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Posted by: Margaret Rouse
Privacy, Social networking, Twitter
|“Twitter has been around for years, but only recently has it become the tool-de-jour for people in the public eye. Along the way we’ll see the inevitable story of losing a job because of Twitter, a marriage broken up over Twitter, probably a tear-jerking tale of a family being reunited by Twitter, and then something new will be on the scene.”
Nick Gillard-Byers, as quoted in Indiscreet Tweets
All the hoopla about Twitter brings back memories of what it was like when the Internet was new. Right now there are concerns about privacy — next step will be cries about how advertising has ruined a good thing. Because you can bet your bottom dollar that ads will be coming to Twitter. | <urn:uuid:a1feaab5-3ab1-469c-a404-39f88cfbabc4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/overheard/overheard-twitter-privacy-issues-not-new/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959046 | 170 | 1.546875 | 2 |
China's latest stand: Take down tensions with India
It appears India and China have decided to step back and take a deep breath, writes Shyam Saran.
By the time this column appears in print, the 15th round of talks between the Special Representatives of India and China, Shivshankar Menon and Dai Bingguo, is likely to have concluded on an expectedly positive and forward-looking note.
The much awaited bilateral mechanism at the Joint Secretary level, to deal with any border incidents, is being put in place. This was proposed during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in December 2010.
Substantive progress on the comprehensive resolution of the border issue was not anticipated, but over the past several rounds these talks have invariably covered a whole range of regional and global issues as well.
They have provided a platform for the two sides to exchange perspectives on such issues. This is important precisely because the two countries are emerging powers, whose respective strategic profiles are expanding and intersecting at multiple points -- particularly in Asia.
These intersecting points can become either new areas of cooperation or, conversely, additional areas of confrontation and even conflict. The SR-level talks help, therefore, in managing a rapidly evolving and complex relationship.
The writer, a former foreign secretary, is currently chairman of RIS and a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi
Click here for more Realtime News on China-India relations!Please click NEXT to read further...
Image: Dai Bingguo, China's state councillor, shakes hands with NSA Menon in New Delhi on Monday
What explains this somewhat unexpected turn of events?
What is noteworthy is that both sides seem to have decided to take a step back from their recently somewhat tense and even prickly encounters, draw a deep breath and reset relations towards a more positive course.
Both governments made an unusually well-orchestrated effort to create a congenial ambience for the talks, despite a clear awareness that the boundary issue is likely to remain unresolved in the foreseeable future.
The Indian and Chinese SRs used embassy events, in Delhi and Beijing respectively, to deliver speeches evenly matched in friendly sentiments.
Dai Bingguo went one step further, penning an article in the The Hindu on the eve of his visit, to pledge everlasting friendship and a "golden age" in India-China relations.
What explains this somewhat unexpected turn of events?
One, on the Chinese side, there is concern that its more assertive posture of the past couple of years has triggered a rapid and continuing build-up of countervailing coalitions in the strategic Indo-Pacific theatre, in which the US has taken the lead with its "pivot" into Asia.
While the Kuomintang's victory in Taiwan's recent elections may have brought some relief to an anxious China, this is counterbalanced by the death of Kim Jong-Il in North Korea, which left his untested heir holding the reins of power.
Preventing the still loose and essentially hedging coalitions from congealing into more open containment of China is an important objective. A more friendly and benign approach to India, which could be a significant "swing state" in this as yet fluid landscape, would serve this objective.
Image: China's Premier Wen Jiabao speaks during the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi earlier this week
China concerned over negative developments in Pakistan, Myanmar
Two, the Chinese are concerned about negative developments in two key allied countries, one to the west of India and the other to the east -- Pakistan and Myanmar, respectively.
The deepening political and economic crisis in Pakistan and the deepening loss of control by the Pakistan army and the Inter Services Intelligence -- including over Jihadi elements that are feeding unrest among Muslim Uighurs in China's Xinjiang province -- mean that a mainstay of China's proxy containment of India is becoming problematic. The rising tensions between Pakistan and the US add to these worries.
On the other flank, China cannot but be nervous about the rapid political changes in Myanmar, which, at the very least, threaten to dilute China's 20-year pre-eminence in that country.
