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Saturday, July 24 2010
"12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." (John 12:49 KJV)
The Messiah did not live a righteous life for us; by His sacrifice, He provided the means of salvation to those who choose to obey God, as best that they humanly can, as Christ set the example (Christ did it perfectly; Christian Perfection is a process of being perfected - see The Process Of Conversion). Christ didn't die for sinners; He died for repentant sinners:
"15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:9-10 KJV)
"This commandment have I received of my Father"
The obedient Lamb of God, upon His appearing before God after His Sacrifice, was given the power and authority to rule, something that He did not have when He came the first time (see Why Two Comings Of The Christ?). Christ will always be obedient to The Father; God then gave Christ His next set of instructions, written on a scroll ("book") sealed with seven seals.
"5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 5:3 And no man in heaven [see How High Is Heaven?], nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David [see The Root and The Offspring and Israelite Monarchy - The Messiah; also Israelite Dynasties], hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Fact Finder: (a) How does the Word of God describe someone who self-righteously claims to be a Christian, but who refuses to strive to obey God's Commandments? (b) What does the Word of God say to those who wickedly claim that they don't have to obey God's Law?
This Day In History, July 24
1534: French explorer Jacques Cartier, on the first of his three voyages to North America, erected a cross at Gaspe, claiming the land for France.
1550: French-born Swiss reformer John Calvin wrote in a letter: "If you make a constant study of the word of The Lord, you will be quite able to guide your life to the highest excellence."
1567: Mary Queen of Scots abdicated and James VI became King of Scotland at the age of 1.
1701: Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a trading post at Fort Pontchartrain, which later became the city of Detroit.
1704: Britain captured Gibraltar from Spain.
1791: Robespierre expelled all Jacobins that were opposed to the principles of the French Revolution.
1799: Napoleon gained his last victory during his occupation of Egypt, defeating the Turks at the Battle of Aboukir.
1918: On Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, the cornerstone for Hebrew University was laid by Dr. Chaim Weizmann. (Dr. Weizmann was later elected as the first president of the modern state of Israel.)
1922: The British mandate over Palestine was approved by the League of Nations.
1946: The U.S. conducted the first underwater test of an atomic bomb, off Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
1967: French President Charles de Gaulle, while visiting Montreal, Canada, made a speech which ended "Vive le Quebec libre" ("Long live free Quebec" - an encouragement for the province of Quebec to leave Canada) for which he was promptly rebuked by Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson and cut short his visit.
1969: Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins in Apollo 11 returned to earth with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. | <urn:uuid:821798cc-4c54-4d78-9ff2-d0b1f00b6614> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.keyway.ca/htm2010/20100724.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961352 | 933 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Another engine goes together. Courtesy of the Smokey Yunick Collection
Trying to figure out NASCAR's rule book threw me at first. Then, after studying the rules from all sides, I realized I'd made a colossal mistake. I'd been reading the rule book to see what it said. And all along what I should have been doing was finding out what it didn't say. After I started doing that, racing became fun in a big way. Here's a particularly crude example: A rule was passed prohibiting the porting of the exhaust manifold. This was when I was racing Hudsons. Now, Hornet manifolds were cast and molded in the side of the engine and were very rough; they badly needed porting. Still, that's what the rule said. On the other hand, although the rule said, "no porting," meaning no hand grinding to alter its shape, it didn't say that a guy couldn't put a suction pipe on the exhaust manifold and draw a slurry of sand and water back and forth in it.
That's just what I did. I built a machine like a suction pump, put sand into it like a liquid, then slurred all those abrasives back and forth in the manifold until all those bumps and lumps were gone. It did a hell of an efficient job, but it wasn't porting.
Another rule called for a certain gasoline tank size-22 gallons, I think, but it didn't say how big the gas line could be. I built an anaconda-sized fuel line that held an extra 5 gallons.
There was a rule saying you could run only so wide of a wheel rim, but the rule didn't say what the outside diameter had to be. So, in 1955, Herb Thomas and I took a Chevrolet to Darlington, put some 26-inch-tall tires on 16-inch legal rims, and won another Southern 500.
There was also a rule stating you had to use a standard, foot-and-a-half-diameter flywheel. On the damn Hudson, one of those buggers could weigh close to 40 pounds. By lightening it, you increased the speed coming off the corners. Because you weren't allowed to alter the flywheel's basic shape, I didn't. But I did remove the ring gear and radially drill a bunch of 31/48-inch holes 8 inches deep into the flywheel. Then I reinstalled the ring gear, now made out of aluminum
What I remember about the early racing was the competition. There was so much of it-so man
All the stuff I've mentioned so far were things you'd learn in the third grade. It was when you got up to the seventh grade that things became more advanced. For instance, there was a rule saying you couldn't alter the bore and stroke. But those Hudsons had a bad connecting-rod angle and something had to be done. So I left the bore and stroke alone and instead moved the crankshaft. Nobody said you couldn't. Similarly, a rule said you couldn't improve the weight distribution and handling by moving the engine back in the frame. But the rule didn't say you couldn't move the body forward. I would move it 3 inches.
Another rule insisted that the engine had to be centered left to right in the chassis, although the rule didn't specify where the wheels had to be located. So I shifted the weight bias to the left side of the car, lengthening up the A-frames on the right side and shortening them on the left. Or sometimes I'd just move the brackets over and keep the same lengths. Those "gray areas" of the rules were what I liked best. They didn't say you could do something, but they didn't say you couldn't either.
In that spirit, I used to hang a reserve oil reservoir under the dashboard that the driver-Herb Thomas, Paul Goldsmith, Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, whoever-could get to. Whenever he felt the oil pressure fluctuating, he'd give it a lick and dump a little more oil into the engine. Sometimes I pressurized the cooling system the same way. Being secretive and often working alone, I did things nobody ever knew about. No rule said that an engine had to rotate in a certain direction, so I'd reverse the rotation and have all the torque loading on the left side of the car. Really, all I had to do was make up different cams, then turn the rear end upside down and reweld the spring perches. Not even my own drivers ever knew about that one.
Photo by Don Hunter
Times change and you have to change with them. I raced with NASCAR through the '40s, '50s, '60s, and into the '70s. In the '60s and '70s, as the circuit switched to the superspeedways and speeds rose like hell, all of a sudden it wasn't just the engine that required attention. It was the bodywork, too. Still, it was the same old deal. Live by what the rule book doesn't say instead of what it does say.
One rule said you had to have a stock hood, fenders, and so forth, but no rule said you couldn't drop the nose down. No rule stopped you from taking 5 pounds of body filler to build up a lip on the rear of the roof to simulate an airfoil and direct the air straight out the back, without sucking loose the rear window or raising the car's rear end off the ground. Another rule said you had to have a stock windshield. But it didn't say you had to have a stock roof or that the windshield had to be at the stock angle. Lots of times, after a rollover, you'd do roof bodywork and maybe you couldn't be completely accurate and happened to tip the windshield back an inch. Only a really ornery technical inspector wouldn't agree to call that an honest mistake.
One rule said you had to run a stock floorpan in a stock position-no belly pans. I used to spend weeks cleaning up a car's underside. Using more body filler, I blended the supports, cross ribs, and everything else that would catch the wind. Then I'd sink the rear end up into the chassis to get it out of the airstream and match the gas tank to the rear bumper. Afterward, I'd paint and wax it just like the rest of the car. That was the closest thing to having a stock floorpan and a belly pan you can imagine.
All along, NASCAR could have gotten me to "behave" by writing rules without ambiguities because I refused to cheat. There was no craft or fun in that. Whenever a rule appeared outlawing something, I instantly gave it up. I gave up some advantages because of that. For instance, to reduce the volume and get more fuel into the car, I used to chill my gasoline to near-freezing temperatures. As a result, I could sometimes get by with one less pit stop than everybody else. But once a rule turned up saying, "no freezing of fuel," that was the end of my doing it. | <urn:uuid:d1f39ce4-c27a-48d4-820b-1b0ab49c860c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.circletrack.com/ultimateracing/ctrp_0801_smokey_yunick/nascar_rule_bending.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985896 | 1,485 | 1.5 | 2 |
Your college years are different from any other time in your life. You get a demanding new schedule—and it's yours to manage 100% on your own. You make new, lifelong friendships as you spend time with other people on a similar path in the journey. You face unique challenges as you begin to see the world differently, including what your impact on the world might be. This special time in your life is also an opportunity for you to deepen your relationship with Jesus.
The NIV College Devotional Bible helps you strengthen your walk with God as you find your own way in life. It's filled with stories that connect Scripture with the struggles, questions, and decisions every college student faces. In fact, it's the same approach that Jesus used in his parables—taking stories from everyday life to illustrate eternal truths.
222 school-year devotions with daily insights and applications on relevant topics Devotions use a unique storytelling approach to connect God's Word with your real-life questions, struggles, and decisions as a student
A practical reading plan that helps you stay connected to God during the 9 months of school each year
Quick-start guide shows you how to get the most out of reading the Bible
Subject index for looking up topics of interest
Complete text of the clear, accessible NIV Bible
Customer Reviews for NIV College Devotional Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed Printed
This product has not yet been reviewed. Click here to continue to the product details page. | <urn:uuid:cd49d64e-b0db-46dd-82dd-3e00828b2b49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://reviews.christianbook.com/2016/442578/zondervan-niv-college-devotional-bible-hardcover-jacketed-printed-reviews/reviews.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949452 | 300 | 1.578125 | 2 |
NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has considered running for president, declared Monday that an independent has a better chance at succeeding in the White House than a Republican or a Democrat.
The billionaire Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent mayor toyed with a third-party run in 2008 but ultimately abandoned the idea. He has said unequivocally he won’t run in 2012, but during a forum at Harvard University on Monday he endorsed the idea of an independent in the White House.
“I think actually a third-party candidate could run the government easier than a partisan political president because the partisan political president — yeah he’s got half the votes, but he can’t get the others — whereas the guy in the middle may very well be able to get enough across the aisle,” Bloomberg said.
The mayor, who founded the financial information company Bloomberg LP and whose fortune is estimated at $18 billion by Forbes magazine, is considered a potential, if long shot, candidate in 2012. He can afford to wait until well into the election year before he has to decide whether to run, largely because he doesn’t have to raise money.
It also serves Bloomberg well to keep the door open and buzz alive because it sustains an air of mystery around him and makes him a relevant national figure well into the later years of his third term as the head of the nation’s biggest city.
When asked during the forum Monday whether he would run, Bloomberg said he will not. He said he asked the New York City voters who elected him in 2009 for another four years, adding that he is “sort of inclined” to fulfill that promise.
He said, though, he believes there will be a point at which “the public gets so upset that they say, ‘I’m going to pick the third party.’”
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) | <urn:uuid:b23bafd7-7070-4364-946b-4a817b214f74> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/01/bloomberg-independent-president-a-good-idea/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969064 | 405 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Novell punts cloud control tool
Don't call it CloudWare
What about other servers?
While Novell has no plans to support Sparc, Power, or Itanium platforms and their unique hypervisors and other virtualization technologies at this time, the company is looking into how it might interface with IBM mainframes and the z/VM hypervisor that is used to support the mainframe variant of Linux.
SUSE Linux has around an 80 per cent share of Linux licenses on System z mainframes, according to Novell, with Red Hat having most of the remaining 20 per cent alongside a few shops who rolled their own code. Mainframes and supercomputing clusters are two areas where Novell has better Linux market share compared to Red Hat.
While Novell has ceded control of supercomputer clusters to Adaptive Computing, Bright Computing, Platform Computing, and others, it is not outside the realm of possibility that Novell's Cloud Manager can't be tweaked to create something we'll call HPC Manager. If supercomputing shops begin to adopt virtualized server instances – something they have resisted doing because they don't like the CPU, memory, and I/O overhead that server virtualization imposes – to make reconfiguring clusters easier, then the changes that Novell will have to make to create an HPC Manager will be minimal.
Novell has finished building a plug-in for Cloud Manager that lets it control instances out on Amazon's EC2 public cloud, and it's putting this into technology preview today with the first release. Grubin would not say when it would be ready for primetime, and would not say what other public clouds would get adapters but conceded that Rackspace Hosting and Terremark were "on the radar."
Novell has no plans at this time to open source Cloud Manager, and is working out how to contribute to the OpenESB and GlassFish communities now controlled by Oracle.
Novell is also not providing pricing information for Cloud Manager, but Grubin says the base configuration will come with the presentation and management server and licenses to manage 25 workloads. A workload is an operating system, middleware, and an application stack rolled up into a VM. Support packs for additional workloads will be sold in increments of 50 workloads. ® | <urn:uuid:71733e9c-be06-45fb-b4f0-e145103d7684> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/14/novell_cloud_manager/page2.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936421 | 478 | 1.515625 | 2 |
15 February 2011
New HSE Emergency First Aider at Work public course dates announced
Patient First's training team have announced two further dates for their popular and very cost effective First aid at Work training courses.
The two new dates are
23rd February 2011
13th April 2011
This course aims to teach the skills and knowledge of Emergency First Aider at Work in accordance with the requirements of the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.
If you are self-employed, you are required to have the adequate equipment to provide yourself with first aid while at work. Companies considered to have a low risk factor, such as shops, offices, libraries with fewer than 50 members of staff are required to have at least one person with First Aid training.
Medium risk organisations, such as light engineering, assembly work, food processing or warehousing with fewer than 20 members of staff are also required to have at least one person qualified to administer First Aid.
High risk organisations, such as construction companies, slaughterhouses, chemical manufacturers or companies using dangerous machinery or sharp instruments with fewer than 5 member of staff are also required to have at least one qualified First Aider.
The First Aid training course at Patient First provides the critical skills and knowledge needed to administer life saving care, and to minimise the severity of injury or sudden illness. Safety awareness and accident prevention are also emphasised throughout the duration of the course
Our First Aid training in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Herefordshire and the Midlands is incredibly cost effective for smaller companies, without compromising on the quality.
Public Course - £50 plus VAT per participant
Limited places are available by contacting the Patient First team 01743 466781. The course will be held at Patient First's bespoke Training Centre in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
2011 - December (1)
2011 - October (3)
2011 - September (2)
2011 - August (2)
2011 - July (1)
2011 - May (1)
2011 - April (1)
2011 - March (1)
2011 - February (3)
2011 - January (1)
2010 - December (2)
2010 - November (2)
2010 - October (1)
2010 - September (1)
2010 - August (1)
2010 - May (1) | <urn:uuid:dce8f48a-e4fc-40e3-81e0-f346a79dc7d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nslcareservices.co.uk/news/new-hse-emergency-first-aider-at-work-public-course-dates-announced | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960297 | 487 | 1.539063 | 2 |
by Jeremy Leaming
If you thought the U.S. Supreme Court’s right-wing justices were finished tackling the scope and reach of campaign finance law with its 2010 Citizens United v. FEC, you were wrong.
The high court, with its announcement today to review limits on contributions to candidates during two-year election cycles, could be ready to extend even more leeway to the nation’s most powerful to influence elections.
The justices, as The Huffington Post’s Paul Blumenthal reports, agreed to review a case called McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, which will provide the opportunity to overturn the limits. As Blumenthal notes the limits on contributions were upheld in the Court’s Buckley v. Valeo case, but campaign finance regulations took a major hit with the Court’s Citizens United opinion, which gave corporations greater power to spend freely to influence elections.
SCOTUSblog’s Lyle Denniston reports that a more pressing concern than tinkering with limits on campaign donations may be lurking in the background. “Since the Supreme Court’s landmark opinion in 1976 in Buckley v. Valeo, it has always given government more leeway to control contributions to candidates or political organizations than over spending by candidates or by independent political activists. That differing constitutional treatment potentially is at stake in the new case ….”
Denniston continues, “What is at stake directly is the constitutionality of the two-year ceilings that federal law sets on what an individual can give during a campaign for the presidency or Congress, in donations to candidates, to political parties, or to other political committees.
Democracy 21, a nonpartisan group working to “eliminate undue influence of big money in American politics,” said the outcome of the case could have “enormous consequences for the country."
The group’s president, Fred Wertheimer, in a press statement, said the “aggregate limit on contributions by individuals is necessary to prevent circumvention of the limits on contributions to candidates and political parties and the prohibition on federal officeholders soliciting huge corrupting contributions.”
Wertheimer and the group's counsel, Don Simon, also exmaine in a new ACS Issue Brief the extensive problems with the Federal Election Commission, the agency charged with enforcing the nation's campaign finance laws. The two write that the president has failed to appoint commissioners to the six-member entity and that the FEC is now controlled by members who are "ideologically opposed to the campaign finance laws."
If the high court were to gut or weaken the limit on contributions it would “open the door to $1 million and $2 million dollar contributions from an individual buying corrupting influence with a powerful officeholder soliciting these contributions, and with the political party and federal candidates benefiting from these seven figure contributions.” | <urn:uuid:9199a314-fd36-4cd9-ab5b-37b3bc3df4d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.acslaw.org/acsblog/all/mccuthcheon-v.-federal-election-commission | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954925 | 587 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Kris Wright is a former BCC blogger.
Every important new discovery about the past changes how we think about the present, and what we expect from the future; on the other hand every change in the conditions of the present and in the expectations for the future revises our perceptions of the past. In this complex context, history is born ostensibly as a reflection on the past: a reflection which is never isolated from the present or the future. History deals with human life as it “flows” through time.
Recently I listened to a podcast interview here at BCC in which Scott B. interviewed Jonathan Stapley about women and Mormon healing rituals. During the discussion, Jonathan was able to share his broad knowledge of Mormon history and spoke about the history of women and healing in his trademark erudite manner. Because I was already familiar with the historical sources used in the forthcoming paper and the conclusions drawn from them, the most interesting part of the podcast for me occurred in the final eleven minutes, where the theme of the uses of history and the question of objectivity emerged. Scott asked Jonathan what his hopes were for the paper and what it meant for the modern LDS Church. [Read more...] | <urn:uuid:bc5d7097-5177-4ed2-b259-477b82b6c77d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bycommonconsent.com/author/wrightquotidien/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973892 | 242 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Here’s a question that I hope some women and/or retail people will answer as I will admit I haven’t done my homework thoroughly: when did department stores start this crazy idea about having in-store labels?
I’m wondering because there’s only one thing that’s always on my mind: why why why why? Why do they exist? Do people really shop this way? Or better even, which people actually shop this way (nowadays) and find it helpful?
The background story is that there’s been an interesting change at M&S: sales are bad, stock suffers, shares plunder, old clothing chief goes and is replaced by the woman who helped pioneer the idea of ‘Designers at Debenhams’. Disclaimer is I’ve worked for JWT which had Debenhams and BHS as clients. JWT helped create the line ‘Design in every department‘ and ‘life made fabulous‘.
To her credit, she had a good idea:
a) It revitalised Debenhams the brand (“we’re not Matalan or anyone else”)
b) It happened ages before H&M released designer collaborations, but that would be like comparing apples with oranges as H&M has the bigger global network and choice of designers (haute couture world of Lagerfeld, Lanvin, Marni, Versace, etc.) and isn’t a department store;
b) looking at the UK alone, they were first and it was launched at a time when M&S wasn’t particularly famous for its clothes, a bunch of retailers were still in business (Jane Norman, Peacocks, Bonmarche, and so on) and the world was in a better place financially.
M&S responded by creating their own in-house labels: Autograph, Per Una, Blue Harbour and all that. You walk in and you go right, Per Una is this sweet, romantic-like look, Autograph is meant to be a more modern woman label, and so on. General idea is that instead of saying “here is women’s clothing”, people can navigate their way to whichever style catches their eye.
If you don’t know John Rocha, but all his stuff is in one place, you skim visually and go ‘right, I get what he’s about’. Just like with films and typecast actors: you see a Fincher or Mel Gibson film because you know what you’re going to get. It’s either “you” or it’s not “you”. On the downside, you are unfairly pigeonholed because you don’t live in a bubble where you only watch one thing only. Also, fashion magazines talk about ‘key pieces’, ‘statement bags’ and ‘capsule wardorbes’ and all that. It’s not our reality, at least not for way too many of us. Over to Hadley Freeman:
Advertisers might not like to hear it, but fashion magazines are not read by most people as sources of shopping tips. They’re about fantasy. This is why I’ve never really understood why people bother to write in to the magazines and complain about the high prices of the clothes. For heaven’s sake, they’re not mail-order catalogues, they are escapism.
Rejoice! A world where people are happy to say they are influenced by highly impractical and expensive things! OMG!
Pigeonholing happens with kitchens too, another item of self expression: people in focus groups we did overwhelmingly wondered ‘am I modern person? A traditional one? A shaker type person?!’ Then what? We advised our client that a way of avoiding being prescriptive and/or condescending is to just not do that. Instead of modern vs traditional, you say “High Gloss Red” or take the IKEA neutral naming route and let people say whatever they like when they do a house tour.
I get that it’s useful (read: easy) for someone in the back room to say ok, this is selling well, this is underperforming, this we can get rid of sooner, this can be a permanent fixture..etc. But not so useful for people. Fashion is hard to ‘get’ if you’re not in on the action, and you are trying to take the path of least resistance.
And worse, now every other place wants to be a mini-department store in itself. WHY?!
Yes, so people spend more time (and maybe money) in the shop. But you feel like an emotional wreck after.
Next owns Lipsy so they’re excused, but the catalogue/site do sell lots of brands you won’t see in-store. That’s clever. New Look (ailing too) has some sub-brands lumped in-store alongside the better known Armani Exchange, Topshop has emerging designers and Boutique too but the Oxford Circus store somehow also includes a cupcake shop, nail and brow bars (*remember Andrea, Manchester is not like the rest of the UK*), House of Fraser has now adopted Mary Portas and Biba and so on.
I don’t know about others, but I’m not entirely enthused by the idea because I believe the vast majority of people find something they like, where they will spend most of their money, then the rest of the budget will be divided between a few other places that are ‘maybes’. No survey or research I’ve seen asks for the top 2 shops and no more. They want to know ALL the places. I could shop in 10 if I set my mind to it, but my money goes to 2-3 at most.
Zara, Reiss, Ted Baker and French Connection and even the likes of H&M don’t do these complicated label/sub brand things, yet they get on pretty well. In Zara and H&M you know ‘TRF’ and ‘Divided’ are “young fashion”. If you don’t because it doesn’t say anywhere, the looks and prices will tell you so. That’s fine.
But you know where the ‘business wear’ corner is, but it’s not limited to black/grey/navy suits and it doesn’t have a “label”. It says “Zara basics” on some if you care to notice because that’s how a lot of women think and recognise some pieces: basics. Wardrobe staples. When all else fails or you can’t be bothered default to them. Dress them up and dress them down if you must. Tshirts in plain colours, white blouses, an all-round blazer, black skinny jeans, a trench coat and all that.
Where are these things in M&S? Good luck finding them all. Where are they in Debenhams? Well, do you want the Warehouse skinny jeans or the Oasis skinny jeans? Dorothy Perkins? Or the designer Henry Holland ones? This is what I mean when I ask “do people really shop this way?” You give convenience and all these ‘brands under one roof’ but you assume I’m familiar with all of them. I’m not and I want to run away screaming.
This is wrong and a waste of good actors advertising your wares: being all things to all people won’t happen. You bring in young people (Henry Holland, Autograph, etc.) and annoy the ‘mature’ customer who might start thinking it’s not like it used to be. You keep the ‘mature’ customer happy – the bank balance needs it – you just can’t get young people to like you. You then put in sub-brands, but you confuse the hell out of everyone. Selfridges has opened a Primark concession. That’s very clever framing. And you get a yellow bag. But once the Selfridges distortion field wears off, you’ve still bought a Primark/any other concession name item. Except you didn’t buy it in Primark.
Also, these aren’t fun times financially and people have sussed the fact that clothes are all increasingly much of a muchness. It’s tough. But Amancio Ortega (Zara’s owner) is the ninth richest person in the world (Forbes) and Tadashi Yanai of Uniqlo is the richest person in Japan. So people aren’t buying the expensive premium sub-brands or designer ones, just sticking to basics. But everyone (and their mums) has that problem, yet people are queuing for Nike Airmax Yeezy trainers and H&M designer collaborations. Few will go to such lengths, but key thing is you’ve made something worth going that extra length for! You’re on trend!
I had a lot of respect for BHS as they refurbished stores and graced me with a hundred page document on every single thing you could possibly want to know from focus group debriefs and questionnaires. It’s really no harder than having a look at what people come to you for (even if it’s towels, underwear, occasion hats that look more expensive than they are) and going from there. Or like my favourite post from Rob says, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. | <urn:uuid:56117f9e-57f8-4c00-a0bb-0570342decd7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wankyplannerblog.wordpress.com/tag/hm/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949889 | 2,061 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Coil chain has a longer link than grade 30 chain(proof coil chain) or Machine Chain, as a result the coil chain is less flexible. People usecoil chain as animal tie chain, agricultural implement chain and platform guard rail chain.
Straight link or twist link coil chains are made of low carbon steel, the working load limit is around a few hundred pounds, mostly used in light duty applications.
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We only offer best quality products, with our free ground shipping and any reason return policy, you have nothing to worry about when shopping with us. | <urn:uuid:8ddad799-53b2-4a14-9ede-bf3a8692648e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mfrexpress.com/chains-coil-chain-c-63_65_95.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943895 | 124 | 1.71875 | 2 |
The diversion of tolls for unrelated projects undermines the "user pays" principle behind transportation tolls and weakens public support for them, Chris Plaushin, director of federal relations for AAA, told a hearing of the highway subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
A bill introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., the subcommittee chairman, would give the secretary of transportation the power to reject toll increases on highways and bridges that receive federal aid if they are judged to be excessive. Plaushin and a trucking official said they support the bill, but an official representing state departments of transportation expressed concern that it would hinder the ability of states to pay for transportation needs.
Federal and state gas and diesel taxes have paid for the bulk of highway costs since construction of the interstate highway system began in the 1950s. But Congress hasn't raised the 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal gas tax in nearly two decades. Not only has the buying power of the tax eroded, but tax revenue also is down because people are driving less and the fuel efficiency of cars is increasing.
But raising fuel taxes, especially when gas prices are already
"We're not anti-tolling, but we think some accountability in the process is needed," Plaushin said.
The hearing was prompted by significant toll hikes approved last year by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It now costs as much as $12 for motorists paying cash rather an using an automated toll system to cross between New York and New Jersey using the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, or the George Washington bridge and other bridges. Because of those and other recently approved increases in the Northeast, by the year 2015 a trip from Baltimore to New York will cost a 5-axle truck more than $209 in tolls, said Steve Grabell, chief financial officer of the New Jersey trucking firm NFI, who testified on behalf of the trucking industry.
The hearing was marked by several acrimonious exchanges between Lautenberg and Bill Baroni, the Port Authority's deputy executive director. When Lautenberg questioned Baroni on whether he thought $12 was a "fair" toll, Baroni ignored the question. Instead, he switched the subject, pointing out that at one time Lautenberg had a free E-Z Pass—an automated toll charging system that enables motorists to use faster toll lanes—paid for by the Port Authority because he had formerly been a Port Authority commissioner.
Lautenberg, apparently caught by surprise, said he wasn't going to allow Baroni to discuss such "silliness" and cut off his remarks. Instead, the senator pressed Baroni for information about conversations between Port Authority officials and the offices of the governors of New York and New Jersey leading up to the toll hikes.
"I'm not going to comment on who said what and when," Baroni responded.
"You are going to comment," Lautenberg fired back, reminding Baroni that he had an obligation to testify truthfully. Baroni said he was "offended" by the inference he wasn't telling the truth.
After several more testy exchanges, Lautenberg abruptly gaveled the hearing to a close.
Follow Joan Lowy at http://www.twitter.com/AP—Joan—Lowy | <urn:uuid:f7e32f78-69ab-4031-85b5-42b177e2b7d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eveningsun.com/nationworldnews/ci_20424080/aaa-motorists-tolls-used-roads-they-dont-use | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967424 | 685 | 1.84375 | 2 |
WOMEN WHO FOUGHT TO SURVIVE: SINDELAR & SCHIAVO
By Jill Cohen Walker, J.D.
They were two women from different parts of the United States who became incapacitated at almost the same time under very difference circumstances. Their stories are both similar and different, but the outcome was the same. Both women are gone, one the victim of government bureaucracy, the courts, and the IRS; the other the victim of a controlling husband, the euthanasia crowd, and their minions in the courts.
You’ve heard all about Terri Schindler-Schiavo (or did you really hear it all?), but you know nothing about Carla Sindelar. You will know her soon because I will tell you her story.
What happened to these two women was deplorable, but let’s put emotion and outrage aside and try to be a little objective, if that’s possible. It’s okay to lament about what’s happened, but for the skeptics out there, objectivity sometimes makes it easier to put the pieces of the puzzle together, unless you refuse to accept some information as fact. (Hard to do when you don’t want to see the big picture. Harder to do when your heart tells you that evil is on a campaign that won’t end unless we make it end.)
Carla Rae Sindelar graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Elmira, NY. She didn’t loiter around after graduation; she was a responsible young woman who wanted to make something of her life. She attended The Boyd Agency Travel School in Pittsburgh, PA, and was barely 18 when she was hired by Continental Airlines to work in their Ithaca, NY office. After additional training through Continental, she returned to Elmira, but unforeseen events altered the course of Carla’s life and destroyed a promising future.
On February 23, 1990, she was on her way home to spend the evening with her father, Bob Sindelar, when her small car was struck by a standard-size pickup trick. It was driven by a 17-year-old boy who was riding with his mother. The two had just left a local bar (what was he doing there?) and almost caused an accident up the road before running head on into Carla’s vehicle. Other cars tried to avoid the accident, but within seconds, Carla was in the center of a tangle of metal, her body severely bruised and broken.
She was immediately pronounced dead by a doctor who lived across the street from the accident and raced over to help. When the paramedics arrived, however, she was quickly revived and rushed to the hospital. She was kept in a medically induced coma in intensive care for about three weeks. Medical treatment was adequate, but for the medically induced coma, and included brain scans which revealed some swelling, but no permanent brain damage. Her bones would heal, she would need lots of physical therapy, but she would make it.
About three weeks into her hospital stay, doctors decided that Carla needed a tracheotomy (a costly procedure used by some hospitals to stay afloat financially). They said it would help her breath better. Bob had a hunch it was not a good thing to do, but her mother, Marjorie Sindelar King, believed what the doctors told her. (Don’t many of us believe the doctors, especially in an emergency?) Marjorie gave the required permission to do the procedure and Bob felt almost forced to agree. Unfortunately, the first cut was 1.5 inches to the right of where it should have been. Carla’s lungs collapsed when the tracheotomy tube was forcibly and incorrectly inserted.
She suffered a debilitating stroke that left her with permanent brain damage, spent six months in the hospital, one month in rehab, and was sent home at the request of her parents instead of being placed in a nursing home. She was in a coma for two years, but even after she came out of it, she continued to require 24-hour total care. (Question: Was Carla the victim of mere negligence or of a plot thicker than pea soup? I have several inexpressible hunches.)
“Like any decent divorced parent, I did my best for her while her mother and volunteers helped when time allowed,” Bob said. “I believed her care was my responsibility but soon discovered the legal consequences of that decision. Crafty lawyers surfaced like cockroaches deceptively conspiring to steal the small amount of accident settlement available to her.”
While the Sindelar’s journey was filled with horrendous obstacles, Carla was at least fortunate that she didn’t have a husband or other relative who would pursue a court-ordered death sentence. Instead, she had loving parents who were determined to help her, just like the Schindlers wanted to help Terri. In fact, Bob Sindelar and his ex-wife cared for their daughter with such remarkable success that Carla began to improve. However, it was a round-the-clock experience, and after awhile they were worn out. They needed help.
For seven years Chemung County refused to provide part-time, in-home nursing care for Carla, which made it necessary for Bob to defend Carla’s right to remain at home. He had petitioned the appropriate government agencies because he was sleeping only two to four hours per day, but soon realized the state didn’t want to help. As he said, “The state wanted my daughter . . . and it wanted her dead.”
Can you imagine a social worker looking at you and saying, “Don’t you think it’s time to throw in the towel and euthanize your child? After all, the government has passed such great legislation on who gets to live and who doesn’t, and your child fits so neatly in the “doesn’t” category. So, how about it? Will you sign these papers please?”
It could happen that way . . . which should make all of us furious that we are rapidly moving toward that slippery slope. The headlines might read, “Elites now decide who lives or dies” and all we could do is shudder, read the article under those words, and pray it never applies to us or our loved ones. (Or the headline might read: “Religious cult thinks social sanity depends on the disposal of those who don’t score high on their little test.” Check out Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard. Then check out its relationship to Pinellas County, FL.)
Bob wasn’t about to lose his daughter to the state. He knew what the outcome would be and he wasn’t ready to make funeral arrangements for Carla; he wanted to care for her. His efforts paid off and Carla was approved for part-time, in-home nursing assistance and some occupational therapy. One nurse was quick on the uptake as reported at the website Bob created in memory of Carla:
“After much conversation with Bob, I have come to the realization, that the state and federal government keep most people from caring for their families at home by their lack of financial assistance to them,” wrote Cathy Phalen, LPN. “This is just downright criminal. Carla's care at home is ten times better than what could be done for her at any facility” (http://home.stny.rr.com/sindelar).
Like Terri Schindler-Schiavo, Carla had a feeding tube through which Bob fed her a special formula that he developed. Like Terri, she could eat by mouth because she could swallow. The dilemma for patients in this condition is their inability to move if they aspirate food which causes them to choke and suffocate. Terri was not allowed to have food by mouth per Michael’s instructions, though a few nurses let her suck orange juice from a washcloth or have some Jell-O. Carla was allowed food by mouth only when a knowledgeable and responsible adult was present until they were certain she would not aspirate.
While Bob and his ex-wife worked to help their daughter, Bob became a pariah in Elmira, NY. He fought court battle after court battle to get appropriate care for his daughter. State agencies that visited his home were impressed with his abilities, but they claimed their hands were tied.
Many in the community showed their love and compassion toward the Sindelars, but some weren’t as kind. Bob had to deal with several immediate neighbors who resented him for taking Carla out for walks. To them, she was a “monster” who should be kept indoors. (Take a look at her pictures on Bob’s website and tell me that beautiful woman should have been called a monster!)
Then the city went after him in court for not keeping his yard in pristine condition. Evidently, they didn’t like his antiques or building materials. In reality, they wanted to break the man who was doing the impossible—loving and caring for his terribly disabled daughter. The community wanted to help, but Bob didn’t want charity. It wasn’t pride that stopped him, it was determination and disgust.
Lawyers worked their schemes to take as much as they could from Carla’s settlement money and judges gave validity to the new mantra “judicial tyranny.” As Bob wrote, “. . . judges took the position of God; ‘I'm only looking out for Carla Rae's best interest,’ was blurted out! They referred to Carla's mom and me like we just crawled out of a rain barrel.
During this unconscionable treatment of two parents who dearly loved their child; it seemed everyone had a voice in what was to become of her but us.”
It has a familiar ring, doesn’t it? It gets worse.
Bob invested in the stock market with the hope of making money for his daughter’s care. He admits it was a huge gamble, but it paid off. He chose to live well below the poverty level and keep his earnings for Carla’s future needs. When his accountant told him he had to pay capital gains taxes, he wrote a check for $10,155.00 to the IRS, and another for $3,606.00 to NY State from an account he set up for Carla's care. He didn’t want to sell more stocks because the market was down. Both checks were filed with his federal and state tax returns.
Months later, the IRS notified him by mail that he failed to pay his capital gains taxes. It took many phone calls for Bob to ascertain that the IRS had lost his check. The check had to be found or at least stopped so he could write a replacement check. Otherwise his account would have been overdrawn. When an agreement was finally reached, he mailed them a “replacement check and letter a stating he was in compliance with the agreement.” He also mentioned that the IRS had violated New York State Law when it endangered the welfare of an incompetent person—a class A misdemeanor under Section 260.25. They didn’t agree.
Bob had no one who would defend him against the federal agency that was well known for its ability to destroy lives. His accountant did his best, but there wasn’t a lawyer around who wanted to take on the federal government to protect Bob, which meant protecting Carla’s right to life . . . and the IRS continued its pattern of harassment.
Bob Sindelar said on his website and on the phone with me, “Had the IRS kept their word, Carla would be alive today. We had an agreement to send the accountant’s letter of responsibility and a replacement check to close the matter. I did that and they didn’t quit.” Instead the IRS placed a levy on Bob’s bank account and only agreed to lift it if he paid them $50 per month. Payments were to start on January 28, 2003. Bob was left with no money, which put Carla in grave danger, especially if utilities were shut off. He asked the IRS twice for a home tax audit. It was denied both times. On December 4, 2002, the IRS reneged on its agreement and emptied out Bob Sindelar’s bank account. Carla Rae died nine days later, on December 13, 2002, at the age of 31, because of government-imposed poverty and lack of government accountability.
The IRS never questioned the accuracy of Bob’s tax return and the second check replaced the check lost by the agency. So what did Bob do wrong? What did his daughter do wrong? And why is the IRS still harassing Bob Sindelar for interest and penalties they claim he owes when they’re the ones who lost his check?
Those are just a few questions that need answers. Here’s another question: Where were the politicians, the clergy, the Christians, the right-to-lifers, and the folks who are supposed to care for the downtrodden and disabled? As in Terri’s case, many took a hike out the back door and ran far away from a handicapped woman who needed their help because it was politically expedient. Such is the way of those I refer to as the morally unrestrained.
No, I don’t want the government or a host of others meddling in my life, but I also don’t want the government to control what happens to me if I’m hospitalized with a serious, terminal, or life-threatening condition. I don’t want the government to commit the crime of death by omission—the failure to act to save the life of another—and that’s what the government did when it not only failed to help save Carla and Terri, but when it helped snuffed them out.
Part 2 of this series examines some of the evidence the judges, particularly Judge Greer, refused to hear, considered irrelevant or just plain ignored. Indeed, we’ve come a long way . . . we’re so very “progressive” if we think nothing about the murder of the innocent and cry in outrage over a criminal who is legally put to death. We sob when the media tells us our soldiers are murdering the innocent (which they’re not) and wax cold when one of ours is beheaded by the enemy. We are calling good evil and evil good because we don’t want to judge . . . but our lack of appropriate action is the same as a judgment.
© 2005 - Jill Cohen Walker - All Rights Reserved
E-Mails are used strictly for NWVs alerts, not for sale
Jill Cohen Walker earned a BA from Goddard College in 1977, a JD from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1980, and an MS in journalism at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1999. A freelance writer for fifteen years, she has written numerous articles for tech magazines and newspapers, and co-authored a book on hiring practices in the printing industry.
She taught Social Studies for one year in a northern middle school, and medical-legal and bio-medical courses in the Allied Health division of a local community college for four years. A student of legal history and the US Constitution, she began to study current events and Bible prophecies in March 1985. Her deep interest in and awareness of American politics started during the 2000 elections when she realized the prophetic time clock was ticking fast. She is the co-author of the novel "The Call to Prayer". (www.thecalltoprayer.net).
worked their schemes to take as much as they could from Carla’s settlement
money and judges gave validity to the new mantra “judicial tyranny.” As
Bob wrote, “. . . judges took the position of God | <urn:uuid:1635e9f1-5b3e-46f9-ae52-3a3830ce44cc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newswithviews.com/Walker/jill5.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984668 | 3,341 | 1.578125 | 2 |
"The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
Psalms 1:4-6, KJV
"How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away."
Job 21:17-18, KJV
". . . He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:37b-42, KJV
"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
Revelation 6:16-17, KJV
"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb . . . And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God."
Revelation 14:10, 19, KJV
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God . . . And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever."
Revelation 15:1, 7, KJV
"And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth . . . And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath."
Revelation 16:1, 19, KJV
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
Revelation 19:15, KJV
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
Revelation 21:8, KJV | <urn:uuid:91cf0b44-5fc4-4559-a774-9d2aaa2d7c24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.endtimeprophecy.net/Blog/2012/08/11/wrath-of-god-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/ | 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 | 0.944342 | 780 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Genre: Historical Fiction
Face Value: Yikes. This cover is pretty bad. I mean, on the one hand, I appreciate that I can see the girl’s face. But on the other hand, this stock photo of a girl holding a chicken photoshopped over a nondescript landscape doesn’t speak much to what actually happens in the book. If you needed any more clues about how unexceptional this is, look no further than this upcoming tile from Egmont:
And the worst part of this cover? A closer look at the girl reveals not only overalls with undeniably contemporary stitching and buttonholes, but a pink bra strap. It’s 1900 and May Amelia is the only daughter in a family of boys that’s barely getting by in a tiny logging town. Are you kidding me with this? You would think that a sequel to a Newbery Honor book might merit more thoughtful and appropriate cover art.
Does it Break the Slate? Yes! May Amelia is dictionary-definition Slatebreaker (well if Slatebreaker was in the dictionary anyway). Cover aside, we’re dealing with a fantastic main character here. May Amelia is tough and loyal and in possession of a remarkable work ethic and enough good humor to survive being the only girl in a family full of boys.
Who would we give it to? If you like historical fiction, you’re almost guaranteed to like this book. Jennifer Holm has a remarkable gift for crafting historical novels and anyone who read and liked Our Only May Amelia, Holm’s first book about this character (based on her own family history) will enjoy hearing more of her story, but you don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy the second one.
“We live on the Nasel River in the state of Washington. It is 1900 and I Am in Trouble Again.”
With these words, we are drawn into the word of May Amelia Jackson. If you read Our Only May Amelia, you know that May Amelia is the youngest child and only girl in a Finnish family full of boys that farms along the Nasel River in Washington State in the late 19th/early 20th century. Picking up more or less where the first one left off, this book documents more of May Amelia’s triumphs and struggles as she fights to define her place in her family.
Jennifer Holm is one of the best in the business when it comes to writing historical fiction. Her research shows through, and her writing evokes a real sense of another time and place. But she also does this in a way that is incredibly readable and genuinely compelling and relatable for contemporary readers. The fact that much of her historical fiction draws upon her own family histories is an added benefit, and I love the idea that it could get young people interested in looking into some of the stories that exist within their own families, sparking multigenerational conversations. Additionally, I can’t help but be impressed with Ms. Holm’s versatility. Her Babymouse series (with Matthew Holm, reviewed here: link) are funny, contemporary graphic novels that represent an equally high quality and drastically different middle grade offering.
May Amelia is in an unusual position for a girl of her time. Being the only girl in a family of boys when all hands are needed to work the farm for the family’s survival, she is a tough kid who can fight, climb trees, fish, do farm work with the best of them. There are literally no other girls her age in the community, at home or at school, so May Amelia is raised to be both one of the boys but with the added expectation of being a girl. She does farm chores and plays as hard as her brothers do, but she’s the only member of the family expected to help her mother with cooking and domestic chores. She tells us,
“Wilbert is always telling me that I need to find my sisu or I will never make Pappa proud of me. Sisu is a Finn word that means to have guts and courage. i want to say that it is very hard indeed to have sisu when you’re the only girl on the Nasel.”
She’s right. It’s far from easy to be the only girl on the Nasel, when there’s no model of what kind of person you’re supposed to be or what it means to be a girl. It often seems to add up to a lot of insults and unfair expectations, whether it comes to traditional girl’s roles or traditional boy’s roles. Take this exchange:
“Pappa, if we get rich, can we get rid of May Amelia and get a new girl? Ivan asks. One who can cook good?’
And mend clothes, Alvin says.
And clean, Ivan says
And knit socks, Alvin adds.
But I do all those things already! I say.
If we get rich, we can get a new girl on one condition, Pappa declares.
What’s that, Pappa? Kaarlo asks.
He gives a slow smile and says, She’s gotta not stink like a cow. The boys hoot with laughter and Kaarlo pounds on the table.
Isaiah turns to me and says, I think you smell real good May Amelia. But then, I sure do like cows.”
However, May Amelia is no delicate little thing to be brought down by mere teasing. She gives it back as good as she gets it. When one of her classmates embarrasses her, she concocts an elaborate scheme to get her revenge, leaving him wearing a dress for a school day. And, as it becomes clear throughout the book, all that teasing from her brothers is deeply rooted in a whole lot of love. So May Amelia perseveres.
Her patience is tested though, when her cousins Jaakko and Helmi arrive from Finland, following their mother’s death. Three year old Helmi is instantly beloved by the entire family. “All the boys dote on her, picking her up and tickling her just to hear her giggle. It’s like they’ve never seen a little girl before.” Even May Amelia’s father is charmed, bringing her presents and playing with her. May Amelia has to contend with the mix of love and jealousy she feels for Helmi. She wants the comraderie of another girl, but it’s hard to deal with this child, whose experience with girlhood is being treated so markedly different from her own. It’s not that May Amelia wants to wear dresses and be coddled – that’s not who she is. But with another girl in the family, her own experience with girlhood is called into question, and that’s a challenge. Another little girl also brings up the deep emotions related to her baby sister Amy, whose birth and death transformed May Amelia in the first book. Watching May Amelia deal with these emotions, and come to terms with who she is in the family is a profound part of the book. It also raises some really interesting questions about what it means to be a girl in this time and place that will resonate deeply with contemporary young readers.
But still, May Amelia’s father is horrible to her. Truly horrible, in a way that is devastating, and hard to forgive. On the first page of the book, May Amelia tells us that “Pappa says I’m Just Plain Stupid because I Never pay Attention and that he would rather have one boy than a doze May Amelias because Girls Are Useless.” And it goes from there. Throughout the book we hear insult after insult, culminating in what I found to be unforgivable. I don’t want to spoil anything for you, so I won’t go into specifics, but when disaster strikes the family, May Amelia’s father turns against her completely. In that, this book brought to mind this article from Elizabeth Bird’s blog about redeeming villainous parents. I’m curious about what those of you who have read this book think. Does May Amelia’s Pappa deserve his redemption?
However, while this is a story about May Amelia, it’s also a story about her family, all of it’s flaws and struggles, and the way they ultimately find a way to survive together. The ending, regardless of how I felt about her father, is moving and powerful. And yes, it’s May Amelia who brings the family back together, and by the end of the story we see her coming into the strength that’s been a part of her identity since the first page. As readers, of course, we knew she was capable of this, but it’s nice to see her family realize it too.
Reviewed from library copy. | <urn:uuid:be6a28ba-47ca-47ef-858b-1c9c12055c8a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://slatebreakers.com/2011/11/07/review-the-troube-with-may-amelia-by-jennifer-l-holm/ | 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 | 0.968479 | 1,861 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Specifically 100 years into the past.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first time the Milwaukee Brewers won the pennant.
It may have been the American Association rather than the major leagues, but it was a big deal to the city and the fans at the time. The Brewers this year are planning one of their many bobbleheads to this championship team, as they will dress Corey Hart in a replica of the 1913 AA Brewers uniforms. (Cavemen weren't around in the early 20th century, but I digress.)
I have started a website/blog/research project that looks through the newspapers 100 years ago to the day and reviews the relevant Brewers and American Association news. If you have some time, head over to www.mrowgust.com and see what was in the morning editions 100 years ago today. My plans are to have a daily digest of the Milwaukee Brewers and then sprinkle in some Brewer biographies and features throughout the year. Today, for instance, Harry "Pep" Clark headed down to Owensboro, Ky for the start of spring training along with about 25 players and staff to prep for their home opener on April 10th.
I started the site on March 1st, so there are fewer than a dozen posts at this time, but there should be at least one new post each day. Come visit, and follow a second Brewers team this year. It's the only way to 100% guarantee you'll be following a championship team this year!
If you have any questions, comments, corrections, or contributions, feel free to post in the comments here, on the site, or e-mail me at email@example.com
Thanks and Go Brewers! | <urn:uuid:ca631670-247d-45e1-ac2a-f546be6c2124> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.brewcrewball.com/2013/3/9/4084846/looking-into-the-past | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969125 | 352 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The people over at MPM School Supplies generously gave me a $25 gift certificate to put towards the purchase of any product on their website. Since I work with infants and toddlers, I wanted to find something that we could use in the classroom. I bought a set of Textured Blocks 1In Thick 30 Pc.
I decided on these after browsing their site for a while. They have everything including blocks, art supplies, classroom decorations, pretend play toys and even sand and water tables. I found many products I’d like to have in my classroom like these shimmering water rainbow blocks Or this pretend food set Or if our center somehow got a lot of money, this light table, Once I decided on the blocks, the checkout process was quick and easy. I was done in less than five minutes. Just follow the simple steps on each page and you’re done! The next day, I received a tracking number and the package arrived a couple of days later.
The blocks were well packed and come in a plastic bag with a zipper. I introduced them to my toddler class yesterday and they loved them! We talked about textures like bumpy, smooth and how some of the blocks have squiggly lines. We talked about shapes like rectangles, triangles, circles, half circles, squares etc. Some toddlers even figured out that you can put two shapes together to make another. One girl was proud of herself when she discovered that putting two triangles together make a diamond. There was a lot of learning going on already and we haven’t even begun building.
Overall, I was happy with the pricing, product selection and customer service at MPM School Supplies! I would like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to purchase a new product for my classroom. In addition, they are generously giving a discount to my readers! Click here to get 10% off the first 10 purchases to help you buy those much needed classroom supplies! | <urn:uuid:bf9f3e25-7f75-4cad-8f02-e365feeab733> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://play2grow.blogspot.com/2012/11/10-off-holiday-special-from.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977462 | 396 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Item Code: JWD78
Sterling Silver7.3 inches Length
Price: $65.00 Shipping Free - 4 to 6 days
In Hindi and Sanskrit Pearl is called Moti or Mukta and in Persian Mukhavid. A good quality pearl is one which is soft to touch white in color and sparkling in appearance. A black spot on a pearl is considered inauspicious and should not be worn. In astrology such a pearl is known as crow’s pearl and is supposed to bring ill luck or health problems on the one who wears it. The pearl should be at least two or four carats in weight and set in silver or gold. If set in a ring it should be worn on the index or the little finger of either hand. For women it is advisable for it to be worn in a pendant for good results. Wearing the pearl on Sunday Monday and Thursday proves very favorable and propitious. And if the moon transits the constellation Pushya on the day one wears a pearl it yields remarkable results. A proper study of an individual’s birth chart is very important before one decides to wear a gemstone.
Though wearing a pearl is considered harmless by astrologers, those suffering from epilepsy, asthma, dysentery, colitis or cancer, should be particularly careful while choosing this gemstone.
In astrology, the Moon is supposed to rule pearls. Those governed by the Moon can be recognized from their tall, round figures. They have grey eyes and generally curly hair. Men governed by the Moon grow bald in their mid—thirties. People ruled by the Moon are restless, though lazy by disposition. They are temperamental and unstable in their relationships. Since they are gifted with quick fertile brains they can easily grasp new ideas though they could be slow in executing their plans.
The Moon rules over work connected with shipping, politics, cinema, jewellery, interior decoration, photography, painting or writing. In your birth chart, the strength of the Moon will decide the degree of success you will enjoy in your career. Those associated with the above professions could wear pearl to enhance their career prospects.
The pearl is worn to achieve stability in one is life and career. The Moon being the cold planet, its improper and unfavorable positioning in the birth chart often causes cold and migraine. For such persons wearing a pearl can bring a lot of relief. Women suffering from gynaecological complaints or irregularity of the monthly cycle are advised to wear this gemstone. Children, especially new—born, who are constantly ill, are supposed to benefit a lot by wearing a pearl around their neck. To conclude, when wearing a pearl do not set it in combination with diamond, blue sapphire or hessonite, for it is supposed to be hostile and inimical to these gemstones. | <urn:uuid:ff36acd8-7fbf-4041-bdad-9a296be0f230> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.exoticindia.com/product/jewelry/pearl-bracelet-JWD78/ | 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 | 0.961314 | 580 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Industry Responds to Negative Press
CNN, WSJ, other reports prompt AAHomecare, providers to wage ‘Myth vs. Reality’ campaign.
Last week’s sensational account from CNN about a four-year-old Medicare claim for a wheelchair, as well as other reports, have prompted the industry to respond to news stories that perpetuate various misconceptions regarding homecare and HME.
In addition to CNN’s “One wheelchair — one lesson of problems in health care reform” video, misleading statements and reporting was recently released by the Wall Street Journal (“Obama’s Health Expert Gets Political,” on July 24; and “No Help for the Blue Dogs,” on July 28), and the Washington Post (“Bush Official Sees Peril in Health Plan,” on July 24).
As a result, the American Association for Homecare has developed a “Myth vs. Reality” media relations campaign to dispel media misconceptions regarding homecare and HME providers. The campaign takes a simple, myth debunking approach:
Myth: Medicare overpays for DME in comparison to Internet prices. This notion was presented in the CNN story. Essentially the argument is made that Medicare should pay no more than Internet prices for providing a wheelchair or oxygen therapy.
Reality: Serving seniors and people with disabilities in their homes requires services and other non-equipment costs. To ensure quality of care, providers must comply with a host of federal and state regulations and other standards of care. The final cost to Medicare reflects delivery, set-up, patient education, and maintenance, in addition to the cost of compliance with all regulations.
Myth : Congress killed NCB, which has cost the taxpayers more money.
Reality: NCB is moving forward after an initial delay last year in order to address numerous flaws identified by Congress. Moreover, taxpayers reaped the savings from the delay because providers paid for the delay via a 9.5 percent reimbursement cut, went into effect on Jan. 1 nationwide — not just in the bid areas.
Myth: CMS’s NCB is a good model for reform of healthcare.
Reality: While “competitive bidding” might sound good, it would have eliminated most of the providers (as many as 90 percent) through selective contracting (even if they agreed to lower prices). Decreased numbers of providers would have reduced patient access to care, their choice of provider, and the quality of their care. Moreover, NCB would increase costs by complicating the transition from hospital to home, lengthening expensive hospital stays and increasing the likelihood of rehospitalizations, a major cost driver in Medicare. To date, the serious problems with competitive bidding program have not been adequately addressed.
The CNN story received additional response from AAHomecare because the piece had been under development since May, but did not interview AAHomecare or members of the industry. AAHomecare said that for eight weeks after conferring with the piece's producers; sending documents stating the association's position on key issues; and asking state associations and VGM to contact members of congress who were interviewed for the story, the piece still aired with multiple misconceptions and no interview from industry respresentatives.
So the assocation asked CNN to correct the misrespresentations in the piece, as well as air time to respond to the piece. AAHomecare reported today that CNN replied that it is still weighing the complaint.
Providers seeking assistance for working with the media should contact Tilly Gambill (email@example.com) or Michael Reinemer (firstname.lastname@example.org).
CNN Story Paints Providers As Profiteers - http://hme-business.com/articles/2009/07/23/cnn.aspx | <urn:uuid:65b657d3-816b-496c-88ef-b791d4e66c3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hme-business.com/articles/2009/07/30/bad-press.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953392 | 785 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Psychiatry Inpatient Service
Children eat meals together, family style, with staff at Bader 5 at Boston Children's Hospital. There is usually one meal selection but some children on special diets have meals sent up on trays. It's important that parents make staff aware of any special dietary requirements your child may have.
Snacks also are offered three times a day. We encourage healthy food choices and prohibit any caffeinated drinks on the unit. | <urn:uuid:bde75c34-3bb8-4f7c-8626-7a5ad6bfbb42> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site1908/mainpageS1908P22.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954534 | 91 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Effective January 2012, UAS is no longer accepting applications to any of our Early Childhood Education programs.
Early Childhood Education Certificate
This program is designed for students desiring intensive training in the occupational field of early childhood education and is available to first-time college students. The program leads to a paraprofessional certificate awarded by the University of Alaska Board of Regents.
The program courses are generally offered via audio conference. The program is designed to take a full-year for full-time students. All courses apply to the major requirement for the A.A.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education. An additional three credits in the major and 15 credits in general education are required for the A.A.S. Degree.
