regarded author and professor Peter Kreeft presents a complete compendium of all the major beliefs of Catholicism written in his readable and concise style.
Since the Catechism of the Catholic Church was written for the express purpose of grounding and fostering catechisms based on it for local needs and ordinary readers, Kreeft does just that, offering a thorough summary of Catholic doctrine, morality, and worship in a popular format with less technical language. He presents a systematic, organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental Catholic teachings in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Church's Tradition.
This book is the most thorough, complete and popular catechetical summary of Catholic belief in print that is based on the universal Catechism.
"In Catholic Christianity, Peter Kreeft has taken the core of the Catechism's teaching and has represented it in his pithy and winning style. The result is the best entree to the Catechism yet-and therefore the best entree to the Catholic faith."
Karl Keating Author, What Catholics Really Believe
"Peter Kreeft's work is: 1) unfailingly brilliant 2) intellectually agile 3) astonishingly perspicacious 4) gloriously orthodox 5) Chestertonian-ly aphoristic. Buy and read this book, and be instructed and delighted."
Thomas Howard Author, On Being Catholic
"As an apologist who speaks at many seminars and conferences across the country I am often asked what book I would recommend for an adult catechetics class. I always find myself recommending three our four books rather than one. No longer. This is the ONE book I've been looking for! Dr. Kreeft gives a summation of our Catholic Faith based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church that is filled with bite-sized morsels of truth and producing a veritable feast of faith!"
Radio Host and Apologist
Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., a Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, is a regular contributor to several Catholic publications, and is the best-selling author of over 25 books including Prayer for Beginners, Back to Virtue, A Refutation of Moral Relativism, Heaven the Heart's Deepest Longing, and Fundamentals of the Faith. | <urn:uuid:0e2ab0c8-bdaa-4b98-ab83-5b493eb20b3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ignatius.com/Products/CACH-P/catholic-christianity.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937813 | 514 | 1.679688 | 2 |
This page contains information about a Guild Wars component or feature that has never been included in the game. Information was obtained from ArenaNet staff or extracted from the Gw.dat game file. The information on this page does not apply to the game as it currently is or was.
The "Sidhe" is a race that was intended to be in Utopia. The concept for the Sylvari probably evolved from them.
See also
Concept art by Kekai Kotaki.
- Sídhe, pronounced "shee", are mythological creatures associated with leprechauns, and other early races in Celtic, especially Scottish and Irish literature, legend, and many fantasy works. | <urn:uuid:0637a400-ced5-42c5-af5b-df1a41d8b02e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Sidhe | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964872 | 143 | 1.617188 | 2 |
What’s in a name?
After 15 years, a girl in Iceland has legally won the right to her own name. Her mother named her "Blaer," which means "light breeze." Government officials rejected it, because Iceland is really funny about baby names. Parents must adhere to grammar and pronunciation rules: For example, “Carolina” and “Christa” are not allowed because the Icelandic alphabet has no letter "c." According to MSNBC, “Blaer” was rejected because it “was a masculine name that was inappropriate for a girl.”
Can you imagine what they’d say about some of our Southern names? Bubba and Bo-Dean and Jimmy Carl would give them running fits. Not to mention Jenny Lou, Lurleen and Frankie Jo.
Take my brother, T-Bob. He’s actually named after his father and grandfather, which makes him T-Bob III. He looks, sounds and acts exactly how you’d imagine a man named T-Bob would look, sound and act. He was born to be T-Bob.
My sister, Moonbeam, was christened Katherine Gail, but she was Moonbeam before she could walk. She still is, and it still fits. She moves peacefully through life, floating in a parallel universe and eating roots and berries that were harvested humanely.
Names are so personal; why would a government committee prohibit any moniker, as long as it’s not $%!@&?!, or even worse, Yo Mama &$%^@#?!
I read a book about unusual names once, and quite a few stayed with me. These were actual names written on actual birth certificates: War Baby, Saturday Night Coffee, Lucy Never Seen Joe, Navy Dawn, River Deep, Drywall, Frog Pants and Sweet Sugar Plum.
What’s really interesting is the names we don’t see anymore. When did you last meet a young woman named Alice? Or Evelyn? Emma, Hannah and Sophie are pretty popular retro names, but what about Sadie, Martha or Marian? I had a great-aunt named Bell. No “e,” just Bell. The late comedian Jerry Clower’s wife was named Homerline, which today would be cause for a lawsuit.
I used to think if I had a son, I’d name him River. A girl would be Allison, after the Elvis Costello song. Turns out all I ever had were dogs, and the best name I ever picked was Lily. She was so obedient she never wore a leash, and so beautiful—pale cream with amber eyes--people stopped and stared at her on the street.
I’ve already got a name for my next dog: Folly. I just think that’s the greatest name ever. It would probably be best for a female though. A male named Folly might be bullied.
Back to human names: My mother did not have a name picked out for me. Shortly before my birth she saw some old Doris Day movie with a character named Julie. It didn’t really register at the time, she said.
The day I was born she got on a stepladder and finished painting the kitchen, ate a ham sandwich and called a cab. My father rushed to the hospital shortly after my shrieking arrival. “Have you decided on a name?” a nurse asked.
“Julie,” my mother—who briskly delivered me in 42 minutes with no drugs—suddenly announced. My dad blinked: As an only son with three sisters, he’d been hoping for something else.
“But what about Betty, Glenda and Adeana?” he asked.
“They can have their own daughters,” my mother said firmly. “This one is Julie.” And that was that.
I like my name. And I’m so grateful she didn’t go to a movie starring Zasu Pitts.
Julie R. Smith, who may buy a hamster just to name it Folly, can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:1b3ae719-2712-49f9-aa7e-5b58d814ca85> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.berkeleyind.com/article/20130227/BI04/130229729/1146/BI9903/what-8217-s-in-a-name | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979073 | 877 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Mrs. Sicignano United States and North Carolina History
I want to express how proud I am of the students and the growth they have made over the past month. The project once again exceeded my expectations. The display at the Parent Night was successful. Currently they are displayed in the Media Center. I hope to find another spot to display them to the community.
Some students still do not have the proper Interactive notebook. They need to be five subject and with a vinyl cover. The best ones come from Target because are one of the few that are almost exactly 8.5 by 11.
The wiki I will be adding information about the very important component of my class. To be able to reach all my students and every learning style, I researched many tools. I came across this method. I was excited for it was very similar to what I had been moving towards each year.
Please go to the wiki page here for more information on the purpose and some other important links.
8th Grade North Carolina History
Welcome to my classroom,
I expect we will have an excellent year!
You will need the following: Folder, A 5 subject vinyl cover spiral Notebook, tape, scissors, color pencils
(at least two sets one for class and one at home) and pencil box or bag.
The Spiral Notebook is for the INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOK, this is a very important section of the class. It must be 5 subject for the first three sections are for notes and homework, the forth section is for vocabulary and the last section is for the atlas, which is made up maps that they complete and submit and then enter in their notebooks. One subject notebooks are do not have enough sheets nor are they large enough to fit worksheets in properly. Furthermore, the five subject notebook has pockets to carry work in transit. The Cover page is test grade, this cover reflects who they are and symbols of the topic. Here is a link to an excellent sample from a class in Va. http://www.nonags.org/members/dasaunders/other.htm
T hey will also need a side opening page protector for the cover of the notebook. Because I can buy in bulk, and you can not buy them individually I will being them for .40 a piece.
We will be using our interactive notebook with the WIKI which assignments and dialog with be taking place. Each student will have their own access to the wiki. Parents can request a read only access as well. The wiki and the live binder website will be very important because I will converting the classroom over to the concept of is called a Flipped Classroom.The Flipped Classroom, This is new this year so it will introduce and worked out slowly. This technique gives me as the instructor many ways to teach all types of students. More information will coming on this topic.
This year we will cover US/NC history spanning pre-1492 to current times.
Skills are strongly emphasized based on the standards set by the state of North Carolina.
The links below give you access to these goals.
Curriculum is based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and Forsyth's pacing guide
Forsyth pacing guide includes the vocabulary words
used over the year both are found:
Pacing quide: to be up dated
user name : sicignano
Spelling test: ON Fridays students may have scheduled or unscheduled spelling test.
The spelling list is simple and constant.
Includes but not limited to the following
1st nine weeks- continents and oceans and teacher’s names.
2nd nine weeks- adjoining states and capitals
3rd nine weeks- local counties and county seats
Note I simply add to the list not take away. Not only will you be able to spell them but also label them on a variety of maps on a consistent basis. This is designed to ensure students learn not only the spelling,but also be able to locate and label the any map. Great and helpful web sites that and will help you.
Time Line home work assignments: Over the year students will be given time line date assignments. They must make a letter size poster.It must be on copy paper (unlined) it must include:the date, event and a picture.The words must be large and legible. Pictures must be relevant to the topic. Somewhere on the assignment must include color. The assignment may be computer generated or hand drawn or a combination. The color can be added with a computer or with color pencils.
Projects: we will have a variety of projects,some individual, some done in pairs and some are groups.
1st quarter will be 911 Project and Begin Past Present and Future
2nd quarter Finish up Past Present and Future Bio Poem joint with Language Arts
3rd quarter Civil war group Project
4th quarter The Five Project
Sound to Sea: There is only one trip planed November . This is for all three teams, which means first come first serve. This trip is excellent and well worth every penny. We need as many chaperones as possible.The cost is somewhere around $250.00.Please look out for further notices. | <urn:uuid:16bd92eb-f678-4ab6-811a-4183fe066f45> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Domain/2393 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946585 | 1,069 | 1.585938 | 2 |
At this festive time of year, one of the downers is the prevalence of drunk or impaired driving, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says causes one death every 48 minutes in the United States.
And the National Highway Transportation Safety last year told the Wall Street Journal that Thanskgiving weekend had topped even the New Year weekend for four out of five previous years in terms of alcohol-related fatalities. And the CDC says that in 2010, about 1.4 million people were arrested for driving under the influence of booze or narcotics, a fraction of the self-reported episodes of impaired driving.
The good news is that drunk driving deaths are waning; here are some recent NHTSA statistics about fatalities by age, sex and blood-alcohol level of the driver. But while the still-tragic toll is a public health and law enforcement problem, it’s also led to something of an industry, with a variety of specialty businesses involved in combatting drunk driving or dealing with the aftermath. You might want to take a seasonal look at the companies and professionals who handle the various facets of this issue — and publish a personal finance sidebar toting up the costs to a motorist of a first, second or third arrest.
Areas to pursue include:
Specialty professions. We’ve all seen the ads for attorneys that specialize in drunk-driving cases; you should ask your state’s bar association about trends in that line of work or check with the myriad state and professional groups for that specialty, from 1800DUILaws to the California DUI Lawyers Association.
Training. Law enforcement personnel, attorneys, administrative staff and others often require training in various aspects of DUI evaluation, representation, etc. — just Google “DUI training” and a geographic term for your region and you’ll be surprised at what pops up, from programs that train officers in “drug recognition” to books, videos, seminars and toxicologists/expert witnesses for the legal profession. The National College for DUI Defense, which states it is a non-profit, might also point you to third-party firms that serve this niche.
People convicted of impaired driving often are required to take substance abuse courses or counseling that is offered by a third party, and venues that sell or serve booze also may contract for “safe alcohol sales” training for their workers; again, these are niche businesses worth a look.
Equipment and accessories. From SOBERLINK and SCRAM remote alochol monitoring systems used as part of sentencing, to breath analyzers for use by law enforcement, by places that serve alcoholic beverages and even by concerned consumers themselves, technology to measure alochol intake appears to be a robust seller; there’s even a keyring version of a breath tester selling for $69.95 on Amazon.com. You can track down distributors and sellers of such gear in your region — along with subscription/monitoring fees and related equipment like ignition interlock systems that won’t allow a car to start if the driver appears impaired. Here’s a list of state ignition interlock laws from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Marketing. Anti-impaired driving campaigns abound this time of year and create work for marketing, communications and website experts; take a look for example at this set of campaigns that NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Marketing unit is ready to roll out. Somebody obtained work creating those; are any local firms doing the same on behalf of non-profits, media companies, restaurant/bar associations and the like?
Ancillary businesses. Conscientious partyers create business opportunities, too. This is a good time of year to check in with sedan car and limousine services, party-bus operators, taxicab companies and other chauffeur services.
And I’ve noticed a number of designated driver companies popping up in recent years; if you’re out and find you’ve imbibed too much, these teams will come to you, with one person driving you home while another ferries your car to your driveway. (Alternatively, solo operators will appear on a scooter they can put in the trunk for the ride to the driver’s home.) It might be interesting to profile a few such firms in your area — including the fee conundrum; how do they handle partiers who can’t cough up the price of a ride after a night on the town, for example? What insurance is required to enter this line of work? | <urn:uuid:e2a28505-aac1-4d35-8c48-bb3862caeba5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://businessjournalism.org/2012/11/14/businesses-spring-from-the-battle-against-drunk-driving/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94772 | 933 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Foreign meddling on behalf of all sides in Syria has ruined prospects for a negotiated settlement
The United Nations said Saturday it has suspended its monitoring mission in Syria due to worsening violence, indicating a complete failure of the peace effort there.
“This escalation is limiting our ability to observe, verify, report as well as assist in local dialogue and stability projects — basically impeding our ability to carry out our mandate.”
For now, the White House has officially opposed direct military intervention on the grounds that it would lead to greater chaos and escalate the humanitarian crisis in the country.
“We do not believe that militarization, further militarization of the situation in Syria at this point is the right course of action,” White House Spokesman Jay Carney said. “We believe that it would lead to greater chaos, greater carnage.”
While the Obama administration rightly opposes military intervention, they have unfortunately already begun providing lethal and non-lethal aid to the Syrian opposition. This, despite the fact that the rebel fighters have committed serious atrocities themselves and that al-Qaeda elements are known to cooperate in the rebel fight against Assad.
That said, the Obama administration is currently providing both lethal and non-lethal aid to these disparate groups of thuggish militias. As Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and an expert on Syria, wrote in Foreign Policy this month, “Let’s be clear: Washington is pursuing regime change by civil war in Syria. The United States, Europe, and the Gulf states want regime change, so they are starving the regime in Damascus and feeding the opposition.”
This is exacerbating the conflict, increasing and prolonging the suffering of the Syrian people. Support for the Assad regime from Russia and Iran and for the opposition from the U.S. and its allies in Europe and the Persian Gulf is emboldening both sides and preventing either from giving up and ceding to a political transition.
Last 5 posts by John Glaser
- Contra GOP, Obama Is Not Rolling Back Terror War - May 26th, 2013
- House Committee Prohibits Pentagon Base Closures - May 23rd, 2013
- Code Pink's Medea Benjamin Interrupts Obama Speech - May 23rd, 2013
- Obama Admits US Killed 4 Americans in Drone War - May 22nd, 2013
- CIA to Continue Waging Drone War in Pakistan - May 21st, 2013 | <urn:uuid:694b1c97-1b7d-4e29-955c-093a74fc25bb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.antiwar.com/2012/06/16/un-suspends-monitoring-mission-in-syria-due-to-worsening-violence/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938049 | 500 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Knowing Where To Get GRE Prep Courses
There are people who want to take the GRE because they want to go back to school. Usually this so that they can get their master degree is something like business or foreign languages. There is an endless list of these degrees. Of course, there are separate tests for certain graduate degrees, but GRE is the most common. This will show how people can sign up for GRE prep courses.
Other people like to take a different route. Some people want more guidance. They might take a course, and there are plenty of review courses offered by several companies. The more well-known names are reputable, and have a good track record of teaching their students. Some will even give a discount if they need to improve their score.
The difference with prep courses is that they offer classroom time. They hire teachers who have done well on the test already. They teach the different topics on the test to help the person succeed. It is more interactive than just reading a book. It may help people who have questions with particular parts of an exam.
They will also have the books, but they will have videotapes, too. Sometimes, a person might want to watch a lecture again, and they can. It is a lot of resources to help improve test scores. The other thing that they offer are practice tests. This is the most important part because these can be simulated exams like the real day, and this can help someone be more prepared.
Practicing test questions is a very helpful tool. It helps someone know that they have prepared well. The other thing that might be available is GRE study material available online, too.
Preparing for a standardized test can be nerve-racking for some. It always helps to prepare, and for some, using a single study book is helpful. However, others like purchasing a course with multiple resources like classes and videotapes. These classes tend to be expensive, and they offer their clients a lot for the purchase price. People can search online for more helpful information. | <urn:uuid:c34b5e11-62b5-4226-be3c-be972284a3dd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.test-guide.com/gre-prep-courses.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968366 | 413 | 1.765625 | 2 |
By Elizabeth Sheer, Cheapism.com
Each year about one-third of American adults resolve to make their lives better in some way. For smokers, that often means a pledge to kick the habit. The benefits of quitting smoking are obvious: It's the best thing you can do for your health and for your budget. And with less tolerance for smoking all around, saying "no" could improve your social life, as well.
Related: Budget exercise bikes
Many would-be ex-smokers fail to quit smoking because it's hard to do. Quitnet reports that it takes seven tries, on average, for someone to successfully quit smoking. So make 2013 the year you pledge to give it up forever. And if you need an extra nudge, note that some of the best techniques for reaching this goal are absolutely free.Quit smoking now with these frugal tips.
For starters, have you ever figured out just what this habit costs? A quick calculation at Quitnet, which entails entering your zip code and the number of cigarettes you smoke daily, tells you exactly how much of your hard-earned cash goes up in smoke. The cost of cigarettes varies by state, largely due to taxes, but even at the low end of $5 a pack, a pack-a-day smoker shells out more than $1,800 a year for rolled tobacco. And in New York City, where cigarette prices are the highest in the country, you'd be the poorer by more than $4,000 at year's end unless you quit smoking.
There is no single strategy that works for every person who wants to quit smoking. Many of the approaches that pop up in online searches -- smoking cessation programs, lasers, hypnotism, acupuncture, and shock therapy, to name a few -- cost a pretty penny and aren't necessarily effective. Of course the cheapest way to quit smoking is to just stop. While that might work for you, Cancer.org cautions that the chances of success are minimal. Going cold turkey without any outside help fails to address critical issues, such as dealing with daily triggers.
Experts say a critical first step is to declare a specific quit-smoking day. Cut back little by little as that date moves closer, clear out all smoking supplies from your home and workplace, and enlist the support of family and friends. And take some cues from the free and low-cost tips below.
Related: Discount bathroom scale reviews
Get medical help. If you have health insurance, talk to your doctor about becoming a reformed smoker. There are medications that can control nicotine cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms, with the treatment generally starting about a week or two before you actually quit smoking. As with all drugs, though, there may be some side effects. And the cost will depend on your insurance plan, but usually is relatively low.
Find a Smoking Substitute. One way to quit smoking is by substituting something else for cigarettes. The most popular alternatives are nicotine replacement treatments, such as gum, patches, and lozenges, that lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms; some of these aides also satisfy the tactile need for something in your mouth. Although nicotine replacement helps break the smoking addiction, it does nothing to break the addiction to nicotine and is far from cheap.
But once you get the tobacco cravings under control, move on to cheaper substitutes, such as exercise, regular chewing gum, cinnamon sticks, and lots of water, that help you stay on track. Keeping your hands busy is also crucial, as is acknowledging the feelings and urges that surround your smoking habit. HelpGuide.org offers a variety of coping mechanisms and other practical tips.
Seek Positive Support. Whether you suddenly quit smoking or opt for the slow and steady route, toughing it out alone is suboptimal. Experts note that counseling doubles your chances of success. Coaching and/or support groups are also helpful. Check in with your doctor, the local public health office, or online to find such resources. Here are a few to get you started.Smoking is not only unhealthy but its also expensive!
Become An Ex suggests ways to beat nicotine addiction and manage the habits that trigger smoking. It also provides a vibrant online support community where you can find an online partner for a mutual boost throughout your personal campaign to quit smoking.
In addition to individual counseling, Quitnet maintains forums, clubs, chat rooms, and a buddy system that are all designed to get you over the hump.
When you finally reach that delicate post-quit stage, you can text QUIT to 22723 for a motivational message from the American Cancer Society's QuitBuddy.
Nicotine Anonymous is a 12- step program similar to that used for other addictions and provides ongoing in-person support an online meetings if there are no groups in your area.
Related: Inexpensive diet pills
Quitting along with someone you know and forming your own support system Smay be the best of all possible paths. Studies have shown that people quit in clusters and benefit from joint morale boosting and celebrations of success.
Look to Government. Don't underestimate the services of your government. Every state and many municipalities run programs designed to help people quit smoking. For instance, free support through the month of January is available to Minnesota residents. New York State maintains a web site that offers a helpline, free patches or gum, and an online community. Many counties, such as Florida's Hernando County, offer multi-week smoking cessation programs. To find the "quit smoking" program nearest you, call 1-800-QUITNOW.
More from Cheapism:
Top cheap eyeglasses
Inexpensive olive oil reviews
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For more ways to save, follow Cheapism on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.
To stay on top of the latest posts, read the Cheapism Blog. | <urn:uuid:aaf0067e-470b-485a-8cc3-1f4c4843ccae> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/quit-smoking-save-145400834.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947804 | 1,198 | 1.820313 | 2 |
A friend of mine -- we'll call him Rich -- was complaining today that he can't edit the contacts on his iPhone. That ever since he upgraded to iOS 5, the Edit button in the top-right corner of the Phone or Contacts app went missing. After a quick search through Apple's forums, I found the cause.
Turns out the problem has to do with iCloud. Rich didn't feel the need to enable any apps to use iCloud, including Contacts. And therein lies the problem. For whatever reason, the Edit button goes missing for some iOS 5 users because they didn't allow iCloud to access their Contacts.
If you have a missing Edit button, you simply need to go to Settings > iCloud and move the slider to On for Contacts.
Next, tap Merge and the Edit button will return to its rightful place, in the upper-right corner of the Phone and Contacts apps. You can go back and turn Contacts off in iCloud, and the Edit button will remain.
I tested the above method and can say with certainty it works. There is also a method that will let you edit your contacts, but I haven't tested it (because I had already reinstated the Edit button on Rich's phone). If you are vehemently opposed to using iCloud, it might be worth investigating. Instead of using iCloud to bring back the Edit button, you can supposedly use the Messages app to edit contacts. When viewing a text conversation, scroll all the way up to the top until you see the Call, FaceTime, and Contact buttons. Tap the Contact button and, according to Robio7 in the Apple forums, you'll see an Edit button.
Of course, I'm getting to this fix a bit late. Your best option at this point is probably going ahead and upgrading to iOS 6.
Tune in Wednesday starting at 9 a.m. PT for our Apple iPhone event live blog.
See all CNET's Apple coverage. | <urn:uuid:7932a5e1-1382-4450-a308-f90418994f71> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57511341-285/how-to-bring-back-the-missing-edit-button-for-iphone-contacts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944315 | 400 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Q: How have the state Democratic and Republican parties changed since you held the office of governor of New Jersey?
GOV. BYRNE: The Democratic Party changes on a year-to-year basis, depending on who comes to the forefront. Going back to when I first got into office, I brought some new views to the party, and I think that’s happened ever since. Whoever the candidate for governor is certainly brings his own view. In the meantime, if the party is not in power, there are meetings and conferences at the party level which distill concepts that we stand for.
GOV. KEAN: The party does take on the personality of its leader in New Jersey because we have such a strong governorship. But there have been problems in Washington that have spread to the states, making the parties more ideological, less tolerant of the views of others and more combative, so you get less inclusion. Those are Washington diseases that have spread to the states.
BYRNE: The difference between you and me, Tom, is that your attitude is that the majority party has to supply the votes to advance a situation before the minority party contributes.
KEAN: That’s been the situation for a while now in both parties in Washington — and, I think, to some degree in Trenton. Though in Trenton we’ve had a number of bipartisan votes, which is good.
Q: Are there ways in which you think your parties have become more or less effective?
BYRNE: The parties are better informed now. When I got into government, the Democratic Party candidates got their information from the governor’s office. The parties now have great research arms and know what a bill is all about before it comes up on the board.
KEAN: I remember our passing a bill calling for the Office of Fiscal Affairs to give legislators fiscal information they hadn’t had before. When I asked Gov. Cahill to sign it, he said, "Every governor is going to curse me forevermore if I sign that." It’s different now. Legislators can argue with a governor based on facts. That’s healthy.
Q: How have the national parties changed, and what role have these changes played in getting things done in Washington?
BYRNE: The national parties change depending on what leadership exists. I don’t think the Democratic National Committee has been the same since Adlai Stevenson died. I thought he had an altruistic view of things and would have made a great president. The Democratic Party is really defined by its leadership, and we haven’t seen that since Stevenson and (John F.) Kennedy.
KEAN: There have been major changes. One is the influence of money, which is more important than ever before with the increased influence of lobbyists who have access to big money. It’s hurtful to the system and to both parties. Secondly, both parties, particularly mine, have become less inclusive. In the past, there were great coalitions. The Roosevelt coalition, which included within it great advocates of civil rights and the worst segregationists in the country, was held together by Franklin Roosevelt. On the Republican side, under Reagan, there were moderates — or Rockefeller Republicans — from the Northeast, held together with some very conservative people at the center of the country. But now we see attempts to advance ideological purity, which drives moderates in both parties out. It’s very hard in Washington now to be a moderate because, sooner or later, they’ll marginalize you. So the parties are increasingly less representative of the country as a whole, which is still right center.
BYRNE: The Republican Party could look to the leadership of Chris Christie to abandon the Republicans and find a new name for a party that’s more inclusive. Christie has the opportunity now to take that leadership role.
KEAN: Republican is a great name. This is the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan. We just have to get back to the party as envisioned by those leaders.
Q: Going forward, are there ways you think your respective national parties need to change in order to accomplish more of what is termed "the people’s business"?
BYRNE: The Republican Party cannot win an election the way it’s structured now. You can poll a Democrat against a Republican, and the Democrat wins. With Democrat A against Republican B, the Republican has a better chance.
KEAN: The parties need to become more inclusive. There are principles around which the Republican Party has always been able to rally. Republicans believe government should not be doing anything that the private sector can do. They believe in a strong defense for the country. They have had a strong libertarian streak from their earliest days. We have to get back to Reagan’s 11th Commandment — Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican — which means not running against another Republican on purely ideological grounds. The party can’t win if its gets narrower; it has to get broader, back to Reagan’s big tent. | <urn:uuid:8fa721ee-7721-46eb-9e96-a1af24c1c169> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.nj.com/njv_kean_byrne/2013/01/ask_the_governors_have_our_nat.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974061 | 1,053 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Changes are coming for Alabama's laws on access to government records. What will that mean for us as citizens, as businesses, and in the routine activity of state and local government?
"Changing Open Government Laws in Alabama" is a day-long forum at Samford University on Friday, October 27 to discuss new legislation to be unveiled in the upcoming 2007 Alabama legislative session. This free event is sponsored by Samford University's Cumberland School of Law and the School of Business. The event will begin at 8 a.m. in the Cumberland School of Law Moot Courtroom on the Samford campus.
Session speakers and panel participants include members of the Open Records Task Force, commissioned by joint resolution of the Alabama Legislature to reform access to public records in Alabama. Task Force members who drafted the proposed legislation represent a variety of interests including the news media, the legal profession, and state and local government.
Forum sessions throughout the day include a morning historical overview of open records law in Alabama, panel discussions addressing various aspects of the new legislation, and an afternoon panel on the recently enacted Open Meetings Act. At lunch, State Archivist Ed Bridges offers his perspective on the challenges presented by technological advances to governmental records retention.
"Clearly, having open access to government records is a key issue affecting most businesses at one time or another," said Beck Taylor, dean of the Samford University School of Business. "The success of a free economy rides heavily on a transparent environment with government regulators and other state and local officials. We encourage all interested business leaders to attend this forum."
"There is no more important topic than access to government information. That is why I am extremely pleased that the law school and the business school at Samford are hosting this program on open government laws," said John Carroll, dean of Samford's Cumberland School of Law. "Dialogue on this issue is critical to the framing of a test for access which accommodates the needs of government for secrecy and the public's right to know."
Lunch is provided, but space is limited. RSVPs should be made to Pam Davis at (205) 726-2781 or via email to email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:dd032da2-8953-4357-aaf4-ae154aa36efd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://samford.edu/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=2147498217 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946584 | 449 | 1.710938 | 2 |
- n. Any generally straight bladed double edged sword large enough that it required the use of two hands to wield it effectively.
“His +3 Keen Longsword and +2 frost shortsword are as expensive as a single +5 weapon (for example a +1 holy shocking greatsword of wounding or a +1 keen falchion of speed).”
“It is also defended by 10 orc soldiers (was 15 before the PCs got their hands on them) that are War1s but have an effective hp of 22 because of their orcish ferocity, AC 15, and attack with a greatsword at +5 for 2d6+4 points of damage.”
“A mighty barbarian, crafty rogue or maybe a bard who likes to swing a greatsword.”
“She wore Ebonhawke armor and bore a greatsword in both hands.”
“Tamyris swings at it next, her greatsword severing its arm at the shoulder.”
“A monstrous hulk of a man, Gregor wields a two-handed greatsword in battle and has a volatile, quick temper.”
“Sir Ranulph, trusty greatsword, 'Steelcutter' in hand, is hacking his way towards Jasmine.”
“Specifcially, HBO has requested their conceptual drawings for Ice, the ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword of House Stark.”
“The second horseman of the Apocalypse – War – rides a red horse, and wields a greatsword …”
“We packed what we could into boxes but our weaponry (especially my staff and anton's 8 ft greatsword) is going to be shipped via FedEx by my family in the next couple of weeks.”
These user-created lists contain the word ‘greatsword’.
Looking for tweets for greatsword. | <urn:uuid:ee765e52-6cd1-4f2a-88cf-25d1d2d9c4c0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wordnik.com/words/greatsword | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935329 | 403 | 1.625 | 2 |
Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, internet gambling, internet gaming, Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act, Barney Frank
WASHINGTON -- The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act became the law of the land on June 1, four years after Congress passed the measure and President George W. Bush signed it.
The law forbids American banks from transferring funds to online casinos that are not licensed in the U.S. and that operate through offshore servers. But some of the most popular online gambling sites said they did not expect their businesses to be materially affected by the UIGEA. Consumers can easily use their U.S. bank debit cards to make deposits to "front" companies in order to evade banking restrictions and gamble on offshore Internet casinos, experts said. | <urn:uuid:85d6026f-1238-4372-865b-faad1cd5a537> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?nm=Article+Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=67BBDF651B0D47EE8029DBC2D408F956 | 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 | 0.951593 | 157 | 1.695313 | 2 |
MiniSMock is my minimalistic approach to Mock objects, which can be extremely helpful in testing legacy code as well as code that has a lot of dependencies and is hard to set up.
I wanted something that is extremely lightweight and fits well with SUnit, witout any complex setup rules or other hassle. There are much better and more complete Mock Object frameworks out there, but for my needs the most important requirement was that it’s simple enough to use right away. There really isn’t much to it, not even something that you could call documentation, since it is just one single class. If you want to take a look, feel free to download it from VASTGoodies and use it. Let me know if you find something that is missing.
Reflecting MockObjects – A new kind of intelligence?
Somebody just did exactly that and asked me if they could possible use it in their code base which is quite defensive and uses a lot of reflection to test whether an object is ready to be answer a certain message to. So what they do a lot is ask an object if it #respondsTo: or #isKindOf: and all that nice stuff they always told you to avoid in real code
So there I sat and thought: well, it’s Smalltalk, so there’s not much I can think of that should make it hard to implement in a Mock object. So what I did was implement #respondsTo: so that it first delegates the question to its superclass and if that doesn’t accepts responsibility for the message, goes through its own dictionary of selectors that should be answered. If the message is found, the Mock simply answers true. That’s all. This feature is really just an override of #respondsTo: so there’s nothing you have to do in order to use the feature.
The next two methods need some more preparation: If I want a Mock Object to answer whether it is member of a certain class or any of its superclasses, there is a need to tell the Mock Object what kind of object it is meant to represent. So the implementation of #isKindOf: and #isMemberOf: first delegates to the superclass, and if that answers false, the Mock has to hold it’s faked class name in a variable. I decided to even maintain a list of Classes that a Mock claims to be an instance of, and that is because of the third trick which I’m going to mention a little later. So with the new version of MiniSMock you can set up a Mock object and tell it to #beMockForClass: Customer. Thus it will answer the question #isKindOf: Customer with true. This way you are ready to use the Mock Object in situations where code first asks it if it is a Customer and only then sends it some message. You can send #beMockForClass: multiple times to it, so that it can behave just like a Customer and a Branch at the same time.