From a potential pressure point on India from the east, Myanmar could well turn out to be a pressure point on China from the south. Add to this the continuing unrest in Tibet, spawned by a growing number of self-immolations by Tibetan monks, and it is easy to see that in a year of sensitive leadership transition, caution, prudence and risk avoidance must be the watchwords for China's foreign policy.
Image: A banner bearing images of Pakistan's PM Gilani, former PM Bhutto and President Zardari outside the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. Gilani has been asked by the apex court to appear before it on Saturday.
Both India and China face difficult economic situation
Three, both India and China face a difficult economic situation domestically, which may be further exacerbated by the possible collapse of the euro zone, an energy crisis brought about by continuing political turmoil in the Arab world, and the possibility of an armed conflict involving Iran.
While India may find itself in a more favourable position vis-a-vis China geopolitically, it is like China, constrained by a worsening global economic situation and an incipient energy crisis for these reasons.
These two factors do provide a point of convergence between the two countries and a possible platform for coordinated diplomacy.
The forthcoming Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit, to be held in Delhi in March, could help mobilise the most important emerging economies and Russia towards averting an Iran-related crisis. Dai Bingguo and Shivshankar Menon may well be playing the friendship flute together with an eye on the summit as well.
Image: An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Wuhan, China
India misses an opportunity
Last, but not the least, is the rising political uncertainly in both countries. In China, there is the pre-arranged passing of the baton from the current generation of leaders to a new set of younger, though experienced, technocrats.
This will be a collective leadership -- but, precisely for that reason, it may find it difficult to deal with new and unfamiliar challenges both at home and abroad.
In India, political uncertainty is mostly self-inflicted. There is a real danger that if and when multiple economic and energy crises do erupt, the ship of state may not have a united, capable and strong captain and crew to lead it to safety. A risk-averse polity can at best welcome the relief provided by a more preoccupied China. It is unable to leverage this to significantly expand its own strategic space. A pity indeed.
Image: PM Singh is greeted by China's President Hu Jintao during the BRICS Leaders Meeting in Sanya, China in April, 2011 | <urn:uuid:a7a741e2-c5de-4e00-a2a0-3ebf58fa44a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-chinas-latest-stand-take-down-tensions-with-india/20120118.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94882 | 1,433 | 1.671875 | 2 |
We talk a lot about "the homeless" and "homelessness" here in Thompson, usually as an abstraction in the sense of a "problem" to be dealt with.
Specifically, we talk from time to time about the Nanatowiho Wikamik Homeless Shelter, also known as the Thompson Homeless Shelter, at 115 Churchill Dr., if there's a funding crisis that's going to impact on its hours of operations, or number of beds, especially when the weather is cold or about to turn cold.
The people usually missing, however, from discussions of homelessness in Thompson are the homeless themselves. While many presume to speak on their behalf, where are their voices?
Refreshingly present for a change last week, we can attest. Thanks to Marleny Munoz, an assistant professor in the Northern Social Work Program at the University of Manitoba, and three of her second-year students, Janey Dykes, Ainslee McLaughlin and Emmanuelle Proulx, and assisted by program director and associate professor Colin Bonnycastle, Lisa Currier, a family enhancement worker with the Wecihitowin Project, a joint project of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba to deliver culturally relevant programming for clients living in Thompson, and Cynthia Latham, an aboriginal liaison worker with the Burntwood Regional Health Authority, the homeless in Thompson May 23 spoke in a "photovoice" exhibit in the lobby of City Hall entitled Homeless not Hopeless: Photographs and Stories from the Street.
Fifty people signed at the exhibit and 16 participants attended the workshop that followed, including Churchill riding NDP MP Niki Ashton.
Photovoice, says Munoz, is "an approach of community-based participatory research that has been used to empower marginalized community members to work together" to identify, represent and enhance their community through photographic technique.
The concept was developed by Caroline Wang from the University of Michigan and Mary Ann Burris, a program officer for women's health at the Ford Foundation, in Beijing in 1992, while Anna Blackman and Tiffany Fairey from Edinburgh University established projects in Vietnam and Nepal in 1998.