- training for employment in early childhood development centers
- field-based courses
- students enrolling in college for the first time or who desire retraining in this field
- offered via distance | <urn:uuid:569d7a44-d39f-4926-af16-200b84c5294a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uas.alaska.edu/education/paraeducators/certece.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94683 | 188 | 1.539063 | 2 |
POV Interviews Transmedia Expert Anita Ondine
Point of View magazine recently spoke with the internationally renowned transmedia expert Anita Ondine about the challenges and opportunities of transmedia. Ondine is in Toronto this week to headline Merging Media TO on January 19 to 20 at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
POV: Transmedia requires content creators to completely rethink how they engage their audiences and to rethink the concept of ‘media consumption.’ It’s a big task to grapple with...
Ondine: Yes, transmedia is a different paradigm altogether. I hesitate to use the word ‘consumption’ or I use it broadly. The word I like to use most is participation. Not every member of the audience will become a participant but it’s my sincere hope that we get a large number of audiences to move from the lean- back mode of consumption and go even beyond the interactive stage. I like to make this distinction, that what we’re moving through right now is something of a continuum, which started a century ago with the lean-back consumption of [visually created] stories. When the first silent films came out, people would sit there and watch them. And as that moved through TV and broad scale film distribution, we still were in that lean-back mode of accepting content in a very uni-directional manner. Then, depending on where in the world you’ve been, in the last five to ten years there have been increasing efforts to make stories interactive. There have been some really good examples out of the UK because Britain in my opinion has been one of the leaders in the world [in this activity] and the BBC has been behind a lot of these projects. But there has been more and more emphasis on interactivity.
Interactivity is a state where the audience chooses to interact with the story but the interaction has always been contained in a specially predefined set of potential outcomes. What I mean by that is the storyteller--the documentarian, the director, the producer or whoever is defining it---knows what the potential set of outcomes can be. That’s interactive. Now transmedia, I believe, takes that a step further and we move from interactive to truly participatory storytelling. What that means is we enable the audience to step into the shoes of a protagonist and actually become storytellers themselves.
To me that is one of the very, very exciting elements that makes transmedia so powerful. It really flips the whole concept of what distribution means altogether. It’s a different paradigm. It allows for engagement. I can see looking at Point of View magazine, for example, that you’re very socially aware, so there are often stories about socially conscious storytelling. Transmedia is fundamentally such a powerful tool for those kinds of topics to be aired and to be discussed and to gain support and to get people actually active in taking the change forward. Not only do we tell people about what’s going on, but we give them tools to participate. Whether this means participation in a purely entertainment mode, or it goes further than that and it has an activist element which is also entirely possible. One of my major projects has an activist orientation to it. So what we do instead of giving people purely entertainment based participatory experience is we say: ‘so you have heard about this, now this is how you can participate in the change.’
POV: The possibilities opened up by transmedia can be very exciting for some filmmakers and others may be more cautious.
Ondine: For documentarians, I feel that transmedia takes everything to a whole new level. It makes the scale and reach broader and it takes the potential outcomes further for people who’ve seen the story and are wondering what to do. Now they see the story and they have 1, 2, 3 steps for what to do next.
When a movie came out five years ago, at the end, before the credits, there would be a website link shown so people knew where they could go online after to follow up with action. That was good because it introduced people to the idea that you could link activism and documentary in a very immediate and direct way with campaigns. Now what we’re doing is more sophisticated. We’re actually doing what transmedia does more broadly, which is to borrow from the game development world and use specific game mechanics to incentivize and reward participation by the audience and experience. When you apply game techniques to a socially orientated cause or experience you instantly get an amazing result because you’re making people want to do it and feel rewarded for their participation. People get tangible feedback on their participation. We’re so early in understanding what can be done, but to me combining story, activism and technology is an incredibly powerful tool for documentary and entertainment more broadly.
And yes, it does raise challenges. It means documentarians need to think a little more broadly and challenge preconceived notions. In Canada, a lot of your government bodies and agencies are supporting this through funding more transmedia project and even requiring it. One of the things I would encourage in Canada is to see it as an opportunity, not something that has to be done to satisfy the funder. Ask yourself, ‘since I have to do this, how do I maximize the opportunity and really stretch the reach of the story? How do I convert it from being just a website to something that really reaches out and grabs my audience and gives them a way to participate and take them to the next level?’ Canada is one of the places I’m looking at to see what the next great transmedia experiences can be. The European Union through their Media Fund supports more on the fictional side but they’re also expanding rapidly into the documentary side.
POV: Do you have any standout Canadian examples of transmedia?
Ondine: I’m sure you’re familiar with the NFB's Highrise project. It’s definitely of a quality I’d say is situated very favorably on the world stage. It’s an example I’ve used in the UK, in Europe and in the USA. It’s a quality production that people can look at it and see how certain aspects of the story process can be innovated.
POV: What can participants at Merging Media TO expect?
Ondine: The first morning is a seminar that we hope will attract as many people as possible. It will have an introductory flavor so that people who’ve probably heard the word ‘transmedia’ but aren’t sure what it is and want to know more, can benefit from it. This is an ideal opportunity to come along, get a high-level view and an understanding of the framework and the terminology. Lab participants will attend the morning too. In the lab, we do a hands-on style of learning which is very intense and immersive. We use case studies, specific to the city I’m teaching in, and participants will work in teams to create mini-transmedia projects that they’ll pitch on last day. I’m a practioner but I love teaching as well because I’m always, with out a single exception, blown away by the results you see in such a short period of time. The creativity in the room is sensational. Participants always say: ‘I had no idea I could do that,’ and see their own potential growing in the room through the theory, framework, tools and techniques.
POV: Tell me about your workshop audiences. Specifically, do you work with a lot of “traditional filmmakers” and how do they take to the methods of transmedia?
Ondine: My sweet spot is taking seasoned, credentialed professionals who have a track record in their own field of expertise and working with them to expand and broaden the possibilities of storytelling, whether in a documentary format or fictional format, as any kind of story can be transmedia-ized. And then taking that and expanding all the possibilities that go beyond the traditional single screen experience of that material.
A lot of people ask, ‘ why don’t you teach a university course?’ I’m open to doing that but I’ve always found that the most exciting results haven’t been with people who are fresh out of school or still in college but actually are with known people in the industry who have developed their own distinct style and awareness---people who have told stories successfully---including in the documentary field. I find that those people are the ones most in need of and looking for that bridge between where they are today and where they could be, and what the potential is of transmedia. Whereas students coming from film school, for example, already see this as a natural extension of filmmaking; they’ve grown up with the technologies, so they think transmedia, ‘that’s normal, that’s natural.’ Whereas documentarians who have a few docs under their belt are asking, ‘what can you tell us to make our work better?’ I thrive on a degree of skepticism because then you see the light bulbs going on, and you know they’re thinking, ‘oh wow, this is very cool’.
Registration is still open for the Thursday, January 19th Merging Media TO morning Seminar with Anita Ondine. Point of View readers can use this code to receive 10% off registration. | <urn:uuid:43c38535-1e9c-453b-ab74-c1f188f9f640> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.docspace.ca/news/pov-interviews-transmedia-expert-anita-ondine | 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 | 0.960912 | 1,967 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Last week at the Xebicon conference in the Netherlands we presented different setups of Product Owner teams, using 3 models. We talked about Product Owner teams, as in most cases the Product Owner role is not executed by just the Product Owner person. He (or she, of course) organizes help from others to fulfil this exacting role.
The Product Owner role encompasses many different activities. The following model distincts 8 areas.
To perform these activities requests a double stretch. The first one is between knowledge and interest of the business domain to knowledge and interests of the technical solution domain. Of course the primary focus of the PO is in the business domain. But to understand and discuss functional issues arising from technical challenges a PO can not simply stay away from technical basics.
The other stretch a PO has to make is between vision and governance competences and the specification of requirements in detail.
In an ideal Agile world the perfect Product Owner person has it all and does it all, with the help of his delivery team now and then. In real life practices we see the need for a Product Owner team. Partly to compensate for some hopefully temporarily omissions like part-time availability, insufficient empowerment or insufficient competences. But also to deal with the complexity of organisations, with polyphonic business units and complex, very specialized resources and multi-supplier development chains.
Whether a Product Owner completely covers this spectrum is not just a matter of competences but also of his own passion and the complexity of the organization. Furthermore the composition of his team(s) and his position in the organisational hierarchy determine the range of the Product Owner person, and the areas he is likely to fall back on others. An analysis following the next model helps to identify the product owner strengths and challenges.
At the congress we explained how one uses the insights from this analysis to start plotting the product owner person in the first two models, identifying competence areas where this product owner needs support. Your start to compose the product owner team.
The setup of the Product Owner role in an organisation requires a custom made solution. Helping hands, formally in a ‘Ready team’, or informally by ad-hoc resources, usually will surround the Product Owner. The ‘square’, the ‘triangle’ and the ‘cross’ help you identify how to compose your Product Owner team.
However, whatever the Product Owner team looks like, the core of the Product Ownership should be in the Product Owner person. This core consist of:
- Purpose: to determine the purpose and the way leading to it
- Entrepreneurship: mentality of hard work, daring, can-do, networking and everything we do has to deliver value
- Business: the Product Owner comes from the Business, and ensures that the business is committed to the realisation and that each result is to the benefit of the Business
- Impact: Product Owner must ensure decisiveness and power. Without these there cannot exist effective Product Ownership.
In a next blog I will use these models to discuss some common Product Owner types, and the typical teams that arise around each of these types. | <urn:uuid:bfa4c3da-683e-4cdd-9c59-02f348aba8e1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.xebia.com/2012/06/12/a-suit-for-your-product-owner/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946055 | 646 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Brazil To Let Hackers Try To Crack E-Voting Terminals
from the good-for-them dept
One thing that never made much sense was how vehemently the big e-voting manufacturers fought pretty much every single attempt to let outside computer security experts try hacking their machines. They often made excuses about how this wouldn't be fair under "non-real-world conditions," but never explained how it would be bad to at least let these hacks proceed to learn from them and use them to strengthen the overall security of the machines. Thankfully, it looks like voting officials in other countries are a bit more open to this concept. Slashdot points out that Brazil opened up a "challenge" allowing security experts and other hackers to request to take part in a big hack attempt on e-voting equipment. Not only that, but the government is going to give $5,000 to whoever successfully hacks into one of the e-voting systems. This seems like a much smarter way to check the security on these machines than the previous method of very basic gov't oversight and the e-voting firms issuing a big "trust us," answer to every question. | <urn:uuid:f9a6c588-2b1c-4bfb-b7b6-72f63f317970> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20091102/0330066758.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97084 | 238 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Bush to Warn Cuba on Plan For Transition
By GINGER THOMPSON
Published: October 24, 2007
President Bush is planning to issue a stern warning Wednesday that the United States will not accept a political transition in Cuba in which power changes from one Castro brother to another, rather than to the Cuban people.
As described by an official in a background briefing to reporters on Tuesday evening, Mr. Bush's remarks will amount to the most detailed response -- mainly an unbending one -- to the political changes that began in Cuba more than a year ago, when Fidel Castro fell ill and handed power to his brother Ra?
The speech, scheduled to be given at the State Department before invited Cuban dissidents, will introduce the relatives of four Cuban prisoners being held for political crimes. A senior administration official said the president wanted to ''put a human face,'' on Cuba's ''assault on freedom.''
In effect, the speech will be a call for Cubans to continue to resist, a particularly strong line coming from an American president. He is expected to say to the Cuban military and police, ''There is a place for you in a new Cuba.''
The official said Mr. Bush would make the case that for dissidents and others pursuing democracy in Cuba, little has changed at all, and that the country has suffered economically as well as in other ways as a result of the Castro rule.
He will say that while much of the rest of Latin America has moved from dictatorship to democracy, Cuba continues to use repression and terror to control its people. And, the administration official said, Mr. Bush will direct another part of his speech to the Cuban people, telling them they ''have the power to shape their destiny and bring about change.''
The administration official said Mr. Bush was expected to tell Cuban viewers that ''soon they will have to make a choice between freedom and the force used by a dying regime.''
Some of the sharpest parts of the speech, however, will be aimed directly at Ra?astro. Mr. Bush is expected to make clear that the United States will oppose an old system controlled by new faces. The senior administration official said that nothing in Ra?astro's past gives Washington reason to expect democratic reforms soon. And he said the United States would uphold its tough economic policies against the island.
Mr. Bush would hold out the possibility of incentives for change, if Cuba demonstrated an openness to such exchanges, the official said. Those steps might include expanding cultural and information exchanges with Cuba and allowing religious organizations and other nonprofits to send computers to Cuba and to award scholarships.
However, he is expected to reiterate the administration's long-standing demands for free and transparent elections, and the release of political prisoners.
John Kavulich, senior policy adviser at the U.S.-Cuba Trade andEconomic Council, said those demands would likely be non-starters for Cuba. He said the technology and educational opportunities Mr. Bush intends to offer are being provided to Cuba by Venezuela and China.
He suggested that the real constituency for Mr. Bush's speech was the politically-powerful exile community in Miami.
Phil Peters, an expert on Cuba at the non-partisan Lexington Institute, said he saw Mr. Bush's speech as an attempt to reorient a policy that had fallen behind the times. American policy, he said, had been centered around the idea that the Communist government would fall once Mr. Castro left power, and that Mr. Castro, 81, would be forced out of power only by death. Instead, Mr. Peters said, Ra?astro's rise caught the administration off guard.
President Bush has remained largely silent, Mr. Peters said, while Ra?astro consolidated his control over Cuban institutions by establishing his own relationships with world leaders, and opening unprecedented dialogue with the Cuban people about their visions for their own country. Meanwhile, all the doomsday scenarios predicted for Cuba once Fidel Castro left power -- a violent uprising by dissidents and a huge exodus of Cuban refugees -- never materialized.
''The administration realized they had missed the boat,'' Mr. Peters said. ''Succession has already happened. They can no longer have a policy that keeps them waiting for Castro to die when the rest of the world has moved on.''
PHOTO: A transfer of power from Fidel Castro, left, to his brother Raśl, without democratic reforms, is unacceptable, Mr. Bush says.(PHOTOGRAPH BY CRISTOBAL HERRERA/ASSOCIATED PRESS)(pg. A10) | <urn:uuid:2af1eb76-35d4-46f9-b427-04a3adb08b79> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E4D91E39F937A15753C1A9619C8B63&fta=y | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963275 | 924 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Story last updated at 12/26/2012 - 4:12 pm
Gov. Sean Parnell released his budget for the next fiscal year, and it is nearly $1.1 billion less than the current year's general fund spending.
In its proposal, the Parnell administration holds the state operating budget to less than one percent growth. The budget totals $6.49 billion in state general funds and $12.8 billion when federal funds and the Permanent Fund are included. The budget leaves more than $500 million in surplus revenue.
"This balanced budget spends less than the current year," Parnell said. "As we prepared this budget, we faced the facts - oil production is down, and oil prices, too, have decreased. Production decline and the increasing cost of producing Alaska's oil profoundly impacts Alaska's revenues. As I've done in the past, I am asking legislators to join me early in session to set a spending limit. A self-imposed, reasonable limit is the key to successful and sustainable spending. A spending limit promotes spending restraint and greater accountability for Alaskans."
Parnell's budget focuses on resource development, public safety, education, and transportation and infrastructure.
The governor's proposed capital budget contains significant investments in energy development, roads to resources, water and sewer projects, school construction and major maintenance, as well as matching funds to leverage federal and local dollars.
"Our fiscal plan is based on budget discipline, saving for the future, and prudently managing reserves to help us through times when revenue is down," Parnell said. "Our plan also relies on resource development, so Alaskans, today and in the future, will have access to economic opportunity and essential public services."
Draft budget bills and more detailed information on the budget are available on the Office of Management & Budget website at omb.alaska.gov. | <urn:uuid:eb967a2a-bc77-464e-b062-ab8fe2407078> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/122612/new_1081108375.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951814 | 384 | 1.742188 | 2 |
My first mobile device was a Palm V. I understood the power of mobile really early. I was 15 in 1999, when the Palm V was released. I first came across the Palm devices in 1998, when the Palm III came onto the scene. I never owned one, but played with the one my Dad owned, but barely used.
This device was comically under-powered in retrospect. It had 2 megabytes of RAM, which had to be used as not only the working memory of the device, but also the storage. It had a 16 Hz processor, a 4-greyscale screen, and a stylus-driven interface.
The Palm V was an amazing device. In lieu of the plastic of the Palm III, it had a finished anodized aluminum finish, very similar to the kinds of sleek devices we would only begin to regularly see in the last couple of years. It was nearly half the weight of its predecessor, and as thin as the stylus you used to control it. It had a surprisingly well-designed docking station (imagine this: since USB hadn’t yet been developed, it had to sync over the low-bandwidth Serial Port available on PCs at the time).
I came across a time capsule of my Palm V usage. Since I was a web designer at this time, but since it was a “pre-web” era, I often put together little static HTML websites to demonstrate features and ideas to my friends. I did one of these for my Palm V.
A Mobile Device of Pure Utility
In a world without cell data plans, wifi networks, & laptop computers, my Palm V provided much of the same utility that is now spread across these various pieces of everyday technology infrastructure, but in a single device. I kept a unified to do list of my life, and a specialized task manager specifically for coursework and classes. In it, I tracked not just homework assignments and due dates grouped by class, but also my grades — so that I could prioritize work to optimize my grades.
I think I only got my first cell phone a couple of years later — and they were nowhere near ubiquitous yet, so my contact manager was actually being used to store landline phone numbers and addresses of my friends — and likely, of local take-out / delivery restaurants.
What was AvantGo?
I sometimes tell my friends that despite the lack of infrastructure in school for it, I was indeed a “child of the Internet”. This was mostly thanks to AvantGo.
When I was at home on my personal computer, I was already an avid web content reader from early pioneers like Salon.com, CNET, Wired, and BBC. But I couldn’t easily read their content at school. AvantGo was an early, popular service for Palm devices that let you download and sync “content channels”. Of course, this is way before RSS/Atom. Channels were really mobile-optimized static HTML websites that each provider would put out daily with a snapshot of their latest content. In the screenshot above, you can see me reading an article from Salon.com dated March 30, 2002.
In addition to officially supported channels that were put out by major publishers, you could also download and sync arbitrary web content. This was essentially an early version of Readability / Instapaper — in some ways, much clunkier, in other ways, more complete. The software would go to the website and try to mobile-optimize a site (stripping it down to basic HTML), while also crawling the relative links. For example, at the time I was very interested in participating in the Debian open source project, so I had AvantGo sync the Debian Policy Manual, which contained hundreds of HTML pages full of reference information.
So, yes — when I was bored in Spanish or Math class, I’d pull up a political article from Salon.com, a tech piece about the 2000 tech bubble forming in Silicon Valley from Wired, or read over open source software development guidelines. I was a child of the Internet, and the Palm V kept me tethered in a pre-mobile world.
What makes AvantGo so interesting, upon reflection, is that despite everything against it — under-powered mobile devices, no ubiquitous wireless Internet access, and a less standardized world-wide-web, it still satisfied a use case that has yet to be satisfied today. Namely, it provided a way for me to curate the “best sources of content” I found on the web, and sync and download all their content to provide a personalized, offline library of content. Instead, we have nothing but fragmentation today — individual native apps for each news publisher, RSS readers like Newsblur providing a way to get the latest updates from a group of them, and mobile web browsers for everything else.
Many in the industry see AvantGo as the first to attempt [a shift to mobile]. AvantGo’s software pulls content from a user-defined list of sites and loads the content into the PalmPilot’s synchronization queue on a desktop computer. When the PalmPilot is synchronized with the desktop machine using 3Com’s own synchronization software, the desired content is also uploaded to the Pilot — giving users a fresh stash of data to dig through offline.
- from “The Next Browser War?”, Wired, 1999
Obviously, devices running iOS and Android are finally starting to make ubiquitous computing a reality, and are providing less clunky ways to access web content.
But I think it’s worth reflecting on what my Palm V had going for it nearly a decade ago that has yet to arrive in this new era.
- Vindigo: When I was a student at NYU, I had instant access to all the restaurants in New York, complete with editorial reviews, walking directions, and sometimes, menu previews. I also had a list of restaurants I had visited with notes about dishes I had ordered. This, despite my Palm V having no data connectivity, no built-in GPS, and extremely limited storage capacity. Yes, today we have tools like Yelp and Urbanspoon, but these tools are actually comparably slow and impersonal. I think there is an opportunity to win this market with speed — create an offline-synced, indexed, full restaurant database stored on the user’s phone, along with a personalized cache of restaurants that user has visited.
- 4.0 Student: There is certainly no shortage of todo list applications out there, but I have been surprised to not see a rewrite of 4.0 Student for iOS and Android. The specific functions that a task manager needs to be optimized for students: grouping of tasks by course, quick entry of due dates, ability to enter in grades for tests and assignments, and ability to estimate a current GPA in the class. This allows a student to smartly prioritize his or her coursework by those classes that most need attention. A well-designed app probably has little need for web syncing, since it could be operated entirely from the mobile device.
- AvantGo: I do think RSS/Atom and the modern news readers are an important innovation for online content. But some content doesn’t fit into the RSS/Atom spec — think Wikipedia, HTML e-books, etc. Mobile devices have plenty of space for this, and these days, they even have the compute power to do the crawling / caching themselves (without the need for a sync via desktop). There are probably a ton of interesting use cases here — think about doctors/nurses who might want an offline cache of all of Wikipedia’s medical topics; a conference attendee who might want an offline sync of the conference agenda / schedule; or a military soldier who might want to sync the Army Field Manual.
A great example of online/offline mastery that I witnessed in a mobile application is Spotify’s support for bringing an entire music playlist offline. Offers the best of both worlds.
We’re certainly living in an age of ubiquitous, wireless Internet access, whether via cell towers or wifi. But that doesn’t mean that the smartest applications are those that exclusively rely on data access being present. In fact, making your application rely on data access will almost certainly make it slower than it could be.
Due to our obsession with connectivity, I think many developers are forgetting about use cases where the mobile device is meant to be a smart accessory to our lives, rather than a portal to the web. These are no longer “thin clients” — instead, we should think of them as powerful handheld computers. Recent iPhone and Android devices feature dual-core processors at speed above 1Ghz and 1GB of RAM. In 1998, typical desktop computers were slower than this (e.g. a single-core P3 600 Mhz w/ 128MB of RAM and 10GB of disk storage).
Yes, we’ve put the power of a desktop computer into the palm of a user’s hand. But, are we really tapping this opportunity? | <urn:uuid:cf8c8073-8c0f-4d04-b263-b9fba151a9c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pixelmonkey.org/2012/12/30/mobile-in-1998 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961506 | 1,880 | 1.59375 | 2 |
ATLANTA — Atlanta's airport is keeping its title as the world's busiest.
Airport officials on Tuesday said passenger traffic increased by more than 3.1 million passengers in 2012 -- making 2012 the busiest year ever for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Authorities said the 2012 total of 95.5 million passengers is 3.35 percent higher than the previous record of 92.4 million passengers, set in 2011.
Louis Miller, the airport's aviation general manager, says the airport remains the world's busiest in terms of passengers and operations.
The airport's annual air cargo decreased by about 2.5 percent - from 663,162 in 2011 to 646,481 metric tons in 2012. Airport officials said the decline in cargo operations reflected a global decrease of consumer purchases and reduced manufacturing. | <urn:uuid:187aec95-3a07-46c9-b634-5699d85be9b0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.independentmail.com/news/2013/feb/05/atlanta-airport-retains-title-worlds-busiest/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939123 | 164 | 1.546875 | 2 |
I love to hear their stories of determination and triumph. Over the last couple of days, I have read and watched some pretty inspiring stories about people in our area who laced up their shoes with a purpose on Sunday. I've posted links to just a few of my favorites below. Congrats to all you "crazy inspiring" runners out there!
"The opportunity to share what one normal everyday Mom and nurse can do to make the world a better place is huge."
We highlighted Lazenby on this website in January after the nurse decided to donate her kidney to a security guard at Delnor Hospital in Geneva (LINK: Nurse Donates Kidney). Now she's continuing to inspire us! She decided to run the marathon for the first time this year to raise funds for Cal's Angels, which provides support to families of cancer patients. You can hear more of Lazenby's story in her interview with WBBM 780: First-Time Marathoner Has Inspirational Story
William CooperThis Northwestern University sophomore ran in his first marathon to raise money and awareness for an organization called Inheritance of Hope. It serves children and families caring for a parent with a terminal illness. Kristen and Deric Milligan (Cooper's aunt and uncle) founded the organization after Kristen was diagnosed with liver cancer. Kristen is currently recovering for surgery and continuing to fight her cancer. Cooper raised $1,000 to help families going through similar situations. Read more about his story here: Run With William
"I need to show that what I'm doing isn't really much compared to what they're going through."
"I'm trying to raise money for the eye disease that is taking away my sight."
This Chicago improv comic is losing his sight due to a rare eye disease called choroideremia. He has less than 20% of vision in each eye and is legally blind. He decided to start running to raise awareness and raise some money for the Choroideremia Research Foundation. He ran on Sunday blindfolded to call attention to his cause and to protect his sensitive eyes from the sunlight. To read more about Scott's story and his connection to the HBO show "True Blood" check out this article by the Chicago Tribune: Chicago comic running blindfolded to shed light
Mike StantonThis Edgebrook father decided to run the marathon for his son, Danny. In December, 4-year-old Danny passed away in his sleep of a seizure. His parents started the Danny Did Foundation to help prevent deaths caused by seizures. Read more about Stanton's journey in a Sun-Times article from last month: Dad runs to save other families' kids
"I am inspired by the way Danny lived, and I look forward to completing the race with Danny and Epilepsy awareness in my heart."
There are so many inspiring stories out there from the marathon! If you know of someone who ran the race that should be recognized, share their story below! | <urn:uuid:ed525394-31e3-49bb-9849-3607593414f2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.inspiremechicago.com/2010/10/marathon-runners-crazy-inspiring.html | 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 | 0.971166 | 598 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: Our Year of Seasonal Eating Barbara Kingsolver, with Stephen L. Hopp & Camille Kingsolver Faber & Faber, UK, 2007, £16.99 Our Farm: A Year in the Life of a Smallholding Rosie Boycott Bloomsbury, UK, 2007, £15.99
“CANNING TOMATO SAUCE…always puts me in a kind of trance. I reach a point where stirring the bubbling sauce is the world’s only task, and I could do it forever. Whether you prefer to sit on a rock in a peaceful place, or take a wooden spoon to a simmering pot, it does the body good to quiet down and tune in.”
That these words could be spoken, in our fast-fed, Pepsi-revved society, by someone not yet twenty, reassures me that there is still hope for humanity. “The choices I make now about my food”, says Camille Kingsolver, as she leaves for college, “will influence the rest of my life. If a lot of us felt this way, and started thinking carefully about our consumption habits, just one meal at a time, we could affect the future of our planet.” Amen, Camille.
The dinner table, not the television set, used to be the fulcrum of family life in most US and British households, just as it still is in countries like France and Italy. The kitchen was the quintessentially cosy place, the kernel of every house. That’s how it was for me, at Camille’s age, and still is. For her, too. We are lucky.
There can surely be no-one still unaware of the dire environmental and sociological implications of our industrialised, globalised food system and the damage it’s doing, not just to our planetary ecosystems but to our bodies and ultimately our psyches. However, there’s always room for another voice, another way to express the vision, another book. Especially if it is by Barbara Kingsolver – joined now by her husband, Stephen Hopp, and by Camille, her elder daughter, each of whom brings something valuable and unique to the mix.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is not a rant about the horrors of cattle feedlots, the superiority of free-range eggs, or the evil machinations of supermarkets, though all these things are mentioned in it. Neither is it a bible of sustainability, organics, bioregionalism and the importance of rebuilding local economies, though that’s all in there too. It’s a story, by turns funny, touching and inspirational, about real people living, working, growing food, preparing it, eating it together. It’s a book about feelings and experiences, conversations and celebrations and what happens when a family of four takes on the challenge of becoming ‘locavores’ for one whole calendar year. In other words, limiting their eating, for twelve months, to food they have either grown themselves or sourced locally.
The word ‘limiting’ doesn’t belong here, though. This book has nothing to do with limits and everything to do with abundance, joy and conviviality.
Although she is a native of the moist, green, Appalachian region of the Eastern USA, Barbara Kingsolver’s name is closely associated with the desert landscapes of the Southwest, especially Tucson, where she lived for many years. But, as she points out, it is impossible to live sustainably in Tucson. Nothing grows naturally in southern Arizona except cactus, mesquite, creosote bushes – plants well adapted to drought and aridity.
“Like many other US cities, it may as well be a space station where human sustenance is concerned,” she explains. “Virtually every unit of food consumed there moves into town in a refrigerated module from somewhere far away.”
She and her family decided they must relocate to a region where it is still possible to grow the bulk of one’s own food. They had always returned to Appalachia each summer, but now, “like rats leaping off the burning ship”, they moved back there permanently and began their first year of becoming ‘locavores’. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is their delightful – and highly entertaining – account of that experiment.
It’s also more than that. It’s an affirmation that one can still find folk who savour what they eat and who love to entertain friends and family in ways that involve everyone in the delightful intimacy of preparing and sharing wholesome food.
I understand, of course, how environmentally important – and also how healthy – it is to eat seasonally. But as I watched the Kingsolver/Hopp household struggling to deal with the absurd fecundity of its courgettes and cramming its mighty mountains of tomatoes into cans for the winter, I gained an even deeper appreciation of seasonality. And as I read the hilarious yet poignant tale of the turkeys who had almost forgotten how to reproduce, I felt once more a profound admiration for all those people who work to save our heritage seeds and ‘rare’ breeds from extinction.
If you, like me, are one of the lucky ones who start preparations for dinner by walking into the garden to see what is offering itself to be picked today, you will enjoy this book. But even if you have no space, time or love for growing fruit or vegetables, it may inspire you to discover – if you haven’t already – how you, too, can eat seasonally and as locally as possible. For in reclaiming these aspects of our food we reclaim the full delight of consuming it. Seasons, soils and appetites are all designed to match, and the closer the match, the better it feels.
Abandoning the sterile world of supermarket shopping and joining a community supported agriculture (CSA) scheme, signing up for a veg box or seeking out farmers’ markets can give urban dwellers back their lost connections with the land. And cooking from scratch instead of heating ready-made meals in a microwave can ground us in the ‘now’, just as Camille describes.
ROSIE BOYCOTT’S OUR FARM is also a story of one family’s determination to do something different about food. Their aim was not just to eat locally, but to become local producers themselves.
It wasn’t easy. Luckily for Rosie and her husband Charlie, they were able to bankroll their own project to an extent that most people starting out as smallholders are unable to do. But those of lesser means may find this book useful for the unvarnished detail it includes about the income and outgoings. Here’s an opportunity to study the financial realities underlying most farming ventures.
‘Unvarnished’, in fact, is an adjective I could well apply to the whole book. Besides including some unvarnished truths about our dysfunctional systems of global food production, this author makes no attempt to hide the difficulties and misjudgements of that first farming year, or the personal tribulations of her own, earlier history. In fact there is a certain confessional element to her story, as though she were taking this opportunity to spread her life out where she could see and make sense of it. Reading it, I felt the doubts and fears – and triumphs – of a woman courageous enough to make a midlife reassessment and experiment with something completely new. Which in her case is also something useful for the planet: growing food for her local community to purchase.
As she and her partner laughingly remind each other, they could have bought a Mercedes instead of the pigs, chickens and everything else it took to start a smallholding. I applaud their choice.
They still produce local food. Meanwhile, with that first year long since successfully completed, Barbara Kingsolver and her family have gone on being locavores.
Hurrah for all of them. | <urn:uuid:a3181091-2532-46a0-9de9-66fd359ea40e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article32-animal-vegetable-miracle.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961851 | 1,681 | 1.601563 | 2 |
The following account was originally published on Ebushpilot.com back in 2006. The original story and pictures, written by John S. Goulet, can be found here.
The Seal River Heritage Lodge Pancake Breakfast
Klaus and I have finally made it.
We are greeted to the Lodge by hosts Mike and Jennie Reimer. August is the prime of their season and they are busy guiding the guests to the various sites. The lodge is perfectly placed on a spit of sub-arctic tundra surrounded on three sides by the Arctic waters of the Hudson Bay.
As we sat down in the dining room we could view the ocean waters from any of the three large picture windows. Mike has spotting scopes and binoculars handy to help spot the numerous water and shore birds of the area, and to scout for the whales off shore as they break the surface to spout.
The main attraction is the beluga whales which you can see by the thousands as they swim in and out of the North and South mouths of the fabulous Seal River. They come in with the rising tide and leave with the ebbing tide. Mostly they congregate in the mouth of the river where you can visit them in the clear waters using the rubber rafts and small outboard motors. Like shooting fish in a barrel – except you do the shooting with a camera. Mike arranges the rubber rafts for us to leave on a guided tour early the next morning.
At day break I stand on the watch tower over the lodge scanning the bay for water spouts. The rising sun saturates the backdrop sky a gumdrop orange.
As the whales blow the saltwater, back-lit by the sun, into a sparkling diamond spray we set off across the open water. Within 20 minutes we spot whales. These are large with huge black backs and a fan spray blow as they surface. We try to get near them, but they continue to swim off. They are definitely not beluga whales. My best guess is that they are the huge majestic bow whales. Bow whales were hunted commercially until only about 20 years ago and are still considered a rare sighting in this part of the Hudson Bay. We consider ourselves very lucky to have spotted them. We quit the chase and head to the mouth of the Seal River.
Long before we ever reach the Seal River, however, we can see the blow from a distance. With a sea-spray that reaches up to 90 cm the blow is very visible. We are already in the midst of belugas.
They are heading in the same direction and swimming with a purpose. We are sailing with a purpose. They are after the shallow river protein such as worms, crustaceans, shrimp, clams, snails, crabs, and small fish. Fish such as capelin, char, sand lance, smelt, flounder, herring, and cod, are usually taken in deeper water but can be caught much easier in the restricted river mouth. The total take of 25 kgs per day is not much by whale standards, but still a lot of lunch that eventually adds up to 1500 kg of adult male whale.
The beluga can stay submerged for 15-20 minutes and travel up to 2-3 km under water on one dive. That is one of the reasons the river mouth is such a great place to get close and see the whales. The space is restricted and the whales surface more often to spy hop their way around the smaller areas. In the estuaries they usually only stay submerged for only about 2 minutes, and make 1 or 2 surfacings before the longer 1-2 minutes dive.
Before long we are surrounded by whale pods cruising by. These pods are mostly small family groups, but the larger pods can reach up to 10,000 individuals. We can see them clearly, but somehow they are still cautious and do not come too close. Some of the mothers are followed closely, almost as if they are lashed to their backs, by awkward gray calves. Breeding in May means our calves were 3-4 months old. Occasionally we can hear their squawk-like calls. Like other whales, the beluga use echo-location to find their way around and to find food.
After an exhilarating several hours of watching the whales, we decide to stop for our own lunch. Mike and Quentin, his friend and acting guide, tied the two rubber rafts together so we can all share our meal and our experiences.
As we drifted along in this peaceful inner sea and quietly chatted with our fellow rafters, we noticed that the whales were finally starting to show some interest in us. I felt that when the two rubber rafts rubbed together they produced a squeak that the whale’s natural curiosity could not resist.
As an experiment, I tried to make the rafts squeak more frequently, but it took a special combination that could not be duplicated easily. I tried rubbing my Gortex pants on the rubber raft but that was too soft a squeak. Finally, Mike caught on to what I was doing and rubbed his own rubber rain slicker pants on the rubber of the raft. That was the magic we needed.
The squeak he produced drove the whales crazy with curiosity and within minutes we were surrounded by over 50 whales in different pods jostling us for a closer look at what was making that peculiar noise. We pulled out our cameras and were snapping incessantly as they spy hopped closer and closer. Mike put his hand under water and the friendly beluga were swimming so close he could feel the flow of their wake.
One particular mother and calf would not leave us alone. She came by time and time again with the little one close on her back. The little gray beluga seemed to love these frequent visits as he hopped up higher each time to look see. When we finally left hours later we had several pods follow us almost all the way home. They could not leave us alone. Nor did we want to leave them, but the day was coming to a close and we had to return to base.
Spending the day with these fellow creatures of curiosity was one the most incredible one on one, or animal family to human family, experiences I have ever had in the wild.
And at Seal River there is so much more nature to go one on one with.
From the Lodge you can take guided interpretive nature and culture walks where you can see caribou, bald eagles, Canada and Snow geese, ptarmigan, sik siks, and polar bears.
Along the interpretive walks you get to visit ancient Dene and Inuit camping sites, outlined by either the weathered tent poles the Dene used, or the tent circle of stones that the Inuit used to anchor their skin tents. The sites have been investigated by archeologist Virginia Petch and the walks have been mapped by GPS to make sure you can see the most with the least trouble. The walks are tough but worth it.
That evening Jeanne, Mike’s partner and wife, prepares us an incredible dinner of arctic char, garden peas, and homemade red river cereal bread. Dessert is a (locally picked) cranberry crumble and coffee.
After dinner the sun sets in a glorious blaze of orange to end a perfect day. I am to take an evening stroll on the runway’s high point of ground where the evening breeze will keep the bugs swept away. The night is perfectly clear and I can see the planets of Jupiter followed by Venus and a host of northern stars. The night air is cool and I fall asleep deep into the dead of the night.
The next morning the sky is blue blazon with the gold of sunrise and Jeanne serves us the most fantastic sight we have seen since leaving Nigeria 3 weeks ago. Canadian pancakes topped with butter, maple syrup, and as a special treat, blueberry compote made with fresh picked local blueberries. The ending to our trip could not have been any more special. We have flown over 10,000 miles to have breakfast in Canada. Perhaps next time you can join us.
To experience what John wrote about above check out our Birds, Bears & Belugas Adventure Safari. This one of a kind summer experience takes place at the Seal River Heritage Lodge during July and August. | <urn:uuid:c4da0401-2b32-408d-8bd2-1acad1706564> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.churchillwild.com/tag/beluga/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972658 | 1,704 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Watch out, LinkedIn. Facebook is getting in your space.
The social network announced Wednesday that it's launching an app to help users find jobs.
The app, as of Wednesday afternoon, included 1.7 million job listings, in areas including IT/Software Development, Science/Engineering/R&D and Security/Protective Services.
Users can search the jobs database by keyword and location.
The app includes job listings from Monster.com, Work4Labs, BranchOut and the DirectEmployers Association.
"This makes sense for Facebook," said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research. "They haven't done anything like this before, but it's a natural fit for them. People use their network already to find jobs."
According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 50% of employers use Facebook during the hiring process. Employers use social networking sites to screen the profiles of potential employees, checking posts, pictures and video for information ranging from how hard they might party to what they might have said online about previous employers.
Among social networks, LinkedIn is the one generally used by people looking for jobs or business contacts. Gottheil said the network does a solid job of connecting businesses and potential employees, and Facebook's move into this area will be a challenge.
LinkedIn has such a solid position among job hunters that it would take a lot for Facebook to unseat it, he added.
"Facebook's latest move is more of a public service, basically putting a job bank on Facebook, where users can see it," said Gottheil. "LinkedIn is all about jobs. That's the first place people look, and it's where they post almost entirely job-related information. Facebook has a long way to go before it begins to impinge on that space."
Facebook's jobs app is part of the company's Social Jobs Partnership initiative, which was formed in the fall of 2011 in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor and several other labor organizations.
Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin, on Google+ or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed. Her email address is firstname.lastname@example.org.
Read more about social media in Computerworld's Social Media Topic Center. | <urn:uuid:d370f95c-b78b-4ba8-8fb8-f3a6ac8c5913> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/internet/3411160/facebook-launches-app-help-users-find-jobs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947452 | 492 | 1.6875 | 2 |
British Economic Secretary to the Treasury and MP for Bromsgrove, Sajid Javid, is a self-made man. The son of a bus driver, he grew up attending British state schools and won a place to study economics and politics at Exeter University. 21 years ago, he became active in Britain’s Conservative Party. In 2010, Javid would be elected to the British Parliament as a member of the Conservative Party after working his way up the latter with his own hands. He is a secular Muslim who married a Christian woman and also happens to be a supporter of Israel.
As a member of the British Parliament, he recently addressed an audience of 700 people at the Conservative Friends of Israel business lunch in order to vocalize his support for the Jewish State. There, he stated, “If for some reason, I had to leave, with my young family, and I was told that I must go and live in the Middle East, where would I decide to go? […] There is only one place I could possibly go: Israel, the only nation in the Middle East that shares the same democratic values as Britain and the only nation in the Middle East where my family would feel the warm embrace of freedom and liberty.”
He continued, “In Britain, we are rightly very proud of our long history as a nation. But we are mere beginners compared to Israel, a nation that is governing itself in the same territory, under the same name, with the same religion, and the same language as it did 3,000 years ago. Now that’s what I call sustainability! Israel is a country about which almost everyone has a passionate opinion — an opinion which they’re not usually shy about sharing, especially when that opinion is based on total ignorance. If you want to have any chance of understanding the complexities of the Middle East, you can’t just read about Israel, you have to experience it.”
Javid was not shy about making these statements, despite the fact that many voices within the UK, especially within the British Muslim community, are radically opposed to the State of Israel. Both moderate Muslims who are not anti-Israel and Jews who attend British universities claim that anti-Israel intimidation is a major problem on British campuses. Not to mention that the British media is full of anti-Israel articles and the BDS movement is quite active in the UK. Nevertheless, in spite of all of this, Javid decided to be courageous and to speak out for the truth in regards to Israel.
This was not the first time that Javid has come out to support the Jewish people. This year, Javid also commemorated Holocaust victims on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day by signing the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in the House of Commons. According to Javid, “This is an important opportunity to remember the victims of genocide and to pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women who, having survived the Holocaust, work to educate young people about what they endured through the Holocaust Educational Trust’s outreach program. […] It is vitally important that we remember and learn from the appalling events of the Holocaust and that we continue to challenge all forms of bigotry.”
Source: United With Israel, By Rachel Avraham | <urn:uuid:57e5cc3a-ad6d-4274-a9b3-304edd78096a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.redinknews.org/muslim-member-of-british-parliament-supports-israel/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971697 | 668 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Hands on the wheel, please; state texting-while-driving ban coming soon
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 10:48 am
Colorado’s ban on texting while driving—courtesy of House Bill 1094—goes into effect next Tuesday, the first day of December.
So will Colorado drivers limit their texting at all?
It’s a law that will clearly rely on self-enforcement, reports the Online NewsHour with Jim Lehrer:
Enforcement of the statutes has proven challenging. Minnesota was one of the first states to pass a driving-while-texting law, which has now been in effect for more than a year. While the state doesn’t keep data on the number of citations issued for the specific offense, Lt. Matt Langer of the Minnesota State Patrol acknowledges it can be difficult to prove.
“We certainly aren’t ever going to eliminate all the texting that goes on behind the wheel because it’s such a prolific part of our culture now,” said Langer. “But the statute is clear and it does give our troopers great authority to enforce it when they witness this behavior.”
An officer witnessing the infraction, or a driver who volunteers the information after being pulled over, are two of the main ways the citations are issued. Troopers can request phone usage records, but Langer said that option is usually only used in cases of serious accidents causing property damage or injury.
In Douglas County, the News Press reports that the Sheriff’s Office intends to use “discretion” in attempting to determine whether or not a driver has been texting:
Police officials say enforcement of the restrictions can become sticky because it is difficult to prove in a court of law that someone was e-mailing instead of, for example, dialing a phone number. Portable global positioning systems and digital music players might also fall into a grey area. Officers will use their discretion and indicators, such as swerving, when deciding whether to pull someone over, said Cocha Heyden, spokeswoman for the [Douglas County] sheriff’s office.
The bill also bans all cell-phone use for drivers under 18 and other high-risk users.
First offenses carry a $50 fine. Subsequent offenders will be fined $100 per incident. | <urn:uuid:608ebb53-33fe-4ef4-88ed-ea1e8a02991a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://coloradoindependent.com/42920/hands-on-the-wheel-please-state-texting-while-driving-ban-coming-soon | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946843 | 481 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Did you know? This chart, showing which major companies own which organic food companies, is regularly updated by Philip H. Howard, assistant professor at Michigan State University. (larger version here). When I show this chart in a lecture, people are often very surprised. They were holding on to the notion that their favorite organic brand was just a mom and pop business located on a farm somewhere. It is surprising and yet logical that Cargill owns Lightlife tempeh.
There are pros and cons to the bigger guys eating up the smaller ones. The up side is that these huge food manufacturers know how to move and place product. More people have access to organic food as a result. However, there is more than one uncomfortable aspect. Worries about the integrity of the organic standards come to mind. Also, a lot of the products (not all) represented on this chart are canned, bottled and boxed. An organic oreo seems only a hair more healthful than a conventional one. Do you agree?
I’m starting to sound like Steve. Like a “Just my opinion” piece. But really what I want to know is your thoughts. Do you see this as a half full pacman or half empty one? | <urn:uuid:781680a3-123e-4a22-a7c8-0f89b5c62fbd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.seattlepi.com/cookusinterruptus/2010/04/28/organic-pacman/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98154 | 253 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams, The Early Years 1903å?1940
by Gary Giddins
Little, Brown, 728 pp., $30.00
In the postwar world I grew up in, Bing Crosby’s presence was pervasive without ever quite being central. It was clear that he had been around for a long time, and was not in any apparent danger of displacement. Nobody I knew had ever seen him in the flesh—he pretty much gave up live performance after the mid-Thirties—but pieces of him were scattered everywhere you looked or listened. Turn on the radio and you heard a steady rotation of his hits both new and old: “Easter Parade,” “Mexicali Rose,” “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby,” “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.”
Move over to the television and you saw him turning up as a guest on variety shows, joshing with Bob Hope, Louis Armstrong, the Andrews Sisters, and all his other legendary cronies. Go downtown to the movies and you saw him in a rerun of Road to Morocco if not in the trailer for the upcoming High Society. Duck into the diner and some half-crocked old-timer was dropping a quarter in the jukebox to hear “McNamara’s Band” again. Open a magazine and there he was with his trademark paraphernalia—hat, pipe, Hawaiian shirt, golf clubs—posing with wife and children, or promoting one product or another. Arrive at school the next morning and the teacher might be playing “White Christmas” on the battered phonograph so the kids could learn it for the holiday recital.
“White Christmas” was preeminently the recording of which every syllable, every intake of breath—the effortless modulation from comforting bass tones to affecting high notes, the deftness with which he negotiated the treacherous row of sibilants in the last line—was as familiar as the layout of the playground itself, as familiar as the living rooms in which he had been blending in since before any of us were born. We did fight back: no elementary school playground was without its Crosby imitators, and in their efforts we began to discern that the effect of Crosby’s singing was after all a matter of technique, which could be appropriated, rather than of the kind of raw emotional charge that can only be contemplated with awe. The emotions that Crosby elicited did not seem inherent so much in him as in his audience and their lives. He touched on the feeling latent in every common recurrence, Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, each season in its turn.
No one thought to ask where he had come from. He was there, like Mount Rushmore. How much he was there I had not fully gauged until, for the whole time I spent reading Gary Giddins’s biography, I was conscious of being wrapped in Bing’s voice. As if from within an internalized echo chamber that intimately known baritone sounded every refrain and every line of dialogue cited in the text. The button had been there, waiting only to be pushed to reveal a long-hidden disembodied Bing, a ghost continuing to melodize somewhere just below the level of conscious hearing. Yet what might that voice convey? It did not appear to dredge up either my own emotions or, indeed, those of the singer. More than anything, from this remote vantage point, Bing Crosby’s voice seemed like the sonic balm that had held together some of the parts of a world. It had created an impression—an illusion, perhaps—of shared feeling, of relaxed good humor, of a benevolence and tolerance that could almost be taken for granted.
This wasn’t music for serious solitary listening; there were no depths to plumb, no complexities to unravel, no private revelations. But it was fine for aunts and cousins and grandparents, for picnics and bus rides and church socials, for the undemonstrative interludes of good-natured calm that had once, in what seemed like another incarnation, actually seemed like the characteristic emotional climate of a certain backyard America. The admiration expressed for him by those who had been through a depression and a war with him was broad and deep. As Gary Giddins writes, “Bing’s naturalness made him credible to all…. He was discreet and steady. He was family.” To be near the center of the phenomenon, like Crosby’s troubled son Gary, was to experience steady streams of people “kneeling in front of me to tell me what a wonderful man he was and what a thrill it must be to be his son, and how they loved him so much, and he had done so much for them, and his singing was so great, and it went on and on and on, the way people spoke about God.”
In the course of time I encountered, with considerable surprise, earlier phases of Bing: the tricksterish, self-mocking “Bing Crosby” he played in the 1932 movie The Big Broadcast, the jaunty jazz singer jamming with Bix Beiderbecke or Joe Venuti on early recordings like “That’s My Weakness Now” and “Some of These Days.” At the time of these encounters—this was the Sixties—it seemed a typical instance of an industrially confected image rubbing out all traces of a more youthful, more authentic performer. A cautionary tale might be made of it, showing how a temperament of carefree, almost insolent incandescence—a raffish talent at home in the worlds of jazz and vaudeville—could be transmuted over time, with a good deal of corporate support, into the blandly beneficent Father O’Malley of Going My Way and The Bells of St. Mary’s.
But there was not much occasion to think about Bing Crosby in the Sixties, and afterward there was scarcely any occasion at all. After his death on a golf course in Spain in 1977, once the predictable flurry of record sales subsided, Crosby faded with startling suddenness from a culture he had once dominated. The ease with which his image was tarnished by a couple of unsympathetic biographies (particularly the one by Gary Crosby, who described harsh corporal punishment and a glacial emotional distance between Bing and his children) illustrated how vulnerable that reputation had already become.
For one thing, pretty much all of Crosby’s recorded output—the records with Paul Whiteman, the early movie songs like “Love Thy Neighbor” and “I’m an Old Cowhand,” the lively cuts from the late Thirties like “Bob White” and “Don’t Be That Way” and “Small Fry”—had been drowned out by the perennials from “White Christmas” and “Silver Bells” on down. The iconic Crosby had succeeded in hiding the range of his own work, and when that icon became suspect—when that singular combination of talents and virtues began to seem too good to be anything but a publicity job—any interest in exploring the work tended to evaporate. There was so much else to listen to, to focus on: What was the appeal of an artist neither rebellious nor self-destructive, but rather canny, pragmatic, conciliatory, a man who had reaped the profits of consensus, the embodiment of the middle of the road?
He began to become invisible in somewhat the same way that Longfellow—to whose once universal acceptance Crosby’s might be likened—became invisible after the triumph of modernist poetics. It should not have been surprising, when the moment of millennial assessments came around, to find Crosby largely missing from the roll call of twentieth-century pop music. A conclave of New York Times critics found room, in one such tabulation of the century’s Top Twenty-Five, for Caruso and Jolson at one end and the Ramones and Nirvana at the other, but could not even squeeze Bing—and here was real humiliation—into a list of twenty-five runners-up which included Kraftwerk, Nine Inch Nails, and the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever.
As a result of this period of cultural amnesia, Crosby’s career is ripe for the reconsideration that Gary Giddins accords it in the first volume of his extremely ambitious biography. He has set out not only to reconstruct Crosby’s career in detail—a career that Giddins prizes above all for a musical achievement he considers more significant, and more modern, than usually acknowledged—but to use it as an occasion to map the emergence of the musical-industrial complex we now know as the modern entertainment business. Crosby is exactly the right protagonist for such an undertaking, in that he benefited more than anyone else from the convergence, in the late Twenties, of electronic recording, radio, and talking pictures. What he made of his opportunities was extraordinary, as Giddins notes in a tallying of statistics that seems designed to allay any skepticism about Crosby’s stature: he was responsible for more studio recordings than any other singer in history, the most popular record ever made, the most records charted (an astonishing 396, as compared with 209 for Sinatra and a mere 68 for the Beatles), of which 38 were number-one hits, another record. In addition, he was the top-ranking movie star every year from 1944 to 1948, and was a radio star from 1931 to 1962, appearing on roughly four thousand broadcasts.
The statistics set the tone for what is very much an outward study of Crosby’s career: not a description of his inner life—that must be counted among the unwritable books—but a graph of his doings and their intersection with a busy and rapidly evolving world of show biz folk. It could hardly be otherwise. Crosby guarded his privacy so well that very little of it gets into Giddins’s biography. That reserve—which was described by some as a form of self-protection, by others as icy detachment—establishes the mysterious bass pattern under the busy, disciplined, consistently successful melody line of a life that Crosby himself summed up in the title of his 1953 memoir: Call Me Lucky.
For whatever reason, Crosby succeeded, once he had attained the stardom he never lost during his lifetime, in constructing a private world where he could hide in plain sight. He was at once the most publicized and, as he wanted it, the least known of persons. The household Crosby of radio and fan magazines was a kind of decoy distracting attention from the person who remained a cipher even to most of the people he worked with. (Giddins suggests that his withdrawal may have been connected with the death of the guitarist Eddie Lang, his closest friend; Lang died in 1933 following a tonsillectomy that Crosby had recommended, and the trauma was compounded when Crosby was mobbed at the funeral by unruly fans who overturned pews to get close to him.)
His colleagues were in awe of his professionalism—his memory, his musical precision, his ability to learn a song after a couple of hearings—and yet puzzled by his persistent emotional distance. Few ventured to guess what really lay beneath that perfect surface: “He was a very private person, at least in the studio,” according to his announcer Ken Roberts. “He would come in and do his job. He was not temperamental at all, easy to work with, but as soon as he was finished it was good-bye.” It is astonishing to learn that he had no personal friendship whatever with the Andrews Sisters, for instance, with whom he made four dozen records brimming over with a convincing imitation of exuberant bonhomie. The more you learn about Crosby, the more you don’t learn about the other side of that easy-going, open disposition. | <urn:uuid:5b182ee4-7b07-46d2-81f0-86efbce6df48> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2001/mar/08/all-the-luck-in-the-world/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981484 | 2,521 | 1.625 | 2 |
Today's arrivals mark the first X-bow ships to call in Halifax. The patented hull form is said to be better at sea keeping and more fuel efficient than conventional ship's bows, and dozens of X-bow type ships have been built for offshore supply and seismic work, since it was developed. The X-bow form is patented and the name is a registered trade mark of the Ulstein group, who developed the original, but others have built similar concepts, so the type is now generally referred to as an "inverted bow" since the most forward part of the ship's bow is at the waterline.The first ship with an X or axe bow was built in 2006 for Bourbon Offshore.
As previously reported here, Ocean Odyssey and Riverton are already in port.[see also Tugfax]
First arrival this morning was Geco Tau owned by Volstad Offshore AS of Aalesund, Norway. Built in 1982 by Sovikens, it has been on charter to WesternGeco since 2004, but worked for the predecessor Geco since it was built.
Next in was the novel X-bow WG Magellan. Built in 2009 in Vigo, Spain by Barreras, it measures 6922 gross tons. As one of the prime vessels in the exploration, it can tow 12 streamers up to 10 km long.The ship is one of six Ulstein SX124 class designs built for WesternGeco ( two in Spain).
Expected later today, its sister WG Cook dates from 2010 and was built by Drydocks World in Dubai.It measures 6599 gross tons.It was the fourth Ulstein SX124 designed boats delivered by the same shipyard and last of six of the class for WesternGeco.
Also due are two ships from Superport Marine in Port Hawskbury. Strait Explorer and Strait
The standby vessel Atlantic Tern (ex Atlantic Birch II) will be joining the team, but will not be coming in to Halifax. | <urn:uuid:5d4468d8-67c9-4321-9a68-b5483eb39dd1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shipfax.blogspot.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965355 | 405 | 1.703125 | 2 |
In 1923, a young but generous parish built a beautiful new church building on Fourth and Beech Streets. The new church was blessed with a Pontifical Mass, a first in the state of Arkansas. It was designed and built under the supervision of Lambert deKonning, and modeled on the Church of the Most Holy Trinity at the top of the Spanish steps in Rome. It is graced with a beautiful altar of Carrara marble and classic statues. There are four large, round stained glass windows, depicting the seven sacraments, the birth of Christ, the birth of St. John the Baptist, and St. Gregory the Great. The smaller stained glass windows along the sides of the church follow the lives of Jesus and Mary. | <urn:uuid:a71094d1-0854-4c2e-aac6-a05805ce5b5a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=584929607bce0e196e17acc67a334d25&prevstart=0&hl=da&ct=lc | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956517 | 149 | 1.5 | 2 |
TENNESSEE EDITORIAL FORUM
By Jan Snider
She looked so tiny holding the calloused hand of her young uncle; just five years old and excited about starting kindergarten. But as she shuffled down the polished floors of the church hallway toward our immigration legal clinic, there was worry in her big brown eyes.