And this brings us to a third feature that I learned from a Customer at a testing workshop: Why not use a Mock Object as replacement for not only one object but many?
You may think: huh?
So did I.
Is Mocking a new kind of schizophrenia?
But then he told me they are using this to make setting up complex mockings easier: sometimes, code needs to navigate a complex structure of objects, like from here to the Customer, to her Address, the City and then ask it for its local tax rates. For certain tests you may not need anything else from a Customer or their Address or City but just the next object to navigate to. With MiniSMock, you’d have to set up a Mock for the Customer which answers another Mock for the Address which in turn would answer a Mock for a City, which then had some local tax rate to answer.
What if you could simply use one MockObject that returned itself every time it is asked for something it has no preconfigured answer to?
So now a Mock Object returns itself if it is asked for its #address (because nobody told it what to answer to the message #address) and also if it is asked for its #city and then answer 25.0 to the message #localTaxRate, because that is an answer that was configured. Thus you can save a lot of setup work and use one Mock Object for a complete object structure – or a subsystem that you want to avoid to start in your tests.
I thought this idea is so cool that I just had to implement it in MiniSMock and it already is in use in my testing code. Let me restate that this idea is way too good to be mine, but I am not sure if the person who told me about it would want me to give him credit in a blog post, so I’ll just say that this is a very cool idea that I simply adapted in MiniSMock. I don’t know if it is present in any other Mock Object implementation.
Because this is a change in how MiniSMock handles messages that were not pre-configured (currently it throws a dNU exception after logging the message as not understood) , I had to add a new flag to MockObject which defaults to the old behavior. That means that if you want to use a MockObject in the way I describe it here, you have to send it the message #beMockTraversal or set #mockTraversal: to true.
Don’t panic, sanity is not in danger!
So now you understand why a Mock Object can represent multiple classes and why you can send it #beMockForClass: multiple times: If your code sends any of the “intermediate” objects the message #isKindOf: or #isMemberOf:, you can make it give the desired answer. This additional step is only necessary if there is reflection in play.
I am on the road today and cannot upload the latest Version of MiniSMock (0.2) to VASTGoodies right now, but will do so very soon. Maybe I will even find the time and patience to write a little tutorial or such, but you should easily understand what MiniSMock is all about by reading the TestCase. | <urn:uuid:7128bfcc-84cf-46bd-bba4-1ea82bb850a8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://joachimtuchel.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/minismock-is-just-learning-a-few-new-tricks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953129 | 1,313 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Kim Terry, Director of Marketing and Communications
Published: June 14, 2012
Have you ever thought that you’d get organized if you just had a little more time, and then realized that if you had a little more time, you’d probably already be organized?
Whether being organized is the chicken or the egg, you can pick up some hints on how to achieve it with the Edmond Library’s, 10 S. Boulevard, “Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home” on Tuesday, June 19 from 6:30-8:00p.m. Amber Austin, a certified Family Manager Coach and member of the National Association of Professional Organizers will be on hand for guidance and advice.
“It’s hard these days,” said librarian Mary Ann Johnson, “to find anyone whose life isn’t busy, and a lot of people would gladly accept some help in organizing things if they only knew where to look for it. That’s where our program comes in. Amber Austin will share ideas to help you make a home that a family can feel good about. That means reducing stress every way you can.”
Call the Edmond Library at 341-9282 to register. The program is free but space is limited
For more information about this or any Metropolitan Library System program, visit the MLS website, www.metrolibrary.org.
The Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County includes 13 libraries and five extension libraries. Libraries include Belle Isle, Capitol Hill, Patience S. Latting Northwest, Ralph Ellison, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, and Southern Oaks in Oklahoma City, as well as Bethany, Choctaw, Del City, Edmond, Midwest City, Village and Warr Acres. Extensions are located in the communities of Harrah, Jones, Luther and Nicoma Park and include Wright Library in Oklahoma City. You can also reach us at www.metrolibrary.org. | <urn:uuid:037bfcb0-f864-479d-9681-b0ae13c00e9e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mls.lib.ok.us/mls/mls_news/2012/busy_moms_edmond_2012-06.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946208 | 414 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Home > Better Life with Music
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Better Life with Music
Bring more music into your life!
Roland invites everyone to experience the joy of making music.
Synths kinda look difficult. But not anymore. I can play it anytime and anywhere. Of course, I can have fun anywhere in the house with everybody. When I strap it on, I feel like a musician.
I just started learning the piano again, and I really enjoy it. It's rekindled my interest in music, and now I go to more concerts with my friends. Next week, I'm going to play the piano with a choir group—I can't wait to play all the music I've been practicing!
With this drum set, I can play silently with headphones anytime I want and never bother anybody. My Dad and my drum teacher tell me they wish they had this kind of drum set when they were young. Drums are so cool—I'm dreaming of joining a band when I go to junior high school.
Recently, I started a band with some friends. It's great fun, and it really takes my mind off the stresses in life. Today, I'm having a musical session with my family. I'm pleased that my son is getting so good on the drums!
This lets me turn my favorite songs into backing tracks so I can play along as if I'm a member of the band. This is so exciting! It's helping me get ready for my live show at the school festival next month.
This thing makes me feel like I'm an artist! It lets me add different kinds of effects to my voice, making my vocals sound full and rich like my favorite pro singers.
I'm sure playing a lot of concerts with this portable synth. My graduation trip is coming up soon—my JUNO is so easy to travel with, I think I'll take it with me!
Recently, many friends have said that I look more cheerful and fashionable. Maybe that's because I so enjoy making music with my friends out in the street. Singing keeps you youthful, you know.
I love being a guitarist. I have a lot of musician friends, and we have endless jam sessions together. I want to keep on jamming with them even after I start my working career.
It's amazing how easy it is to record and burn a CD with this! Right now, I'm making a memorial CD for their once-in-a-lifetime event. It's so great for these special occasions...maybe I'll take this to my niece's piano concert next week and make a CD for her!
For the first time in many years, our old band got back together for this wedding reception. We rehearsed at a studio last week, and it was just like old times. Plus, it's so nice to play music as a gift for our good friends.
So, her new husband plays piano, too? They could have a family concert in their living room after they have their first child. But that may be a few years down the road….maybe I'll take this synth to their new home so we can have another party there!
With its compact size, it was easy to take this drum set with me and play at the party. I'm really enjoying jamming at today's celebration! | <urn:uuid:f9114cc6-7cd7-4922-8b01-03436451f600> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.roland.com/betterlife/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980694 | 690 | 1.53125 | 2 |
At night curious sounds rule the air with impunity. Sounds shrouded in mystery, like the darkness itself. It is these sounds that kept me awake longer than the others. My heart was always beating wildly as these sounds, each one unique, each in succession like a band in a parade. These were moments when I felt alone in the dark, like some mysterious hand had grabbed me and thrown me into a sea of darkness where I was all alone and vulnerable. However, it was neither the shrill chirp of crickets nor the sound of cats prowling the night that made me withdraw deeper into my blanket; it was the sound of the night runner.
Night runners formed part of the many horrors in my nights. We heard about their strange ways from the elders, who told many tales about these mysterious people. They told us how night runners would run around with fire brands, and how fireflies followed them at night. We heard stories about men who had been petrified by night runners such that they were unable to move a limb! Moreover, they told of methods of capturing them, like burning a broom in the night, this supposedly caused a night runner to swell up. However, the differences and apparent exaggerations in these stories only made the night runner seem more mysterious than ever.
One day in the middle of the night, when all of us had eaten and had retired to bed-my younger brother slept over at my parent’s house while my little sister and I slept at our grandmother’s- everyone was asleep except for me. My fear of the night runners kept me awake. At first there was silence, as if a mysterious conductor of the night had just signaled his orchestra to stop. Everything was so quiet, I could hear my own heart beating, too loud it seemed. Then a dog barked in a distance, and then there was dead silence. By this time I was trying as much as possible to stifle my breathing for fear it was too loud. Suddenly the sounds I dreaded the most begun ; it was like the sound of shuffling feet as they went around the house, they sounded so clear, it was as though my ears had gained a supernatural abilities! Then again, silence. My heart jumped into my mouth when suddenly something landed on the roof with a loud bang. The darkness seemed darker, quieter and more sinister.
The sounds of what I thought to be footsteps, running around the house was followed by silence. In the eyes of my imagination, I saw the night runner; stark naked, dark and cruel, picking stones and laughing to himself with glee. I could see him dancing with a jig: celebrating his kingdom; the moonlit night. He raised his arms to the moon, shaking his hips, power and control all in his hands. No one would dare wake up to defy him. No one would dare stand up against the ruler of the night, the holder of fear. I felt small, conquered, intimidated to the point of paralysis.
With fear coursing through my body like an electric current, my mind coursed back to the scary stories I had heard about the night runner. I could remember the night when my baby sister Millie threw a tantrum. She had accidentally spilled her millet gruel on the table. Her face lit by the light from the tin lamp, I could see her contort it slowly into an expression of pain, as her mouth slowly opened to let out a scream. It took around two minutes before her piercing cry tore through the air. My grandmother rushed into the house from the grass thatched kitchen, concern written on her face. Once she had heard what the problem was, she told tried calm Millie by telling the story of the hippopotamus-riding night runner. This night runner, she said, disliked crying children and would come to kidnap Millie in the night if she did not stop crying. Millie immediately kept quiet and looked at me with tear marks still on her cheeks. This narration may have helped grandmother to calm Millie but it planted a seed of dread in my mind. From then on whenever I went out at night I feared I would meet the night runner on a hippo.
Suddenly the sound of sand landing on the roof shook me out of my thoughts. My fear streamed back and sweat poured over my body like water. My head was becoming too heavy for my left arm as I had been lying on my left side, away from the wall, and was becoming fatigued. I knew I needed to lie on my right side but was afraid of making a noise. I did not want the night runner to know that someone was paying attention to his antics. Such awareness, I was afraid, would cause him to come after me. Then, like an answer to my prayer my grandmother started muttering in her sleep. She was talking to someone in her dreams about a goat that got lost three days ago. This had actually happened and I was one of those who had been dispatched to search for the goat. We had named the goat ‘Amila’ meaning “restless”. The animal always seemed to like bushes and lonely places. It never liked the leaves at the edge but instead went deeper into the bushes. So we had spent hours searching for it in deep scrub. Dry acacia trees that grew in the fields had dried up and were shedding their thorns, so my companions and I had to endure pricks from them. It was there that we found a stick burnt at the end lying on the ground. One of my cousins said that it had been left there by a night runner. So when our search lasted until dark, I could not help but look out for a night runner. We later found the goat at my distant uncle’s homestead. I remembered he had let out a loud belly laugh when he heard us calling the goat ‘Amila’, the restless one. I used my grandmother’s muttering as a cover while I turned onto my right side. “When will this end?” I thought to myself. I knew that the night runner was outside, but the silent stillness made me feel like he was right there in the house! Was the night runner real, or was he just a creation of others and disguised in my fears of the night? If he was real, could he hear me in the house? Could he hear my breath or was I giving him the power to hear me? Were my efforts to keep quiet only making me louder? However, the more I thought the more confused I became, the only way to answer these questions was to go outside and verify this for myself.
The previous night had been better than this night. Similarly I had waited in anticipation for the arrival of the night runner. However, I was taken over by sleep before the night runner started his camaraderie. But this night was different; it was as if the creator of my terror had consulted a witch doctor who had assured him that I would be kept awake.
© Rogers Nyabola. | <urn:uuid:71d6bbfa-f907-4e58-a366-f1d89524fabb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://storymojaafrica.wordpress.com/archives-20112012/sounds-in-the-night-%E2%80%93-part-one/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.990767 | 1,439 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual - Policy 2310: Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities
Date Originally Issued: 08-02-2004
Subject to Change Without Notice
In keeping with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, the University is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities. The University shall provide reasonable academic adjustments as defined in Section 3.3. herein, to qualified students with disabilities as necessary to ensure equality of access to the courses, programs, services, and facilities of the University. However, students with disabilities are still required to adhere to all University policies, including policies concerning conduct and performance.
The student is responsible for demonstrating the need for an academic adjustment by providing University Accessibility Resource Center with complete and appropriate current documentation that establishes the disability, and the need for and appropriateness of the requested adjustment(s). The University is responsible for all costs of academic adjustments. The following sections provide procedures for students, faculty, and staff on academic adjustment requirements.
2. Procedures for Requesting and Determining Academic Adjustments
The first step in the process for a student who seeks academic adjustment because of a disability is to register with the Accessibility Resource Center Office and submit documentation of the disability from a licensed or certified professional in order to become eligible for services. Applicants to, or students in, the UNM School of Medicine and the Colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy should contact the UNM School of Medicine Manager of Student Learning Support Services for information on requesting academic adjustment. Applicants to, or students in, the UNM Law School should notify the Law School Registrar as well as the Accessibility Resource Center. Once a student establishes that he or she has a disability, the University will work with the student to determine what academic adjustments are appropriate and reasonable in accordance with Section 3.3. herein.
2.1. Student Responsibilities
It is the student's responsibility to demonstrate the need for an academic adjustment by providing Accessibility Resource Center with complete and appropriate current documentation that establishes the disability, and the need for and appropriateness of the requested adjustment(s). Accessibility Resource Center can provide information on the kind of documentation that is required. If the initial documentation is incomplete or inadequate, the student will be required to provide additional documentation at the student's expense.
Accessibility Resource Center will determine a student's eligibility and, in consultation with the student, will determine effective and appropriate academic adjustments in accordance with Section 3.3. herein. Accessibility Resource Center may consult with other University departments, as necessary, in order to make a determination of eligibility and what academic adjustments are appropriate and reasonable. Accessibility Resource Center will send a letter, per the student's request, to faculty, with a copy to cognizant department chairs, informing the faculty members of what adjustment(s) the student is to receive. Accessibility Resource Center is responsible for costs relating to academic adjustments that are part of instructional courses at the Albuquerque campus. Branch campuses are generally responsible for costs relating to academic adjustments for their students.
Once the student has established his or her eligibility for academic adjustments, Accessibility Resource Center will provide appropriate adjustments as expeditiously as possible. Generally, adjustments will be in place within fifteen (15) working days; however, some adjustments can require a longer period of time to arrange. Therefore, students are encouraged to pre-register with Accessibility Resource Center before classes begin so that adjustments can be in place when needed at the start of the semester. If pre-registration is not possible, students should register at the start of the semester or as soon as the need for an adjustment becomes known, and Accessibility Resource Center will make every effort to accommodate the student's needs as soon as possible. Requests received right at or after the start of a semester may result in the student being without the adjustment for part of the semester. Students should be aware that an academic adjustment does not apply retroactively, so that grades earned on exams, assignments, or other classroom activities before the adjustment takes effect will not be changed.
2.2. Faculty Responsibilities
Faculty members must provide students with the academic adjustments identified in the letter from Accessibility Resource Center. If the faculty member has questions or concerns, or needs help with making the modifications called for, he or she should contact Accessibility Resource Center. If a student discloses a disability to a faculty member and requests an academic adjustment but the student does not have a letter from Accessibility Resource Center, the faculty member should direct the student to Accessibility Resource Center. It is not the faculty member's responsibility to decide whether the student has a disability and what adjustments are appropriate. Faculty can help the University meet its obligations to provide students with academic adjustments in a timely manner by stating on their class syllabus that students should inform them of any special needs as soon as possible. Students who do so should be referred to Accessibility Resource Center.
In most instances the academic adjustment determination made by Accessibility Resource Center will be acceptable to the student and faculty. However, if that is not the case, the determination is subject to appeal. In addition, the student can appeal a determination by an academic unit that an adjustment would result in a fundamental alteration of a course or program. The Provost/HSC Dean, or designee, will convene an ad hoc committee to consider the appeal. Members of the ad hoc committee will include representatives from relevant University departments as determined on a case-by-case basis. The ad hoc committee will follow the appeal procedures listed in Exhibit A. The ad hoc committee will make a recommendation to the Provost/HSC Dean, or designee, whose decision on the appeal is final for the University. Every effort should be made to arrive at a determination of the appeal as expeditiously as possible.
3. Criteria for Determining Academic Adjustments
The University shall make academic adjustments for the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified student with a disability, unless the University can show that providing an adjustment would result in:
- a fundamental alteration of the service, course, program, or activity;
- an undue financial, administrative, or academic burden, and/or;
- a direct threat to the health or safety of the student or others.
3.1. Individual with a Disability
An individual with a disability is a person who has, or has had a record of, or is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, or working.
3.2. Qualified Student with a Disability
A qualified student with a disability is a student with a disability who meets the academic and technical standards required for admission and participation in the programs and activities of the University of New Mexico.
3.3. Academic Adjustment
An academic adjustment is a modification or adjustment to instructional methods and/or to a course, program, service, or facility of the University that enables a qualified student with a disability to have equal access and opportunity to attain the same level of performance and to enjoy equal benefits and privileges as are available to similarly-situated students without a disability. Determining reasonable academic adjustments must be done on a case-by case basis and in consultation with the student. The University is not required to provide the specific adjustment requested, but the adjustment must be effective to enable a qualified student with a disability to enjoy equal opportunity and access. All offers of adjustments are subject to applicable University policies.
3.3.1. Course or Program Modifications
The University shall provide such modifications to courses, programs, or educational requirements as are necessary and appropriate to enable a qualified student with a disability to enjoy equal opportunity and access. However, the University is not required to fundamentally alter the essential nature of a course or academic program. Reasonable academic adjustments may include, but are not limited to, extended time on an examination or paper, and oral instead of written examinations, where appropriate.
3.3.2. Auxiliary Aids and Services
Reasonable academic adjustments in the form of auxiliary aids and services may include, but are not limited to: note-takers, readers, Braille or large print materials, and sign language interpreters. However, the University is not required to provide devices or services of a personal nature such as personal attendants or personal devices utilized in activities of daily living.
4. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator for The University of New Mexico is the Director of the University Office of Equal Opportunity. Students who believe that they have been discriminated against on the basis of a disability may contact the Office of Equal Opportunity to file a complaint.
Exhibit A. - Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities: Appeal Rights Procedures | <urn:uuid:25c037f3-1918-4f93-abda-6d3a7deaff2e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/2000/2310.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947352 | 1,813 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Editor's note: The next Latino in America documentary focuses on Latino voters and airs in October 2012. Follow @cnnlia for more updates on other Latino in America stories.
By Rafael Romo, Senior Latin American Affairs Editor
(CNN) - If there was still any doubt about Mitt Romney's position on immigration, it was erased last Thursday during the CNN Republican presidential debate in Mesa, Arizona.
The former Michigan governor referred to Arizona's controversial HB1070 law as "a model" for the nation. The initiative approved in 2010 that cracks down on illegal immigration has been denounced by Hispanic and immigration rights groups as extreme.
Romney also said that "the right course for America is to drop these lawsuits against Arizona ... I'll also complete the (border) fence. I'll make sure we have enough border patrol agents to secure the fence and I'll make sure we have an (employment eligibility federal database) E-Verify system and require employers to check the documents of workers."
Hispanic voters won't decide Tuesday's primaries in Arizona and Michigan, because few are registered as Republicans in those states; but it will be an entirely different story during the November presidential elections.
Arizona's Hispanic voters could give the candidate of either party enough of a margin to win the state in November. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, Arizona has 766,000 eligible Hispanic voters, close to 20% of all eligible voters in the Grand Canyon state.
Making statements that can be perceived as anti-immigrant is risky, according to Jennifer Sevilla-Korn, the executive director of the Hispanic Leadership Network, a center-right advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.
"Tone and rhetoric absolutely matter, because the use of language that can be perceived as inflammatory turns the Hispanic community off even if they agree with the candidate on other issues like how to deal with the economy and fiscal responsibility," Sevilla-Korn said.
Mark Lopez, associate director at the Pew Hispanic Center, said, "Latinos have played a growing and important role in the nation's presidential elections over the last few election cycles. There are now more than 21 million Hispanics who are eligible to vote, and Latinos reside in some key states."
According to the U.S. Census, in the 2008 presidential election, Latinos represented 13% of all voters in Colorado, 14% in Nevada, 15% in Florida, and 38% in New Mexico. Those four states will likely be swing states again in 2012. "Even the participation rate among Hispanics in presidential elections has been growing" in those states, says Lopez.
In 2004, former President George W. Bush won more than 40% of the Latino vote. Four years later, 67% of Hispanic voters went for Barack Obama. Experts say anybody getting that kind of support from Latinos next year, whether Democrat or Republican, has a good chance of winning the presidency.
Florida-based political analyst Charles Garcia says he's confident Latino voters will decide the U.S. presidential election in 2012. He points to states like North Carolina, where the number of registered Hispanic voters has almost doubled to more than 130,000 since the last presidential election.
"President Obama won North Carolina in 2008 by 14,000 votes," Garcia said. "In 2008 there were 68,000 registered Latino voters and a whopping 84% of them participated in the election."
According to research done by the CNN Political Team, based on U.S. Census figures there will be 15 swing states in the 2012 presidential elections: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
In a tight race, Garcia said, Hispanic voters could be the margin of victory in 12 of the 15 swing states. The reason? The number of eligible Latino voters in those states has grown by more than 700,000 in the last four years.
"So the important message for the Latino community that's living in one of these 15 swing states is 'Get off your couch and go register to vote because you're going to determine the next election' - and that's powerful," Garcia said.
On the Democratic side, Garcia points out, President Obama hasn't delivered on a promise he made while campaigning: comprehensive immigration reform.
"What he's done is he has deported 400,000 immigrants a year - a total of 1.2 million so far - and he hasn't delivered on the Dream Act," Garcia said. The Dream Act is a bill that would give a path towards citizenship to undocumented young people attending college or serving in the armed forces.
As the GOP primaries play out and as the focus shifts toward the general election in November, Latino voters likely will find themselves more and more the focus of candidates' attention in those key swing states. Which candidate will get those voters' attention in the polling booth is a question that will be answered in the weeks and months ahead. | <urn:uuid:7817bb92-b698-42fe-85e8-98c664752798> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/27/the-latino-vote-a-factor-in-swing-states-come-november/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964196 | 1,006 | 1.742188 | 2 |
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Cyprus on Thursday launched an overhaul of its banking sector to avoid financial meltdown after the European Central Bank threatened to pull the plug on emergency funding for the island's lenders.
Cypriot politicians have until Monday to approve a "Plan B" bailout deal with the European Union and International Monetary Fund or face being choked from the ECB funds, a move that would likely cause teetering banks to collapse.
Intense pressure for a deal also came from the EU, with a source warning that unless the island pushed a workable plan through parliament and restructured its outsized banking sector by Tuesday it risked expulsion from the eurozone.
But MPs adjourned an emergency session late Thursday without voting on the first two bills in a package of draft legislation drawn up by the government as part of its revised plan.
MPs said they needed more time to study the bills setting up a "national solidarity fund" and imposing capital controls to prevent a run on the banks when they reopen on Tuesday after a closure of more than a week.
The new solidarity scheme would nationalise pension funds, with bonds issued against future natural gas revenues, while the second bill would "impose temporary restrictive measures on the movement of capital".
Central bank chief Panicos Demetriades said legislation had also been drafted "relating to the reorganisation and recovery of the Cypriot banking system".
"This consolidation process will prevent the risk of bank failures and protect in their entirety all insured deposits up to the amount of 100,000 euros ($129,000)," he said as he entered the presidential palace for emergency talks with the cabinet.
The government urged against panic while it redrew the plan to resolve the chaos unleashed by an initial scheme to tax bank accounts by 5.8 billion euros ($7.47 billion) to complement 10 billion euros in eurozone and IMF loans between now and 2016.
The speaker of parliament, Yiannakis Omirou, insisted a revised levy on bank deposits was not on the table, in a move seen as placating Russians who are believed to have more than $30 billion in private and corporate cash in Cyprus banks.
Around 200 protesters outside the legislature, mostly employees of the bank in the eye of the storm, including many women, held placards reading "Hands off Laiki," and "Laiki now, what next?" of the Laiki or Cyprus Popular Bank.
Popular Bank announced a limit on withdrawals of 260 euros a day because of a "high demand for cash" from its ATMs, which were besieged by customers drawing their daily limits of up to 700 euros.
The central bank chief said that without the legislation the island's second largest bank faced the threat of immediate bankruptcy.
"With the establishment and enactment of the above legislative framework, consolidation measures will be implemented at Popular Bank, in order for it to be able to continue to provide banking services to customers, with the reopening of banks on Tuesday," said Demetriades.
Acting leader of the ruling Disy party Averof Neophytou said restructuring Popular Bank would provide 100 percent protection for 361,000 out of 379,000 account holders.
The remainder would not enjoy full protection because they exceeded the 100,000-euro limit for deposit insurance.
Neophytou said that restructuring the banks would also cut their recapitalisation needs, meaning the sum Cyprus needs to raise from its own resources in return for a 10-billion-euro bailout would be reduced from 5.8 billion euros to 3.5 billion.
The troika of lenders -- the EU, ECB and International Monetary Fund -- agreed to the 10-billion-euro bailout on Saturday on condition Cyprus come up with the rest.
Lawmakers on Tuesday flatly rejected a highly unpopular measure that would have slapped a one-time levy of up to 9.9 percent on bank deposits as a condition for the loan, leaving the government scrambling to find other ways to raise the money.
The chairman of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, said currency partners were willing to work with Nicosia on its new plans.
"The Eurogroup stands ready to discuss with the Cypriot authorities a draft new proposal, which it expects the Cyprus authorities to present as rapidly as possible," Dijsselbloem said after a two-hour conference call with fellow ministers.
An EU source speaking on condition of anonymity underlined that Nicosia had "until Tuesday" to broker a solid deal -- suggesting Cyprus might otherwise find itself kicked out of the eurozone.
In Moscow, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev slammed the European proposals to solve the Cyprus crisis as "absolutely absurd," further raising tension between Russia and the European Union.
Despite the large Russian holdings in Cyprus, the island's finance minister failed to make any progress in two days of Moscow talks to secure aid. | <urn:uuid:cd2c7a12-c2a6-44b8-a8d7-2a1a4b962b74> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130321/cyprus-launches-banking-overhaul-meltdown-looms-0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95132 | 1,001 | 1.617188 | 2 |
A federal judge said on Friday he would issue an injunction barring Vonage from using Internet phone call technology patented by Verizon, but delayed signing the order for two weeks.
Vonage shares fell sharply after the ruling, falling 16.8 percent, or 68 cents, to $3.37 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
The two-week period gives Vonage time to try and convince U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton to stay his injunction while it appeals the entire case. “I will sign the injunction at the time I rule on the stay,” he said.
Hilton agreed with Verizon that it would suffer irreparable harm if he allowed continued infringement of the voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies that allow consumers to make calls over the Internet.
He rejected arguments by Vonage that the harm to Verizon was outweighed by other factors, including the public interest.
A jury on March 8 found Vonage had infringed three patents owned by Verizon. The jury said Vonage must pay $58 million plus 5.5 percent royalties on future sales.
“They could not have been commercially successful if they had not taken these patents we have and put them into their technologies,” Dan Webb, an attorney for Verizon, said at Friday’s hearing on the injunction request.
Webb also cited documents Vonage filed with the court under seal, saying an injunction would cause “enormous business difficulties” for Vonage. Webb said the Vonage filings suggested that “they can’t live with an injunction because of the way their technology is designed.”
However, Vonage’s chief lawyer, Sharon O’Leary, told Reuters that Vonage customers would not be affected by the case. She declined to comment on the sealed, or secret, documents the company filed with the court.
O’Leary also she was pleased that the judge gave the company two weeks to try and stop the injunction.
“We will get the stay, either through the district court or the federal circuit court of appeals,” O’Leary said. She said Judge Hilton himself raised the possibility that he could be overturned on appeal during arguments on Friday.
O’Leary said she was optimistic the company could get an appeals court to overturn both the injunction and the jury’s verdict.
|copyright © 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.| | <urn:uuid:70cbff02-7b9d-4639-8768-500fe5f85899> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.soft32.com/judge-to-issue-injunction-on-vonage-shares-plunge_3783.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969062 | 503 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Adult Residential Services
Since 1972, EMARC has offered a wide variety of supported housing to adults with developmental disabilities. While the primary disability is mental retardation, we serve individuals with secondary issues such as: mental illness, blindness, autism; and medical conditions that span from Alzheimer's Disease to those with physical disabilities. We support individuals from 22 years of age in a variety of housing situations located in Melrose, Reading, Lynn, Saugus and Wakefield.
Our services are based on the belief that the individual with the disability is the primary decision-maker in their lives. Each person deserves dignity and our respect. Person-centered training and support services facilitate individual growth and accomplishments. Encouraging and supporting family involvement and fostering relationships is essential for personal well being.
24-Hour Support Group Homes
Over sixty people are currently supported in 10 homes. Each home is uniquely designed in terms of staffing, layout, location, and the level of emotional and educational assistance provided. Bedrooms are chosen and decorated to the individual's personal preferences and tastes; while the common areas such as living room, dining room and kitchen reflect the collective tastes of all the roommates. Support plans are also individualized and have ranged in focus from skill areas such as money management and health care management, to planning a dream vacation.
Supported Living Apartments & Houses
Approximately 24 people are supported to live in a more independent setting in apartments and homes in various local communities. People in the Supported Living Program receive between four and twenty hours of Mentor support each week. Support plans are based on individual need and range from learning or improving daily living skills to increasing community involvement or learning about healthier lifestyles.
Our residential programs are monitored for quality by our Residential Committee, our Board of Directors, our Human Rights Committee and by the Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Referrals for EMARC's residential services are through the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities. | <urn:uuid:fa531df0-6269-4d79-b967-837214311ca8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theemarc.org/adult-residential-services-3.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960514 | 392 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Proud sport's belly-flop at Games such a toxic waste
The crux ... swimming is crying out for the professional administration taken for granted in other top sports.
It does not seem long ago that Australian swimmers were beacons of athletic supremacy and models of wholesome virtue. A gold medal in one hand, a muesli bar in the other and a politician with an opportunistic arm draped around their broad shoulders.
After the release of two reports on Tuesday, a far less flattering image of Australian swimming has emerged; that of an Olympic team deeply confused and divided. Young swimmers distracted by troublemakers, daunted by unrealistic expectations, depressed by failure, belittled by a star system and led by befuddled officials whose management skills make David Brent look like Donald Trump.
It is a startling downfall for a proud sport now portrayed as distracted and decayed. One in which a handful of recalcitrant and egotistical swimmers have gone unchallenged, to the detriment of their own performance and that of their teammates.
The Australian Sports Commission's independent review of Australian swimming, chaired by Warwick Smith, sucks the pool dry. Forensically, it exposes the sport's poor management, transparency, communication, consultation, accountability, stakeholder engagement, use of resources, lines of reporting . . . name your management buzz phrase.
The report is both damning and highly prescriptive. From the appointment of an all-powerful high-performance manager, to the return of yellow caps – swimming's "baggy green". But the 35 recommendations might be summarised in a sentence: Swimming is crying out for the professional administration taken for granted in other top sports.
Mercifully, given swimming already spends twice as much as the average Olympic sport on high performance, it does not call for greater funding. It does demand greater co-operation with the representatives of swimmers who are disadvantaged both financially, and in the pool, by poor administration.
The ASC report is vital for swimming's future governance. But, for those wondering what took place on the pool deck in London, the Bluestone Report into the swimming team's culture is more compelling. Not merely because it alludes to the troubles of some superfish out of water, but because it provides an intimate insight into the competing factors faced by athletes, coaches and officials – and what happens when they simultaneously reach an intersection where the traffic lights are flashing orange.
Demanding coaches under pressure to justify their positions. The generational difficulties of imposing discipline on highly-strung performance. Conflicting individual and team priorities. And, most significantly, the need for firm and inspiring leadership of sometimes strong-willed and recalcitrant competitors. Swimming failed these challenges and belly-flopped.
The most damning line in Pippa Grange's report will be oft-repeated: "There were enough culturally toxic incidents across enough team members that breached agreements [such as getting drunk, misuse of prescription drugs, breeching curfews, deceit, bullying] to warrant a strong, collective leadership response that included coaches, staff and the swimmers. No such collective action was taken."
The misbehaviour seems dramatic. But, more disturbing than a few nights on the booze, is how an environment in which a number of minor incidents afflicted and debilitated an entire team was created. Particularly the lack of backbone displayed by the team management, whose fierce desire for gold medals clearly undermined the imposition of discipline.
Troublemakers were not punished. Nor were those who diminished team unity by failing to attend meetings or to sit in the grandstand and cheer teammates. The rod was spared on the self-defeating premise it would harm the miscreants' performances.
Similarly, stars were feted and others felt marginalised. As the report states: "One person said he felt that it was not really about whether you swam your heart out, it was about whether you could sell your heart out."