Munoz, who was earlier involved in community-based participatory research with the faculty of social work at the University of Calgary, also presented a related paper, Photographs Generate Knowledge: Northern Manitoba Homelessness Research Project with Bonnycastle in The Pas earlier this month at University College of the North's Gateways North: Expansion, Convergence and Change Northern Manitoba Centennial Symposium.
Mayor Tim Johnston ran into Bonnycastle in The Pas and suggested the City Hall lobby venue for the exhibit. "Homelessness is a community issue and the city needs to play leadership role and demonstrate same; no better place to do so then providing City Hall as venue. I was pleased my colleagues on the legislative and inter-governmental affairs committee of council agreed and supported the suggestion of City Hall," Johnston said in a May 24 e-mail.
Two dozen homeless participants showed up April 3 at the BRHA Resource Centre in Thompson Plaza to check out the project. Half stuck around to go outside and take pictures, Munoz said – pictures of their lives and their day-to-day reality. These are not pretty landscape picture or attached notes. Rather they are the true stories of those on the margins.
One homeless person photographed an old garage behind St. John's United Church, labelled as "Participant A's hotel." They explained. "One night I tried to crawl in the hole, but my big belly got stuck. There was someone in there and he pushed me in the head with his foot."
Another said, "Chip-in Corner: 11 a.m. the liquor store opens. Everyone meets at chip-in corner. One person goes and gets the liquor."
Sound like life on easy street, just hanging around waiting for the liquor store to open? Consider this then when participants talked also about what they had to do to survive homelessness in Thompson:
- To survive you walk around, stay in the light and keep to yourself;
- Stand in front of the movie theatre because it's sheltered from the wind;
- Public Safety Building basement holding cells of the RCMP detachment at 122 Selkirk Ave. (Participant A's "second" hotel.) "You don't have to pay when you stay there."
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton got it right in his first inaugural address Jan. 20, 1993 when he said, "… we recognize a simple but powerful truth – we need each other. And we must care for one another." He went on to say, we are "tempered by the knowledge that, but for fate, we – the fortunate and the unfortunate – might have been each other."
Or as one of the students said, "The most touching part for me during this whole process happened when we came back inside and it was time to eat. Jack (Cree elder Jack Robinson) was getting ready to start the prayer; one of our participants said, 'this is what we do' and reached out for our hands. There we all stood three students and three participants holding hands in a circle listening to Jack give thanks to the creator. I felt so fortunate that I had met these three men today and was able to share this experience with them."
Added Munoz: "I am sure that we, as community members, could change the face of the homelessness in Thompson." | <urn:uuid:71ff6f8c-dd95-43ef-a4cc-5560af4a2a83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/article/20120530/THOMPSON0302/305309902/-1/thompson03/giving-voice-to-thompsons-homeless-people | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962521 | 1,125 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Friday, March 05, 2010
When Funding Models Collide
Then there's the 'continuing ed' side, which is supposed to make money for the college. That side doesn't grant academic credit, so it can offer courses of all different lengths and with all manner of content. It includes 'personal enrichment' stuff, like ballroom dancing or French for travelers; 'adult basic education,' which is the non-profit pre-remedial track (including GED prep); and workforce development stuff. The workforce stuff is sometimes initiated by the college, sometimes initiated through regional nonprofits or federal grants, and sometimes done at the request of various companies.
Each subset has its own imperatives, its own logic, and its own tuition levels. And when the boundaries are clear, that works pretty well.
In the case of the workforce stuff, though, the boundaries are getting less clear, and we're starting to run into issues with which we don't have a lot of practice.
For example, an increasing number of companies and granting agencies are asking for the students they sponsor to be able to take credit-bearing traditional classes on a non-credit basis.
The first time a request like that came through, I suggested simply registering for the class on an “audit” basis. Like most colleges, we've had the “audit” option for a long time, even though it doesn't get used much. A student who audits a class is allowed to attend, and to participate in discussion and in-class activities, but does not do any graded work and does not receive academic credit. For example, some local retirees will occasionally audit a foreign language or art class just for the experience.
That answer didn't go over, though, since auditors pay the standard tuition rate, which only covers a portion of the cost of instruction. Since the continuing ed side is supposed to turn a profit, the 'audit' solution didn't work for its funding model.