She didn’t know when she would see her daddy again. He was picked up for a broken tail light and locked in detention, on track for removal from the U.S. because he was undocumented. Her mother, a U.S. citizen, had long ago abandoned the family. Her father was going to be deported and she was, most likely, going to be placed in state custody.
Suddenly, thoughts of new school shoes and fresh crayons were replaced with fear and uncertainty. These are the same feelings that so many of our clients at Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors face every day. When Immigration and Customs Enforcement gave local law enforcement the power to act as federal immigration agents, a community began to feel hunted. A policy known as 287(g) has forced them into the shadows.
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall persuaded the citizenry of Nashville in 2007 that 287(g) would make us a safer community by aiding in the deportation of “criminal illegal aliens:” drug dealers, thieves, and violent individuals. But, as it unfolded, 80 percent of those processed for deportation were originally arrested for minor violations. Something as simple as fishing without a license or failure to use a turn signal suddenly resulted in deportations that ripped families apart. What was intended to be a policy to protect our citizenry from the most violent criminals has turned it into a home-grown remedy for our nation’s broken immigration laws.
Just this past month, six communities throughout the nation acknowledged the disastrous impact of 287(g) and revoked their agreements. Despite the shifting momentum, Nashville’s leadership quashed debate about this issue and voted to continue the program.
When we formed Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors nearly two years ago, our mandate was clear. As a largely volunteer-run organization with its roots in the United Methodist Church, we provide free high-quality immigration legal services to the poorest of the poor.
When there’s a remedy, we apply it; when there’s no path to legalization we explain it; when there’s injustice, we expose it.
While our current immigration laws are convoluted and dysfunctional, the 287(g) agreement catapults our legal system to the point of actually harming people. No decent person approves of mistreating others, but for people like me, who have taken the name “Christian,” there is a stronger imperative.
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells his followers that on the day he returns, one of the questions he will ask is whether we have been hospitable to “the stranger,” which is translated as “the immigrant.” If we have been unkind, inhumane, or inhospitable, even to the immigrant that we believed deserved kindness the least, it will be as if we did it to Jesus personally.
We hear the stories of why these immigrants have come to live with us. They have often escaped persecution and abuse, or arrived here as a result of human trafficking, or fled numbing poverty. These situations are not black and white, but many shades of gray. One thing is clear: the policy of 287(g) has become a perverted version of its original intent.
As Nashville celebrates yet another year of being named the “friendliest city,” our immigrant brothers and sisters tremble in fear of being singled out for a minor infraction that should be subject to a fine but could result in their family being torn apart.
As a Christian and an advocate for social justice, I pray that no more children will suffer the fear and pain that I witnessed in the eyes of that five year old. I pray that someday our community will affirm that while we must uphold the law, we must also uphold the values of human dignity and respect for family integrity.
Snider is chair of Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors, a nonprofit organization that provides free immigration legal services, education and advocacy.
Copyright (C) 2009 by the Tennessee Editorial Forum. 11/09 | <urn:uuid:0eb88049-4442-4c29-89f1-ec9359ce98de> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://amforumbacklog.blogspot.com/2009/11/community-trembles-in-fear.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963849 | 890 | 1.523438 | 2 |
by Ben Sobieck, online editor
A law signed earlier this month by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker repeals restrictions that used to require firearms and bows to be cased while inside vehicles. It is now in effect throughout the entire state.
The law comes with some caveats, as detailed here on the Wisconsin Legislature’s website:
* Firearms must be unloaded (exception for handguns)
* The bow does not have an arrow nocked
* Crossbows must be unloaded
* Firearms may be loaded in a motor vehicle provided it is not moving
It should be noted that hunting from a motor vehicle is still prohibited. However, hunting from a "stationary nonmotorized vehicle that is not attached to a motor vehicle" is allowed. An example would be a trailer.
The law does not make exceptions for all-terrain vehicles. They are governed as motor vehicles the same way as trucks, SUVs and cars.
What do you think of these new measures? Leave a comment below. | <urn:uuid:30aba62c-cc6e-429f-a054-61397aa1d7e1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/articles/the-rub-line/wisconsin-firearms-bows-crossbows-may-be-uncased-in-vehicles | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959884 | 207 | 1.625 | 2 |
With union-negotiated confidentiality agreements and glowing recommendations from administrators, perpetrators are abetted to leave without ever being reported to law enforcement and with their sanitized teaching credentials intact. They move on with an apparently clean background to the next unsuspecting school, where they are likely to abuse again. In fact, "the typical pedophile employed in our schools makes his or her way through three school-employment settings before being stopped."
The time has come to take a stand. No more cover-ups or excuses. We cannot let the problem of child sexual abuse in schools fade from public consciousness without passing critical reforms that will better protect our children.
Fortunately, there are a number of state and federal proposals on the table aiming to do just that. In December, U.S. Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., reintroduced the Jeremy Bell Act, which would penalize school employers who make interstate transfers of employees who are sex offenders. The bill also addresses sexual-conduct reporting standards and would require schools to submit instances of sexual misconduct to a national clearinghouse that other schools can access. In short, it would prohibit the aiding and abetting of child predators in our nation's schools — a reform that will literally save lives.
This legislation could not come soon enough. Overall, an estimated 1 in 10 students will be the victim of educator sexual misconduct during their school career, a ratio that equals about 4.5 million current K-12 students. Additionally, at least a quarter of all U.S. school districts have reportedly dealt with a case of sexual abuse over the last decade.
And the epidemic continues to grow. In February and March alone, more than 30 teachers were removed from Los Angeles schools for alleged sexual misconduct — the most infamous of whom was Mark Berdnt, an alleged pedophile who remained in the classroom nearly 20 years since the first complaints were lodged against him. Six months before his arrest, he was given a $40,000 retirement package instead of being reported to the proper authorities.
On the other coast, a slew of sexual-misconduct cases in New York City have come to light in recent months, the most notorious of which is that of an 88-year-old Horace Mann teacher who admitted his sexual encounters with students as young as 14. Other instances include a Brooklyn gym teacher accused of groping a student, a Bronx high school substitute teacher accused of forcible touching and an aide in Brooklyn accused of making child-pornography videos on school grounds.
The recent slew of sexual-abuse headlines must serve as more than cautionary tales — they must drive us toward true reform. It starts with the passage of the federal Jeremy Bell Act along with state legislation like Pennsylvania's SESAME Act. We must contact our lawmakers and continue to speak out until these measures become law.
The bottom line is that no child should be robbed of his or her innocence by an adult. We as a society must do everything in our power to ensure that child predators never make their way into a classroom and never go unpunished when they have committed the unconscionable offense of child sexual abuse.
Terri Miller is president of SESAME Inc. ("Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct and Exploitation"). | <urn:uuid:9629ecbc-1f90-4d04-832f-b1cf50d6c3f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-17/news/32698988_1_sexual-misconduct-sexual-abuse-child-predators | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974868 | 661 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Wait... not so fast!
In some areas it has apparently become not only frowned upon to cheer loudly and proudly for Junior or Junior-ette at graduation - it is an actual crime!
In Florence, South Carolina, mother Shannon Cooper was arrested for disorderly conduct because she cheered at her daughter's graduation ceremony. Parents had been warned by school officials that they would be thrown out of the ceremony being held at Florence Civic Center if they cheered for the graduates. Cooper did it anyway. In a news interview she stated, "I got up and I said 'yay my baby made it! Yes!' Just a regular cheer."
Police didn't see it that way. Cooper was put in handcuffs and led outside to a waiting police van. She says she was then kept in jail for several hours until she could pay the $225 fine.
In Ohio, it's not the parents that pay for being over-enthusiastic but the high school graduate himself. Thanks to his family's exuberance, Anthony Cornist did not receive his diploma upon graduating from Mt. Healthy Senior High School. Instead he received a letter from the principal stating that due to the "excessive cheering during the ceremony" they would require 20 hours of community service (to be completed by Anthony, or to be split between Anthony and the offending family members) before he could receive his diploma.
Really? Is this what it's come to? Parents are no longer allowed to cheer and celebrate as their offspring finally cross that stage. They can be arrested, or sentenced to community service for letting the world know how excited they are to see this day finally come. Anyone who has raised a child knows how much joy and pride wells up inside you as that child finally passes that milestone of life called High School Graduation. It's a shame that schools feel obliged to punish them, or the student, for demonstrating those feelings.
Sure, sometimes it's a little over the top. It can be loud. It can be raucous. But if after 17 or 18 years of sleepless nights, worry, and who knows how many dollars - can't a parent can't embarrass their child a little bit? I think it's an earned right!
Despite what this blogger views as over reactions by school officials to some well intentioned, joyous displays of pride and excitement, perhaps those parents and students are still the fortunate ones. At least those parents were able to hear their son or daughter's name called, and see them walk across the stage. In Haywood County, North Carolina, some parents didn't get that experience.
When a joint graduation for Haywood Central High and the
So, the next time you attend a graduation (if you are lucky enough to get inside and be given a seat) - remember to sit quietly, with your hands in your lap. And maybe, just maybe, the school will allow a nice polite golf clap at the end of the ceremony.
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Over at today’s Publishing Perspectives, there’s an interesting piece by translator Burton Pike about “Cultural Homogeneity and the Future of Literary Translation.” This essay was written in preparation for a German Book Office panel discussion, and as such, it focuses more on bringing up issues and asking provocative questions—ones that will fit in well with the class I’m teaching this semester, and would be fun to reflect on and respond to . . . But for now, here’s just a few bits that I found interesting (really, you should just read the whole article):
I used to tell my students in translation courses that in preparing to translate a writer they could never know enough about the writer’s culture. But looking at the writing coming out of Europe now, I’m not so sure. Now I ask myself: What other culture? Or, what other culture? A creeping homogenization is developing in prose fiction, a kind of generic international content and style that transcends national borders. A broad horizontal culture seems to be replacing vertical national cultures. [. . .]
American scholars and students who discuss French or German philosophers or continental European theory frequently see no need to consult foreign sources in the original language, or to take into account what circumstances and cultural traditions in the original language might lie behind them: a colleague of mine once described contemporary English departments as “the monolingual in pursuit of the multicultural.”
In an interview in Austria Kultur, the cultural magazine published by the Austrian government, the writer Jakob Lind describes himself as “a Viennese-born Dutchman turned Israeli with an Austrian passport, Eastern European parents.” Lind lives in England, writes in German. If I translate him, what culture am I translating?
I’m not sure what direction this took in the panel discussion, but what’s always interested me (mostly because of the publishing angle), is the way that authors around the world ape current trends in Anglo-American fiction in hopes of getting their work translated into English. That sounds a bit dismissive and damning, but I remember talking with editors in Germany a dozen years ago and having someone remark, “[Germans] used to write those experimental novels, now we write like Americans!” Which totally bummed me out. The retaining of something unique about a country’s “book culture” is something I think is extremely important. And in some ways, it’s the responsibility of (certain) publishers to help preserve this by publishing and promoting works that are “uniquely French” (if there is such a thing), or at least not “from France, but just like Freedom!” Otherwise, what’s the point?
Mo Yan accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature the other day, giving this acceptance speech:
In the fall of 1984 I was accepted into the Literature Department of the PLA Art Academy, where, under the guidance of my revered mentor, the renowned writer Xu Huaizhong, I wrote a series of stories and novellas, including: “Autumn Floods,” “Dry River,” “The Transparent Carrot,” and “Red Sorghum.” Northeast Gaomi Township made its first appearance in “Autumn Floods,” and from that moment on, like a wandering peasant who finds his own piece of land, this literary vagabond found a place he could call his own. I must say that in the course of creating my literary domain, Northeast Gaomi Township, I was greatly inspired by the American novelist William Faulkner and the Columbian Gabriel García Márquez. I had not read either of them extensively, but was encouraged by the bold, unrestrained way they created new territory in writing, and learned from them that a writer must have a place that belongs to him alone. Humility and compromise are ideal in one’s daily life, but in literary creation, supreme self-confidence and the need to follow one’s own instincts are essential. For two years I followed in the footsteps of these two masters before realizing that I had to escape their influence; this is how I characterized that decision in an essay: They were a pair of blazing furnaces, I was a block of ice. If I got too close to them, I would dissolve into a cloud of steam. In my understanding, one writer influences another when they enjoy a profound spiritual kinship, what is often referred to as “hearts beating in unison.” That explains why, though I had read little of their work, a few pages were sufficient for me to comprehend what they were doing and how they were doing it, which led to my understanding of what I should do and how I should do it.
What I should do was simplicity itself: Write my own stories in my own way. My way was that of the marketplace storyteller, with which I was so familiar, the way my grandfather and my grandmother and other village old-timers told stories. In all candor, I never gave a thought to audience when I was telling my stories; perhaps my audience was made up of people like my mother, and perhaps it was only me. The early stories were narrations of my personal experience: the boy who received a whipping in “Dry River,” for instance, or the boy who never spoke in “The Transparent Carrot.” I had actually done something bad enough to receive a whipping from my father, and I had actually worked the bellows for a blacksmith on a bridge site. Naturally, personal experience cannot be turned into fiction exactly as it happened, no matter how unique that might be. Fiction has to be fictional, has to be imaginative. To many of my friends, “The Transparent Carrot” is my very best story; I have no opinion one way or the other. What I can say is, “The Transparent Carrot” is more symbolic and more profoundly meaningful than any other story I’ve written. That dark-skinned boy with the superhuman ability to suffer and a superhuman degree of sensitivity represents the soul of my entire fictional output. Not one of all the fictional characters I’ve created since then is as close to my soul as he is. Or put a different way, among all the characters a writer creates, there is always one that stands above all the others. For me, that laconic boy is the one. Though he says nothing, he leads the way for all the others, in all their variety, performing freely on the Northeast Gaomi Township stage. [. . .]
My greatest challenges come with writing novels that deal with social realities, such as The Garlic Ballads, not because I’m afraid of being openly critical of the darker aspects of society, but because heated emotions and anger allow politics to suppress literature and transform a novel into reportage of a social event. As a member of society, a novelist is entitled to his own stance and viewpoint; but when he is writing he must take a humanistic stance, and write accordingly. Only then can literature not just originate in events, but transcend them, not just show concern for politics but be greater than politics.
Possibly because I’ve lived so much of my life in difficult circumstances, I think I have a more profound understanding of life. I know what real courage is, and I understand true compassion. I know that nebulous terrain exists in the hearts and minds of every person, terrain that cannot be adequately characterized in simple terms of right and wrong or good and bad, and this vast territory is where a writer gives free rein to his talent. So long as the work correctly and vividly describes this nebulous, massively contradictory terrain, it will inevitably transcend politics and be endowed with literary excellence.
Prattling on and on about my own work must be annoying, but my life and works are inextricably linked, so if I don’t talk about my work, I don’t know what else to say. I hope you are in a forgiving mood.
The stuff about his writing, etc., is decent enough, but these few paragraphs towards the end are a bit more intriguing:
The announcement of my Nobel Prize has led to controversy. At first I thought I was the target of the disputes, but over time I’ve come to realize that the real target was a person who had nothing to do with me. Like someone watching a play in a theater, I observed the performances around me. I saw the winner of the prize both garlanded with flowers and besieged by stone-throwers and mudslingers. I was afraid he would succumb to the assault, but he emerged from the garlands of flowers and the stones, a smile on his face; he wiped away mud and grime, stood calmly off to the side, and said to the crowd:
For a writer, the best way to speak is by writing. You will find everything I need to say in my works. Speech is carried off by the wind; the written word can never be obliterated. I would like you to find the patience to read my books. I cannot force you to do that, and even if you do, I do not expect your opinion of me to change. No writer has yet appeared, anywhere in the world, who is liked by all his readers; that is especially true during times like these. [. . .]
I am a storyteller.
Telling stories earned me the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Many interesting things have happened to me in the wake of winning the prize, and they have convinced me that truth and justice are alive and well.
So I will continue telling my stories in the days to come.
As is detailed in today’s issue of Publishing Perspectives, the main controversy regarding Mo Yan and the Nobel is his take on the censorship imposed by the Chinese Government. One of the most outspoken critics of Mo Yan is fellow Nobel Prize winner Herta Müller, who said it was a “catastrophe” that Mo Yan received the award. From Publishing Perspectives:
Müller went on to criticize Mo for hand-copying a Mao Zedong speech, in which the deceased ruler stated that all art and culture should serve the Communist government, and for doing little to help the plight of jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.
OK, so onto that Liu Xiaobo bit. This article from The Guardian really brings home this issue:
This year’s Nobel prize in literature winner, Mo Yan, who has been criticised for his membership in China’s Communist party and reluctance to speak out against the country’s government, has defended censorship as something as necessary as airport security checks.
He also suggested he won’t join an appeal calling for the release of the jailed 2010 Peace prize laureate, Liu Xiaobo, a fellow writer and compatriot. [. . .]
This year’s Nobel prize in literature winner, Mo Yan, who has been criticised for his membership in China’s Communist party and reluctance to speak out against the country’s government, has defended censorship as something as necessary as airport security checks.
He also suggested he won’t join an appeal calling for the release of the jailed 2010 Peace prize laureate, Liu Xiaobo, a fellow writer and compatriot.
Obviously this is something that doesn’t sit well with most Western liberal, free-speech loving folks. Again, Publishing Perspectives puts this best:
Censorship appears to be simply indefensible, but like many things between East and West, there may be a disconnect. The Chinese themselves prevaricate on the issue, sometimes tolerating dissent so long as it stays on the fringes and does not disturb the masses. When it comes to book publishing in China, the government controls access to ISBNs, printing, distribution…the entire publishing production chain. Independent publishing may be nascent, but it is hardly robust or much of an alternative. Most Chinese authors who wish to publicly criticize the country simply leave (if they can), which in turn opens them up to criticism that they have lost touch about the country and have no authority on which to comment about it. Those who stay, like Mo Yan, make compromises.
Publicly, the Chinese Communist Party says censorship is necessary to govern a sprawling nation. But what goes unsaid is that censorship is also a hammer, one which enables them to beat down opposition and sustain power. After all, knowledge is power and if you control the means of access to knowledge, you control the power. Plain and simple.
So, yeah. What’s curious though is this review of Pow! in which Andrea Lingenfelter complicates the view that Mo Yan is a government stooge:
If this book isn’t a social and political critique, I don’t know what is. The narrator is a child in a man’s body, sexually frustrated, powerless, and poor. Who’s on top in this society? Corrupt village heads and Party officials with their Audi A6s and Remy Martin cognac. The peasants get rich feeding the unseemly appetites of China’s new urban bourgeoisie with bogus and sometimes toxic products, while the countryside itself turns into an abattoir. This is the Reform Era and these are the Party bosses who have guided it. In case we miss the point, the narrator states: “Ugly, snot-nosed, grime-covered children, who are kicked about like mangy dogs” are more likely than attractive and happy children to grow up to be “thugs, armed robbers, high officials or senior military officers.” If China’s leaders and low-lifes are drawn from the same pool, what hope is there?
In the end, hopefully the art transcends the artist? I mean, I do know a lot of artists I’d rather not know, especially since it reflects on their work. And I’m personally still interested in reading more of his works—especially Pow!. That said, this is a blow to the credibility of the Swedish Academy (in my opinion), which is definitely not what it needs . . .
In honor of his “eloquent and fearless battle against political repression,” the German Publishers and Booksellers Association has awarded its prestigious 2012 Peace Prize to Chinese dissident writer Liao Yiwu, who walked out on his native country and landed in Germany a year and a half ago to pursue what he calls “freedom to write and publish.”
“In his prose and poetry, Liao Yiwu erects an evocative literary monument to those people living on the margins of Chinese society,” says the statement issued by the association’s board of trustees. “The author, who has experienced first-hand the effects of prison, torture and repression, is an unwavering chronicler and observer who bears witness on behalf of the outcasts of modern China.”
A native of Sichuan, China, Liao Yiwu is a poet, musician, novelist and documentarian. He has authored Corpse Walker, God is Red, For a Song and A Hundred Songs and Bullets and Opium, all of which have been translated into multiple languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Swedish and Polish.
In the Corpse Walker, for which the Peace Prize was given, Liao has recorded his interviews with 27 Chinese living at the bottom rungs of society, from a grave robber and a leper, to a professional mourner paid to wail at funerals, and a human trafficker. Liao’s research took 11 years, and his final product is a stunning series of portraits of a generation and class of individuals ignored in history books and unacknowledged in the accounts of the Communist China.
And congrats by proxy to Wen Huang, who both wrote this piece for Publishing Perspectives, and translated The Corpse Walker into English.
Our pals over at Publishing Perspectives have an interesting couple of pieces up this morning on the fantastic Russian writer Master Chen (the penname of Dmitry Kosyrev): one is an interview with the author, and the other about a Kickstarter campaign started by Russian Life Magazine to fund the translation and publication of Master Chen’s Silk Road Trilogy: The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas, The Pet Foal of the House of Maniakh, and The Pet Monkey of the House of Tang.
Master Chen was at a bunch of Read Russia events at BEA, and it was a pleasure to hear him speak about his work. There are a vast number of fascinating Russian writers who have yet to have any of their works translated into English, Master Chen among them, who blow my mind with the fantastic creativity of their ideas and the originality of their writing styles. If you think you know a lot about Russian literature because you’re fond of the classics, you would be pleasantly surprised at how much diversity there is in the Russian literary world today.
In the interview with Daniel Kalder on Publishing Perspectives, Master Chen discusses his style as a mixture of thriller and high literature, a unique Russian form of genre writing, as popularized by Boris Akunin:
Where do you fit on the genre spectrum?
Well, if you can imagine a cocktail of James Clavell and Robert Silverberg shaken with a bit of Salman Rushdie and sprinkled with Somerset Maugham, that’s about where I belong. Christie and Simenon have nothing to do with me, since I’m not sure I write detective novels as such. Sometimes I think that I write music, only problem is I never learned how to write it down, so I use letters.
His work features prominently Asian themes and stories, Master Chen’s area of expertise, like those that make up the Silk Road Trilogy:
Your story in the Akashic “Moscow Noir” anthology was set in contemporary Moscow, but hinted at the Soviet past. Usually however you set your stories in the East. Is there a reason why you avoid the Soviet Union and Russia?
Fear of competition, probably. I love being a monopolist. Nobody among Russian writers knows the things I know, so why should I dump my advantage, especially in the Asian Age that is already here?
There is one more thing which I felt when I was working on my latest novel The Wine Taster which, after all this time, is about Russia (but begins in Germany and ends in Spain). Even though it is a clear case of monopoly again, since no Russian writer knows about wine as much as I do, I still felt that I did not quite like writing about Russia, it’s kind of a constraining task for me, locking myself within Russian borders. Anyway, look at how many “real” Russian writers there are, still nagging at it: hopeless country, hopeless people, things are so bad…They were doing it in the 19th century, they’re still doing it. You don’t need me if you buy their depressive lamentations. I’d rather tell my readers: the world is dazzling, it offers you so much fun, stop banging you head against the same old wall, there are so many things to learn and to do. And by the way, if you know the world, then maybe you will start seeing your own country in a different way.
The idea of Kickstarter campaigns to fund translations is brilliant—anything to see more translations released in English is a good idea—and I think we will see many more crowd-funded projects from independent and small presses (and authors, of course, looking to self-publish) in the future, the same way many musicians and record labels are using Kickstarter to to fund music video shoots, recording sessions, and album releases. The upside for the creator is that you are in direct communication with your audience, something the publishing world could only stand to improve upon, and the upside for the audience is that they feel like they have a direct impact on the creation of a product they want to see; it’s a novel take on the market economy, and I hope to see more worthwhile projects funded any way possible.
Support the project to translate Master Chen into English, head over to the Silk Road Trilogy’s Kickstarter page and donate what you can, and think about any other foreign authors deserving of translation campaigns on Kickstarter, then let us know your thoughts!
Right now I should be getting on a plane in Cape Town to head back home after the 29th International Publishers Congress. UNFORTUNATELY, the
jags employees at Delta’s ticket counter in Atlanta refused to let me board the plane since my passport doesn’t contain a complete blank page. OK, I get it, I get in, countries have laws and those laws must be obeyed, but eff you ATL airport for not having extra visa pages to stick into my passport, and eff you South Africa for being so strict (supposedly Delta gets fine $10,000 for every passenger arriving there without a blank passport page).
So after spending 13 hours flying to and from Atlanta (WHERE THEY LOST MY BAG), I came back home to Rochester and wrote this speech which Jens Bammel, Secretary General of the International Publishers Association, read on my behalf.
It’s really cool that he was able to do this—I felt horrible for having to miss the conference—and also cool that Ed Nawotka ran it in Publishing Perspectives. You can read the whole thing at the link above, but here’s a bit from the end, where I tried to tie everything together into some points of advice for everyone:
The Long Term Is the Only Race Worth Winning
We have entered a confusing age in the evolution of books and publishing. After ages of conglomerations conglomerating and other inward mingling trends (e.g., B&N making the same books available everywhere in the country, like McDonalds hamburgers), the world has suddenly fragmented. Certain books are only available on Amazon, there are 10,000 for every sub-genre of a sub-genre, and readers live everywhere, accessing it all in a plethora of ways.
This is daunting to some, exciting to others. For a small press looking to do books that fit a particular niche (a la Open Letter), this is a fantastic situation. Unlike years past when we fought for space in the same five review outlets and tried to convince the same booksellers to handsell our books, we can now go directly to our customers, and can cultivate an audience in ways that never existed before.
So, to sum this all up into one list of tips and anecdotes, here are some thoughts on how authors, translators, agents, and publishers can take advantage of this situation:
Agents: Quit screwing around with e-book rights. I know that for some, this is the touchiest of touchy subjects, but when an agent doesn’t sell us the e-book rights to a translation we’re publishing, I want to condemn them to a dark circle of hell. Audiences are diverse, readers like to read in all formats, why would anyone stop the momentum a publisher might have with a book in the hopes you can sell these later to some larger company? This is ridiculous and my experiences with Zone and Children in Reindeer Woods—which sold out quickly and were unavailable while we reprinted and sat around NOT having the e-book rights—point out the stupidity of this agenting policy.
Translators: Community is your greatest hope. Most everyone in the book industry is whiny. And underpaid. And underappreciated. Translators more than most. But in a world in which expertise exists outside of the conventional outlets (newspapers, magazines, radio shows), translators can be extremely valuable in cultivating a community of readers interested in a particular book/set of books. Make all the connections you can—books aren’t sold through reviews or advertisements anymore, they’re sold when one reader talks to another reader.
There are also bits for Publishers, Authors, and Everyone, but you have to visit Publishing Perspectives to read those . . .
So, as with years past, Publishing Perspectives asked me to write up something about this year’s PEN World Voices Festival. I did so, but unlike years past, I wasn’t as effusively complimentary . . . I feel bad criticizing PEN WV because the festival has been such a huge boon for book culture over the years and because it was thanks to WV that Umberto Eco and Salman Rushdie spoke here in Rochester back in 2008.
That said, no one can rest on their laurels, and after the past couple festivals, I think it’s worth taking a more critical look so that the festival can move forward and reach its full potential.
Here’s a bit of my piece:
Goals of the Festival
Before I start explaining what I think would make for an Ideal World Voices (IWV), it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on what a festival like this is trying to accomplish. According to the “Letter from PEN” at the front of the program, “we seek to present the best of national and international literature and by doing so we adamantly focus on reinforcing the importance of the premise that freedom of expression is the foundation of meaningful existence and the essence of brave and great art.”
OK. That’s great grant writing speak. Seriously. I’d drain my life savings to fund “brave and great art” that gets at the “foundation of meaningful existence.” (Although the line about focusing “on reinforcing the importance of the premise” is pretty weak.) But this program isn’t written for the National Endowment for the Arts . . . or at least it shouldn’t be.
In my vision of the IWV, the festival would set out to accomplish a few things that I think are central to preserving and enhancing a healthy literary culture in America:
1. Raise the profile of international literature and translation, thus expanding the horizons of readers and fostering an international dialogue about art and writing.
2. Get books in the hands of new readers, because without readers none of this means anything, and sales will help expand the reach of the festival as a whole, thus encouraging more publishers, readers, and foundations to support it.
3. Focus on the average reader, NOT the members of the publishing industry who already are overwhelmed by book events and rarely actually buy anything.
4. Be entertaining, otherwise you’re just shoving medicine down the throats of the unwilling.
5. Offer something unique, something you can’t pull off anywhere else in the world.
To me, those things seem totally obvious, and like they were part of the original WV DNA. Perhaps it’s all a bit lofty to think that a festival can help improve book culture. I just don’t see the point of not trying to do this. And not to take grant-speak too seriously, but I don’t think anyone walked away from this year’s festival suddenly aware that “freedom of expression” is important. Readers don’t want to be preached at — they want to enjoy themselves and find out about interesting things.
Click here to read it all, including my recommendations on how to make this a better festival.
I think this press release speaks for itself:
Writers Omi at Ledig House Translation Lab, Fall 2012
Writers Omi at Ledig House, a part of Omi International Arts Center, has been awarded a grant from Amazon.com to fund Translation Lab, a weeklong special, intensive residency for five collaborating writer‐translator teams in the fall of 2012. Writers Omi will host five English language translators to the Omi International Arts Center for one week. These translators will be invited along with the writers whose work is being translated. This focused residency will provide an integral stage of refinement, allowing translators to dialogue with the writers about text‐specific questions. It will also serve as an essential community‐builder for English‐language translators who are working to increase the amount of international literature available to American readers.
The dates for Translation Lab are November 9‐16, 2012. All residencies are fully funded, including international airfare and local transport from New York City to the Omi International Arts Center in Ghent, NY.
Writers Omi will be accepting proposals for participation until July 1, 2012. Translators, writers, editors, or agents can submit proposals. Each proposal should be no more than three pages in length and provide the following information:
Proposals should be submitted only once availability for residency participation of the translator and writer has been confirmed. All proposals and inquiries should be sent directly to DW Gibson, director or Writers Omi at Ledig House at: firstname.lastname@example.org.
I’m sure some people will object to translators, international writers, and literary readers benefitting from this, but I’ll save that snark for after the Salon.com article about this topic comes out. (How’s that for a tease?) . . .
. . . Although I can’t resist pointing out that this line is remarkably stupid: “Suddenly Amazon began giving money away, but only to specific organizations of its choosing.” Really?!? They chose who to give their money to? FOR SHAME. I wonder if the NEA—or, I don’t know, every foundation in the history of fucking foundations—has ever considered doing something so radical as only giving away their money to organizations they want to support. SO IMMORAL. No, that article doesn’t sound like sour grapes. Not at all. Especially since it’s written by a “for-profit” press, which, I’ll take to assume means “completely ignorant of the inner workings of a non-profit press.”
Sorry. Just had to get that off my chest. Now go on and apply for this Translation Lab. It’s much >> all the bitching and moaning by people who don’t do dick for translators.
OK, done. For real this time.
I’ve been predicting this for a while, and still think a Spotify for ebooks would be a $1million idea. (Or a $1million bankruptcy. Whatever.) Anyway, from today’s Publishing Perspectives:
Everything you can read in a month for just €9.99 sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it? That is what Booquo, the new digital venture of Circulo de Lectores — the book club owned by publishing giants Planeta and Bertelsmann — is offering, making them among the few brave enough to tread the forbidden path of access vs. ownership that frightens so many print publishers in this digital age. [. . .]
Booquo has two business models — conventional and subscription. The first allows you to rent movies (from a selection of 1,000) and buy e-books (some 10,000 titles are on offer) that is open to anybody who visits the site. This shop, which functions like any other e-retailer, has a partnership with Filmin for the movie rentals and uses the e-distributor Libranda (of which Planeta and Bertelsmann are main shareholders) for downloadable e-books, which are sold at the same fixed price that anybody will find at Amazon Spain or Casa del Libro. The second is the “club,” which offers a one month trial subscription of € 0,99 in an opt-out system that will charge your credit card €9,99 per month thereafter till the account is cancelled.
Today’s Publishing Perspectives is all about Jellybooks, a new service for “Discovering, sharing and group buying ebooks.” Online book discovery was the focal point of the last couple weeks of my “Intro to Literary Publishing” class, so this comes at a perfect time . . .
Anyway, here’s a bit of Amanda DeMarco’s article:
Set to launch in early spring, the Jellybooks experience corrects some common mistakes in online book browsing, says Rhomberg: “We have spent many months trying to understand why physical bookshops still play such an important role in discovery.” For example, people really do use book covers in deciding what to read, so you won’t see thumbnail reductions. Interestingly (but very right when you think about it), cost isn’t much of a factor in choosing a book: “We found that price information plays very, very little role when users try to decide what makes for a great read. Clearly it matters when they have decided to buy a book at which point they will shop around (i.e. buy online and not in a physical store), but during the discovery process, price information is not a factor, so lets get rid of it.”
Once a user finds a book that looks interesting, they can download the first 10% to a personal cloud library account to read later on a device of their choice. These samples will be available two to six weeks before the title appears in stores. There’s no DRM, and they can be shared with a link without restriction. [. . .]
Once you’ve started browsing, downloading, and sharing, Jellybooks will use the information it has gathered to offer you special 50-percent off “Sweet Deals” on books that fit well with your choices so far. Not every Jellybooks user will be notified about every sale. “Books are quite personal and you don’t want people to get the wrong perception that they’re getting irrelevant stuff or too much stuff. So your reading and sharing behavior allows us to determine if you would be interested in getting the deal.”
Similar to Groupon, the deal only happens if enough people sign on to purchase, which means sharing is important for attaining the required number. If it’s reached within the 12-hour span, the book is downloaded (Sweet Deals are currently e-books only) and your credit card is charged. One important difference from Groupon, Rhomberg notes, is that “the discount has to be earned by the group as a whole. With Groupon it often just automatically goes over. Here we don’t want you to feel it’s too automatic and so you’re lazy…In its nuances it’s constructed to be a little more social and a little bit more about recommendations.”
Sounds like an interesting addition to the constantly growing list of discovery sites . . . I signed up to receive notification when this goes live and will definitely post about it once it has and I’ve had a chance to play with it.
Today’s Publishing Perspectives has a special feature on Europa Editions one of the coolest presses out there. It’s mostly an interview with editor (and translator) Michael Reynolds, who recently moved to New York from Rome to work in Europa’s U.S. office.
PP: How would you characterize Europa’s publishing philosophy?
Michael Reynolds: It’s an extension of the original idea of Sandro Ferri and Sandra Ozzola. They started publishing authors from Eastern Europe in Italy about 35 years ago, when very few other publishers were doing so. Europa Editions is an extension of this same idea. Six years ago when the company was founded there were so few non-anglophone authors being published in America. It struck us as a shame that readers had no access to these authors, and, at the same time, it presented itself as a business opportunity.
PP: How have you developed such an avid fan base in such a short time?
MR: We publish for readers. The kinds of books we acquire, the way we package them, the way that we do outreach and try to create a dialogue with our readers, as opposed to publishing for critical acclaim or academic acceptance; we have our readers in mind at every stage of the process. We have been rewarded for this approach by their enthusiasm. Booksellers, too, are a very important part of that. We give them books that they can feel passionate about, that they can be proud to display, and most importantly that they can sell.
PP: How would you describe your readers?
MR: I would probably put them into two groups. There are those who are curious to read something from another country because it is from another country, and then there is a larger group of readers who don’t really care where a book comes from or what language it was written in. They are interested in an entertaining read, food for thought, quality fiction, a strong story — more or less the same things they look for when they chose any book, by an international author or otherwise. There are many publishers doing work in translation that are really good at reaching the first group of readers, but perhaps less expert in reaching the second group.
Click here to read the entire piece.
Over at Publishing Perspectives, there’s a profile piece by Hernán Iglesias Illa on Edith Grossman, translator extraordinaire and author of Why Translation Matters. (Which I wrote about at length for Quarterly Conversation back when it came out.)
Let’s start with an interesting part about Grossman’s recent translation of Don Quixote:
Grossman fell in love with Spanish as a teenager, thanks to a Spanish teacher “who was very good.” She read Don Quixote for for the first time in Philadelphia, where she grew up, in Samuel Putnam’s classic 1949 translation.
The half-century gap between Putnam’s version and hers can be seen from the very first sentence of the book. Putnam translates the legendary beginning of Cervantes (“En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme”) as: “In a village of La Mancha the name of which I have no desire to recall.” It’s an accurate translation, but somewhat clumsy, and that feels a bit dated. Grossman, less forced to follow the literality of the sentence and with an ear more attuned to capture Cervantes’ intention, writes: “Somewhere in La Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember”.
This “I do not care,” disdainful and conversational, reflects much better the mocking spirit of Don Quixote’s narrator, who from the first sentence introduces himself as an unreliable guy.
Is all these subtlety worthwhile? For Grossman, there is no doubt. “The importance of translation is self-evident,” she writes in her book. Maybe that’s why she feels bad about her battered professional colleagues, “poorly paid and with no job security.” She describes most of them as people “who do not look for fame or fortune but do their work out of love for literature.“
She sure is direct . . . and honest. Which can result in some rather discouraging statements, such as this:
In her book, Grossman mentions the well-known fact that only three percent of the books published in the United States, Great Britain and Australia are translations, while in Europe and Latin America this percentage number fluctuates between 25% and 40%. “We English-speakers are not interested in translations,” says Grossman. (An interviewer infected with translators’ jargon would have commented that Grossman said this “with a sigh”, or “shaking her head.“) “I don’t believe that this will change soon, since almost all publishers are part of large corporations and make their decisions under enormous pressure to be profitable.”
I mention then that a few small and medium US publishers have recently published translations of books by César Aria, Alejandro Zambra and Juan José Saer. “I love these publishers, and they have good people working there,” she says. “But they are too small, they have a lot of trouble getting adequate distribution and good publicity or reviews in the media.”
Well, OK. I was going to complain here about how difficult it is getting books into bookstores where the buyers won’t even take a call because “that sort of stuff doesn’t sell here on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.” (Or in Nebraska, the Mountain & Plains states, or wherever.) And I was going to point out that Juan Jose Saer’s Sixty-Five Years of Washington sold out its first print run and was reviewed in the New York Times and The Nation among other places. But whatever. She’s right.1 Even at our best, the lousiest piece from crap from Corporate Publisher X will get more penetration into the marketplace, which is the slow sick sucking part of the business, and I’m not sure it will ever really change.
Obviously, Internet retailers have leveled the field a bit—all of our books are just as available through Amazon as anyone else’s—but in that case, when a reader is faced with an overwhelming number of choices (approx. 3 million new ones each year, including tons and tons of $.99 entertainments), it’s tricky for an unknown author from Peru to make it through. Ideally, when everything’s available, people would try new things and find some niche tastes, but in reality, we search for what we already know we want to find, and bust the Bieber while reading Twilight. But that’s a subject for another post and/or book . . .
Anyway, Edie definitely calls it like she sees it, and although I have to be more optimistic than she is (otherwise, this whole thing—getting up in the morning, working at a small press, writing this blog—seems pretty damn bleak), it’s true that our impact is at least partially handcuffed by economic realities.
All that said, I’ve been reading the new Saer book, Scars, and am BLOWN AWAY. Everyone needs to buy this—it’s absolutely incredible and the most compelling book I’ve read in a while. Not to overstate the point, but it reminds me why reading matters.
1 At least about Open Letter. I think the presses distributed by Norton—Dalkey Archive and New Directions—and the ones distributed by Random House and Penguin—Europa Editions, NYRB, Melville House—do get into almost all the locations they need to.
Here’s a brief description:
“Our program breaks a book up into 100 scenes and measures the ‘DNA’ of each scene, looking for 132 different thematic ingredients, and another 2,000 variables.” A reader can go to the BookLamp site, which was launched in beta last week, and do a keyword search for titles that meet the criteria similar to a title they plug into the site. Pundits have dubbed it the “Pandora for Books,” though Stanton prefers the term “Book Genome Project.”
“Say you’re looking for a novel like the The Da Vinci Code. We have found that it contains 18.6% Religion and Religious Institutions, 9.4% Police & Murder Investigation, 8.2% Art and Art Galleries, and 6.7% Secret Societies & Communities, and other elements — we’ll pull out a book with similar elements, provided it is in our database,” says Stanton. [. . .]
But can a computer really accurately assess the content of a book? Stanton thinks so. “Our original models are based on focus groups,” he says. “We would give them a highly dense scene and a low density scene, for example, and ask them to assess them, which gave us a basis for training the models. Then we looked at books that might exceed the models and tweaked the formulas. In this way, our algorithms are trained like a human being.”
BookLamp quantifies such elements as density, pacing, description, dialogue and motion, in addition to numerous nuanced micro-categories, such as “pistols/rifles/weapons” or “explicit depictions of intimacy” or “office environments.”
I’m totally a sucker for this sort of shit . . . I think it’s great that people are finally thinking about how readers find books; I think it’s maybe detrimental to only read books that fit your fiction prejudices. (Of course, what example does the founder of Booklamp use in the interview? The fucking Da Vinci Code. Dear god, please make it stop.)
Knowledgeable recommendations used to be the function of booksellers, but since we, as a culture, seem not to need them (or bookstores) at all anymore, there are a number of book sites popping up to fill this void.
I’m sure this is over-simplifying, but there seems to be two major approaches to automated recommendations: the “similar user” approach, which is what Last.fm and GoodReads use and is based on the idea that if you like A, B, & C, and a lot of people who also like A, B, & C, also like Q, then you’ll probably like Q as well; and the “similar component” approach, which is what’s in play with Booklamp and Pandora and uses top down analysis to recommend books/music with components similar to books/music you like.
Personally, I prefer the first approach, and have never really gotten Pandora, nor do I see how my favorite books can be accurately quantified (The Sound and the Fury is 25% suicidal tendencies and 25% narrated by a mentally challenged character? Or The Crying of Lot 49 is 48% paranoia and 88% too cool for school?)
Now that two of the three recommendation sites are at least in their beta phases—Bookish is still in the works—it seems sort of worthwhile to check and see what these sites recommend . . . It’s one thing to talk about the theory and drool over hot catchphrases like “discovery” and “genome,” but another to find out that no matter what you put in, you’re told that you should read Twilight.
I’m not sure I can convince you of this, but I’m doing this test live . . . I haven’t looked up any of these books yet, so I have no idea what I’ll find. (It’s like live blogging! Which I believe is now called “tweeting.” Anyway.)
So, first up, the book I have tattooed on my arm—The Crying of Lot 49.
Booklamp: No results. Well that’s unfortunate . . . Skipped right over the paragraph in the Publishing Perspectives article about how they currently only have 20,000 Random House books in their database . . .
GoodReads: The Recognitions by William Gaddis, The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth, Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone, Falconer by John Cheever, Call It Sleep by Henry Roth.
OK, not so sure about the last couple, but the GoodReads recommendations are fine. Gaddis rocks, but I love JR more than The Recognitions, and Sot-Weed isn’t even close to my favorite Barth book. Still, not bad. Predictable, but not bad.
Since Booklamp is so limited in scope, I’m using their “Author Browse” function to find a good example . . . And oh, look, they have a listing for The Sound and the Fury! My snotty prediction about what the make up would be was pretty crap . . . Instead of confused narrators and philosophical issues about time, the five most prominent “StoryDNA” elements according to Booklamp are: Financial Matters, Family Connections, Domestic Environments, Automobiles & Vehicles, and Nature/Forests/Trees. The fuck?? Seriously? This does not bode well . . .
Booklamp: Sanctuary by William Faulkner, Moon Women by Pamela Duncan, Leo and the Lesser Lion by Sandra Forrester, Good-bye Marianne by Irene Watts, and Telling Lies to Alice by Laura Wilson
GoodReads: Appointment in Samarra by John O’Hara, Loving by Henry Green, The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen, Under the Net by Iris Murdoch, and An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
Although they aren’t the first authors that come to mind when I think of William Faulkner (I was expecting Flannery O’Connor), I do love me some Henry Green and Elizabeth Bowen. And to be completely frank, I have no fucking idea what any of the Booklamp recommendations are. Irene Watts? Leo and the Lesser Lion?? Maybe I’m just ignorant and missing out on great fiction . . .
Leo and Lesser Lion. Listed by the publisher as Juvenile Fiction: A heartwarming family story set during the Depression that reads like a classic.Everyone’s been down on their luck since the Depression hit. But as long as Mary Bayliss Pettigrew has her beloved older brother, Leo, to pull pranks with, even the hardest times can be fun. Then one day, there’s a terrible accident, and when Bayliss wakes up afterward, she must face the heartbreaking prospect of life without Leo. And that’s when her parents break the news: they’re going to be fostering two homeless little girls, and Bayliss can’t bear the thought of anyone taking Leo’s place. But opening her heart to these weary travelers might just be the key to rebuilding her grieving family.
Oh, my. Booklamp fail. “Juvenile Fiction”?? I’ll bet $1million that there’s not a single stylistically interesting about this novel. And I’ll also bet that there’s no possible way I’d read this book and be like, “wow, I’ve never read a book more like Sound and the Fury than Sandra Forrester’s little gem!” Fuck. And no.
So far Booklamp is coming in a distant second . . . And exposing all the flaws of this top-down recommendation approach. This system really doesn’t seem to account for writing style, which, in my opinion, is maybe the most important feature of any work of fiction. Sure, it’s got “automobiles” and I do like to read about people who move from one point to another, but if the writing is shitty, there no number of “automobile/vehicle” scenes that will save a novel. And how do you identify the “genome” for exciting writing? (Not to bang a dead drum, but this is why booksellers and librarians and actual readers are so goddamn important.)
Let’s try one more, this time with feeling: Independent People by Halldor Laxness.
Booklamp: the first four are all Laxness books, which seems a bit of a cheat, so I’ll skip those . . . The Writer and the World by V.S. Naipaul, Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol, Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte, A Country Doctor by Sarah Orne Jewett, and Walt Whitman’s Secret by George Fetherling
GoodReads: Njal’s Saga by Anonymous, Angels of the Universe by Einar Mar Gudmundsson, The Pets by Bragi Olafsson, The Blue Fox by Sjon, and Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun.
Interesting to end with this book . . . Booklamp’s recommendations are a lot less country-specific compared to GoodReads. But on the whole, I think I like the GoodReads recommendations better, especially since they include one of our books.
There’s no conclusion to this post except that I find this all very interesting in theory, and flawed in execution. I’m sure both of these sites (and Bookish) will get better and better as time goes on and data accumulates, and will play a larger role in how books find an audience as booksellers continue to decrease in number . . .
As we announced last week, for the rest of June, all nine of our ebooks will be available for $4.99/title—a pretty good bargain, especially since they’ll go back to the standard $9.99 on July 1st . . .
You can find info about all our available ebooks by clicking here here. (In case anyone’s interested, the best-selling ones from the last week are: The Golden Calf followed by The Pets, and then Guadalajara and Death in Spring.)
After making our pricing announcement, Ed Nawotka of Publishing Perspectives asked me to write a piece explaining our decision, some stuff about ebook pricing in general, and my problems with the $.99 ebook.
Here’s a link to Why Selling Ebooks at 99 Cents Destroys Minds, which includes this:
But what’s really at the top of the e-book best-seller lists? As of this very moment (10:10 pm on Wednesday, June 8th), here are the top five and their prices: A Little Death in Dixie by Lisa Turner, $0.99; My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler, $1.99; The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, $5.00; Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy, $4.99; and The Help by Kathryn Stockett, $9.99.
So aside from The Help, which is the 9th bestselling book in paperback, the top five are all $5 or less. And aside from The Help, none of these books are in the top 10 for Literary Fiction paperback sales. So what does this mean?
At BEA, Keith Gessen introduced me to the works of John Locke (probably not the one you’re thinking of), a best-selling Kindle author whose books are all sold for $0.99. He made over a hundred thousand of dollars in royalties last year — far exceeding the wildest dreams of most every mid-list (if John Locke is even midlist) author in the country. Having read the opening of one of his “Donovan Creed” novels, I can assure you that he’s not selling all these books due to his talent. No offense intended, but let’s be real about this — it leads to a much more interesting conundrum.
And goes on from there . . .
Ed wrote the daily “conversation piece” for Publishing Perspectives, which he entitled Can Affordable Literature Ever Compete with ‘Palatable Plonk?’
As discussed in today’s feature story, you can now buy any number of e-books for 99 cents or less on Amazon. Few would mistake what’s being sold so cheaply as high literature, but one has to acknowledge that it takes skill to craft something that a large audience of people will enjoy.
In the wine business, the fact that you can now buy drinkable box wine in your local gas station/supermarket has indeed expanded the audience for wine. The hope is that drinkers, as their palette becomes sophisticated, will move up the price scale to sample more challenging fare. [. . .]
Can the same be said for the book business? Certainly just think of fiction as red wine, and non-fiction as white, each goes with a mood, setting, circumstance.
Ultimately, the question is not whether inexpensively priced literature entice new readers and serve as a gateway for readers to discover new writers, but can it ever compete, at lower prices, with the John Locke’s and Amanda Hocking’s of the world? And, at the end of the day, does it matter so long as everyone’s needs get met?
In my opinion, the answer is no, not when — to go back to the wine analogy — the cheap stuff can get you just as drunk. Of course, you also have to remember that with the cheap stuff, once the buzz wears off the hangover is often much worse — and you’ll have an even harder time facing yourself in the harsh light of day.
Be sure to check out the comments—that’s where the real fun comes in . . .
As reported by Amanda DeMarco in Publishing Perspectives, Switzerland has reinstated its fixed price system for books.
On March 18 the Swiss parliament approved a fixed price system for books in German-speaking Switzerland, both for online and in-store sales as of next year. The debate over fixed book pricing is a complicated and volatile one in Europe. Various degrees of price control exist side by side, and countries vacillate on the legality and benefit of fixed price systems. In Germany all books, including e-books and books sold as apps, are included in the fixed price system. French law excludes books that don’t closely correspond to a printed edition (apps), as well as foreign buyers and sellers. Britain hasn’t had fixed book pricing since the Net Book Agreement was declared illegal in 1997.
I’ve written about the “fixed price scheme” several times before (even in 2007(!) in relation to the Swiss), but in case you’re not already familiar, under this law retailers are banned from discounting books. So if you want to buy The Pale King, it’s the same $27.99 at Barnes & Noble, your local indie store, and in the airport. (And, in some countries, on Amazon.com and other online retailers.) Based on the cited consequences of this law—more independent stores, more diverse selection, no discount battles on
shitty best-sellers, etc.—I’m a big fan. And I know that’s quixotic, since half of Congress and 90% of corporate salarymen would shit themselves at the very idea of impeding the so-call free market. Which is dumb and deserving of another rant, but I’ll refrain and keep it on the Swiss:
Swiss publishing professionals often compare the effects of the repeal of fixed book pricing to those of the abolition of the Net Book Agreement in Britain: price wars over bestsellers, deep discounts of up to 30% by big booksellers like Thalia and Orell Füssli. Andreas Grob, Managing Director of Buchzentrum, a large distributor and wholesaler owned collectively by Swiss bookstores, has witnessed online sellers benefit while physical stores have experienced “ever-increasing problems.”
In Germany, where fixed book price law is strong, book prices have actually fallen in comparison with other goods over the past decade. Swiss book prices, in contrast, have risen over the past four years. “Economic theories say that free markets produce lower prices, but interestingly in the case of books that’s not so,” commented Dani Landolf, director of The Swiss Publishers Association (SBVV).
While bestsellers get deep discounts, the majority of other books become more expensive to fund the price wars. Sabine Dörlemann, president of Swiss Independent Publishers (SWIPS), expressed frustration that books from small publishers with tight budgets were assigned higher prices, which reduces sales though the publisher sees none of that extra money.
I love everything about this article, especially this bit:
The decision affirms the idea that books are not just like any other consumer product; their diversity and availability is desirable and demands protection. To have a variety of books, a variety of publishers is necessary; a large number of independent bookstores willing to stock titles from small and large presses alike is necessary for such a variety of publishers to thrive; and a fixed price system is needed to protect those bookstores, publishers, and ultimately authors. Or so the reasoning goes. For SWIPS, in the end the decision means that “more money ends up with us,” said Dörlemann.
OK, with a little luck I’ll be able to post a lot of new content later this week during the American Literary Translators Conference. This is one of my favorite conferences of the year, in part because of all the cool people there, in part because the panels tend to be pretty interesting. I’ll post more about this separately (maybe). For now, here’s another post from the Publishing Perspectives Frankfurt Show Daily. It’s all about AmazonCrossing, which we’ve written about before, but in this case I had a chance to interview the Amazon.com Books VP Jeff Belle and talk a bit about the unique way Amazon is looking for their titles.
In the world of translation publishing, one of the more interesting developments of the past year was the launching of AmazonCrossing, a new initiative of Amazon.com Books. The imprint’s first book—The King of Kahel by Tierno Monenembo—goes on sale November 2nd, and a second batch of six titles was announced late last month.
According to Amazon.com Books Vice President Jeff Belle, the seed of AmazonCrossing was planted a couple years back when he read a report by translator extraordinaire Esther Allen about the “three percent problem”—the fact that, of all the books published in the US, only three percent are works in translation. As Belle stated, this dismal statistic “is really at odds with Amazon’s vision of making every book in every language available to our customers.” Allen educated Amazon about the translation market, leading Amazon to start funding translations through the “Author & Publisher Giving Program,” and to launch AmazonCrossing to “discover great voices of the world that have not been translated into English and introduce them to [Amazon’s] English-speaking customers.”
Amazon.com has been moving in the direction of publishing for some time now, first with a couple of self-publishing options—CreateSpace (formerly BookSurge) is a print option, and any author/publisher can sell their eBooks through Amazon’s Kindle program. In a somewhat more traditional publishing vein, there’s also AmazonEncore, through which Amazon uses information such as customer reviews to identify “exceptional, overlooked books and authors” that deserve to have their works reintroduced to readers. These titles are available both in print and Kindle formats.
In some ways, AmazonCrossing is an extension of the Encore program, with Amazon acquiring rights and responsible for the marketing of these books. What’s interesting is that they’ve chosen to pursue international works—a category that many of commercial publishers shy away from. As Jeff Belle puts it, this “dearth of foreign translations into English” is one area of publishing that’s not well served.
As mentioned above, the first title in the AmazonCrossing program is Tierno Monenembo’s The King of Kahel, which first came to Amazon’s attention when it won the 2008 Prix Renaudot in France and just starting to plan this initiative. More than a year later, the English rights were still available, which further convinced Belle and the rest of the Amazon team that there are a lot of great books that never make their way into English.
Similar to the Encore program, customer reviews (in this case on Amazon.fr—the company’s French site) helped convince Amazon to go ahead with this book, which points to Amazon’s ability to leverage customer research. Although comments are obviously public, traditional publishers don’t tend to examine this sort of feedback when deciding whether or not to publish a translation of a particular book. This
customer-centric approach is unique, almost the diametrical opposite to the traditional “I know what readers want” mantra of most editors. “Our choices are really dictated by what our customers tell us about the books they love,” says Belle. “We’re looking for exceptional books that are effectively nominated by our customers and deserving of a wider, global audience.”
Amazon won’t specify how many translated titles they plan on publishing in any given season, but they recently announced their next six , which include a thriller (The Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch), a non-fiction book on Argentina’s economic troubles (No Reserve: The Limit of Absolute Power by Martín Redrado), a YA-novel (Pizzicato: The Abduction of the Magic Violin by Rusalka Reh), a 19th-century Spanish novel (Pepita Jimenez by Juan Valera), and a controversial work of literary fiction (Field Work in Ukrainian Sex by Oksana Zabuzhko).