Nothing was done to deflate the enormous public expectations, even of swimmers who had made the team with "soft times". Yet, there was no mechanism to cope with the deflation suffered by athletes humiliated by their public "failure". There was no dedicated team psychologist. Swimmers who should have been working on their recovery spent time justifying their performances – and themselves – to ignorant social media critics. Exhausting and isolating. Thus, for some, it became the "Lonely Olympics".
As Grange observes, "the science of winning appeared to whitewash the art of leadership". Shambolic in a sport struggling to attract sponsors and broadcasters, and to pay its athletes a worthwhile wage. Will either report necessarily improve Australia's chances of greater success in a competitive environment? Perhaps.
What swimming can certainly do is improve the chances of athletes achieving their best, and coping with the outcome. Which is the least they deserve. | <urn:uuid:240183da-1562-47a0-a424-278e40ffc03d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/proud-sports-bellyflop-at-games-such-a-toxic-waste-20130219-2epdx.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973827 | 1,000 | 1.5 | 2 |
The world now knows why President Obama reversed his earlier decision to release the 2,000 photos of prisoners barbarically tortured, abused, and humiliated under the direction of the Bush/Cheney gang.
Some of the photos of the prisoners show U.S. personnel torturing, sexual assaulting and raping male and female detainees, including children. The existence of these photos was confirmed by former Major General Antonio Taguba. Taguba had earlier been in charge of the inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
On May 21, Cheney went on national television to defend torture and sickeningly attacked Obama for sacrificing "innocent lives to spare a captured terrorist from unpleasant things." We'd like to hear him explain how rape and sexual assault are just "unpleasant things" that have spared innocent lives. The last few months has proven that the abuses, the sexual assault, and the most barbaric violations of human rights cannot be attributed to a few bad apples. Such tactics were commonplace, officially sanctioned and elevated to the level of government policy.
The torture methods, like the war itself, have never been about saving lives. A recent column in the Nation echoed what IndictBushNow reported last week: "The Bush administration, hellbent on justifying its forthcoming invasion of Iraq, was ransacking the intelligence bureaucracy to find or produce two things that, it turns out, did not exist: weapons of mass destruction programs in Iraq and cooperation between Al Qaeda and the regime of Saddam Hussein."
The Iraqi people have never waged war on the United States and no Iraqis took part in the attacks of 9/11. Bush & co. wanted to go to war, and were just looking for an excuse.
So why, given the recent revelations, has Dick Cheney responded so publicly in defense of the Bush administration's war crimes? He's afraid! He's not just concerned about preserving the administration's "legacy" -- he's concerned about preserving his own neck.
Don't believe us? Take it from Cheney's daughter, Liz, who recently explained her father's outspokenness on CNN: "He certainly did not plan when he left office to be doing this... Then when [Obama] suggested in the Oval Office itself that he would be open to the prosecution of former Bush administration officials including many who weren’t political appointees potentially, you know really, I think, made my dad realize this was just fundamentally wrong. We had to speak out."
Our argument for prosecution is becoming irresistible. The fact is that every revelation lays bare a whole new level of criminality. The more details come about the Bush administration's heinous acts and deliberate deception of the American people, the more people are starting to talk about justice. Already, many people who once said, "we need to move forward" are beginning to reconsider: no one can move forward until we have come to terms with the country's past. That means accountability: the indictment of the criminals.
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Please help us continue this work with a generous donation. The truth is coming out and the pressure is building, but we can’t do it without your contribution. Please click this link to donate today.
--From all of us at IndictBushNow.org
All active news articles | <urn:uuid:ee87eae3-d3de-45c4-9f78-0a216310cccf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.impeachbush.org/site/News2/635068875?page=NewsArticle&id=5375&news_iv_ctrl=1281 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964924 | 661 | 1.679688 | 2 |
There was an international uproar when, on Sept. 4, in Afghanistan's Kunduz Province, an American fighter jet under NATO command bombed a group of Taliban fighters who had hijacked two fuel tanker trucks. The trucks exploded, the fighters were killed, and so were a still-undetermined number of Afghan civilians.
The civilian deaths sent shudders through the American military command, already fearful that civilian casualties would further alienate the Afghan public. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top American commander in Afghanistan, was said to be angry and determined to tighten the U.S. force's already strict rules of engagement even more to avoid future civilian deaths.
Then something odd happened. When McChrystal met with local leaders in Kunduz, a few days after the bombing, he got an earful -- but not what he expected.
According to a detailed account in the Washington Post -- a story that has received too little attention in the ongoing debate over U.S. policy in Afghanistan -- the local Afghan leaders told McChrystal to stop being so fussy and to go ahead and kill the enemy, which they said would help bring stability to the region.
Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasekaran was given extraordinary access to the bombing investigation. According to his account, McChrystal began the meeting with a show of sympathy for those who had been killed or wounded. The general didn't get very far before the provincial council chairman, Ahmadullah Wardak, interrupted him.
The security situation has been getting worse in Kunduz, Wardak told McChrystal. American and NATO troops haven't been aggressive enough in pursuing and killing the Taliban. In Wardak's view, the bombing of the fuel tankers, rather than a mistake, was the right thing to do.
"If we do three more operations like was done the other night, stability will come to Kunduz," Wardak said, according to the Post account. "If people do not want to live in peace and harmony, that's not our fault."
Chandrasekaran reported that McChrystal "seemed caught off guard." Wardak clarified a bit more: "We've been too nice to the thugs," he said.
So instead of receiving an angry lecture on America's disregard for Afghan life, the general received an angry lecture on America's hesitance to go after the enemy.
Cut from that scene to a letter written to Sen. Susan Collins last July. It was from a New Portland, Maine, man named John Bernard, father of Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard, then serving with the Marines in Afghanistan.
John Bernard, himself a 26-year veteran of the Marines, was enraged by the military's new, restrictive rules of engagement in Afghanistan. The rules are "nothing less than disgraceful, immoral and fatal for our Marines, sailors and soldiers on the ground," Bernard wrote. Under those rules, U.S. forces "without reinforcement, denial of fire support and refusal to allow them to hunt and kill the very enemy we are there to confront are nothing more than sitting ducks."
The letter, disturbing at the time, became heartbreaking three weeks later, when Joshua Bernard was killed fighting the Taliban in Helmand Province.
His death became national news when the Associated Press published a clearly inappropriate photo of Bernard as he lay wounded. But the bigger news should have been his father's concerns about the rules of engagement.
Now cut again, this time to Sept. 8, when four U.S. Marines were killed when the Taliban ambushed their patrol in Kunar Province. The Marines were taken completely by surprise and pinned down under heavy Taliban fire. Embedded McClatchy reporter Jonathan Landay wrote a harrowing account of their desperate battle to survive.
The rules of engagement again played a role. "U.S. commanders, citing new rules to avoid civilian casualties, rejected repeated calls to unleash artillery rounds at attackers dug into the slopes and tree lines," Landay wrote, "despite being told repeatedly that they weren't near the village."
President Obama is in the middle of a new reassessment of his original reassessment of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. The big question consuming the press is whether Obama will send more troops, and if so, how many. But what American troops are actually doing in Afghanistan is even more important.
Will the president listen to John Bernard, to the troops who are fighting under tight restrictions and even to Ahmadullah Wardak? Will he let them fight the fight?
It's simply wrong to place Americans at risk otherwise.
Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner. | <urn:uuid:cf66b087-76bd-4bff-b347-8af3929ac64c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/content/restrictive-rules-put-american-troops-danger?qt-latest_trending_article_page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96832 | 948 | 1.5625 | 2 |
U.S. Coast Guard Awards
Thomas D. McAdams
Awarded 30 January 1958
His citation reads:
For extreme and heroic daring on the morning
of 23 June 1957, when he assisted in rescuing four persons from drowning at
Yaquina Bay, Newport, Oregon. McAdams was Officer in Charge of the CG-52312
on patrol when information was received that a small boat was standing
into danger north of the north jetty. Before the CG-52312 could
reach the scene, however, the small boat capsized throwing the four
occupants into the surf. McAdams quickly brought the CG-52312
through the outer line of breakers and placed it broadside to present a lee
for the two men and two women in the water. It was soon apparent that
the victims could not help themselves as none seemed able to grasp life
floats and lines thrown within their reach.
Completely disregarding his own personal safety, McAdams went over the side into the turbulent waters and swam to a man who was supporting an unconscious woman. McAdams succeeded in towing them to the vessel and they were taken aboard. The other two victims, meanwhile, had been brought alongside the CG-52312 and taken aboard. During this time the CG-52312 had been hitting bottom each time the breakers swept by and had been driven closer to shore into more dangerous waters. Despite loss of rudder control, and although the heavy breakers at times broke completely over his head, McAdams demonstrated skill and seamanship of the highest order in using the twin engines to maneuver his vessel stern first off the ocean beach through the heavy surf into deep water. His outstanding courage, initiative, fortitude and unwavering devotion to duty while endangering his life during this rescue reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Coast Guard.
BMC (later BMCM) Thomas D. McAdams, USCG
BMCM Thomas D. McAdams, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired)
Master Chief Thomas D. McAdams entered the U.S. Coast Guard on 7 December 1950, at Seattle, Washington. He retired on 1 July 1977, while serving as the Officer-in-Charge of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay, Newport, Oregon.
Master Chief McAdams is noted for his seamanship in small boat operations, especially motor lifeboats. His career spanned working with 36-foot and 44-foot motor lifeboats and he helped in the design of the modern 47-foot motor lifeboat. Throughout the U.S. Coast Guard, his exploits in the high surf of the Pacific Northwest are legendary. He is one of the few people in the service to receive both the Gold Life Saving Medal and the Coast Guard Medal. He earned the Gold Lifesaving Medal for a case in 1957 at Yaquina Bay in which, McAdams, as the coxswain of a 52-foot motor lifeboat, helped save four people capsized in the surf. At one point, McAdams entered the water to help in the rescue. He earned the Coast Guard Medal for a 1968 case near Umpqua River, Winchester, Oregon, where, as coxswain of a 44-foot motor lifeboat, fighting 35-knot winds and 12-15-foot breakers, he rescued three people. McAdams also received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon. His civilian awards include an Oregon Governors Award, the City of Newport, Oregon, Valor Award and the Newport Chamber of Commerce Award for Civil Action.
Thomas D. McAdams also served for many years as an officer in the Newport Volunteer Fire Department. As of 2005, he continues to serve in the fire department.
If one uses publicity as a measure of fame, then Master Chief McAdams is the most famous enlisted person who ever served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He appeared in Life, National Geographic, True and other national publications. He appeared on numerous television programs. Nearing retirement, CBS’s Charles Kuralt also featured McAdams on national television.
Click here to access BMCM McAdams' oral history. | <urn:uuid:f1252db4-5abf-4dbb-9c25-0eb0324a1801> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uscg.mil/history/awards/GoldLSM/23_JUN_1957_1.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968202 | 875 | 1.835938 | 2 |
When mere mortals apply to Brown University, they fill out an application and line up letters from teachers. But Brown University is known for attracting plenty of students whose exceptional qualities relate as much to their families' fame as their own accomplishments. Think Amy Carter, Cosima Von Bulow.
So perhaps it's not surprising that when then-Hollywood übermogul Michael Ovitz's son wanted to enroll in 1999, Ovitz (father, not son) sent word to Brown administrators. As described in a book about to be released, Brown admissions officers found the academic record of the younger Ovitz not close to what would be appropriate for an offer of admission. But they were pressured to admit him anyway, with top administrators far more concerned about the abilities of the elder Ovitz -- to host receptions for Brown administrators to raise money, to bring movie stars to campus, and presumably to help build Brown's endowment.
Though Ovitz's son was admitted, under special status, he didn't last long at Brown and left. Ovitz's daughter followed, apparently with more success. And Brown also gained, as the book describes Brown President Ruth Simmons gushing over Ovitz for arranging a campus appearance in which he appeared with Dustin Hoffman, and for hosting a reception for her at Ovitz's Brentwood mansion.
Neither Ovitz nor Brown University officials would respond to calls to ask about their reactions to the description of their relationship in The Price of Admission: How America's Ruling Class Buys Its Way Into Elite Colleges -- and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates (Random House). Daniel Golden, the author, won a Pulitzer Prize for exploring some of these issues in The Wall Street Journal, but his book contains numerous investigations that have not appeared previously, and that are bound to be controversial.
That American higher education is not a pure meritocracy is, of course, hardly news. But Golden's book has a level of detail about the degree to which he says some colleges favor the privileged that will embarrass many an admissions officer. Golden names names of students -- and includes details about their academic records before college and once there that raise questions about the admissions decisions being made. For good measure, he attacks Title IX (saying that the women's teams colleges create favor wealthy, white applicants), preferences for faculty children (ditto, although substitute middle class for wealthy), and accuses colleges of making Asian applicants the "new Jews" and holding them to much higher standards than other students.
Even before its official release, The Price of Admission is causing considerable fear among the admissions officers of elite colleges. If you want to see an admissions dean really happy, tell her that you can't find her institution in the index. The preferences highlighted in this book are the admissions preferences that college officials don't like to talk about (except perhaps at reunion weekend). Presidents and deans in many cases welcome the opportunity to talk about why they want racial or socioeconomic or geographic diversity in their classes, why it is important that a class include enough string players for the orchestra and enough running backs for the football team. Who hasn't heard an admissions story about recruiting a tuba player from Wyoming -- as the perfect symbol of the art and science of constructing a class.
But preferences for the rich and famous, or generous alumni donors? That's not something people like to talk about. Several deans accused Golden of taking the admissions process out of context (they said the numbers of rich who benefit are small), or being naive (when a billionaire is admitted to the ER, is treatment the same as that for an average Joe?), and of neglecting history (the preferences Golden described were far worse a few generations back). Some argued that it would be racist to eliminate preferences for the children of wealthy alumni now, when for the first time there are starting to be significant numbers of wealthy alumni who aren't white.
Others disputed some details about their institutions, but most acknowledged that the book is likely to increase scrutiny of their practices -- whatever they think of the fairness of the book and its message.
A chapter about Duke University, for example, says that a few years back the institution spread the word among private high schools that it wanted "development admits," those whose families had the potential to become big donors, and that strong academic credentials weren't a requirement.
Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions, said that while the book says this started prior to his arrival, it doesn't ring true to him. "It's certainly not my experience and it doesn't feel right to me as a description of what was happening," he said.
He acknowledged that Duke does consider -- "for a small number of students" -- the ability of their families to make contributions (financial and otherwise) to the university, but he stressed that he regularly "says No" to requests on behalf of such applicants, and that only those capable of doing well in Duke's classrooms are admitted. Asked whether it was fair to do so, even for a small number, he started by talking about how this was similar to the way he considers requests from academic departments, supporters of extracurricular groups, coaches, and others. But he paused when told that all of those potential candidates contributed -- at least in theory -- to the educational environment for all students by virtue of their skills or interests. Isn't money different?
Said Guttentag: "I don't think there is a selective private university that is the kind of university we are that to one degree or another doesn't do this, with the understanding that ultimately the university as a whole and the students benefit from the facilities or financial aid [donated]. When there is a significant financial interest in the university, that's one of the things we take into account."
The Author's Motives
In an interview, Golden said that he became interested in the issue of preferences for the wealthy while he was covering the judicial battles over affirmative action at the University of Michigan. "Everyone was writing about the boosts [in the admissions process] for minority applicants," he said, but he started to realize that there were also explicit boosts for the extremely wealthy and alumni children. He was struck, Golden said, by how little attention such preferences received.
"When people have talked about preferences that aren't based on merit, you have this lineup where the colleges and liberal groups are defending affirmative action and conservatives are attacking it and they are overlooking the elephant in the room," he said. "Both sides have a vested interest in overlooking preferences for the wealthy," he said, because colleges "need the money" they get from favoring the wealthy and conservatives "want their kids to get in."
Judging from those who have favorably blurbed his book, Golden is reaching both sides in the affirmative action debate. Support comes from strong supporters of affirmative action like Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Lani Guinier, with the latter saying that the book shows that "the already privileged are the truly preferred." But the book also wins an endorsement from Diane Ravitch, a critic of affirmative action, who writes that while she "didn't want to believe" the book's thesis, she found the evidence to be "overwhelming."
Chapters in the book focus on different issues: Duke is portrayed as favoring the wealthy, Brown the famous, Harvard University is said to help wealthy and well connected alumni, and the University of Notre Dame is accused of granting too much weight to alumni child status.
At Harvard, Golden focuses on two practices -- the use of the "Z List" and the impact of belonging to an elite group of the university's most generous donors. Like many universities, Harvard tells some of its applicants that they can enroll if they defer for a year, and tells others whom it rejects that they may want to apply again in a year. The Z List, according to Golden, is a special part of this policy. It is a list for 25 to 50 "well connected but often academically borderline applicants" who are told that they can enroll a year later. Membership is closely tied to connections to current or potential donors, and we're talking big donors, not those who send in their $50 checks, according to Golden.
Golden also writes about a Harvard group called the Committee on University Resources, which is generally restricted to those who have given the university at least $1 million, and with many members who have given much more. Of the 340 committee members who have children who are college age or are past college age, 336 children are enrolled or studied at Harvard -- even though the university admits fewer than 1 in 10 candidates and has typically turned away students with top academic records. While Harvard has acknowledged giving "all other factors being equal" preference to loyal alumni children, Golden suggests that this sort of enrollment pattern suggests a much larger preference than the university generally acknowledges.
A Harvard spokesman, via e-mail, did not comment directly on the Z List, but referred to a Harvard publication that encourages applicants to consider taking a year off before college. As for preferences for the children of the wealthiest alumni, the spokesman said that a "substantial majority" of alumni children are not admitted, that the SAT averages for admitted alumni children are slightly higher than those for other students, and that no students are admitted who aren't highly qualified.
At Notre Dame, a university that has become increasingly competitive in admissions over the last 20 years, Golden focuses in on preferences for alumni children. He notes that roughly 1 in 4 freshmen comes from a Notre Dame family, while fewer than 1 in 10 comes from a family in which neither family went to college. To drive home the point, he compares the academic records of specific students admitted and rejected by Notre Dame (and other colleges), to make the point that individuals with better academic and extracurricular records are being passed over for less qualified people from Domer families.
Daniel J. Saracino, assistant provost for admissions at Notre Dame, has read the chapter on his institution and said that he did not dispute any of the figures or examples. But he strongly disagreed that there was anything wrong with Notre Dame favoring its alumni, and said he objected to the idea that the university did so only for financial reasons.
"What [alumni children] are bringing is a unique perspective for Notre Dame, a passion for Notre Dame" that is a contribution to the campus climate in much the same way that a talented scholar, artist or athlete makes contributions to the climate, Saracino said. He added that it was "disingenuous" to suggest that there has "ever been a level playing field in admissions" and that the question should be whether the total of a university's policies end up promoting academic excellence, diversity and the health of the institution.
By focusing on alumni children, and not the university's growing racial diversity or growing financial aid budget or growing academic quality, Saracino said, "you really lose sight of the whole picture."
The Role of Women's Sports
A similar criticism is being leveled at Golden's critique of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which requires gender equity in education programs receiving federal funds. Title IX has prompted many colleges to create new women's teams and in a chapter called "Title IX and the Rise of the Upper-Class Athlete," Golden writes that teams such as fencing, crew and polo have resulted in more admissions slots and scholarships going to wealthy white women who don't need help. Given that many of these sports require expensive training and equipment, Golden writes that only those from prosperous families will learn to play, raising the question of "whether proficiency in squash or sailing or horseback riding should be considered a credential for a college education or just a token of social status."
In an interview, Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women's Sports Foundation, questioned Golden's logic. For starters, she said, some of the sports being created by colleges for women do not require country club membership -- even if it would appear that way. She said, for example, that rowing is notable among college sports (for men and women) in that people with certain kinds of strength and discipline can take up the sport in college, without prior experience. She also said that sports like lacrosse, once "prep school sports," are spreading, and that one can't make assumptions about the economic background of a female lacrosse player.
Lopiano did not contest that there are sports -- particularly equestrian events -- that require real money. But she said that there is a chicken-and-egg question that Golden is answering one way and she would answer another. College can't start teams in certain sports unless they have student bodies with potential players, she said, arguing that colleges don't create polo squads to attract wealthy students, but create polo squads because they already have wealthy students. "The rich kids came first, well before Title IX," she said.
While those whose institutions or causes are attacked in the book are among those taking a critical look, so are those in elite higher education whose colleges come out relatively unscathed. Williams College, for example, doesn't rate an index mention, but does give preference to alumni children and selected others.
Richard L. Nesbitt, director of admissions at Williams, said that roughly 11 to 14 percent of each class is made up of alumni children, and that that ratio has been unchanged for about 30 years. He said that on the "academic rating" applicants receive (based on grades, difficulty of high school program, test scores, teacher recommendations, etc.), there is "no statistical difference" between the alumni group and other students.
The admit rate of alumni children is significantly higher than that for all applicants, Nesbitt said, although he declined to reveal specifics, saying that Williams does not release that information for any subgroup of applicants. But Nesbitt cautioned against thinking that the higher rate means lower standards for that group. Applicants are generally better prepared if they have well educated parents, who are more likely to have the resources to help their children's education. Beyond that, he said, one benefit Williams does give to alumni children is to offer more information in interviews, so that students who are unlikely to be admitted get that message early and are less likely to apply.
Nesbitt said he had difficulty with Golden's thesis that admissions policies that give any preference to alumni children are limiting the overall socioeconomic diversity of elite colleges, and especially the enrollment of Asian students. Colleges like Williams are more diverse every year, he said, enrolling record numbers of Asian students while changing financial aid policies to attract more low-income students of all races and ethnicities.
As to those who do benefit from alumni or fund raising preferences, Nesbitt said that higher education depends on an "intergenerational social contract" in which people give to promote the college, and should be encouraged to do so.
Williams regularly looks at the impact of all of its admissions policies, and Nesbitt said that data indicate that a disproportionate number of student leaders in service activities are alumni children. He noted that 20 percent of the juniors selected by their peers to advise freshmen on their adjustment to the college are legacy admits. "That's reassuring to me," Nesbitt said. "If special consideration is given, there is giving back by these students, too."
In an interview, Golden said that he's not making the claim that all children of the wealthy are necessarily unworthy of attending a good college, or that none of them would be admitted minus their families' names and portfolios. But he said that colleges are taking "the easy way" to raising money and promoting campus cohesion.
In the book, he cites the California Institute of Technology as an example of an elite research university that gives no preference to alumni children, and also praises similar policies at Cooper Union and Berea College. In the interview, Golden acknowledged that the workload of the typical Caltech student is such that it's not really surprising that the children of Hollywood stars prefer Providence to Pasadena.
But Golden said that's precisely the point. Caltech is known for having incredibly talented students who work hard -- and the institute is no slacker in fund raising, without any help from alumni preferences.
"The fact is that they raise money based on the excellence of the program," he said. "If they can do it, the Ivies and Duke and Stanford and the others can do it, too. They may be raising money the easiest and simplest way, but it doesn't have to be that way."
As for his critics who say that college classes are more diverse and less focused on alumni than they were a few generations ago, Golden said that doesn't negate the problems with the policies today. And he said that "development admits" -- those who are rich with no previous connection to a college -- are on the rise. At the same time, he said, it's harder to get in to top colleges today, and even if they represent but a slice of higher education, they are an important one.
The Price of Admission notes that members of Congress periodically get interested in these issues, but tend to back off. Golden said he doesn't know if his book will change the debate, but he said that the policies deserve more scrutiny at the very least.
And if you are wondering, Golden is a Harvard alumnus whose father was a City College of New York alum -- he's no legacy admit. Golden has a son, who is 14. Asked if he fears that his book might not endear him or his son to Harvard's admissions office, Golden said that he didn't think his son would apply there. But what if he did? Would it be OK for him to check the box indicating that he would be a legacy?
Golden said that was an "interesting question" but that he wanted to focus on colleges, not applicants. "I"m not trying to point any finger of blame at the families. I understand that they want to do what's best by their child," he said. "It's the system that the colleges have set up that is responsible for this. They have set up a system that invites abuse." | <urn:uuid:43abfa90-2a8d-4e93-8e3e-d54fe4580b82> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/09/05/admit | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977671 | 3,700 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Photography by Brian Finke, Getty Images
From the May 2012 issue of National Geographic Traveler
It might be something of a half-truth to say that travel has gone to the dogs. In fact, it’s also gone to the cats, the hamsters, and the occasional snake.
Pets rule our world. Six out of ten American households have a pet. We take our animal companions—that’s what the more enlightened among us call them—everywhere: to the mall, to church, and yes, on trips great and small.
America’s pets are perhaps the planet’s most peripatetic. More than half of all pet owners (60 percent) brought a dog or cat on a trip in 2010, according to the most recent figures, and the percentage is climbing. “People have an expectation that they should be able to take their pets wherever they go,” says Rachel Farris, director of operations for PetRelocation.com, an Austin, Texas, pet-moving company.
There are pet-friendly hotels. (“Pets are considered a part of the family,” Marriott says on its website, promising, “you can rest assured that your furry friends will enjoy a relaxing, comfortable stay.”) Pets are welcome in many restaurants, though usually outside. At Cones and Bones, in Lansing, Michigan, dogs can come in for a nondairy treat while their owners choose their ice cream flavors. There’s even an airline for animals, Pet Airways, that will carry your beloved pet to a handful of destinations, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, and New York. Its motto: “Your pet is not luggage.”
But some have questioned the assumption that man’s best friend should travel—and specifically fly in the same cramped cabin as fare-paying humans. And that’s led to a new kind of conflict. On one side are pet owners who insist they have a right to take their four-legged friends anywhere; on the other are passengers inconvenienced, and at times even injured, by the little fur balls. (We’re not talking here about the many animals that fly in the hold, at risk of being turned into a hot dog in summer and a Popsicle in winter. I’ll save that one for another column.)
When it comes to pets versus people, who’s the alpha dog? I frequently get dispatches from the front lines of this territorial dispute. Shannon Clair, a marketing assistant from Lenexa, Kansas, who says she loves animals, describes her allergies as “exquisite”—even the slightest hint of dander makes her eyes swell shut. But she says that some traveling pet owners are far from understanding when she requests they keep their animals away. “People sure get irritated with me for being allergic to their precious pets.”
Straddling the fence—and not necessarily wanting to take sides—are the airlines, which have nevertheless made their planes more attractive to pets and their human companions (flying pets mean extra money for the airlines, after all). For example, JetBlue and Continental offer special programs, which include free online guides, tips on “petiquette,” and even frequent flier miles for your animal companion. Even no-nonsense Southwest, in a surprise move in 2009, opened its cabins to dogs and cats. Most domestic airlines allow cats and small dogs in the cabin if kept in a carrier that fits under the seat. Some limit the age or number of pets.
Disclosure: I live with three Bengal cats named Clio, Lia, and Pollux. They’re talkers, as we who are owned by cats would say. And while they have nothing against animals traveling, they themselves would prefer to stay home with Rondoe, the cat sitter. As for whether human travelers deserve to have an allergy-free, noise-free, and bite-free trip, they don’t much care. Then again, what do I know? I talk to cats.
I’m not saying Fido or Fluffy ought to be banned from traveling, just that it’s time to think of pet travel in a more humane way. There are legitimate reasons to take animals on a trip, to be sure. Service animals do vitally important work. The travel industry is correct (and actually required by law) to allow passengers with disabilities to bring these animals. If you’re relocating, you need to be able to take your pet along, and airlines, hotels, and car rental companies should make reasonable accommodations. And if you and Rover decide to hop in an RV and see the country, I’m not going to stop you.
But where there’s a conflict between pets and people, I’m siding with the humans (sorry, kitties). The long-haired Norwegian forest cat in seat 12A doesn’t have more rights than the road warrior with asthma, coughing his lungs out in 17D. I’m entitled to fly without getting an earful from your yipping Maltese, who is “usually so quiet.”
Airlines have a role to play as peacemakers or, if necessary, enforcers. Airlines need more people-centered policies. Currently, if a pet is qualified to be on a flight, there aren’t many other rules governing the behavior of the animal and its owner. Procedures are usually at the flight crew’s discretion. If an animal is disruptive or causes discomfort to a human passenger, I’ve heard it can go either way—sometimes the animal and owner get kicked off; other times the aggrieved passenger leaves. That needs to change.
How many of us take the welfare of those around us into consideration when we make the decision to bring our pet on a trip? Vacations are uniquely human, and maybe they should stay that way. If my cats really could talk, that’s what they’d tell you.
Shop National Geographic | <urn:uuid:30c0b8b2-2cc3-4e72-93d9-164bcce1a4d6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/the-insider/pets/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953109 | 1,266 | 1.734375 | 2 |
The on again off again love affair with bike-sharing in Rome is on again. As of today, June 1, 2009, Roma’n’Bike was taken over by Rome’s Public Transport Company, Azienda Tranvie ed Autobus del Comune di Roma (ATAC) and rechristened, “atac bikesharing.” This odyssey chronicled in this blog: November 15, 2007: Roam around Rome, June 16, 2008 Bon Giorno, Roma and March 14, 2009 Cemusa closes Roma’n’Bike has been played out like a romance novel. Cemusa, the international advertising company is the jilted suitor, Rome’s Mayor, Gianni Alemanno embraces Bike-sharing then gives it the “cold shoulder,” while the citizens of Rome's efforts to nurture and grow the program have further embellished the story.
The new system will be strictly pay as you go! Expanded to operate 24 hours a day, each ½ hour is €0.50 with an initial €5.00 registration fee. There is no time gratis and are no subscription fees according to Wanted in Rome, an English language Roman information site. Not all are happy about losing the 30 minute free initial ride; inflammatory comments such as “the death of bike-sharing” are seen in the Italian Bike-Sharing Roma blog. Rather than the death of bike-sharing, this is another example of the trend to fund bike-sharing through a municipality or a service in the municipality. In Nice, France the regional government is funding the system. In Montréal, Canada the parking authority funds the system.
Update: July 23, 2009 - There are 150 ATAC bikes in 19 stations. The locations are: | <urn:uuid:d65800a9-0207-43f6-ac35-3c8fe7af3bc2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bike-sharing.blogspot.com/2009/06/romes-tumultuous-affair-with-bike.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937231 | 377 | 1.695313 | 2 |
New Documentary Exposes Imposter Government
While maintaining the façade of a “Judeo-Christian” society, have deceptive forces been at work in the U.S. government to subvert America into an occult empire? The makers of the new documentary, “Riddles in Stone: The Secret Architecture of Washington D.C.” tell us that the evidence is hidden in plain sight. They argue that America’s capital city is not merely an homage to Greco-Roman beauty, but represents the occult paradigm of the ancient world - one that will have its ultimate climax with the emergence of a global government ruled by a world leader, who is known among students of Bible prophecy as the Antichrist. Sound too outlandish to be true? Take a seat and hold on to your jaw. The proof is literally carved in stone.
“Riddles” is the latest installment in the new award winning series, “Secret Mysteries of America’s Beginnings,” that made its debut last year with Volume I: “The New Atlantis” which received critical acclaim, winning Best Documentary Feature at the New York International Film Festival, and Best Historical Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival, plus the 2006 Telly Award, given for excellence in TV and movie production.
In the 16th century, Sir Francis Bacon, along with Dr. Dee, Sir Walter Raleigh and others, viewed the American continent as the rediscovery of the lost empire of Atlantis. As such, their secret societies (the Freemasons and Rosicrucians) were sent to the new world to launch America as an identical philosophic empire that would one day spread to all the world.
The conclusion of the filmmakers is that this idea of a “global Atlantis” is what is really driving the New World Order.
“This becomes especially interesting when one considers that President Bush is said to view America as an idea but without borders,” says “Riddles”
director, Christian J. Pinto. “If America had no borders, where would it end?”
This new documentary reminds an audience of President Bush's lifelong membership in the Skull and Bones Society, showing that its origins date back to Germany, and quite probably to the Bavarian Illuminati. They cite the book, “Fire in the Minds of Men”, by Dr. James H. Billington (the Librarian of Congress and personal friend of Mrs. Laura Bush) that chronicles the history of the revolutionary movements that inspired the French and Russian revolutions – as well as all the other revolutions throughout the world, including Hitler’s Nazi movement. When Billington writes that: “The revolutionary faith was shaped not so much by the critical rationalism of the French Enlightenment (as is generally believed) as by the occultism and pro-romanticism of Germany,” he is specifically referring to the Illuminati, which he claims put “the fire” in the minds of revolutionary leaders.
From there, the audience is shown a clip of President Bush in his 2005 inaugural address, saying,
“By our efforts we have lit a fire as well, a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power. It burns those who fight its progress. And one day, this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.”