The audit solution was also never intended for cohorts. It works tolerably well when applied to a student or two here and there, especially in classes that aren't already at capacity. But when a dozen students move through on an audit basis, there's a workload issue for faculty. If those students take up a significant chunk of the enrollment, then that instructor is getting full pay for a class that doesn't count for our FTE's and that doesn't involve grading. A random extra face is one thing, but only having five 'real' students in a class of twenty is something else. Faculty who have to slog through herniating piles of grading would have a reasonable objection to seeing colleagues who don't.
The counterproposal was to have two different tuition rates: one for traditional students, and one for the non-credit students. The non-credit students are not subsidized, so they would actually pay more for less. Think of it as the airline model, in which two passengers next to each other on the same flight could be paying wildly different fares.
Of course, nobody ever accused the airline industry of economic rationality or fairness. (“Phoenix to Columbus by way of Seattle? Why not?”)
Colleagues at other schools that have done this have warned me that invariably, some of the non-credit people later change their minds and decide that they'd like to be awarded credit. That can get sticky, too, since price was attached to credit status, and not every class has a 'testing out' option. You also don't want students using non-credits as end runs around the prerequisite system, or around homework.
So, I'm looking for help from my wise and worldly readers. Have you seen or experienced a successful model of credit and non-credit students taking the same class in non-trivial numbers? How did it work?
I'm a but unclear as to why an employer would want to pay more for a class -- and why an employer would want to pay for a class that should have a homework element, that their employees don't have to do.
Once the skills are identified, could a series of workshops designed to get at those skills (at a cost to the employer, of course) be created for the students in that particular co-hort.
For example, (because I teach comp courses)
An employer says, "I want my students to take ENG 101."
The school replies, "Why English 101? What skills do you feel your employees will gain in the course?
Employer: Our employees are required to generate weekly reports, and we need them to be as clear and concise as possible."
School: To help us cover the cost of instruction, for _(the price would include faculty reimbursement)fee, we can have a faculty member create a series of workshops specifically for your employees.
Then adjunct, or regular faculty members, could 'volunteer'(for extra pay)to lead the workshops. As an adjunct faculty member, I know I'm always looking for ways to earn more money, and I know I'd sign up for something like this, particularly since workshops don't usually involve grading.
I'm sure there are a thousand reasons this wouldn't work. As I said, I'm more than a little naive.
In most cases, after a brief explanation of the differences between CE and curriculum, the student understands. I can not imagine how different that conversation would go if the student actually took a curriculum class, but as an audit. CE students auditing curriculum classes will get very ugly very quickly. With a 30% increase in enrollment this year (and the state cutting our budget); we do not have room for our standard curriculum students. We also have students who are getting very crafty in trying to bypass prerequisite requirements. I can see audits as a potential loophole.
If CE students want to take a curriculum class, then they should earn curriculum credit (and you should earn FTE). There are ways to work with federal grants and employers. In our local area, we have an employer who gives a promotion to employees who take our curriculum intro welding class. Many of these students return to complete degrees in machining or industrial maintenance. Everyone benefits.
At the big research state university in our area, there is an explicit written policy that says a faculty member can invite anyone s/he likes to audit a class. S/he gets no workload credit for those auditors, since they are not officially on the books.
Why not compromise. A student who enrolls as a CE-auditor in a class counts as a fractional-workload equivalent student for the faculty member in question. The auditing student may, of course, present some workload for the faculty member, because s/he may come to office hours, ask questions via email, ask for a letter of recommendation down the road, etc.
So how about a rule that says that CE auditors count as 0.25 student equivalent for workload purposes and course-enrollment cap purposes.
You might also want to cap the number of CE-auditors allowed in any one section of a class, because too many auditors will change the dynamic of the class.
We have all experienced drastic funding cuts lately, and I am presuming that few of us are able to offer the same number of courses as before with the funding we receive. And, I presume that most of us are facing increasing demand for courses as well. One solution is to offer credit-bearing courses under the CE model. You won't gain any FTE credit this way, but at least the course gets taught. If the course 'fee' is equivalent to the tuition for the same course, then the students aren't hurt much either (there may be some financial aid problems, for example).