Members of the AmazonCrossing team will be at the Fair, meeting with agents, publishers, and translators to spread the word about this new program. More information about AmazonCrossing and its titles can be found online.
Following up on yesterday’s posts, here’s a piece on the Russian Debut Prize that I also wrote for Publishing Perspectives. Interesting project and seems crazy in its scope—30,000+ entries a year?!
Back in 2000, the “Debut Prize” was established by the Pokolenie (Generation) Foundation to support Russian writers under the age of 25. Ten years later, the best works generated by this competition will be made available to English and Chinese readers.
According to Olga Slavnikova, winner of the Russian Booker Prize and director of the Debut Prize, “The Debut inspires young Russian writers to complete that first book. The Debut prompts them to commit to literature their unique experience, what might be described as the shock of their first encounter with grown-up life.”
By setting the age limit at 25, this prize is helping engender novels by authors who were children when the USSR collapsed, who escaped the Cold War, and are coming of age in a world that their parents could never have predicted. In the words of Ms. Slavnikova, “One may say without exaggeration that this is the most ingenuous and honest literature in Russia since 1917, the year of the deplorable October coup.”
Although tens of thousands of manuscripts are submitted for the award every year, virtually none of these “ingenuous” works makes it out of Russia. To help promote this new generation of Russian authors, the Pokolenie Foundation is launching an international program. This year anthologies of the “Best of the Debut Prize Winners” will appear in both Chinese and English.
GLAS — one of the most successful and well-respected English-language publishers of Russian literature — recently published Squaring the Circle, which includes pieces from Aleksei Lukyanov, a two-time Debut Prize finalist; Gulla Khirachev, who is mostly known for her avant-garde children’s tales, but won the Debut Prize in 2009 for her first work of fiction for adults; Polina Klyukina, who was a finalist in 2008; and Olga Yelagina, who was a finalist in 2005, among others.
These pieces have been selected from all of the winners from the past decade. The 30,000+ entries are first whittled down into a 100 author “shortlist,” and the 20-25 Debut finalists are brought to Moscow for “Debut Week” — a week of lectures, classes, talks, and an award ceremony in which winners in various categories receive 200,000 rubles (approx. £4,000 or $7,500).
In addition to GLAS’s Squaring the Circle, a Chinese anthology will also be produced. And over the next few years, collections will appear in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese, in addition to annual anthologies in English. Along with promoting Russian culture, an underlying hope is that these anthologies will entice more foreign publishers to bring out translations of contemporary Russian authors.
I linked to this in a post the other day, but attached below is the complete interview I did with Douglas Rushkoff about our digital world, his new book, and why he decided to publish with OR Books.
This interview originally appeared here. And I want to publicly thank Ed Nawotka for running this in its entirety even though it was something like a thousand words longer than what he had asked for.
One of the keynote speakers at this year’s TOC Frankfurt, Douglas Rushkoff is a media theorist who has authored several books on the subject, including Cyberia: Life in the Trenches of Cyberspace, Media Virus: Hidden Agendas in Popular Culture, Playing the Future: What We Can Learn from Digital Kids, Open Source Democracy, and Get Back in the Box: Innovation from the Inside Out. He’s also a graphic novelist whose Testament was critically acclaimed. Last year, Random House published Life, Inc.: How the World Became a Corporation and How to Take it Back, Rushkoff’s critical look at the history and rise of corporations.
His latest book—Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age —is available from OR Books and is a very provocative look at living in our digital world. Through ten “commands” (such as “Do Not Be ‘Always On,’” “One Size Does Not Fit All,” and “Do Not Sell Your Friends”), Rushkoff examines the biases of digital technologies, urging readers to reflect on how to remain human in this age of smartphones and wired everything. Program or Be Programmed carves out a space between the pundits claiming that the Internet is ruining life as we know it and those who feel that the Internet will help create a democratic utopia.
In advance of his TOC presentation tomorrow, we had a chance to catch up with Douglas and talk to him about his new book and publishing with the upstart OR Books.
Publishing Perspectives: Your last book, Life, Inc. came out from Random House, but Program or Be Programmed is being published by the relatively new OR Books—a very interesting press that’s much smaller than RH in terms of distribution (OR Books are only available through their website), name recognition, advances, etc. What made you decide to go with OR?
Douglas Rushkoff: First and foremost, I wanted the books to be cheaper for the reader. With the traditional publishing system, there are too many middlemen, and too many people needing to justify their place in the food chain. This ends up costing a lot of money, and ultimately costing a lot of time, too.
I also wanted to release a couple of months after I finished the book, instead of a couple of years. I am tired of writing books that correctly predict a phenomenon that hasn’t happened yet, but then come out after the thing has happened. Writing about technology, in particular, is pretty tricky if you have to do it a couple of years in advance.
I also wanted to work with a house that wasn’t fixated on sell-in figures or first week sales, but one that preferred to see a book as something that could take a few weeks or even months to become popular. Big publishers are trapped responding to corporate owners who are looking for growth to match their debt structures. Unfortunately for them, publishing is not a growth industry but a sustainable industry. So the models don’t work for real books — only for runaway bestsellers. Then the focus turns to marketability of titles rather than sustainability or importance of ideas.
OR, in particular, is run by an old friend, John Oakes. We’ve been looking for a way to work together for years, and this seemed like the right project at the right time.
PP: How has the process of publishing with OR been different from that of publishing with RH? Specifically, are there different marketing strategies?
DR: I’m not really privy to the marketing. From the surface, the publishers are selling to completely different constituencies. Random House is selling to Barnes and Noble while OR is direct marketing to consumers. So these are really different models, I’m sure. Random House has to think about a whole big picture — everything from Ingram to Amazon. John only has to think about the buy button on his own site. No sell-ins, no returns. He’s got an easier job, from that perspective.
The main differences for me have been my level of direct involvement, which with OR Books has been greater. For me, this is a good thing, because I’ve been in books for a while and think I make valuable contributions. I’ve gotten to influence everything from the cover and font to press release and the strategy approaching NPR.
Of course, they’re more free to involve me because there’s no corporate politics or set policy. People in “real” publishing have bosses and departments and methods. So editors aren’t told sell-in figures, publicists have to weigh booking one author vs. another on the same show, and people are doing a lot of their work blind.
The advantage, of course, is that when you work under a big corporate imprint, you get a network of salespeople to put you into stores, you get noticed by reviewers and publications who balk at independent presses, and you get the possibility of academic or other releases. Plus, you get paid before you write the book. The big publisher can fund a year or two of research and writing and that’s no small thing. And at just a few publishers — and I’d have to say Random House is one of them — you get to be part of the continuity of publishing culture. It took decades or more to be built, and there is a sense that you’re working in a tradition.
Whether I work with a big publisher or a little one, though, I know I’m largely responsible for getting the word out. It’s a different world than it used to be, and authors are responsible for making the contacts that announce the existence of a book. So far, independents are a little better at accepting this reality. On the other hand, big publishers tend to have at least someone in the publicity department who can actually get the booker of almost any show on the phone. Or a marketing person who can talk directly to one of B&N’s buyers. There’s still a few human networks at play that matter. It’s just that they aren’t activated for a vast majority of the books being published by these places.
PP: Where did the idea behind Program or Be Programmed come from?
DR: I guess the original idea was my first encounter with networked computers in the 80’s. I wrote Cyberia, celebrating (and to some extent parodying) the ability of early cyberpunks to rewrite reality from the bottom up. These were the days of Mondo2000 and the WELL, when it seemed like anything was possible. Learning to program wasn’t just about computers, but about reality itself.
Over the years, I’ve seen people not only lose that sensibility about these technologies, but lose sight of the fact that digital technologies are programmed at all. People accept the tools and interfaces that they’re presented with as if they were pre-existing conditions of the universe.
And then we end up with all these conversations and books about whether digital technology is good for us or bad for us—does it make us smarter or dumber. As if they were these things that just got handed to us by God and are going to have some effect on us. We seem to be forgetting that we make these things, or that someone makes these things, and that they are embedded with their agendas. So kids look at Facebook, say, and they think this piece of software has been designed to help them make friends. If they even think about it that much. They don’t think of it as software that has been programmed. They just think Facebook is there to help them make friends. And they don’t realize that’s not what Facebook is really programmed for. Its purpose — the purpose of its founders and its components — is different.
So the genesis of the idea was to tell people that if they remain unaware of how their programs work — of what the programs are for — they will end up less the users of their technologies than the used.
PP: Some of the “commands” are pretty straightforward and personal—thinking of “Do Not Always ‘Be On’” and the anxiety most everyone feels trying to “keep up”—whereas others are a bit more abstract and rooted in huge socio-historical issues—such as “One Size Does Not Fit All.” Regardless, all (except maybe “Program or Be Programmed”) seem to urge caution. If there’s one message you want people to take away from this book, what is it?
DR: If you don’t know anything about the software, then you are the software.
PP: In the past you’ve written quite a bit about the power and promise of all things digital, and in comparison, this book seems a bit more pessimistic. From the intro: “A society that looked at the Internet as a path toward highly articulated connections and new methods of creating meaning is instead finding itself disconnected, denied deep thinking, and drained of enduring values.” But as you also say, the Internet isn’t going away anytime soon. Instead, it will probably continue to play a larger and larger role in our lives. What do you think would happen if we were able to recuperate a sense of humanity—an idea behind a lot of your commands—and retake control of technology? By becoming “programmers” can we change the world?
DR: I’ve been hearing this question since about 1995. “In the past, you were so optimistic, and now you are pessimistic.” So I’m wondering where this glorious past is, unless it’s like yesterday. Program or Be Programmed contains pretty much the most optimistic sentences I’ve ever written, telling readers that “this is the moment we have been waiting for” and that we are participating in “nothing less than the conscious intervention in our own evolution as a species.”
I think what you’re really reacting to is whether a particular paragraph makes you happy or sad. It is sad that most of us remain so painfully unaware of how our technologies work. It is sad that computers started out so easy to work, and that as they have become more complex we humans have become more simple. It is sad that in the US we don’t teach computer programming in school, while in India and China they do. I just state the facts.
My opinion — my argument — is that it is not too late. That’s optimistic. I don’t think we have grown too stupid or too lazy to become — at the very least — partners with our digital technologies, working toward greater autonomy for ourselves rather than just a greater number of predetermined choices.
Of course, by becoming programmers we can change the world. Programmers are building the world — embedding agendas into technologies that will live on long after we are gone.
OK, I’m bloody exhausted. There’s only so many meetings, parties, dinners, jokes, and seven-hour plane rides one can take before totally crashing. I’ve been traveling since October 1st—after spending a late night out with Paul Auster on the 30th, which seems like maybe two months ago—so forgive my sloppy posts of the day. I do have one or two more general Frankfurt things I want to write, but first I feel like reposting some of the articles I wrote for the “Publishing Perspectives Show Daily.” All apologies if you already read these, but I need a few days to get my head back together . . . Up first are a couple pieces on OR Books, a relatively new publishing house with a non-traditional business model.
This article can also be found here. And while you’re there, sign up for the free daily e-newsletter.
Speaking at both Tools of Change and the International Digital Rights Symposium, John Oakes of the newly launched OR Books elucidated his business model. Compared to traditional publishing structures, its simplicity is quite revolutionary.
Launching last fall, OR Books has a few specific strategies: it offers its authors relatively low advances (and high royalties), edits the books quickly so that they can be released months after completion (instead of years), spends the bulk of its budget on marketing each title, and licenses titles to traditional publishers. The big difference between OR and other indie presses is that OR ignores chain stores, Amazon and the like, only selling its books directly through its Website. This practice truly upends the industry’s beliefs at a time when most other publishers are trying to figure out how to make their e-books available through as many distribution channels as possible.
Every title that OR publishes is available through its site in paperback and non-DRM e-book formats. (There’s also a bundle option through which a reader can get both the paperback and e-book at a sizable discount.) As Oakes pointed out, the benefits of this system check a number of boxes on a publisher’s wish list: no returns, much more accurate pre-publication print runs, and profits that go straight to the publisher and author. OR Books author Douglas Rushkoff pointed this out in a recent interview with Publishing Perspectives, but rather than focusing on advance sales to a handful of large customers, OR Books is focused on selling real copies to actual consumers.
The OR Books business model is deceptive in its simplicity. In many ways, it’s a throwback to a time before supply-chain intermediaries permanently altered the bookselling business—a time when publishers were also printers and bookstores. It’s a model that—if successful in the long run—thrives on both satisfying the needs of customers and maximizing the publisher’s return. (It’s an obvious thing to point out, but OR doesn’t have to pay sales reps, or attend sales conferences, etc.) Although many authors and agents have been amenable to this model, Oakes said that a number of editors at traditional publishing houses are completely baffled and antagonistic toward such a strange business model.
Which might be why so many speeches at TOC Frankfurt revolved around the need for publishers to adapt by focusing more on the needs of consumers and less on how to retain old standards.
Andrew Savikas’s keynote looked at the intertwined evolution of form and format and the need to find better customer-friendly formats (i.e., apps) for things like guidebooks and other “database” titles. His underlying point—that readers still desire traditional content (classified listings, movie information) but in new, more convenient formats—really set the tone for the conference.
Pablo Arrieta’s presentation on readership in Colombia, and the restriction of content due to the lack of an iTunes/iBookstore in Latin America, was illuminating in its global perspective.
Sheila Bounford of NBNi also discussed the need for publishers to reconnect with readers, resonating with the theme of the day.
It’s true that TOC—or any call for “change” in the publishing industry, really—is mostly focused on implementing new technologies to increase revenue. That said, along with this expansion into enhanced e-books and video games comes a parallel change in philosophical outlook—which may, in the long run, have an even larger impact on the industry as a whole.
As previously mentioned, this Frankfurt, I’m going to be doing a lot of writing for the Publishing Perspectives Show Daily. This is actually starting now (which is one of several reasons the posts are going to be light on Three Percent this week and next), and one of the features I’m contributing to is the “Hot Frankfurt Titles” list. So, if you’re going to be at Frankfurt and have a “hot title” you’d like to tell everyone else at Frankfurt about, please send me (chad.post at rochester.edu) a brief description and any additional info you have (if there’s a sample translation available, any prizes the book has won, etc.) along with a 300+ dpi photo and I’ll do my best to include your title . . . Thanks in advance!
OK, this is a sort of odd post, and only applies to some of you, but I’m going to fall back on my traditional “screw it, it’s Friday” excuse and just post this anyway . . .
As I’ve mentioned before, at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair I’m going to spend basically all of my time writing for the Publishing Perspectives Show Daily. I’m really excited about this—it’s fun to interview people, to find interesting things to write about, to spread the word about interesting publishing houses and projects, etc.
Well, to best prepare and make sure we don’t miss out on anything interesting, I’d like to enlist your help. If you a) have a story idea you think Publishing Perspectives would be interested in covering or b) if you have a book/author that you’re going to be pushing hard at the fair, please e-mail me at chad.post [at] rochester [dot] edu. The sooner the better . . . And thanks in advance!
Today’s feature article at Publishing Perspectives is an interview with Rafi Mohammed about pricing, specifically about the “1% windfall” (increase prices by 1% make $$$$) and “dynamic pricing” for books. Here are a couple choice excerpts:
PP: Author Cory Doctorow has framed this debate as price elasticity versus price discrimination, with Amazon believing that lower prices create more demand and publishers holding on to the belief that differing products released over time maximizes profit. Does this properly characterize the actions these companies have taken?
RM: I disagree with Cory on both accounts. On the Amazon side, price elasticity is about choosing the right price to make the most profit. Amazon has been choosing to sell e-books at a loss for some time. That decision indicates to me a different strategy. Could it be about the profitability of selling devices and taking a loss on the content? Maybe it is about capturing market share while the e-reader market in its infancy and creating lock-in with consumers?
On the publisher side, price discrimination doesn’t exactly describe the choices they are making either. Price discrimination implies that prices fall over time as perceived value of the product falls and the choice by several publishers to create a second window for e-books, their most profitable product, after the release of the hardcover, doesn’t match up. There are again other motives at play. Windowing e-books protects hardcover sales and the retailers that depend on them.
PP: Digital distribution creates a variety of new opportunities for how products can be priced including the price of free. What sort of experimentation should publishers be considering?
Dynamic pricing is the biggest opportunity for publishers. For example, if a new release catches on, the price of the book should be increased. I am not suggesting doubling the price, but adding one or two dollars to the retail price creates a huge impact on the profitability of that title. Hospitality managers change the price of the rooms at their hotels constants to match current demand. Publishers should consider the same.
Yeah, I’ll bet that would be a breeze. And that readers would totally love watching prices fluctuate based on how many times they see someone reading a book on the subway. You could join a book club and pay $2 more for a title than you would’ve had said book club never existed. Dynamic pricing would be a lot simpler with ebooks, especially those sold directly from publisher to reader, but I get a headache just thinking about implementing something like this with print books, bookstores, and wholesalers with constantly fluctuating prices. And looking to the hospitality industry as an example of what publishers should do made me vomit a little bit in my mouth. Next thing you know we’ll all be aping the airline industry and charging extra for the cover or page numbers or some such thing . . .
So, what can be done to accomplish the change in priority from “How do we pay for translated fiction?” into “How do we get more people interested in these books?”
First off, there’s the “publishers are sheep” problem. I once saw Scott Moyer (formerly of Random House and Penguin, currently working at the Andrew Wylie Agency) on a panel talking about Shadow of the Wind and how the success of that particular book caused editors to seek out the next Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Is this really what we need? Not that Zafon’s not talented, not that I don’t think people should read his books or books like them, but I’m pretty sure that publishers love imitation more than their audience does. Medium-hopping for a second, how many Lost-esque shows came out after the immediate success of Lost? I think about a billion, none of which are still on the air. Readers like similarities, not necessarily repetition. Publishers like sure things. There may be a problem here.
Not that it’s easy for anyone — psychic or not — to identify what’s going to take off. One of the reasons imitations don’t work is because audiences tend to be fickle. Trends are trends because they aren’t permanent.
But what might be worse from a culture standpoint is if readers do come to believe that all translations are equal.
Let me digress for a minute: I’m not going to go into it too much here, but I do want to say that one of my beliefs is that publishing — or media creation of any sort—is a special sort of industry. Sure, it’s an industry based on profit and loss and catering to needs and purchasing power, but it also has a larger import. What’s published affects culture as a whole. Ideas circulate thanks to books. Visions of the world at large are crafted by what we read and see. So treating publishing as solely a money game is missing the fact that most of this are in this because we know that books have power and that we are hopefully contributing to the greater good via our jobs. Or most probably. Maybe it’s just me and I’m deluded. But still.
A while ago, I came up with the idea of the “one country, one author” problem. For example: people found out about Jose Saramago, fell in love with Blindness, and didn’t bother reading other Portuguese writers because they had already read the best. And Garcia Marquez equals Colombia. Tolstoy was Russia.
OK, that last one is debatable and maybe the whole idea is a pile of crap, but let me tell a little story about what happened to us recently. Open Letter runs a subscription series whereby for $100 you receive 10 books over the next year. After we were featured in the New York Times, hundreds, literally hundreds of people signed up, not really knowing what kind of books they’d be getting, except that they were “translations.” One of the first books sent out to these new subscribers was Ilf & Petrov’s Russian classic The Golden Calf. This book is hysterical, readable, great fun. A couple weeks after sending it out, however, I received a letter in the mail from a new subscriber asking for a full refund, since “nothing I have ever read could prepare me for this. I don’t read a lot of translations and this was nothing like The Elegance of the Hedgehog.”
The Non-Beach Reading Audience
Running parallel to the beach readers is a smaller, yet very devoted, group of literary readers. These are people who get geeked about the Man Booker Longlist. These are people who made David Mitchell’s The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet a New York Times bestseller. Who made Roberto Bolano’s 2666 a bestseller. Who made Per Petterson’s Out Stealing Horses a bestseller. These are the people who might read Steig Larsson, but may well crave Mathias Enard’s aforementioned Zone. These are readers who have always been around, always been on the fringes supporting the artists. This group is not half a tenth as large as publishers would like, but these are the readers who help mold literary tastes for years well into the future. And for the first time in history, it’s suddenly become much easier to reach and interact with these readers.
Everyone knows we live in a culture of mass markets. At any point in time it seems like everyone is reading the same twelve books. And this is comforting to publishers. If you can produce one of the twelve, you can capitalize on that shit. It’ll be stacked at Barnes & Noble. People will be reading it on the subway. Sure, there are those other readers who aren’t interested in these types of books, but man, they’re much harder to identify and reach. This is true, but for the readership for literature in translation to take off, I think you have to.
This is why publishing houses with strong brands — Archipelago, Europa Editions, New Directions — do better with literature than some of the major commercial houses. They may not have the distributing power, but they draw this other group of readers to them. In some ways, they’re in a better position to successfully publish a “non-commercial” translation than a Random House.
Multiple Approaches to the Readership Issue
I’m not trying to say independents are better publishers, or that we shouldn’t try and publish translated “beach books” in order to increase the audience for literature in translation — just that we need to take a multi-pronged approach to this situation.
On one hand, you have the presses identifying and marketing the hell out of translations that have the potential to become very, very popular. This is what a number of the major houses are really good at. And it makes them money and it helps them believe that there is an audience for these “foreign” books, and it leads them to publish more of these titles. All very positive.
And on the other side, you have the small presses who tend to focus on the books with a more diffuse readership. Books that “aren’t for everyone.” There’s nothing wrong with that. Some people like to rail against the culture-at-large for not appreciating this particular aesthetic. Which is kind of stupid. There is an audience for these books — it’s just up to the publisher (and any other organizations who’d like to help with money, ideas, or manpower) to find creative new ways to connect with these readers. We live in a digital age where social networks rule our time online and we’re more tuned in to one another’s lives than we’ve ever been. Whereas in the past there was that small group of readers who bonded over an obscure Grove publication, nowadays this same handful of readers can broadcast their love to similar groups across the country. And these numbers add up, and the influence these readers have can be monumental.
If different publishers, funders, reader-oriented organizations approach sides of this readership coin in different, yet equally innovative ways, (and yes, I realize that it’s sometimes really hard to distinguish what’s mass and what’s cult), some real change might come about. Hell, maybe a highly literary translation will be the beach book of summer 2011.
Because of how this was broken up over two weeks, and because I’m still recovering from my vacation in Ohio with my family, I thought I’d rerun the editorial I wrote for Publishing Perspectives. I’ll stick with the two-part format, since that pretty much makes sense, so here’s Part One:
“What we need is a great translated beach book. Something that will appeal to tons of people and convince them that it’s safe to come in the water,” a friend said to me.
“This is true . . .” I instantly imagined someone sitting in the sand reading Zone, the 517-page, one-sentence novel that Open Letter is publishing this fall, and which has become my summer read. In my mind, this imaginary reader looked frustrated, disgusted, like she’d never read a French book again. No, like she’d never travel to France again.
OK, so anyone with a little common sense knows that our books aren’t really of the “beach read” variety. But as someone who endlessly advocates for the publication, promotion, and appreciation of international literature, this statement my friend made really got me thinking: maybe all of us promoting translations need to get more commercial. More in touch with the common reader. Maybe everyone’s right, the translations that get published here are too erudite, too specialized to survive in the marketplace.
Swiping a line from one of our board members, I’m not sure I’d be able to identify a bestseller if the damn thing sold a million copies all over my head, but there is something to the argument that a breakthrough book could help change the marketplace for literature in translation. If only it were that easy . . .
Before getting too far into theories of audience development, let’s back up a bit. I’m willing to bet everyone subscribing to Publishing Perspectives knows full well that the situation regarding literature in translation in the United States is a little bit fucked. We export the hell out of our authors, watching them get translated into dozens of languages, but we rarely publish a novel from Sweden much less Croatia, Bulgaria, Paraguay.
And we all know the two most common reasons cited for this literary isolationism: translations cost too much and don’t sell very well.
Correcting Supply vs. Creating Demand
Believing in those two premises — and these premises may well be bullshit, but let’s let that slide for another day’s editorial — has led to a large focus on correcting the supply-side of the situation, especially through translation grants designed to offset part of the publisher’s production costs. From a publisher’s perspective (no pun intended), it’s much easier to look at your balance sheet and find ways of offsetting your costs that are immediate, guaranteed, and relatively easy to acquire. And in the greater scheme of things, filling out a two-page application form and sending along a sample translation is much quicker and more reliable than trying to make a book’s budget work by identifying readers and increasing sales.
In addition to translation costs, occasionally a foreign government will also subsidize rights payments, and in very rare instances will help pay part of the printing bill. These grants are wonderful, are necessary, are the reason that certain presses stay alive. And the fact that most of these monies go to translators — one of the most woefully underpaid links in the translation publishing chain — is fantastic.
But except under very specific conditions — a book tour, a particular event — these monies are never directed at readers. Or to be more precise, at the idea of building and creating a readership.
It could be argued, or rather, I would personally argue, that by changing the demand-side of the international literature equation, the entire translation balance could be upended. If publishers believed the readership for literature in translation was equal to that for any other book they might publish, their arguments against doing these books start to fall apart. At least a little bit. And maybe more translations get published, and sell better than expected, resulting in more translations, and for once we have a positive feedback loop in relation to foreign literature.
So if the end goal is to increase readership instead of focusing on how to pay production costs, the question becomes, “how do we get people interested in these books?” And we’re back at the beach read possibility . . .
I’ve heard a number of people promote the idea that if a few translations really “took off” then we’d see an overall increase in the number of international titles making their way to our shores. Which is absolutely true. What’s the over/under on Scandinavian crime novels coming out next year that are the “next Steig Larsson”? Fifty? One hundred? I’m sure every publishing house in Manhattan would overpay by a million dollars to find the next “Girl with a something something.”
Also absolutely true that readers of Larsson will be much more willing to give another Nordic thriller a try. It’s not like international crime is an unpopular genre, but it’s pretty likely that baseline sales for the genre will spike over the next couple years.
There’s no denying that the beach read argument has validity in terms of generating a larger audience and change the minds of some publishing people. It most definitely does. And that’s great. But I think it’s just part of the picture and carries with it a few cautions and needs to be supplemented with other approaches. More on that in Part Two . . .
Here’s the opening:
So, what can be done to accomplish the change in priority from “How do we pay for translated fiction?” into “How do we get more people interested in these books?”
First off, there’s the “publishers are sheep” problem. I once saw Scott Moyer (formerly of Random House and Penguin, currently working at the Andrew Wylie Agency) on a panel talking about Shadow of the Wind and how the success of that particular book caused editors to seek out the next Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Is this really what we need? Not that Zafon’s not talented, not that I don’t think people should read his books or books like them, but I’m pretty sure that publishers love imitation more than their audience does. Medium-hopping for a second, how many Lost-esque shows came out after the immediate success of Lost? I think about a billion, none of which are still on the air. Readers like similarities, not necessarily repetition. Publishers like sure things. There may be a problem here.
As noted on Monday, I’ve been guest editing Publishing Perspectives this week, mainly writing a daily post for the blog and working on the two-part editorial that’s running today and Monday.
Taking off from a conversation I had late last week, I tried to write about ways to build audiences for literature in translation, mainly focusing on the idea of a “beach read” book that appeals to the masses, and the way non-beach read publishers could reach a different set of readers.
Of the two parts, I think today’s the funnier one, and Monday’s has more opinions and ideas . . . Anyway, you can check out the first part by clicking here.
Today’s Publishing Perspectives article on the forthcoming Argentine ebook market is really interesting. Octavio Kulesz from Teseo delves into some of the difficulties facing Argentine publishers regarding the creation and sale of ebooks, making a case for Argentinean entrepreneurs to come along and save the day.
Therefore, the foundations for the resurrection of the industry have been laid: the users have started to demand online content and the public sector has shown it is ready to meet the industry’s need for new skills and infrastructure. However, as I have tried to point out, traditional publishing houses probably won’t leave their current lethargy — for they cannot do it without jeopardizing the very grounds of their business, which still revolves around paper copies consigned in physical bookstores.
In my opinion, given that the migration of the industry won’t come from analog publishers suddenly becoming digital but from new players joining the game, what we need now is a new generation of digital publishers entering the scene and taking over. This will require a big effort from that cohort, but the attempt will be worth making, since what is at stake is no less than the vitality of the forthcoming Argentinean (e)book industry.
I’ve been fascinated with Argentina since reading Hopscotch fifteen million (or so) years ago, and have been fascinated with the Argentine publishing scene since visiting Buenos Aires on an editor’s trip a few years back. Argentina happens to be the Guest of Honor at Frankfurt this year, and I’m planning on writing a number of stories about the Argentine publishing scene for the Publishing Perspectives Show Daily.
Anyway, you can check out Octavio’s complete article by clicking here.
This week I’m technically guest editing over at Publishing Perspectives, so we may not be posting quite as many things here. (Or at least not as many serious articles.)
Ed Nawotka—the regular editor of Publishing Perspectives—put together the majority of pieces to run this week, including the one today about Jennifer Belle paying actresses to read her book in public. (Essentially she created her own BzzAgent army.)
I did commission the piece by Octavio Kulesz that will run tomorrow on the Argentine ebook market, and will be writing Friday’s editorial . . . Also, I’ll be putting up a couple posts over there every day, so, well, you should check them out. And subscribe to Publishing Perspectives—it’s one of the very best daily newsletters/websites dedicated to the business of publishing. It has a decisively international focus and all of the regular features are brilliant.
The always interesting Publishing Perspectives has a great double-sided post today about publisher branding, with Erin Cox advocating for publishers to spend more time & money on this, and Sarah Russo arguing about why publishers shouldn’t “brand the brand.”
It’s not hard to figure out where I stand on this argument, but I’ll try and objectively summarize both sides, starting with Erin:
In the last decade or more, the trend in trade publishing has been to focus on branding an author instead of an imprint. There are some notable exceptions, but, for the most part, publishers’ branding rarely extends beyond the colophon on the spine and printed at the bottom of an advertisement.
Ask any publisher, and they will say that the average reader does not relate to a publisher, they relate to an author. This may be true, but is this merely because publishers are not doing enough to brand themselves and their types of books? Is there more that could be done that would make imprints stand out, thus attracting more readers, and allowing savvy publishers to be more competitive in an already-saturated marketplace?
Before I begin, I would like to define the term “branding” as a method by which a publisher or a publishing imprint defines who they are and the types of books they publish in order to establish a relationship with the reader.
Anything that promotes a closer connection between readers and publishers is a good idea in my book. But going on, here are a couple examples Erin includes on how to build a brand:
Sure, there is a colophon on the side of the book, but why not create a standard package that helps to assert that this is a book published by [INSERT PUBLISHER HERE]. It could be expanding the colophon to take over the whole spine (which might also inspire bibliophiles to want the whole collection for their library) or be something more dramatic like Library of America’s uniform edition or the consistently colored spines of the aforementioned New York Review of Books editions.
And here’s a slightly more embarrassing/meta suggestion:
Put a Face to the House
Go forth and talk to the readers. Train a few editors, publicists, marketing people to be spokespeople for the company. Get them out there doing interviews, host a book club in a local store, write a blog about the books they publish, get them on panels at festivals and fairs beyond the traditional writing festivals. That’s how magazines help to brand themselves, why not book publishers? Chad Post, Publishing Perspectives contributor and Publisher at Open Letter, is almost more famous than his imprint. He was recently on “The Newshour with Jim Lehrer” and is regularly on local television in Rochester.
I agree with all of this—with the caveat that this makes most sense when the publishing house (or imprint) has a clear focus. It’s hard to brand a general house that’s appealing to one group of people with its cookbooks, another with its poetry, etc. Not that it’s impossible—I trust in Knopf for basically anything in any category (although recent conversations about Dragon Pizzeria have shaken my faith a bit)—just that it’s easier if you are a certain definable thing.
Flipping sides, here’s a few quotes from Sarah Russo about why publishers shouldn’t brand themselves:
I’m of the belief that publisher or imprint specific branding would be not only fairly fruitless for trade publishers but also hugely time consuming and a financial drain. Branding, specifically online branding, works in niches that allow you to reach specific communities. A branding campaign needs a defined target or it is destined to fail. [. . .]
The abundance of publisher Facebook pages, blogs and Twitter feeds suggest that publishers want to go direct to consumers, but many are not reaching that audience at all. Some market research on the bigger imprints’ Facebook pages would likely report that their “fans” are already in the industry (or want to be). Pantheon has 724 followers this morning. Sixty-five of those followers are publishing people that I know personally. That’s a hefty percentage. And that’s a lot of effort expended to get those 700 fans, a minimum of 10% of which are in the industry.
That’s the best paragraph in here, especially considering that Open Letter has almost 1,500 FB fans . . . It actually sort of proves my point that you have to be somewhat specific to be able to build a brand.
So we need to reach a new group of readers. I don’t think our reading public is spending hours watching TV each day. However, targeted TV ads could work in the right markets using the right TV programs. Slate tested an interesting TV ad experiment recently. It’s not out of the question, but it can be strategically limiting financially and production-wise. (I’m not intentionally leaving out radio but NPR ads are frequently used by publishers and are nothing new.)
I think I’m done quoting from her. Sure, this is all fine and good, but none of her suggestions address the fact that the old model is creaky and not very adaptable to an age of connectivity. I agree that it would be a huge waste of money for Random House to try and rebrand itself—that’s just plain silly. But entertaining the idea of TV ads strikes me as being as misguiding as launching a billboard campaign. (Does anyone actually watch live TV anymore anyway?)
Sorry—I thought I could write a balanced post about this, but I can’t. Even if general readers don’t necessarily pay attention to who is publishing which books, a savvy, strategic branding campaign can help build a loyal audience in a relatively cheap and easy way. And who doesn’t want a core group of fans buying and talking about their books?
Over at Publishing Perspectives, Emily Williams continues her series of articles on scouting with one about why more books aren’t published in English translation. Her focus is more on “large scale houses that compete for high profile submissions” than on the small, indie, nonprofits like Open Letter and Dalkey Archive and Melville House and New Directions that do do a number of books in translation, making this piece an interesting complement to a lot of the things we’ve written about here. (And thanks for the shout-out, Emily!)
Right from the start she hits one the bleak cycle of translations in today’s book market:
A vicious cycle develops where the difficulty of placing books in the US makes it less likely foreign publishers and agents will invest in packaging their authors to submit here, which makes it harder for US editors to develop an understanding of foreign markets and what authors might be the best match for their audience. This, in turn, arguably contributes to the scattershot nature of publishing translations here and the chances that the books that do get published will find success.
And if you want to catch a glimpse of the differences in editorial practices between a small press and a large one, check this out:
There is no comparably mature translation market for any one language in the English speaking world, and the fact that books coming into the American market come from many different countries and languages makes it harder for editors here to develop the expertise in what any market has to offer, and which books from that country have the best shot of appealing to American readers. The books that are sold for translation here are more likely to come through the handful of US agents with close ties to one region or another, who are themselves usually working through professional relationships with particular agents or publishers abroad. What books by foreign authors that end up crossing an American editor’s desk, then, depends in no small part on chance and good connections. Rachel Kahan, a Senior Editor at Putnam who reads fluently in Spanish, admits, “If they don’t have a US agent and they aren’t being conspicuously packaged for the US sale, which is the case a lot of the time, I tend to luck into things.”
There are some instances where the absence of an American agent offers a savvy editor the advantage of speed, but in most cases American representation makes things easier.
“Not all editors in the business have relationships with their colleagues overseas or with foreign agents, so if there’s an American on board, I think in some cases it lends the project a little more visibility,” said Kahan. “And also if there’s an American agent there’s usually a translation or a partial translation of the book itself. That [US] subagent will have packaged it in a way that’s the most accessible and maximizes its potential for the American market. Whereas when it’s been an author that I’ve discovered, then I’m doing all of that work myself. [I’m] the one saying, ‘You really have to trust me here, I think this is going to work, I’m staking my reputation on it.’”
The article—which you should really read in its entirety—ends on a much more positive note than it begins, although for a literary elitist like myself, it’s a bit bittersweet . . . Anyway, talking about how to make a book in translation sell:
Kahan emphatically agrees, citing authors Marek Halter, the French-speaking author of religious historical fiction whose books she acquired while working at Crown, and Luis Miguel Rocha, the Portuguese author of the thrillers The Last Pope and The Holy Bullet, which she publishes at Putnam.
“Both speak reasonably good English and are very charismatic and very interesting,” says Kahan, “and in both cases they came to New York, they met our sales people, they were involved in the publicity of the book. And, yes, that made a really big difference.”
These success stories have given Kahan the impetus to continue to look for great authors from abroad. “I know it’s very often said, Americans don’t read books in translation, and publishers aren’t interested in foreign writers, and that is not the case,” she asserts. “We’re not buying as much in other languages as our counterparts overseas are, but we are definitely buying them and there are certainly ones who break out. The first book I bought by Marek Halter [Sarah] has sold over 200,000 copies. They do work. They’re harder to make work, there’s no doubt about that, but there’s this idea that American publishers just throw up a wall and don’t take a chance on writers who don’t write in English, and I don’t think that’s the case.”
As was announced yesterday, Kirkus Reviews (and Editor & Publisher) is shutting down. Which kind of has people a bit worked up. It’s not every day that you see such a palpable sign of your industry’s troubles as when one of the few pure trade publications just ceases to be.
When I was at Dalkey, a Kirkus review was a time to bitch and moan about how reviewers never understood our books, and how irritating the phrase “not for everyone” really can be. Some of the meanest reviews I’ve read in my life came from Kirkus. Their anonymous reviewers could pile on a book like no one else. (Although miraculously, for whatever reason, they absolutely love Open Letter titles, giving us our first starred review, taking a look at all of our titles from the get go, etc.)
Along with Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, Kirkus has served as one of the most influential advance reviews around. Jerome Kramer does a great job summing this up and looking at some of the implications in his editorial for Publishing Perspectives:
I know the significant value Kirkus has in its brand equity, the decades of accumulated goodwill, or at least begrudging respect, for its often-accurate, frequently-prescient and sometimes perversely mean-spirited reviews. For decades, those reviews have been a critical piece of the tinder that publicists use to light a fire under a book—the real flame coming from the coverage in People or The New York Times or Oprah. The industry religion has held that those places, where coverage can actually move a lot of copies, look to the advance sources for guidance. [. . .]
So it may well be that the magazine’s end is entirely an unfortunate outcome of media company bean-counting. The intriguing question, though, is whether the industry still needs advance reviews the way it used to. Like it or not, they’re worth less every day in a world where everyone’s sister’s friend has a handle or a blog like Readermommy or Bookluvah (I tried to make up names that don’t exist, really I did, but it’s near impossible—sorry Readermommy and Bookluvah). The dynamics that used to drive book promotion and marketing have been radically altered over the past five to ten years, with the explosion of online equivalents to hand-selling and friend recommendations so incredibly prevalent all over the web. The decimation of conventional review outlets has been well documented and thoroughly lamented. But it may well be that the takeover of the real-estate formerly occupied by thoroughly-informed, well-read, smarty-pants professional reviewers by user-generated content and literary bloggers is inexorable.
The reality is that today’s generation of book marketers and publicists will figure out how to move ahead, with or without advance reviews, and the staffers at People and The New York Times and Oprah will have no shortage of sources coaxing them to this or that title. And yet, there remains the distinct sense that something will be missing, that some gap will be opened up. And what that means, of course, is an opportunity for someone to fill it. Good luck, someone.
Just wanted to mention that I’m going to be writing a number of articles for the Publishing Perspectives Show Daily at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair. Actually, I’m working on a bunch of them right now . . . But that said, if you have an interesting announcement/story/event related to the FBF, please feel free to contact me at chad.post [at] rochester [dot] edu. We’re still looking for good story ideas . . .
First off, I can’t believe that I managed to leave Hallgrimur Helgason off of yesterday’s list of contemporary Icelandic authors. His novel 101 Reykjavik was published a few years back by Scribner, and was also made into a movie. The book of his that always sounded most interested to me though is The Author of Iceland. Here’s a description Daniel Mandel once sent me:
The Author of Iceland, winner of the 2001 Icelandic Literature Prize, is about a writer named Einar Grimsson, who is a character based on the great Icelandic writer Halldor Laxness. The novel begins with Einar in old age, who one day wakes up to discover he is now living in one of his own novels. Grimsson slowly becomes younger as the novel progresses, and his life is explored in reverse—falling in love, embracing Stalinist ideologies, and trying to make good on the mistakes of his own life. But Grimsson can’t change fate, and soon realizes that he is trapped in his own novel, and fiction is no different than life.
Rounding out my week of posts about Iceland, here’s the article I wrote for Publishing Perspectives on the Festival and the recent interest in Icelandic fiction:
Although Iceland has had some very notable cultural exports — Halldor Laxness, Bjork, and Sigur Ros among them — last fall’s spectacular economic collapse probably brought more attention to this island nation than any other event in its modern history. One year later, the financial sector may still be recovering, but its literary scene is thriving.
“Our goal is to get people to have a crush on Iceland and Icelandic literature.” That’s how Agla Magnúsdóttir — the director of the Icelandic Literature Fund, and one of the organizers of the Reykjavik International Literary Festival — described last week’s series of readings, interviews, and other cultural events.
Dozens of writers from both Iceland and abroad participated in the festival, including Gyrðir Elíasson, Kristín Ómarsdóttir, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Steinar Bragi, Thor Vilhjálmsson (all from Iceland), Naja Marie Aidt (Denmark), Michael Ondaatje (Canada), David Sedaris (U.S.), Jesse Ball (U.S.), Henning Ahrens (Germany), and Ngugi wa Thiong’o (Kenya).
The events were very well attended, which shouldn’t be that surprising, considering there’s been increased sales of Icelandic fiction in the domestic market. Most publishers figured that in a time of great economic upheaval, self-help and nonfiction would dominate the best-seller lists, but instead, it seems that most Icelandic readers are looking for an escape. According to Úa Matthíasdóttir of Forlagið-Iceland’s largest trade publisher — there was a surge in sales for fiction last Christmas that went against conventional wisdom.
Total broken record moment, but if you haven’t subscribed to the Publishing Perspectives daily newsletter, you definitely should. The pieces are always interesting, and very well done.
Anyway, a couple months back I was planning on writing a long piece on Turkish fiction coming out this year, including Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar’s A Mind at Peace, Orhan Kemel’s The Idle Years, and two Selçuk Altun titles, Songs My Mother Never Taught Me and Many and Many a Year Ago. I had a hard time getting into Songs My Mother Never Taught Me, then got distracted with other things, and then and then it’s suddenly the middle of August . . .
But today’s piece in Publishing Perspectives has remotivated me (is this even a word?) to take a look at the latest Altun book.
As Ed Nawotka writes in his article, Altun’s an interesting guy. He’s served on the board of YKY (Yapi Kredi Publications), one of Turkey’s largest publishers, and was was chairman of Yapi Kredi Bank until he retired at the age of 54 to become a writer. He paid to have his first book translated into English, working under the (mostly correct) assumption that once it was in English there was a much better chance of getting it translated into a bunch of other languages.
That’s all cool (and noble—his book earnings fund three scholarships!), but it’s the book itself that sounds intriguing to me:
Many and Many a Year Ago concerns a young Turkish fighter pilot who, after crashing his F-16, is set up with a generous stipend and an apartment in Istanbul’s Taksim district. In return, the convalescing daredevil must undertake a series of mysterious missions following in the footsteps of American writer Edgar Allen Poe, taking him from Istanbul to Buenos Aires, and beyond. Eventually, he arrives at Poe’s gravesite in Baltimore.
“It is part literature and part travel book, a little bit of Paul Auster and Bruce Chatwin,” says Altun. “It is a Sheherezade-like reading experience in that there’s a chain of eight stories within stories. Poe was himself a very rich character, though financially poor. He was polyglot, he had dreams, and if he had money he would have lived his life in a rich way, so what I tried to do was imagine what the life of a post-modern, well-off Poe would have been like.”
I’ve got a stack of “to be reviewed” titles going already, but this is moving quickly toward the top . . . Speaking of which, we’re always looking for more book reviewers, so if anyone’s interested, e-mail me at chad.post at rochester dot edu.
Today’s Publishing Perspectives piece is a great editorial by editor Ed Nawotka on e-books, specifically in relation to kids books:
My daughter loves to read. “Book, ook, ook,” she’ll say, trying to form the right word that will get my attention to plop onto a beanbag chair, pull her into my lap, and read to her from her growing library of small, square board books. There are some A-Z books, some “colors” and “shapes” books, some Dr. Seuss and Richard Scarry. But most often, what she wants is something by Sandra Boynton — Barnyard Dance, Horns to Toes — books that are age-appropriate. These are books full of sing-songy prose and hippos, elephants, and dogs doing things like bathing, brushing their teeth, and pulling on pajamas — all the things she’s now learning to do herself. My daughter loves these books so much that she literally tries to climb inside them. Now that’s commitment.
But what I fear, as things go digital, is that a lot of the visceral love of reading will be lost. Not the romance of paper — although, there is that — but that physical connection one gets with books from an early age. That climbing into the book my daughter is doing, the way she can’t turn the page fast enough when she’s excited, the way she flips it aside when she’s done.
Of course, there will always be children’s board books. But the question is, as more and more parents spend more and more time with e-book readers and less with physical books, what kind of example does that serve? Don’t we spend enough time in front of screens as it is?
I know my daughter responds to books because, in part, as an infant she had to crawl through what must have looked like looming towers of review copies, threatening at a moment’s notice to topple over on her. She was both curious about and wary of these piles. Would the same have happened if all my galleys came via e-mail to my Kindle?
And over toward the other end of the spectrum, Steven Levingston laments Polymer Vision’s financial troubles, and the fact that this might kill the Readius e-reader they were developing. Collective shrug—if it ain’t Apple’s tablet, it ain’t worth a damn. Still, this did sound (and look) sort of cool:
In prototype, it is a pocket-sized gadget about the size of a pack of cigarettes. What sets it apart is the flexible, flip-out screen. Open the thing up, and you unfold a 5-inch display. Finish reading and fold it up again, clip it closed and stuff it back in your pocket. The company claimed it had tested the screen’s flexibility more than 25,000 times and discovered no degradation in readability.
Like the Kindle, the Readius would have a high-speed wireless connection for downloading books on the run. The screen uses high-resolution, low power E-Ink.
The device also was designed as a mobile phone.
If you’re interested, there’s a video at the bottom of the article demonstrating the flexibility—and cigarette-pack qualities—of the Readius.
And if you’re a venture capitalist looking to bail out Polymer Vision (is this an oxymoron?), I suggest you give all your money to Open Letter through the link below.
Today’s Publishing Perspectives (which everyone in the universe should subscribe to), has a great piece by Lance Fensterman, the man behind BookExpo America, the New York Comic Con, the New York Anime Fest, and the soon-to-be-launched Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo. The interaction (or lack thereof) between publishers and readers is a long-running hobbyhorse of mine, so this bit is of particular interest to me:
But for all this nuance, what is the real distinction between all these shows? Since I work so closely with both the business to business model and the con (or consumer/public) model, my observation is that the cons (I use this term generically to define SDCC, NYCC, C2E2) drive media coverage, are epicenters of energy, and allow an incredibly porous connection between creator and consumer. Trade events (exclusively business to business environments) lack this porous connection between creator and consumer. The con model is based on an outside-in style of connection and promotion; the creators are there to hear from the consumers, to influence the consumers, and to interact with the consumers. The model at trade events such as BEA is much more inside-out. Publishers are there to influence emissaries or tastemakers who are then expected to take the message to the book buying public based on what they saw and who they met.
The notable increase of bloggers at BEA and the quality and quantity of information that is conveyed through the Internet is certainly changing the paradigm at BEA as the “public” is becoming increasingly involved through a Web based universe. But this introduction of a public component is a long way from what we see at SDCC or NYCC. I am not suggesting that there is a perfect model for any single event. Different shows serve different purposes. But just as NYCC needs to think about building a better business to business environment to set it apart, so too does BEA need to think about creating more direct communication with the public. We live in a world where everyone feels empowered to have a “say” and to wield some influence. Since this is the case, I think it is appropriate for both NYCC and BEA to ask the question: just who is an industry insider anymore?
Today’s Publishing Perspectives includes an editorial that I wrote about the “state of translations” in America attempting to explain the dip in the number of translations coming out this year:
For years, people have speculated that the number of literary works in translation being published in the United States has been in decline. I say “speculate,” because the publishing industry — which is notoriously poor at market research and data gathering — didn’t really keep track of how many translations were being published here, instead relying almost entirely on wistful memories of days gone by and other equally questionable anecdotal evidence. Two years ago, I started a “Translation Database” at the Web site ThreePercent.com to finally quantify what’s going on with literature in translation, and although data for 2009 is still coming in, it looks like there will be a bit of a drop off this year — of as much as 10%.
On one hand, this is pretty easy to explain: it’s because of the economy. But in my opinion, we’re talking about two different economic problems causing this. Book sales are down, which really hurts commercial presses and makes them less likely to publish “expensive” books like translations. And at the same time, nonprofits and university presses (which publish the bulk of translations already), are struggling to find funding, what with foundations losing a lot of their endowments in the stock market, and individual donors struggling as well.
It’s a crappy situation, and unless a few rainmakers appear, 2010 will most likely see a further drop in translations being published in America . . . Just a little happy note to kick off your Friday . . .
Yesterday’s Publishing Perspectives (which you should really subscribe to if you haven’t already—it is that consistently good) had an interesting piece about a digital distribution company for ebooks that is being set up by Planeta, Random House Mondadori, and Santillana (the three biggest publishers in Spain). Here’s more from Emily Williams’s article:
This initiative will go hand in hand with a major marketing effort starting with a splashy launch of e-books and e-readers this holiday season through at least one major retailer. They have set a goal of having every frontlist title able to be published simultaneously in both print and ebook form by mid 2011. [. . .]
In negotiations with the Association of Spanish Literary Agencies (ADAL), the publishers have agreed to price ebooks at 80% of a printed books cover price, with a standard 25% royalty rate. Booksellers will be offered a maximum discount of 50%. The two groups hope to sign an agreement soon.
Although the Carmen Balcells Agency isn’t too keen on this 25% royalty rate (they want 40%!! Not sure if they realize yet that although they have a stellar list of authors, this means absolutely nothing if there are no publishers in business to publish said authors’ books. Agents!), this seems pretty civilized and like the Big Three actually thought this all through.
What’s really interesting to me is this 80% of printed retail. In a completely free market, I still believe that supply and demand will bring the amount readers are willing to pay much closer to $9.99 than 80% of a typical hardcover. But, like in a number of countries, Spain operates under a fixed price law that determines what price books are sold to the public. In other words, there is no discounting, which greatly changes the retailing landscape.
This “long tail effect” has not yet had much of an impact on the Spanish book market, which has not embraced online book retailing to the same extent as other countries. Spain reliance on fixed book prices has kept away powerful online discounters like Amazon.com. This gives publishers much more leeway to experiment with pricing on their own terms, and will also determine how Spanish ebooks will be sold internationally. In most cases Spanish publishers control the worldwide Spanish language rights to the books they publish (both native and translated authors) and will be able to sell their ebooks to consumers anywhere in the world. However, because of price controls those purchases will have to go through Spanish booksellers or other sites that respect the terms set by the Spanish market. This would likely exclude Amazon, who will not only be unable to sell books in Spain, but will not have access to the vast majority of Spanish language titles for either the US or Latin American market.
Anne-Solange Noble of Gallimard is a huge proponent of this law, and was asking me at BEA about why we don’t do this in America. (Short answer: propose something anti-free market like this and you’ll be tarred and feathered as a Communist.) Her argument is that the fixed price law has helped keep independent bookstores in business, and allowed publishers to continue to publish poetry and other sorts of books that typically don’t sell all that well.
Personally, I am in favor of something like this, because it would level the playing field in a potentially interesting way. Part of the problem with the book industry is the fact that every outlet has raced toward the middle, and the same books are being promoted at all the stores at the same time. With certain exceptions (the City Lights, McNally Jacksons, Seminary Co-ops of the world), most stores strive to be the same as every other store. You can get the same book anywhere—even online. So for your average reader, price becomes the only distinguishing factor between B&N, Amazon, or Idlewild. If the ability to set your own prices were removed, it would be a lot easier (or tougher, depending on your point of view) to highlight the value-added components of these outlets.
Putting all that rhetoric aside for a second, the other reason I think this is such an important story is the line about Spanish publishers being able to sell their books all over the world. When I was in Buenos Aires last year, this “Spanish world rights” issue really caught my attention. Since the largest Spanish language publishers are in Spain, and since they tend to buy world Spanish rights to the books they publish, a reader in Argentina has to pay an exorbitant amount for a book imported from Spain. Ebooks solve this dilemma, eliminating all of the shipping costs, etc., and, if the device is cheap/good enough, could revolutionize the Spanish market around the world.
From today’s Publishing Perspectives piece by Moser about the origins of his project (Why This World) and all that he went through to research this elusive figure:
Maybe because the project began with such élan, I found myself undaunted by the many obstacles that were thrown at me. Neither the cuisine of rural Ukraine, where Clarice, the daughter of Jewish refugees was born; nor the rush-hour traffic in Recife, where she grew up; nor the zealous guardians of the archives of Bern, where she lived as the wife of a Brazilian diplomat, could dissuade me from my task.
I pored over thousands of pages of master’s theses from obscure universities; I learned Yiddish in order to read family memoirs. Time and again, I tugged out an abusively overused credit card: to buy books, including, ultimately, more copies of her rare first novel, Near to the Wild Heart, than are in all the libraries in the United States put together; to chase down some elusive materials in a suburban house in Manchester; to pay a visit to a man in Paris who may or may not have been her lover (he wasn’t); to put myself on yet another fourteen-hour economy flight in order to spend long days speaking to often-reluctant witnesses.
I got called an anti-Semite and an Ugly American; I also got to spend afternoons with loving Jewish grandmothers who made me tea and sent their maids to my hotel with homemade soup when I came down with the flu. I got to eat pizza with a woman in Kiev who had just returned from Chernobyl and who casually laid her Geiger counter on the table as she was digging through her purse in search of her cigarettes.
So a couple weeks ago I caused a little bit of a stir by announcing via an article in Publishing Perspectives that we were abandoning the paper-over-board format in favor of all paperbacks. We got a lot of responses about this, ranging from people who were disappointed and love paper-over-board, to booksellers explaining that yes, they were shelving these in the hardcover section which has a very different market.
In the end, I think we did the right thing, but one of the reasons we were resisting this change is because we were afraid that reviewers wouldn’t take the paperbacks as seriously as the hardcover, p-o-b books.
But everyone assured us that those days are over . . . that paperback originals are acceptable to everyone, etc., etc.
We send each new catalog to hundreds of reviewers, bloggers, booksellers, and usually include a letter offering free reading copies if there are any titles you might like to review. So today we received this response from The Post and Courier in South Carolina:
“Thanks, Chad, but we do not review softcover books.”
My first article for Publishing Perspectives went live this morning and is all about the advantages (and disadvantages) of the paper-over-board format.
I have a visceral hatred for dust jackets – I strip them off, I crinkle them, I lose them. So in 2007, when in the process of launching Open Letter (a new publishing house at the University of Rochester dedicated to international literature), we had to decide whether we wanted to do our books as paperbacks, traditional hardcovers, or some third, more unique design, like “paper-over-board.”
Basically, paper-over-board books are hardcovers without a dust jacket. But not those musty, dowdy books you might find in an abandoned corner of a library . . . Printing technologies have come a long way, and now paper-over-board books can be as vibrant and attractive as any paperback, and printed in the same trade size as well.
This format is pretty common among European presses: Proa Editions in Barcelona produces a gorgeous line of paper-over-board books, as does Wydawnictwo W.A.B. in Warsaw, another Polish publisher, Swiat Ksiazki, and Karolinum Press in Prague (which also uses some of the most buttery paper I’ve ever stroked).
It’s not very common in the United States though. Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books are paper-over-board, and for adult fiction, HarperCollins USA published both Toby Barlow’s Sharp Teeth and Dubravka Ugresic’s The Ministry of Pain as paper-over-board titles, but those are the rare exceptions. (One independent bookseller who’s a big fan of this format showed a copy of one of Open Letter’s books to sales rep from a major distributor, who then replied, “Well, it looks pretty European” in a way that was probably pejorative.)