Bush seems to have clearly aligned himself with the occult based revolutionary movements that have come before, whose aim is not to spread the Biblical gospel, but to establish a global government.
Why then would Bush profess to be a Christian? Especially when he says there are “different routes” to God, and uses Islam as an example (it has been under Bush’s so-called “Christian” administration that Muslim prayer has been introduced in the U.S. Capitol.)
The answer comes from Masonic philosopher, Manly P. Hall, who says that pagan intellectuals “reclothed their original ideas in a garment of Christian phraseology” in order to deceive the masses, who generally held Christian beliefs.
These pagans then inserted their own ideas secretly into America’s government,
designing symbols, monuments and buildings with their own occult code.
“While it cannot be said that all of America’s leaders have used Christianity as a cloak to hide their true intention,” says Pinto, “the evidence is clear that many of them have, and continue to do so.”
All one need do is listen to the Democrats currently running for President. Their attempts at presenting their “faith,” to America should be a clear reminder of the Machiavellian assertion that if leaders want to rule over a people, they must at least espouse some of their religious beliefs -- whether they truly believe them or not.
Nevertheless, “Riddles in Stone” is neither a left or right wing documentary. It shows us that wolves in sheeps clothing may be found in both the liberal and so-called “conservative” camps of American politics. Truly, the Illuminati has highjacked the government of America right out from the noses of genuine Christians, starting in 1776.
Is it time for Christians to wake up and demand our government back? | <urn:uuid:360a8de5-ee96-46b0-a45c-3f9ee3f260bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cuttingedge.org/newsletters/Imposter_Government_Writeup.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956327 | 1,100 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Is there a Physics Engine for Ballet?
I understand that back in the day, every choreographer has his/her own notation for dances, to the point that when a troupe wanted to perform a new number, they needed the notation for the choreography as well as an "interpreter".
With the various motion capture and video game physics engines in use now, I was wondering if there was a standard notation(language) that can be used to model ballet.
Bear with me if my terminology is a bit outdated. Old fart, etc... | <urn:uuid:08411274-e30c-439c-87ed-fab99ca2ac91> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=674857 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956646 | 114 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Game and Fish notebook (Feb. 14, 2013)
Archers compete in ANASP regional tournaments
LITTLE ROCK — Arrows were flying at six sites during the Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program regional tournaments on Feb. 9. More than 2,700 elementary to high school students competed for the right to go on to state tournament competition.
The tournaments took place at Clarksville High School, Bergman High School in Harrison, Eagle Mountain Magnet in Batesville, Joe T. Robinson High S...
Weekly fishing report (Feb. 14, 2013)
Fishing Tip of the Week
Looking for some new places to fish? Check out the AGFC’s Geographic Information Systems mapper at http://gis.agfc.com/ It includes details such as boat ramps, boat lanes through timber and even fish attractors placed by the AGFC. You can select the features you want and print off your own map or jot down the coordinates you need an enter them into your own GPS unit for help on the water.
Debate for recreation space continues
The show must go on even without lights. It has been a struggle to have lights on at the Russellville soccer complex.
Dr. Michael Johnston, a Russellville Recreation and Parks commission member, voiced his discontent with the current status of lighting used for playing and practice of soccer.
Johnston pointed out to Recreation and Parks director Mack Hollis that there needs to be some clarity with how lights are utilized where the budget is ...
Sport Briefs (Feb. 12, 2013)
Charity basketball game Feb. 23 at RHS
The Russellville High School Class of 2013 After Prom Committee will host an alumni/celebrity charity basketball game that will tip off at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 inside Cyclone Gymnasium.
Any former Cyclones or Lady Cyclones interested in playing basketball to raise money can contact David Prewett at email@example.com or 880-6057 or Jami Mullen / Jim Mullen at firstname.lastname@example.org or 967-8326. Former RHS...
Catching fish sometimes a natural skill to many
This time of year always seems to get me going. As the temperatures hit the 70s a day or two in a row, it causes undeniable urges to get to a favorite pond, stream or backwater and get in some quality fishing time.
A few years ago was a classic example as my good friend, Jimmy Gill of Stuttgart, took me on one of the greatest bream fishing excursions of all time. It was in a big hidden reservoir with gated access, and the fishing was simply i...
Volunteers introduce 23 youngsters to duck hunting
For 23 Arkansas youngsters, Christmas came twice this winter.
The second time, these kids wore camouflage, had streaks of black face paint and displayed big smiles along with a number of ducks they had shot.
They were the participants in the fourth Muddy Bayou YoungGunz Youth Hunt. This is a project spearheaded by waterfowl enthusiast Cody Alberson of McCrory. It focuses on boys and girls ages 8 through 15 who don’t otherwise have chances to...
Weekly fishing report (Feb. 7, 2013)
Fishing Tip of the Week
The Family and Community Fishing Program will be making its final rounds of trout stockings in the next few weeks. Trout cannot survive in the ponds once the water begins to warm up, so the focus will shift to catfish throughout the spring and summer. If you’re looking for a fresh catch of trout or looking to stock up the freezer, now’s the time to hit one of the FCFP locations, available at www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/F...
Game and Fish notebook (Feb. 6, 2013)
More than 2,700 students attend archery regionals
LITTLE ROCK — The popular Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program will hold its regional tournaments this weekend. The number of competitors is up over 30 percent from the previous year, with 2,710 archers scheduled to compete at six regional sites.
The tournaments will take place at Clarksville High School, Bergman High School in Harrison, Eagle Mountain Magnet in Batesville, Joe T. R...
Sport Briefs (Feb. 5, 2013)
Cyclone “Night of Champions”
The seventh annual Cyclone “Night of Champions” will be held tonight as the Cyclones basketball teams host Fort Smith Northside.
Former Cyclones standouts Shane Robinson, Wendell Van Es and Billy Newton will be recognized.
Teammates, classmates, family members and other friends are invited to a reception in their honor. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. in the RHS commons area.
Dardanelle youth registration thr...
Time to start gearing up for spring
We have enjoyed some brisk wind and freezing temperatures the last few days, but there is optimism in the air, and spring is just around the corner.
As spring quickly approaches, there are a number of outdoor events and activities Arkansas River Valley residents are most certainly gearing up for in the months ahead.
Fishing is without a doubt atop the list, as it has become a major industry for River Valley residents. From sporting good reta...
The new vs. disappearing redneck
I read an article that a friend passed along to me the other day about the state of the redneck in the South.
From all the less-than-real “reality” shows on television these days, it appears as though the redneck is alive and well. I say that the true redneck should be put on the endangered species list. They’re being crowded out by the new age redneck. Trust me, you’ve seen them.
A real redneck may in fact have a red neck, I don’t know. I fi...
Weekly fishing report (Feb. 3, 2013)
Fishing Tip of the Week
Strikes can be very light during winter. Successful anglers often keep their eyes focused on their line to see strikes instead of relying on their rod to feel the bite. Fluorescent lines make seeing the line easy, but some anglers think it spooks the fish. Get the best of both worlds by spooling your reel with fluorescent, high-visibility line and tying a 2- to 3-foot leader of clear or low-visibility line at the end us...
Walleye becoming a feature on Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake, the close at hand and diverse water attraction for a half-million Arkansans, has a new feature.
After 10 years of stocking baby walleye by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in the 31,700-acre lake and after careful monitoring of these fish, the conclusion is that walleye are doing well in Beaver and apparently are there for the long run.
“We are seeing good evidence of reproduction in the lake, and this is in ...
Governor: Ark. commissioner submits resignation
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Gov. Mike Beebe says the vice chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has resigned, one week after the official was arrested on misdemeanor charges.
Beebe says he accepted the resignation Thursday from Rick Watkins, who was arrested last week on misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley says Watkins was intoxicated and shooting a pistol in a rural part of ...
Arkansans invited to voice comments on proposed 2013-14 hunting season regulations
LITTLE ROCK — The annual public meetings concerning the state’s hunting seasons have passed, but there’s still time to send any comments or concerns to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Just visit Regulation Survey to take a quick online survey.
The following considerations are being surveyed for the 2013-14 season:
• Change the checking time from 24 to 12 hours for bear, deer and turkey.
• All cervid carcasses entering the st...
ATU Fishing flips pancakes, not lures
Arkansas Tech University’s Fishing Team is kicking off its spring season in a different way. Instead of members using their finely honed flipping techniques to flip their favorite lures under docks and other low structures, they will be flipping pancakes today.
Stoby’s Restaurant on Parkway Drive is the place to be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today to enjoy all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts served up by members of the ATU Fishing Team. Their advis...
2013 full of fishing opportunities
Yes, I know we have been covered in a ton of snow and freezing temps the last few weeks. But the 2013 bass tournament announcements have been pouring in on a daily basis, and I suddenly realized that the spring fishing season is upon us.
Bass fishermen are bad to push the season a bit anyway, and it seems that we think spring starts a little earlier each year. But as we get out on the lake in February and early March, we quickly learn that spr...
Memories of an Illinois bowhunt
I found the arrow that had penetrated the vitals of the coyote 25 yards from my stand, buried in the rock free, fertile Illinois soil.
I washed it off at the nearby creek (or “krik,” as the locals commonly call it) and made my way back to the truck. I’d hunted for five solid days and had yet to see a “shooter” buck, although I’d seen several smaller bucks and a few does. We were scheduled to be leaving Sunday morning so if Jeff or I were goin...
Walleye are a late winter focus
When February approaches, a portion of Arkansas fishermen – a minority to be accurate – think of walleye.
Two basic reasons are the knowledge that walleye are great on the table and that walleye move to shallow water for spawning when the weather begins to warm.
Outside of these lines of thought, walleye are generally little known in the Arkansas fishing circles, with some exceptions, including the numbers of people who have moved to Arkansas ...
Public input meeting set for Tuesday in Russellville
LITTLE ROCK – Public input is a crucial component of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s process for setting hunting and fishing regulations.
The meetings are part of the AGFC’s annual hunting-regulations process, providing hunters with the opportunity to make comments and proposals on the 2013-14 hunting seasons.
The meetings will take place from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the AGFC regional office, 1266 Lock and Dam Road, Russellville; telephon... | <urn:uuid:fa584bdf-eada-4ada-a0ea-0eef8a96c843> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://couriernews.com/pages/sports_outdoors/push?class=next_page&rel=next&per_page=20&x_page=5 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946054 | 2,241 | 1.5 | 2 |
How George Tenet Brought The CIA Back From The Dead (Fortune, 2003)November 18, 2012: 10:00 AM ET
Editors note: Every week, Fortune publishes a story from our magazine archives. On Friday, November 9, former CIA director David Petraeus resigned from his post after admitting to an extramarital affair with his biographer, fellow West Point graduate Paula Broadwell. The complexities of Petraeus' career will unfold over time, but as the term of one CIA director ends, Fortune turns to the career of another: George Tenet. Tenet served under President Clinton and President Bush and resigned from his post in 2004. Looking back on the decisions that Tenet confronted, it's clear that leading the Central Intelligence Agency has always been a complicated job.
Amid controversy and two wars, he's led a classic turnaround by running the Agency like a business.
By Bill Powell
Two men who would later each run the world's premier foreign intelligence service sat down to lunch at a tony Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C. It was late 1992, and Jim Woolsey, then head of the executive committee at the Smithsonian, was looking for a general counsel. He had called George Tenet, staff director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Tenet, Woolsey says, listened to his pitch and asked smart questions. Woolsey was encouraged; maybe he'd found his man. Only at lunch's end, after Woolsey had paid the bill, did Tenet deliver the punch line: "But, Jim, there's one problem with the general counsel's job: I'm not a lawyer."
God knows it helps, if you're the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to be a little cunning. It also helps, in these days of Iraq and al Qaeda--not to mention North Korea and Iran--to have a sense of humor. George Tenet, 50, has now held one of the most difficult jobs in the world for six years, making him the third-longest-serving director of Central Intelligence (DCI) in the Agency's 56-year history. And the period during which he has presided is one in which the word "tumultuous" hardly does justice.
When Tenet became acting director in 1996, he was the CIA's seventh boss in five years. Budgets had been slashed brutally, and the cutting would continue (needless to say, the CIA's budget is classified). President Clinton was not a particular admirer of the Agency, and the coin of the realm in Washington--face time with the President--barely existed for the DCI. (When a crackpot flew a light plane into the White House in 1994, the then-famous joke in Washington was that it was Jim Woolsey trying to get a meeting with Clinton. This was a time, mind you, when people joked about planes flying into buildings.) Agency morale had plummeted, nowhere more so than in the fabled directorate of operations--the "DO," as the spooks call it--home to the undercover spies who do the Agency's most basic and important work: recruiting foreign sources abroad to betray their countries. Devastated by scandal and desperately in search of a post--Cold War mission, the DO was "practically inert," says a former operative. "It was the nadir," agrees Marty Petersen, the Agency's deputy executive director and a 31-year veteran. "A lot of people quit, and a lot more people thought about it. Myself included."
That was the Agency George Tenet inherited. Today, six years on, it is a very different place. Morale is up. Recruitment is soaring. The popular culture, for the most part, treats the CIA with respect. The President cares a lot about what the Agency thinks, and Tenet briefs him six days a week when Bush is in town. Even despite its pre--Sept. 11 intelligence failures--a date now routinely referred to as the most massive intelligence blunder since Pearl Harbor--the Agency is more competent than it has been in some time (witness its critical role during the war in Afghanistan), if not yet as competent as it needs to be (witness the embarrassing hunt for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction). Some of this transformation, of course, is attributable to Sept. 11. But some of it, people in and out of the Agency agree, is due to the DCI himself.
In mid-September the CIA opened the doors at its 258-acre campus-like headquarters in the woods of Langley, Va., to a FORTUNE reporter in a way it rarely does. For three days officials up and down the ranks submitted to interviews. They talked about where the Agency had been, where it is now, and what still needs to be done in what is, let's face it, a grim time for the country.
Secrecy. Mystique. Aura. They all appear daily at the Central Intelligence Agency. How the U.S.'s foreign intelligence service does business remains a mystery to most Americans. For some the Agency is the stuff of fantasy--think the butt-kicking, comely star of the hit TV show Alias--for others it's a secretive, money-wasting joke. "A combination of James Bond and Maxwell Smart," concedes John McLaughlin, the deputy director of intelligence, the second highest official in the Agency. (He's not so far off. Two otherwise intelligent friends, jokingly told that I'd spent a few days at the Agency and "got to use Tenet's shoe phone," replied--not jokingly--"He doesn't really have a shoe phone, does he?")
What's striking to realize, after talking to Agency people from Tenet on down, is how businesslike they are about their jobs. That's "businesslike" in the sense that FORTUNE readers will understand. Breaking down barriers between departments. Getting departments that didn't trust each other to grow up and cooperate. Getting abreast of rapidly advancing technology. Focusing on the core mission of the institution. The CIA, known for years as the "company," has never made a profit, but it is, in many ways, a classic turnaround story.
When Tenet, a New York native, took over, he knew he had to make an immediate impression on his employees. This was the post--Cold War era, when politicians of both parties were eager to spend the so-called peace dividend. Funding the CIA might have been more important than funding the National Parks Service--but only just. On May 5, 1998, Tenet gave a speech to 500 deeply cynical Agency employees who had gathered in the headquarters auditorium. "Oh, yeah, sure," Tenet now says, placing himself in the audience's shoes, "five directors in seven years. Here comes yet another strategic vision, great.'' In short, he says, "I needed to get their attention.'' To do so he was typically, if brutally, direct. He stood them over an open grave. He noted that the CIA had just passed its 50th anniversary, then said that unless things change, fast, "We will never get to our 60th. We will no longer be relevant."
His first priority was to rebuild the spy shop, the DO. Cynics say that the first thing the DO does, before it recruits any spies overseas, "is recruit the DCI." That's why, they say, the DO never changes, why it's the last to know when a traitor like Aldrich Ames is selling the crown jewels to the Russians. The cynics are not completely wrong. But in this case, that recruitment needed to happen--and the target, Tenet, was willing. The DO had been "devastated in the '90s," says Jim Pavitt, who as head of the directorate is the nation's reigning spook. In 1995 the Agency trained all of 25 operations officers, a "frighteningly low'' number, Pavitt says. Nearly 30% of the CIA's stations, or overseas offices, were shut between 1991 and 1997. And the trend lines didn't seem as if they would change anytime soon.
Tenet does not try to gussy up the business of the CIA. "We steal secrets," he says. "We steal secrets so the President can know about things happening in the short and long run in places that he needs to know about. That's what we do." And without "humint," as human intelligence is known, it is very hard to steal secrets. In an era of declining resources, Tenet cobbled together enough money for the DO to increase its number of recruits and boost their training. "Unfortunately," says Pavitt, "there's no pill you can give a new recruit that would give him seven or eight years' experience in the field." So the CIA also began assembling a team of mostly retired Agency operatives who could be sent into the field quickly, depending on events. "Surge capacity," Pavitt calls it. Those efforts got a boost in 1999, when Congress, thanks mainly to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, kicked in an extra $1 billion for the Agency. In late 2001, after the Sept. 11 attacks, some of the first Agency people deployed to Afghanistan were retired officers with experience in that country. One literally carried a suitcase full of cash that he distributed to Northern Alliance leaders and others who were critical in eventually toppling the Taliban.
Internally, Tenet tried to transform what had become a seriously dysfunctional place. For help he turned to Wall Street. In 1998, Tenet hired A.B. "Buzzy" Krongard as counselor to the DCI. Krongard had been the CEO of Alex. Brown and then vice chairman of Bankers Trust after it acquired the Baltimore-based investment bank in 1997. Krongard had applied to the Agency as a young man in 1961 but opted for a career on Wall Street instead. Over the years he had "consulted informally" for other directors, but still, when he came on board, the culture shock was significant: "I was going from a culture where if a department head came back to me with $5 million in saved money at the end of the year, I'd kiss him and give him a big bonus. Here, if you don't spend every dime they give you, they think you're nuts."
Tenet promoted Krongard to executive director--"the Exdir," in Agency-speak--and asked him, in the spring of 2001, to look into overhauling everything from the Agency's structure and technology to its compensation systems. Less than a month later Krongard delivered his report, and in June, three months before Sept. 11, the Agency undertook what may have been the most sweeping reorganization in its history.
The department of administration, which had become the bureaucratic backwater its name evokes, was nuked. The Agency set up departments of information technology, human resources, and finance, among others. More important, the heads of each sat on the executive board, right next to Tenet and the chiefs of the three core Agency directorates: operations, intelligence (which handles the agency's analysts), and science and technology. Sci-tech, not the Defense Department, operates the highly successful Predator, the unmanned attack and surveillance plane. In an institution as hidebound as the Agency, this was pretty radical stuff. The notion that the head of human resources would be elevated to the same level as the DO? Well, as Yogi Berra might say, if "Wild" Bill Donovan (head of the Office of Strategic Services, the CIA's predecessor) were alive today, he'd be spinning in his grave.
Many of the changes speak to just how far the Agency had to go. Some of that, to be sure, is due to the obvious: The CIA, for all its aura and mystique, is a government agency. Thus pay for performance is inevitably constrained. Still, Krongard implemented a pay scheme that, among other things, linked bonuses with language proficiency. That this hadn't been the case in the foreign-intelligence service of the most powerful nation on earth is a little depressing. But at least it's true now.
Similarly with technology. In Tenet's wake-up speech he had said, "We have now connected all our officers to each other by computer, and now ... we must ensure that our analysts have online access to the rest of the intelligence community, to our customers, and colleagues in other government agencies." This is 1998, when the information revolution was at full throttle. And the Agency had only then enabled all its people to communicate via the Internet. Without question the lag was partly due to security concerns. But it also speaks to the "stovepiping," as Agency people call it, that used to be routine. Departments didn't trust each other or even deal with each other. "Need to know" was everything. Jami Miscik, the DI, or director of intelligence (in charge of the Agency's analysts), recalls a time when the DO and the DI were sealed off from each other by locked doors.
Tenet, with Krongard riding herd, was turning around the proverbial aircraft carrier, when history intervened. On Sept. 11 he was eating breakfast at the St. Regis hotel in Washington with David Boren, the former Senator from Oklahoma with whom Tenet had worked closely during his days on the Intelligence Committee. When the planes slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the post--Cold War era was officially over. The United States had been attacked, and plenty of people in Washington who may have had a different opinion on Sept. 10 realized the CIA mattered after all.
As is now widely known, Tenet impressed President Bush with his and the Agency's performance after Sept. 11. The CIA was famously better prepared to get people into Afghanistan and start taking the fight to al Qaeda than was the Pentagon (a fact that, by all accounts, drove Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to distraction). Some Pentagon officials say the Agency's Afghanistan successes have been exaggerated, and add that the historical tension between the CIA and the military was hardly absent during the war. However true, the Agency, at least as far as Bush was concerned, had had a "good war," and Tenet's relationship with the President was cemented.
The far more controversial war in Iraq--indeed, more controversial by the day--would be next, and by then the CIA's world had been turned upside down. "The pace and range of things we've been asked to do, the amount of risk that we have been asked to take, the stakes that we are playing for, all of that has changed," says Tenet. Although the Agency's budget has increased substantially, so too has the pressure; Tenet says it has "magnified enormously."
For companies and government agencies alike, crises can often be the best agents of change. So it was at the CIA, post--Sept. 11. Recruiting is no longer a problem: The Agency now receives three times the resumes it did in 2000. In one recent survey new engineering and science graduates chose it as their fifth-most-desired employer, behind Boeing, 3M, BMW, and GE.
In the DO, Tenet eliminated old rules constraining agents from recruiting "unsavory" characters. Meanwhile, some internal walls have tumbled down. Jami Miscik now boasts about how many analysts from her directorate work in tandem with DO and sci-tech agents abroad, including several currently in Iraq. Increasingly, those analysts in the field can access data that used to be available only at headquarters. The CIA also laid so much broadband fiber in Iraq during the war, says Bobby Brady, deputy chief information officer, that videoconferencing is easier there than in Virginia.
In October the Agency will start using a data-mining program called Quantum Leap that's "so powerful it's scary," says Brady. It enables an analyst to get quick access to all the information available--classified and unclassified--about virtually anyone. Civil libertarians, not surprisingly, are unhappy, and even Brady says that in the wrong hands, "This could be Big Brother."
But Quantum Leap will be an extremely useful tool at the new Terrorist Threat Integration Center run by John Brennan, a 23-year CIA veteran. TTIC went into business just four months after President Bush announced its formation last February. It draws on personnel from the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security in the hope that next time, the government will be able to "connect the dots."
Tenet spends roughly 60% of his time dealing with terrorism and related issues (Iraq included). He concedes that the risk, in this environment, is that the longer-term management goals on which he had been focused will get lost in the intense effort to complete "what we're supposed to be doing today." Tenet insists--forcefully--that it's not happening: "If you ask yourself, 'What have you institutionalized that nobody can walk back from,' " the answers, he believes, are clear enough: "We rebuilt the 'humint' service. We now have a training facility and recruitment program that's first class [over $100 million has been invested in the fabled 'Farm' at Camp Peary in Virginia, where the CIA trains new spies]. We reward expertise. The workforce is more diverse than it's ever been. And that's not a do-good program; it's because for a foreign intelligence agency it's an absolute necessity. We locked in a language program and tied it to promotion and pay. The next person who gets this job will inherit a rock-solid foundation."
Tenet says he has "no earthly idea" what he will do when he leaves the CIA--"maybe run something else someday." But he says that whoever succeeds him "will inherit something that really works well. He won't get a patient on life support." As he did, Tenet doesn't have to add.
In the intense post--Sept. 11 environment, the DCI draws his share of criticism. Tenet fervently rejects what he calls the "cartoon"--the idea that the Agency was asleep at the switch on Sept. 11. But he acknowledges that in a war that has been ongoing at least since 1998--when al Qaeda bombed two U.S. embassies in Africa--"We lost a big battle that day. Nobody had to tell us what mistakes we made. We were the ones" who pointed out that the CIA did not tell the FBI and other agencies to put two of the Sept. 11 hijackers on their watch list until August 23, 2001. Tenet fiercely rejects the notion that prior to Sept. 11 he had been remiss in trying to get counterterrorism resources for the Agency. In a closed hearing before Congress in June 2002, he said he told members of the administration and Congress that his counterterrorism budget would be as much as $1 billion short each year for the next five years. "We told that to everybody downtown for as long as anybody would listen and never got to first base."
The other frequent criticism of Tenet is that he has been too eager to please the Presidents he has worked for, Clinton and Bush. Consequently, says one Senate staffer, he has "gone with the flow," with the Agency's analysis following suit. The result, to take one recent alleged example, was the inclusion in President Bush's State of the Union address of Iraq's supposed attempts to buy uranium from Niger. In part to quell the mini-firestorm in the press over this issue, Tenet very publicly fell on his sword, taking responsibility for the mistake, when in fact there was plenty of blame to go around. Why did he do that? "Because it shouldn't have been in the President's speech, and we shouldn't have let it get there. That's about it.''
Tenet is philosophical about the criticism. "If you don't think you are going to get stuff on you, you're in the wrong job," he says. "The risk taking and the human judgment is enormous. We are not going to be right all the time. [But] that's what our business is about. You can sit back and be risk averse and not make choices, but don't think you can do this job that way. You can't."
So Tenet has tried, with a fair degree of success, not to be risk averse, to shake up an Agency that had been--and he wasn't exaggerating in 1998--tilting toward irrelevance. He is quick to acknowledge that perfection, or anything close to it, won't happen, no matter who runs the CIA. "There is no perfection." The age in which we live, he says, means that "there are going to be surprises over the next ten years." And they are not going to be happy ones. Terrorism and weapons proliferation and the access "bad guys" have to information--"You can get targeting [coordinates] off the Internet, you can learn how to build a bomb off the Internet"--make those surprises grimly inevitable.
George Tenet inherited the CIA when the Cold War was over, at a time when people thought the worst was behind us. What could be worse than 10,000 Soviet nuclear warheads targeted on Washington alone? Now we know. Now Tenet knows, better than we. In late September, as this article went to press, he was assembling his second "strategic directions" memo, the successor to the one in 1998 on which he based his speech to the troops. He says it will refine "and deepen" many of the themes he struck five years ago. But it will omit--count on it--any reference to the CIA not celebrating its 60th anniversary. | <urn:uuid:77f7acf6-f937-47af-a25f-e2d783799b64> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/18/how-george-tenet-brought-the-cia-back-from-the-dead-fortune-2003/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980786 | 4,498 | 1.632813 | 2 |
95943_000_003Want to have more friends? Better friends? Here are some simple things to try.
I hated being the new kid in school, yet there I was, new for the third time in less than a year.
I dreaded going to my seventh-grade class that first day. Who would talk to me? Would I be able to find my locker, and if I could, would I remember the combination? Would the other kids in P.E. make fun of my skinny white legs? What subjects were they studying? Who would I eat lunch with? Who would I walk home with?
I was scared to death.
That morning, I invented all kinds of excuses to get Mom to let me stay home from school for one more day.
“C’mon, Mom, I don’t even know where the school is. What if I get lost on the way and you never see me again?”
That didn’t faze her.
“Besides, I think I might have the flu. You don’t want to embarrass me by making me go to school sick, do you? I’ll probably throw up right in the middle of English class, and for the rest of my life, all the kids at school will remember me as the kid who threw up in Miss Van Horn’s class.”
That got a smile out of her, but she still didn’t give in. She handed me my lunch, wished me a good day, and pushed me out the door.
The first day wasn’t so bad. I found the school, I didn’t throw up, and my teachers didn’t ask me any questions I couldn’t answer. And I even made a friend. At least, I thought I had.
Craig, a popular kid in my homeroom, befriended me. He helped me find my classes, ate lunch with me, introduced me to some of his friends, and even asked me to stick around after school to shoot some baskets.
I figured Craig and I were going to be great friends, so I hung around him all the time. But one day in the second week at my new school, some of his friends pulled me aside at lunch and said, “Hey, why do you keep hanging around Craig?”
“Cause we’re friends,” I answered.
They laughed. “Friends?” smirked one. “He hates you hanging around him all the time at school. Why don’t you just leave him alone?”
Their words stunned me, and I struggled to keep a smile on my face as they walked away laughing. I decided, then and there, I’d stay away from Craig. If he wanted to be my friend, I’d welcome him, but I wasn’t going to be pushy.
Everyone wants to be liked and to have friends, but some people are so desperate to make friends that they’ll do almost anything. My shadowing Craig, for example, was out of character for me, but at the time I really needed a friend and I didn’t have the confidence that I would make friends by being my normal self.
As a high school teacher, I’ve seen students completely change themselves in hopes of winning friends.
Lora, a sophomore, was new in my school, and she had everything going for her. She was pretty, smart, athletic, and personable. Unfortunately, it was her first experience in a new school, and she had difficulty adjusting. She had never known what it was like to be new, to be a stranger, to be without friends.
In her desperation to make friends, Lora latched onto the first kids who showed an interest in her. Those kids were, in my estimation, less than desirable. They lived for the weekends when they could “party hardy.”
They welcomed Lora with open arms, and so she was sharing the shallow existence of those whose only happiness is found in alcohol, drugs, or immorality. Lora continued to be pleasant and active in my class, but she had changed. Her sparkling countenance was gone, and her academic motivation was fading.
It’s important to have friends, but friends and popularity aren’t worth self-destruction. One Church leader said it well when he advised youth to, “Seek not to be well known; seek, instead, to be worth knowing.”
It’s not difficult to get to know people if you involve yourself in school activities, talk to people, and act friendly. But sometimes the hard part comes in making real friends out of people you get to know. If, however, you’re “worth knowing,” you’ll have little trouble turning acquaintances into friends.
So then, how can you be worth knowing?
First, be interested in others. Martin H. Durrant, my former bishop and stake president, lifts my spirit every time I meet him. He always asks me about myself, my family, my job, or my hobby. His questions are sincere, and I know, without a doubt, that he’s genuinely interested.
But it’s not always easy to talk about other people’s interests. For example, a friend and I were finishing graduate school at about the same time. Every time we met he’d tell me in great detail about his research project and how it was going. In all the time we were working together, he never once asked me about my work and study. He didn’t seem like a real friend because he didn’t seem interested in what I was doing.
Once you learn to talk to others about their interests, practice being cheerful. Having a smile on your face forces you to be in a good mood. No one enjoys being around a grump or someone who looks like they’re carrying the world’s problems on their shoulders.
In addition to being cheerful, it’s also important to be a good listener. Sometimes when my wife has a problem or is struggling with a decision, she’ll talk to me about it. My first impulse is to stop listening, tell her what I would do, and advise her to do likewise.
It took me a while to learn that she didn’t want my advice; she wanted my willing ear. The next time a friend tells you about a problem, bite your tongue the minute you’re tempted to dispense advice. Let them say all they have to say; then give advice only if they ask for it.
And, finally, be a good influence on others. When I was a sophomore in high school, some of my friends started drinking and smoking. They knew I didn’t drink or smoke, but they began to pressure me to join their parties anyway. The more they pressured me, the more uncomfortable I felt, until finally I stopped hanging around them. I figured that if they were really my friends, they wouldn’t push me to do things I didn’t want to do. Real friends would never ask you to do something you shouldn’t.
Really, this friendly advice is basically what you’d do if you followed the Savior’s advice to “love one another.” If you really work at loving those around you, and show that love, you’ll be the kind of friend everybody wants.
It’s never easy being the new kid on the block, and making friends and breaking into social groups can be tough. Here are a few ideas you might want to consider.
Give yourself some time. If you’ve just moved to a new town, or changed to a new school, it will take a while to establish friendships. Don’t worry if you have to spend some time alone for the first few months. Take advantage of this time by participating in family activities, developing your talents, and learning about your new surroundings.
Don’t be afraid to make the first move. You can’t always wait for people to introduce themselves to you. Remember, they might be as apprehensive approaching the “new” person as you are talking to them.
Stay away from people who drag you down. If your friends force you to choose between them and doing what you know is right, it’s time to look for new friends. Pray for guidance when you are making new friends, and make a commitment to yourself to maintain your integrity.
Get involved. In addition to getting to know the kids in your ward or branch through Mutual activities, try joining a club at school, going out for a sports team, volunteering to decorate for a dance, or trying out for a play. These types of activities often involve teamwork, so it’s a good way to really get to know people who share your interests.