I don't know if they count toward the FTE numbers that affect our state funding, but they should count if they take it for grade even if coded in the "not-degree-seeking" category.
But I have a suggestion. Why don't you use this as an opportunity to test fly your ideas about decoupling seat time and credit in an outcomes-based class? It would have to have its own number to separate it from the for-transfer classes of a similar type, at least until you do enough assessment to prove that it is the equivalent course in a different format, but what better way to try those ideas than by applying them to an english or math class requested by the workforce world?
At my cc, audit students don't take tests or have homework assignments graded unless the professor agrees to out of the goodness of her heart. Most professors will do so for a dedicated focused hardworking student or two. But they are not required to, so they are not overwhelmed with work. | <urn:uuid:7d4d475b-5f9e-4eab-be68-9999532931a2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://suburbdad.blogspot.com/2010/03/when-funding-models-collide.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973281 | 1,801 | 1.601563 | 2 |
As Britain gears itself up for the long Diamond Jubilee weekend please spare a thought for Sussex Day.
Saturday 16th June 2012 is Sussex Day, a day to celebrate everything that is great about Sussex. You can find out more about Sussex Day on the West Sussex County Council website.
Hopefully because Sussex Day falls on a weekend this year there will be more events celebrating Sussex than previous years, although I have found a few events on the 16th June this year. It has quite clearly not made it as a major feature of the calendar yet. Don’t expect it to be celebrated by a Google Doodle any time soon.
This week has seen a steady increase in the amount of bunting and number of Union Flags that have taken hold on all manner of public and private buildings. It is great to see the country getting in the spirit of the occasion, if only some of that spirit could be bottled and kept safely for the 16th. | <urn:uuid:ab834db9-c52c-4778-bcef-ce82ffd4cc40> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wanderinggenealogist.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/spare-a-thought-for-sussex-day/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=317f4d0876 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964875 | 191 | 1.570313 | 2 |
At Senate Climate Hearings, Lots of Transport Talk and All Eyes on Baucus
The Senate environment committee today held the first in a three-part marathon of hearings on its climate change legislation, with supporters singling out the bill's investments in clean transportation even as one senior Democrat notably withheld his support from the measure.
The Senate climate bill calls for a 20 percent reduction in U.S. emissions by 2020, relative to 2005 levels. The legislation also sets aside nearly three times as much money for transit, inter-city rail, and other cleaner-burning transport than a similar bill passed by the House in June.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), a sponsor of the effort to focus more climate revenue on transportation, credited environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) with doing more for transit than her House counterparts.
"It will make a huge difference on the infrastructure we need to conserve energy," Cardin said of the Senate climate bill. "We do subsidize the passenger car more than we do public transportation in this country. We need to change that."
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also hailed the bill's dedication of valuable emissions allowances to rail, while reminding senators that the economic stimulus law's $8 billion high-speed rail fund would represent only the tip of the iceberg for America's under-performing passenger trains.
"We know [rail] is cleaner-burning," LaHood said, "and we know that when someone's on the train, they're out of their automobile. The benefits will be enormous in terms of getting CO2 out of the air."
But amid the hosannas for the climate bill's transportation provisions were signals of the rough political journey that faces the Senate legislation.
Republicans on the environment panel reiterated their vow to delay a committee vote on the climate bill, which was co-authored by Boxer and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), until they are satisfied with the amount of time given to examine the plan and for analysis to be done by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). All GOP members of the committee left today's hearing before the four Obama administration witnesses had finished taking questions, further underscoring the partisan tension.