Marketing was the primary motivating factor in our decision making process. Our paper-over-board books would definitely stand out in the bookstore and would be very classy (or so we thought). And we also thought (although as you’ll see below this gets a bit complicated) that readers would appreciate being able to get a nice looking, durable hardcover at a very reasonable price.
Unfortunately, as is explained at the end of the piece, this format can be a bit baffling to customers and bookstores alike, falling in between the traditional hardcover market and paperback buyers. And since our mission really is to reach as many readers as possible with our books—and since we think we’ll be able to reach more with paperbacks—we’ve decided to do all paperbacks for the next season. This isn’t saying that we won’t go back to paper-over-board at some point (man, I really do love that format), but for the sake of our authors, we’re at least going to try this out.
It doesn’t officially launch until June 1st, but Publishing Perspectives the new daily newsletter from the Frankfurt Book Fair, and run by Ed Nawotka and Hannah Johnson is off to a pretty solid start. It’s kind of a “literary VeryShortList,” featuring one interesting, well-developed story each day and some additional bonus information online.
The first week included a piece about Eva Gabrielsson, Stieg Larsson’s long-time partner, who, thanks to Swedish inheritance laws, doesn’t get a dime (er, krona) from Larsson’s sales. (She is writing a book about her experiences though.)
I can hardly be objective about reviewing this—I’m good friends with both Hannah and Ed, and really like their sensibilities—but I honestly believe that this is a perfect addition to the existing newsletters (like PW Daily, Shelf Awareness, Publishers Lunch) and publishing news sites (like GalleyCat, Literary Saloon) that are out there. It’s a fantastic approach—I’ve written this elsewhere, but one-item newsletters are the thing right now—and provides a great, um, perspective on the publishing industry.
This slender, uncanny volume—the second, best-selling collection of stories by Russian author Ludmilla Petrushevskaya to appear in the U.S.—has already received considerable, well-deserved praise from many critics and high profile publications. Its seventeen short tales, averaging ten pages each, are. . .
The Urdu word basti refers to any space, intimate to worldly, and is often translated as “common place” or “a gathering place.” This book by Intizar Husain, who is widely regarded as one of the most important living Pakistani writers,. . .
The Whispering Muse, one of three books by Icelandic writer Sjón just published in North America, is nothing if not inventive. Stories within stories, shifting narration, leaps in time, and characters who transform from men to birds and back again—you’ve. . .
Luis Negrón’s debut collection Mundo Cruel is a journey through Puerto Rico’s gay world. Published in 2010, the book is already in its fifth Spanish edition. Here in the U.S., the collection has been published by Seven Stories Press and. . .
To have watched from one of your patios
the ancient stars
from the bank of shadow to have watched
the scattered lights
my ignorance has learned no names for
nor their places in constellations
to have heard the ring of. . .
When Icelandic author Andri Snær Magnason first published LoveStar, his darkly comic parable of corporate power and media influence run amok, the world was in a very different place. (This was back before both Facebook and Twitter, if you can. . .
When starting Hi, This Is Conchita and Other Stories, Santiago Roncagliolo’s second work to be translated into English, I was expecting Roncagliolo to explore the line between evil and religion that was front and center in Red April. Admittedly, I. . . | <urn:uuid:009cdf5c-80cb-4c65-88db-cf2211712f4c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rochester.edu/College/translation/threepercent/?s=tag&t=publishing-perspectives | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95786 | 31,411 | 1.617188 | 2 |
was born on July 27, 1971. He himself claims to have been attracted to the National Socialist
movement in Germany
(the former Nazi
party) at an early age, reading such works as Mein Kampf
and ultimately inconclusive
book written by Adolf Hitler
while in prison) and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
. At age 8, he started a group in his elementary school called "The New Reich", a fraternal
group which centered on racism. He completed high school and attended Bradley University
, graduating with a BA in political science
. He became interested in The World Church of the Creator
at this time.
The World Church of the Creator's original founder, Ben Klassen, committed suicide on August 6, 1993. This led to a large disorganization within the group and, for a few years, factions and splinter groups attempted to take control. In 1996 on July 27 (his birthday), Matt Hale was appointed Pontifex Maximus, a term which was used in the early Christian church to denote the "highest priest". The pope is now Pontifex Maximus in the Catholic religion.
Hale has been on many talk shows and interviewed by many reputable news sources. While these groups have no affiliation with Hale or his organization, it has been a key opportunity to see just what Hale has to say. Some little gems include:
"The niggers and other mud races, which are anti-civilization by nature, have been "tolerated", the result being that the civilization is gradually ceasing to exist. As a nigger, for example, cannot be made to identify with that which is not in his nature, he can only make America like that which is in his nature: an anarchical jungle. Those who reign, therefore, are responsible for the growing mayhem in our country. They are responsible for the growing destruction of the American civilization."
"I can spot Jews pretty readily. Of course there are the classic features of a hook nose, in fact one of our members puts it pretty well, a rat like appearance. The shape of the skull is different. The mouth is different often times. The eyes are very different. So all these factors in combination show a person to be a Jew."
"We will not be firing the shots, but if we wish to walk into a territory here or there and they fire back, well that will be war." "Does the Church still support the idea of shipping the mud races back to their native lands? Of course, we have never deviated from that position. We never will and that's only the first step. We will withdraw all aid to them and they will wither on the vine. And one day white people will be basking in the sun of Africa in their own countries. I like that thought, Africa is a beautiful continent lets colonize the place as it should have been done, it was done at one time but it wasn't done right. It's time to do it right and drive the non-whites off the face of the earth."
(all quotes taken from www.onepeoplesproject.com) | <urn:uuid:8d87f44c-27e9-4921-b7cf-05d6edc96959> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://everything2.com/title/Matt+Hale | 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 | 0.978403 | 645 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Pa. Turnpike tolls rise 10 percent for cash customers
January 6, 2013By Mary Wilson
Higher tolls are set to begin Sunday for drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
For the third consecutive year, the toll hikes are higher for cash-paying motorists while drivers with E-ZPass will see an increase of about 2 percent.
The hike is in keeping with annual toll increases over the past five years, says Bill Capone, spokesman for the Turnpike Commission.
"When you calculate it, it's overall about a 3 percent annual increase, when you average it out," he said. "And that's kind of what we've been looking at over the last several years, overall roughly a 3 percent increase."
But cash-paying customers will see their fares go up 10 percent.
Capone says the reason for the difference in rates is to encourage motorists to use E-ZPass, as the Turnpike moves toward converting to all-electronic tolling.
Annual toll hikes began for the Turnpike in 2009 -- due, in part, to state law requiring the roadway to pay $450 million annually to PennDOT. | <urn:uuid:2e73399e-fedf-4ddb-a455-c60257b4d6fa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/49131-tolls-going-up-sunday-on-pa-turnpike?Itemid=1&linktype=hp_impact | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962028 | 241 | 1.5 | 2 |
Teleflip, the people who made it really easy to email any cell phone, have unleashed a new service called FlipMail, designed to forward emails to your cell phone as text messages.
Here's how it works: You sign up for FlipMail, giving them your phone number, email address, and email password (not easy to do, I know). Then you give FlipMail the email address you want to receive email from, and only those messages will be forwarded to your phone. We first covered how you can forward Gmail messages to your phone forever ago, and if you're not keen on passing out your info to a third party, that's a smart way to go. On the other hand, FlipMail's service offers innovative control and customization for how your email is delivered, and you can even reply to the emails you receive via SMS... in theory, at least.
Much to my frustration, I had trouble getting FlipMail working with my phone and Gmail account (even after following these instructions), so your mileage may vary. The ability to not only push the email to your phone, but also to reply, could be a really useful feature for anyone who wants email push capabilities for their cell phone but doesn't want to shell out for a spendy data plan. If you give FlipMail a try, let us know how it works for you in the comments. | <urn:uuid:9974a987-2deb-4c0a-adf9-f40e07433bd0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lifehacker.com/271974/push-email-to-your-phone-as-a-text-message-with-flipmail | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953103 | 278 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Civil unrest in Egypt and fears about a shutdown of oil shipments through the Suez Canal are stoking higher crude prices and calls in Congress for expanding domestic energy production.
Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., the head of the House Natural Resources Committee, said the Egyptian turmoil is a fresh reminder that the United States’ reliance on foreign oil is a “national security issue.”
“We get so much of our energy from that part of the world,” Hastings said. “With the volatility in the Middle East right now, I think it is in our best interest to utilize the resources we have here, whether we’re talking about the Gulf of Mexico, the outer continental shelf or federal land.”
Protesters have poured into the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities to demand the ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak. Police have used tear gas to quell the riots, and U.S. chartered flights were whisking Americans out of the country on Monday. Transocean Ltd., has temporarily closed its Cairo office amid the demonstrations and Statoil ASA also is halting offshore drilling in the region.
Although Egypt only produces about 700,000 barrels per day, less than 1 percent of the global supply, the turmoil and concerns that it could spread throughout the region have driven up U.S. oil futures.
The price of crude oil for March delivery closed Monday at $92.19 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Meanwhile, in London, Brent crude futures settled at $101.01 a barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange — exceeding $100 for the first time since 2008.
Rep. Jeff Landry, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Louisiana, said the U.S. should respond to the Egyptian turmoil by immediately green-lighting drilling projects on federal lands and waters.
“Every day we fail to utilize our own energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico and across America is a day our economy is held captive to clashes in Egypt, dictators in Venezuela or terrorists in Western Africa,” Landry said. “Allowing production to occur in the Gulf of Mexico again will help alleviate the economic crisis of a Suez Canal shutdown and prevent Americans from waiting in long lines to pay 5 dollars a gallon for gas.”
Although production was not affected, the Obama administration halted deep-water exploration last year in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The government lifted that drilling moratorium in October, but regulators have not yet approved any new wells that would have been blocked by the ban.
Analysts at the energy investment bank Tudor, Pickering and Holt said the unrest in Egypt could boost pressure on federal regulators to speed up the deep-water permitting process, especially if the turmoil translates to higher prices at the pump.
Hastings predicted that spiking oil prices would force a debate on domestic energy production: “The price of crude (is) going to cause the American public to say: ‘Wait a minute, prices are rising, yet we have all these reserves in our country.’”
Many key decisions about oil and gas production on federal lands and waters are up to the administration — not Congress. But lawmakers could push legislation that would force the government to lease new territories for oil and gas development.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., predicted that the unrest in Egypt would inspire lots of chatter about energy independence on Capitol Hill — just as soaring oil prices did in 2008.
“What we’re seeing in Egypt today is a reminder of our dependence on foreign sources of energy,” Bingaman said at a New Democrat Network event Monday. “Any time there is a disruption or a potential disruption in international supplies of oil, you see a lot of activity around Washington. People give speeches and propose various things need to be done immediately.”
But, Bingaman said, any policy changes — much less expanded production — won’t happen overnight.
“Most of the solutions to our dependence on foreign sources of oil cannot be done immediately,” Bingaman said. “I’m sure there will be calls for us to ramp up production, depending on how the situation in Egypt resolves itself, but I think the truth is most of the action that could be taken will have to occur over a substantial period of time.”
The issue is sure to come up during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing Thursday on the world outlook for oil.
About 600,000 barrels of crude oil and about 1.2 million barrels of refined petroleum products flow through the Suez Canal every day. If it were shut down, tankers would be trade the current 15-hour-long, 120-mile trip through the canal for a journey of at least 6,000 miles around the Cape of Good Hope that could take 600 hours. | <urn:uuid:baccd7a6-3085-4163-874f-ffbee9145055> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/01/31/louisiana-rep-egypt-shows-us-should-start-drilling/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947163 | 1,000 | 1.75 | 2 |
Monthly Archives: June 2012
So, summer’s here and with the sun and fun have come the pests. No, not your in-laws, but rather insects and critters that are just as unwelcome in your home and garden. They don’t seem interested in going away any time soon, either. Pest control can be expensive, not to mention toxic to you, your home, and your environment, and even after all the money is spent, you may still be pestered by unwanted, unwelcome guests. (Alright, maybe they are a bit like the in-laws after all.) Have you considered finding organic pest control companies? Pest control professionals understand that we don’t want or need a bunch of harmful chemicals in our lives and are switching to all-natural means of ridding your world of unwanted guests. But before you call the pros, try some of these all-natural, organic pest control remedies first. You might just be surprised at how well they work!
- Spiders – Get rid of spiders without harmful sprays or chemical compounds. First declutter your porch, deck and other outdoor areas. Spiders love to build their webs in cluttery places. Next, mix a tablespoon of peppermint oil with one quart of water. Spray this around anywhere you don’t want spiders. Inside your home, use lemon oil furniture polish on windowsills and door frames to keep the arachnids from coming in. These oils work because spiders basically “smell” with their legs. When the legs touch the oils, the spider doesn’t like it and high tails it elsewhere.
- Aphids and mealy bugs – Have the critters invaded your garden? Are they destroying all your lovely hard work? Try a mixture of one tablespoon of canola oil, a few drops of Ivory soap and a quart of water. Spray this onto your plants from the tops down, then from the bottoms up (to get the underside of the leaves and stems.) Do this in the cool of the evening. The oil and soap combination will smother the insects and make the leaves less tasty, ensuring that they don’t come back for lunch tomorrow.
- Deer – As beautiful, dainty and delicate as they appear, the white tail and other deer that inhabit the woods and fields not far from many of us seem to have a voracious appetite when it comes to our gardens and orchards. The average deer eats 4 to 5 pounds of green stuff every day, and once they discover a ripe salad bar like your garden or veggie patch, they’ll keep coming back to fill their tanks. To save your prized flowers, fruits, and veggies, try spraying them with the following mixture: 1 cup milk, 2 whole eggs, 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 2 tablespoons liquid detergent or soap and 2 gallons (8 litres) of water. Put it in one of those pump handled sprayers and have a go at your garden. It won’t harm you or your plants, and should keep the deer from snacking the night away.
Remember, all home made, organic pest control mixtures will need frequent re-applications after heavy rains, and sometimes after heavy dews. While they might not last as long as the commercial, chemical compounds, they are typically much cheaper to produce and much safer to use. Don’t get pestered by pests this year!
Most of us know by now how “bad” certain habits are for us. Some of our favorite less-than-healthy pastimes include drinking sugary sodas and caffeine laden coffees, using tobacco, keeping our rears firmly in place on the sofa, eating processed foods because we’re pressed for time. So, in an effort to assist those who are reevaluating their New Year’s Resolutions now that we’re six months into the year, here are some better-for-you alternatives for some of our nastier have-to-have-habits.
- Tobacco Use – Smoking can kill you. Chewing tobacco and snuff are no different. But nicotine is one of the worst addictions to break. But did you know that there are non-nicotine choices out there? There’s the “smokeless” cigarette that allows you to wean yourself away from cancer sticks. No more “smoke breaks” for you! And there are also smokeless tobacco alternatives for chewing tobacco enthusiasts, too. You can enjoy a non-tobacco chew or “dip” anytime. And in whatever form you prefer your smokeless tobacco, online resources can hook you up with just the perfect solution to your new, tobacco-free lifestyle.
- Sodas and coffee drinks – Sugary drinks are bad for you. They make you fat, can lead to diabetes, and they rot your teeth away. And that’s just for starters. Then there’s the coffee drinks. Caffeine can add to your stress level and dehydrate you. All the cream and sugar and artificial flavorings–ditto the soda effects. But there are healthier alternatives. For you coffee drinkers, try the decaf, or the half caf. Give low fat or non fat a go, too. The best thing, though, is water. You say you don’t like water? Have you tried flavored waters? You can create all sorts of naturally flavored waters with a pitcher and some fruit. Try my personal favorites–raspberry mint or peach strawberry. Simply place a bits of cleaned fruit or mint leaves in the pitcher and fill it up. In a few hours or overnight, you’ll have cold, refreshing, good for you, good-tasting water!
- Lack of exercise – There’s no quick and easy fix for this one, but there are ways that you can add exercise to your day without too much trouble. Pass on the evening news and enjoy a walk around the block after dinner instead. Or try a new morning routine that has you up and stretching with the sun. Use your treadmill or stationary bike while watching TV. And then there are the old standbys of “instant” exercise–parking at the back of the lot, taking the stairs instead of the lift, and walking the dog, or the kids, around the block several times a day.
- Processed foods – Processed foods contain all sorts of stuff that you shouldn’t consume. They are laden with high amounts of fat, sugar, salt, calories and artificial sweeteners and preservatives. If you’re regularly pressed for time, try once-a-month cooking. It’s kind of like creating your own frozen dinners. You cook up a bunch of meals all at once. Some are cooked completely, while others are prepared to the point of cooking. Then, the meals are frozen. You simply pull out what you want in the morning (or even at dinner time) reheat and voila! A home cooked meal in minutes. Without all the fat, sugar, salt, and “bad for you” ingredients that no one can pronounce. And if you think you don’t have a big enough freezer compartment, you’d be surprised!
You don’t have to be a slave to your bad habits anymore. Take a step. Take another. Soon, you’ll be running free and clear, and those bad habits will be distant memories.
Much of the country experienced a wetter and warmer than usual winter. Now, for the weather man, that might mean just another statistic. For the ski bunnies, that might mean less wintertime fun than they’ve had in a while. For the old farmer’s wife, and for the rest of us as well, that signals a bug-filled summer. Summertime pest control can be a burden any year, but even more so when the pests arrive earlier than usual, and in seemingly greater numbers. You’ll be reaching for the number to your local pest control company before the first of July! Take heart, dear reader, there are things you can do at home to at least alleviate the problem while you anxiously await the arrival of the exterminator.
- Wasp Nest Removal – Wasps are actually helpful insects to have around, especially in a buggy summer, because they prey on smaller insects. However, if the nest is too close to a door or window, or is endangering your outdoor recreation areas, with a little care and a little help from a friend, you can safely remove it, as long as you and your helpful friend are fully prepared and NOT allergic to stings. First, dress the part. Wear long pants, boots, long sleeves, gardener’s gloves, a hat and fashion a net for your face. Using rubber bands, cuff your pants around the outside of your boots and your sleeves tight to your wrists over your gloves. Wait until the cool of the evening. Supply your friend with a box with a tight fitting lid to hold directly under the nest. Cut the stem of the nest quickly with long-handled and strong pruning shears. As soon as the nest hits the box, slam the lid on and secure it with a round or two of heavy tape. Now, either submerge the box in a tub of cold water or place it in the freezer for several hours. Once the wasps are all dead, you can dispose the box, nest and all, in the trash.
- Fleas – Your dog or cat scratching himself silly may be your first indication that you’ve got a flea problem (if you’re like me, though, the fleas will leave your pet alone and infest you instead… sigh). There are several good “home remedies” for fleas that are fairly easy and inexpensive. Sprinkling Borax washing powder on your carpets and then vacuuming it up removes fleas and their eggs from your carpets (some say this works with upholstery as well but I’ve not personally tried it). Bathing your pet in good old fashioned blue dishwashing detergent (no bleach, no “ultra” formula, just the plain old blue stuff) is supposed to cure them of the nasty pests without causing any harm to skin, eyes or ears. And it makes them smell pretty spiffy, too!
- When to call the professionals – Some home pests should be left to the pest control guys. Cockroach extermination, for example, is most effective when done professionally. Wasp nests inside walls, in ceilings, or underground are also best left to the pros. And when the fleas are entrenched in your home, almost nothing homemade or home done will eliminate them all. Don’t hesitate then, just call the pest control company and let them take care of things before the bugs drive you buggy.
I’ll bet when you think of physical fitness programs, you think balls and bats and learning the rules of the game and just how many calories are in a slice of apple and how many points a free throw scores. Maybe rule books and physical education videos of perfect form or new exercises. But I’ll bet you never once thought about belly scooters, or mats, or balance beams, or brightly colored parachutes, or balls made of soft spongy materials, did you? Well then, let me introduce you to the world of preschool PE!
Preschool physical education resembles more of an organized play time, or a fun frolic in the backyard than it does a “real” physical education program. And that’s just what it should look like! Preschoolers learn best through play. Play is the ideal “job” for a preschooler–they learn through play, they develop skills through play, they develop language through play, they even learn about their culture and the proper way to interact with others all through play experiences. So preschool physical activities had better be heavy on the fun or they won’t be effective at all.
That’s where the belly scooters and parachutes come in. Imagine a square of wood or plastic with four casters on the corners that you can sit or lie down on and then race around on! (Oh, how I wish they came in grown up sizes!) Or a brightly colored parachute with hand holds for waving up and down, running under or playing with a ball on top of it. How about balls so soft they don’t hurt when they hit you? Or balance beams that rest on the floor? Or tumbling mats for rocking and rolling? How about games that have you imitating elephants and lions, or creeping tigers and jumping frogs? Moving your body to create the shapes of the letters of the alphabet? Or yoga moves combined into a routine just right for your little body? Sounds like a lot of fun with valuable fitness and physical development mixed in!
Now, I can hear you saying, “But preschoolers are little bundles of energy! They play all the time! Why worry about physical education in preschool?” With childhood obesity on the rise, with 1/3 of the nation’s adult population obese and with so many passive, non-active recreational choices for our children–even preschoolers–to make, why shouldn’t we worry? Computer games now teach preschool skills. There are entire television networks catering to the preschool set. Cereal and fast food companies market directly to the age group with kids’ meals and cool toys. And fewer and fewer parents are apparently physically active enough to set good examples. So, yes, preschool physical fitness should be a concern for all of us. And besides, it’s a lot of fun!
There’s a lot of talk these days about the health and welfare of the next generation of Americans. From too many hours spent playing video games to sugary drinks to schools requiring doctor’s notes for common-sense items like cough drops and sunscreen, it seems the headlines are full of children’s health issues. And many of them have to do with the place most American children spend more time than any other–public school. Just how fit and healthy is your child’s public school?
- Policies and Procedures – Are the policies and procedures regarding in-school health and safety reasonable? Do you even know what they are? This coming school year, actually read all those forms that come home in the first few days to find out just what you, your child, and your school can and can’t do. One first grader was recently suspended for having a “weapon” in her lunchbox. The offender? A plastic knife sent along by her mother to spread peanut butter on apple slices. Two girls were recently sent home from their school’s field day with second-degree sun burns because the school required a doctor’s note for the use of sunscreen. Don’t place your child in danger by not knowing the rules. Also, challenge any rules that seem unreasonable or nonsensical. Challenging a policy that doesn’t make much sense may save controversy and confusion down the road.
- Role models – What sort of role models are being provided for your child in the way of health and safety? PE programs and healthy lunch menus don’t go very far if over half the teachers and staff–the adults your child has to look up to–are out of shape. Some schools now offer teacher wellness programs as well as promoting student health and fitness. If your school doesn’t, find out why not and what can be done to implement one. Start a parent-teacher fitness challenge, or a family-staff program, to get everyone involved. A coordinated school health and fitness commitment could have long-lasting, life-changing implications.
- PE and Health Curriculum – Make sure that what your school is teaching your child is current and correct, and appropriate for his or her age. The food pyramid was recently changed (did you know about that?) but last year’s text books won’t reflect that. New research is coming out all the time about fitness, nutrition, vaccines, you name it–and your school needs to stay on top of the game. Otherwise, your child will be learning outdated information. Also, beware of topics that may be too mature or too sensitive for your student. A recent uproar over the depth and breadth of a 5th grade “sex ed” session in a health class shows that sometimes schools do not take every child’s needs into consideration, and that some parents may be just a bit too trusting of their local schools.
Your children spend more time in school than they do at home (at least during their waking hours) while school is in session. You owe it to them, and to yourself, to be aware and informed of the health and fitness issues of that school. Don’t you agree?
Recently released research findings have some in the fitness world reeling. The Mayo Clinic’s new numbers from early June seem to indicate that endurance runners and other “ultra” athletes may suffer more irregular heart rates and cardio problems than other athletes. Some media outlets even went so far as to tout headlines about running being “bad” for you. And yet, even the researchers can’t be sure of what the research is telling them. Why? Because the numbers aren’t really telling them the whole story.
When it comes to effectively and efficiently reporting a “fact,” statistics can only tell you so much. In the case of the endurance athletes, the numbers aren’t giving up the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It is true that the country is facing an obesity epidemic of never-before-seen proportions. It is true that an endurance runner did die while in training. It is also true that the Mayo Clinic’s research indicates that endurance runners may suffer from irregular heart beat and other cardio irregularities in greater numbers than other types of athletes or even other runners. So what aren’t they saying? A lot, if you’re a statistician or a physician or even a sports trainer or runner.
Unlike sports training, where you hone and define a skill set, or strength training designed to hone and define you, endurance training is simply designed to push you to your limit and then past it. There is no need for sprints or speed training, no need for circuits or short breaks. You go for it, and then some. Strength and skill training may be a part of your endurance routine, but your primary goal is to endure; to go as long as you can and then some. What has all this to do with the numbers? Well, it could indicate that there is something unique to the world of ultra-running that causes the cardio troubles in its athletes. Many individuals with low body-weights experience the same types of cardiac irregularities. Does the slimness and lack of body fat in ultra/endurance runners account for their irregular heart rates, too? Is there a certain mindset or diet that’s attributing to the cardiac problems? No one knows for sure. And that’s where the stats, the numbers, are letting us down.
In statistics, there are two factors that must be considered when interpreting numbers–correlation and causality. Correlation shows a relationship: A increases with B at the same rate all the time, for example. Causality shows us what is behind that relationship – C causes A and B to increase. In the case of the endurance runners, the numbers are only showing correlation, not causality. So, while then numbers aren’t lying, they aren’t giving us the entire picture, either.
What’s all this mean for you? Well, if you are interested in ultra-running or endurance training, go for it. But go for it after a visit with your doctor. Go for it with both eyes open and your facts straight. Or at least as straight as the current research will allow.
With the “ObamaCare” case in the U.S. Supreme Court this month, it seems all eyes are on the point where healthcare and the law meet. The highest court in the land, however, is sadly not the only court to have to decide the fate of patients and caregivers. Medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death, and both the “right to life” and the “right to die” have all seen their days in court. And for many, it won’t be the last day, either. Let’s look at some of the medical/legal issues making headlines:
- Medical Malpractice - Unfortunately, not everything always go as planned when we visit our doctor, have surgery, or are treated to a stay in hospital. When something does go wrong, if the medical staff or facility can be found at fault, or is believed to be at fault, then you have a case of medical malpractice. Medical malpractice attorneys specialize in these types of cases. The burden on proof is often placed on the patient, meaning that he or she has to prove that the harm or injury caused was directly through some action or lack of action on the part of the medical professionals. Medical malpractice lawyers often have teams of assistants to aid them, and medical malpractice suits can be both lengthy and costly. And there is often no guarantee of a win.
- Personal Injury – Personal injury cases do not typically involve injury or illness suffered while under medical care. Rather, they address illness and injury suffered at the hands of another. If you trip and break your leg at a friend’s party, or slip on an untreated sidewalk, or are served a “bad” burger at a restaurant, you may have a case for a personal injury lawyer to take to court. Of course, you can’t be at fault in any way, or you don’t stand a chance of even having a case to try.
- Wrongful death – When someone dies untimely, whether in or out of medical care, a wrongful death suit may arise. Wrongful death implies that some one, or some group or corporation, is directly responsible for an individual’s death. The cases are often brought by family members seeking justice for what they feel was their loved one’s unnecessary death. Wrongful death suits are heard in civil courts, typically when there was either not enough evidence for a criminal murder/manslaughter charge or when a criminal court has found the individuals believed by the family to be responsible as not guilty of causing the death.
- “Right to life” and “Right to Die” – Both the right to life and the right to die have been hot-button topics in courts and society. The right to life is usually associated with abortion, but it has included cases where parents wanted a better quality of life for their disabled children but have been denied opportunities by healthcare professionals who found the child’s quality of life unimportant when weighed against the costs. The right to die has had several high-profile cases in which family members had to fight to end the life of a loved one who no longer had a quality of life. So called “assisted suicide” cases also brought the right to die to courtrooms. Terminally ill patients often want their deaths to occur in times and manners of their choosing. And naturally, there will be those who do not wish to see them go without a fight. Unfortunately, that fight is typically a legal one where health, well-being, and life meet the law.
There’s been a lot of talk lately about preparedness. It seems it’s now trendy to think like the Boy Scouts and be ready for anything from the end of the world as we know it to a zombie apocalypse. “Prepping” has even made its way to reality television (but what hasn’t these days?) So, let it not be said that we here at Love to Be Healthy aren’t trend watchers and followers! We now present you with our own version of prepping–being prepared for any emergency (well, maybe not a zombie apocalypse) that your family might encounter this summer.
Summer safety preparedness isn’t all emergency medical supplies and life guard classes. You’ll need to think both bigger and smaller, both high-tech and low-tech, if you want to keep your family safe and your home prepared for summertime emergencies. Let’s make some simple lists of things you might want to keep on hand.
- Medical bandages, tape, scissors, and other basic first aid supplies
- Ice packs and cold/hot packs, too
- Antibiotic ointment or cream
- A “tummy settler” for upset stomachs
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprophen
- Allergy relievers
- Eye drops
Really, keeping your first aid kit or medicine cupboard well-stocked with these sorts of supplies year round is good family safety and preparedness. Just make sure you have a well-stocked supply. Summer tends to bring us out of doors. We engage in more physically active activities, which can lead to more injuries. You don’t want to be caught off guard when crisis strikes.
- Water safety equipment – If you have a backyard pool or boat, or frequent a body of water, you’ll want to make sure that each family member has appropriate water safety gear, and that you have water rescue equipment and training close at hand whenever friends and family are escaping summer’s heat by enjoying a dip in the water.
- Sunscreen and sun shades – Sunscreen is a must for everyone out enjoying summer’s bright sunshine. Remember that more than one application is usually advised, even when not engaged in water play or swimming. Providing shade from the bright sun is a good precaution, too. Umbrellas, portable awnings, or more permanent fixtures should be provided near your pool, lake shore or camping site.
- Flashlights, glow sticks or head lamps – Summer’s warm nights often beg for a little after-dark game of tag or a moonlit swim. Just be sure to have plenty of illumination to avoid spills or trips.
- Insect repellent – I know, I know, they’ve gotten a bad rap for all their harmful chemicals. Do your research and whip up some all-natural repellents from essential oils and herbs. They work just about as well, and certainly better than nothing at all!
- Activity-specific equipment – Summer is the perfect time for biking, boating, hiking, fishing, spelunking, and camping. Each activity beings with it its own inherent dangers, and should be accompanied by its own appropriate safety equipment. Safety helmets and life jackets should be inspected for proper fit. Camp fire safety rules should be discussed and practiced. Proper footwear should be worn for each activity. Having the right gear will not only ensure your family’s safety, but will make each and every activity the fun and enjoyable time it was meant to be!
Summer’s sunny weather and lazy days can be a recipe for fun and adventure. Don’t let worries about injury or risks cloud your summer fun. Be prepared. Stay safe. And have a happy, fun, zombie-free summer!
Oxygen keeps us going, but it reacts with everything around us. The rust on iron, the brown on those apple slices, and the patina on a copper coin are all caused by a chemical reaction involving oxygen. This process is known as oxidation.
Considering how much oxygen passes through the human body (about 11,000 liters in a day), what effects does oxidation have on your body?
Oxidation and Cells
The human body is filled with ten to one hundred trillion cells (nobody could know the exact number–besides, everybody is different and our cells are constantly regenerating). Oxidation occurs during normal cellular functions and is responsible for the birth of new cells and the death of old cells. As macabre as that might seem, it’s a necessary part of survival. When you cut your finger, oxidation is what helps heal that cut, replacing the dead skin cells with new cells.
Unfortunately, oxidation isn’t without its drawbacks.
Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress
In the process of metabolizing oxygen, your body turns one to two percent of the resulting cells into free radicals. These are damaged, unstable cells that are missing a single essential molecule, which leads to some forceful attempts at pairing with other cells. In some cases, free radicals are a necessity; your body’s immune system will create free radicals in order to take care of harmful bacteria and viruses.
For the most part, your body can take care of free radicals with antioxidants. The darling of any health food fad, antioxidants work in various ways to neutralize free radicals to prevent them from running amok in your body. A glutathione assay shows that antioxidants are synthesized from amino acids as well as produced from the foods we eat.
Oxidative stress comes from an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants. More free radicals and less antioxidants reduces catalase activity and causes an inability to repair damage or detoxify the body.
Effects of Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress has actually been shown in HORAC assays to destroy enzymes and cause cells to age rapidly. Damage from oxidative stress and resulting mutations to cellular DNA have been involved in the development of several serious diseases, exacerbating the symptoms of several others. This includes:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Heart failure
- Sickle cell anemia
- Myocardial infarction
How to Reduce Oxidative Stress
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to reduce oxidative stress: consume foods rich in antioxidants. There are a ton of foods out there that contain necessary antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to neutralize those free radicals. You’re probably already aware of a few common antioxidants, like vitamin C and E and flavonoids.
Oxidative stress is exacerbated by a variety of everyday factors that you can easily avoid. Keep yourself hydrated. Purchase organic foods that don’t use pesticides or herbicides. If you’re a heavy drinker, consider cutting back; if you’re a smoker, quit. | <urn:uuid:c1c87855-8478-4c5f-99c3-8d9750232b98> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ilove2bhealthy.com/2012/06/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949028 | 6,328 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Charlie Wolf invokes "Diffusion of Innovations" in raising his Apple price target to $540
In Everett Rogers' classic text on how innovations percolate through societies, he describes how hybrid corn, despite 20% higher yield and resistance to drought, took two decades to become ubiquitous in the farms of Iowa. High-tech innovations spread more quickly these days, but they too follow Rogers' S curve, from early adopters to mainstream use to late adopters.
Needham's Charlie Wolf invokes Rogers' treatise in his semiannual reevaluation of Apple (AAPL), issued Friday in a note to clients that announced he was raising his 12-month price target to $540 from $450. The ultimate size of the tablet computer market, and the iPad's share of that market, are key to Wolf's revised valuation because it is based of several new assumptions:
|Tesla repays federal loan nearly 10 years early|
|How police can find your deleted text messages|
|HP soars as Meg Whitman turnaround continues|
|Stocks slip as Fed sends mixed message|
|Insanely durable smartphone ... from Caterpillar?| | <urn:uuid:eae2da05-3930-4736-8f57-cc432e7b9882> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/tag/everett-rodgers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947548 | 239 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Alcohol infused whipped cream raises health concerns
Indianapolis – Just as regulators are fighting to take a powerful mix of caffeine and alcohol off store shelves, there is a new health concern showing up at college parties.
It looks like a can of whipped cream or a dessert topping, until you take a closer look. It is infused with alcohol.
The high octane whipped cream like topping is becoming a hit on You Tube and college campuses.
It has names like Whipped Lightning and Cream in a Canister, but packs a powerful punch at 15 percent alcohol. That’s 30 proof.
“Not only can it be ingested and does have a fair amount of alcohol per volume, about three times that found in beer, but it can also be used in combination with those adolescents who abuse nitrous oxide. So, kids who engage in what we call huffing behavior can not only get high from the nitrous oxide, but can then top it off with the product as well” said Dr. Vaught Rickert, IU Director of adolescent medicine
On top of that, it doesn’t taste like alcohol, more like a harmless treat. It is often used as a topping to shots and other alcoholic drinks.
“One of the problems relative to this particular product is because it masks the taste of alcohol. So college students do drink to excess, binge drinking on college campuses is a relatively common occurrence,” said Dr Rickert. “Thank God alcohol poisoning does not occur very frequently, but it does occur and touches families in ways they can’t possibly imagine,”
Just recently, government regulators stepped in to remove Four Loko and other drinks that include a powerful mix of alcohol and caffeine.
Alcohol infused whipped cream appeared on the market in Central Indian about six months ago. You do have to be 21 to buy it, making it more difficult for teenagers to get hold of it.
It is marketed as cream, but interestingly enough, it doesn’t require any refrigeration. | <urn:uuid:9897cb6d-54e2-4781-b723-720ccbb9eff5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kcdrugfree.areavoices.com/2010/11/30/alcohol-infused-whipped-cream-raises-health-concerns/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952645 | 416 | 1.664063 | 2 |
This NYT op-ed by Ross Douthat is my pick for read of the day.
Here is the grim paradox of America’s involvement in Afghanistan: The darker things get and the more setbacks we suffer, the better the odds that we’ll be staying there indefinitely.
Not the way we’re there today, with 90,000 American troops in-theater and an assortment of NATO allies fighting alongside. But if the current counterinsurgency campaign collapses, it almost guarantees that some kind of American military presence will be propping up some sort of Afghan state in 2020 and beyond. Failure promises to trap us; success is our only ticket out.
Why? Because of three considerations. First, the memory of 9/11, which ensures that any American president will be loath to preside over the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul. Second, the continued presence of Al Qaeda’s leadership in Pakistan’s northwest frontier, which makes it difficult for any American president to contemplate giving up the base for counterterrorism operations that Afghanistan affords. Third, the larger region’s volatility: it’s the part of the world where the nightmare of nuclear-armed terrorists is most likely to become a reality, so no American president can afford to upset the balance of power by pulling out and leaving a security vacuum behind.
This explains why the Obama administration, throughout all its internal debates and strategic reviews, hasn’t been choosing between remaining in Afghanistan and withdrawing from the fight. It’s been choosing between two ways of staying.
Yes. Yes, this. Yes, for a clear explanation of why the whole McChrystal situation was not, and never could be, the Administration’s argument for a change in policy or an argument for withdrawal (I’m looking at you, Mr. Bacevich). By choosing General Petraeus, Obama fully reinforced his commitment to his strategy, because there was no other tenable option. Not for any kind of timetable of withdrawal, even if, as has been suggested, Petraeus is on the side of those who soft-ball the 07-2011 deadline. But setting that aside, any reasonable, high-number withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan is dependent on adhering to a policy in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region that account for the problems of counterterrorism+ Douthat outlines in his piece above:
- Bargains, especially bargains with people who only desire power and money, fail. And when they fail, they fail hard.
- Prioritizing civilian security is a necessity to prevent the genesis of further insurgents. Counterterrorism racks up a higher body count than counterinsurgency, because the priority is the valuing of killing an insurgent (or terrorist) rather than the valuing of civilian lives.
- Plan B (counterterrorism+) sucks, because it relies heavily on points 1 and 2 to succeed in order to leverage withdrawal of troops. But points 1 and 2 are unlikely to succeed, which is why the administration went with Plan A (counterinsurgency) in the first place.
And to that list I would add a fourth:
- 4. Whatever happens, the US is probably going to retain a presence in Afghanistan for a long, long time, whether the country has been pacified or not. See also: Kuwait, South Korea, Germany, Japan.
That is the real underlying point that generally goes unsaid. The US is unlikely to cede the strategic benefit of staying in Afghanistan, not when it offers access to the Middle East and to China. If you look down the barrel of the M-14 to ten years from now, I am certain there will still be US troops in Afghanistan. Whether they’re still engaged in counterinsurgency or have made the biggest FOB a more permanent home, some strategist in a Pentagon basement has a transition plan that doesn’t include full-scale withdrawal. And that has to be taken into consideration when the squabbling about how best to operate in Afghanistan and the unlikely course of withdrawal is discussed.
Please join me in welcoming Starbuck from Wings Over Iraq, guest posting today with his review of David Kilcullen’s Counterinsurgency. In turn I’ve guest-posted over at WOI with my review of Counterinsurgency; check it out here!
David Kilcullen’s ”Counterinsugency” is a must-read for counterinsurgency practitioners at the tactical and strategic levels, as well as for policymakers, government officials, and NGOs. At a minimum, it should be in the cargo pocket of every officer and NCO headed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Though the book is not without its flaws, Kilcullen has taken a number of critical counterinsurgency lessons–some gained through harrowing experience–and packaged them in a handy, notebook-sized publication. I’ll examine each section of the book in turn.
Introduction: Understanding Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
The book begins with a touching dedication to Dave Dilegge and Bill Nagle, administrators of Small Wars Journal, before moving to a base discussion on the fundamentals of insurgency and counterinsurgency. Often, I’m compelled to skip over the introduction of a book, but the introduction to Counterinsurgency is laden with great information.
Much to my amusement, in offering a brief primer on counterinsurgency, Kilcullen addresses, though does not name, “armchair chickenhawks” who advocate the “brute force” approach to counterinsurgency (this guy, perhaps?), noting that the Romans and even the Wehrmacht implemented state-building approaches in their times.
Though I agree with the argument, I found that it wasn’t as thorough as I would have liked, and some might mistakenly find contradiction in the case of the suppression of the Darul Islam movement, which came to an abrubtabrupt end shortly after the capture of its leader and key lieutenants, which Kilcullen discusses later. Again, greater clarification of supporting factors–even a primer on why insurgencies lose–might have been helpful. However, the chapter is, overall, an excellent foundation in the basics of counterinsurgency; though, those familiar with The Accidental Guerrilla might find themselves skipping ahead to the next chapter.
The Twenty-Eight Articles
I have to admit that I skimmed through this chapter, having read Kilcullen’s Twenty-Eight Articles a few times before. For those unfamiliar with Kilcullen’s work, “Twenty-Eight Articles” are short anecdotes, written in the style of T.E. Lawrence’s Twenty-Seven Articles, which Kilcullen penned his Moleskine notebook as he sat in a Starbucks coffee shop in Washington. Many of the lessons were learned though practical experience, presumably through some very…difficult…lessons. Take a look at number nineteen.
Engage the women, beware the children. Most insurgent fighters are men. But in traditional societies, women are hugely influential in forming the social networks that insurgents use for support. Co-opting neutral or friendly women, through targeted social and economic programs, builds networks of enlightened self-interest that eventually undermine the insurgents. You need your own female counterinsurgents, including interagency people, to do this effectively. Win the women, and you own the family unit. Own the family, and you take a big step forward in mobilizing the population. Conversely, though, stop your people fraternizing with local children. Your troops are homesick; they want to drop their guard with the kids. But children are sharp-eyed, lacking in empathy, and willing to commit atrocities their elders would shrink from. The insurgents are watching: they will notice a growing friendship between one of your people and a local child, and either harm the child as punishment, or use them against you. Similarly, stop people throwing candies or presents to children. It attracts them to our vehicles, creates crowds the enemy can exploit, and leads to children being run over. Harden your heart and keep the children at arm’s length.
This reminds me very much of the situation I faced in Honduras, where we would often conduct joint airborne operations with the Honduran parachute battalion. Without exception, children would hide in the tall grass of the drop zone, waiting for American parachutists–recognizable by their uniforms and distinctive MC-1C parachutes–to land. The children would chase American paratroopers as they fell to the ground and beg them for money; even going so far as to actually roll and pack the parachute for them. While I would always give them candy and a little money, I understood the same thing Kilcullen did. By giving out candy and money, we were reinforcing behavior, and our very presence often created the same crowds Kilcullen described.
I won’t comment more on Kilcullen’s Twenty-Eight Articles. Far better counterinsurgency practitioners than I have already commented on Kilcullen’s work in Small Wars Journal (Pt. 1, 2, 3, 4). Suffice to say that if you haven’t read “Twenty-Eight Articles”, you need to.
Measuring Progress in Afghanistan
At this point, we move from a tactical view of counterinsurgency to an operational perspective, with a chapter on effective “metrics”–measures of performance in counterinsurgency. Those that follow Kilcullen and the CNAS gang may have already gotten a large portion of this already during a week-long segment on metrics at Tom Ricks’ blog (here’s part two of five).
As soon as Small Wars Journal linked to the series on metrics, the trolls came out of the woodwork bashing them, crying that human endeavors cannot be encapsulated into equations, diagrams and statistics. This echoes a recent trend, identified not too long ago in SWJ, which suggests that the study of warfare is–rightly so–moving away from a “scientific” study in a more “humanist” direction. Indeed, complaining about statistics is hardly a novel idea.
We all complain about metrics. To a large extent, I sympathize with the critics. It’s impossible to capture the broad range of human behavior in equations, computer models and statistics. T.E. Lawrence once noted that “nine-tenths of tactics are certain, and taught in books: but the irrational tenth is like the kingfisher flashing across the pool, and that is the test of generals”. Indeed, metrics in any field of human endeavor–from business, to battle, to baseball–only tell a portion of the story. As one commenter in SWJ noted, you couldn’t measure the improvements in security by mere numbers. You could feel the difference.
Nevertheless, as much as I believe in Jedi senses, they can’t alwayalways accurately measure intangibles. We–and more importantly, the American public–need to communicate security improvements with statistics.
Using metrics to gauge intangibles is by no means limited to the military. We measure the health of our economy with the Dow Jones and S&P, we measure earned run averages and slugging percentages, and we measure Megan Fox’s hotness in terms of 34C-26-24. Verily, as much as we complain, we’ll always use metrics, and Kilcullen’s metrics are as good as any I’ve seen.
Globalization and the development of Indonesian counterinsurgency tactics
They say that confusion is the first step along the path to enlightenment, and nowhere is that more true than in this chapter. While doing a decent job at highlighting the differences between the organizational cultures between the armies of Australia and the US, Kilcullen actually gives us some counterinsurgency wisdom which seems to run contrary to current population-centric doctrine. During the 1950s and 60s, the Indonesian Army was faced with the prospect of an insurgency in West Java from the organization Darul Islam.
However, shortly after the capture of the insurgent movement’s leader, Darul Islam began to crumble. Although Kilcullen mentions that civic action followed military success, he doesn’t elaborate fully upon these methods. Thus, those who feel that simple military action can “crush” an insurgency might look at the suppression of Darul Islam as an example. (For more on this issue, see Pat Porter’s excellent analysis at The Offshore Balancer)
Fortunately, Kilcullen expands upon his analysis of the Darul Islam insurgency by noting that it was a very leader-centric insurgency–one of the greatest flaws an insurgency can have–some critics of counterinsurgency might see this as a misreading of COIN doctrine. In Kilcullen’s defense, though, he does mention that the advances in communication and information technology have led to less transparency, and thus, a decline in “crushing” insurgencies. I think it’s a topic worth researching more, in full.
Reflections on the Engagement at Motaain Bridge
Some reviewers have felt that this was an unnecessary distraction. I disagree, as it demonstrates the types of situations our troops, particularly our junior leaders, might find themselves in “small wars”. From Kilcullen’s lessons on dealing with the international media (get the right message out, and get it out quickly), to lessons on the psychology of combat (post-traumatic stress, “tunnel vision”, hyper-alertness, etc), Kilcullen’s vivid description of combat made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, as I nervously chewed on my highlighter.
Deiokes and the Taliban
A short chapter, Kilcullen explains the need for effective governance in counterinsurgency using a vignette from Herodotus’ Histories. Structurally, it seems as if it might fit well in the earlier portions of the book, as it once again serves as a short introduction to counterinsurgency, though in operational and strategic terms.
Kilcullen paints a very grim picture of Afghanistan, in which ISAF controls the central government in Kabul, but the Taliban hold sway throughout the countryside by practicing effective “bottom-up” governance. Kilcullen proposes a “bottom-up” counter to Taliban influence, strengthening national leadership by improving governance at the local level. Using the example of Somalia/Somaliland, Kilcullen asserts that nation-building efforts in Somalia, led by the UN, have performed poorly in relation to those practiced in Somaliland due to the fact that the UN focuses on central, national governments while Somaliland built its peace dealings from the grassroots level. Kilcullen doesn’t delve too deeply into this example, although he does provide anthropologist Ioan Lewis as a reference for this subject, so I’ll have to check out her report. (Possibly this one?)
Countering Global Insurgency
The final chapter is by far the longest, and the most controversial. In it, Kilcullen expands upon and refines an idea he first put forth in The Accidental Guerrilla, where he first theorized that there is a global Islamic insurgency. According to Kilcullen, global movements such as al-Qaeda attempt to link together disparate movements–Chechen rebels, insurgents in the Philippines, even Muslim groups in South America–into one larger movement. It’s an interesting, though possibly a little alarmist, look at the larger threat we face from these sorts of movements.
However, addressing the bigger picture might have been a bridge too far for this book. Though the chapter is fascinating, it could have been greatly expanded upon. Indeed, though the title of the chapter is “countering global insurgency”, Kilcullen spends a mere paragraph outlining a constitutional approach to reforming the governments of the developing world, quipping that he could write another chapter on the topic. I would be quite interested to hear his thoughts on this subject.
Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5. Kilcullen is obviously a master of this realm, yet I feel he cut himself short limiting himself to a pocket-sized book on the topic of counterinsurgency. The chapters feel somewhat disjointed, as if pieced together from separate works on the topic. In fact, I think that less might have been better, packaging all but the final chapter, saving that one and expanding upon it for a future book.
Nevertheless, Kilcullen’s work is always a joy to read. Kilcullen, like Lt. Col. T.E. Lawrence, is one of those few people who has not only the penchant for becoming embroiled in incredible adventures, but also possesses the wit to write them well. For those that are not familiar with Kilcullen’s ”Twenty-seven eight articles” or his series on metrics, this book is a must-read.
I did feel somewhat let down that I had read large portions of this book in various articles throughout the blogosphere. Yet, it’s still well worth the price. The first 2/3 of the book contains invaluable advice for the counterinsurgency practitioner at the tactical level, and I’ll certainly have it in my assault bag during my next deployment (whenever that might be). You should, too.
A lot to cover today.
I got oversaturated pretty quickly with information and speculation about the Times Square bombing, but I recommend Kings of War, All Things Counterterrorism, and obviously LWJ for the story. And Steve Coll has some perspective:
Anyone who tries to set a vehicle on fire in Times Square on a warm Saturday night is going to make news in a big way. Presumably that was the primary goal of the perpetrators—to attract attention, to spawn fear. The very amateurishness of the attack—unlike the Christmas Day attack, for example, it does not immediately call into question the competence of the government’s defenses—offers President Obama the opportunity to start talking back to terrorists everywhere in a more resilient, sustainable language than he has yet discovered. By which I mean: They intend to frighten us; we are not frightened. They intend to kill and maim; we will bring them to justice. They intend to attract attention for their extremist views; the indiscriminate nature of their violence only discredits and isolates them.
“Do we really need 11 carrier strike groups for another 30 years when no other country has more than one?” Gates asked. “Any future plans must address these realities.”
In a pointed speech about the future of the naval arsenal, the secretary told a gathering of naval officers and contractors that no U.S. adversaries are attempting to out-build the U.S. fleet. Rather, he said, they are developing other ways to neutralize U.S. power. He cited Hezbollah’s anti-ship missiles and Iran’s use of everything from cruise missiles to “swarming speedboats.”
In response, he called for more shallow-water capabilities, long-range drones and sea-based missile defenses.
What’s the saying, fighting the next war while you’re still building for the last one? That seems to be the idea Gates is battling.
Two bits on Kyrgyzstan, which has kind of dropped off the face of news coverage in the last several days. First, the interim government has turned the state-run KTR television channel into a public broadcasting station, which is effectively a show of faith from the interim government to show Kyrgyzs that it’s going to keep the promises it made. Which is great, but more than anything I really love the picture that accompanied the article, reposted here.
The interim government has also authorized cash rewards in exchange for information that helps capture the former government’s leadership, presumably to answer for crimes committed.
Of interest, AFRICOM is undergoing a three-week Operation Flintlock as part of its The Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership. It’s effectively a military exercise designed to train partner African nations in counterterrorism programs as a deterrent method. At least twelve nations and 1200 people are involved. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes.
From Diplopundit, it’s been a tough time for mandarins as of late.
And finally, I’m reading Paul Scharre’s article in the AFJ about meeting needs for irregular and conventional warfare in the Army. More thoughts when I’m finished reading, but figured the COINers and anti-COINers would be interested.
I admit, I find it surprising how much Iraq recedes in our view as 2010′s drawdown grows nearer; I suppose there’s only so much ink for a (electronic) page, and Afghanistan is in everyone’s minds. But Iraq remains a fragile state, and the US presence there is significant still. So, a few pieces from here and there that I thought I’d bring to your attention.
First, it did not go unnoticed that the Iraq parliament succeeded in passing election reform [WSJ]:
Lawmakers agreed Sunday on the key sticking point — how the vote will be held in the oil-rich area of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, which is claimed by Sunni Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted, but at least it’s done now,” said Fryad Rawandoozi, spokesman for the Kurdish bloc.
Despite the eleventh-hour agreement, Iraq’s election commission said Sunday that it still didn’t have enough time to prepare for the January 2010 vote. The commission can’t delay the poll unilaterally, however, and Parliament’s agreement appears to have put the election back on track.
In the agreement hammered out over Kirkuk, eligible voters will be determined by 2009 voter-registration records, a condition supported by the Kurds. But a technical committee will be set up to review the votes. If there are a certain number of irregularities, the elections will be repeated in a year, a condition pushed by the Arabs and Turkmen.
I think the key word in the phrase “appears to have put the election back on track” is “appears,” though wrestling with the Kurd bloc is certainly a step in the right direction. Kurdistan has always fascinated me, an island unto itself, almost. However, if things truly proceed only a fortnight or so behind schedule, it shouldn’t compromise the US military withdrawal; though I still remain concerned that security in Iraq is of the smokescreen variety.
From Army News we learn of a key-giving ceremony, granting more MNF-controlled land back to, well, the Iraqis:
The Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, part of Joint Area Support Group-Central, helped contribute to that progress, Oct. 25, when they handed the keys to two large properties inside Baghdad’s International Zone back over to the Iraqi government — a symbolic gesture that transferred the property to the Iraqis.
“In terms of square footage of habitable structures, Essayons and Freedom Compound are the largest we’ve turned over so far,” said the 32nd Brigade’s Maj. Gregory Schlub, who is the officer in charge of real properties for Joint Area Support Group-Central, in Baghdad.
The two properties, formerly used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, include about 25 acres of land and buildings with about 380,000 square feet of floor space.
I really hope I’m not the only person rather uncomfortable granting a “key to the city” to the people who in fact possess it; methinks a press pool officer might’ve thought a bit harder about that one.
Stratfor, sharing my wariness about January 2010, writes of Iraq: A Rebounding Jihad:
The Sunni sheikhs are using the [Islamic State of Iraq] to send a message to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that the Sunnis must be accommodated if there is to be real peace and stability in Iraq. One sticking point for the Sunni elders is that a large percentage of the Awakening Council members have not been integrated into the security forces as promised. Of course, the Shia and Kurds then use these attacks as an excuse for why the Sunnis cannot be trusted — and it all becomes a vicious circle.
The political situation that is driving the security problems in Iraq is complex and cannot be easily resolved. There are many internal and external players who are all trying to influence the final outcome in Iraq for their own benefit. In addition to the internal squabbles over power and oil wealth, Iraq is also a proxy battleground where the United States and Iran are attempting to maintain and assert influence. Regional players like the Saudis, Syrians and Turks also will take a keen interest in the elections and will certainly attempt to influence them to whatever degree they can. The end result of all this meddling is that peace and stability will be hard to obtain.
This means that terrorist attacks likely will continue for the foreseeable future, including attacks by the ISI. If the attacks in August and October are any indication, the remainder of the run-up to the January elections could prove quite bloody.
Granted, had IED defenses not been put into place, the attack on Oct. 25 in Baghdad could have done significantly more damage, but in a sense this is the crucible in which ISF will indeed prove itself. Can ISF keep its citizens secure as the Americans leave? Can it prevent politically motivated terrorist conflict? Can it do so and remain a strong independent force not subject to corruption?
I hope so. But the first quarter of ’10 will be an important time to watch Iraq, I think.
Finally, Alissa Rubin’s column in the New York Times, From Iraq, Lessons for the Next War:
And victory in Iraq almost always begets revenge.
In my five years in Iraq, all that I wanted to believe in was gunned down. Sunnis and Shiites each committed horrific crimes, and the Kurds, whose modern-looking cities and Western ways seemed at first so familiar, turned out to be capable of their own brutality. The Americans, too, did their share of violence, and among the worst they did was wishful thinking, the misreading of the winds and allowing what Yeats called “the blood-dimmed tide” to swell. Could they have stopped it? Probably not. Could it have been stemmed so that it did less damage, saved some ofthe fathers and brothers, mothers and sons? Yes, almost certainly, yes.