Be worth knowing. Think about the kind of person you would like to be friends with. Write down some of the qualities that person would have, and then work to cultivate those traits in yourself. | <urn:uuid:1528bade-5ff6-40e9-b755-f4d60fa936a5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lds.org/new-era/1995/03/some-friendly-advice?lang=eng | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981254 | 1,921 | 1.773438 | 2 |
At O’Reilly publishing, Alistair Croll makes the argument that it’s a fight we can’t avoid any longer:
In the old, data-is-scarce model, companies had to decide what to collect first, and then collect it. A traditional enterprise data warehouse might have tracked sales of widgets by color, region, and size. This act of deciding what to store and how to store it is called designing the schema, and in many ways, it’s the moment where someone decides what the data is about. [...]
With the new, data-is-abundant model, we collect first and ask questions later. The schema comes after the collection. Indeed, big data success stories like Splunk, Palantir, and others are prized because of their ability to make sense of content well after it’s been collected — sometimes called a schema-less query. This means we collect information long before we decide what it’s for.
And this is a dangerous thing.
Go read the whole thing. Because in light of stories like this one, about Minnesota police collecting and storing data indiscriminately for all vehicles they pass on public roads, and this one about Tiburon, California which records the plates of every single car entering and leaving the city, makes you wonder just where it all will end. | <urn:uuid:4fa54c2f-effa-4525-a919-6927337f2d3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rationallaw.com/2012/08/is-the-right-to-be-deleted-the-coming-civil-rights-battle-of-our-times/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93161 | 279 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Pakistan, in contrast to India, which is one the largest film producing nation in the world, barely makes a handful of films every year. To see a Pakistani film that is better than most commercial Indian films, is embarrassing. "Bol", despite its few flaws, becomes that minor masterpiece that eclipses Bollywood.
A woman sentenced to death recounts her story of growing up in the shadow of an oppressive father, who denies his girls their fundamental rights.
At the face of it, the film seems apolitical. However, one of the feminist movement's clarion reasoning for action against oppression has been that the personal story is political. And it is this politics in the personal story of this family that writer-director Shoaib Mansoor of "Khuda Ke Liye" fame handles with elan.
Mansoor manages a very difficult task of taking up many issues without losing focus on any. You, thus, have issues of women's emancipation, trans-sexualism, right to education and religiosity handled with care enough for the audience to feel for each. The layers in the script itself make it a worthwhile watch. And that the film opens up gradually like an engaging mystery, keeps the viewers engrossed.
To carry so much load on its shoulders, the film needed some superlative performances. It has this in Humaima Malick who portrays the angst of a girl who itches to do the right thing and Manzar Sehbai who is stellar in his performance as a hypocritical man.
The songs are catchy, especially 'Kaho' - the least one can expect from a Pakistani film, considering their strong musical scene. The only problem, however, is its melodrama that sometimes does get overbearing. But it is a small flaw amidst its many skills.
At first look, it is easy to denounce it as a statement against the oppression of women under Islam. That is indeed true, considering that women's emancipation has yet failed to touch Muslims to a significant extent.
Yet, to call the film just that would be an insult to its intelligence. For what it does in the chauvinist, hypocritical and obnoxiously religious character of the father, is to create a template for closed-minded men everywhere.
His stubbornness and manhood are a metaphor for 'the' manhood that causes war and destruction everywhere.
Replace the Muslim Hakim, with a staunch Hindu man, and set the film in India, and it would be true frame by frame. If you look at the treatment of women in India, it is often worse with literally hundreds of thousands of women being killed before birth or during it annually in India.
Female infanticide is one of the most obscene elements of Indian society. Also, almost in every village, small town and city in India, you'll find scores of such cases of chauvinist men doing worse to their wives and daughters.
Asia's most revolutionary poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, in one of his most rousing poems, had written, 'Bol ke lab azad hai tere..' (Speak that thy lips are free). In this, and in the film "Bol", lies a message for us all, to speak out against oppression, be it in the political sphere or the personal.
Bol is bold, and we all know that. Now it's time to know how impressive this bold step is.
Bol is Shoaib Mansoor's second outing that is backed by Geo Films which result in huge hype. In such time of misery a good Pakistani movie is nothing less than a festival for moviegoers. Now lets see how good this attempt really is. A lot has already been said about this movie – both positive and negative, and a lot of reviewers have given their input but we here at TVKahani do not judge a book by its cover, and review it from the eye of a viewer.
First of all, Bol is no Khuda Ke Liye. Yes, the term is used multiple times in the movie(to remind people of the history) but the movie is different. Yes, it indeed deal with religion, extremism but in a totally different light, and it does not revolve around Shia and Sunni as mostly speculated.
Bol is story of Zainab(Humaima Malick) and her family. The movie starts with Humaima Malick in jail who is do be hanged till death, and the movie takes a turn when Humaima wishes to tell her story to people through media, and her wish is granted. Humaima tells the story of her father who is religious, and does not believe in birth control and keeps wishing for a son which results in half a dozen daughters, and a eunuch son. The story tells about the difficulties faced by the family, and how Zainab takes a stand against her father, and makes her sister Ayesha(Mahira) marry neighbor Mohammad(Atif Aslam) against her father's wish. The story also moves to Heera Mandi bringing in some more twists-which we would not like to give out here. Bol is idifferent from the normal Pakistani movies as it has a story to tell- a story that is captivating, compelling, and different , and Is told in a beautiful manner by the director Shoaib Mansoor. Comparisons with Khuda Ke Liye are inevitable. The movie is beautiful but shouldn't be compared to the epic Khuda Ke Liye.
Cinematography is weak at places, and looks like the editor either forgot his scissor or fell in love with every frame of the movie that he decided to not cut the length as the first half is dragged with not much happening. The movie picks up only in the second half with Iman's entry, and the major twist.
The music of the movie is already a rage which was guaranteed by Atif Aslam's presence alone but the tunes are new, catchy with beautiful lyrics. We wish the choreography(Specially Iman's song) had been better. Dialogues of the movie are excellent and thought provoking – might not be liked by a section of people.
Now to the performances. Humaima is in the lead role , and she proves all her critics wrong. She performs exceptionally well in all the sequences, and looks beautiful throughout the movie. Humaima has outdone herself in this one. Atif Aslam is merely there. The guy is there only for the songs, and add that value to the movie. He cannot act but does a decent job. Any one has any idea what Mahira saw in this role? She is sidelined, and fails to leave any impact. Iman Ali sparkles the screen with her presence and takes the role of the courtesan to new heights. She is fantastic in the cameo(is it?). Shafqat Cheema is excellent. The main villain- Manzar Sehbai(yes, the father), and totally steals the show. Perfect casting here. His body language is so good, it is amazing. Humaima's mother looks the part and excels in the role. The boy playing Saifee(Amr Kashmiri) is a great talent.
Over all this movie is no Khuda Kay Liye, but has all the ingredients to not let you bore. The excessive length Is a drawback-but watch it with your family, and give Pakistani movies a chance.
Shoaib Mansoor’s movie ‘Bol’ released under the banner of Geo Films has not only established new success records, it has even set a new business record at the box office. It has become the film earning the highest gross in the first week of release, smashing all previous records.
Shah Rukh Khan’s film “My Name Is Khan” had done business of Rs21.658 million in a week, whereas ‘Bol’ has done business of Rs22.038 million in just six days. It is expected that when record of the full week is available, this film will make a gross earning of Rs25 million setting up new business record.
It may be recalled that ‘Khuda Key Liye’ the first movie of Shoaib Mansoor too had set up new records and now his second venture is maintaining the tradition. A large number of fans are making a beeline to cinemas and multiplexes. Families are specially being attracted to the movie and they want to see it at the earliest. Since its first show on June 24, the film is continuously on the march to success. By thronging the cinemas, viewers have proved that if good and standard films are produced, they will definitely be attracted to cinema houses. | <urn:uuid:f808c2b1-181f-4f63-b91b-8abef59c5e43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cinebasti.com/movie/Bol/3019/reviews,page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973378 | 1,802 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Miller died at his home in Manhattan at 5:30 a.m., said his daughter Susan Miller. He had been diagnosed with liver cancer in August.
"All players -- past, present and future -- owe a debt of gratitude to Marvin, and his influence transcends baseball," current union head Michael Weiner said. "Marvin, without question, is largely responsible for ushering in the modern era of sports, which has resulted in tremendous benefits to players, owners and fans of all sports."
In his 16 years as executive director of the Major League Players Association, starting in 1966, Miller fought owners on many fronts, winning free agency for players in December 1975. He may best be remembered, however, as the man who made the word "strike" stand for something other than a pitched ball.
"I think he's the most important baseball figure of the last 50 years," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. "He changed not just the sport but the business of the sport permanently, and he truly emancipated the baseball player -- and in the process all professional athletes. Prior to his time, they had few rights; at the moment, they control the games."
MLB's revenue has grown from $50 million in 1967 to $7.5 billion this year. At his last public speaking engagement, a discussion at New York University School of Law in April marking the 40th anniversary of the first baseball strike, Miller maintained free agency and resulting fan interest contributed to the revenue increase.
"I never before saw such a win-win situation my life, where everybody involved in Major League Baseball, both sides of the equation, still continue to set records in terms of revenue and profits and salaries and benefits," Miller said. "You would think that it was impossible to do that. But it is possible, and it is an amazing story how under those circumstances, there can be both management and labor really winning."
Miller, who retired and became a consultant to the union in 1982, led the first walkout in the game's history 10 years earlier. On April 5, 1972, signs posted at major league parks simply said: "No Game Today." The strike, which lasted 13 days, was followed by a walkout during spring training in 1976 and a midseason job action that darkened the stadiums for seven weeks in 1981.
Baseball had eight work stoppages through 1995 but has labor peace since then. Meanwhile, labor turmoil has engulfed the other major U.S. pro leagues.
"Marvin exemplified guts, tenacity and an undying love for the players he represented," NFL players' union head DeMaurice Smith said. "He was a mentor to me, and we spoke often and at length. His most powerful message was that players would remain unified during labor strife if they remembered the sacrifices made by previous generations."
Slightly built and silver-haired with a thick, dark mustache, Miller trained as an economist and was anything but passive in his dealings with baseball owners.
"Marvin Miller was a highly accomplished executive and a very influential figure in baseball history," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "He made a distinct impact on this sport, which is reflected in the state of the game today, and surely the major league players of the last half-century have greatly benefited from his contributions."
Former Commissioner Peter Ueberroth said Miller should be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame "without question."
"He changed the game of baseball," Ueberroth said. "He was very tough, but he was very fair in the end."
Miller's ascension to the top echelon among sports labor leaders was by no means free from controversy among those he represented. Players from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, California Angels and San Francisco Giants opposed his appointment as successor to Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Robert Cannon, who had counseled them on a part-time but unpaid basis.
Miller overcame the opposition, however, due in part to his personality.
"Some of the player representatives were leery about picking a union man," Hall of Fame pitcher and former U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, a member of the screening committee that recommended Miller, remembered in a 1974 interview. "But he was very articulate ... not the cigar-chewing type some of the guys expected."
Miller recalled that owners "passed the word that if I were selected, goon squads would take over the game. They suggested racketeers and gangsters would swallow baseball. The players expected a 'dese, dem and dose' guy. The best thing I had going for me was owner propaganda."
When Miller made a tour of spring training camps in 1966, seeking support from the players, some coaches and managers who were members of the association at that time heckled him and disrupted his sessions.
"A lot of players figured that anyone the owners disliked that much couldn't be all bad," former club owner Bill Veeck said.
Miller was elected by a vote of 489-136 on April 15, 1966. Baseball had entered a new era, one in which its owners would have to bargain with a union professional.
The owners made it clear that Miller's election would bring an end to their financial contributions to the association, which had been formed in 1954 because players were disenchanted with the way their pension plan was being administered. Miller insisted he would have asked for the change in any event.
"I told them that if they wanted to make any real headway, they'd have to adopt an independent stance," Miller said.
The players' association consisted of a $5,400 kitty and battered file cabinet when Miller took the reins shortly after calling baseball's minimum salary of $7,000 "unreasonably low."
Today the biggest stars earn up to $32 million a season, the average salary is more than $3 million and the major league minimum is $480,000
Baseball salaries increased by nearly 500 percent under Miller's leadership, more than three times the rate at which manufacturing workers' wages rose.
Yet baseball's Hall of Fame repeatedly refused to vote him in.
"I and the union of players have received far more support, publicity, and appreciation from countless fans, former players, writers, scholars, experts in labor management relations, than if the Hall had not embarked on its futile and fraudulent attempt to rewrite history," Miller said after falling one vote shy in December 2010. "It is an amusing anomaly that the Hall of Fame has made me famous by keeping me out."
Miller's legacy -- free agency -- represented the most significant off-the-field change in the game's history. He viewed the reserve clause that bound a player to the team holding his contract as little more than 20th century slavery.
"I had seen some documents in my life, but none like that," Miller said in 1966 after reading a Uniform Player's Contract.
He decided the reserve clause had to be tested. It was, when outfielder Curt Flood, traded by St. Louis, refused to report to Philadelphia in 1969.
Three years later, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the validity of the reserve clause by a 5-3 vote, keeping intact baseball's antitrust exemption.
Still, the die was cast when Justice Harry Blackmun, in his majority opinion, wrote that baseball's exemption from ordinary law was an "aberration" that had survived since the court ruled for the game in 1922. The reserve clause would not survive its next test.
In 1975, Los Angeles pitcher Andy Messersmith and Montreal pitcher Dave McNally, with Miller orchestrating the attack, did not sign contracts and their teams invoked baseball's so-called renewal clause. That gave the team the right to renew a player's contract without his approval.
Players argued there could only be a one-time renewal, while management said the renewal could be invoked in perpetuity.
Arbitrator Peter Seitz sided with the players on Dec. 23, 1975. The owners appealed his decision in federal court, saying the reserve system was not subject to arbitration. Two months later, U.S. District Judge John Watkins Oliver upheld Seitz's decision, and teams then went to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which also upheld Seitz.
In negotiations later that year, the sides agreed to a labor contract that allowed players with six years of major league service to become free agents. Free agency became a reality nearly 100 years after the first players were put under contract.
"Marvin possessed a combination of integrity, intelligence, eloquence, courage and grace that is simply unmatched in my experience," said Donald Fehr, a successor to Miller as union head.
"Without question, Marvin had more positive influence on Major League Baseball than any other person in the last half of the 20th century."
Miller was born in New York, the son of a salesman in the heavily organized garment district. His mother was a school teacher. He studied economics at Miami (Ohio) University and New York University.
He entered the labor field in 1950 as an associate director of research for the United Steelworkers Union. In 1960, he was promoted to assistant to union president David McDonald. When McDonald lost a hotly contested election to I.W. Abel, Miller began looking for a new job.
He and his wife Terry, the parents of two grown children, carefully considered their options, and Miller accepted the directorship of the players' association even though he had some reservations at the time. In fact, he thought his union image had "put some of them off."
"I was surprised when they called me back and asked me to stand for election," Miller said.
In the end, Miller's reputation as a hard worker won over the players, many of whom considered him the consummate professional.
"Baseball is my racket," Pete Rose said. "When it comes to negotiating ... that's Marvin's racket."
Terry Miller died in October 2009. In addition to his daughter, Miller is survived by son Peter Miller and grandson Neil Satoru Miller. Susan Miller said her father, like her mother, wanted his body donated to research at Mount Sinai Hospital. She said the family had not decided whether there would be a service. | <urn:uuid:be85c0c5-ef2d-4032-a415-f913888eaef5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailybreeze.com/dodgers/ci_22073804/former-major-league-baseball-union-head-marvin-miller | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987759 | 2,099 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Frame to Frame
Rouge Parole Shares the Most Human Side of the Tunisian Revolution
When Elyes Baccar began filming uprisings in his home country of Tunisia at the end of 2010, there wasn’t a plan of what his feature documentary would become. With a filmmaker’s intuition he just captured the energy, knowing it would be something big.
“Step by step, the subject came up. While everyone was filming with small cameras and bringing news, I was thinking this agora, the old Greek term meaning everyone is gathering and talking, is the most beautiful gift of this revolution,” said Baccar. “This population was kept silenced for more than 20 years, and now everyone is talking.”
The footage took shape as Rouge Parole, a vivid cinema verité that spans the country, capturing the testimony of Tunisians of all classes and opinions, profiling a country in redefinition, after ousting President Ben Ali from power following 23 years of autocratic rule.
While outside news agencies helped spread information from within Tunisia and around the world, Baccar strove to capture the elements overlooked by headline-seeking reporting. Stories of mothers losing their sons, of the elderly clashing with the youth over ideology and a candid moment where Tunisians peer into a bookstore containing formerly-forbidden literature.
“The problem that we are facing with the news is that they were going into sensational things. […] It was the same point of view of the injuries, the sit-ins, but there was no humanity in the treatment,” said Baccar.
Baccar lets his people tell the story of the revolution, and the result is a complicated and intimate account. Feelings of frustration and excitement bubble within the frames, delivering an inspirational message steeped in realism.
“The path was between frustration of what we have lived before and excitement of what we are living now,” said Baccar. “And at the same time there’s fear about what is going to happen next. Not the same fear as with Ben Ali. It is [a question of] how we’re driving this revolution.”
It’s an exciting kind of fear, one that leaves the filmmaker anxious but confident in the newly elected government to take the necessary steps towards a free Tunisia.
As a filmmaker, Baccar’s main aim was to capture the human Tunisia, to remind its citizens what exactly is worth fighting for.
“When you take the role of director, you are not a politician, you need to bring out the lost values, the forgotten values, when everyone is speeding to bring the news. You have to stop a little bit, to go in-depth into the picture and bring the human values, and to share them.
“This is the most important thing, to share today,” he continued. “We in Tunisia have been desolated for so long, and we have to talk about many issues because [they used to be] forbidden. Today, when we say ‘degage’ to Ben Ali, we open a new era. We want to build bridges, communication, and at the same time self-confidence in our values. Ben Ali, like all dictators, tried to erase identities of his people.”
That freedom to speak is central to Rouge Parole, and handling this responsibility will be the true test to the Tunisian people.
“After this revolution, we brought up our values to the nation in order to share them. They are universal, human,” said Baccar. “We want to be respected, but before anything we have to respect ourselves, and that was the first battle against the regime.”
Rouge Parole / Nov. 14 / 7:00 p.m. / Cinema Politica H-110 more info | <urn:uuid:cd692d71-75a2-4385-aa11-6822b068ee84> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thelinknewspaper.ca/article/2197/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961156 | 808 | 1.8125 | 2 |
3D Animation Workshop: Lesson 44: VRML - Life After Cosmo? webreference.com
Lesson 44 - VRML - Life After Cosmo? - Part 1
Cosmo Software is turning off the lights. And all of us who are interested in the future of VRML are worrying and wondering.
This turn of events is an undeniable disaster. Cosmo Software, a division of Silicon Graphics, has been the dominant commercial force in VRML. The Cosmo Player is, by far, the best VRML browser (the client-side program for viewing and interacting with VRML files). Cosmo Software has been actively improving the product and, what is more important, actively distributing it. They have been promoting VRML technology at a level, and with a zeal, that no other organization (business or otherwise) can pretend to match. This group of people has been devoted to their mission with messianic fervor. And now they, apparently, will be smoke.
We noted in a previous column that Silicon Graphics (SGI) was looking to sell Cosmo Software. Silicon Graphics is a huge company in very difficult straights. Its current, and seemingly desperate, restructuring plan entails the divestiture of all of its "non-core" businesses, and in this logic Cosmo was deemed superfluous, or at least expendable. Many weeks went by in a state of nervous uncertainty, and then, last week, it seemed that the sun broke through for Cosmo and for VRML. Silicon Graphics announced that a "letter of intent" had been signed to sell Cosmo to Sony.
The VRML public could have hardly imagined a more fortunate and positive turn of events. Cosmo, and therefore VRML technology, was being endorsed by a enormous international enterprise whose name is synonymous with consumer entertainment. All the hopes and hard work of VRML enthusiasts everywhere seemed suddenly legitimized by Sony's decision to acquire Cosmo. It was hard to feel better about VRML than most of us felt early last week.
Now it's hard to feel worse.
The Sony sale fell through. That was tough enough. But the next development stunned even those who thought themselves sophisticated in the vicissitudes of Silicon Valley and internet-era business.
Silicon Graphics simply decided to close down Cosmo Software. SGI spokesman John Thompson announced that the employees in the Cosmo division would be transferred to other parts of the company and that the unit would be closed down within the coming weeks. SGI would be evaluating further uses of Cosmo technology. The Cosmo Software website shut down on July 2. It was up again by the afternoon of July 6, but even the most experienced people on the Internet can not remember when a Fortune 500 company, with an enormous investment in its presence on the Web, has simply turned off a major Web site.
What are we to make of this?
|To Continue to Parts 2 and 3, Use Arrow Buttons||
Created: July 7, 1998
Revised: July 7, 1998 | <urn:uuid:d95ab1e2-df1a-4a21-b814-2ab226d1e4f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.webreference.com/3d/lesson44/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963471 | 619 | 1.523438 | 2 |
The gunman, identified in local media reports as 24-year -old Ryan Lanza, was also found dead inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. The shooting caps a year of similar horrific tragedies in which gunmen opened fire on unsuspecting citizens in a theatre in Colorado and a gurdwara in Wisconsin.
The shooting in the elementary school of 600 left 20 children dead, including two who were rushed to a local hospital.
Six adults were also killed by the gunman who is believed to have fired 100 shots. Among those dead is understood to be Lanza's mother, who was a teacher at the school.
"Earlier today a tragedy of unspeakable terms played itself out in this community," Malloy told reporters outside the school.
"You can never be prepared for this kind of incident. A number of our citizens, beautiful children, had their life taken away from them as well as adults whose responsibility it was to educate and supervise those children," Malloy said.
Connecticut police lieutenant Paul Vance said the investigation is ongoing and said another person was found dead at a "secondary crime scene" near Newtown.
He, however, did not release further information but media reports said Lanza's brother was found dead in an apartment. Vance said the shooting was concentrated in one section of the school inside two classrooms.
New York: Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has described the shooting at an elementary school a "tragedy of unspeakable terms" that left 20 children and six adults dead in one of the most horrific incidents in US history.
First Published: Saturday, December 15, 2012, 10:14 | <urn:uuid:6dc6057f-d5ca-4659-ae78-192ba4dcef5d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/us-school-shootout-a-tragedy-of-unspeakable-terms_816816.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985927 | 331 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Dec. 17, 2007
Only What I Can Do
Poem: "Only What I Can Do" by Julene Tripp Weaver, from Case Walking: An AIDS Case Manager Wails Her Blues. © Finishing Line Press, 2007. Reprinted with permission. (buy now)
Only What I Can Do
Dedicated to Juan Bernal, died September 9, 2001, at age 41
I write a letter for my client today.
I sit with him on the deck
of the skilled nursing facility.
He eats breakfast, smokes cigarettes.
He wants me to write to his baby brother
in jail doing time.
He dictates: "I love you
I need a thousand dollars
I will drive the get-away car."
He has these plans
he needs to conveytells me
his little brother will tote the gun.
He dictates: "The doctor told me today
I am dying, but he doesn't know
how long it will take."
It is doubtful he will be able to drive
the get-away car when his legs are paralyzed
and two people have to transfer him
from his bed to his wheelchair and back.
He has a direct line morphine drip
he presses every ten minutes.
It is doubtful he will make it
home again, but he wants to go home.
He drifts in and out of sleep, nodding-out
his thoughts stop in mid-sentence,
he loses track of his message to his brother.
He asks if they'll read the letter.
The jail will, I say. He edits out the question
about whether his brother killed someone.
He thinks he did. I suggest he
take out the part about robbing a bank
but he doesn't. He thinks it's a good plan.
Literary and Historical Notes:
It was on this day that Ludwig van Beethoven was baptized in the city of Bonn, Germany. Three years after his first performance as a pianist in Vienna, Beethoven began hearing a persistent ringing in his ears. His deafness became worse, and he had to give up the piano, but Beethoven was able continue his work as a composer. In his latest book, Musicophilia, Oliver Sacks tells us that so much of what we hear happens in the brain, not in the ear. He theorizes that your musical imagery, your mind's ability to fill in the gaps when you hear that familiar tune playing ever so softly, also allowed Beethoven to keep composing symphonies. Sacks writes, "It is possible, indeed, that his musical imagery was even intensified by deafness." Ludwig van Beethoven produced some of his most complex work including his Hammerklavier sonata, his last five string quartets, and his famous Ninth Symphony after he was completely deaf.
It's the birthday of New York Times columnist William Safire, (books by this author) born in New York City (1929). He was the senior speech writer for President Richard Nixon. Before Apollo 11 took off for the moon, Safire had to prepare a statement for Nixon, in case the astronauts never made it back. He began the speech with, "Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace." He won the Pulitzer Prize for his commentary on corruption in the Carter administration, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006.
On this day in 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first successful flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The brothers picked Kitty Hawk because it was full of sand dunes that would cushion crash landings and it had high winds to help get the plane off the ground. But living there was almost unbearable. They endured sand storms, coastal rains, and swarms of insects during the day. And at night, the wind was so bad that the brothers had get out and hold on to their tent to keep it from blowing away. In 1900, Orville and Wilbur started out with a kite controlled from the ground and later took turns manning it in the air. Their father forbade them from flying together, to ensure that one brother could continue the experiments in the event of a fatal crash. When Wilbur stepped into the controls in October, he was unprepared for the sensation of flying. The plane was unpredictable, he couldn't plan out his moves, and he relied purely on instinct to adjust the plane up and down. Within a few moments he overcompensated, nearly flipped the glider over, and shouted to his brother, "Let me down!" Suffering months of spin-outs, broken struts, blackened eyes, and crash landings, the brothers left Kitty Hawk early. On the train back, Orville told his brother, "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly."
It was on this day in 1880, that the Edison Electric Illuminating Company was incorporated in New York City. It used one engine to power 800 light bulbs.
It is the birthday of American scientist Joseph Henry, born in Albany, New York (1797). He was the first person to observe electromagnetic induction, the process of converting magnetism into electricity. He once made an electromagnet for Yale College that supported more than a ton of weight, which was a world record at the time. After Joseph Henry died, his name was given to the standard electrical unit of inductive resistance known today as the "henry."
It is the birthday of chemist Willard Frank Libby, born in Grand Valley, Colorado (1908), who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing the carbon-14 dating process. With carbon dating, scientists were able to discover that the Shroud of Turin, supposedly from the Crucifixion, was actually made in the Middle Ages, more than a thousand years after Jesus died.
It's the birthday of the author Ford Madox Ford, (books by this author) born Ford Madox Huefer in Surrey, England (1873). He edited the Transatlantic Review, published Joyce and Hemingway, and co-wrote three potboilers with his friend Joseph Conrad. Ford imitated Conrad's style in his novel The Good Soldier, which was published just before he served as a lieutenant in World War I. Ford Madox Ford once said, "Only two classes of books are of universal appeal: the very best and the very worst."
It's the birthday of Penelope Fitzgerald, (books by this author) who didn't write her first book until she was 60 years old. Fitzgerald still wrote three biographies and 10 novels in her lifetime. Her best-known work, The Blue Flower, won the National Book Award in 1998.
Poet John Greenleaf Whittier (books by this author) was born on this day near Haverhill, Massachusetts (1807). Whittier was raised on a debt-ridden farm, attended school only 12 weeks a year, and had to walk several miles to borrow books on biography or travel since his house contained only a single almanac. All of his life, Whittier suffered from the effects of the hard physical labor of working on a farm. He was a newspaper editor, abolitionist, state senator, and poet. He authored the poem "Snowbound" in 1865, which made him enough money to retire on.
It is the birthday of novelist Erskine Caldwell, (books by this author) born in White Oak, Georgia (1903), who was the son of a Presbyterian minister, and he traveled to the rural homes of his father's parishioners and learned about the life and the language of poor sharecroppers. He is best known for his controversial book Tobacco Road (1932), about Southern poverty and degradation. Though the book was banned for obscenity, the phrase "Tobacco Road" quickly entered the American lexicon as slang for rural squalor.
It was on this day in 1955 that Carl Perkins wrote his big hit "Blue Suede Shoes" and recorded it less than 48 hours later at Sun Studios in Memphis.
It's the day that The Nutcracker ballet was performed for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia (1892). Czar Alexander III in the audience loved the ballet, but the critics hated it. Tchaikovsky wrote that the opera that came before The Nutcracker "was evidently very well liked, the ballet not.... The papers, as always, reviled me cruelly." Tchaikovsky died of cholera less than a year later, before The Nutcracker became an international success.
Today would mark the beginning of the seven-day celebration of Saturnalia in ancient Rome. For the winter festival, the Romans made and exchanged gifts, decorated their homes with holly and ropes of garland and carried wreaths of evergreen branches to honor the god Saturn.
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.® | <urn:uuid:2cbcb4fa-1ffe-4c26-8186-a06d338a30ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2007/12/17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982631 | 1,856 | 1.765625 | 2 |
March 1999 Vol.7 Issue 3 Add To My Personal Library Two Powerhouses Enable CAD, Animation Work There is a distinct difference between the two professional-level graphics cards we review here and the entry-level cards we've reviewed. The price tags and specifications show that these are two different breeds of animal. The AccelGalaxy retails for $1,699, and the Oxygen GMX retails for a staggering $2,299. Standard graphics cards can be had for less than $90. These cards are definitely not for the home user. They're targeted for professional graphics designers who work with very complex 3-D images day in and day out. We took these two cards out for a walk to see what they could do. We ran the Indy3D tests on both cards (see "How We Tested") to test their abilities with CAD, animation, and simulation. The AccelGalaxy is a 32-bit AGP card with a hefty 52MB
Products & Services
Video cards are used to regulate the data displayed on computer monitors.
CPU Cards and Modules
CPU cards and modules are computer boards that contain the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer.
Graphics software is used to produce video graphics and to edit and convert graphic files of different formats. These types of software include raster graphics, vector graphics, raster to vector conversion (R2V), and others.
PCMCIA Cards and Accessories
PCMCIA cards and accessories follow standards developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), an international standards body and trade organization. PCMCIA cards, or PC cards as they are commonly known, were designed originally for adding memory to portable computers, but are now used in a variety of devices.
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2004 CPU Special Issue Page(s) 88 in print issue Add To My Personal Library We Test 10 Video Cards To See Which Is Fastest Imagine yourself ensconced in your favorite video game chair playing...
on the Web. HardOCP.com is geared toward users with a passion for PCs and those Beware, though, Kyle is known for his strong some of the most in-depth reviews and PC hardware news on the 'Net. Many of...
In this photo of the interior of the ALX X2, you can see the dual video cards in the lower-right corner of the case, the dual processors in the middle, and the liquid-cooling system with the blue... | <urn:uuid:df2c4bdc-3f9f-41e7-8ceb-715d346a01dd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.globalspec.com/reference/118465/smart-computing-article-workstation-graphics-cards | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936868 | 635 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Panel backs Vt. drivers' licenses for undocumented immigrants
Migrant supporters hope Legislature acts in '13
A special Vermont legislative panel has put off issuing its final recommendation, but appears strongly in favor of allowing immigrant farmworkers in the country in violation of federal law to get state drivers' licenses.
The panel of nine, including lawmakers and people representing farm, immigrant and human rights groups, put the finishing touches Thursday to a report that's to be given to lawmakers as they convene next month.
Up for debate has been whether and how to issue Vermont drivers' licenses to farm workers who say they're unable to travel without them and feel isolated as a result.
"We live in hard conditions. We can't move freely," migrant Over Lopez told the panel.
Many have to rely on their employer, or a group of volunteer drivers.
Ann Burcroff of Montpelier is one of them and explained what she's seen over the last two years.
"When I'd drive five young men to the grocery, our first stop is the bank and we'd have to wait for the farmer's wife to come down and say 'These are indeed who they say they are, are indeed the people we're paying,' and they couldn't cash their paychecks for groceries until she did that for them," Burcoff told the panel.
Through an interpreter, migrant David Santiago added that "recently my brother had an accident on a nearby dairy farm and I couldn't visit him because I didn't have a license."
In an eight-to-one straw vote, the committee indicated support for making migrant workers eligible for a new kind of drivers' licenses that looks much like those Vermonters now carry.
But Sen. Peg Flory, the Rutland County Republican who also chairs the panel, disagrees. She thinks the new license or driver ID card should be distinguishable.
"But we all agree if you have a license and pass the test you're a safer driver, and if a policeman can identify you that's good thing, and if you have mobility to safely get around your community and feel a better sense of community, that's a good thing for all of us," Flory said.
It is now up to the full Legislature to consider what to do next. Gov. Peter Shumlin hopes to see action.
"(Undocumented workers) they shouldn't have
the same drivers' licenses we have, for security and other reasons -- but it does make sense to make it possible for them to legally operate a vehicle if they can pass the test," Shumlin said Thursday.