And Republicans were not alone in their criticism of the climate bill. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the powerful Finance Committee that plans to claim jurisdiction over emissions allowances -- including those for transit -- said he would pursue a softening of the bill's emissions reductions targets (which are already softer than international goals) and a preemption of the EPA's ability to regulate CO2. Baucus said:
I have some concerns about the overall direction of the bill before us today, and whether it will lead us closer to or further away from passing climate change legislation. For example, I have serious reservations with the depth of the mid-term reduction target in the bill and the lack of preemption of the Clean Air Act's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
The "preemption" language Baucus refers to was included in the House bill, opening the door for Baucus and other Senate Democratic centrists to insist on its inclusion as one price of passing the overall measure. | <urn:uuid:60bf7fb7-7d54-4d9f-bf08-6b4f139e6a7f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dc.streetsblog.org/2009/10/27/at-senate-climate-hearings-lots-of-transport-talk-and-all-eyes-on-baucus/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962421 | 650 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Help for Battered Men
Rhiannon3 describes itself as "A Comprehensive site on the Web for Women, Men and Personal Growth - created for the Heart, the Soul and YOU." "The victims of domestic violence are infants, children, adults, and the elderly regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation. There is little real disagreement with that statement." "It is the purpose of this site not to paint all men as the enemy. It is our purpose to empower both men and women to do the right thing. And the right thing is to speak out against domestic violence."
Oregon Counseling: Non-Profit Consumer Protection Information, Education, Referral & Research
Handout on domestic violence against men. Referral resource.
Helping Men: Helping to heal male victims of domestic violence
It is the intention of this webpage and this organization to expose a great injustice in American society today. Many men are being battered and /or falsely accused of domestic violence, and we find this unacceptable and intolerable. ... In order to be heard, men must speak out. If you are a male victim of domestic abuse, or have been falsely accused of this crime, won't you please take a stand and fight with us? Come out of the shadows that you have been put under by a twisted system and demand that justice be served.
|A message board for battered men ...||
Battered Husband Support
Check out the Washington and national resources that help battered men.
Click here for books on battered men.
Click here to return to MenWeb's Battered Men page
Click here to go to MenWeb's Dating Violence Men page
Note: If you have been the victim of domestic violence, please e-mail me and tell me about it. What happened? Did you tell anyone about it? Why or why not? Did you seek help? Why or why not? If you did seek help, did you get it? May we publish your story here? We'll do it anonymously, unless you give specific permission to use your name and/or e-mail address.
Know a man who may be battered? Print out this page and give it to him. Often, it'll be enough to get him to talk to you about it -- if not right away, perhaps in a bit. And talking to another man about it is the first step in healing -- in survival.
Remember: TV star and comedian Phil Hartman never talked about his marital problems, either, except to joke about having to leave the house when his wife was mad. He told everyone the marriage was wonderful -- as so many men do.
Find out more about battered men
S.A.F.E. (http://www.safe4all.org) concentrates on domestic violence against straight men, gay men, and lesbian women, because few services exist for these groups. Personal stories, a comprehensive listing of Web resources and books, info on local shelters and groups that help battered men or offer services for abusive women, suggestions on how you can make a difference in the lives of people affected by abuse. E-mail list and Bulletin Board.
Links to other info on the Web
Including media coverage of the topic | <urn:uuid:c4041f8d-c9c2-47e7-95ff-9c1afe20886e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.batteredmen.com/bathelponline.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95081 | 657 | 1.5 | 2 |
Cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular, and is carried out in an attempt to alter an individual’s appearance and therefore achieve what they believe to be a more attractive appearance.
Given the increase of people having cosmetic surgery, there has also been an increase in the number of cosmetic surgery claims for compensation. Although cosmetic surgery is usually something that is the patient’s own choice, there are still a number of risks as with other types of surgery. This risk is heightened by the fact that there is not much regulation relating specifically to cosmetic surgery in the UK. This means that any surgeon who is a member of the relevant General Medical Council body may carry out cosmetic surgery. In addition to this, establishments must comply with the Care Standards Act 2000 as they are likely to be considered as an “independent hospital” as defined by this Act. There is also a guide of standards that has been produced by The Independent Healthcare Advisory Services and these standards include, for example, consultation and procedure times. However, it is clear that there are not as many guidelines and regulations to follow as there are for other types of surgical procedures. There is also less regulation that in other countries. For example, in France, cosmetic surgery may only be carried out by a surgeon who is a registered specialist and has the required level of competence. A general medical qualification and qualification by length of experience is not considered to be adequate.