Ricks tipped me off to this article, and while I find it to be one of the least compelling styles of journalism–personal experience masked as opinion masked as news–I do find it interesting to read in the context of the leavetaking that is being prepared. Lessons learned, people? Bring ‘em here.
You know, I read this post over my morning coffee, Rossmiller’s over my bagel, and this guest post over at Ricks on the second cup of coffee; and after a couple hours digesting it, I’m still on the damn fence.
I agree in principle with what you’re saying here, but I guess I’m just not entirely convinced that reconciliation will actually, necessarily work in the interests of US national security or in the interests of the Afghan citizenry. It’s a way to get out faster; but I’m not sure it’s the best way to leave.
And Spencer asked me to pull it apart a little more, so I took the thought to my pub and over a pint of Open Bridge Brown I sorted it out a bit.
So, we’re talking about the political reconciliation of the Afghan Taliban with the current established Afghan government. My inclination is to think that such a reconciliation is not the best course of action. I came up with four reasons why.
ONE. ISAF is already present in Afghanistan. If McCrystal’s Assessment is adopted to reaching US/NATO goals in AFG, forces will probably be present in country for at least four to five years more. It seems credible that civilian forces working to reduce corruption in the established government would be a better alternative to inviting our declared enemy into a legitimate role in the government it purports to hate and rebel against; reconciliation only works if there is power-sharing, and there is no indication that the AFG Taliban are interested in sharing power at all.
TWO. Prior to 2009, ISAF was fighting (to the best of my knowledge) a counterterrorism campaign in AFG. I don’t think we can accurately predict the martial outcome of COIN in country, since it hasn’t been practiced to full effect yet; and if COIN proves more effective at fighting the Taliban, political reconciliation becomes less attractive and perhaps less necessary. I don’t see an effective argument suing for reconciliation before COIN has taken a stab at reducing the insurgent threat. Though, I have seen the argument for reconciliation made as a pretext to withdrawing sooner rather than later, and that reaffirms my original statement that it’s a way to get out faster, but not necessarily better.
Further to that, I also think that COIN’s effectiveness could take more than one aspect, namely the reintegration of insurgents into Afghan citizenry, eroding the influence and existing political power of the Taliban, and/or a wide swathe of insurgent deaths. Even one of those things would have the effect of lessening Taliban presence and control and strengthening the central government’s legitimacy.
THREE. I don’t take the Taliban’s public claims seriously. Propaganda always means something other than what is being stated. To take the Taliban at its public word could be foolish–given last week’s bogus claim of harmlessness, it seems apparent that the Taliban’s greatest hope is getting the foreigners to leave what they consider to be their territory. They have every reason to lie or obfuscate to reach that goal.
Taking CNAS intern Kyle Flynn’s comments on Peter Bergen’s senate testimony into account (primarily because it is very recent and also something I touched on in my original response) and the Oral History of the Taliban (also recent), there is no factual reason to believe that the AFG Taliban wouldn’t re-establish their regime if given the opportunity and use that power to provide al-Qaeda with another launching pad.
The argument that al-Qaeda does not necessarily need Afghanistan to accomplish its goals is both accurate and well-heeded; but it sure does make it easier on them. Furthermore, if the US continues to have a presence in South/Central Asia–which the events of the last 18 years indicates it will–it is a matter of US influence and security to have in place a government in line with whatever democratic views we attempted to import there.
The Taliban don’t exactly fit that bill, and should they be reconciled with the current AFG government, it seems probable that they would exploit the control of the 200 districts they currently hold into a grab for political power. It would likely introduce another government, one sourced by Islamic extremism. And that’s not good for US interests even without al-Qaeda’s involvement, given the proximity of AFG to Pakistan, Iran, and India (all nuclear states).
FOUR. Probably the point most important to me, personally, is the relationship of the Taliban to the people it professes to represent and govern. The following is copied from Women Against Shariah, at the most cursory level. (That is a heartbreaking blog to read.)
* Shariah: an all-encompassing and in-transmutable system of Islamic jurisprudence, found in the Koran and the Sunnah, that covers all aspect of life, including daily routines, hygiene, familial roles and responsibilities, social order and conduct, directives on relationships with Muslims and non-Muslims, religious obligations, financial dealings and many other facets of living.
* Ird: the sexual purity of a woman that confers honor to her husband, family and community. Ird is based on the traditional standards of behavior set forth in the shariah code and includes subservience to male relatives, modest dress which could include veiling and the covering of the body, and restricted movement outside of the home. The loss of a woman’s ird confers shame upon her family and can result in ostracism by the community, economic damage, political consequences and the loss of self esteem.
* Zina: the Koranic word for sexual relations outside of marriage. Under shariah law, Zina is punished by lashings, imprisonment or stoning to death.
* Honor Killing: a murder, usually of a female, committed to restore the social and political standing of a family or community when it is believed that the victim has violated traditional behavioral expectations. Such violations can include improper covering of the body, appearing in public without a male relative chaperone, talking to an unrelated male, or exhibiting independence in thought and action. An honor killing can also be based on hearsay or gossip that is perceived as damaging to a woman’s relatives.
* Forced Marriage: a marriage that is conducted without the consent of one or both parties in which duress is a factor. Such duress can include violence or physical intimidation, psychological abuse, blackmailing, kidnapping, or threats of imprisonment or institutional confinement.
Now, there are several stripes of what WAS refers to as militant islam, but I think it’s common knowledge that the Taliban have a fairly strict interpretation of Shariah. To me, turning political power over to men who will use their power to oppress half the population is sufficient reason in and of itself to remain until the population is secured. I don’t want my heart to bleed all over this post, but it is a fundamental problem for me to consider political reconciliation with a group of people who will clearly and unabashedly utilize that power to enact and further systemic oppression of women. And given the Taliban’s grave presence in Afghanistan currently, it would arguably be a lot of political power.
That oppression, too, has the trickle down effect on Afghan children, and the various other minorities within Afghanistan.
One of the recurring arguments I have about political-ethnic divides within Afghanistan relates to the notion that because Pashtuns are the great majority in country they should be taken seriously and, I interpret, be a large political power because of their numbers–about 42% of the population. But what I find troubling about the argument from majority is that the proposed majority almost inevitably uses that power to oppress or eradicate the minorities which (seem to) threaten that power.
I find it hard to distinguish a compelling argument that suggests political reconciliation with the Taliban would not be a problem for the overall security of the Afghan people.
So, I stand by my original, more tenuous claim–political reconciliation may be the fastest way for ISAF to get out of Afghanistan, but I don’t think it’s the best. Not when it leaves several problems both in terms of US security, Afghan security, and problems both immediately and in the long-term.
That was more hawkish than I’d anticipated it being.
Linkdump of what I’m reading over the weekend:
How to Measure the War by Jason Campbell, Michael E. O’Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro:
The news is not all bad, however. With the help of outside donors, the Afghan government has made great strides in providing increased access to basic health care, with 82 percent of the population now living in districts that have a basic package of health care programs, up considerably from 9 percent in 2003. This metric is of limited value for truly sick individuals, who probably still cannot access health care in many cases. But it has translated into significant improvements in the rate of vaccinations as well as infant and child mortality rates. Though literacy rates continue to linger at less than 30 percent, more than 6 million children currently attend over 9,000 schools. Gender equity is improving as 2 million of the students are girls and 40,000 of the 142,000 teachers are women. This represents a marked improvement over the Taliban years. Finally, telephone usage has increased dramatically to an estimated 7 million Afghans, up from just 1 million in 2002.
Course Correction by Ganesh Sitaraman:
The project underway at Camp Julien aims to help the United States and its allies succeed where King Amanullah, the Russians, and even the mujahedin failed. Julien is home to the Counterinsurgency Training Center–Afghanistan, where U.S. and coalition forces are trying to teach themselves and Afghans how to fight a different kind of war. For one week each month, 130 students descend on Julien to learn about counterinsurgency. Attendees come from every possible background: U.S. and coalition troops of all ranks, ages, and nationalities; State Department and USAID personnel; Afghan soldiers and police; members of NGOs; contractors; Army anthropologists. (I was there in July as part of my research on law in situations of counterinsurgency.)
The Missing Debate in Afghanistan by Peggy Noonan:
It is strange—it is more than strange, and will confound the historians of the future—that Gen. McChrystal has not been asked to testify before Congress about Afghanistan, about what the facts are on the ground, what is doable, what is desirable, how the war can be continued, and how it can end. He—and others, including experienced members of the military past and present, and foreign-policy professionals—should be called forth to talk to the country in the clearest terms under questioning from our elected representatives.
Before the surge in Iraq, we had the Petraeus hearings, which were nothing if not informative, and helped form consensus. Two generations earlier, we had the Fulbright hearings on Vietnam, which were in their way the first formal, if deeply and inevitably contentious, airing of what was at stake there and what our position was.
Why are we not doing this now? Why are we treating Afghanistan almost like an afterthought, interesting and important but not as urgent a question as health care?
Today, that hard work is paying off as even some congressional Democrats, skeptical of McChrystal’s proposed plan for Afghanistan, are suggesting they wait until they’ve heard what Gates thinks. Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has criticized the McChrystal proposal as too troop-heavy. Congress at some point ought to hear directly from McChrystal and Petraeus, Levin said last Sunday. “But above them all is a secretary of defense. We ought to focus on what will Secretary Gates’ recommendation be to the president . . . we ought to listen to the secretary of defense when he makes up his mind.”
If Iran gets the bomb, other regional powers will pursue nuclear programs—if they are not already doing so. Inevitably in a region as volatile as this, there will be a few small-scale nuclear catastrophes, probably rulers targeting their own people. Saddam gassed the Kurds and slaughtered the Shiites, Hafez Assad massacred the Sunnis of Hama, and mass graves throughout the region testify to the willingness of Arab rulers to kill their own people—in their hands, a nuclear weapon is merely an upgrade in repressive technology. Still, it’s extremely unlikely the regimes will use these weapons against their regional rivals. Remember, the main reason these states support nonstate terror groups is to deter one another and thus avoid all-out war.
Ingushetia’s cycle of violence by Dom Rotheroe:
It is a complaint we hear all over Ingushetia, that there is no law or justice. In a society in which blood vendettas are part of a man’s honour, young male relatives of the deceased have to seek their own justice.
They head into the hills to get a gun and take revenge. And while with the extremists, their ideology may shift accordingly. Some may become suicide bombers, of which the North Caucasus has seen a resurgence this summer, culminating in an attack on Ingushetia’s main police station in August which killed 21 and injured more than 100 more.
My most poignant memory of the Albakov family is of Batyr’s younger brother, Beslan. Beslan’s rejects blood revenge and wants legal justice for his brother, a justice he knows will never come. He also knows that the security forces will suspect him of seeking revenge and therefore may come for him at any time.
His quietly desperate face is the face of Ingushetia today, trapped between the rock and hard place of the militants and the authorities who seem intent on feeding the ever-growing cycle of violence.
George Packer’s recent profile of Richard Holbrooke that appeared in the New Yorker last week has conveniently been made available in its entirety online, just in time to make all the grafs I transcribed on Friday a waste of effort. Oh well.
It was a long, thorough, and clear-eyed picture of Richard Holbrooke, a man who has been in and out of politics for years and is now the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan; that is, the civilian co-ordinator for US efforts in those two countries. Appointed by President Obama, he’s close with Secretary Clinton and is someone to keep a close eye on as the Obama administration [eventually] concludes its review of the Afghan war. Read the article yourself, but here’s the bits that stuck out to me.
Afghanistan and Pakistan now constituted a single theatre of war, Holbrooke wrote, where America would have an unavoidable interest long after the war in Iraq was history. “The conflict in Afghanistan will be far more costly and much, much longer than Americans realize,” he wrote in March, 2008. “This war, already in its seventh year, will eventually become the longest in American history.”
That’s a little more than a year and a half ago, and as much as its proving to be true now, many folks don’t seem inclined to hear it.
Shortly after the Inauguration, Obama went to the Pentagon, where the Joint Chiefs of Staff gave a slide briefing; instead of delineating a clear goal, the briefing listed more than a dozen goals. Obama called [Bruce] Riedel and asked him to lead a two-month strategic review of the war. Holbrooke would work closely with him.
I guess that’s mostly a “If you think it’s bad now, imagine what it was like nine months ago!” anecdote.
A pure counterterror approach had, in fact, been the Bush Administration’s policy for yeas: kill or capture terrorist leaders, with minimal support for political institutions in Kabul and Islamabad. It had created the mess that Obama inherited, with two countries under threat from insurgents and Al Qaeda’s strength increasing. “Al Qaeda does not exist in a vacuum,” Riedel said. “They’re part of a syndicate of terrorist groups. Selective counterterrorism won’t get you anywhere, because they bad guys don’t stay in their lanes.” And without an extensive military presence and connections to the Pakistani and Afghan governments the US would likely lose the intelligence networks that have been built up since 9-11. Obama would have to accept the risk that Al Qaeda might pull off another catastrophic attack. The abandonment of Afghanistan would also be a dire prospect for Afghans, especially women, but in war-weary America this argument no longer had force. The basis for a policy had to be American self-interest.
Emphasis mine. It’s hard to convey sarcasm effectively on the internet, but allow me to denote it thusly: [!]Well, of course American self-interest is the only argument that works effectively for a policy change![!] Anyway. Basis for policy shifted, from counterterrorism to a more holistic counterinsurgency.
“There’s a long-term problem,” Abramowitz told him. “It’s going to take a lot of money, a lot of effort. And the Administration, in order to get the money, has to convey there’s a short-term fix. But there is no short-term fix.” John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, told me, “Everyone’s on a relatively short fuse here to see that the strategy is being defined correctly.” He expressed concern that the Administration’s strategy “demands greater nation-building resources than people may be aware and certainly than we have thus far committed.” James Dobbins, now with the RAND Corporation, couches the problem this way: “There is a gap between the reason we’re there and what we’re doing. The rationale is counterterrorism. The strategy is counterinsurgency.”
A gap which is playing itself out pretty clearly in the administration right now. Timely article.
Eventually, the Americans would leave Afghanistan, allowing Pakistan to pursue its own interest in the region. “Countries don’t change their strategic vision overnight,” [Vali] Nasr told me. “It’s not as simple as Bush saying ‘I hate terrorism, you hate terrorism, we’re all on the same page.’ This is a long, hard battle. We need to turn the Pakistani military, but we can’t do that without getting it to see its interests differently, which means building relations.”
Continuing to build relationship not only with Pakistan, but as a further bolster to Afghanistan, one presumes.
There was no deal to strike with the Pakistanis, only trust to build, and Holbrooke’s outsized personality seemed to be under wraps. In moments when I overheard him talking to Pakistani leaders, he took the solicitous tone of someone reassuring an unstable friend. “It’s like dealing with psychologically abused children,” a member of his staff said. “You don’t focus on the screaming and violence–you just hug them tighter.” …Beneath Pakistan’s dysfunctional government lies a social system that, in rural areas, remains feudal.
You know, Rory Stewart suddenly comes to mind: And that you can invest 20-30 years in Afghanistan. And if you were lucky, you would make it look a bit like Pakistan. I mean, unless you understand that Pakistan is 20-30 years ahead of Afghanistan, you don’t understand where we’re starting from. And Pakistan is still not an ideal state.
“Why do people join the Taliban?” Holbrooke asked [Helmand Governor Gulab] Mangal. (It was a question that he asked wherever he went.)
“Lack of knowledge, religious inspiration, lack of jobs, poverty,” the Governor said. “Others, because of our wrong practices. And a large number because of pressure–because they will be killed.”
“Do you have a program for those who want to leave the Taliban and come back to the government?”
The Governor said he had discussed the subject that morning with elders in one of the districts. “But will they get jobs?” Holbrooke pressed. “The last programs didn’t work very well.”
He never got an answer to his question. But I’d be real interested in all the responses he got from asking.
Sarah Chayes, a former reporter who founded a sustainable-development cooperative in Kandahar, and who is now an adviser to General Stanley McChrystal, the American commander in Afghanistan, told me, “What the Afghans expected of us was to help create a decent government. Instead, we gave them warlords, because we were focused on counterterrorism.”
Controversial figure, valid point.
The NATO official worried that Holbrooke, instead of leaning hard on the Karzai government, might see Karzai as a necessary conduit for cutting a deal with the Taliban that would allow the Americans to leave. “Holbrooke is fundamentally not a nation-builder, he’s a dealmaker,” the official said. “But this is not something you can bargain your way out of.”
Yeah, that pull quote pretty much stands on its own.
Burt Field, an Ar Force major general and Holbrooke’s military adviser, was beginning to question the military’s model of how to fight the Taliban. He said that the Americans were telling the Afghans, “We’re going to keep the Taliban off your back and connect you to your government–and that’s counterinsurgency.” But, Field went on, “it’s premised on the fact that the government wants to be able to provide those key services. What if that premise is false?”
A question even more vital given the recent elections.
When I repeated Hill’s remark to Holbrooke on the plane, he took out a pen, and on a napkin he wrote down, “INSTITUTION BUILDING.” He drew a line under it, and below the line he wrote “DIP PHASE.” “Things are not sequential,” Holbrooke said. “They have to be parallel processes.” He acknowledged that no Dayton would come at the end of the diplomatic phase.
And that pretty much sums up the situation Holbrooke is in with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Reading this profile didn’t give me a whole lot of confidence that we (as a nation) actually know where we’re going with this thing, but it’s interesting to get such a close profile of someone with significant influence on the Obama administration’s strategy and policy. I think it does give some insight on where Holbrooke is going with this ship he’s steering, and a better understanding of our current diplo relationship with Pakistan. Anyway, read the article.
Stratfor put out a concise overview of the challenges in aviation-focused terrorism prevention this week, but I think the most useful part is its succinct breakdown of current terrorist threats:
Currently there are three different actors in the jihadist realm. The first is the core al Qaeda group headed by bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. The core al Qaeda organization has been hit hard over the past several years, and its operational ability has been greatly diminished. It has been several years since the core group has conducted a spectacular terror attack, and it has focused much of its effort on waging the ideological battle as opposed to the physical battle.
The second group of actors in the jihadist realm is the regional al Qaeda franchise groups or allies, such as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Jemaah Islamiyah and Lashkar-e-Taiba. These regional jihadist groups have conducted many of the most spectacular terrorist attacks in recent years, such as the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and the July 2009 Jakarta bombings.
The third group of actors is the grassroots jihadist militants, who are essentially do-it-yourself terrorist operatives. Grassroots jihadists have been involved in several plots in recent years, including suicide bomb plots in the United States and Europe.
It’s kind of like a cheat sheet by which to understand the current news-scape. The rest of the article is well worth reading as well, but I find it interesting to see this summarized so neatly.
In “news heard ’round the world” today, the Obama administration has stepped away from the Eastern European missile defence system [The Guardian], in a move that has strongly displeased the Czech Republic and will likely make significant strategic strides in the US relationship with Russia. I think it’s pretty clear that this has been announced just as the US is going into talks with Iran, and needs Russia at least amenable to US goals; and to be honest, I was never really convinced of the necessity or prudence of the shield anyway. But I bet this will piss Bill Kristol off. (Yay.)
The NYT covers Biden’s continuing trip in Afghanistan, noting that there was more artillery fire in Baghdad, but Biden and al-Maliki both ignored it. That’s kind of classy. Of course, one of the main reasons for Biden’s trip is to push through political reconciliation before the elections early next year.
“I think the threat is that the political process will not give the country sufficient cohesion to work on its economic issues and otherwise become a strong and stable factor in the region,” the American ambassador, Christopher R. Hill, told reporters Tuesday night.
Not an easy task, especially when the Iraqi parliament is currently at a stalemate.
Also in Iraq, AP via Stars and Stripes has news of the largest US military detention camp being shut down.
The U.S. military on Wednesday closed Camp Bucca, an isolated desert prison that was once its largest lockup in Iraq, as it moves to release thousands of detainees or transfer them to Iraqi custody before the end of the year.
While it is likely a result of the plan for withdrawal, it also speaks to a confidence in Iraqi security that this camp is closing down; reverting the custody of over eight thousand prisoners is no small task for any security force. I’ll be waiting to see whether Iraq can in fact keep those prisoners secure.
In Afghanistan today, the main news (other than Karzai vacuously insisting the election was legitimate) was of six Italian troops and ten Afghani citizens dead from a car bomb in Kabul. (AP covers as well.) This is notably the worst hit Italian forces have taken, and the Taliban have taken responsibility.
David Ignatius at the Washington Post takes up recent calls for a reconfigured intelligence direction. I could make some claims about the misuse of intelligence operatives post 9/11, but I suspect we all kind of know this already. Either way, this seems to be a good start:
Hayden drew a Venn diagram to explain where the CIA needs to operate. First, he drew three circles that represent the traditional parameters: An activity must be technically feasible, operationally relevant and lawful. Then he added a fourth requirement. The activity must also be “politically sustainable,” through more transparency with Congress and the public. “We need a program that does not have an on-off switch every two years,” he said.
I particularly like “lawful.”
I’m still digesting the Stephen Farrell story, but Forbes.com’s Tunku Varadarajan has some in-depth analysis of the matter. There is a difficult imbalance in Western reporting: Afghanistan is not safe enough for journalists to investigate without security, but because of that security, journalism has a very particular and limited lens. So on the one hand I sympathize with Stephen Farrell’s choice to investigate further despite clear directives from his military embed that it was not secure enough for him to do it; on the other, it was foolish and dangerous to do so.
Speaking of embeds, I’m still working my way through Michael Yon’s latest files; it’s always fascinating, if somewhat militarily biased. | <urn:uuid:1622af77-33a6-4df0-92fc-7abc421d3098> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://karakapend.wordpress.com/tag/counterterrorism/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9596 | 11,710 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The city as an emancipation machine
De Doetank will cooperate with Buro Maakbare Zaken from Ad van der Stok. In a series of experiments they will search for the productive forces of men and space that haven’t been developed by city planners and architects. The research will dive into the dynamic structure of the
city and has just one simple question as a starting point: in what way do people use space to become better?
By taking just this question as the starting point, the researchers try to investigate how the city can be used to help people to move in the direction they want to move, without being hindered by words like ‘social cohesion’ or emancipation’. This question might lead us to enjoying the good life, freedom and safety, to entrepeneurship or to just hanging around on the streets. This approach is aimed at breaking open the idea of the city as an emancipation machine, to turn it inside out and to let the spaces that people use to become better, speak for themselves.
Grafic design by Ad van der Stok. | <urn:uuid:1d51d511-9695-4dd0-b1f6-0b2364693964> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.doetank.org/wat/de-stad-als-emancipatiemachine-english/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95093 | 223 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Desensitised to terror, Russians will not take long to get over the latest attack. Russian writer and openDemocracy contributor Elena Fanailova passed through Domodedovo Airport just thirty minutes before Monday’s bomb struck.
The Domodedovo terrorist attack brings to light a whole series of issues: the negligence of the airport security services; the inability of the secret services to infiltrate terrorist networks; Russian policy in the North Caucasus generally; the international and local nature of terrorism; the figures of Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov and Kremlin ideologue Vladislav Surkov; the good doctors and the surgeons; the bad taxi drivers who used the opportunity to raise their prices; the good people who went to Domodedevo to help getting the passengers away and the good train managers who let people travel for free; the not very good Mayor Sobyanin, who refused to talk to journalists; the good Medvedev, who promised to investigate the attack; the bad Putin, who promised that he would crack down on terrorists, and yet failed to do so.
Several things, it seems, lie ahead. For a month or so, the public will not need to fear flying from Domodedovo airport: security will be stepped up a notch. Dark-skinned people from the Caucasus will begin to have their documents checked in the street more often. There will be another explosion of popular xenophobia, possibly leading to battles in the street. The Putin-Medvedev tandem will win the 2012 election in some form or another. (These, by the way, were expert opinions expressed on the Web. New technologies such as Twitter were particularly impressive in their ability disseminate popular reaction to the attack, and we already have video footage from the incident).
My prediction, however, is that by the day after tomorrow, both the attack and its victims will be largely forgotten. If not by then, then certainly by next week.
"Metaphysically, Islamist terrorism is no different from Kremlin terror, or the small-minded boss in the office: people have learnt to repress the horror and terror, to hide it away as though it has nothing to do with them"
“Mournful Unconcern”, is the title of Alexander Sokurov’s famous perestroika-era film, and seems a pretty correct metaphor in the circumstances. Little, in truth, has changed since Soviet times: neither the level of public violence, nor the absence of any kind of serious reaction to it. There is nothing that forces the average Russian to have strong feelings (except perhaps betrayal, gang rape or noticing the traffic police). While all Russians remember the terrorist attacks of the Putin era, it is impossible for them to experience an animal, personal sense of the danger of physical annihilation. Metaphysically, Islamist terrorism is no different from Kremlin terror, or the small-minded boss in the office: people have learnt to repress the horror and terror, to hide it away as though it has nothing to do with them.
This is what allows authorities to manufacture a third term in prison for Khodorkovsky, while laying a motorway through the virgin Khimki Forest. It is why those below die silently and uncomplainingly of hyperthermia and vascular complications from peat fires. Why the middle class half-heartedly clings on for liberal signals from President Medvedev, while the nationalist wing assembles in large numbers on Manezhnaya Square (their protest quickly was quelled by the authorities who hadn’t quite worked out how to turn it to their advantage). Why radical anarchists and isolated rebels such as the Voina group find themselves in prison; and why Khodorkovsky is declared a thief. Far easier, indeed, to question Voina’s art and Khodorkovsky’s enrichment than it is to think for yourself, to stop collaborating with the authorities in order to protect your own interests.
We have reached a crossroads. Culture and science cannot continue to operate in ignorance of politics, economics and ideology: no longer can there be abstract artistic beauty and abstract humanity through medicine. As wonderful as the gesture is, it simply isn’t sufficient to come in one's own car to offer free transport to people leaving Domodedovo. Psychologists can offer as much counselling as they like, but what is the point if the victims are doomed to a useless life?
"We have reached a crossroads. Culture and science cannot continue to operate in ignorance of politics, economics and ideology"
We’ve been here once already, of course, seven years ago in Beslan. We realised then that our system is flawed. We recognised that small acts of personal generosity are no longer compensation for the absolute evil represented by the violence of the reincarnated Witzraor, with its growing appetite and complete lack of satiation. Simply put, empires that build themselves on violence have to go. There's no point hanging on to former glories. The exit should be an elegant, rather than a pathetic one, and a matter of personal will for every citizen of the empire. Russia must work up the courage to let the lands at the periphery go, and learn to live as a post-colonial state, rather than a post-imperial or, particularly, post-Soviet one.
The social contract between state and individual remains along the vector “oil — good living standards — limited freedom”, with no problems if you toe the line. The only way that equilibrium will change is if there is a mass and radical refusal to cooperate with the whole system of state. This, in turn would require a union of social solidarity and social empathy (not simply an alliance of fashion, corporate interests, personal advantage or — forgive me ! — personal sympathy for the dead and wounded). How you can build such a movement is a huge issue. For the time being, the only people aligned in such a direction are Khodorkovsky, the Primorskye partisans and Voina, none of which command great support in society. And while there is a slow movement, there are still no no serious mainstream social groups aligned in support of freedom.
I’d like to end with three connected stories.
The first relates to a discovery I made when reporting from Beslan in 2004. I pass over the tragic part of my journalistic work, and limit myself to the observation that Islam in the North Caucasus appeared just as post-Soviet — by which I mean new-fangled, rootless and proselytising — as Russian Orthodoxy, and produces young radicals. I was subsequently told by knowledgeable colleagues that Islam in the Wahhabi interpretation promises social equality no worse than the Communist utopia. Quite attractive for a poor youth with ideals. And for a girl whose brothers or elderly relatives have been killed.
A second story. In 2008, in the course of professional work following the press, I was struck by a piece in “Kommersant” newspaper describing the seizure of a house that apparently belonged to one of the Dagestan radicals. He was 30, a historian with a doctorate specialising in traditional Islam. He was working in the Russian Academy of Sciences while editing a radical Islamist newspaper. He, his wife and two small children were shot in their home without trial. A large quantity of literature was found in his house, but no arms and no drugs.
A third story. Yesterday I took the suburban train into Moscow from Domodedovo airport half an hour before the explosion. I had flown in from Cairo, where I had been on a weekend break. My companion there looked at the magnificent mosques of a city which had lost its illusions and ambitions and said “Islam should be respected: such temples to God can only be put up by a considerable force”. There were several young men with Wahhabi beards in the plane. They were accompanied by an old man, who was sitting in front of me. He was an Avar and had fought in the Great Patriotic [Second World] War. I overheard fragments of his conversation. The man was telling the young about Stalin's deportation of the Chechens. and they seemed to be listening as though they'd never heard it before.
PS. I don't really want to speculate what would have happened if the plane had been half an hour late. I would probably not have been in the waiting area, where the blast was, but the limited resources meant that I would have had to become involved – as a former doctor (the Doctor's Oath of the Soviet Union is still in force, as are international medical ethics) and as a Radio Liberty reporter. It would have been involvement with adrenalin, but with mournful unconcern too: you can help an individual, but you can't help people who have entered voluntarily into an unholy conspiracy/collusion.
First published in the Russian at www.openspace.ru | <urn:uuid:3cae6a79-3bf2-4339-a087-ee475782a91e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/elena-fanailova/mournful-unconcern-russia-reacts-to-domodedovo-bombing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969961 | 1,824 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Humanisng a Brand
Humanising a brand is a way of endearing people to your company. It’s easier said than done but worth it. Building a brand personality takes effort and finding one that suits your overall company message requires careful consideration.
Brand personality isn’t just what you say it’s about your style and how you present yourself to the world. How you interact should reflect what your brand values. If you haven’t properly considered what your brand’s voice is, then read on.
Creating An Identity
If you could describe your business in half a dozen words, what would they be? Reliable? Creative? Relaxed? Quirky? Serious? Helpful? This will help to develop your tone of voice and how you communicate. A consistent tone of voice will help your customers to get an idea of the of culture of your business. Your tone of voice is just as important as any other part of the branding process.
What’s The Tone Of Your Voice?
The style of your company will help shape the brand tone voice. Is it going to be serious and to the point? Or will you be using fun and colourful language to sell your product?
There are very few occasions when a serious tone is required, but this will depend upon the industry. There will always be an opportunity for personality and fun in your Twitter interactions. One great example of this is by @KiaUK. Dealing with a product like cars, you could be easily forgiven for thinking they would just focus on what they’re selling, instead, as a tweeting car the brand has an opportunity to be playfully provocative.
How Do You Communicate
How you communicate with your audience is the key to building up a strong relationship. Depending on the above, your replies and tweets will fit in with the tone you’ve developed so you could give either serious replies, witty responses or a balance between the two. | <urn:uuid:597f2ac4-00d1-4ebb-9e96-3ab78c2b7789> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bulletsocial.com/tag/marketing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945318 | 402 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Most things come with an instruction book. Your car has a manual and before you drive a car you even get a “learner’s permit”. Then you must study and pass a couple tests before you are allowed to legally drive that car. The microwave, the television, the cell phone, the stereo – they all come with instruction manuals. But what about parenting, do you have a book that tells you how to do that? Well of course you do! As Christians we can look to the Bible for a full set of instructions on how to be parents. It is important to read the Bible to glean what it has to say about the awesome opportunity we have to be parents. As believers we must keep a Biblical worldview instead of a humanistic worldview in order to maintain a Godly culture in our homes which then impacts our community. The Bible reminds us that children are precious to the parents. It also tells us how to teach, train and discipline them. Take a look at these important Bible verses for parents.
Children are Precious Creations & Blessings – Love Them
Deuteronomy 7:14 You shall be blessed above all peoples. There shall not be male or female barren among you or among your livestock.
Psalms 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalms 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Teaching, Training and Discipline
The Bible uses Hebrew and Greek words for “discipline” that are much more encompassing than we use in the English language today. I have found the following definitions, which are very helpful to know when you are parenting according to the Bible:
Old Testament – The Hebrew word “muwcar”(originates from “yacar”)
muwcar – properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint:
KJV – bond, chastening ([-eth]), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
yacar – to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct:
KJV – bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.
New Testament – The Greek word “paideía”:
1. The whole training and education of children Eph 6:4
2. Whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing the passions
a. Instruction which aims at the increase of virtue: 2 Tim 3:16
b. According to Biblical usage chastisement, chastening Heb 12:5
Parents Should Learn and Teach Memory Verses
The following verses are purposefully not in book order as I believe children should learn these verses in the following order:
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Parents are Commanded to Train Children
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Proverbs 1:8-9 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Parents are Commanded to Discipline/Chastise Children
Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.
Proverbs 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13-14 (KJV) Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
The Holy Bible, King James Version
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft | <urn:uuid:0f018393-c6c3-4504-8120-4120bc9f3d83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/20-important-bible-verses-for-parents/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951228 | 1,624 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Diamonds Are Forever : Work information
- John Barry ( Music, Images,)
- Performed by
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Carl Davis (Conductor)
- Work name
- Diamonds Are Forever
- Work number
- 1971-00-00 02:00:00
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Alan Peters
- Dick Lewzey
- Recording date
John Barry Prendergast was born on November 3rd 1933, the youngest of the four children of a classical pianist mother and a father who owned a cinema chain. He played the Piano and Trumpet when he was young, as well as working as a projectionist in one of his father's cinemas. During his time in the army he often gave performances, and took a correspondence course in composition and orchestration. In 1957 he started the John Barry Seven group which performed jazz and rock tunes, appearing on TV and releasing EPs and singles on the Parlophone label. However Barry preferred composing to performing, and in 1959 was asked to score his first film, 'Beat Girl'. Other scores followed, but his big break came in 1962 when director Terence Young asked him to work on the film of an Ian Fleming book - Dr No. There some confusion and controversy over authorship of the James Bond Theme (soundtrack composer Monty Norman was credited with writing it, possibly erroneously) but Barry was the one asked to write the scores for ten more Bond films, including Goldfinger (1964), From Russia With Love (1963), You Only Live Twice (1967) and Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
Barry is best known for his Bond music, but has written for many other films, from The Ipcress File in 1965 to Playing By Heart in 1999. He scored the epic smash Dances With Wolves (1990), and wrote for The Horse Whisperer (1999). Although that score (titled The Beyondness of Things) was rejected by the film's producers, the recording has gone on to achieve great popularity through its own merit. Barry has also written stage musicals, themes to TV shows (including The Persuaders), and was director of the 60s pop label Ember.
Barry is very particular about his working style. He detests interference and pressure from directors, producers or supervisors - turning down an invitation to write for The Prince of Tides because it would have meant reporting to Barbara Streisand every day. He also refused to work on Sleepless in Seattle because it would have meant sharing the soundtrack album with twenty other songs.
In 1971 Sean Connery was tempted back to the role of James Bond for this lack-lustre effort, though he donated his fee to the Scottish International Educational Trust. It's a by-the-numbers action film with an average score by John Barry, though the attractive title number, sung by Shirley Bassey, goes some way to make up for the lack of suspense. | <urn:uuid:656078f2-81fa-4602-aacc-4a5613264234> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.classical.com/work/2147485420 | 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 | 0.974495 | 603 | 1.5 | 2 |
This book contains a translation of Freiland; ein sociales Zukunftsbild, by Dr. THEODOR HERTZKA, a Viennese economist. The first German edition appeared early in 1890, and was rapidly followed by three editions in an abridged form. This translation is made from the unabridged edition, with a few emendations from the subsequent editions.
rived at their false theses, what it was that forced them--despite all their sagacity--to hold such theses as correct though they are simply absurd when viewed in the light of truth. I pondered in vain over this enigma, until suddenly, like a ray of sunlight, there shot into the darkness of my doubt the discovery that in its essence my work was nothing but the necessary outcome of what others had achieved--that my theory was in no way out of harmony with the numerous theories of my predecessors, but that rather, when thoroughly understood, it was the very truth after which all the other economists had been searching, and upon the track of which--and this I held to be decisive--I had been thrown, not by my own sagacity, but solely by the mental labours of my great predecessors. In other words, _the solution of the social problem offered by me is the very solution of the economic problem which the science of political economy has been incessantly seeking from its first rise down to the present day_. | <urn:uuid:5edfa3d3-dfd2-483a-b6ee-d820bca83da1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://manybooks.net/titles/hertzkatetext068free10.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981573 | 293 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Mr. Kennedy's statement on the shortcomings of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or the WARN Act, came on the heels of a four-day Blade investigation, which found that the law is so full of loopholes and flaws that employers repeatedly skirt it with little or no penalty. The law, passed by Congress in 1988, requires many employers to give 60 days' notice of plant closings or major layoffs.
"In today's insecure economy, workers facing a layoff or job loss need advance notice so they have time to seek new work and make plans for their future," Mr. Kennedy (D., Mass.) said in a statement to The Blade. "Unfortunately, the WARN Act does not protect many of the workers who need it most."
On Monday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) introduced legislation to reform the WARN Act by lengthening the notification period before a plant closing or mass layoff, increasing the penalties for violators, requiring smaller companies to comply with the law, and allowing the Department of Labor and state attorneys general to represent workers in lawsuits. The proposal, dubbed the FOREWARN Act, already has a list of co-sponsors that includes two Democratic presidential candidates - U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.
But Mr. Kennedy's support could prove most valuable because he is the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where Mr. Brown's bill has been referred. Mr. Kennedy said he looked forward to taking up Mr. Brown's proposals in his committee.
"I commend Senator Brown for his efforts to provide more comprehensive protections for hardworking Americans," Mr. Kennedy said in his statement to The Blade. "I believe that the WARN Act should also be expanded to protect workers whose jobs are shipped overseas."
In the 1980s, Mr. Kennedy worked to craft the plant closing notification law with Sen. Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio, the original WARN Act's sponsor. Facing opposition from Congressional Republicans and business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Democrats at the time compromised greatly to get a law passed.
A spokesman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the organization is analyzing Mr. Brown's proposals in preparation for taking a position on the bill.
"There's significantly more interest in a bill like this and more need today than 20 years ago because we have a society where workers - white-collar and blue-collar workers - are way more anxious about their future and their job," Mr. Brown said.
Contact Steve Eder at: firstname.lastname@example.org or 419-304-1680 | <urn:uuid:2d2a8afa-f05a-4764-b312-dc4b70d628d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2007/07/21/Kennedy-backing-WARN-Act-reform-Senator-s-support-may-be-crucial.print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960793 | 548 | 1.671875 | 2 |
(Received this in pps format in the mail, which tells me that the innate heroism and compassion in man transcends race, color and creed. That in today's world marked by man's inhumanity to man, there is a white ray of hope amidst all tragedy and odds...)
Dedicated to the brave people in Sichuan Earthquake, 2008
An earthquake, magnitude 8.0, struck
Millions of people lost their beloved ones, their homes, their belongings. Yet there is no looting, no complaints, just people helping each other.
Within hours, people rushed to rescue. Blood donation lines run for 100 yards, and people waited hours to donate blood; within 24 hours, all major blood banks ran out storage space. The highway to the earthquake struck city Dujianyang (20 mile from
Chen Guangbiao(陈光标), owner of a big construction company 1,500 miles from the disaster area, just 2 hour 30 minutes after the earthquake, started transporting 60 construction machineries and led 120 volunteers to rescue. They arrived at the disaster area 24 hours later, almost the same time as Army Engineering Corp.
Medical workers provided care under extreme conditions; they even delivered many new born babies on the parking lot.
Wen Jiabao(温家宝), 66, Chinese Prime Minister, boarded on a plane 30 minutes after the earthquake, and arrived in disaster area in 2 hours. He has been the chief of the rescue operation since then, working almost around clock at the frontline with rescue workers.
1000 paratroopers started boarding airplanes 2 hours after earthquake. Despite heavy rain, high wind and thick cloud, they jumped from over 20,000 foot high to remote mountain areas where they did not even know if there would be a place for them to land. The first jumped off plane was Senior Colonel Li Zhenbo(李振波), 51.
With roads buried by landslide and bad weather hammering airborne operations, a group of 600 soldiers and medical teams, let by Major General Xia Guofu(夏国富), 57, Commander in Chief of
Soldiers and rescue workers working around clock to rescue people still buried. Unable to transport heavy machineries to the remote areas since roads are buried by landslides, they often have to use hands to move tons of concrete.
Song Xinying (宋馨懿), 3, pulled out from rubble after being buried for 2 days. She was in critical condition and lost a leg, but survived. Her parents hold each other’s hands and shoulders face to face to make an arch to shield her from the falling building. Her parents did not make it out.
A 5 year old boy was rescued after being buried under rubbles for 24 hours. His left hand was broken, but he smiled and saluted to his rescuers. His smile made everybody cry
Zhang Jiwang(张吉万), 11, carrying his sister Zhang Han(张韩), 3，walked 12 hours straight to flee the disaster center.
Yuan Wentin(袁文婷), 26, first grade teacher. When the earthquake struck, she rushed to carry her stunned students from classroom on the 3rd floor to the ground. She managed to pull out most of her students, but the building collapsed when she was trying to pull out the last few. At the last moment of her life, she was trying to use her body to shield the students from falling concrete. Many teachers did the same thing. They are 谭千秋、张米亚、苟晓超、吴忠洪、杜正香......
This high school student was rescued from the collapsed building. She lost both legs, and her both hands are broken. The rescue workers were all in tears when they saw this. She smiled to them: “Be Brave!”
This baby, after being buried over 24 hours, miraculously, was rescued unscratched. He is about 3-4 months old, and his mother kneeled down, pinned her head and hands on the ground to shielded him from the falling concrete, and milked him. His mother did not make it out. A rescue worker found his mom’s cell phone in his wrapper. It had a text message left by his mother: “Dear child, if you survive, please remember, Mom loves you forever…” | <urn:uuid:8e481b38-67f3-4178-9594-bf789d0a2de3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://randomthoughtsmusings.blogspot.jp/2008_05_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975691 | 944 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Steven Tyler Battles for Privacy Laws
Bill SB465, now officially known as the “Steven Tyler Act,” was drafted at Tyler’s request by his attorney and manager, Dina LaPolt, and would provide enhanced legal remedies for celebrities photographed while engaged in “personal or familial activity” deserving of a reasonable expectation of privacy.
In other words, the new law would go beyond traditional invasion of privacy laws requiring a physical trespass, and impose legal liability upon paparazzi that use long-range lenses or audio equipment to capture images or audio of unsuspecting public figures in their homes (or making love in personal elevators), which they can currently then sell for personal profit.’
Said Tyler, “The paradise of Hawaii is a magnet for celebrities who just want a peaceful vacation. As a person in the public eye, I know the paparazzi are there and we have to accept that. But when they intrude into our private space, disregard our safety and the safety of others, that crosses a serious line that shouldn’t be ignored.”
The measure is based on similar legislation adopted by the state of California in 1998, and sources say it is being endorsed by two-thirds of the Hawaii Senate, and — unofficially — all current ‘American Idol’ judges and at least three-fifths of Aerosmith.
In all seriousness, Tyler is set to appear personally at the Hawaii State Capitol today, Friday Feb. 8, for the Senate hearing, alongside fellow celebrity, bill proponent, and Hawaii resident Mick Fleetwood — plus, one can only deduce, countless paparazzi angling for a few, final candid photographs they can make a quick buck on. | <urn:uuid:9697719f-c522-4d6d-b12e-1eb24235c898> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kbear.com/steven-tyler-invasion-of-privacy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946221 | 356 | 1.554688 | 2 |
BY JIM BECKETT, P.ENG.
I guess this is it. Summer holiday season is winding down and many of you will have recently returned from your various journeys and vacations. I hope you are home safe and rested and raring to go, with plenty of adventures behind you and fond memories to carry forward.
As the season of relaxation and summer jobs and placements ends, the season of learning and study begins. One of my favourite activities when our kids were still going to school was shopping for school supplies. Not only did the shopping signify “back to school,” it was an opportunity for some real deals.
My favourite was getting the best deal on loose-leaf paper. So much so that we have several packages of loose-leaf paper left over from our kids’ school days. Perhaps the rest of us should follow the example of back-to-school preparation, and think about education and value.
For APEGGA members, back to school usually means Continuing Professional Development. Like my kids every August, we have all grumbled on occasion — I know I have — about the necessity to keep up our self-directed Continuing Professional Development programs and fill out the paperwork for APEGGA. Why not look at CPD as an opportunity instead of a burden? Let’s challenge ourselves to get the best value for our investment in CPD.
On that front, your Association can certainly help. APEGGA provides an ongoing array of professional development opportunities. As well, branches offer luncheons and seminars at the local level, which are great opportunities to learn while you earn CPD credits. That’s value.
Dr. Lionel Laroche, P.Eng., an Ontario engineer, author and expert in cultural adaptation, has two upcoming seminars to help internationally educated members become successful on the job. A seminar entitled Being a Successful Internationally Educated Professional in Canada takes place Nov. 20 in Calgary and Nov. 23 in Edmonton. And then, Nov. 24 and 25 in Edmonton, Dr. Laroche puts on a two-day seminar called Training the Trainer: Assisting Internationally Educated Professionals.
You’ll notice a difference in perspective. The first seminar is for newcomers to Canada themselves. The other is for those who need to help newcomers adjust to their new surroundings.
Our Board of Examiners does excellent work in making sure those we accept as professionals from other jurisdictions are technically and ethically qualified, as well as fluent enough in English, to do their work. But being approved by the board and landing a job are only the beginning.
Adapting to a new culture is critical to the success of every internationally educated graduate. With the growing percentage of our ranks being filled by people trained beyond our boundaries, this type of professional development makes perfect sense.
The PEGG contains a full section dedicated to professional development. To find out about the seminars I’ve mentioned and the others your Association provides — as well as those from other providers — check out the section, starting on page 10.
I am often asked how our mandatory Continuing Professional Development program works for non-practicing members. Here’s the lowdown.
You are exempted from CPD if you submit a non-practicing declaration. If you are temporarily out of work, for example, and have not filled out the declaration, you are still required to complete 240 hours of CPD over three years.
Note: this is an average of 80 hours per year. APEGGA does not require that any single year’s worth of CPD add up to 80 hours — you can roll over extra hours from one year to the next or top up the year before.
You might be able to have your hours reduced while you are unemployed. For this to happen, you must submit a written request for special consideration to the APEGGA Practice Review Board. Whether your request is granted is up to the board.
But what about if you have filled out the declaration? What happens then?
Simple answer: you don’t have to do any CPD (although if the opportunity presents itself, you certainly can). You will still pay your dues and you will keep your professional designation. The Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act also requires that, as a professional member, you file an annual CPD report. But you must not practice and you must be prepared to acknowledge that you are non-practicing.
You may be able to begin practicing again, down the road, but only if the Practice Review Board gives you permission. If this happens, it would be in response to an application from you, seeking a status change back to practicing, but the longer you have been “non-practicing” the more difficult it will be to get a resumption.
And that’s about as far into the subject as I am prepared to wade. You’ll need to contact Ray Chopiuk, P.Eng., Director, Professional Practice, for further clarification. His e-mail address is in the More Info box in this article.
Mentoring Conference Returns
It’s an event that just keeps getting better and more interesting. Registration is under way now for APEGGA’s fourth annual National Mentoring Conference, Mentoring: The Universal Advantage.
The conference features four keynote speakers over two days, including none other than the world-famous, Alberta-born architect Douglas Cardinal, OC. Also on the list is the aforementioned Dr. Laroche.
You need to act fast on this one. The conference happens a month earlier than last year’s did. Dates are Sept. 24 and Sept. 25 at the Delta Bow Valley in Calgary. Registration deadline is Sept. 11.
In a few short years, APEGGA has become a mentoring leader among the professions, through this conference and through a formal mentoring program run by our Professional Development Department.
The conference draws people from across the country and from disciplines and professions beyond our own. The broadness of this event’s appeal speaks volumes about its importance and the role your Association plays.
How important is mentoring? I think all of us can point to experienced role models who took an interest in our careers and gave us the sound example, advice and guidance we needed. Although informal mentoring relationships can be very positive, studies do show that formalized mentoring — with written goals, expectations and other measurables — tend to be even more effective.
I know this has been the experience at the company I work for. Mentoring is very much part of our corporate culture. I believe it’s important, and so does the Association I’m proud to lead, this year.
Questions or comments? Please contact me at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:79aac427-94c2-4152-9dd4-1967bdc6a9df> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.apegga.org/Members/Publications/peggs/Web09-09/Notebook.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954321 | 1,403 | 1.65625 | 2 |
SMITHFIELD - Lt. Col. Bryan Felmet, who served 21 years as a general's court advocate and received Meritorious Service Medals five times, stood beside a World War II Army tank at an area designated to look like a bunker at Fort Friendship in Friendship Park and talked of the sacrifices made by veterans from many wars.
Sunday's Veterans Day program was sponsored by the Jefferson County Veterans Association at the museum park where a Veterans Memorial Wall will be completed in the spring.
"We should endeavor to serve our veterans as well as they served our nation. Part of the sacrifice for veterans upon returning is unemployment or under employment at times. When they are deployed, it is America's business to see that veterans and their families don't suffer in the process," he said.
JOINING HANDS — During the singing of “God Bless the USA” by Ron Retzer at the Fort Friendship Veterans Day service on Sunday, veterans on stage in front of a World War II tank and audience members held hands. The Jefferson County Veterans Association sponsored the program. - Esther McCoy
He told of support systems offered by the American Legion organization, such as the Family Support Network and Operation Comfort Warriors to offer assistance.
Felmet quoted statistic showing that one in four of the homeless are veterans and nine out of 10 of those living on the streets were honorably discharged Vietnam veterans.
"In any police department or fire department, you will see that a high number of the staff are veterans. When an emergency hits, chances are it is a veterans who responds. Also veterans take their citizenship responsibility seriously, as 78 percent cast a vote on Election Day," he said.
"For their accomplishments and their dedication, we are forever grateful," Felmet concluded.
Commander Bill Smythe announced World War II veterans who were in the audience: Calvin Mayle, Art Panepucci, Leonard Corona and Glenn Macy.
He praised the Country Kids 4-H Club for decorating the bunker area of Fort Friendship. Suzanne Smarrella is one of the club's advisers and her dad, Walter Jancura, is a veterans association member.
Smythe praised the county members who spent two days laying brick on the backside of the Memorial Wall, where 220 bricks will memorialize family and friends. When spring arrives the original portion of the wall will be filled and there are 65 bricks awaiting the wings that need to be added to the project that has been funded by the Jefferson County commissioners, he noted.
Smythe praised Charles Greene for his carpentry and layout planning of the wall project, as well as Mike Panepucci, a new member of the association, and Sam Nardo, a brick layer, for their work on laying the backside of the wall.
Green was on hand to take orders for more engraved bricks and displayed how the finished project would look. The cost is $50 and can be paid to Tony Phillippi, treasurer.
William Duvall gave the reading, "The Sack Lunch," where a citizen on a long airplane trip notices the 10 military men were not buying the $5 sack lunches offered by the airline, as they had little money. He purchased the meal for the soldiers and was thanked by the airline attendant as she had a son in the military.
The generous passenger was passed $25 three times by others who appreciated his efforts and as the ride was nearing the end, he turned it over to one of the soldiers and told him to see that everyone got something else to eat before getting to their base.
Strizak gave the welcome as he has done throughout the services held at Friendship Park and at the conclusion of the program announced he would be retiring from the position. "It has been a privilege and honor to participate, and I tried to make each one interesting and of value to veterans and their families," he said.
As a member of the Dillonvale American Legion, he said Post 529 had the flag at half staff , lowering it for two days at a time for every soldier killed in Afghanistan.
"They lower the flag for the death of senators and even movie stars. That is not what the lowering of the flag was intended and we want to bring meaning to doing it," he said.
Ron Retzer provided the music. | <urn:uuid:364462cf-5096-43c0-b712-702c67b69646> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.heraldstaronline.com/page/content.detail/id/580083/Sacrifices-of-all-veterans-remembered.html?nav=5010 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979012 | 872 | 1.585938 | 2 |
The collection contains papers, correspondence, and teaching aids pertaining to the educational and professional life of Joe
Serna, Jr., college professor and mayor of Sacramento, California.
Joe Serna, Jr. was born on September 3, 1939 in Stockton, California. He was raised in the small community of Acampo near
Lodi, California and graduated from Lodi High School in 1958. He worked for two years at Helilite Sheet Metal Company before
entering college. He attended Stockton College and then Sacramento City College where he received his A.A. degree. He then
attended Sacramento State College and graduated in 1966 with a degree in Social Science / Government. He and his first wife
Evelyn then entered the Peace Corps and served in Guatemala.
108.0 Linear feet
(57 record cartons and 51 manuscript boxes)
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, Chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. Requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce
from collections must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives.
Permission for publication is given on the behalf of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, The Library,
California State University, Sacramento as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include permission of the
copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher. | <urn:uuid:369cf4af-bfbf-4e44-a0b3-be94a98024a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt3d5nd81z/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95494 | 288 | 1.710938 | 2 |
my personal response to reading the testimonies of so many Aboriginal
women and men who were taken away from their families and country
as babies or small children. These accounts are collected in the
book, Bringing Them Home: National Inquiry into the Separation
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their
Families. This book was published by the Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission. The publication place and date is Sydney,
April 1997. Very quickly, the book became known as the book about
the Stolen Generations.
The text which I use for this production in found on page 156
of Bringing Them Home. It is the testimony of someone identified
only as "Confidential evidence 139 (Victoria)". I have jumped
to the conclusion that this particular witness to the Commission
is male, because in another short extract from this same testimony
(139) we read, 'I got told my Aboriginality when I got whipped
and they'd say, you Abo, you nigger . . .' (p.157). Should I be
so incredulous that this treatment could have been meted out to
a girl-child? Probably not. 139's testimony is all about the one
and only time he met his mother when he was fourteen. Words like
'brutal harshness', 'imprisonment', 'enslavement' 'callous lying'
and 'traumatic, cultural deprivation' are not to be found in 139's
poignant and poetic description of a son's only encounter (that
he can recall) with his mother. But they are the terrible realities
that screech at us all from behind the silencing and self-protecting
barriers of those State and religious institutions which executed
White Society's cruellest wishes towards these children, and indeed
a whole indigenous people.
The title of this short music-play for radio comes straight
from 139's eloquently spoken testimony. We are used to the expression,
'to run into someone'. Unless you are in a motor vehicle (a scenario
with very different ramifications), it simply means to meet up
with someone unexpectedly. I did not consciously make the connection
between 139's 'I walked into my mother' and the everyday idiom
of which it is a variant, until the team which produced this work
(producer, Andrew McLennan; sound engineer, Philip Ulman, and
myself) stepped outside the studio at Ultimo for a coffee break,
just after we had put down a 'first mix' of the work. Unexpectedly,
but most felicitously we ran into Roz Cheney, the ABC's Arts Editor
(Radio) and invited her to be our first 'listener' to the work.
I heard myself using the expression, 'Look, we've run into Roz!'
And for the first time, that conscious connection was made.
How intriguing language is. We are used to the idea of walking
into things, like poles, doors, walls, but the implication is
that we haven't seen them, otherwise we would have walked around
them. The idea of a child walking into his mother (139's own expression
to describe the occasion), was powerfully evocative for me. It
suggested a space, a sacred space: that vast territory, country,
land which is 'THE MOTHER'. And in this sad instance that all-nurturing
space had been meanly denied to this little boy.
It is within this 'mother-land' - this space and person that
is his mother - that the child experiences love for the first
time. He is completely overwhelmed by it as it heats up his entire
body with a warmth he had never known before. And that was it!
That was the last time the boy saw his mother alive. It is clear
from the statement that the mother requested the authorities that
her son be permitted to visit her, but these pleas went unheeded.
He was finally given permission ... to go to his mother's funeral.
Poor bugger me… my country... Wretched, impoverished White Society,
that it has behaved so miserably towards this child and the thousands
and thousands of others like him.