Copyright 2012 by WPTZ All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:f0448966-042f-4d32-a6df-383f57077ae7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/burlington/Panel-backs-Vt-drivers-licenses-for-undocumented-immigrants/-/8869880/17769180/-/format/rsss_2.0/view/print/-/lkxy9c/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971499 | 556 | 1.507813 | 2 |
There are two half-true arguments against raising the gas tax that drive me crazy every time I hear them. Arguments which, often, are not well rebutted by transportation stakeholders.
First up: “Raising the gasoline tax would hurt many families who are already struggling financially.” Sure, that’s true. It also impacts thousands of businesses who rely on truck deliveries. And that could raise the prices of goods, at some point.
What’s also true is that congestion and rough roads cost every family and every business hundreds of dollars or more every year. So those struggling families pay one way or the other. Why not pay a little more at the pump – three cents a gallon – and get better, safer roads instead of spending a hundred dollars or so on car repairs?
Second: The loudest cheerleaders for a gas tax increase are those who stand to gain the most: State DOT officials, labor unions and construction companies. Yeah, darn those leaders who see roads and bridges deteriorating, who see unfunded projects which could move people and goods more quickly and safely.
And darn those company executives who will keep purchasing materials from other companies to maintain and build roads and bridges, and who want projects to keep paying their employees. Employes who, by the way, buy more things when they are employed. How dare those business leaders advocate for investing in infrastructure.
Let’s be clear. A gas tax increase will cost all of us. And a gas tax will benefit all of us – not just public employees, union members and private construction company workers.
And let’s remember. Any gas tax increase must be accompanied by increased accountability and transparency, and some mechanism to ensure funding is going to the highest-priority projects that improve economic vitality and communities. | <urn:uuid:87016082-47be-47ad-a115-2d492096ec86> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.transportationissuesdaily.com/two-half-true-arguments-against-a-gas-tax-increase-that-drive-me-crazy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96227 | 368 | 1.835938 | 2 |
A world-renowned journalist spoke to Jarvis Christian College students on Tuesday on the importance of rising above discouragement and not defining themselves based on other people's standards or perceptions.
George E. Curry, editor and chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service delivered the convocation speech as part of the college's 2013 Founders and Homec-oming festivities.
Curry has worked as a reporter for Sports Illustrated, the St. Louis Dispatch and as a Washington correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. He was the editor in chief of Emerge magazine, which ran stories on issues affecting the African American community.
Curry also has written three books. "You are today the thoughts of yesterday have brought you, and you will be tomorrow the thoughts of today take you," he said to an audience in the Smith-Howard Chapel on the JCC campus in Hawkins.
Curry said he grew up in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and graduated from a segregated high school. He said he was denied a job at his hometown newspaper because of the color of his skin. But he did not allow it to discourage him.
"My first job was at Sports Illustrated magazine as a reporter ..." he said "I could get a job at the largest sports magazine in the world and could not get a job at my hometown newspaper. I should send them a thank you note, see, because what some people perceive as bad can turn out to be good."
Curry said if he allowed himself to be discouraged, he wouldn't have traveled the world, covered political campaigns, and even met Pope John Paul II.
"It's about attitude," he said. "It's about dreaming about what you want to be in life It's about not letting anybody discourage you. It's about making decisions now that are going to affect the rest of your life, because decisions and choices have consequences."
Siblings with the same families, communities and opportunities can take entirely different paths, leading one to success and another to jail. He said the only difference is the choices made.
"There will be some people who will try to discourage you, and they could be in your own family, but you and nobody else (can define) who you are, and you need to learn your history and know who you are," he said.
Curry said part of knowing your history involves speaking to others with respect, and not degrading women. He mentioned Lil Wayne's recent lyrics on a track titled "Karate Chop," that were particularly distasteful. The lyrics inappropriately referenced Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy who was beaten, shot and thrown in a river in 1955 for whistling at a white woman.
"Lil Wayne thinks this is something to joke about," Curry said.
The respect of language applied to the use of racial slurs and degrading terms for women that are prominent in some rap music, he said. Curry said anything to call a woman should go through the "mother test," and if someone could call their mother that name without being slapped, then it was probably alright to call others it too.
Curry said to give respect, but not to allow others' words to define who they become. He said many successful people were told they wouldn't; amount to anything and went on to become successful.
"See, somewhere somebody is going to say no to you, and the question is not if you get knocked down -- the question is, are you going to get up?" he said.
George E. Curry, editor and chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (Courtesy) | <urn:uuid:87ea02bd-8484-4e89-89ca-2b5157ed77bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20130320/NEWS01/303209992/0/SPORTS05 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984145 | 731 | 1.507813 | 2 |
FOLKS no doubt have differing views of former West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw's legacy.
I believe his most significant accomplishment was driving payday lenders out of the state and keeping others from moving in.
First American Cash Advance opened its first office in West Virginia in 2001. That same year Larry Kugler, president of First American Cash Advance's corporate parent, told me his company's typical loan was about 15 days and the annual percentage rate was 425 percent.
Companies like First American exploited holes in the web of bank regulations to offer such outrageous rates. By 2002 First American had eight offices around West Virginia.
McGraw doggedly fought the payday loan industry at every turn - and won.
Speaking of McGraw's legacy, in my view his biggest flop was his occasional investigation of high gasoline prices.
Some years ago I asked McGraw about this. He said the federal government allows the oil companies to share price information and, therefore, nothing can be done at the state level.
■ ■ ■
Last week's column about West Virginia's income tax touched some readers' nerves.
Barry Brasseur wrote, "As I sit here and read your column about the Governor bragging about not raising taxes I had to bite my lip.
"If you believe what the Kanawha County Assessor's Office is preaching in your same newspaper, that the state is pressuring counties to raise property taxes in order to bring in more revenue, then he is in fact presiding over people's taxes going up as much as 45 percent in what I and many of my friends call the keyboard appraisals," Brasseur wrote. | <urn:uuid:2cc6bb3f-d12b-4633-a90f-ff1600c48f48> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailymail.com/Business/JaredHunt/201302100014 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977931 | 334 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Within the last two weeks, I have taken my older daughter to see Eclipse in IMAX as well as Toy Story 3, Despicable Me, and The Last Airbender all in 3D. You haven’t “lived” until you have seen vampires and werewolves in IMAX, and 3D makes animation more fun and people and events more real. Having first seen Avatar in 2D and then subsequently in 3D, the difference for me is very much worth the difference in price. And yet, of the five films I have mentioned above, 2 were excellent, two were good, and one was fair. IMAX and 3D enhance but can’t overcome a weak story line.
Both my daughters now expect that, if we see a movie, we will look for the 3D version. They have already looked at a demonstration of 3D TV and asked that we make this a priority purchase. My wife and I have responded in 3D that we are sticking with 2D TV for the foreseeable future. Technology has given my kids a very different growing up experience than I had. On a car trip, in my youth, you would look to see how many different state license plates you could spot or you would sing songs or you would read. I list reading last here for a reason—reading would lead to car sickness for me which would lead to ….. . Singing and license plates wouldn’t really carry the day for a long car trip and were supplemented by “how much longer until we get there” being asked more and more frequently. Now, for any car trip over 2 hours, we take along the DS, the DVD player as well as the always present IPODs. Yes, we also take along books, but on car rides this is hardly the first choice (and both my kids enjoy reading). However, as the technology has increased, the complaining has decreased. Another clear benefit of technology. On a recent “non-stop” ride back from Niagara Falls of over 600 miles and about nine hours, there were no complaints heard (except from the grownups).
We all know that technology has changed our lives but for many of us and especially our kids, technology has also changed our expectations and our patience level. We expect more, and most certainly, we expect to be more entertained. And if the entertainment and the technological sizzle aren’t there, there is a real risk of being turned off by what we are looking at and/or doing.
In education, we constantly strive to harness the benefits of technology to enhance the quality of education. Vastly more accessible and robust sources of information are clear examples of technology’s crucial benefits. But reading, writing, thinking, reacting, and assimilating are critical on-going building blocks of a good education that are not fundamentally tied to technology. But they are tied to patience so that learning has the time and the concentration to happen all through a person’s formal education and life. This is not an easy lesson but we all need to remember that if “let me entertain you” becomes our highest priority, we may have stripped away the essence of good education. | <urn:uuid:ad5847f0-f081-48a2-9f4e-484c4bd15616> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost_prose/3d_education | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979567 | 653 | 1.5 | 2 |
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Women's fiction is dead!
The term ‘Women’s Fiction’ will no longer be gracing WH Smith’s shelves after two customers complained to their chief executive Kate Swann, appealing to her ‘in sisterhood’ to remove the term. Teacher Julia Gillick and policy advisor Claire Leigh complained to WH Smith after spotting a stand branded ‘Women’s Fiction’, which they felt was outrageous and offensive. So, is the term Women’s Fiction offensive and demeaning to women or is it a handy label for shoppers to find books they like? (Taken from BBC website)
There was a delightful irony in hearing this discussed on a gender-labelled Radio show but it's a real subject and one that greatly interests me. I don't know exactly which titles WHS used to stock under this label but I note that many literary agents use the term to clarify what kinds of books they do, or don't represent.
We are used to terms like ChickLit and ChickFlick, and they usually seem to be more about who wouldn't like the work described rather than who would. Men are supposed to like thick bricks of books, with tinfoil on the covers, written by ex-SAS men or Navy SEALs, while for women something that hints of shopping (especially with shoes involved) is supposed to press the right buttons.
At the movies, the testosterone-filled want exploding cars and gunfights, while the oestrogen brigade need kisses and tears: The Bourne Ulitamatum vs How to Make an American Quilt. But how did we reach this ridiculous situation? My husband can't be the only red-blooded male who enjoyed I Capture the Castle, Sense and Sensibility, The King's Speech and the TV adaptation of Ballet Shoes ("Why did no-one tell me about this book when I was a child?" "Because you were a boy!"). But I can't put the other side of the picture by being entertained by bloodshed and torture (although I do watch Torchwood, albeit through interlaced fingers).
But I like my fiction a lot more muscular than most of the books that would probably have made it on to WHS's shelf designed to appeal to my sex. The Lacuna, for example, is by a woman - Barbara Kingsolver - but it never occurred to me it might be for women. It's about Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Leon Trotsky and McCarthyism in America. And what about books like The Hare with Amber Eyes? Not fiction I know but equally appealing to both sexes I would have thought.
What is gained by this rigid assumed division of gender tastes? One of the contributors on Woman's Hours - Claire Leigh, I think - asked why not group books under genre: Romance; Historical fiction etc as is done with Crime/Thrillers, Horror or SF/Fantasy. A very sensible suggestion I thought.
But the rot has set in LONG before anyone is old enough to choose an adult book in a bookshop or Stationers. Girls brought up on a diet of Rainbow Fairies and similar series would have no problems with a section labelled "Women's Fiction." In fact, you might as well call the shelf "pink books" and be done with it! Likewise, boys who are encouraged to read only titles like Beast Quest, will have no trouble avoiding the books provided for Sisters once they are grown men.
Perhaps this is another area where e-readers will liberate people who are worried about being judged by the cover of the book they are reading? The reading preferences of anyone holding a Kindle remain a secret. | <urn:uuid:aaf121a0-1840-4d68-8444-044faaa3844a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bookmavenmary.blogspot.com/2011/09/womens-fiction-is-dead.html?showComment=1316170877258 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971115 | 756 | 1.5625 | 2 |
The Foundation supports several types of educational
activities: Seminars, Symposia, Workshops and Publications. Funding to support
these activities is sought annually from corporations and private individuals.
greatly appreciated and fully tax deductable.
The last few years have brought remarkable advances in stem cell research. For example, recent studies have shown that embryonic stem cells can be used to effectively treat acute spinal cord injury in rats. But how are these laboratory advances translated into human cures? Are there unanswered scientific questions? Are there unanswered clinical approach problems? Are there unanswered healthcare regulatory issues?
In 2002, Dr. Ann A. Kiessling, Director of the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation, and Dr. Carol Warner of Northeastern University, launched The Activated Egg Symposium, an annual, one-day meeting held at Northeastern's Henderson House, and hosted by the Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation. Each year, leading scientists from around the world present their current views of egg and stem cell biology.
A one day workshop is being planned. Experts in identifying and typing bacterial species according to ribosomal RNA gene sequences will convene with experts in prostate physiology for the purpose of defining problems to be solved in understanding prostate infections.
Since its beginning in l996, the Foundation has sponsored the seminar series, Egg Group, for scientists-in-training in the general area of egg physiology. The seminar series was initiated by Foundation Director, Ann Kiessling, and Carol Warner, Matthews Distinguished Professor, Northeastern University in 1992. The format of the series is to provide a forum for graduate students and post doctoral fellows to present their on-going work for advice and counsel. Experiments with the small numbers of eggs available for study, even from such abundant species as mouse and cow, require special techniques. The sharing of information between research groups in New England colleges and universities has solved numerous technical problems and spawned many productive collaborations between research teams. Foundation sponsorship is limited to the cost of the pizza and beer needed to nourish the scientific minds that attend the seminar series. Egg Group meets three to four times each year.
Bedford Stem Cell
Research Foundation Headquarters
PO Box 1028
Bedford, MA 01730
260 Elm Street, Suite 106
Somerville, MA 02144 | <urn:uuid:7c1308a3-2b49-4920-b305-2cf0e01ba79e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bedfordresearch.org/events/events.php?item=events_lectures | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933656 | 466 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Dr. John Doyle
Written by Shelly Poe
The late Dr. John Doyle, a native of Pennsboro, W.Va., excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field at WVU from 1929-32, playing halfback in football, forward in basketball, and catcher in baseball, earning a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Back to Hall Of Fame
Besides lettering in all four sports, Doyle was voted captain of the football and basketball teams in his senior year, and helped WVU to some memorable victories. In football, those included a 9-6 upset of Oklahoma A & M (State) in 1929 on the road, and a 14-7 win at Georgetown and a 23-7 win over the Kansas Aggies here in 1930. A 19-0 upset of Penn State highlighted the 1931 season. Doyle scored the only touchdown against national power Fordham in a 20-7 loss at New York's Polo Grounds his senior season. In basketball, Doyle participated in significant victories over Pitt, Penn State, Georgetown, Temple, Duquesne and Navy.
After earning his bachelor's degree in 1932, Doyle went on to study at the Medical College of Virginia and completed requirements for an MD degree at the Chicago Medical School in 1940. In 1941, he entered the U.S. Army medical corps, and served on Utah Beach on D-Day. He earned seven battle stars, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service. He spent 60 years as a physician in Ridgeway, Ill., where he was active in community events. In recognition of his medical service to his community, coupled with his athletic achievements, Sports Illustrated named Doyle in 1956 to its first Silver Anniversary All-America football team.
Dr. Doyle and his wife, the former Joyce Clark, had three children, Cynthia, Jack and Patti. Dr. Doyle died on December 15, 2002, at the age of 93. | <urn:uuid:b32430b6-1def-4de4-b980-988633717d9f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wvusports.com/halloffame.cfm?func=viewProfile&hofID=76 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981714 | 397 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Recently, I was asked by Don
Wayne Reno to oversee a restoration on his fatherís 1935 Gibson RB-3 Mastertone
banjo. This instrument (serial # 518-1) was owned and used by Earl Scruggs as a
member of Bill Monroeís Bluegrass Boys during the early days of the birth of
Bluegrass music. Earl Scruggs continued playing this banjo into the beginning
years of the Foggy Mountain Boys with Lester Flatt. Earl Scruggs later traded
the banjo to Don Reno, and Don used this banjo throughout his career. The banjo
was passed on to Donís son, Don Wayne Reno, another great banjoist who continues
to be inspired by this sensational instrument.
This instrument was owned and used by the two first
generation Masters, who gave to Bluegrass music, the essential element for its
own unique sound. This banjo has been in service since 1946. The history of this
banjo is unparalleled, and has, ahead of all the others; help make the Gibson
Mastertone banjo the industry standard for Bluegrass and Country Music.
I started the restoration with a detailed photo session of
the banjo in its condition upon arrival, and continued the photographs
throughout the restoration. I was assisted by some of the talented men who work
at the Gibson banjo factory in Nashville. They were all eager to
contribute their time, thoughts, and talents to this project. We were all
honored to participate in this restoration.
I removed the neck and coordinator rods from the pot
assembly. The pot was dis-assembled, and non-original parts were set aside to
return to Don Wayne. If you observe some of the photos of Don Reno with this
banjo, you can see that he would occasionally change some of the parts. He used
different armrests, tailpieces, and tuners. Upon arrival, the banjo had chrome
hooks and nuts that were not Gibson parts, and some wood screws holding the "L"
brackets in place that were not original. The original tailpiece and armrest
were also missing. Other than these parts and a new nut and geared 5th
string peg, this banjo is original.
I carefully cleaned all the metal parts and the outside of
the rim under the flange. I left the inside of the rim with the Mastertone
Guarantee label as it was. My mind raced with thoughts of the classic sounds
that were created through this very sacred combination of wood and metal! The
"L" brackets were bent down from years of use, so I straightened them back to
the correct angle, and used the remaining original screws to attach them back to
the rim. The original coordinator rods and washers and nuts were all in good
condition. The flange was not removed from the rim. A missing section on the
upper part of the flange reminded me of how fragile the pot metal material is.
The break in the flange happened (I was told) when the banjo fell (in itsí case)
from a bunk in the Reno and Harrell bus. This missing section is an identifying
character that can be seen in many photos of Don and his banjo. I found a nice
even coated Remo head, and re-assembled the pot using the proper parts.
Reproduction hooks and nuts, Presto tailpiece, and Pre-War style armrest were
used. The pot was tuned and set aside until the neck restoration was completed.
The resonator of this banjo is unique to typical Gibson
Pre-War specs, as the inner lining is made of
maple instead of the usual poplar
lining. I have occasionally seen this on a few other Pre-War Gibson banjos. The
resonator on this banjo is bound as a style 3. Some folks have called this banjo
an RB-75 by serial designation, but the resonator denotes style 3. The resonator
has had the finish worn off and re-touched. Don Reno has also signed his name on
the inside of the resonator, and carved his name in the back of the resonator
near the heel slot. No doubt about the history of this wonderful banjo. The
resonator is structurally sound and complete with the original wall lugs and
The original 5 string neck of this banjo had obviously seen a
lot of wear in itsí 60+ years of service. The many hours of playing by Earl,
Don, and Don Wayne, along with the many repairs through the years, made the
restoration of the neck and fingerboard the most critical and delicate part of
this project. The banjo has been re-fretted many times since new, and the
Brazilian rosewood fingerboard worn to great degrees. Upon inspection, the worn
areas of the fingerboard had been filled and covered with varnish to slow
further wear. The frets had been filed nearly flat to the fingerboard and left
un-crowned. The banjo would not make a clear note sound on virtually any fret
when Don Wayne left it with me.
Gibsonís Ed Weber removed the old frets, planed the
fingerboard, filled the grooves, and final glass planed the board before
installing all new frets and a new nut. The original Mastertone block was
carefully ejected from the fingerboard to avoid breakage. The beautifully
figured rosewood fingerboard has now been restored to 98% of its original
condition! Ed also repaired some of the pearl inlay that was flaking and falling
out due to continuous use. We found part of an old matchbook under the nut that
was used as a shim from a former repair. Please visit Edís website
see more of Edís talents.
Through many years of use and changing of the tuning pegs,
the original tuner holes in the headstock had become enlarged and nearly "oval"
shaped. The banjo had oversized washers on the face of the headstock to hold the
tuners in when Don Wayne brought the banjo to me. Gibson luthier Jackie Miller
put dowels in the enlarged headstock holes and re-drilled the headstock to
accept the original style Grover pancake tuners. The banjo will now stay in
Gibsonís Tony Wray contributed to the restoration by shaping
and cutting the string slots on the new nut, and crowning and dressing the new
frets. Tonyís care and expertise made this old banjo "play like butter" as we
Gibson machinist Jon Lovette assumed the task of
re-installing the original 5th string guide nut into the fingerboard.
A delicate operation it was, as the 5th fret required the routing of
a half circle to set the nut. Jon makes the resonators for all the new Gibson
After restoring the neck, re-building the pot assembly, and
completing the missing parts, I re-assembled the banjo. With the original neck
fit from the Kalamazoo factory, the neck resumed proper pitch, and I selected
the appropriate new Gibson 5/8" bridge. The banjo had received a long over due
This banjo absolutely "roared" when I tuned it up and all the
guyís at Gibson did too!!! This was an extremely satisfying moment for all of
us!!! I called Don Wayne to let him know of our progress, and to ask for some
extra time for me to do an extensive set-up. He agreed, and was very pleased
about our results.
Then came the best part for me. Iíve been a Reno and Smiley
fan since I was 12 years old, and I have all of Donís recordings. I became a fan
of Earl Scruggs at the age of 4, and I have all of his recordings. Earl Scruggs
banjo playing is what first inspired me to play the banjo. I have all the 78-RPM
records of the Bluegrass Boys with Lester and Earl. I have studied all of these
collections of recorded output greatly during my 38 years of playing the banjo.
I selected some of my favorite cutís that came to mind, pulled the albums, 45ís
and 78ís and started listening to the many great performances that were recorded
on this banjo. From those inspirations, I started the set-up of this incredible
Well, it didnít take long for me to retrieve the sound I had
imagined to come from this banjo. I believe an exceptional instrument will
remain, and just get better with use and proper maintenance. The sound so many
of us banjo players know and love, still lives through this great instrument.
This banjo "vibrates" like no other banjo that Iíve ever played and has a sound
"all itsí own". It was an incredible experience, exploring the potentials of
Don Wayne came to the factory to pick up the banjo, and
expressed his thanks and gratitude to all of us. He offered to let me use the
banjo whenever I wanted, and I have taken him up on the offer many times. I have
used the banjo to record several very special new projects here in Nashville
that will be released in 2006! I feel I can speak for my friends at Gibson by
saying, "Thanks Don Wayne, for allowing us the privilege to help maintain one of
our Bluegrass and American Music treasures. The 1935 Gibson RB-3 Mastertone
Banjo, also known as "Nellie". We are all truly blessed". | <urn:uuid:7447c071-8172-4a5e-b0b8-14e7cfa70c23> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.charliecushman.com/ScruggsReno.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962289 | 2,047 | 1.523438 | 2 |
About French Market Coffee
New Orleans has always embraced those who are passionate about what they do. Those who take initiative. Those who take the extra time and energy to do things the right way rather than the easy way. The Bartlett and Dodge families, who started French Market Coffee in 1890, were exactly such people. There, in New Orleans' bustling French Market, they sold the first cans of their rich, carefully roasted coffee. Then, like now, the French Market brought together an inspiring group of entrepreneurs, artists, and musicians all of whom were as deeply passionate about their work as we are about ours.
Although a few things have changed over our 120-plus year history, our dedication to great coffee has not. To this day we continue to roast the choicest Arabica beans and specially grind them to create the quintessential New Orleans coffee, right here in the city we call home. And as a part of New Orleans' culinary heritage, we have a tradition to uphold - just like the city's finest restaurants, many of which have been serving French Market Coffee for over 100 years. | <urn:uuid:262f1068-0dae-4fb9-ae87-121802513b5f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reilyproducts.com/site303.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974175 | 222 | 1.710938 | 2 |
in politics, and thus lost to his professorship. He was a spruce-looking man, with well-adjusted hair, a neat coat, pantaloons, and boots, to say nothing of the fresh hat in his hands as he entered the room. The attendant had placed a decanter of water, a tumbler, and some pieces of white sugar on the table before he entered; and his first act was to prepare a drink, which is very common in France, from a combination of these. While lecturing he stirred his water and sugar, and occasionally moistened his lips. His subject was Sidon, and its commercial prosperity. He had notes before him, and a blackboard behind him on which he chalked some dates showing the contemporaneousness of Sidon with the Jewish government. Constant Prevost also used notes for his lecture. Saint-Hilaire did not appear to have any. Unlike the professors at the École de Droit, those of the Sorbonne whom I have seen had no dress or badge, except a piece of red ribbon in one of the upper button-holes on the left lapel of their coats. At the École de Droit to-day I heard Delzers1 on Procedure Civile. He was a man with hard features, of about fifty-five years of age, and with the black gown, red scarf, and red cap which I had before observed as the garb of Rossi. His manner was very plain and deliberate. He read an article in the code, having the book before him, and then proceeded in a plain way to expound it. In the course of an hour he expounded about a page of the code, relating to the formalities of recording the judgment. I was happy to find that I could understand nearly all that he said, as I could a good deal of what the other lecturers said to-day. This is to me an encouraging sign that I am gradually acquiring a French ear. This evening went to the Theatre Odeon to see Moliere's Les Femmes Savantes, and Mademoiselle Mars in the part of Henriette; and the evening was a feast. I had previously prepared myself by reading the play, and I also carried a copy with me, by means of which I followed the actors easily through the whole of this brilliant production. Mars2 is now nearly sixty, and yet she had the appearance of thirty. Her voice was clear as silver and exquisitely modulated, and her movement on the stage thoroughly graceful. I have seen no performance, by any actor, which was so eminently pretty and graceful as that of this evening by Mars: the part did not call out those stronger traits which she is said to possess. The poetry of Moliere fell from her lips with honeyed accents, and all the players did well; there was nothing bad. After this play, Mars appeared in a pretty little piece called Le Chateau de ma Niece. The theatre of the Odeon is situated in the region of the students, and the parterre or pit was, of course, crowded with these. They ranged from the ages of sixteen or seventeen to twenty-one or twenty-two, and like American students were noisy and uproarious, crying to the orchestra for the Marseilles Hymn, &c. While looking at them ranged in
This text is part of:
Table of Contents:
Chapter 2 : Parentage and Family.���the father.
Chapter 3 : birth and early Education.��� 1811 - 26 .
Chapter 4 : College Life.��� September , 1826 , to September , 1830 .���age, 15 - 19 .
Chapter 5 : year after College.��� September , 1830 , to September , 1831 .���Age, 19 - 20 .
Chapter 6 : Law School .��� September , 1831 , to December , 1833 .���Age, 20 - 22 .
Chapter 7 : study in a law office .���Visit to Washington .��� January , 1854 , to September , 1834 .���Age, 23 .
Chapter 8 : early professional life.��� September , 1834 , to December , 1837 .���Age, 23 - 26 .
Chapter 9 : going to Europe .��� December , 1837 .���Age, 26 .
Chapter 10 : the voyage and Arrival.��� December , 1837 , to January , 1838 ��� age, 26 - 27 .
Chapter 11 : Paris .���its schools.��� January and February , 1838 .���Age, 27 .
Chapter 12 : Paris .���Society and the courts.��� March to May , 1838 .���Age, 27 .
Chapter 13 : England .��� June , 1838 , to March , 1839 .���Age, 27 - 28 .
Chapter 14 : first weeks in London .��� June and July , 1838 .���Age, 27 .
Chapter 15 : the Circuits .���Visits in England and Scotland .��� August to October , 1838 .���age, 27 .
2 1779-1847. Her first success, which was at the beginning of this century, was achieved in the personation of a deaf and dumb girl in the Abbe de la Épee. She was for thirty years without a rival on the French stage in genteel comedy, and retired in 1841. Her favorite plays were those of Moliere.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.
An XML version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer Perseus any modifications you make. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. | <urn:uuid:e0be96ed-ff31-4c93-9e53-b680a5aecf7e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2001.05.0206%3Achapter%3D11%3Apage%3D233 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972573 | 1,181 | 1.625 | 2 |
With its tree-lined streets, small town atmosphere, and wide variety of shops, restaurants and specialty stores, shopping in Lafayette is just plain old fun! But shopping locally also means you are supporting local businesses as well as the larger community.
Nearly one third of the city’s budget comes from sales taxes collected in Lafayette, and this money is used to fund street repairs, police services, youth and senior services and so much more. On a dollar basis, this means that approximately 12 percent of every single dollar spent with local businesses ends up staying in the community.
“Shop Lafayette,” a campaign spear-headed by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, also helps support what has become a thriving and attractive central business district. New restaurants and retail establishments have joined long-time successful businesses in offering unparalleled, yet competitive, dining and shopping experiences. Whether you’ are hunting for a new coat, looking for a gift for someone special, need a haircut, desire a one-of-a-kind painting, or want to book a romantic dinner for two, look first in Lafayette–there’s undoubtedly a business that can fill the bill!
Thank you for supporting local businesses and contributing to a sustainable economy!
Why Should I Shop Lafayette?
- Local businesses re-circulate money in our community because local merchants patronize other local merchants, creating a stronger tax base for local public services.
- Local businesses are the largest employer nationwide, hiring primarily local residents including high schoolers and seniors.
- Local business owners often live in our community and are invested in the community’s future.
- Local merchants provide better customer service and have a higher level of expertise about their products and services.
- Local shopping requires less transportation. Because Lafayette merchants are right here in town, residents save on gas and parking and reduce their carbon footprint.
- Local businesses provide the distinctive character and culture our community enjoys, and successful local businesses attract more of the same.
- Local businesses support local non-profits.
How to get involved…
The headlines over the last year have said it all… “Retail Sales Fall to Lowest Levels in Years”, “Consumer Confidence Low”, “Grim Shopping Season Ahead”, “Unemployment Soars” and “Credit Market Tightens Up” Ouch….
So what can we do here in Lafayette? We can sit on our hands, accept the doom and gloom and perhaps watch some of our favorite merchants go out of business. Please don’t worry about the big box stores on the outskirts of our neighboring towns, as they often thrive in tough economic times. But think about your money leaving town and never coming back. When you buy something out of town or on-line, in most cases, the sales tax will never come back to Lafayette. When you do shop in town, your dollars stay in town. You help keep your downtown alive and vibrant, and the sales tax collected helps pay for roads, police, and the many services we often take for granted.
Well, our “Shop Lafayette” committee did do SOMETHING! We launched our “Try Lafayette First” campaign.
Generate bottom line sales for Lafayette merchants through a high-energy, high-profile concentrated campaign.
Call to Action
Educate and motivate residents – When doing my shopping this year, I will pledge to “Try Lafayette First.”
This campaign, dreamed up by our Shop Lafayette Committee Chairman, Dave Simpson, owner of Lafayette Book Store, goes even further. We are asking our residents to actually sign the “pledge.” The pledge also asks shoppers to let merchants know when they are not happy with price, service or selection before they go elsewhere. The merchants are asked to understand that no one is coming to save us and we must collectively work together to help ourselves. Merchants are also encouraged to recommend other local merchants. We want to point out to our community that you can find almost anything you want or need right here in Lafayette.
We have asked merchants, business owners and residents of Lafayette to take the “Pledge” and “Try Lafayette First.” This is an investment in our community and our future. Remember it is these very merchants that provide all the auction items and raffle prizes for your school fundraisers and community events. They have supported you! This is your chance to say thank you and support them as they try to navigate through perhaps the toughest economic times of their careers. | <urn:uuid:2b989c39-afae-4b3c-b5cd-d18b853e0581> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lafayettechamber.org/community/shop-lafayette/ | 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 | 0.959409 | 932 | 1.796875 | 2 |
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LISBON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Officials from the European Union and IMF start the seventh evaluation of Portugal's economy under its 78-billion-euro bailout on Monday as recession drags on for a third year.
The review is likely to lead to a request by the government for budget deficit goals to be eased as deep austerity undermines fiscal performance for a second year in a row.
Indebted Portugal is mired in its deepest downturn since the 1970s, with unemployment at record levels just under 17 percent, undermining consumers who face the biggest tax hikes in living memory this year.
"With a weaker-than-expected economic situation Portugal will probably get more time from the troika to reduce its deficits as long as the reduction of the structural deficit remains on track," said analysts at Citi in a research note.
"This is a reminder that the planned return of the country to growth and a sustainable fiscal path appears too optimistic to us."
The government and 'troika' of lenders -- the European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF -- had been expecting gross domestic product to contract just 1 percent this year after a slump of 3.2 percent last year.
But the European Commission already downgraded its 2013 forecast for Portugal on Friday, to a contraction of 1.9 percent.
The commission also raised its budget deficit forecast for 2013 to 4.9 percent, compared to the country's official goal of 4.5 percent.
Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho signalled last week the country would also struggle to bring the budget gap to below Europe's 3 percent target next year.
But despite the country's deep economic recession, the troika has praised Portugal's reformist drive since it received the bailout in mid-2011. Investors have also shown faith in Portugal's adjustment, by snapping up its bonds in the past year and driving its 10-year yields down to around 6.3 percent now from 17 percent a year ago.
The officials are likely to be further impressed by the country's first bond sale since the bailout -- a 2.5 billion five-year bond issued in January.