The most popular types of surgery include breast enlargements or reductions, Botox treatments (resulting in line and wrinkle smoothing), nose correction procedures and various forms of weight reduction or weight removal. This list is, of course, non-exhaustive and there are a vast number of different types of surgery available. Common issues that lead to claims include loss of blood, an infection caused by surgery, temporary or permanent scarring and other wounds. Cosmetic Surgery claims for compensation often include claims for damages arising out of associated psychological injuries, the cost of any associated care and potentially the loss of any earnings that result as a direct result of the negligence or otherwise. In addition to these areas, one of the most debated areas relating to cosmetic surgery claims and a reason cited as the basis of many claims is that of consent.
Prior to any procedure, it is vital that the patient provides clear consent. In the case of Christine Williamson v. East London and the City Health Authority & Ors (1998), where the incorrect surgical procedure was performed, damages were awarded as there was clearly no informed consent and this resulted in the incorrect procedure. Further, in the case of O’Keefe v Harvey Kemble CA 45 BMLR, it was shown that the patient had not be informed of all associated risks of the particular procedure that she was having. It was explained that if she had been correctly informed, she would not have been likely to have the operation. Therefore, the lack of consent acquisition led to the operation taking place which in turn lead to a complication which ultimately led to further surgery and caused further pain and stress.
Further, this informed consent must be given after patients are made aware of potential risks and given a clear outline of the process and the actual procedure, as shown in the case of Chester v Afshar UKHL 41, which highlighted that a patient should be clearly told about any potential risks. At this stage, it is also good practice for the surgeon to provide a detailed analysis of alternatives available, as well as a clear attempt to address any other questions or concerns that the patient may have. Ideally, once these matters have been discussed, a document should be signed to ensure that all concerned parties are clear about the process and can confirm what the potential risks are. The area of risk is particularly prevalent given the increased use of advertising for cosmetic surgery. This had led to an extremely sales focused environment, and means that the first point of contact for those considering cosmetic surgery is often a salesperson as opposed to someone who has the appropriate medical training.
My name is Lloyd Green and I am a highly experienced personal injury lawyer. For further help or assistance with cosmetic surgery claims or medical negligence compensation claims generally, contact my firm. We are expert personal injury solicitors in London. | <urn:uuid:2206a74f-2ec2-4d5b-974f-6df2270ba582> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lwh.org.uk/category/cosmetic-surgery/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974206 | 847 | 1.710938 | 2 |
People & Events
Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh had been in office a mere 68 days when he came face-to-face with the biggest crisis of his professional life. Retired Colonel Oran Henderson, the head of Pennsylvania's Emergency Management Agency, informed Thornburgh of the incident at Three Mile Island on the morning of March 28, 1979. "The minute I heard that there had been an accident at a nuclear facility, I knew we were in another dimension," Thornburgh later recalled. He was a Republican governor of a largely Democratic state, a career attorney who had risen through the ranks to gain national prominence as United States Assistant Attorney General. But in March, 1979, in his new role as Governor of Pennsylvania, Thornburgh would gain a level of media exposure he had never seen before. Thornburgh knew next to nothing about nuclear power, radiation, or evacuation management. Still, he found himself in a position of having to assure the citizens of his state that everything was, or soon would be, under control. Working against him was the fact that he was being given information by officials at Three Mile Island, Metropolitan Edison Company, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that was often incomplete, contradictory, and confusing.
On Thursday, March 29, Thornburgh made his first public comments since the accident occurred. "Good afternoon, I'd like to address my initial remarks to the people of central Pennsylvania. I believe, at this point, that there is no cause for alarm, nor any reason to disrupt your daily routine, nor any reason to feel that public health has been affected by the events on Three Mile Island. This applies to pregnant women, this applies to small children and this applies to our food supplies. I realize that you are being subjected to a conflicting array of information from a wide variety of sources. So am I. I spent virtually the entire last 36 hours trying to separate fact from fiction about this situation. I feel that we have succeeded on the more important questions." Thornburgh had dispatched his Lieutenant Governor, William Scranton, to Three Mile Island to bring back a first-hand assessment. Scranton's visit seemed encouraging. He told Thornburgh that the problem seemed fixable.