There are plenty of factual accounts in Bringing them Home
which rend the heart. There is one statement which you almost
have to be on the look-out for, so matter-of-factly made is it.
It refers to the mothers of the stolen children. The book recounts
that not one mother of a stolen child could be found who could
come forward to give testimony. Not a single mother could be found.
They were either dead, or destroyed by guilt and shame, because
they had been written off as unworthy and unable to take care
of their children. Not one mother could be found. Not one, not
one, not one. This refrain will haunt for a long, long time.
The music for this work is taken from a piano solo I wrote back
in 1984 called 'Cross Hatching'. Music from the central and final
sections of that piece were selected for inclusion in the new
piece, but all the tempo markings were slowed down considerably,
so that the drama and emotion of the music would better serve
the primary focus of I Walked into my Mother which is the
text itself. The music is arranged for violin (Kirsten Williams),
cello (Susan Blake) and piano (Stephanie McCallum). These performers
are among Australia's best professional musicians. The producers
of the show were amazed at the speed and perfection with which
the music was recorded. Their interpretation of the music is extraordinarily
sensitive and profiled. They express everything that needed to
be expressed to provide an appropriate background to the text.
With the music 'down', then came the work with the actors. Kevin
Smith took the part of 'Confidential evidence139'. It is truer
to say that Kevin was 'Confidential evidence 139'. Impossible
to imagine a more powerful reading than the one Kevin gave. Everyone
in the studio that morning was completely overawed by this great
actor's work. Each word is nuanced most perfectly, and it is all
done with the greatest integrity and simplicity. ABC Classic FM's
The Listening Room audience will be profoundly moved when they
hear Kevin Smith in this production. They too will ask themselves,
when was it that they last heard such a brilliant performance.
Pamela Young came to the studio the day after Kevin. Her work
was to provide the gentle commentary, as well as the loving voice
of the mother. She does it beautifully. It was a great privilege
for me and our production team, to work with both of these actors.
Moya Henderson - September 1998 | <urn:uuid:55b98952-3aa8-4304-81de-892fdd0c74a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc.net.au/arts/headspace/classic/lroom/mother/ | 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 | 0.967764 | 1,419 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Martha Nussbaum: the new religious intolerance
In her new book, The New Religious Intolerance: Overcoming the Politics of Fear in an Anxious Age (Harvard University Press, 2012), the internationally celebrated philosopher Martha Nussbaum argues that in the past decade there has been an upsurge in 'Islamophobia'. It culminated in the initial—but wrong—assumption that Muslims were responsible for the massacre of 77 people in Norway in July 2011. When the killer turned out to be an anti-Muslim zealot, Nussbaum argued that people needed to re-examine their attitudes based on fear. But in this extended interview, she also discusses the challenge that the radical fringe of Islam poses for traditional western views of tolerance.
Martha Nussbaum, The New Religious Intolerance: Overcoming the Politics of Fear in an Anxious Age (Harvard University Press, 2012)
Article from Britain's Daily Telegraph on controversies over the local sharia courts in the United Kingdom.
Andrew West: Hello from me, Andrew West. This week, a special edition of the Religion and Ethics Report. Martha Nussbaum is one of the world’s top philosophers. She’s a professor at the University of Chicago. She’s written on some of the big emotional issues—sex, shame, anger. Now she’s fired up about the new religious intolerance. It’s her new book. She says Muslims have become victims of the politics of fear. But she concedes the challenge that radical Islam poses to Western liberalism.
Professor Martha Nussbaum, thank you for being on the Religion and Ethics Report.
Martha Nussbaum: Thanks very much for having me. I’m looking forward to it.
Andrew West: Now very early on in your book, The New Religious Intolerance you refer to the events of July 22, 2011, when Anders Behring Breivik detonated a bomb in central Oslo that killed eight people and then he went on to murder another 69 young people who were at a Labour Party summer camp. What were the initial assumptions that media commentators, newspapers, and bloggers made about that incident?
Martha Nussbaum: Virtually all, both in the US and in Europe, assumed that there were Muslim terrorists at work. And I think that is very telling because it was the default assumption was, oh, this is terrorism, therefore Muslims must be behind it. And of course then they had to eat their words when…turned out that it was not only not a Muslim but it was someone who was inspired by ideas of holy war that had been fomented by anti-Muslim blogs.
Andrew West: And what did that suggest to you about the popular understanding, or misunderstanding of Islam?
Martha Nussbaum: Well I think there’s just a lot of ignorance first of all. And that makes it easier to have fear. But there’s a lot of paranoia and of course there are incidents of terrorism that are perpetrated by Muslims. But to blame that on the whole of the religion, is completely ridiculous and we don’t do that when there’s a Christian who commits an isolated act of violence like Breivik himself. We don’t say, ah, Breivik well then Christianity must be bad and we must all fear for the Christians among us.
So I think people, when it’s a minority that dresses differently, that has different customs, people are afraid of that and they’re not used to it and it’s easy for them to swallow some paranoid fantasy. And in my book I talk about The Protocols of the Elders of Zion where a paranoid fantasy about Jews was circulated which was a forgery in the 19th century and all kinds of people believed that, including prominent intellectuals. They just believed that the Jews had met in secret and had this conspiracy to take over the world even though you could have told that it was a forgery very very easily.
Andrew West: I want to come back to that distinction that you make. I just want to dwell on the role of the fear monger, as it were, after the Breivik incident. You point to one particular person, a woman called Pamela Geller.
Martha Nussbaum: Yes, I mean, her blog has for a long time been circulating very simplistic historically inaccurate views of Islam as a religion which as a whole is bent on world domination. And unfortunately these ideas have gotten the toehold even in some of our intelligence agencies for a while. Now they’re…they’ve apologised for that now. But they did invite some of these people associated with her anti-Muslim movement to give instructions on Islam for the FBI. And good heavens it’s bad enough that they don’t know any foreign languages but that they should learn history from people like that is truly appalling. So I think what it shows is that the blogosphere makes it easy for historically totally irresponsible fictions to be circulated. And certainly the people who wrote The Protocols of the Elders of Zion could only wish to have the internet to circulate those fantasies. It makes it a lot easier.
Andrew West: Well I think in the case of Pamela Geller you suggest that there was something even more serious. You suggest that not only was her work cited by Breivik—and she can’t help that—but there may have been some interaction between the two.
Martha Nussbaum: Well yes. I mean, there was this anonymous post on her blog where a person who in many other respects, sounds like Breivik, in terms of the references to the crusades and so on, said that he was stockpiling weapons. Now of course, that’s one of the problems with the internet, that you can’t find out who these people are. And so I don’t entirely blame her for not launching a full-scale investigation; it would have been very difficult to do. And that’s a big problem, whenever you have crimes against people perpetrated over the internet. But nonetheless, you know, the fact that this was sitting out there and you know of course the minute the violence occurred, she took it down. But she didn’t speak up and express concern and take it to law enforcement and say maybe you’d like to see whether you can check this out and trace this person. I think that was a problem.
Andrew West: People like Pamela Geller though, have been festering as it were, for a decade since 2001, since the 9/11 terrorist strikes. How have…well maybe longer, I mean, but….how has this fear…well how has this fear manifested itself?
Martha Nussbaum: Well I think, you know, as I say, I think it was longer and I think it’s connected to immigration of course and particularly in Europe; it’s the idea that all of a sudden, with the birth rates falling we've got to let these people come in. But we don’t really want them and we’re not prepared to retool our conception of national identity to include them and so on. And of course, then 9/11 gives people a handy focal point for all their anxieties and there’s something that psychologists discuss called the availability heuristic, that says that whenever people can call to mind some vivid example of something, then that often takes over and takes precedence over calm rational analysis. Well in this case of course 9/11 was terrible. And I think what’s happened with Islam is, that the general public ignorance of Islam…I mean for example in America, a quite large proportion of Muslim immigrants are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. But people don’t know that; they think all Muslims are Arabs and all Arabs hate Israel and therefore they hate us. And because people are ignorant, then they can easily believe that there’s this general enemy out there. And it was extraordinary the way that a Pakistani legal immigrant who’d been a citizen for years, who was chair of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, got detained at the airport and subjected to hostile questioning when he said he was a friend of the Director of the FBI, they laughed in his face. And then eventually they said okay, call him up and he did. And the director of the FBI said yes, this is the director of a Chicago Chamber of Commerce, you know. So these are the kind of things happen because of ignorance and people just can’t make distinctions between one person and another. And that’s unfortunately how fear hijacks people for bad causes.
Andrew West: You’re listening to the Religion and Ethics Report with me, Andrew West. I’m speaking on this special program with the renowned US philosopher, Martha Nussbaum about her new book, The New Religious Intolerance.
Martha let’s talk about the way you believe that Europe and America is dealing with this question of Islam. Is it really an old world, new world, divide?
Martha Nussbaum: Oh I think there is a difference and it’s a subtle one and I think America can move in…more in the direction of Europe and Europe more in the direction of America and let’s see what happens. But I think that because of the influence of romanticism on the founding of nationalisms in Europe, the concept of what a nation is, is often one that brings language, ethnicity, and religious homogeneity to the fore. And so people naturally then think, well anyone who doesn’t look like us, or who doesn’t worship like us, is not really us. And you find this in very fine people. I’ve spent a lot of time in Finland. And that’s one of the most homogeneous countries in all of Europe because they have almost no immigration. And despite their tremendous dedication to social justice, they have a very hard time seeing somebody with dark skin or a Jew or a Catholic as fully Finnish—even if they speak the Finnish language, interestingly enough…which takes a lot of dedication to do. Whereas in the US…
Andrew West: Well that has been part of the critique of how those countries have maintained though, their social democratic political identity isn’t it? That people don’t mind paying taxes and sharing because they see everyone as similar.
Martha Nussbaum: Well I think that is an issue. Yes. And I think it’s a different kind of challenge and maybe a bigger challenge, to maintain social safety net and social welfare in a much more pluralistic country. So I think there’s no doubt that the fact that Fins all feel that we’re all members of the same family, is one thing that contributes to the willingness even in hard times, to support the social safety net. However, there are much more pluralistic countries such as Britain that are still very much ahead of the US in terms of their social safety net. So I…and Sweden is not that different from Finland in respect of the social programs and yet Sweden has much much more diversity than Finland does and it’s been very welcoming to asylum seekers.
But in the US I think the difference is that the…from the very beginning everyone was there as an outsider. They were outsiders wherever they came from and they came there even though it was a very inhospitable country full of dangers, because they were not welcome where they were. So at least that gave them some motive for constructive thought about difference. They didn’t always do it. The puritans in New England quickly started tossing out people who didn’t agree with them and so on. But you know, there were a sufficient number of people who really did say let’s be inclusive and the colony of Rhode Island founded by the philosopher Roger Williams was the first that really deliberately included on a basis of equality, Jews, the native Americans were treated very well, Muslims were treated well in theory even though there weren’t any there. But every time Williams made a list of the religions that he wanted to show respect for, he included Muslims and then even atheists, who were not tolerated even in John Locke’s famous ‘Letter Concerning Toleration’. So that view about religious freedom took over gradually in the colonies and I think became part of our constitutional founding, that people should have the maximum religious liberty that doesn’t impinge on the basic rights of other people.
Andrew West: Yes. You mention two names there, Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, I think driven out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony…
Martha Nussbaum: Yes. Yes.
Andrew West: And the English philosopher John Locke, a father of the Enlightenment. But both of those philosophers had different approaches to dealing with religious freedom didn’t they?
Martha Nussbaum: Well up to a point they were similar in that they both ascribed a great deal of importance to religious liberty. And they both urged nations to foster that and they urged people to adopt a spirit of charity, mercy and generosity, says Locke. But the difference was that Locke was more conservative in the sense that he thought that when the state made a law, even if its incidental burdens were greater on some religions than on others, because the majority had made choices that favour their own religious practices, people would just have to either obey that law or they would have to disobey it and go to jail.
So for example if the State decides to require military service, then people who for conscientious religious reasons are unwilling to serve in the military should go to jail. Or to give an example that is another one that comes up often in the courts, if we make laws about workdays and the law says Sunday is the day of rest. Well that’s a convenient choice for majorities. But there are many people who don’t celebrate that as their holy day. So, according to Locke, if you refuse to work on a Saturday because that’s your holy day and you get fired there’s no issue. I mean, you’ve made a choice…got to take the consequences of that choice.
Now Williams thought that this isn’t enough for equal religious liberty because the liberty isn’t equal. The majority gets to obey its holy day and the minorities don’t. The majority gets to obey its own views about violence and military service but the minorities don’t. So the American view that came to prevail was that these minorities get what was called an accommodation from laws that are, in general, applicable to all people. And George Washington, in one of his first statements as our first president, wrote to the Quakers and said, your conscientious scruples are well known to me, and it is my earnest wish and desire that the law shall always be as extensively accommodated to them as a due regard for the essential interests of the nation may permit. So in other words, there’s always a trump card waiting in the wings if there’s really a terrible crisis and we have to call on people then he was reserving the right to do that. But unless there’s what’s come to be known as a compelling state interest, then we can’t trample on people’s conscientious scruples.
Now drug laws have been an area of particular controversy because there are religions such as Native American religion that would like the rights to use peyote in the sacred ceremony. And of course…
Andrew West: And that’s an hallucinogenic drug I think.
Martha Nussbaum: Yes. It’s an hallucinogenic drug and it’s a typical example of a majority unfairness that alcohol which is the drug that’s used in majority religion has always been legal and even when it wasn’t, even under prohibition, they deliberately exempted the religious use of alcohol. So if you went to church you could still get wine even if you couldn’t get it in other places. So the majority has always been able to worship in its own way in terms of drug use but the minorities don’t get that break. Now in that particular case, the courts didn’t support the Native American claim but then the congress went along and fixed the problem. So the Controlled Substances Act eventually was amended to permit the sacramental use of peyote. And so that’s the idea of accommodation that Roger Williams had.
Andrew West: But this accommodationist philosophy, it leads I think in the words of one of your Supreme Court justices, it can lead to anarchy. You know, with every tiny religious sect demanding a special accommodation, a special exclusion from the law can’t it?
Martha Nussbaum: Well I think that is a problem and definitely Justice Scalia was the one who said that, and he’s a rules person and really doesn’t like the idea of judicially tailored exemptions. Now he was happy enough if congress would do it because then there’s a public debate, the law’s applicable to a lot of people, but he didn’t like a single litigant being able to come before the court and get a break just on an ad hoc basis. And I agree that there’s a problem with that. I think the problem is greatest in the area of drug laws because there’s so many people who will invent a bogus religion and then maybe some that are not so bogus, just in order to get out of the drug laws. So what courts have actually done in those cases is to require a long track record and a group history and there…if I come along and say that my conception of the meaning of life requires me to use this drug or that drug, I’m not going to get an accommodation. Whereas the Native Americans, where we can study their history, we can look at their rituals and so on, they will. So that I think, is the way of making it a little bit…work a little bit less chaotically. And, you know, if the choice is really between a system that has that risk and the system that has the risk of gross unfairness to minorities…how terrible that people should not be able to observe their sacred day just because it happens to be Saturday when the people who happen to have Sunday as the day have no problem at all. I mean, that…that’s the classic form of unfairness and as our Supreme Court said, it’s like fining people for Saturday worship, which would be a terrible thing to do.
Andrew West: You’re listening to the Religion and Ethics Report with me, Andrew West. I’m speaking on this special program with the renowned US philosopher, Martha Nussbaum about her new book, The New Religious Intolerance.
Martha in the latter part of the interview I want to look at the burqa ban, enacted by the government of France. I think it’s also on the agenda in places like Belgium, Spain. Why are you so vehemently opposed to a ban on the burqa which many feminists believe to be a real act of coercion, an infringement?
Martha Nussbaum: Well I think that all the arguments that are made against the burqa as in support of banning it, are quite frankly, hypocritical. That is to say, they target a minority practice without targeting similar practices of the majority. So take the feminist objection that the burqa objectifies women, that is, causes women to be treated as mere objects, rather than persons. Now as a feminist who years ago was one of the ones who was writing about the concept of objectification, I know that what we were talking about was the treatment of women as objects in the porn industry, in advertising, in violent pornographic films and magazines, and of course in more diffuse social practices, like the way girls dress up for the high school dance, marketing themselves as sex objects. And so let’s talk about all those practices is my view. And if we decide that there are relevant differences, let’s articulate those differences. But I’m betting that we’ll, in the end, think there’s so much objectification of women in society that if we wanted to give some ministry of feminism the title to make everything illegal that objectifies women, it would be far too great an infringement of liberty and so the best recourse in all these instances is going to be talk, persuasion, and bringing up children in a good way.
So that’s the objectification argument. And then you also mentioned coercion. So then there’s also mingled with this the idea that in the family women are coerced. Now I want to say absolutely unequivocally that any violence, threat of violence, sexual abuse in the family of any kind, in anyone’s family should be and of course is already illegal but should be enforced much more aggressively than it is now.
Now is this violence particularly common in Muslim families? We don’t have enough data on that. But one thing we do know is that violence against women and children in the home is strongly correlated with alcohol abuse. And observant Muslim families are therefore less likely to have that factor. But anyway, let’s just look at the individual case and if there’s anyone who is abusing a woman or a child, and forcing them by threat of physical violence to put on a burqa, that’s already illegal. So let’s enforce the law.
If it’s emotional pressure, well let’s talk about that because in the…bringing up children, parents are always engaging in emotional pressure of one sort or another. Sometimes it’s very gentle—I’ll reward you in such and such a way if you get good grades. Sometimes it’s a little more threatening—if you don’t get an A on your math course, I will take away your dating privileges for the next week. And sometimes it’s really very very harsh. My father threatened to disinherit me if I appeared in public in a group, any member of which was an African American. That was harsh. Now all of these are forms of emotional blackmail and it applies to things like lose weight, take a shower and so on. So the burqa is in that class of parental practices.
Andrew West: Now you very systematically do knock down a lot of the arguments in favour of the burqa ban. But I want to put to you one that you don’t address and that is that the burqa ban on the part of the French government was deliberate in a discriminatory way, in the sense that the government wanted to send a message that the burqa was emblematic of a particular narrow strand of Islam that that government didn’t want taking hold in France.
Martha Nussbaum: Well I think what’s wrong with extremism is when it threatens the rights of others. One can be as extreme as one wants, one can have an asceticism that’s extremely extreme. You know, the old order Amish are in their own way, very very extreme. They refuse the whole modern world. And so what’s wrong with extremism is not the fact that it’s unusual, or even way out on a limb, it’s that it threatens the rights of others. So what do we do? We look for people who actually threaten the rights of others. We don’t say, oh, because we think some members of your religion threaten the rights of others, then you too must be one of the people who threatens the rights of others. And so I think that in so far as the ban was defended in that way, that’s just totally unacceptable. We don’t take guilt by association as a legal principle that has any standing. But I don’t actually even think it was that specific. I mean, you give…it’s a good argument that you’ve made there but I think if you look at the law, what you find is they just don’t even mention the word burqa they say you can’t wear a garment designed to cover the face unless, and then there’s this long list of exemptions including, unless you’re doing it for sport, unless you’re doing it for your professional occupation, unless you’re doing it because you’re in a masquerade, unless you’re in a traditional manifestation. So there’s this long list that takes away everything except the one thing that people are afraid of and that is the woman wearing the burqa. So it’s a weird law and it certainly doesn’t say any of the sensible things that you were just saying.
Andrew West: But do you acknowledge that the burqa issue is, in a sense, where the rubber hits the road on this question of religious tolerance or religious intolerance? Because essentially it’s a visceral reaction against what people in France and certainly in the Netherlands and more recently in Britain, have been suggesting is an upsurge in militant and assertive demands from a very small but very conservative section of the Islamic community. And they are worried about the transformations of their otherwise liberal societies that they have spent most of the post-war era trying to create.
Martha Nussbaum: I actually think it’s much more visceral than that. I think it’s a fear of people who look different. Because look, the first thing that France did was to ban the headscarf in schools. Now the headscarf is not associated with any particular extreme version of Islam. And they also banned the Jewish yarmulke, which of course is not extreme in any way. So it’s an attempt to enforce a French mode of being as the way we have to be if we’re going to be full citizens in France. And Joan Scott who wrote an excellent book on the ban of the headscarf before the burqa even came into view, she’s very nicely said, there is this idea that the French have, that there’s a French way of being a woman which is that you display your body in pretty revealing clothes and often fashionable clothes if you can. And the Muslim way, covering the hair, why would one do that? So it’s a visceral reaction against strangeness that lies behind it I think. And it’s so bizarre that for example in some parts of Germany, nuns and priests can teach in full habit but a woman who wants to wear a headscarf while she’s teaching, she can’t do that. So why would that be? It’s not because of covering, because the habit of course covers a lot more of the body than the headscarf. It’s because we’re very used to nuns and priests and as the people said when that case was in court and they were defending it, oh this isn’t religion, it’s part of our culture.
Andrew West: Well let’s look for example at Britain then. We’ve had just in the last few months some examples of where, again representing a very narrow section of Islam, but we’ve had militant activists erect signs in places like Tower Hamlets and Newham and Waltham Forest in London saying you are entering a sharia controlled zone. I think there was a sharia judge who said that Britain ought to introduce a penal code that involved stonings and amputations. I guess the argument that I’m making to you as a philosopher is, to what extent must a society tolerate intolerance?
Martha Nussbaum: Well I think it’s always a mistake to give religious groups title to make law in areas of family law or property law or anything. In fact I’ve studied that and written about it extensively in the case of the personal laws in India and I think those laws never went to an extreme point. I mean, the Muslim personal law in India, can be objected to in many ways but it certainly doesn’t license any extreme practices. But anyway I think it’s always a mistake because it just leads to the balkanisation of law, which in turn leads to inequality of treatment and unfairness. So I think that’s always a mistake and countries need to be on their guard against that kind of delegation of law-making authority to a religious group. It happens everywhere…I mean people always want to do that. There was a Hindu group that decided they would incorporate as a town in the State of Oregon in the US so that they could make the drug laws that they wanted and they could do everything the way they wanted and the Supreme Court says no you can’t do that, you can’t be a town that belongs to a single religion. And the same thing happened with an Orthodox Jewish school district in the State of New York. So yes, we have to be on our guard against that. And we should say the law is the law. And the law is everyone.
Andrew West: Well on that cautionary note Martha we’ll leave it there. The book is The New Religious Intolerance by Martha Nussbaum, the renowned American philosopher. Thank you for joining us on the Religion and Ethics Report.
Martha Nussbaum: Okay. Thank you very much.
- Professor Martha Nussbaum
- Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics, University of Chicago | <urn:uuid:5249275b-5b26-4a10-af66-b40e85f7cba6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/religionandethicsreport/martha-nussbaum3a-the-new-religious-intolerance/4211204 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971454 | 6,178 | 1.765625 | 2 |
CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox defended an assistant's constitutional right to wage an Internet campaign against an openly gay college student, even though he considers that employee a "bully."
"Here in America, we have this thing called the First Amendment, which allows people to express what they think and engage in political and social speech," Cox told Anderson Cooper on CNN's "AC 360" on Wednesday night. "He's clearly a bully ... but is that protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution? Yes."
"Mr. [Andrew] Shirvell is sort of a frontline grunt assistant prosecutor in my office," Cox said. "He does satisfactory work and off-hours, he's free to engage under both our civil service rules, Michigan Supreme Court rulings and the United States Supreme Court rule."
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with | <urn:uuid:b0a7c64d-dff4-4f14-9e94-4f74e71cda44> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/30/michigan-attorney-general-defends-employees-right-to-blog/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962171 | 229 | 1.648438 | 2 |
- Dupont West Moratorium Listening Session. #ANC2B 8 hours ago
- Just completed a 2.07 mi walk - Lunch time stroll. rnkpr.com/a31gszw #RunKeeper 11 hours ago
- Don't target me, bro! In front of the Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. moby.to/0p6k02 13 hours ago
- Just completed a 1.15 mi walk - Were it not for the breeze, I'd need another shower. rnkpr.com/a31d0jp #RunKeeper 17 hours ago
- Reminds me of Stevie Wonder. open.spotify.com/track/3SCpPeSG… 1 day ago
Politics & Pop Culture from a homocon.
Dallas Morning News Endorses Marriage Equality
December 15, 2012Posted by on
This newspaper applauds the Supreme Court’s recent decision to hear arguments in two same-sex marriage cases — one on California’s Proposition 8, which bans such marriages, and one regarding the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
Same-sex marriage has been percolating at the state level for several years, leading to a patchwork of laws that create more confusion than clarity. The court can undo that confusion by determining the constitutional parameters of this issue.
We urge the Supreme Court to affirm the right of gay couples to marry based upon the fundamental American ideal of equality before the law. It is critical that the court also make clear that such a ruling won’t require churches whose doctrines oppose same-sex marriage to perform such ceremonies.
Debating the reversal of centuries of views about the institution of marriage cannot be considered without upheaval, and we recognize that the notion of gays and lesbians marrying can divide families, friends and, especially, generations. But the growing support for same-sex marriage, including within families whose gay members have changed the way these unions are seen, makes the embrace of gay marriage less of a radical shift.
Polls show that American attitudes have shifted dramatically on the subject. Surveys by organizations such as Gallup reveal that half or more of Americans support the concept of gay marriage. Equality in marriage laws is particularly embraced by younger Americans, including some younger evangelicals.
Even leading conservatives favor gay marriage. Former Vice President Dick Cheney is among the most notable. So, too, is former Bush solicitor general Ted Olson, who will lead the team arguing in favor of the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.
Olson contends that the federal government lacks the right to deny gay couples the opportunity to marry. He also will argue that the ban denies gay couples the right to due process. As the Republican wrote in Newsweek, “This bedrock principle of equality is central to the political and legal convictions of Republicans, Democrats, liberals and conservatives alike.”
We respect that some religious traditions see same-sex unions as an affront to their canons, scriptures and traditions. The First Amendment protects such places of worship from being compelled to conduct same-sex marriages. Additionally, the justices should take care to carve out strong and significant protections so that the institutions’ religious liberties, for instance their tax-exempt status, are not circumscribed.
In 2004, this newspaper opposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. We have backed efforts to outlaw discrimination against employees based on sexual orientation. Now, we believe that the Supreme Court should conclude that equality under the law includes the right of gay couples to wed.
What’s at stake before the Supreme Court is how a secular society should respond to the growing demand for same-sex marriage. That is where Olson’s arguments seem so persuasive. How can a secular government grant marriage rights to some but not others? | <urn:uuid:291ffc77-7a6c-4e2f-afb5-3ec8d3b470df> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dcbigpappa.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/dallas-morning-news-endorses-marriage-equality/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=d64817105f | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939601 | 782 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Riverside Car Accidents on I-10 Make It Among Deadliest in US
Riverside's I-10 highway has gained notoriety as the nation's second deadliest road for car accidents. So says a Fox network news study, which reported that 182 lives were lost in a five-year period due to Riverside car accidents on the I-10. The same study also revealed that California has four of the country's top 10 most accident-prone roads.
Just a year ago, a blazing Riverside car crash killed four people when a Lexus veered off the roadway and struck a pillar support on the Western Avenue overpass. The car burned violently and two couples in the car perished. In another car crash, two people died and four were injured in a four-car collision after a pickup truck swerved into oncoming traffic. The California Highway Patrol cited unsafe speeds for many of these car crashes, blaming irresponsible or alcohol-impaired drivers.
"What's sad is that so many lives are needlessly lost and so many are permanently injured in these often senseless car accidents," noted John Bisnar, a car accident attorney. "Traveling any road or highway in excess of the posted speed limit takes away that margin of reaction time one needs to avoid a car collision. Controlling a car is extremely difficult at these high speeds."
Statistics compiled by the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Traffic Reporting System revealed that in 2006, there were 316 car accident deaths in Riverside County and 10,514 traffic accident related injuries. Alcohol related car collisions accounted for 136 fatalities and 1,294 injuries countywide. There were also 18,607 property damage car collisions in Riverside. County roads took their toll on motorcyclists as well, with 29 losing their lives and 487 sustaining serious injuries.
On a positive note, the CHP reported fewer Riverside car accident deaths from 2007 to 2008. Officials pointed to a number of reasons for this decline. For one, people were taking fewer discretionary trips and they simply drove less due to higher gas prices. Figures released by The Automobile Club of Southern California showed that Californians drove 3.7 percent less in June 2008 than in the same month last year. Another reason for the drop in fatalities was that more people wore seat belts. There were also more police patrols and DUI checkpoints, particularly during holidays and weekends. People also traded up to safer cars equipped with airbags and stability controls, which further reduced the number of deaths and injuries.
"Riverside's streets and highways can become safer if people drive more responsibly," observed John Bisnar. "Additionally, car accidents can be reduced by improving accident-prone roads to prevent congestion, increasing the number of warning signs where appropriate, and boosting law enforcement efforts to catch speeders and other reckless drivers."
Immediately call an experienced and reputable Riverside Car Accident Lawyer for a free consultation at 1-800-561-4887 or contact the Riverside personal injury lawyers online using our form. Read more about car accidents in Riverside County at the Riverside Car Accident Digest.
(click on icons for more information) | <urn:uuid:d6460ad1-96c2-488f-9722-f0d62febe023> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bestattorney.com/riverside-car-accidents.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969494 | 627 | 1.640625 | 2 |
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When you're building the perfect sandwich, no grocery store vegetables are good enough, right? The only true solution is to grow heirloom vegetables in your own garden. So whether you're looking to buy tomato or other vegetable seeds and start from scratch, or install some vegetable plants in a windowbox garden, you can find what you need right here. Growing heirloom vegetables at home is a sure way to bring the best to your table. And there's nothing more satisfying than biting into a ripe heirloom tomato you've raised yourself. | <urn:uuid:49d0a74f-3fad-4cf1-b2cd-117aa3663351> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.windowbox.com/gardening-gifts-seed-kits/heirloom-vegetables.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941145 | 116 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Dozens of US Congressmen have come out in force to demand further efforts to educate consumers on the quality of lean finely textured beef (LFTB) – now commonly known as ‘pink slime’.
In a letter addressed to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Tom Vilsack, 30 members of Congress urged further schooling on the quality and safety of the product to counteract the “tremendous amount of simply incorrect information” already published.
Earlier this year, two former USDA scientists told ABC News that LFTB was approved for use in ground beef products for political reasons despite there being safety concerns.
Resulting media coverage and consumer pressure led to announcements from several US retailers that they would end their purchase of products containing ‘pink slime’.
Beef Products Inc. (BPI), a major producer of LFTB, was forced to suspend production at three of its four facilities as a result of the uproar.
“Great deal of misinformation”
“Over the past several weeks, a great deal of misinformation has been disseminated to the public regarding the high quality lean, finely textured beef (LFTB) that is produced by companies like Beef Products Incorporated (BPI) and used by meat processors across the marketplace,” said the letter.
“Given the tremendous amount of simply incorrect information that has been released to the public about LFTB, it is not surprise that some consumers have begun to question the quality of this product. However, we understand the truth: LFTB is 100% beef, safe, and cost-effective.”
“We have been watching with great concern as this campaign of misinformation has unfolded and have been particularly concerned about the loss of jobs that’s resulted from it.”
A total of 650 jobs were affected as a result of suspended operations at BPI’s plants in Kansas, Texas and Iowa.
US-based ground beef producer, AFA Foods, also cited the uproar when filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.
“No company should be forced to close its doors due to a smear campaign by a few overzealous individuals in the media. LFTB is a safe product and should be promoted as such.”
In the letter, the petitioners urged the USDA, and more specifically the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), to correct the public record.
“We agree with you that consumers should always have the ability to exercise choice in the marketplace. This is a foundational principle of the American way of life.”
“However, in the current environment of rampant and intentional mischaracterisation and misinformation, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that consumers are able to make choices that are based on the facts, rather than emotion and hysteria,” the letter added. | <urn:uuid:f42eb2a4-0f4c-4d88-ab47-432ac66feaa8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Product-Categories/Cleaning-Safety-Hygiene/Congressmen-press-USDA-to-educate-on-quality-and-safety-of-pink-slime | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971816 | 591 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Really fast boot times on Windows 8 hardly sounds like a problem. But it is. Here's why.
Startup can be so fast that you whiz by familiar sign posts that prompt for input, wrote Chris Clark, a program manager in the Windows User Experience team, today in a Building Windows 8 blog post.
"When you turn on a Windows 8 PC, there's no longer [enough time] to detect keystrokes like F2 or F8, much less time to read a message such as 'Press F2 for Setup'," Clark said.
On a solid-state drive-equipped ultrabook, for example, Windows 8 can boot in less than seven seconds. Microsoft demonstrated the fast boot last year. (And, by the way, sub-10-second boots is one reason most ultrabooks today come with SSDs.)
"We have SSD-based UEFI systems where the 'F8 window' is always less than 200 milliseconds. No matter how fast your fingers are, there is no way to reliably catch a 200 millisecond event," according to Clark. (See the FAQ explaining the difference between a BIOS and UEFI. Suffice to say, on newer PCs, including those shipping with Windows 8, UEFI is used instead of the more antiquated BIOS.)
Microsoft's solution, in short, kills the F8 key prompt -- or any other hard key prompts.
For example, when booting to an alternative USB drive or network, Windows 8 UEFI-based devices will get a screen (see image above) with a "Use a device" button alongside other boot options.
And what about older systems, you ask? "Legacy hardware that was made before Windows 8 will not have these new UEFI-provided menu features," Clark wrote. "The firmware on these devices will continue to support...messages such as 'Press F2 for Setup'...There is still time for keystrokes like this to work...on these legacy devices," according to Clark.
In the image directly above, Microsoft has added Windows Startup Settings. These include items such as "disable driver signing" and "debugging mode," as well as Safe Mode and several other options.
See Clark's post for a more detailed explanation that covers other boot scenarios.
Updated throughout at 9:00 p.m. PDT. | <urn:uuid:a15c0563-5226-426e-a585-7a3d340dc8ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57439688-92/is-it-a-problem-if-windows-8-boots-too-quickly/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93071 | 480 | 1.617188 | 2 |
(Re-investigate 9/11 generated the most votes by an extremely large percentage. Overall some 70,000 + people voted on this measure to be adopted in the OWS official demands poll and “Yes” beat out the “No” votes by a margin of something like 6 to 1 (60 thousand to 12 thousand). Another interesting aspect to all of this is the little known fact that the Federal Reserve central banking system, privately owned and the model of what we are forcing on other nations across the world, can be bought back from the banks that own it at a cost of only 1 billion dollars. Buying it back and ending the FED in that way is one of their demands that they have adopted by a vote of 83% in favor.)
by Ralph Lopez, ADS
At the official Occupy Wall Street media site coupmedia.org. Voting software prevents voting from the same ISP more than once. The following is an initial demands list on which voting closed on Oct. 21, 2011. Items required a vote of 2/3 “yes” or more to remain on the list. Voting is still open on other demands.
The Sovereign People’s Movement, represented nationally through the people occupying the various Liberty Square locations across this great country, have laid out and democratically submitted and are currently voting on the list of following Demands to then be distilled into one Unified Common demand of the people.
OCCUPY WALL STREET OFFICIAL DEMANDS PASSED, AS OF OCT. 21, 2011
1. Repeal of the Patriot Act
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” — Fourth Amendment to the Constitution
Forty-five days after 9/11, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act without reading it. This new law was supposed to protect you from terrorism, but it has really left you unprotected against lawless federal agents. The Patriot Act contains numerous violations of the Fourth Amendment. It gives federal agents vast new powers that have been abused to investigate innocent Americans.
2. ELIMINATE “PERSONHOOD” LEGAL STATUS FOR CORPORATIONS
3. Forced Acquisition of the Federal Reserve for $1Billion
No Congress, no President has been strong enough to stand up to the foreign-controlled Federal Reserve Bank. Yet there is a catch – one that President Kennedy recognized before he was slain – the original deal in 1913 creating the Federal Reserve Bank had a simple backout clause. The investors loaned the United States Government $1 billion. And the backout clause allows the United States to buy out the system for that $1 billion. If the Federal Reserve Bank were demolished and the Congress of the United States took control of the currency, as required in the Constitution, the National Debt would virtually end overnight, and the need for more taxes and even the income tax, itself. Thomas Jefferson was concise in his early warning to the American nation, “If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”
Article I, Section 8, Clause 5, of the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall have the power to coin money and regulate the value thereof and of any foreign coins. But that is not the case. The United States government has no power to issue money, control the flow of money, or to even distribute it – that belongs to a private corporation registered in the State of Delaware – the Federal Reserve Bank.
4. Re Investigate the Attacks of 9-11-2001
More and more evidence is being released to the public surrounding the suspicious circumstances surrounding 911. This measure would be included in the list of demands to show that the original investigation was significantly flawed. | <urn:uuid:2cc1da35-aedc-475d-9c45-f12b6c639f06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956431 | 856 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Lawncare Hints & Tips
Lawn Weed & Feed
Get a good quality lawn feed for your lawn and target the weeds with a selective weed killer. Our Lancashire Lawncare professionals are able to do this for you at a fraction of the price of you doing it yourselves. The products we use feed and encourage growth, build strength and improve the colour of your lawn all year round. The weed killer kills off any weeds that have appeared in your lawn and with it being a selective weed killer it doesn’t harm the grass at all.
We would recommend that in the early Spring you should mow your lawn on a high setting gradually reducing the height the nearer you get to summer. We’d never recommend going too short though as this weakens the grass and can result in the sun’s heat scorching the lawn. Mow weekly by the end of spring and early summer. Regular mowing can really aid the appearance of your lawn and if done properly will also encourage good lawn growth. Ideally the grass should be mowed somewhere between not too long and not too short. Most mowers will have some sort of height adjustment to help you in cutting to the right length. The grass should be cut when it’s dry preferably to avoid any snagging or damage to the lawn. Drought conditions can severly affect the growth of a lawn, so if it’s not growing then don’t cut it!! Doing so can severely hamper growth and may cause damage which will impair growth when the rains do come.
Aeration is an excellent way to give your lawn a helping hand after the winter period. The ground may have become compact and hard. Aeration will relieve compaction and allow air and water to get to the roots of your lawn as well as splitting the grass roots to produce a thicker lawn. Lancashire Lawncare can provide this service for you and would be happy to give you a quote should you require this treatment.
Lawn scarification or lawn dethatching as it’s sometimes known can help remove any build up of moss and thatch that’s occurred over the autumn winter period. Here at Lancashire Lawncare our final treatment in the autumn/winter period is a moss killer so we can scarify ast this point to clear most of this out. Sometimes a spring scarification can further aid the lawn as the new shoots of grass come through. Scarification helps by removing the build up of dead grass and moss and keeps the lawn surface free of anything that can strangle or slow down growth. It can also help to prevent disease in your lawn. Although this is a heavy job and initially looks a mess the results are excellent and clearly of benefit to the lawn in the long run.
This may need to be done after a heavy scarify and also if the lawn gets a lot of usage. Everyday wera and tear will no doubt cause the odd bare patch so overseeding can help in this regard. Overseeding in early spring about a week after Lancashire Lawncare have put down the spring treatment will help and ensure good growth ready for the summer months.
Moss is one of the most common lawn problems. We offer an excellent moss control service and coupled with scarification it can help to keep the moss in your lawn under control. Call us today for a quote.
Watering is essential to keep your lawn looking healthy all year round especially if long periods of dry weather are prevalent. It may seem really obvious to water your lawn; however, watering should not be carried out every day! This can cause problems when you go on holiday for example as the lawn is ‘expecting’ to be watered i.e. it gets used to lots of water and when there is none it can dry up quickly, especially in sandy areas. In order for your garden to thrive the grass needs a healthy root system and for it to have this water needs to go deep into the soil, the roots in turn dig deeper down to draw on the water. By watering your lawn early in the morning or in the evening you avoid the water evaporating from your lawn. It’s important, too, that any thatch, which may have built up, be removed (see scarifying) so that the water can impact the soil and not filter off into the dead thatch.
Drought or long spells without rain don’t necessarily mean the lawns don’t still need treating. It is beneficially to continue the treatment as the recovery time will be quicker once the rains do come or hose-pope bans are lifted. | <urn:uuid:360e666d-205e-4666-97f5-29785f9f1d44> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lancashirelawncare.co.uk/lancashire_lawncare_hints_and_tips.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949302 | 945 | 1.703125 | 2 |
This journal made me think of typos in code, and then to reflect on werid variable names I've used.
Some are obvious, like $foo, $bar, $blah, $temp, $tmp.
Some of my favorites:
%HugeAssHash (later renamed to %hah)
&kludge(), &bugfix(), (the list could go on)
Anybody else have some to add to this list?
Updated: Forgot to enable comments, I think that should be a prefernce somewhere to always have it on, unless I am missing it.
As part of my current job as a Revision Control Specialist (my exact title!) in the Configuration Management/Deployment Services department, I get exposed to quite a few things. Some of them I hope never have to develop for, or learn. Such as Uniface.
One tool I've been put in charge of is maintaining their Ant Build scripts. If you don't know what Ant is, I highly suggest you look it up. Even though it is all in Java, it has some merit. As their webpage says: Apache Ant is a Java based build tool. In theory it is kind of like make without make's wrinkles.
So far I have been really impressed with Ant. It even has the ability to run scripts written in other languages, supported in java by BSF. I have not had a chance to try this yet, but plan on doing it (and of course using perl, since perl is supported by BSF). One idea I had as a project, since Ant Build Scripts are all XML based, is to write my own ant build script runner in Perl, since each "task" in Ant is written in Java, and is either a core task, optional task, or hand written/downloaded. Of course, make it more perlyish at the same time, with perl specific tasks. Of course, this will probably become one of my other half started, never finished projects.
I guess I should actually write something in here. I have no idea what, so a little about me...
How I found Perl...
This is a funny story, and I hope I remember all the details. Around the end of 1997 I had this sudden desire to learn perl (at the suggestion of the system admin of my shell, and a friend). I quickly looked for a windows version, since I was not able to install linux (at least without my parents knowing it) on their computers. I did this so I could play around with it while not connected to the internet, since I could run perl off my shell. I found activestate's ActivePerl, and downloaded it, installed it, and ran perl.exe expecting some whiz bang gui to pop up to help me. To my dismay it did nothing, just sat there, after I waited a few minutes, I became discouraged, and put the thought aside of learning perl till when I had more time.
A few months go by i keep looking perl here and there. As I pick up more unix skills I figure out why just perl with out a script won't work, but don't have the time study it properly. Went through a few non computer related jobs. Then through a friend off IRC I started working remotely for him, doing data entry type stuff. In there, I had to modify a little perl code to do some quick calculations, if necessary (to do with price, and quantity ordered). It was suggested I learn perl in case I needed to do some fancy work, and just for general knowledge.
I went out and committed a mortal sin in the perl world, I bought Perl for Dummies. Before you judge me, it did help me get a quick start, and I quickly repented of my sin and bought myself a copy of Programming Perl and the Perl Cookbook. After the contract job for my friend ran out, I started playing with perl more heavily, being unemployed, and having lots of free time. Being the role-player I am, I decided to write a dice roller. With my new found skills, I began to get fancy with my dice roller, and kept adding features, like color (using Term::AnsiColor). After playing with a command line version of this little dice roller, I decided to look into a GUI version. That is when I found TK, more specifically, perl/tk. I then preceded to write a slick gui dice roller. Looking back at the code it was ugly, but mine. I am too ashamed to admit is mine, and if you look enough, you might find a copy, if you know where to look. I keep telling myself I am going to go back and re-write it. But have I? Not yet. Maybe next week.
After having mastered most of the basics of perl, and being hounded by my parents to find a job, I got one through a friend, doing what I found exciting, writing perl code! Ever since then I have done most of my scripting in perl. I'll admit, I've dabbled in python, java, and php, but always find myself longing for the simplicity of perl.
There are lots of more details I can add, but I'll save those for another day... | <urn:uuid:c22feaea-710c-493c-a4f6-bc69a82894c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://use.perl.org/use.perl.org/journal72dc.html?op=display&uid=319&start=20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973108 | 1,087 | 1.617188 | 2 |
This is the twelfth and final in a series of posts about this year’s Ocean Hero finalists.
We’re rounding out our series on the Ocean Hero finalists today with Andrew Hayford, a high school junior who has been an ocean conservation stand-out in his hometown of York, Maine.
Andrew first got involved when he was learning to surf at age 12 and noticed trash in the water and on the beaches. He’s been working to clean up the coast of southern Maine ever since. Since 2006, he has been involved in almost 30 beach cleanups and has hosted more than 10 of his own.
In 2010, Andrew won a Planet Connect grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation to educate 150 kindergarten and second grade students about ocean pollution and how they could help. He conducted an art contest with these students, which became the centerpiece of his “Keep Our Beaches Clean” campaign. | <urn:uuid:f4475fb2-4c56-423c-b647-54751b4a4f7f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oceana.org/en/print/category/blog-free-tags/andrew-hayford | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978544 | 187 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Most dental patients have experienced dental X-rays over the course of their routine dental cleanings and exams. However, new digital technology has been developed that allows dentists to use digital radiology to take X-rays of their patients’ teeth.
This video explains the multitude of benefits of using digital X-rays, as opposed to traditional X-rays. Some of these benefits include a faster process than traditional X-rays and less radiation exposure.
In Phoenix, the dental staff at Open Wide Dental strives to offer the latest and most advanced dental technology available, including digital radiology. We also specialize in cosmetic dentistry. Call (602) 457-3973 for an appointment today. | <urn:uuid:9a539b83-aee4-4262-9cd5-ac26b9f4d0e6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lgbtdentistinphoenix.com/470208/2012/06/13/the-benefits-of-digital-radiology.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953548 | 141 | 1.65625 | 2 |
If college costs $50K a year, the college-bound will cost $200K in four years (and it often takes longer). Meanwhile, the truckers will be earning, say $50K a year. At the end of four years, your trucker kids will be $400K ahead. And at the end of four years, most college kids will either be (a) going into occupations with mediocre pay, like teaching; (b) going to graduate school; or (c) going into rehab.
Can you really earn $50K a year right out of trucking school?
The comments point out that Gumpy Old Man used a best case scenario for the salary of a trucking job and a worst case scenario for the cost of a college education.
But a teaching salary is typical of the type of starting pay a college graduate might get. His point, that you have to pay a lot of money to get a college degree which doesn't lead to a starting salary any greater than you would make driving a truck, is a valid one.
The UNLV guy makes a valid point that the trucker lifestyle may be so bad that it's not worth the extra money. On the other hand, some truckers may be glad they don't have to have a boss looking over their shoulder all day micromanaging their job, and glad they don't have to deal with other annoyances of yuppie jobs like commuting and wearing uncomfortable shoes. | <urn:uuid:d92dbed5-f127-4175-b82a-5aaf947ebd37> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://libertariangirl.blogspot.com/2005/01/college-vs-trucking-school.html?showComment=1131697740000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967465 | 299 | 1.789063 | 2 |
By Elizabeth O'Brien
We’ve heard a lot this campaign season about proposed changes to Medicare, and indeed there are big differences in the presidential candidates’ visions for that program for anyone age 54 and under. But for some older Baby Boomers—particularly the self-employed and early retirees—possible changes under the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare,” could be a much bigger deal.
Reuters Enlarge Image
And no matter who wins Nov. 6, how Obamacare is handled by the federal government and the states will have big implications for boomers’ health and financial security.
Republican challenger Mitt Romney has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act right away if he’s elected. But many experts say a Romney victory wouldn’t derail the law in its entirety, at least not right away. “Forget about the politics, certain provisions are popular,” said Gary Lauer, CEO of eHealth, an online health insurance provider.
For example, consumers have embraced the provision, already implemented, that lets children stay on their parents’ plans until age 26. And while it hasn’t taken effect yet, a separate provision that will prohibit insurers from denying coverage or charging more to adults with pre-existing conditions will likely prove equally popular, Lauer said. That element of the law is a major boon to hundreds of thousands of older folks who don’t have job-based coverage and are not yet eligible for Medicare—especially for those who currently struggle to get insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
Romney Health-Care Plan Would Allow Choices
Romney says his health-care plan wouldn't increase costs, and it would give people the option to choose between a government health plan and a private health plan.
According to Census Bureau data, 16.3% of people age 45-64 were uninsured in 2011, compared to 15.7% of Americans overall. And in 2008 (the most recent year surveyed), 29% of individuals age 60 to 64 who applied for non-group insurance were denied coverage based on their health status, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
But many analysts say that extending more insurance coverage to those older Boomers will depend heavily on another major element of the Affordable Care Act: The implementation of health insurance exchanges, currently slated to take effect at the beginning of 2014. Many states have already begun laying the groundwork for these exchanges. (If a state decides not to establish an exchange, under the law the federal government will step in and run it for them.)
In general, states run by Democratic governors have shown more commitment towards implementing the exchanges than their Republican counterparts, said Lauer, who has consulted with states on the technology infrastructure needed for the exchanges. Many Republicans have opposed the exchanges as a federal intrusion into their state operations, and leaders of some states have balked at the estimated cost of implementing the Affordable Care Act.
The exchanges will likely run more smoothly, at least initially, in the states that have gotten an earlier start in establishing them, experts say—some cite California and Maryland as examples. But whether “smoothly” also means “affordably” is a different question altogether. Gene Zaino, CEO of small business service provider MBO Partners, said his discussions with insurance companies and brokers suggest that insurance provided through the exchanges will be expensive, because those seeking coverage through them will be the sickest and most costly to insure.
Supporters of the exchanges counter that if effectively implemented, the individual mandate, which requires everyone--including healthy young people-- to either buy insurance or pay a fee, will balance out the system’s costs and risks. Stephen Shortell, professor of health policy and management at U.C. Berkeley, said the way the individual states structure the exchanges will factor into the cost for their residents, although it’s too early to predict exactly how.
As for Romney’s vow to repeal the law, doing so would be complicated. For starters, would need the cooperation of a majority of both houses of Congress. If that’s not possible, Romney could find other ways to impede the act’s implementation, such as denying funding under the federal budget.
Even then, there’s the chance that some of Obamacare would be left standing. There is some talk, for example, that under a Romney administration, the no-coverage-denial provision would stand—though, with no individual mandate or exchanges, coverage for older boomers would still be expensive. And Romney, who famously enacted a precursor to Obamacare while serving as governor of Massachusetts, has also been also a vocal proponent of states’ rights. As such, Shortell said, he’s more likely to support state-by-state differences in healthcare delivery—even if that means letting them implement elements of Obamacare.
The bottom line? No matter what happens on election day, the state where you live will likely play an increasingly important role in how you get health insurance and how much you pay for it. | <urn:uuid:8e387aae-22c8-4c26-869f-29c841eb8618> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marketwatch.com/story/boomers-health-insurance-at-stake-at-the-polls-2012-11-01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959235 | 1,036 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Tennessee Divorce Start Your Divorce Find Professionals Tennessee Articles Divorce Facts Divorce Grounds Residency Divorce Laws Property Division Alimony Child Custody Child Support Divorce Forms Grandparent Rights Forum Tennessee Products Divorce by County
The ABC’s of Divorce
When a client enters a divorce lawyer’s office for the first time, the client’s natural tendency is to ask about what he or she wants to know. The client should, instead, first learn what the client needs to know. Remember: divorce is usually backwards. For example, one spouse is usually trying to prove that he or she does not have any money or did not commit adultery. This essay attempts to offer a very basic introduction into what can be very complex. It is not intended as a substitute for seeing a lawyer and is not legal advice upon which anyone should rely.
- filing first. Once the decision to get divorced is made, timing is important. The person who files first is the plaintiff. The plaintiff can have procedural advantages by directing the case in its early stages. This can often lead to a stronger negotiating position. In addition, if there is a trial, the plaintiff’s lawyer will argue first, which can be an important persuasion advantage.
- hiring the attorney. One of the most important early decisions will be which attorney to hire. Generally, there are many from which to choose. Being careful with this decision can be very difficult because it occurs about the same time the decision to divorce is made. Interview more than one lawyer by setting an appointment for a consultation. Most family law attorneys charge for consultations, but the time and effort are well spent. Ask tough questions. Ask prospective attorneys about their past experience dealing with problems which are of particular or immediate concern. Initiate discussion about fee structures, including detailed questions about hourly rates, flat fees, expenses, and billing policies. Only hire an attorney if there is a written agreement spelling out the terms of the relationship. Keep a copy of it. Membership in family law sections of the local, state, and American bar associations demonstrates commitment to the practice of family law.
is king. The result of a divorce will depend upon many factors, including but not limited to the skills of the lawyer(s); the judge; which party is more angry; what known assets and debts exist; what unknown assets and debt exist; separate property brought into the marriage; the parties’ relative earnings; and the education, age, and number of children, as well as their stage of development. There are many other factors, and there are never any guarantees. In most situations, cash will be the most important asset because most people do little financial planning for divorce.
- very important to understand this. Despite a settlement agreement for one spouse to pay a debt that is in both parties’ names, if the party responsible for the debt does not pay it, the other party can still be liable for the debt.
- is a very long time. How long do divorces take? Sometimes it may feel that a case can last forever. Only two roads exist to getting a divorce: settlement or trial. In most states, if the case is settled, the parties generally agree that the divorce will be awarded on grounds of irreconcilable differences. Even if there is an agreement, most states have a waiting period. In Tennessee, the parties must wait at least sixty days - ninety days if they have children. There are two sources of "delay." One lawyer is generally waiting on the other lawyer to produce documents, respond to a settlement offer, or just return a phone call or letter. This can shift back and forth several times during the case. The other source of delay occurs when the parties are waiting for a court date or a decision.
F. Final divorce
- what is final? The court ends a case by signing a final order. After the final order is "entered" in the court’s docket, an appeal period, usually thirty days, begins to run. After that appeal period runs, the divorce is finally final. Nothing could be worse than getting married the day after the judge signs the final order, only to find out a week later that the former spouse has appealed the case.
If the parties cannot agree to a settlement, there will be a trial. In most states, "grounds" must be proven. In Tennessee, examples of common grounds include adultery, habitual drunkenness or abuse of narcotic drugs, abandonment, and cruel and inhuman treatment, which may also be referred to as "inappropriate marital conduct." Sleeping with another person, even after separation, can give the other spouse grounds for divorce.
Many more details exist than can be explored here. For an excellent discussion of considerations for settlement, see chapter 2 of The Single Parent’s Money Guide, by Emily Card and Christie Watts Kelly, published by McMillan. A divorce settlement can affect the relationship between two adults for a long time, especially if there are children. Set aside time to "work" on the divorce. The client needs to collect important documents, read the material the lawyer gives out, and explore divorce recovery options, such as counseling, recovery groups, and self-help books on coping and financial advice.
Criminal and civil implications exist when taping any telephone conversation. Contrary to popular belief, taping conversations is a complex legal situation. Remember that authorities considered prosecuting Linda tripp for taping the Monica Lewinsky conversations. Explore this issue with the attorney carefully before doing anything actionable.
on the documents. Examples of papers the attorney will need to see include federal and state income tax returns (including copies of W-2’s), pay records for the current year, financial statements, employment contracts, explanations of benefits, and all canceled checks and credit card charge records for at least the last twenty-four to sixty months. Be sure to make copies of anything that might be important before it disappears.
Make every effort to spend time with the children during this difficult period. Learn everything possible about handling the tough questions that will come. Never give children "messages" to deliver to the other parent. Always remember that intentional alienation of children’s affection toward the other parent is a charge no one ever wants to defend in court. So never call the other parent the words that come to mind if children can hear, even if the words are true.
Children and custody. The term custody no longer exists in Tennessee law as of January 1, 2001, replacing the concept with a Parenting Plan objective. Final decision-making authority still exists, generally possessed by the Primary Residential Parent. This parenting plan law requires agreement on a greater number of specific important details with respect to the child’s life in order for the parents to receive a divorce without a trial. Mandatory Alternative dispute resolution can be required as well. Early decisions may be the most important because they set the direction from which a contested case proceeds. A parent wishing the child to reside primarily with him or her must learn a great deal about the procedure and be guided away from poor decision-making.