Under the bailout, Portugal was originally envisaged to only return to bond markets gradually during the second half of this year. (Reporting By Axel Bugge; Editing by Stephen Powell) | <urn:uuid:d5a1ee31-f0e5-4e76-b76f-fac6f469a8ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/130224/troika-review-portugal-bailout-revisions-seen | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955553 | 474 | 1.539063 | 2 |
|Me, my mom, my elder daughter and my |
mom's four great-grandkids at Dementia
Homecare Centre during a recent CNY visit,
My mom passed this simple test, and so I let the matter rest. Everything changed after she fell and broke her hip on 6 March 2011. During her 10-day stay at the hospital after the hip surgery, the doctors and nurses noticed signs of dementia in my mother. One of her doctors recommended that she see a geriatrician. To cut the story short, Dr Philip Poi of UMSC confirmed my mom had dementia.
My mother was subjected to several tests. One of them was the clock test. It's simple and can be done at home. If you suspect your elderly parent might have AD, ask him to draw a clock and fill in all the numbers. You may be surprised at the result.
If you have noticed certain signs of absent-mindedness, but you are not quite sure of these are early signs of Alzheimer's, you can take this test below. A ‘yes’ is given a score of one or two and a ‘no’ always scores zero, giving a maximum possible score of 27.
A score of less than five suggests there is no cause for concern, five to 14 suggests mild cognitive impairment or early stages of Alzheimer's, and a score higher than 14 could denote the person may already have AD.
|21-question test for Alzheimer's. Click on Daily Mail for a bigger and clearer image.|
By the way, what's the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's Disease? Dementia refers to symptoms of forgetfulness that may impact a person's daily functioning (see table above). AD is a specific type of dementia. It is the most common and affects mainly people aged 65 and above.
In my mom's case, she was constantly checking the calendar and the clock, wandering around the house even in the middle of the night and repeating stories umpteen times to the extent I had to rescue whoever she happened to be chatting with. She couldn't remember if she had taken her pills, showered or washed her hair. She forgot where she kept her things and often blamed the maid for stealing them. Fortunately the maid took her accusations as a symptom of dementia. These were some of the changes I noticed in my mom as her dementia progressed.
AD is incurable. But there are ways to slow down the advance. Do a Google or Youtube search, and you will be inundated by the number of links and videos that show up. The challenge is finding the most reliable recommendation. I can only share what the doctors have recommended for my mother.
The centre is holding a talk by a caregiver this Saturday at its premises. It is a good opportunity to learn more about dementia and AD, and also check out the place.
A DAYCARE CENTRE THAT'S LIKE A SECOND HOME | <urn:uuid:0c2531f6-f3ad-44e7-9838-ff0fd1bdf183> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://seniorsaloud.blogspot.com/2012/02/am-i-just-forgetful-or-do-i-have.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972511 | 602 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Israeli court rules library to get papers belonging to author Kafka
TEL AVIV - An Israeli court has ruled that a cache of Franz Kafka's letters, sketches and other personal belongings do not belong to the daughters of his executor Max Brod's secretary and will be preserved in the National Library, Bloomberg reported on Sunday.
"The National Library of Israel welcomes the decision that unequivocally says that the Kafka papers and those by other authors are part of the Max Brod estate and do not belong to the Hoffe family," National Library director Oren Weinberg said in an e-mailed statement quoted by Bloomberg.
The contents of the cache have not been published. Ms Kathi Diamant, director of the Kafka Project at San Diego Syate University, has said papers that may be part of the collection may help scholars locate some Kafka notebooks that the Gestapo confiscated from the author's companion, Dora Diamant, Bloomberg said.
The dispute over the papers began with Mr Brod, a German-language author best known for his Kafka biography and historical novels. Though Kafka's last wish was for his papers to be burned, Mr Brod kept them, ensuring the publication of The Trial and The Castle. When Mr Brod died in 1968, he left some of the papers to his secretary, Esther Hoffe. | <urn:uuid:0634ed3e-ffb7-400a-8ced-74681b8f27c9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/israeli-court-rules-library-get-kafka-papers-20121014 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962261 | 269 | 1.671875 | 2 |
ENERGY GUEST BLOG -- ANDREW THOMAS
The road out of the Rust Belt
Blog entry: December 18, 2012, 9:27 am
The Urban College at Cleveland State University will release a book this spring called “The Road Through the Rust Belt: From Preeminence to Decline to Prosperity,” edited by Prof. Bill Bowen and published by Upjohn Institute Press. The book will contain analyses of what Ohio and other Great Lakes regions might do to emerge from the industrial decline and urban pathologies they have endured since the 1970s. I am contributing the chapter on energy policy.
I began by writing what I thought was self-evident: The energy crisis of the 1970s was the catalyst for the Midwest sliding into a long economic slump. But as I discussed this with my editor, I realized I did not have any data to support my contention — just my sense that it must be so, from having lived through it.
Now I do. PNC Bank energy analyst Jim Halloran recently sent me an article by energy economist Gail Tverberg called “High Price Fuel Syndrome” that explains how high energy prices can devastate an economy and shows how dramatic the problem was in 1978.
Ms. Tverberg points out that oil prices hovered around $20 per barrel (in 2011 dollars) for some 70 years until the 1970s, whereupon it rose sharply and suddenly to a peak of $100 per barrel (2011 dollars) around 1978.
Ms. Tverberg describes the effects of the “high fuel price syndrome” on the economy as follows: “If consumers are required to pay more for a necessity, they will cut back on discretionary goods and services.” Rising energy cost, especially for oil, causes rising costs for necessities. This includes food, commuting, heating and electricity, among others.
With fewer discretionary dollars available to spend, businesses suffer reduced sales, leading to layoffs, cutbacks and follow-on effects. Government experiences rising costs related to unemployment benefits, loan defaults and its own energy consumption, along with deceasing tax revenues due to job losses, declining commerce and falling property values.
Those of us who lived in Ohio during the 1970s can recall vividly the difficult adjustments required. My father was a schoolteacher in Ashtabula. We traded in the Colony Park wagon for a VW beetle, gave up our summer vacations and other luxuries, and shivered through many long, harsh winters. Like many from Ohio, I moved to the Gulf Coast to get a job, where I stayed for 20 years.
So why is 1978 relevant today? Today, oil once again is trading for around $100 per barrel (2011 dollars). And as a result, we appear to be facing a similar threat to our economy that we faced in 1978.
But there are two major reasons why things are different today. First, with the development of the Utica shale, Ohio may soon become an oil-producing state. While this is little comfort to Ohio consumers who have to pay the high prices, it apparently creates enough local jobs, wealth and taxes that the pain is offset in part.
The U.S. Department of Energy apparently reached this conclusion in recommending that the United States allow natural gas exports. In a recent report, the department concluded that exporting natural gas would be a net gain to the U.S. economy, even though it would mean a rise in U.S. natural gas prices, which would in turn have a chilling effect on domestic manufacturing.
The second, and more important, reason why things today are different from 1978 is that natural gas prices are low. Historically, oil and natural gas prices have tracked each other. That was certainly the case in 1978, when Ohio faced natural gas prices that had risen tenfold in just seven years. Today, however, natural gas prices are low while oil prices have remained high.
This is particularly good news, because we now also rely a great deal more on natural gas than we did in 1978. Natural gas has since replaced oil as the fuel of choice for both heat and power generation. And it is beginning to replace oil as the fuel of choice for certain transportation sectors, such as trucking fleets. This significantly mitigates the threat of high oil costs to Ohio's economy.
So what, then, are the relevant energy policies that could pave the “road through the Rust Belt?” I won't divulge my entire chapter from our book, but obviously, enabling strategies for the safe development of the Utica shale will be among some of the more important energy policies for Ohio. This has the dual advantage of generating economic development while keeping natural gas (and possibly oil) prices low.
What is less obvious, however, is that enabling the development of an international market for our natural gas will be a “net gain” for the Rust Belt. Ohio is not like Texas was in the 1970s; we don't have many major oil and gas producing or service companies headquartered in Ohio that would benefit from higher natural gas prices. Moreover, our economy continues to rely disproportionately on manufacturing, which will suffer from high gas prices.
Unfortunately, we may not have the luxury of taking a wait and see approach to this. We can't go back to the days of flaring surplus natural gas produced as a byproduct of oil production. And we also can't allow natural gas companies to make major long-term investments in an export business only to later pull their license to export when it is no longer convenient for us.
It appears that our best hope is that the cost advantages inherent to delivery to a local market, along with an ongoing abundant supply, will ensure that natural gas prices remain low even as an international market develops for our domestic natural gas. | <urn:uuid:f6dadbfb-83ef-48eb-bea3-a0a6b7bc66a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crainscleveland.com/article/20121218/BLOGS05/121219815/-1/blogs05&template=printart | 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 | 0.968777 | 1,186 | 1.8125 | 2 |
A Complete Illustrated History
of Robots in the Movies
|Film/Year, Name of Robot and Film Description|
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
"Evil" Bill and Ted Robot Doppelgangers
In this sequel, future tyrant Joss Ackland (Chuck De Nomolos) from the 27th century created "evil robots" that were android doubles (robot doppelgangers) of two heavy-metal rockers:
The two were sent back to the year 1991 in San Dimas, CA in order to murder and replace the Wyld Stallyns band members. T
The two robots were successful, sending Bill and Ted into the afterlife where they had to defeat the Grim Reaper (William Sadler), outwit the Devil ("the Dude Downstairs"), challenge Death (with games like Battleship, Twister, and Clue), talk to God, and defeat their evil counterparts with "good" robots created by a pair of hairy, oval-shaped Martians.
Eve of Destruction (1991) (aka Terminator Woman)
Scientist Dr. Eve Simmons (Dutch actress Renée Soutendijk in her first US film) created a state-of-the-art, super-strong, sexy android robot in her own image. It was named Eve Vickers or Eve VIII (also Soutendijk), designed originally as an anti-terrorist and military surveillance mechanism by the government.
But the robot went on a killing rampage when damaged during a failed bank robbery test. Eve VIII actually had a thermonuclear warhead inside of her, threatening to destroy many blocks in the city of Manhattan within only twenty-four hours if not disarmed, by a group led by Jim McQuade (Gregory Hines) accompanied by Dr. Eve Simmons.
With various neuroses derived from her creator, she would often say: "I'm very sensitive" or become super-violent when called a "bitch."
The Guyver (1991) (aka Mutronics: The Movie)
The film's story was derived from a Japanese manga series, taking the tagline: "Part human. Part alien. Pure superpower."
Its title referred to an alien artifact or device (a top-secret weapon from the Chronos Corporation) that was absorbed into the skin of college student Sean Baker/The Guyver (Jack Armstrong). This occurred when he put the control medallion of the guyver on his head, causing him to 'grow' a costume or suit of malleable, bio-mechanical metal armor that had incredible strength, giving him superhuman fighting skills and making him invulnerable to damage.
When unactivated, the metal retracted to a place behind his neck.
The film was followed by the sequel Guyver: Dark Hero (1994).
Terminator Model T-800
In this second film in the series set 11 years after the first film, it opened with the 1997 nuclear holocaust event. Then the time frame shifted to the year 2029, in Los Angeles, where a silvery, skeletal, humanoid machine held a massive battle rifle - it scanned the black horizon of the war-torn terrain, revealing its red, glowing eyes. A battle was in progress between human guerrilla troops fighting against the stalking robots (terminators), tanks, flying HK's and death-hungry machines.
When the film returned to the pre-holocaust year 1995, two cyborg terminators were sent from future Earth back in time:
The sleek, more modern android was composed of poly-mimetic metal, meaning it could take on the shape, color, and texture of anything it touched (such as a porcelain-tiled floor), and could also mimic human behavior, such as imitating the voices of its victims. It could transform its hands into jaw-like blades to impale victims, and completely absorb shotgun blasts to its midsection or head - thereby self-healing after being damaged.
It was sent back in time by Skynet (a 21st century computer warring against the human race and causing a nuclear holocaust) to destroy the young, 10 year-old future leader of the human resistance, John Connor (Edward Furlong).
At the end of this film, both Terminators were destroyed in a vat of molten steel, although the T-800's demise was a self-sacrificial death.
Robotic skeletal machines
Bishop, and Bishop II
After his demise by being ripped in two by the Alien Queen at the end of Aliens (1986), an irretrievably-damaged synthetic humanoid Bishop 341-B (Lance Henriksen) briefly appeared in this second sequel, after its E.E.V. escape pod was ejected from the USS Sulaco and crash-landed on the bleak and windy planet of Fiorina or "Fury" 161 (a Weyland-Yutani outer-veil mineral ore refinery - and a maximum security correctional facility).
Sole-surviving Lt. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) confirmed from the reactivated droid, who accessed data on the flight recorder, that a stowaway Alien had been with them on the Sulaco and on the E.E.V. ("It was with us all the way"). The humanoid then requested that Ripley disconnect him, claiming: "I could be reworked, but I'll never be top of the line again. I'd rather be nothing...Do it for me, Ripley."
However, a second Bishop, named Bishop II (also Henriksen) appeared in the film's final scene, looking exactly like the earlier android Bishop. He claimed to be human and the android's designer from the Weyland-Yutani Company: "I'm not the Bishop android. I designed it. I'm very human."
Bishop II attempted to coax Ripley to allow the extraction of the queen embryo egg-layer gestating inside of her by having her undergo surgery to extract it and then destroy it - but she didn't believe him. He confirmed her suspicions about the company's intentions when he then said: "We can learn from it. It's the chance of a lifetime. You must let me have it. It's a magnificent specimen." Bishop II's status as a human or as an android robot remained unclear in the film's theatrical release.
Director Barry Levinson's ambitious, off-beat adult fairy tale (and box-office flop) had its setting in a toy factory. It starred comic Robin Williams as whimsical, fun-loving, and inventive son Leslie Zevo (Robin Williams) of the ailing toy factory's eccentric founder Kenneth Zevo (Donald O'Connor), pitted against his fanatical career soldier uncle General Leland Zevo (Michael Gambon) who only wanted to produce war toys and military games.
By the film's end when a large-scale toy battle was conducted between the original wind-up tin toys and Leland's militaristic weapons, it was revealed that Alsatia Zevo (Joan Cusack), Leslie's kooky 'toy' sister, was a robot constructed by Kenneth to provide Leslie with a sister after the death of his mother.
Universal Soldier (1992)
UniSols, Deveraux as GR44, and Scott as GR13
The two muscle-bound stars of this early Roland Emmerich action/sci-fi film were featured as semi-android "universal soldiers" (UniSols) or elite bionic anti-terrorists:
Both were re-animated by the military (in a top-secret project) 25 years after killing each other during combat in Vietnam, to serve in a high-tech SWAT army of previously-dead soldiers.
Their memories of the combat robots were supposedly wiped clean, but they suffered flashbacks. They were also mostly pain-free, emotionless, and extraordinarily strong.
The film was followed by TV sequels and the theatrical sequel Universal Soldier: The Return (1999).
Cyborg Cop (1993)
Cyborg Assassin, also Quincy
Kickboxing cop and DEA agent Phillip Ryan (Todd Jensen), while on the remote Caribbean island of St. Keith, was taken captive during a failed drug raid against international drug cartel and drug lord Dr. Joachim Kessel (John Rhys-Davies).
Ryan was turned into an invincible, emotionless cyborg warrior/assassin and killing machine ("half-man, half-machine") with a steel arm that had sharp knife-fingers. It was part of an experiment to create an army of robots. One prototype cyborg already created was named Quincy (Rufus Swart).
There were two sequels: Cyborg Cop II (1994), and Cyborg Cop III (1995).
Robot Wars (1993)
Mega-Robot 1 and 2 (Mega-1 and MRSA-2)
Set in the bleak post-apocalyptic year of 2041, a scorpion-like, large-scale Mega-Robot 2 patrolled the nation's borders against ill-defined evil rivals called the Centros.
The giant robots were piloted, like in Robot Jox (1990), by human jockies, and were capable of carrying tourists/passengers around the perimeter.
In the climax of this tale, a renegade 'Megarobot' 2 pilot named Drake (Don Michael Paul) defeated the giant MR2 robot that was taken over by one of the leaders of the Eastern Alliance, evil revolutionary Wa-Lee (Danny Kamekona). Drake used an earlier, resurrected "good-guy" MR1 model to save the planet.
Damon Wayans starred in director Mike Binder's superhero comedy Blankman (1994), (a parody of Batman) with its title character boasting in the tagline: "Coming to Save Your Butt!"
Nerdy appliance repair-man Darryl Walker (Wayans) created a new persona with weapons and gadgets, calling himself Blankman (his original idea was Brotherman). He also constructed a robotic assistant named J-5, with a short life span when its bomb disposal mode was activated and it was blown up.
J-5 was made out of an antique Westinghouse washing machine (with roller) on two wheels, decked out with a cap, lights for its eyes and blue hair.
Star Trek (The Next Generation or TNG) films (1994-2002):
Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) was one of a number of androids (the others were Lore - Data's younger brother, and Data's childlike older brother B-4) created by human cyberneticist Dr. Noonien Soong (also Spiner).
The sentient artificial life-form was a heroic character in all four of the Star Trek TNG films from 1994 to 2002.
Data was a science officer onboard the starships USS Enterprise-NCC-1701-D and E who was created in the year 2335. He was a yellow-eyed, golden (or albino) skin-toned, hyper-intelligent, super-strong android with a "positronic" brain, a prodigious memory and super-human vision, who wished to emulate and experience human emotions (eventually fulfilled with an 'emotion chip' that was implanted into him in Star Trek: Generations (1994)).
In the fourth Star Trek film in which he appeared, he died in the year 2379, sacrificing his own life for the 800 crew members onboard the starship USS Enterprise.
Death Machine (1995, UK)
'Warbeast' Death Machine
In this low-budget, cyber-punkish, violent, sci-fi action film set in futuristic 2003, a rogue weapons research lab of Chaank Armaments Corporation (with the slogan: "Hard Tech for a Hard World") was run by psychotic, stringy-haired mad scientist and weapons designer Jack Dante (Brad Dourif). It was threatened with closure following protests over its malfunctioning cyborg soldiers (Robocop-like super-warriors - ex-soldiers with erased minds, developed in the covert "HardMan Project").
The new CEO Hayden Cale (Ely Pouget) met with the board of Chaank and argued for full disclosure of their research. She entered Dante's ultra-secure Vault 10 of the lab with a stolen security card, and removed Dante's security and computer clearances, causing disgruntled Dante to retaliate by releasing his ultimate weapon, the Death Machine (a "front-line morale destroyer").
It was an 8 foot tall, non-humanoid killer robot named the 'Warbeast.' The carbon-steel robot (with high-speed razor-sharp claws/talons and jagged chomping jaws with teeth, similar to a T-Rex) pursued tough heroine Cale and leftist eco-terrorist Sam Raimi (John Sharian) and others through the high-rise corporate building in the tense climax.
This popular Sci-Fi Channel action/sci-fi film's tagline: "It was supposed to be a game" referred to the film's plot about a robot named Evolver that existed in a virtual reality videogame (similar to laser tag) made by the Cyber-Tronix Corporation.
Teenaged hacker and videogame whiz-kid expert Kyle Baxter (Ethan Embry) won an Evolver videogame contest (that he rigged), and a real-life prototypical version of the robot he had defeated was delivered to his house.
Evolver (voice of William H. Macy) was an Atomic Robot with a built in Laser Tag-BB-paintball combo gun, smoke machine, and electrified claws.
Kyle was unaware that it was programmed with Defense Department military software programs (S.W.O.R.D. or "Strategic War-Oriented Robotic Device"). The competitive Evolver soon became a deadly killing force as it evolved to 'win' and 'play for keeps.'
Robots in Film
(chronological, by film title)
Introduction | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | <urn:uuid:8c56ceaf-0564-418a-a563-a02f13e05b60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.filmsite.org/robotsinfilm9.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957359 | 2,952 | 1.664063 | 2 |
It looks like the educational sector in the UK is struggling to defend itself
against spammers. Apparently, schools, colleges and universities are being increasingly targeted by all sorts of rubbish junk mail, but also (rather worryingly) with DOS attacks.
Email Systems, which provides content filtering for educational organisations, said on Monday that nearly two-thirds of all emails sent to its 3,800 customers constituted spam and viruses. The company also claimed some institutions were experiencing spam levels of up to 95 percent.
Apparently, some spammers are singling out individual domain addresses and bombarding them with spam and virus-ridden email at up to 100 times the usual rate - and its schools that are getting this abuse! These sorts of institutions, which often don't have the sophisticated IT technology and staff to deal with these kinds of attacks, are often at the mercy of the spammer. It is expected that this situation will get worse this year. | <urn:uuid:0912a496-b28b-4882-8ec1-d2903d6cedda> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.techspot.com/news/16739-uk-schools-and-colleges-hit-hard-by-spammers.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980254 | 188 | 1.828125 | 2 |
NORMAN — President’s race not the only item of interest in election
With political pundits bantering the names of presidential candidates, it’s easy to forget that the November General Election Ballot carries several local races and issues. Local representatives and county officials make decisions daily that directly affect Oklahomans and Cleveland County residents.
In addition, the ballot will give voters a chance to give their opinions on six state questions. In the coming weeks, The Transcript will provide detailed information on each of the candidates and the state questions.
Residents still can register to vote. The last day for registration to vote in the November general election is Oct. 12.
Voters who are already registered should make sure they have proper identification. A voter registration card serves as ID, or a voter may use other government-approved identification such as a current, valid driver’s license with a photo. The name on the ID should match the name on the voter registration rolls.
During the weeks approaching the election, residents have a chance to update voter registration with any applicable name or address changes.
To make changes to voter registration, send in a new voter registration application to the Cleveland County Election Board, 641 E. Robinson St., Suite 200, Norman, OK 73071. Forms can be downloaded on the Cleveland County Election Board website, www.clevelandcountyelectionboard.com.
People can also stop by the election board office in Norman.
Registration forms also are available online. Voter registration applications also are available at the Cleveland County Election Board, post offices, tag agencies and the Norman Public Library.
People also can change party affiliations at this time. During the primary and runoff season, change of political party was prohibited. As of Sept. 1, voters could, again, change party affiliation if desired. Other registration changes can be made at any time.
To be eligible to register to vote in Cleveland County, a resident must be at least 18 years old and be a United States citizen.
Candidates on the Nov. 6 ballot: At the federal level, U.S. District 4 Congressman Tom Cole, Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Donna Marie Bebo and Independent R.J. Harris.
Harris is a career Army National Guard Officer, a small business owner and an Air Traffic Controller in the Federal Aviation Administration.
Bebo is an Army wife and has learned from the school of hard knocks as a child and later as a single parent.
Cole is currently serving in his fifth term in office. He was elected to Congress in 2002. Congressional representatives are elected every two years.
State races: Cleveland County voters, depending on where they live, will select a state representative. State representatives are elected every two years.
The candidates for State Senate District 15, which includes much of Norman, are Republican Rob Standridge and Democrat Claudia Griffith.
In the Slaughterville area included in State House District 20, the candidates are Republican Bobby Cleveland and Democrat Matt Branstetter.
In the Little Axe area included in State House District 27, the candidates are Republican incumbent Josh Cockroft and Democrat Randy R. Gilbert.
In State House District 45, voters can choose between incumbent Republican Aaron Stiles and Democratic challenger Paula Roberts.
County races: While many county offices were determined during the primary or runoff, voters will elect a Cleveland County court clerk and a sheriff.
Republican challenger Mitchell Slemp and incumbent Democrat Rhonda Hall are running for court clerk.
For sheriff, Independent Kelly Owings is taking on incumbent Republican Joe Lester.
State questions: Out of the six state questions on the ballot, two are related to ad valorem taxes.
State Question No. 758 restricts annual ad valorem increases. The measure lowers the limits on increases in fair cash value. Now, increases are limited to 5 percent of fair cash value in any taxable year. This would further restrict the limit to 3 percent per year on homestead exempted property and agricultural land.
State Question No. 759 prohibits certain preferential treatment or discrimination based on affirmative action programs. The measure deals with three areas of government action, including employment, education and contracting.
State Question No. 762 modifies the power and authority of the governor and pardon and parole board in the parole process for nonviolent offenders by changing current law to decrease the power and authority of the governor by removing the governor from the parole process for persons convicted of certain nonviolent offenses. It enlarges the power and authority of the Pardon and Parole Board by authorizing it to grant parole to persons convicted of certain nonviolent offenses.
State Question No. 764 creates the Water Infrastructure Credit Enhancement Reserve Fund and allows the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to issue bonds.
State Question No. 765 repeals sections of the State Constitution relating to the Department of Public Welfare, its commission and director; grants the legislature the authority to create and direct the administration of a department to provide for public welfare.
State Question No. 766 exempts all intangible personal property from ad valorem taxation.
Joy Hampton 366-3539 jhampton@ normantranscript.com | <urn:uuid:357a23d7-adf5-43be-9d0a-f1f42978b725> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://normantranscript.com/electioncoverage/x550070013/What-s-on-the-ballot | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933208 | 1,044 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Iowa Outdoor Recreation Plan Available for Review
DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released its plan looking at the future of outdoor recreation in Iowa.
The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan was developed through a series of meetings across the state last fall asking Iowans what recreation activities they would like to participate in, what amenities or conveniences would help them participate more often and what should the state focus on when it comes to outdoor recreation.
The plan, which is a partnership with the County Conservation Boards and Cities, will serve as a guide for future projects developed by the Iowa DNR.
The plan will be available for public comment through April 15 at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/GrantsOtherFunding/StateConservationRecPlan.aspx
The DNR will review the public comments and submit a final plan to the National Park Service in 2013. | <urn:uuid:b7444356-633a-4cb9-a83c-12839055dc39> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.iowadnr.gov/insidednr/socialmediapressroom/newsreleases/vw/1/itemid/1239 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946391 | 184 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Philip Ramp was born in Cumru Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, 10 Aug 1760, son of Jacob Remp and either Anna Marie Thiele or an earlier wife. He died in Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, 31 Oct 1843.
In Berks Co PA, on 27 Mar 1781, Philip married Elisabetha Albrecht, possibly the Elisabetha born in Berks Co in 1858 to George William and Catharina (Schmehl?) Albrecht, although the date of their daughter’s recorded birth, 8 Jun 1758, is not the same as that on placed many years later on Elizabeth’s grave stone, 31 Dec 1758. She died in Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, 20 Dec 1835. Both Philip and Elizabeth are buried in Zeigler’s Churchyard, Cumberland Co PA.
Ramp or Remp is a very uncommon last name, appearing only in this family in 1790 and with one additional Vermont family in 1800 and 1820.
Philip Ramp served in the Berks County Militia in April and May 1785. He was included on a list in the Berks Co PA Archives, “reports of men who were fined for non-performance of duty under the Militia Law (of 1777) during the Revolutionary War that are produced in order to show what men were included in certain companies which are known to have been in service but whose rosters could not be found.”
Philip first appeared on a tax roll in 1782, married, farming 280 acres, with an estate appraised at 736 pounds. That is more than his father and brothers had, leading Balchunas to suggest that his wife may have had money. In succeeding tax years, his estate diminished, as small as 75 acres in 1799, then grew again to a valuation of $2052 in 1805. The 1800 census was the last time Philip’s family was in Berks County, Cumru Twp, p 586: Philip Remp, 21010/21110.
Further censuses follow: 1810, Frankford Twp, Cumberland Co PA, p 43: Philip Ramp, 21101/11101, 1820, Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA: Philip Ramp, 001201/10201; 1830, Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, p 162. Philip Ramp, 0000000001/0001100001.
i. Catherine RAMP was born in 1787 in PA. Catherine died in Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, after1850. Catherine married John ZEIGLER. Born ca1782 in PA. John died in Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, but was living 1850. Their census record shows they probably had one daughter. 1820 Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, John Sigler: 000100/00110, same page, five houses away from Philip Ramp. 1830 Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, John Zigler: 0000001/000101. 1850 Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA: John Zeigler, 68 PA, Catherine, 70 PA, with Maryell Failor, 18, probably a niece.
ii. William RAMP was born in 1791 in PA and died in 1867. William married Anna Mary HEBERLIG in Harrisburg PA. She was born on 3 Oct 1789 in Berks Co PA and died in Cumberland Co PA, on 3 Mar 1872. They had the following children:
i. Mary Magdalena (1813-)
ii. John (1815-1892)
iii. Benjamin S (1815-1891)
iv. Rosina (1820-)
v. Samuel (1825-1898)
vi. William (1823-)
iii. Samuel RAMP was born on 20 Sep 1793 in Berks Co PA. Samuel died in Cumberland Co PA on 20 Apr 1868, and was buried in Zeigler’s Church, Cumberland Co PA. On 3 Oct 1816, he married Elizabeth WORST, daughter of Jacob WORST, also in Cumberland Co PA. Born on 3 Dec 1794 in Cumberland Co PA, Elizabeth died in the same county, on 23 Mar 1868. They had the following children:
i. Jacob (1815-<1850)
ii. Marey Anna (1817-1890)
iii. Samuel (1820-1898)
iv. Amanda (1822-)
v. Elizabeth (1823-)
vi. Catherine (1826-1898)
vii. Susan (1829-1898)
viii. Nancy (1831-)
ix. Margaret (1834-1904)
x. Henry Benjamin (1840-1900)
iv. Mary RAMP was born in 1796 in Berks Co PA. On 10 Jun 1823, she married Henry McDERMOND in Frankford Twp PA, who died 13 Mar 1857. Philip’s will implies possible hard feelings between Mary’s father and brothers and her husband. This name is not in the censuses near Philip Ramp, but several families named McDonald were nearby, although no head of household Henry. At least two sons are known, Joseph and John Wolf McDermond.
v. Philip RAMP was born in 1800 in Berks Co PA. Philip married Elizabeth MARKWARD, who was born in 1795. They had the following children:
i. Jacob (ca1820-)
ii. Isaac (1825-)
iii. Philip (1820-)
iv. Margaret (1832-)
v. William (1833-)
vi. Abraham (1835-)
vii. Samuel (1838-)
vi. Jacob RAMP was born on 30 May 1801 in Berks Co PA. Jacob died in Cumberland Co PA, on 3 Dec 1875. On 14 Dec 1826 when Jacob was 25, he married Eva Elizabeth FAILOR in PA. Born on 13 Jun 1805. Eva Elizabeth died in Newburg PA, on 27 May 1884. They had the following children:
i. Joseph (1827-1856)
ii. John (1829-1901)
iii. Elizabeth (1831-)
iv. Jane (1833-1835)
v. Christian (1836-1848)
vi. Jacob (1838-1920)
vii. Adam (1840-1916)
viii. Emanuel (1843-1845)
vii. Elizabeth RAMP was born in say 1804 in Berks Co PA. Elizabeth married David ZELLER, who died before her father’s 1843 will.
viii. Sarah RAMP was born on 31 Mar 1807 in Berks Co PA. Sarah died in Cumberland Co PA, on 3 Apr 1869. Sarah married Adam FAILOR, who was born ca 1812 in PA. Adam died in Mifflin Twp, Cumberland Co PA, after 1870. They had the following children:
i. Andrew (ca1837-)
ii. Elizabeth (ca1840-)
iii. Jane M (ca1841-)
iv. Emanuel (ca1842-)
v. Lucinda (ca1844-)
vi. Samuel (ca 1846-)
vii. Catherine (ca 1844-)
viii. James (ca 1846-)
ix. Margaret RAMP. Born in say 1809. She was probably the mother of John Wolf, mentioned in the will of her father, and possibly the mother of Catherine Schenk.
© 2008, Kathy Alvis Patterson
In the name of God, Amen, I, Philip Remp of the township of Mifflin, County of Cumberland, State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being in a state of good health, and of sound and disposing mind and memory, considering the certainty of death, and uncertainty of life, do make and constitute this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, viz:
First and principally, I commend my soul to God, and my body to the earth, to be interred in a decent and christian-like manner; and the necessary expenses to be defrayed out of my estate, as to such worldly estate I shall be possessed of and titled unto at the time of my decease, I give and bequeath the same as follows, viz: Whereas my sons, William and Samuel, have received their shares, it is my will that their respective obligations now in my hands, shall be cancelled and given up to them at the time of my decease, and this to be considered as their respective legacies in full out of my estate. And whereas I have sold my real property, situate in the said township of Mifflin, to my two sons, Jacob and Philip (exclusive of a lot and house now in the occupancy of Henry McDarmond) for the price of two thousand dollars, it is my will and intention that my said two sons shall retain and keep out of the purchase money, each of them the sum of Four-Hundred dollars and this to be considered as their respective legacies in full.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Elizabeth, the widow of Daniel Zeller, a certain house and lot situate in the said township of Mifflin now in her occupancy, I give and demise the same to her as her absolute property. I also give and bequeath to her the sum of seventy-five dollars, to be paid as herein after is mentioned and directed.
I give and bequeath to my daughter, Catharina, the wife of John Zigler, the sum of One-Hundred and Sixty dollars. I give and bequeath to my grandson, John Wolf, the sum of One-Hundred and Ten dollars, but in case he should die heirless before the said legacy is paid to him, then and in such case, it is to be divided equally, share and share alike, among his surviving brethren and sisters of full blood.
I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary, the wife of Henry McDarmond, all that certain house and lot situate in the said township of Mifflin, now in the occupancy of the said Henry McDarmond, with the appurtenances there unto belonging, provided the said Henry McDarmond and Mary, his wife, are willing to accept of it at the price of Two-Hundred dollars, to be considered as a legacy to my daughter Mary; and my executors are hereby required and enjoined to deliver and execute unto the said Henry McDarmond and Mary, his wife, a good, sufficient deed, right and title. But in case the said Henry McDarmond and Mary, his wife, should refuse to accept of it all the said valuation, then and in such case, my executors have to pay unto them the sum of Two-Hundred dollars, at the tender of which they are to leave the said premises after being legally warned out, and the said premises are to be considered and possessed by my two sons, Jacob and Philip, and it is further my will that the said Henry McDarmond and Mary, his wife, shall not pay any rent for the said premises until the time that a deed shall be delivered to them, or in a case of refusal, until the said legacy is paid to them.
I give and bequeath to my daughter, Sarah, the wife of Adam Failor, the sum of One-Hundred dollars.
I give and bequeath to my grandchild, Catharina Shenk, the Sum of Fifty dollars, all and singular, these several legacies are to be paid successively as stated before, in such manner and time by my two sons, Jacob and Philip, as their obligations shall respectively become due to me, excepting them Two-Hundred dollars which are to he paid to Henry McDarmond and Mary, his wife, in case of refusal, which are to be paid last of all. AlI the legacies to be paid in good currency or per money of the United States to the afore mentioned legatees or their legal representatives, and if any overplus should happen to remain in the hands of the executors after all is paid, it is my will that it shall be distributed equally, share and share alike, amongst my four daughters, Elizabeth, Catharina, Mary, and Sarah, and my grandson, John Wolf.
And further, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my two sons, Jacob and Philip Remp, to be my executors of this my, last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the tenth day of October A.D., One-Thousand Eight-Hundred and Forty-Two.
Philip Remp Signed, sealed, publish, and declared by the afore mentioned Philip Remp to be his last will and testament, in the presence of the testator, and in the presence of each other. Daniel Dorr, Henry D Daelhouser
Pennsylvania Archives, Series 6, Volume III. Militia Rolls-1783-1790, page 56.
Alane J Balchunas, “Ramp Family,” 15 Dec 2001, says the men listed served in the Berks County Militia from 1775 thorugh 1778. The DAR denied this as an acceptable service record. Register of Taxables in Berks County for the Year 1775, pages 45-56, copied from the record in his own handwriting by M S Montgomery and held by the Pennsylvania State Library. | <urn:uuid:d9d476fd-f27d-46d2-bcf6-3eac554af99b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://alvispat.wordpress.com/ramp-philip/?like=1&_wpnonce=ab93ff8ff3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961554 | 2,868 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Folks hoping for an opportunity to celebrate Memorial Day outdoors can rejoice — it’s shaping up to be sunny and warm.
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City predicts Monday will be mostly sunny across the state, with temperatures expected to be in the 60s and 70s. Tuesday is expected to be even warmer, with temperatures reaching the 80s and 90s.
But first, those in northern Utah had to make do with a rainy Sunday.
Storms dropped 7 inches of snow at Brighton and 6 inches of snow at Alta, said Pete Wilensky, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City.
“It is a little late, but this is not that uncommon,” Wilensky said. “We often get cold systems all the way into early June that can put snow onto the peaks.”
Over two days, Park City recorded 1.22 inches of precipitation, and Ben Lomond Peak received almost 3 inches.
“Water totals were impressive in the northern Wasatch Front,” Wilensky said.
Sandy led Salt Lake valley areas for precipitation, tallying .72 of an inch.
Temperatures reached 63 degrees in Salt Lake City, 52 degrees in Logan, 75 degrees in St. George and 72 degrees in Moab.
While it’s unusual to see snow in the valleys on Memorial Day weekend, “to get snow in the mountains on Memorial Day is not particularly uncommon,” agreed weather service meteorologist Monica Traphagan.
Last Memorial Day, South Ogden picked up 2 inches of snow and an inch fell in Millcreek, she said.
Currently, the entire state remains under a hazardous weather outlook expected to last most of the week. Authorities warned residents to keep children and pets away from streams and rivers because waters are swift, cold and dangerous.
Air quality merited a “green” or healthy rating statewide through Tuesday, according to the Utah Division of Environmental Quality.
For Monday and Tuesday, Salt Lake City is poised for a high of 71 and 82, respectively, while Ogden expects highs of 71 and 79, respectively. St. George is predicted to hit 86 and 91; and Moab 80 and 87 degrees. | <urn:uuid:d9704dc7-4df6-45ad-8b6a-3d0ba8cb87cd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sltrib.com/csp/cms/sites/sltrib/pages/printerfriendly.csp?id=54192037 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938173 | 467 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Blowing green smoke: Politicians whose environmental claims don't hold up
Oct 20th 2010 11:00AM
Updated Oct 27th 2010 5:07PM
Everyone knows that the only renewable energy that politicians always support is their own hot air. They often get the rhetoric right on support for green issues, but their votes and record of taking money from polluters tells another story. I thought it would be instructive to compare the actual performance of some Congressional incumbents with the blarney on their websites (where they always put on a green face).
There are some ripe targets on the campaign trail right now. The League of Conservation Voters compiles an annual "Dirty Dozen" among the aspirants to higher office, but I thought I'd confine my reporting to actual incumbents with voting records and money trails.
From the evidence of his website, this is one Congressman in touch with the earth: "I strongly support the underlying goals of our nation's environmental laws like the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and those that protect our National Parks and wildlife habitats," he said. "They were passed to safeguard both people and the environment. Since these laws were first written 25 years ago, we have accomplished a lot. We have made our rivers cleaner and the air we breathe healthier. The EPA does a diligent job of monitoring society's impact on the world around it."
Hmmmm. Is this the same Barton who was so incensed about the BP oil spill hearings that he apologized to BP for the "shakedown" from the floor of Congress? (Later, he apologized for the apology.) Here is the moment captured on video. Note how pleased and humbled BP CEO Tony Hayward looks:
On his website, Barton boasts that he "drafted the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) aimed at solidifying our energy security, while still addressing the concerns surrounding carbon intensity." He drafted it, all right, but it addresses concerns of carbon intensity by increasing it dramatically. According to Frank O'Donnell of Clean Air Watch, quoted at Sourcewatch, the bill "included new loopholes that could reduce gas mileage requirements; weaker protections for coastal communities; tax breaks to promote more coal burning. Indeed, if the legislation became law in its current form, it would prolong smog problems in much of the nation, shift the burden of cleaning up poisoned water supplies from oil companies to cash-strapped public agencies, and even threaten environmental damage from some forms of renewable energy."
And, of course, it would have enabled drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (a provision that was stripped out of the final bill, which made it into law). The Washington Post opined that the bill, signed by President Bush in July of 2005, was nothing more than a broad collection of subsidies for U.S. energy companies, particularly nuclear and oil. No wonder: Barton's biggest contributor between 1989 and 2010 is Anadarko Petroleum ($144,100), with RRI Energy ($97,109) close behind. Oil and gas gave him a total $1.47 million in the period, making the industry his largest contributor.
But the distinguished gentleman says the EPA is doing a "diligent job."
Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.)
This Democrat from Arkansas tells a heartwarming story of rural environmental values: "Having been raised in a seventh-generation farm family in Arkansas, I grew up with a love of nature and a great respect for the conservation of land and water resources," she says. "I value our environment and want to find ways to best protect it for wildlife and for our enjoyment."
That's the hot air. But on the floor of Congress, where it matters, Lincoln (who's been pushed to the right in a tough re-election fight with a Tea Party candidate) has lately proven a reliable vote against climate and energy legislation. She also co-sponsored an anti-environmental resolution (written by energy lobbyists) from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would have blocked the EPA's finding that carbon dioxide is a pollutant. Her lifetime League of Conservation Voters score is a mediocre 49, but others as we will see are much worse.
Lincoln takes a lot of oil money, according to OpenSecrets.org, and it's her fifth largest source of funds in 2009-2010, $327,250.
Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
This Congressman, hoping for elevation to the Senate on Election Day, has a dismal record on environmental issues. But there's one resource thing he's very concerned about--our dependence on foreign oil. From his website: "Every unit of energy we can produce in America means one fewer unit we'll need to buy from the Middle East and Africa. And thankfully, the United States is rich in domestic energy--from clean coal and traditional fuels, to the agricultural energy that will help power our world into the next generation."
Sounds great: We can end our dependence on unstable parts of the world and grow or mine our own clean energy right here at home. Unfortunately, Blunt is knee-deep in extraction dollars. The Midwestern cash cow ethanol is deeply flawed (it competes with food crops and is energy-intensive to produce), and anyone who has seen mountaintop removal mining knows that "clean coal" is an oxymoron.
A legitimate domestic energy program would encourage renewables such as solar and wind, but Blunt is antagonistic. He has a lifetime LCV score of just 2%, which is an achievement of sorts (and earned him a place on this year's LCV's "Dirty Dozen" list). Last year, he got a zero after voting against every green bill. Since taking office in 1997, he has accepted more than $1 million from Big Oil companies and other energy interests ($460,198 from oil and gas specifically), while voting against repealing subsidies for them. He voted against the American Clean Energy and Security Act. He doesn't like clean energy standards, either.
Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)
Known for extremist statements and skirting the edges of reality, Rep. Bachmann has opposed environmental appropriations even when they're seemingly non-controversial, such as educational grants for outdoor activities. The bill, she said, "continues our nation down the ill-fated road of shifting control of school curricula away from the parents and teachers and local school boards who best know what their children need into the hands of the federal government and its one-size-fits-all approach."
Bachmann has a lifetime LCV score of 2%, just like Blunt. On her website she doesn't even try to put up much of an environmental front, but does find room to express concern for, you guessed it, American energy security. Her solution: Drill, baby, drill, and not only in Alaska but also on the outer continental shelf. She also wants to exploit the oil shale in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, an environmentally ruinous and very expensive proposition. But then Bachmann goes green: "As a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus (RE&EEC), I am working to raise awareness and educate lawmakers on technologies to improve energy efficiency and explore alternative forms of energy."
Really? Bachmann doesn't spend a lot of time educating lawmakers on renewable energy technology. Recent pronouncements include a declaration that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is "the most perfect place on the planet to drill." She said that global warming is "all voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax." And also that carbon dioxide is "natural" and "a harmless gas."
Bachmann voted against saving free-roaming wild horses and burros, Cash for Clunkers, Amtrak upgrades and the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would encourage the renewables she claims to be raising awareness about. One thing you can say for Bachmann: She doesn't appear to have taken much oil and gas money. But that's about all you can say. | <urn:uuid:d91acccb-f9c2-4288-8eb6-adb846be722f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/10/20/blowing-green-smoke-politicians-whose-environmental-claims-don/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966884 | 1,642 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Nor’easter downgraded for Western TidewaterPublished 11:13am Tuesday, November 6, 2012
WAKEFIELD—The forecasted one inch of rain expected to fall in Western Tidewater from a Nor’easter has been downgraded to about one-quarter of an inch.
For Franklin Fire and Rescue Chief Vince Holt, the original forecast as well as Tuesday’s doesn’t create concerns for the flooding on the Blackwater River after last week’s Hurricane Sandy dumped four inches of rain.
“Right now the river is at 8.4 feet, and it crested from the last event and is on its way down,” Holt said.
The river on Saturday crested at 10.4 feet; flood stage is 12 feet.
Rain is expected to begin early Wednesday morning and continue throughout the day, said Lyle Alexander, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wakefield. He expects at 60 percent chance of rain with winds at 15 to 20 mph and gusts of up to 35 mph.
A high of 50 degrees is forecast for Wednesday with a low of 36 a night. There is no chance of snow, Alexander said.
A Nor’easter is a storm that develops off the East Coast with strong winds from the north.
“This storm will be a little further out to sea than expected, but will still have strong winds,” he said.
Assuming the temperatures would drop to 33 or 34 at night, there could be some freezing on bridges, Alexander noted. | <urn:uuid:cf01baf3-6417-49a9-b78a-418c76832f2d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tidewaternews.com/2012/11/06/noreaster-downgraded-for-western-tidewater/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954418 | 321 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The New Year greeted me with a blog post from Dan Tunkelang, chief information scientist at LinkedIn. I’m guessing based on earlier blips across my radar that Tunkelang serves as the chief big data officer for B2B behaviorists.
It’s Tunkelang’s responsibility to place a cap and plug or two on the fire hose of information. It’s still not drinkable for the average consumer but the spray alone can irrigate quite a few promising fields (or what Tunkelang might call data products – the ability to exploit a recurring experience that can be enhanced, neutered, or packaged into some new mutation).
This is heady stuff. Owning the formula for rationalizing the collective cognitive sensation of the online clickstream on earth and what’s worth noticing is not just for disciples of the Patriot Act. Figuring out an explanation for what happens between when we land on a page and what compels us to hit <send> is the cosmic mystery of our commercial age.
In the piece Tunkelang begins to unpack Abraham Maslow’s polemic on human motivation as a hierarchy of needs. Maslow’s work was not inspired by traffic patterns between servers or calls to databases but was engineered through his chosen field of psychology. Maslow concluded with an ideal – not a data product. Self-actualization was not premised on field studies or repeatable experimentation. He knew it when he saw it … in Einstein, Thoreau, Jefferson, Huxley, Jane Adams, and other high thinking boundary crashers.
It’s interesting that Tunkelang would recast a foundation as broad as human motivation on the subjective grounds of Maslow’s work. Maslow had personality analysis and his intuitions. Tunkelang has petabytes to evidence his computer models. One perspective based on a rich, interior life; the other one patterned off the hall of social media mirrors we hold to our surface reflections and virtual connectedness. Perhaps these differences are not conflicting and take a backseat to the core of this framework:
These people were reality-centered, which means they could differentiate what is fake and dishonest from what is real and genuine. They were problem-centered, meaning they treated life’s difficulties as problems demanding solutions, not as personal troubles to be railed at or surrendered to. And they had a different perception of means and ends. They felt that the ends don’t necessarily justify the means, that the means could be ends themselves, and that the means — the journey — was often more important than the ends.
Tunkelang sees self-actualization as a tool for framing perception. This harkens back to a time of professional distance objectified by the late 20th century mass journalism ideal of bias-free reporting. We’ve gone well past what sociologists like Daniel Boorstin proclaimed in The Image, his ground-breaking pre-McLuhan polemic. Borstin argued that most events were no longer spontaneous but orchestrated as pseudo-events and confused for public changes to the private world that concern me, a.k.a. news.
Fifty years on we don’t question that perception is reality. We’re no longer starved for information. Our hunger is for absolutes. Our excuse for inaction forms not from a lack of information but resolve on what to do with it, a.k.a. uncertainty. Our bias today is not red state, blue state 1-2-3. It’s that our forebears could afford more daring as if they came from a surplus of certainty – the biggest rear view distortion of all historic fictions.
Perhaps Tunkelang’s choice of Maslow is to guide an awkward baby giant like big data through the earnest compass of the self-actualizers Maybe the thicket of IP addresses, browser versions, and click patterns that tangle through a congestion of transactions is what tomorrow’s information scientists can use to define reality, or at least clarify the boundaries that encircle it? We’re now finally getting to where we can assess the reality of the perception.
What Tunkelang refers to as how we interact with and benefit from data is every bit as subjective as Maslow’s basis for a centered reality:
“Indeed, data scientists like my team at LinkedIn spend most of our time converting massive volumes of data into useful information — not just for people to consume directly, but also to power other analyses and products.”
The corollary here: what users consume indirectly are the analytics that LinkedIn processes from information products composed exclusively of these same people. Of course I’m not an insider B2B guy slaving over an arsenal of social media stockpiles. I teach outsiders how to make information work for them without getting too attached to the sources or the labeling or the Darwinian edict of a digital economy that one person’s content is another party’s revenue.
But forget about the free labor that stokes the Facebook furnace. Forget the Pavlovian insistence of Google Suggest. Attention factories treat human curiosity as a natural resource – even when we gorge on an unhealthy appetite of self-selecting rationales of our own reality-making.
How does Tunkelang view the realities of big data? One unflattering view is of its bulky and yet porous nature — a mostly dormant black hole that belies any golden opportunities to exploit it for material, academic, or community gain. In 2013 we are staring blindly into an ever-cascading information surplus that operates inside a vacuum of understanding? The scarcity of our sense-making surfaces in our BS detectors, our acceptance of vocal minorities, and in the shouting matches that result. We don’t ask why. We mask our confusions through the distractions of texting and email.
Tunkelang models a world of attention managers as a community of trust-seekers. It’s not just whether a piece of evidence smells right but our own particular fragrance. After all, we are “often producers of information ourselves,” he points out: “We have an interest in establishing our own trustworthiness as sources.”
Tunkelang defines trust as the communion of authority (reliable provider) and sincerity (good faith provider). The rationale is that you’ll know my beef on Yelp is for real because I’ll get worked up in the future about the same beefy grievances. The problem is that the arms’ length relationship of authority to evidence is in fundamental conflict with the intimacy of direct experience. Our need for self-preservation reduces our ability to represent the collective interest. A blending of the two might be an aspiration but belies the algorithms and trust serums that can be teased out of big data or injected into the conversations of big networks.
That elevated wisdom would bind credibility and authenticity in a state of integrity. In such a state experience informs the voice of authority. That’s an authenticity which may still bring human trust into our digital age. | <urn:uuid:d73e7f2f-867f-4891-ad75-502a54b3cdaa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ututilis.com/category/misinformation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943381 | 1,469 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Updated 11/11/2012 01:27 PM
Museums on alert for thieves
Area museums are being extra careful after hearing that a pair of burglars may be on the prowl in museums and historic places across Western New York. One museum told YNN's Katie Cummings why they won't even allow the men to step foot in their building.
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NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- The North Tonawanda History Museum is on high alert after learning two brothers accused of stealing items from area museums in the past are back in the area. The Western New York Association of Historical Agencies says Michael Ortiz was spotted on October 19th at the Landmark Society of Western New york in Rochester.
Ortiz, 41, of Medina and his brother, Roy have been in trouble with the law before, charged with stealing from local museums and libraries over the past few years.
"They seem to like things like civil war memorabilia probably because there's more money in it. They would also be looking for things like silver, gold, brass, things anything they could sell just for the value of the metal," said North Tonawanda History Museum Executive Director Donna Zellner Neal.
As a precaution, the museum has set up 24-hour surveillance cameras and flyers as well as an alert system with whistles. They do not have funding right now for glass casings. However, the executive director said the people affected most are patrons.
“You don’t want to not trust the people that come in but you kind of have to keep an eye on everybody who does come in," said Zellner Neal.
Down the street in the city of Tonawanda, there are a string of antique shops and Zellner Neal feels they could also be at risk for theft. One owner says they’ve already developed a system to deal with theft.
"The merchants around here we pretty much give each other a heads up. If we see somebody suspicious in our store then we call everybody else on the phone and give everybody a heads up," said Mulberry Tree Antique Shop Owner Kelly Gromlovits.
Zellner Neal said local police agencies have been helpful in the effort with the Niagara County Sheriff's office even holding a workshop on how to spot suspicious behavior. | <urn:uuid:6aaef369-67da-4a01-b4b6-27f8da04e5cc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://batavia.ynn.com/content/top_stories/612180/museums-on-alert-for-thieves/?ap=1&Flash | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961152 | 505 | 1.789063 | 2 |
You may be at this job search thing for so long you are beginning to believe the stories they might be saying about you. Maybe they tell you that you are over qualified? Maybe they think you are asking for too much? Or, it could be that you just might be out of the game for so long you’ve lost your appeal along with your confidence? Others may see you as yesterday’s news but you are wondering if in fact your job search and all that it entails has become the stuff urban legends are made of?
If you feel like you’ve become “folklore” in the land of tall job tales, think again. Nothing says you are old news because you have not landed the perfect job unless of course you are beginning to believe those tall tales yourself. Here’s how to avoid becoming and urban legend and make recruiters and hiring managers stand up and take notice.
1) You Are Not Old News You may be at this game for a while, and your resume reads as long as the classified section, but you are not out dated or stale. Breathing new life into your job search means you need to take a few minutes refreshing yourself on what’s hot and what’s not in your industry and make sure you are connected to the right people who can ultimately create the best opportunities for you.
2) Out of Circulation Your job search may have taken the back seat to other pressing matters like family, friends, spring cleaning, anything really just so you don’t have to focus on the fact you are miserable where you are and don’t have the energy to do anything about it. When you have buried yourself in your job for too long you lose sight of what new opportunities exist and how you can help yourself stay in circulation so the right people know you are looking. Get out and start making new friends from old relationships.
3) Tall Tales Stop telling yourself no one wants you. You are as good as you think you are. Take stock in all you have done and have accomplished in your career, even if you are starting out, you’ve done good work focus on that and not on what others believe you can or can not do.
4) Believe Your Own Myth Believing in your own greatness is not a bad thing. Hubris is an attribute when you are competing against the masses of eager candidates vying for the same job. You are a master at your trade and embracing your own myth may truly turn you into a legend in your own time.
5) Preserving Your Reputation Being your own PR machine will help you not only feel good about yourself but might also make you believe in your own legend. Spreading the word helps you signal to others you know your own worth and are ready to take your career ambitions by storm
You are your own best advocate so never forget that you hold the key to helping not only generate the right kind of perception about you but you also control how well you think others may accept you.
Looking for a job? Find us at www.greenlightjobs.com
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And, on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/2/abb/50
Copyright © 2013 Lisa Kaye | HR | Consulting | Los Angeles | Entertainment | Human Resources | Search - The Career Rebel | <urn:uuid:6f5f0111-b3d7-40e2-9a20-ccb410486899> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lisakaye.com/2012/04/22/have-you-become-an-urban-legend-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955669 | 712 | 1.554688 | 2 |
There was a time when the method of stuffing worked as well on a webpage as it does in a turkey. Back in the early years of search engines, one could easily manipulate a page’s ranking on Google’s SERP with keyword stuffing.
Sites could rank on a large variety of keywords by simply cluttering them onto a page, even if the keywords were unrelated and the site was absent of any real content.
You could be (somewhat) classy about it by hiding the offending keywords, matching their text color to the background color, or you could just be blatantly obnoxious.
Naturally this led to a terrible user experience, because most people aren’t looking to find a site that just reads “discount bike tires” repeated 500 times. Google and other search engines wised up and began filtering out offending keyword-stuffed pages, because these pages were largely devoid of useful content.
The Dangers of Keyword Stuffing and Over-Optimizing
Keyword stuffing is now considered a strictly black-hat tactic.
Does keyword stuffing work? It depends on who you ask. It does tend to have some positive short-term effects, but it’s playing with fire and rarely is beneficial in the long run. Google will penalize your site if they catch you stuffing the keyword turkey. Your page could be demoted in rankings, or even removed all together!
Google’s own Matt Cutts warned webmasters about SEO keyword stuffing and over optimization at SXSW last week, saying:
"We are trying to level the playing field a bit. All those people doing, for lack of a better word, over optimization or overly SEO – versus those making great content and a great site. We are trying to make GoogleBot smarter, make our relevance better, and we are also looking for those who abuse it, like too many keywords on a page, or exchange way too many links or go well beyond what you normally expect. We have several engineers on my team working on this right now."
In other words, Google keyword stuffing is a dangerous game, and isn’t likely to get more safe anytime soon.
Google dislikes black hat tactics like SEO keyword stuffing because those methods focus on beating the search engine algorithm rather than a great user experience.
Look at the keyword stuffing example below:
Are you looking for cheap running shoes? If you’re looking for cheap running shoes, look no further. Our cheap running shoes website is the best place to order your new cheap running shoes. Feel free to check out our selection of cheap running shoes from our cheap running shoes selection below.
Pretty unattractive, right? That’s not even the worst keyword stuffing out there.
The silly thing is, even if you somehow end up on the first page for “cheap running shoes,” no searcher who clicks on to your site will want to stay there. It naturally repels people, like dog poop left out in the sun. No one is going to see that mess and think “Wow, these people really care about me and my need for cheap running shoes.” Instead they will feel disgusted, used, and itching to get out of there.
Keyword Stuffing vs. Responsible Keyword Optimization
It’s essential to differentiate keyword stuffing from general keyword usage. It’s still really important to use your keyword in your content, so don’t let all this Google will eat your brains and destroy your home if you do keyword stuffing talk frighten you away from responsible keyword insertion.
Like so many things in life, keywords need to be used in moderation. Some other things that rely heavily on moderation:
- Cookie dough: A little bit is like an everlasting gobstopper, too much makes you feel sick. (And could even kill you. Salmonella poisoning anyone?)
- Sunshine: Vitamin D or 3rd degree burn victim? You decide.
Simply focus less on the robo-crawling-spider-bots and focus more on people. You know, the ones who will actually be looking at your site. Create information-rich content that uses keywords appropriately and in the proper, well-to-do fashion. Would Downton Abbey’s Dowager Countess keyword stuff? Not likely. It's simply not done in proper society.
How to Insert Keywords Safely: Walking the Fine Line
So how do you use keyword responsibly?
Some say there is no magic number. Others say there is a magic number: 2-5% keyword density is considered safe by most.
Instead of using the same keyword a hundred and one times, try using some long-tail keyword variations to spice things up a bit in your content. WordStream has a handy SEO Toolbar that can help you generate long-tail variations and keep track of how many keywords you’ve inserted to hit that keyword density sweet spot.
Another tip is to try implementing synonyms (various words with the same meaning). Search engines recognize that words like “bat” are homonyms; they are words that have multiple meanings. Google prides itself on relevancy, so they want to be able to differentiate someone searching for a baseball “bat” vs. a flying vampire “bat.” For this reason, there's a database index of Google synonyms to help it differentiate between word meanings. Google knows that if a site is talking about “clubs” and “bats,” they are probably talking about sports equipment and not flying mammals.
Because synonyms help Google stay relevant, they tend to reward sites that implement them. Having a variety of related words also means that your site is more likely to have crafted content of real value rather than meaningless drivel meant to trick search engines, which gives Google another reason to add weight to synonyms.
What is your experience? Have you ever tried implementing keyword stuffing? Why or why not? | <urn:uuid:fa5dd352-e8a6-4995-b802-5317ec1351c5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2012/03/21/dangers-of-keyword-stuffing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938652 | 1,235 | 1.625 | 2 |
Half a century after the heyday of Camelot, a treasure trove of John F. Kennedy personal items now belongs to a bevy of JFK fanatics.
At the center of the cache: Kennedy's Air Force One bomber jacket, which sold at auction Sunday for $629,000.
Bidding for the brown leather jacket, affixed with a patch of the presidential seal, far exceeded the pre-auction estimate of $20,000 to $40,000.
The $629,000 total includes an 18% buyer's premium, or the amount paid to the auction house, according to John McInnis Auctioneers of Massachusetts.
Kennedy's jacket is among hundreds of JFK memorabilia nearly forgotten about until the family of David Powers, Kennedy's special assistant and close friend, discovered the locked stockpile while preparing to sell the family's home.
The items auctioned included a collection of Kennedy family photographs from the late 1930s, working copies a foreign policy speech and signed letters from the president to his parents.
The stash also includes a May 29, 1963, birthday card for Kennedy signed by his toddler son, John Jr., as well as a marked-up itinerary for his final presidential trip, a visit to Dallas in November 1963.
Powers was with Kennedy the day the president was assassinated in 1963. He became the first curator of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and died in 1998.
November 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. | <urn:uuid:3ab2e044-e8e7-47fb-948b-048e69c16445> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kcra.com/news/entertainment/JFK-s-bomber-jacket-sells-for-629-000/-/11797084/18587834/-/imlft3/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958442 | 306 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Nearly two years after ten Christians were killed and nearly 100 houses burned in the Punjabi town of Gojra, a special court has suspended the trial of suspects in the carnage after a key witness fled Pakistan - writes Anto Akkara.
The Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad also granted bail on 7 June 2011 to the last three of the 66 suspects (others had been already released on bail) who were arrested in connection with the incident in August 2009.
Accepting the chief public prosecutor's plea that "an eyewitness is at an unknown place in a foreign country and his attendance in the court is very important," the special court suspended the trial for a year to allow the key witness to return.
The attack was prompted by rumors of blasphemy against Islam. Hundreds of Muslims had been brought in buses and trucks to attack the Christians in Gojra, according to a report by the Catholic Church. The main complainant in the arson attack, Phanias Masih, fled Pakistan last year with his family.
Church sources asking for anonymity told ENInews 9 June from Lahore that key Christian witnesses have been under constant pressure to have the case withdrawn.
Roman Catholic priest Yaqoob Yousaf, who is presently vicar of Sacred Heart parish in Gojra, told ENInews that Masih, as well as couple of other key witnesses, left before a meeting last February at which community leaders reached a compromise to ask for a withdrawal of the case.
However, the trial court judge refused to accept the plea to quash the criminal proceedings, as demanded by the lawyers for the accused.
"This shows our plight. When our people (have to) run away under pressure, what can we do?" Father Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, National Director of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic church, told ENInews.
Though the government has rebuilt houses for most of the dozens of Christian families rendered homeless by the violence in Gojra, Father Mani pointed out that "getting justice here is not easy. We are braving even bomb threats."
There are about three million Christians in Pakistan, where 95 per cent of the population of 180 million is Muslim.
[With acknowledgements to ENInews. ENInews , formerly Ecumenical News International, is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.] | <urn:uuid:db1196b7-7584-4e5c-b16c-ee7a6c8fe8a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/print/14934 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974015 | 505 | 1.523438 | 2 |
WWF Honorary President – King Juan Carlos – injured on elephant hunt in Botswana
King Juan Carlos of Spain is under pressure to resign as President of WWF Spain after he went on an elephant hunt in Spain.
‘Let them eat Cake' moment from King Juan Carlos as he lavishes an estimated £30,000 on an elephant hunt while Spain is in austerity
A petition in Spain has garnered some 70,000 signatures (still counting, probably way past that now) demanding that King Juan Carlos resign his presidency.
See the petition
April 2012. King Juan Carlos of Spain, Honorary President of WWF Spain, is recovering in hospital after breaking his hip in Botswana where he was on an elephant hunt. Apparently it isn't the first time the King has been shooting big game in Africa, or elsewhere (Apparently he killed a bear in Russia a few years ago too). Whilst not illegal, it shows a complete disregard for his 'subjects' and total contempt for his role as 'Honorary President of WWF Spain'.
There seems to be a strain amongst the rich and obnoxious worldwide that it is OK for them to use their wealth to destroy wildlife for their own pleasure. Donald Trump Junior's recent elephant hunt in Zimbabwe was bad enough, but at least he has no pretentions to be a leader of conservation and he isn't the king of a country (God forbid) that is undergoing severe economic problems at the moment.
WWF, who must be deeply embarrassed by this, have issued the following Statement -
WWF-Spain requests a meeting with Spain's royal authorities to share concerns about elephant hunt
We appreciate the deep concerns of many of our supporters and friends who have criticised the the recent participation of His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain in an elephant hunt in Botswana. The secretary general of WWF-Spain, Juan Carlos del Olmo, has written and requested an urgent meeting with the royal authorities to share widespread public concerns and public calls for His Majesty to step down as Honorary President of WWF-Spain.
His Majesty has held the honorary presidency, a symbolic position, since his involvement in the founding of the organization (then known as ADENA in Spain) in 1968. He has no direct involvement in the day-to-day operations of WWF in Spain or elsewhere.
WWF is absolutely committed to the conservation of wild elephants, a commitment we have held since WWF's founding 50 years ago. We are tackling the biggest threats that elephants face in the wild, including poaching and habitat loss, by working with the governments, local communities and non-governmental partners in the countries where elephants roam to secure a future for this powerful symbol of nature. Decades of hard work by WWF and other conservation groups has resulted in large and expanding populations of elephants in southern Africa, including Botswana, where some 300,000 elephants now roam across the sub-region. | <urn:uuid:39cb182c-5020-4e24-a1cd-8a2a50421eba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/juan-carlos-elephant.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969711 | 584 | 1.664063 | 2 |
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