- in the closet. Once the lawyer has been engaged, never withhold information. Most of the time, when a client is afraid to tell the lawyer something unfavorable to the client’s case, it either turns out to be something not to fear or turns out to be manageable if given prompt attention. Waiting until the last minute to talk about a problem can cause bigger problems. It is better to plan for the monster in the closet together than to wait and see the look of shock in the lawyer’s eyes if and when the monster emerges.
When in doubt, be nice. When a soon-to-be-former spouse asks a tough question, just be calm and friendly, finding a nice way not to decide right then. Call the lawyer, discuss the situation, and then respond. There are about a thousand reasons for this advice. For example, think about buying a car. If a car shopper asks a salesperson to quote the "real" price of a car, and the response is $15,000.00, the shopper will likely be disgusted when the sales manager counter-offers saying the price is $18,000.00. Most shoppers will regret negotiating with a car dealership that deals in this deceptive manner. The same thing applies to a divorce. Never tell a spouse that settlement can be reached about part of the divorce if later it could turn out to be a terrible deal in light of something else that has not yet been negotiated. And remember that the attorney is the person who can best recognize such dangers. Further, backing out of an agreement could destroy an important negotiating position later.
O. The Odyssey
- the "novel." Before the lawyer can advise the divorce client properly, the lawyer must have all the facts. Many times, the lawyer will ask the client to write down everything that is, or even might be, important. Writing this "novel" can be a learning experience for the client and lawyer. Also, tell the lawyer about any and all suspicions. For example, "My spouse took a trip to Orlando last spring and didn’t take the children." This could lead to important deposition questions under oath inquiring whether anyone accompanied the spouse.
- attorney’s fees and expenses. There are different types of costs in divorce cases. The largest cost is attorney’s fees, which is the charge for the work done on the case. Most attorneys charge for their time and invoice clients for all other costs and expenses. Some courts will sometimes award attorney’s fees to one of the parties in a divorce. Awarding fees and costs really depends on the facts of the case and the court. Note that, in some counties in Tennessee, courts rarely, if ever, award attorney’s fees to either party. In other courts, only in rare instances will there be an award of all attorney’s fees to one side. Court costs are the fees that are charged by the court for the filing of the divorce and various other events. Other typical expenses include photocopying, deposition transcription, long distance telephone calls, and courier fees.
and cheaper is not always better. Some consider one attorney representing both parties to a divorce a serious conflict of interest. Ethics mandate attorneys to honor the highest degree of loyalty -- but to which client? In situations where only one party is represented, the unrepresented party who is waiting to hire an attorney only after signing a divorce settlement might be undertaking the ultimate adventure of moving deck chairs on the Titanic.
R. Real estate
- commonly the most difficult problem. The parties getting a divorce have a number of options when it comes to the martial home. Many options proposed may only be good for one of the parties, especially if one party is left without ownership rights but still owes the mortgage if it later becomes delinquent. Refinancing is always an important consideration.
- child support and pendente lite support. In Tennessee, a motion for pendente lite support is a legal process by which a dependent spouse may receive child support, alimony, or attorney’s fees pending the litigation. Most states have a rigid formula for calculating child support. These formulas for calculating child support can differ dramatically in results from state to state because they often consider different factors. Some states consider income of the custodial parent. Tennessee does not. Below is a very general guide in Tennessee for determining child support based on net income of the non-custodial parent. Understand that "net income" is not the same as taxable income. Calculating child support for a self-employed person can be especially challenging because a particular state’s definition of gross income and allowable deductions do not necessarily mean the same as that under federal income tax law.
Be sure to have a CPA review a proposed settlement before signing it because tax laws will often affect the results of the settlement. These effects are rarely stated in settlement documents. Subject to many qualifications, paid periodic alimony can be deducted by the paying party, but it will then be taxable to the receiving party. Child support cannot be deducted by the paying party, but will not be taxable to the receiving party. Further, there are important new tax laws to protect innocent spouses who have signed fraudulent federal income tax returns.
but sometimes necessary - contempt proceedings. When a party violates a term of a court order, the court can enforce the order after the harmed party files a petition for contempt asking the court to order the violating party to serve time in jail or pay money. This can be emotionally painful and expensive. try to work out small differences. Problematic situations may require the lawyer’s attention. For example, if the non-custodial parent is not paying child support, there are legal tools available to remedy the situation. For other situations, mediation may be the solution.
If the parents can agree on a visitation schedule or parenting plan, the court will usually approve the agreement if it is fair. A common, simple schedule is for the non-custodial parent to have the children on alternating weekends, for a few weeks in the summer, and on alternating holidays. There are many other provisions, however, a family lawyer may suggest. If the parents live in different cities, a special plan must be created. If one parent is moving the children away from the other parent, most states have specific laws concerning this situation. Removal issues are very important in Tennessee, and strict new laws apply that must be considered carefully and in advance of the move.
with clients is what lawyers do. A family lawyer does three things for a living: communicate, negotiate, and eliminate variables. Keep in mind that the lawyer cannot read minds. The lawyer does not always know how much the client knows or wants to know. If the client thinks a question is important, it probably is.
X. The X factor
- trust. If a divorce is settled, the divorcing parties may not always get what each deserves, but each party will get what is negotiated. Attorneys are professional negotiators. Many attorneys will advise clients not to try to negotiate their own divorce. Feeling comfortable that the attorney has the best interest of the client in mind may be the most important factor in helping to steer the client away from trouble. Without trust, communication breaks down. While maneuvering through the legal minefield of divorce, the client should rely upon the attorney’s advice. If the client makes a decision against the advice of the attorney, do not be surprised by the sounds of explosions.
has already passed. The issue is what to do tomorrow about getting on with one’s life. Getting a divorce is very painful. One of the best books available is not a divorce book, but a book about changes in life -- New Passages, by Gail Sheehy. This is not a self-help book filled with happy talk. Rather, it is a collection of stories about men and women moving through life’s stages. Discovering that feeling anger, shame, loneliness, or guilt is shared by others going through life’s changes helps one to face important issues that come and pass during and after a divorce.
Z. Zero revenge
Do not try to extract revenge from a former spouse. Like most situations, the best revenge is living a successful life.
Child support in Tennessee is based on the Income Shares Model, and the provisions are outlined in the Tennessee child support guidelines. The court may require health insurance coverage for each child of the marriage, with either party to pay all, or each party to pay a pro rata share of, the health care costs not paid by insurance proceeds.
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"A Plain English Guide to Protecting Your Children"
Author: Mary L. Boland, Attorney at Law
|The information contained on this page is not to be considered legal advice. This website is not a substitute for a lawyer and a lawyer should always be consulted in regards to any legal matters. Divorce Source, Inc. is also not a referral service and does not endorse or recommend any third party individuals, companies, and/or services. Divorce Source, Inc. has made no judgment as to the qualifications, expertise or credentials of any participating professionals. Read our Terms & Conditions.| | <urn:uuid:dbb3deb1-5677-439b-aad5-8b73699835f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.divorcesource.com/ds/tennessee/the-abc-s-of-divorce-1539.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949348 | 3,388 | 1.53125 | 2 |
A woman who believes her father murdered a schoolgirl more than 50 years ago has spoken of her fervent hope that the child's body is recovered from a grave that is being exhumed.
Moira Anderson was 11 when she went missing from her home in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, in February 1957 while running an errand for her grandmother. It is widely believed she was abducted and murdered, but her body has never been found.
The case remains unsolved, although convicted paedophile Alexander Gartshore, a Coatbridge bus driver who died in 2006, has been connected with the disappearance.
On Tuesday investigators began excavating the plot of Sinclair Upton, said to have been an acquaintance of Gartshore, to see if the youngster's remains were hidden there.
The excavation at Old Monkland Cemetery in Coatbridge is being led by Professor Sue Black and a team from the forensic anthropology department at Dundee University.
Gartshore's daughter, Sandra Brown, blamed her father for the murder in her book, Where There Is Evil.
She told BBC Radio Scotland: "She's either there or she's not there. My fervent hope is that she is there, and there's been quite a trail that's brought us to this particular location."
She said if the schoolgirl's body was not found in the plot it "would be very difficult to know where to go from here because this is the last avenue of opportunity".
Mrs Brown added: "I hope for her sisters' sake we do recover remains or something that tells us that Moira has been placed there, but it's certainly in the lap of the gods at the moment."
She said her father "ended up saying to me that Moira, in a blizzard of snow, had got on his bus and he had been the last person to see her". | <urn:uuid:a41eeb75-1bd1-422a-a19d-fe4a83310b4a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk/ayrshire-news/scottish-news/2013/01/10/campaigner-s-hopes-for-missing-girl-81430-32581269/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986678 | 377 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Shadows, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California, USA
It’s just a white wall.
And a black handrail.
In fact the handrail at the bottom of this photo is the only surface in this photograph that is not painted white. But there is very little of the photograph that looks white. And it is a color photograph.
I was impressed with how many shades of white to black are possible on a surface covered with white paint. I prefer color photography even though I respect the dedication and skill required for interesting black and white images. But I do not want to remove the reflected colors from the image.
This scene is inside the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The geometric shadows are from a skylight. The long shadows of the bolts add interesting patterns.
Regardless of what art is exhibited in the floors below, this upper stairway and the suspended walkway overhead provide a place to look at simple shapes and shadows. It is a place to take a break from the visual stimulation of the imagery on display. The varying intensity of the sunlight and passing clouds change the scene inside. Photo: 1/1000 s at f/5.6
Escalators, Waldo and His Mom, San Francisco, California, USA
The sparkling lights of Christmas shopping in downtown San Francisco.
When you live in a rural redwood forest setting, as we do, it is interesting to go shop in ‘The City’. We were in San Francisco visiting our younger daughter. It was a fun family day, but the clothes shopping part wasn’t enough to distract me from thinking about photographs. So while they shopped, I looked around for interesting views.
The red carpet at the lower left was six floors below me. This stack of escalators formed an interesting intersection of lines and arcs. The strands of blue lights add accent and depth.
This is certainly a different view than looking out my window into a redwood forest.
The woman two floors below me in the red striped top reminded me of the ‘Where’s Waldo’ puzzles. Perhaps she is not very easy to see in this small image. Photo: 1/30 s at f/2.4
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California, USA
Patterns, shapes, shadows, white, and the sky.
And the sun.
Everything in this photograph is white, except for the glimpse of sky and the sun filtered through the skylight. All of the surfaces inside this building are reflecting all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum equally. That is, everything has white paint on it. The brightness or whiteness is controlled by the amount of sun that falls on the surface, and our viewing angle.
Even though this is a pure ‘white’ surface, the shades range from almost pure black to bright white. Or, at least as white as the paint is.
I am starting to enjoy the buildings that house art displays almost as much as the art itself. This photograph is the view looking straight up through the skylight of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. There is an elevated walkway on the right.
I have a very limited knowledge of art museum architecture. But it has caught my interest. I think of the stairs inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art (not the outside stairs of Rocky fame); the escalators and clock of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris; the view across the pond of the metalic tree sculptures at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas; the polished redwood columns of the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka, California (local plug); the entire Louvre; and on and on. I haven’t seen many of the famous art museums. But they are something to look forward to. Photo: 1/2000 s at f/6. | <urn:uuid:73c92cf6-66a1-4a93-8be9-d38faa77455e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.earthmapphoto.com/tag/san-francisco/ | 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 | 0.933069 | 792 | 1.539063 | 2 |
June 16, 2012
'Undocumented' Queens teens no longer fear being deported after President Obama's order
It’s a dream come true.
Two city teens who live in fear of deportation were overjoyed when President Obama yesterday announced an order granting young, “undocumented” immigrants the right to stay in the country.
Erika Bret (a member of Make The Road New York), a 19-year-old freshman at La Guardia Community College from Puebla, Mexico, was smuggled over the border using fake documents four years ago to join her mother in Queens. Her mom had moved here years earlier, leaving Bret with her grandmother.
Bret enrolled at Pan-American International HS, and was able to realize her wish to attend a US college. She wants to be a graphic designer with her own business.
But she’s watched her mom — who works at a clothing store and is paid off the books while her husband packs boxes — struggle to stay under the radar.
“She doesn’t like to go out because she is afraid,” Bret said of her mom’s concerns about being deported.
Meanwhile, Bret has been unable to help out financially for fear of being caught working illegally. Nor has she dared to return to the country where she was born, as she may not be able to return to her family without US residency papers.
She’s seen three younger siblings — Jared, Dayanara and Jeremy, all born here — become American citizens.
“They can get help from the government,” she said, noting that two of them receive speech therapy.
“I want to be the one who helps them, too. Now I can. I’m going to help them a lot.”
Wilian Mejia (a member of Make The Road New York), 18, of Richmond Hill, Queens, arrived in New York from Honduras several years ago. He said the moratorium on deporting younger, undocumented immigrants gives him a new lease on life.
“You live, like in the shadows,” Mejia said. “ You don’t want everybody to know you’re undocumented. Now I don’t feel as scared anymore.”
“I can’t explain to you in words how exciting it is. But it’s really emotional.”
A senior at Flushing HS, Mejia plans to go to Queensborough Community College. He wants to study performing arts and become a Latin dancer.
“I don’t feel like going back to my old country,” he said. “I made New York my home. Honduras now is very dangerous. I don’t want to go back.”
The immigration advocacy-rights group Make the Road by Walking said the Obama order was a a godsend that will lift up the lives of millions of young people.
“Young people will be able to walk down the streets of Queens and Brooklyn . . . and be able to say, ‘this is my home and I don’t have to live in fear,’ ” said co-director Ana Maria Archila.
For original article, click here.
More on: Expanding Civil Rights | <urn:uuid:3f03dd0c-47fd-4403-9028-f52940a2c949> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.maketheroad.org/article.php?ID=2304 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966246 | 687 | 1.742188 | 2 |
In 2004 George W. Bush's re-election campaign worked to put anti-gay marriage ballot initiatives up for vote in several swing states in order to turn out more hard-core conservatives to the polls. This year the question is whether marijuana legalization measures will turn out young voters for Obama.
Bush's plan to use gay marriage bans -- in states that did not actually allow gay marriage -- as a turnout booster led to signs featuring icky public restroom symbols proliferated and liberal panic that the Christian right had taken over. The press obsessed over "values voters." One of Bush's aides, Ken Mehlman, who later came out as gay himself, has apologized for the strategy, two others say it didn't work.
This year there's another incumbent president with modest approval ratings who could turn out his base with controversial ballot measures. But this time, the issue features no biblical or scatological imagery. In 2012, voters in swing states will decide whether they'll allow their fellow citizens to bear joints. Unlike the gay marriage votes, there's no indication that Obama's re-election team is behind any of the pot legalization initiatives, but there are Democrats who are hoping that it will boost turnout among weed's biggest fans: young people.
Getting more young people to vote has long been a Democratic fantasy, since they tend to vote so heavily Democratic. But past attempts to bong the vote have been disappointing, in part because stoners aren't the group anyone would most count on to bother filling out a ballot. Ahead of the 2010 midterms, The Wall Street Journal
ran the story,
"Democrats Look to Cultivate Pot Vote in 2012," noting that California's pot-legalizing Proposition 19 was being studied to see if similar measures "could energize young, liberal voters in swing states for the 2012 presidential election." But exit polls that year showed no spike in young voter turnout, and marijuana legalization was the top issue for just 1 in 10 voters, the Los Angeles Times
reported. (Also: Californians ended up voting down Prop. 19.) Still, there were hopeful signs: 64 percent of voters 18-to-24 supported it, and 52 percent of voters 25-to-29 did. In March, the pro-legalization site Just Say Now suggested that the presidential election will draw more young people to the polls, and they'll vote for pot legalization while they're there. | <urn:uuid:f9cb9266-1ad0-4990-9882-3e58edc123f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?213705-Is-Legalizing-Weed-Obama-s-Secret-Weapon&p=6220679 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961065 | 487 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Ronnie Biggs, the former fugitive who helped stage Britain's "Great Train Robbery" in 1963, has been released from prison, marking the end of a criminal saga that has played out over 40 years and across four continents.
Biggs and 14 other men robbed a Royal Mail train of 2.6 million pounds (about $67 million in today's terms). The gang, which included an antiques dealer, a boxer and a florist, beat the train's driver unconscious with an iron bar; the victim never worked again and died seven years later. Biggs was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his part in the incident, but he escaped after 15 months by scaling a 30-ft. (9 m) wall and jumping into a furniture van. After more than 35 years on the run in Australia and Brazil, Biggs returned to the U.K. in 2001 for medical treatment.
U.K. Justice Secretary Jack Straw freed Biggs on compassionate grounds and announced his decision on Aug. 6 in an e-mailed statement. "The medical evidence clearly shows that Mr. Biggs is very ill and that his condition has deteriorated recently, culminating in his re-admission to hospital," he said. "His condition is not expected to improve."
Biggs, age 79 and severely ill with pneumonia, remains at a hospital in Norwich, where is to undergo minor surgery. Following a series of strokes, he can no longer walk, is fed through a tube and communicates by pointing to letters of the alphabet on a board. The three prison guards who stood watch over his hospital bed round the clock have been removed. Their departure comes just one day ahead of Biggs' 80th birthday and the 46th anniversary of the train robbery on Aug. 8.
"I had a private moment with my dad to thank him for sticking with it," his son Michael told reporters outside the hospital after the papers freeing his father were signed. "It was very emotional when the guards left."
"My father still has a sense of humor he shook hands with the prison guards and then just waved them off with his hands."
Biggs demonstrated that same flamboyance during three decades on the run. After his escape from prison in 1965, he fled to Paris, where he underwent plastic surgery and obtained new identity papers, which he used to enter Australia. In 1969 he got wind that authorities had tracked him to Melbourne, so he smuggled himself onto a passenger liner to Panama and eventually made his way to Brazil.
In 1974, tabloid journalists from Britain's Daily Express broke the news that Biggs was hiding out in Rio de Janeiro. Scotland Yard's subsequent efforts to extradite him were foiled after Biggs fathered a child, Michael, with Raimunda de Castro, a nightclub dancer and alleged prostitute; Brazilian law protected the parents of Brazilian citizens. And while Biggs could not legally work in Brazil, he was able to live freely and profit from coffee mugs and T shirts branded with his name and image.
Owing to his minor celebrity status, Biggs also recorded vocals for the Sex Pistols song "No One Is Innocent," which refers to the then fugitive in its chorus: "Ronnie Biggs was doing time, until he done a bunk, now he says he's seen the light, and he's sold his soul for punk." (Doing a bunk is a colloquial phrase for leaving without permission, as from school.)
There were downsides to having a high profile. In 1981 a group of bounty hunters kidnapped Biggs, sneaked him into Barbados and asked the British government for a reward. But Barbados did not have an extradition treaty with the U.K., and Biggs again escaped justice.
In 2001, after 13,068 days on the run, Biggs returned to Britain on a chartered plane paid for by British tabloid the Sun. Having suffered a series of heart attacks, Biggs reportedly returned seeking medical attention. However, through his son he told reporters that he returned to spend his final days in his native land. "My last wish is to walk into a Margate pub as an Englishman and buy a pint of bitter."
Giovanni Di Stefano, the family's attorney, said he was pleased with Biggs' release but remains mindful of the former prisoner's health. "He is being released effectively to die, and that cannot be considered a victory," he said. And what about that final pint? "This man is ill he's going to die. He is not going to any pub." | <urn:uuid:613712ce-e83d-4609-94e1-142705bc5aa1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1915257,00.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98638 | 933 | 1.640625 | 2 |
The Centre today described the near simultaneous explosions in Pune as a planned and coordinated act.
Union Home Secretary R K Singh said forensic experts were examining the two unexploded IEDs and nature of the four blasts.
"Since the blasts have taken place within an area of 500 metres and within a span of 45 minutes, it appears to be a coordinated act. I am sure there was a plan behind it," he told reporters here.
Singh said teams of National Investigation Agency, National Security Guards and Central Forensic Science Laboratory reached Pune early this morning and were examining the explosives.
"They have examined two IEDs which had not exploded. There are three detonators in each and other peculiarity. Investigation is on. We are making progress," he said.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said there was no update on the blasts so far.
Shinde, who assumed charge of the key department yesterday, held a high-level meeting with top Home Ministry oficials to review the security scenario in the country, particularly Pune, in view of last night's blasts. | <urn:uuid:b92d1306-fb1e-4820-8bdb-22744c5fe501> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/pune-blasts-were-planned-union-home-secy-112080203005_1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976298 | 227 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Beijing, Aug 31: China’s nuclear power industry will expand at a slower rate compared with the past five years, a media report said Wednesday.
‘China’s nuclear industry base is still weak and we must ensure development stability and consistency,’ China Daily quoted Zhang Guobao, former hear of the National Energy Administration, as saying.
Xinhua reported that the country suspended approvals of new nuclear power stations and order comprehensive safety inspections at all nuclear plants, following Japan’s Fukushima nuclear accident in March.
Zhang said the country should use the slowdown in construction to address weakness in the sector, including manufacturing capacity and technological innovation.
He also suggested the nation take this crisis as an opportunity to catch up as the world’s leading nuclear power country.
China is expected to have 42 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2015, equal to 3 percent of total installed power capacity, Zhang said. | <urn:uuid:0396fd82-b6b6-431a-ac8f-662e9712808f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.indiatalkies.com/2011/08/chinas-nuclear-industry-post-slower-growth-report.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944746 | 191 | 1.78125 | 2 |
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Leeds Skin Center Earns International Quality Standard
Posted: May 23, 2007
The Skin Research Center at the University of Leeds, UK, announced it has achieved international quality standard ISO 17025. According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this designation specifies that the general requirements to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including sampling, have been met. In addition, it covers testing and calibration performed using standard methods, nonstandard methods and laboratory-developed methods.
“ISO 17025 accreditation is testament to the quality of our laboratory and will provide us with an added advantage when talking to potential clients,” said Richard Bojar, PhD and the center's director, in a press announcement. He added that the center is examining different ways in which to develop its services to the pharmaceutical, personal product and hygiene industries. "Collaborative applied research is extremely valuable to us, as much of our research informs our commercial services for companies," said Bojar.
The UK-based Skin Research Center has pioneered the treatment of acne, eczema and other skin conditions and reportedly is the only university skin microbiology laboratory in the UK to receive the international quality standard ISO 17025. The center's client list is said to include such companies such as Unilever, Stiefel, Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Smith & Nephew and 3M Woundcare--and the center is said to be seeking to increase its collaborative activity with commercial partners. | <urn:uuid:944b8bcb-b95b-48cb-a305-e2b4fcb36b2c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/networking/news/company/7646927.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934802 | 324 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Jeff Marshall typically starts his days early at the Mystic Shipyard, a 169-year old marina with a history steeped in the construction of schooners and iron-clad ships to sail the waterways of New England.
Marshall, along with Robert Helbig, are co-owners of the shipyard located in Mystic, Conn. Opened in 1843, the marina was home to several ships, including the Jennie R. Dubois, constructed in 1902 and the largest sailing ship ever built in Mystic, Marshall said. At a cost of almost $100,000, it was designed to carry 3,000 tons of coal or two million board feet of lumber.
After a shift to building catamaran power boats called sea sleds for racing and recreation and also as tenders for presidential yachts in the 1940s, the Mystic Shipyard was repurposed again as a recreational marina. It is now home to 165 summer residents and over 300 winter storage customers. The shipyard also offers custom shipwright carpentry, fiberglass repair and refinishing, rigging services, engine repair and re-powering.
When Marshall recently started exploring refinancing and additional capital opportunities, he turned to his bank of more than 30 years. Unfortunately, the financial institution was not able to come up with a satisfactory deal, he said. He then went shopping around and three other banks and the $749 million Charter Oak Federal Credit Union expressed strong interest in working with Marshall and his team.
In the end, the cooperative in Groton, Conn., brought the most appealing offer to the table and on July 31, provided a multiyear financing package for the Mystic Shipyard that allows the facility to refinance its existing mortgage as well as fund future improvements at the 6.5-acre marina.
For Marshall, it came down to working with a lender that was able to meet all of the terms he was seeking. He did not want to disclose the dollar amount or the timeframe of the loan.
“Charter Oak jumped through hoops,” Marshall said. “It was primarily the loan size we were talking about. It was dollars and sense, interest rate, terms and conditions.”
Brian Orenstein, CEO at Charter Oak, said the Mystic Shipyard loan is among the credit union’s three largest commercial loans to date.
“We’re pretty excited. We had some pretty stiff competition from community banks,” Orenstein said.
Charter Oak’s financing package will allow the shipyard to undertake planned improvements at the Mystic facility, including possible dock upgrades and a new repair facility.
For some time, credit unions have carved a niche within the small business sector working with traditional players providing loans for commercial real estate ventures on the high end to food carts on the low end of the spectrum.
With a shift in the type of businesses that have been formed over the past few years, particularly those tied to the Internet, some lenders are open to embracing the change, said Rohit Arora, co-founder and CEO of Biz2Credit, a New York firm that connects small businesses with financial institutions.
“There are lot of businesses that are doing things like smartphone wholesales, small modeling agencies and online content translations,” Arora has noticed. “Normally, banks will not fund these businesses because they don’t understand them. Most want hard assets. If they perceive a business as risky, they will shy away from it.”
Credit unions and micro lenders tend to be more willing to fund nontraditional businesses, Arora said. With incentives to engage in green businesses, the appeal may be more attractive, he added. Biz2Credit has found that online-based businesses are the fastest growing sector that is receiving loans.
Indeed, for the past year, online retailer Amazon has been experimenting with offering loans to some of it high-volume sellers, according to an Oct. 1 American Banker article. Arora said companies like Amazon are going this route because their own merchants are finding it harder to get financing from banks. Amazon did not respond to a request for additional information by press time.
Despite the new competitor entry, Arora still sees opportunities for credit unions.
“They are focused on helping their members. These are folks who are getting out of corporate jobs and starting their own businesses,” Arora said. “Big banks keep asking ‘why do we keep rejecting so many loans when other non-traditional lenders are lending.’ I tell them the economy is shifting. If you don’t change your underwriting standards, you won’t approve as many loans.”
Orenstein said having an in-house team of experienced, former bank commercial lenders officers who’ve been in the business for 25 years and know the local area and a board committee that oversees all loans over $1 million, has kept Charter Oak out of the delinquency pool since it began offering business loans in 2009. The credit union now has $35 million of them in its portfolio.
“Certainly, there are risks. We believe that some of the credit unions that got into trouble were either outsourcing or through participations or not having experienced staff,” Orenstein said.
In addition to the Mystic Shipyard, Charter Oak’s largest loans were to date provided to a mobile home park and as recently as September, a $1.5 million commercial loan for the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication in downtown New London, Conn.
“We have the skills to underwrite in house. We had outsourced in the past,” Orenstein said. “Using credit scores for commercial lending just didn’t make sense to us.”
Charter Oak is open to considering all types of commercial loan requests within legal lending limits, Orenstein offered.
By nature, credit unions tend to listen to all member business loan requests to help members whenever possible, said Larry Middleman, president/CEO of CU Business Group LLC, a Portland, Ore.-based CUSO that serves 398 credit unions in 43 states. These member requests certainly involve nontraditional businesses, he added.
“From my view, credit unions would like to lend to nontraditional businesses such as home-based start-ups and online businesses, but in reality any loans granted will be in small dollar amounts,” Middleman said, adding these loans would typically be well-secured by residential real estate or other personal assets, as nontraditional businesses don’t often have business assets to pledge as collateral.
“Therein lies the big risks of this type of lending. Nontraditional businesses usually do not have several years of demonstrated, successful operations, nor do they have business collateral,” Middleman said. “Credit unions would typically view this type of loan as unsecured, and preferably would obtain an SBA guarantee or some additional repayment assurance.”
Still, Middleman continues to see credit unions serving a niche in their markets. For example, a good number of them in California use a state guarantee program that fosters new business growth, which allows lending lend to nontraditional businesses, he pointed out.
“However, the majority of credit unions tend to stick to plain vanilla commercial lending which means loaning to businesses with three plus years of profitably operations and solid real estate collateral,” Middleman said.
Meanwhile, Marshall at the Mystic Shipyard said he was familiar with Charter Oak before doing business with the credit union and promised the financial institution that it would get the majority of his business going forward. Still, he is not against banks and was puzzled when he found out that efforts are in place to keep credit unions from expanding their business lending authority.
“It seems to me that would be fair. Being on the outside looking in, I’m out for what’s best for my bottom line. It doesn’t matter if it’s with a bank, a convenience store or a credit union; I want to achieve the best bottom line.” | <urn:uuid:aa89aafc-67fb-45b3-9c3d-ef53f135831f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cutimes.com/2012/10/07/charter-oak-fcu-steers-shipyard-to-smooth-sailing?t=online-mobile-bankingttechnologytdebit-atm-shared-&page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974524 | 1,682 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Iran's leaders have accused the West of "enmity" and "bullying" policies after recent nuclear talks with world powers in Moscow ended without progress, according to media reports Thursday.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke to U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of "Rio+20" U.N. conference on sustainable development in Brazil, and called for the world powers to "return to the legal framework" in talks with Tehran on Iran's controversial nuclear program.
"Arrogant and domination-seeking parties should avoid enmity toward the Iranian nation," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by Iranian state TV. Ahmadinejad defended Iran, saying it had offered "legal, constructive, fair and friendly proposals," during the Moscow talks.
Two days of intensive discussion in Moscow between Tehran and six world powers ended Tuesday, with both sides agreeing only to continue low-level talks in early July. The six - the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany - want Iran to stop enriching uranium to a level that is just steps away from its use as the core of nuclear warheads.
Iran says it does not seek atomic weapons and that it is enriching uranium only to make reactor fuel or medical isotopes, insisting it has a right to enrich under international law.
With neither side ready to accept what the other brought to the table in the form of inducements to compromise, the talks ended with no headway. The lack of progress in Moscow is sure to be seen by critics as a sign that talks are ineffective in persuading Iran to curb enrichment.
Meanwhile, the chief of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said Thursday the agency is still trying to gain access to a suspected nuclear testing site at an Iranian military base southwest of Tehran and that dialogue with the Iranians on that issue is ongoing.
The activities at the Parchin military base are a recent concern of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA last month showed member nations of its board satellite images indicating a cleanup of the site but Iran denied it was trying to remove evidence of nuclear testing. It insists Parchin is a conventional military base and has turned down IAEA requests to visit the site.
Yukiya Amano, director general of the Vienna-based IAEA, said the agency is aware that a cleanup at the base is ongoing, "and we have concerns that this will hamper our verification activities."
In Tehran, influential cleric and former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, said world powers showed "bullying" policies and "dishonesty" in Moscow talks.
"The talks proved that the Western side is (not interested) in interaction and they are not honest. They have based their policy on bullying alone," Rafsanjani was quoted by several Iranian dailies. He also urged Iranian unity to thwart its enemies.
Rafsanjani heads an advisory body to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, who has final say on all state matters.
Along with recognition of the right to enrich, Iran seeks relief from growing U.N. and other sanctions, including spreading international embargoes on its oil sales. That is something the six world powers are ready to grant only if Tehran agrees to enrichment suspension and related measures. | <urn:uuid:37ec3eb9-efc5-41d2-827c-700b220b053c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jun/21/iran-attacks-world-powers-dishonesty/?page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965067 | 684 | 1.625 | 2 |
Millions of dead fish washed up in salt lake confirmed as the source of rotten egg stench in Los Angeles
Scientists have confirmed that the hideous stench engulfing Southern California on Monday came from dead fish that washed up in the Salton Sea, as rotting carcases continued to fill the salt lake.
Investigators collected air samples in 10 locations in the Inland Empire, Coachella Valley and Salton Sea and the tests confirmed the 376-square mile lake, about 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles, was the source of the foul odour.
At the start of the week, the South Coast Air Quality Management District received a barrage of complaints all the way to LA about the overwhelming rotten egg smell but the number of people calling up had dropped significantly by Tuesday lunchtime.
Smelly fish: The foul smell in California was caused by dead tilapia fish decomposing in Salton Sea saltwater lake
'We now have solid evidence that clearly points to the Salton Sea as the source of a very large and unusual odor event,' South Coast Air Quality Management District executive officer Barry Wallerstein told the Los Angeles Times.
AQMD investigators sent officials all over the region in an attempt to track the stench after being flooded with 200 complaints spread over an area of 10,000 square miles. The air samples that they recovered were found to contain hydrogen sulfide.
But experts were amazed the stench was able to travel all the way to LA. They believe a powerful storm over the weekend helped blow the fumes from the southeast to the city.
AQMD investigators had to enlist the
help of air-quality modellers to know for sure whether the smell could
travel such a distance.
'I think we’ve shown it was theoretically possible,' spokesman Sam Atwood told the newspaper. 'But this is just something we did not expect.'
Inspectors ruled out landfills, oil refineries and a natural springs site as potential sources for the odour.
'The air samples were the final piece of the puzzle,' Atwood said.
Culprit: The Salton Sea saltlake, pictured, was behind the stench that travelled 150 miles to LA
LA copped the horrid fumes but the town of Mecca, just north of the Salton Sea, and Indio, fared worse, receiving larger doses of the rotten egg smell.
Salton Sea Authority general Andrew Schlange told the LA Times the large number of fish that died in the body of water over the past week likely exacerbated the problem.
he doesn't believe the fish die-off, a normal occurrence, was
significant enough on its own to explain the odor travelling so far.
Schlange explained that the storm upset an anaerobic lower layer of the sea, where organic material lies slowly decomposing and releasing the noxious hydrogen sulfide gas.
On Monday, Janis Dawson of the Salton Sea Authority described the pong as 'extremely intense.'
'We actually thought that somebody had an accident, a broken sewage main, that's how strong it was,' she said.
The dying sea, a major resting stop for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway, has been plagued by increasing salinity.
Die-off: Thousands of dead fish, pictured, have washed up at Salton Sea over the past week, contributing to the bad smell plaguing the state
Created in 1905 when floodwaters broke through a Colorado River irrigation canal, it is expected to shrink significantly by 2018 and become even saltier.
The massive thunderstorm complex moved from Mexico over the area on Sunday night, with wind gusts up to 60mph and widespread dust storms.
'We were watching it from the office on our satellite radar and it was huge, one of the largest that any of us have ever seen in probably 10 years,' said meteorologist Mark Moede.
Mr Wallerstein had acknowledged the storm could be a factor in the smell's spread but said that it was 'highly unusual' for odours to remain powerful up to 150 miles from their source.
The smell did not pose any health
hazards, but it generated an explosion of quips on social media from
Riverside County to the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.
Jose Chavez, a 28-year-old comedian from San Fernando, tweeted: 'The Valley is starting to smell like rotten eggs. In an unrelated note, Febreeze sales are through the roof in the San Fernando Valley.'
Culprit? The Salton Sea has been blamed for a bad smell in southern California
Mr Chavez was leaving the grocery store when he was overwhelmed by the odour.
'My first thought was that maybe one of the eggs I bought was rotted and I got back home and the smell was still there so then I started to think it was me so I changed my clothes,' he said. 'It was very pungent.'
Jack Crayon, an environmental scientist at California's Department of Fish and Game, said he recognized the smell as the typical odour when winds churn up the sea's waters and pull gases from the decomposition of fish or other organisms up to the surface.
He said the phenomenon typically occurs a few times a year in the area surrounding the lake, but it was unusual for the smell to spread so far.
The smell began to dissipate on Monday as winds picked up speed.
The Salton Sea is about 30 per cent saltier than the ocean and sits 200 feet below sea level.
It relies on water that seeps down from nearby farms, and it has been plagued with fish die-offs that result from low oxygen levels in the water and receding shorelines. | <urn:uuid:285ca64a-1e13-4eb8-8ba4-20b4c3b73571> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202288/Salton-sea-Scientists-confirm-horrid-rotten-egg-stench-Los-Angeles-DID-come-dead-fish.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961665 | 1,171 | 1.789063 | 2 |
I am sitting in a conference room in Panama and the room is so cold it just might start snowing. I can barely write, my fingers are so stiff, and this makes me wonder about the psychology of being cold in a hot climate…about the excessive use of energy while oil hovers around US$86 per barrel and the Earth’s temperature creeps higher.
Since it is often beyond a question of comfort, is it a statement about our rights to consume, about our control over our environment, about wealth? Whatever the cause, the citizens of Mexico City and Managua share the habit with those of Manila and Miami.
The use of power expresses itself as a sign of power. ....And so, too, the use of the automobile. One hundred and fifty years ago, in “Song of the Open Road,” Walt Whitman wrote
“O public road …
You express me better than I can express myself.
From this hour, freedom!
Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating
Gently, but with undeniable will,
divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.”
This poem remains a celebration of the opportunity that the highway provides. Across the Americas, the relationship between personal freedom and physical movement—especially the kind provided by a car on an open road—has become part of our DNA.
Latin America and the Caribbean has the highest rates of motorization of any region in the world—about the same as China at nearly 4.5 percent per year. Unlike China, however, the majority of our population already lives in cities.
Since 78 percent of LAC’s population is urban, this means that the region’s municipalities are clogged, polluted and getting worse. So too are the arteries that connect the cities. In energy generation, Latin America runs the risk of losing its green mantel from its baseload of hydropower and natural gas. With demand for the region’s energy growing historically about 1.5 times faster than economic growth, big investments in generation are on the horizon.
We estimate that the region will need the equivalent of 5 Itaipu’s over the next 8 years… and there are only so many large rivers to dam in Latin America. Greater energy efficiency, as well as scale economies from regional markets, may abate that growth, but growing (i.e, with power) green (i.e, with renewables and low emitting technologies) will require a re-thinking of the region’s common practice of subsidizing fuel prices upstream and electricity prices downstream.
In the absence of a carbon tax, it may also mean more regulatory incentives and feed-in tariffs that reflect the full benefits of cleaner generation. In our last two discussions, we looked at the relationships between infrastructure and growth and between infrastructure and social inclusiveness—and we found the relationships to be positively correlated in both cases.
But what about infrastructure and the environment? Can we “grow green” with the help of infrastructure or does infrastructure investment always mean more power, more cars, more emissions, more environmental degradation?
In fact, infrastructure investments that balance economic, social and environmental needs do happen—and they are happening with increasing frequency in Latin America and the Caribbean—in urban transport, in energy production and in freight transport.
Better Transport Systems
Bus Rapid Transit systems are springing up across the region like grass in the cracks of pavement—not only in Bogota, Santiago, Mexico City and Lima, but in the secondary cities of Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. Costa Rica may be next.
Upcoming research from the World Resources Institute on urban transport in Mexico City illustrates how expansion of “Metro-Bus”—the dedicated bus lanes and services of the Metropolitan Area—has helped reverse a 15-year trend of increased dependence on polluting micro-buses, stemming the growth in emissions.
People and the environment benefit from better mass transit, and when cities become healthier, safer and less congested, investment and economic growth are likely to respond.
What has been missing so far is the integration of these mass transit projects into land use planning—planning that would densify cities, curb peri-urban sprawl and bring scale to basic urban service provision. To be truly transformative, the next generation of these investments will require greater forethought and integration into the urban landscape.
In freight transport, the greenness of the investment follows the incentives and options that shippers have when moving cargo. When they are faced with the true cost of fuel, including the costs of pollution, firms often decide on their own to seek more efficient modes. Cargo moves from small trucks to large trucks, and from large trucks to railroads and waterways.
The expansion of the Hidrovia system along the Parana-Paraguay Rivers will allow more ships and barges to move grains hundreds of kilometers. It takes hundreds of trucks off the roads of the Southern Cone--and carbon out of the air.
Realistically, the vast majority of the region’s freight will continue to move by truck, so greening the freight haulage industry itself will be a necessary step in the process of green growth. This means enforcement of tailpipe regulations, incentives for upgrading truck technologies, and training for drivers. The World Bank is now helping the Government of Brazil to build a strategy for greening the trucking industry… a regional example that will spread in the years ahead.
In three blogs, we raced through the Triple Win, finding that investments in infrastructure can potentially (1) spur Growth that is (2) Inclusive and (3) Green. But, as I’ve learned from your posts and comments, we also have to admit that there is no easy recipe, that investments that are inclusive and green include costs—typically, the loss of a subsidy—that consumers and/or taxpayers may have to bear in the short-run.
I also read in your posts an observation that Walt Whitman would have appreciated: It is the human component—planning, coordinating, educating, changing behavior—that remains our greatest challenge. | <urn:uuid:774757c6-6660-4b67-9eea-a60f6d5df505> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.worldbank.org/latinamerica/infrastructure-do-all-roads-lead-to-green-investments | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938517 | 1,256 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Taliban Tactics May Have Led to Civilian Deaths
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2006 The Taliban’s habit of using human shields during attacks on coalition forces may have caused the deaths of a number of Afghan civilians during a recent incident in Kandahar province, NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe said in the Afghan capital Oct. 28.
“Sadly, in asymmetric warfare, when you’re battling an insurgency, typically, the insurgents do not play by the same rules that we would like to play by,” Marine Gen. James L. Jones, who was visiting the country, told reporters at a Kabul news conference.
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and the Afghan Ministry of Defense are conducting a joint investigation into the Oct. 24 incident in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province, according to an ISAF news release. A large number of insurgents were engaged by coalition close-air support that day near the Sperwan Ghar security base.
Besides insurgents, a number of Afghan civilians were also killed in the engagement, the release stated, noting it wasn’t clear at this point how many civilians were killed as the result of insurgent fire.
Insurgents in Afghanistan routinely “attack using civilians as shields,” Jones said. “They do everything they can to spread lies about the purpose of the (coalition) soldiers’ efforts.”
Early investigation of the Sperwan Ghar incident indicates that “sadly, there appears to have been some loss of life and innocent people who were wounded in a legitimate mission,” Jones said.
The insurgents were apparently using the cover of civilian population in an attempt to discourage coalition counter fire, Jones said, noting that’s an often-employed Taliban tactic.
Such a scenario makes it “very difficult for us to get at them,” Jones said. Coalition military commanders in Afghanistan often weigh whether or not to go after enemy targets of opportunity in recent engagements.
The incidence of innocent Afghan civilians being killed or wounded in any engagement “is to be regretted and investigated,” Jones said, noting he’d personally apologized for the incident to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
“We take this very seriously,” Jones emphasized. “We will look into it. And, we will always do whatever we can to minimize any innocent people from being victimized in any way by military activities.” | <urn:uuid:130d7d77-2cc7-4e57-9c39-1eb4f5f4e66c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1968 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963347 | 520 | 1.578125 | 2 |
A suburban Chicago mall made famous for its high-speed demise in "The Blues Brothers" movie 30 years ago is meeting its real-life end.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced Wednesday that demolition has officially begun at Dixie Square Mall in south suburban Harvey. The vacant mall has been an eyesore ever since cars unceremoniously smashed through it in the iconic film.
"The demolition of the Dixie Square Mall will help revitalize the local economy and create much needed jobs," Quinn said in a statement. "Although we will always remember the Dixie Mall as the location for one of the most iconic scenes in `The Blues Brothers' movie, it is time for this now vacant building to be torn down to make way for more economic development for the Harvey community."
Quinn set aside $4 million in federal disaster recovery funds for the project in 2010. Work to clear the property had previously stopped when Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan sued Harvey over asbestos removal in 2005.
Ed Paesel, executive director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, said the initial investment for the project is "critical to Harvey's future."
The 39-acre site was recently condemned over concerns about its structural stability and the presence of asbestos. The governor's office said the cleanup and demolition project will support 42 jobs, including 18 new full-time positions.
The mall, which opened in 1966, closed in 1979, then shortly thereafter was featured in "The Blues Brothers." | <urn:uuid:9a9083bc-d29f-4196-bd27-64f80419351a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kslx.com/pete-cummings/blog/mall-from-blues-brothers-movie-to-be-razed | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955699 | 304 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Student Loan Relief on the Way For Law Grads
Posted Jun 23, 2009 6:59 AM CDT
By Molly McDonough
A new federal program meant to help all students manage their loan debt is set to go into effect July 1.
Why should lawyers care?
Because the College Cost Reduction & Access Act has a few provisions that can have long-term benefits for lawyers, especially those who are public-interest-law minded.
There are short-term benefits too. The National Law Journal, in a lengthy article detailing the act's provisions, notes that the program could make it easier for all attorneys who have high debt loads but relatively low incomes.
On the public interest side, loan forgiveness works like this: After making loan payments for 10 years on government-backed loans, the government will forgive the loan balance for qualifying borrowers.
Then there's income-based repayment, in which monthly loan payments are capped at an amount relative to the borrower's income. After 25 years, the federal government will forgive any remaining loan debt, the NLJ notes.
The income-based option wouldn't likely work for those landing $100,000-plus jobs out of law school. But those who are in the $60,000 pay range, but have more than $100,000 in debt, may be a good fit for the option.
At this point, the downsides are that the program is new and underadvertised. Plus, forms aren't yet available at the Department of Education.
"The program is complicated enough that it is difficult for students to understand on their own," Heather Jarvis, a senior program manager at Equal Justice Works, told the NLJ. "As of right now, hardly anyone has a clue about this legislation, and in my mind it's the biggest thing to hit public service in a decade." | <urn:uuid:e4287a14-f1ff-4ffa-8b67-1acefddb3a67> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/student_loan_relief_on_the_way_for_law_grads | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969603 | 376 | 1.601563 | 2 |
You might remember Pawel from Episode Seven of the Summer of Code podcast or his tech talk on his 2007 project with WinLibre, OpenTouch. We already knew Pawel was rocking and rolling on all things open source, as he was kind enough to put together a page collating statistics from the Google Higly Open Participation Contest using the new Google Chart API. What we didn't know was that he's also the co-founder of the Natural User Interface Group, a community working on different multi-touch screen technologies. The NUI Group develops open source software like touchlib, OpenTouch and the TouchAPI. The community has more than 1000 members worldwide, all of them sharing their experiences with building their own multi-touch screens in the project's forums and IRC channel.
So what is Pawel up to when he's not tracking stats for GHOP or doing NUI community management? Hacking on touchEarth, an application he developed that allows you to control Google Earth using two finger gestures on multi-touch table. touchEarth uses the Google Earth COM API to control some of Google Earth's features, while all the multi-touch screen events are sent to touchEarth from touchlib (or OpenTouch) using the TUIO protocol. Sound cool? Check out the demo video.
Are you performing cool feats of open sourcery? Post a comment and get in touch! | <urn:uuid:6b533775-5a38-4520-8835-5ec03abf033c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://googlesummerofcode.blogspot.com/2008/01/touchearth.html?showComment=1199678100000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940569 | 280 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Don’t be ashamed, we suck at air hockey too. Luckily for us, we now have a robot opponent to blame or losing streak on. Engineers at Nuvation didn’t build this air hockey playing robot, they simply adapted a standard industrial robot arm for the task. It is controlled jointly by a ColdFire processor and a 9S08 microcontroller. An array of high power LEDs and a camera are positioned over the air hockey table, which captures the position of the puck. The robot reportedly wins 90% of its games, even against solid opponents. While this is more of project to show the power of ColdFire processors, we can’t help but think it will lead to a rash of unbeatable robot opponents. We’ve already been robo-owned at foosball; what’s next?
Air hockey robot
June 23, 2008 By 9 Comments | <urn:uuid:572bd80e-8b5e-4c68-b303-9e727642aa5a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hackaday.com/2008/06/23/air-hockey-robot/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=ca20eaf6a9 | 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 | 0.933118 | 183 | 1.539063 | 2 |
| Click on image titles for larger views. || |
The campus has distinctive natural topography and is mostly flat terrain on solid limestone bedrock. In the last 40 years, many shrubs and trees have been carefully selected and planted to enhance the landscape and accent each building. Between 12 and 20 trees and shrubs are planted each year. Athletic Fields have undergone major redevelopment since 1981.
The campus is under continuous development and expansion. Olivet's campus in 1940 had five major buildings on 40 acres and is now approaching 200 acres of land with 32 major buildings. A growing student body has required new buildings and facilities of all kinds. Parking areas for resident students, faculty and staff, and guests who come for special events have been decorated with attractive trees, shrubs, and flowers. Attention to adequate green space provides an open feeling in the midst of many buildings.
Buildings are functionally designed and economically conservative. From 1951-1975, eleven new buildings were completed in a time of rapid growth in the student population. Since 1980, five major buildings have been completed, along with a parallel emphasis on campus beautification and the development of athletic fields for football, baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, and track and field.
Expansion of the campus since 1950 has included clearing old residential and business buildings along Main St. at the west edge of the campus to open up the view of campus buildings to the public. In recent years, the Chicago Bears of the National Football League have chosen this campus over a dozen other Illinois colleges and universities for their three-week summer training camps, a contract that likely will be extended for a number of years. | <urn:uuid:ef9012a4-0f23-44d2-aa81-420211040e63> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p1283 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973687 | 331 | 1.75 | 2 |
In reviewing this forum, one of the things that has surprised me is how little mention OpenStreetMap
gets. For those not familiar with it, it's an open map that can be edited and used by anyone. On the web, it's like the other mapping sites, except you can say "Wait, that's wrong," and then fix it on the spot.
In GPS applications seem to have three advantages over manufacturer's maps. Firstly, it's free, so if you're buying a cheap GPS, you don't end up paying a significant percentage more to get usable maps. Secondly, it updates all the time. You can notice an error on your GPS one day, edit in a fix on the site, and have a corrected, routable map on your GPS the next day. Thirdly, there are many ways to massage the data, and there are at least a few bicycle specific treatments of the data, that optimize the maps and the routings for bikes (optionally giving preference to bikeways or tertiary roads).
While this may work with other GPS units, the focus of my reading and experimenting has been on Garmin units, which most here seem to use, as well. The easiest way to play with OpenStreetMap maps on a Garmin (or the Garmin software on your computer) is to pull a section of the Lambertus maps
, where you select the region you want maps for on their site, and they'll mail you a link to the downloads. These maps seem optimized for car routing, making them an analogue to the City Navigator maps. There are a couple cycle specific versions, including Cyclemap and VeloMaps, but those require rather more effort to build on your own. I've just gotten a mostly working build for the Northeastern US using the VeloMaps encoding, and it mostly seems pretty neat, though some of the routings are a bit unexpected.
Have others played around with this? Are the pitfalls to these maps that I haven't hit yet? It seems the more cyclists we get using these, the better the data will get. | <urn:uuid:6cab21f1-097b-4806-b160-e0e61f670f00> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.adventurecycling.org/index.php?topic=9892.0 | 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 | 0.968179 | 424 | 1.59375 | 2 |
I always liked the website Muxtape, and right around the time that the site went offline, a group launched an open source web application that allows you to run and share a mix tape on your own server. It’s called OpenTape, and while the idea is similar, they are NOT related to Muxtape.
OpenTape is amazingly easy to use. Just download the files, unzip, and upload them to your own webserver. From there you can use the web interface to set up and configure the mix tape you want to share.
But what I want to know is can I run OpenTape on my mobile phone? Specifically, my N95? If you want to try this yourself, here are the steps.
- Register and install the Mobile Web Server to your S60 compatible device.
- Download and install the PAMP package for S60 and install it on your compatible device.
- Download OpenTape and copy it to the htdocs folder of your Mobile Web Server installation.
Once that’s done, just go to the directory on your webserver, and voila, it works!
Notice that the URL is actually from my Mobile web site…
Once I set up the password, then it was still working just fine.
And after I added songs, i thought it was looking so good.
But then it never displayed any of my songs. Hmmm…
Not to give in so quickly, I started digging through the source code, and it turns out that the problem might be with the PHP package on my mobile. First, the /code/xspf.php XML file wasn’t returning any tracks even though they were uploaded in the folder and the permissions were set correctly. Digging further, it looks like the code is using an ID3 library to read all of the metadata about the Mp3 files, so maybe that’s not included in the PAMP package?
Anyway, I’m so close, but I’ll keep looking into this and see what kind of fix I can come up with. | <urn:uuid:0ec06a10-da18-407b-b36d-ef71baec78ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wubbahed.com/tag/mobilewebserver/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941068 | 437 | 1.703125 | 2 |
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The city is set to debut quick-response vehicles in January, according to a wzzm13.com report.
Grand Rapids firefighters have been training for implementation of the QRVs that carry equipment for response to both medical emergencies and fires. The city bought three of the vehicles and a training unit with about $855,000 in income-tax money from its Transformation Fund, which is being spent on initiatives that could make public services less costly over the long term.
The QRVs will make the fire department more efficient as some current funding sources expire, administrators hope.
“It’s going to give the guys some firefighting capability that they just didn’t have with the med squads,” said Mark Radius, a Grand Rapids Fire Department equipment operator
As funding for the fire department dries up, “we’re going to be readily faced with how do we deploy and do the same things we used to do,” said Frank Verburg, deputy fire chief. Currently, if firefighters are out on a medical call and “they all of a sudden came upon a fire, for example, they have no suppression capability,” he said.
But the QRVs can be used for response both to fires and medical emergencies, which account for the bulk of service calls. The vehicles will be housed at the Division Avenue, Bridge Street and Kalamazoo Avenue fire stations, according to the wzzm13.com report.
City Manager Greg Sundstrom talks about fire and police transformation in his latest video blog. | <urn:uuid:e0f330c5-3ba1-4a32-9b39-8d261284eaf2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/12/grand_rapids_fire_department_s.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954213 | 325 | 1.507813 | 2 |
The Halls of The Loyola Science Center
Dr. H. McDonald Hall
Dedicated on Nov.11, 2011, the Dr. Herbert M. and Mary E. McDonald Hall is named in honor of Herbert, M.D. ’35, H’01 and Mary H’01 McDonald in recognition of their longstanding leadership and support of The University of Scranton. McDonald Hall was dedicated to the memory of Joseph T. McDonald, Esq. ’27, Frank M. McDonald, Esq. ’34 and George B. McDonald ’35, siblings of Dr. McDonald. Dr. McDonald served as president of the staff and chairman of the department of surgery at Hahnemann Hospital, now Geisinger-Community Medical Center of Scranton. Mary McDonald served on the University’s Board of Trustees from 1986-1992 and held the position of vice chair from 1989-1992.
The University of Scranton dedicated the Harper-McGinnis Wing of St. Thomas Hall in 1987 under 22nd President J.A. Panuska, S.J., in recognition of two longtime physics professors, Joseph P. Harper, Ph.D., and Eugene A. McGinnis, Ph.D. ’48. The original two-story addition to St. Thomas Hall, built in 1987, housed the Physics and Electrical Engineering departments. The late Dr. Harper earned his doctoral degree from the University of Texas. Prior to beginning his career at The University of Scranton in 1936, Dr. Harper taught at the University of Texas and St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. The late Dr. McGinnis, a World War II veteran, attended The University of Scranton and was a former student of Dr. Harper. Dr. McGinnis earned his doctorate from Fordham University. He began teaching in the University’s Physics and Electrical Engineering department shortly after earning his degree from the University in 1948. Together, Drs. Harper and McGinnis contributed more than 70 years of teaching service to The University of Scranton.
Recently dedicated on Aug. 5, 2012, Kuehner Hall is named in honor of longtime friends and supporters of the University, Carl J. ’62, H’11 and JoAnne M. H’01 Kuehner. Carl served on the Board of Trustees from 2003-2009 and served as chairman of the board from 2007-2009. He is currently the president of Real Estate Technology Corporation, a successful Florida-based real estate development and investment firm. JoAnne is the founder and chair of Hope for Haiti, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for the Haitian people through education, nutrition and healthcare.
Milani Hall was dedicated on March 24, 2012, in recognition of Frank ’55 and Doris Milani, along with their children, Natalie, Frank and Elizabeth. This hall is named in recognition of Dr. Milani’s long-standing support of the University, and honors the memory of several of his and his wife’s siblings. Dr. Milani earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from The University of Scranton in 1955 and his Doctor of Medicine from St. Thomas University in 1959. He presently practices internal medicine for the Lackawanna Medical Group and is a clinical faculty member at the Commonwealth Medical College. | <urn:uuid:877145f4-28cb-4fe9-a8fa-1294039f572a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://matrix.scranton.edu/news/articles/2012/09/LSC-Hall-Names.shtml | 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 | 0.952601 | 699 | 1.546875 | 2 |
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