What little relief Thornburgh felt at hearing Scranton's report, dissolved the next day when it was reported that a large burst of radioactive gas had escaped from Three Mile Island. Suddenly, Thornburgh was placed in the position of having to make a decision regarding a recommendation from Washington, D.C., to evacuate thousands of people from the area surrounding the plant. Adding to the surreal atmosphere in Harrisburg that day was the sounding of an air raid siren that rang out through the capital city. "That siren was like a knife in my chest," Thornburgh recalled. "I thought, 'What on Earth? Where did that come from?'" The ringer of the siren never came forward. Even though the release of radioactive gas was found to have been overstated, Thornburgh, on the advice of NRC Chairman Joseph Hendrie, advised the evacuation "of pregnant women and pre-school age children...within a five-mile radius of the Three Mile Island facility until further notice." Within days, 140,000 people fled the area.
On April 1, Thornburgh accompanied President Jimmy Carter on a tour of Three Mile Island. The outcome of the accident was still uncertain, but Thornburgh and Carter knew that their appearance might boost local morale. It was not until April 9 that the Governor felt confident enough to call back any pregnant women and pre-school children who had evacuated the area. | <urn:uuid:18a4fb12-decb-4ce4-815a-ca56677b5625> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/three/peopleevents/pandeAMEX97.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981664 | 726 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Haddonfield vs Winnipeg
Today I will be sharing my research about my hometown Haddonfield and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I found this information by our Skype sheets which are notes from when we Skyped with Ms. Nairn’s class who live in Winnipeg, a website that gives information about Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and Ms. Narin’s 2nd grade class blog. I think my hometown Haddonfield is different than Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. If you read more you can find the similarities of my home town and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada!
There is a lot of stuff alike between my hometown Haddonfield and Winnipeg. For the similarities, kids in both places play soccer, snowboard, and both play video games. We also both live in a suburban community. Plus we both live on earth. So, if you like this keep reading to find out the differences and then you will learn more about Haddonfield and Winnipeg.
There are a lot of differences like Haddonfield is in the United States and Winnipeg is in Canada. Also, we both like different sport teams like we mostly like the Eagles and they like the Blue Bombers. People in Winnipeg live farther North and people in Haddonfield live more South. I hope you learned there a lot of differences between Haddonfield and Winnipeg.
I like learning this information because you get to learn more about your town and someone else’s town. When you finish, you let a lot of people see it by putting it on your blog. | <urn:uuid:f46c0f77-10e3-4344-9ae4-7bfeb434d471> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=347041&user_id=347041&blog_id=1408446&position2=3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947794 | 316 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Osborne House
WARNING: Spoilers Ahead
Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Osborne House for DS is rated 10+. Perhaps it should be rated 10-. The puzzles are ridiculously easy to the point where the answer is so simple, you're stuck trying to figure out what you're supposed to do because THAT CAN'T BE THE ANSWER! Case in point, towards the end of the game you're presented with 3 names, where all first names start with same letter and all last names start with same letter. The solution, select those letters, which, for the criminally stupid, are also capitalized. I finished this game in 3 hours, 17 minutes, and that included reading.
There is no difficulty progression throughout the game. In fact, the last puzzle involves moving around boxes to cover up a fuse. There are two minigames, both involving tapping the screen when the object of the game is roughly in the middle of the screen. And don't worry about making too many moves to solve the puzzle, as the game doesn't penalize no matter how many moves you make.
There is one somewhat enjoyable part of the game where you're supposed to rescue the Prime Minister. This area contains the only somewhat difficult puzzle which involves repairing a net. This is also the only place that contains more than 2 scenes where you have to collect different items and use them together.
The writing is horrible. Then again, considering the new Sherlock Holmes comedy, I guess Sherlock Holmes is now mainly about making fun of England. I would assume that if a famous detective would go to the Queen or the Queen's guards and tell them there's a bomb, they would make sure to quickly get out of the way instead of making fun of him and telling him to stop causing a commotion.
The game is mostly linear, the puzzles are childishly easy and the whole thing can be completed in a few hours. Get it for your 10 year old, as long as he hasn't played any puzzle games before. And stay away from this yourself. Professor Layton this is not and if you want a challenge, play submachine. | <urn:uuid:c256f271-cf0a-4964-81e9-671b2918bc10> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.ookamikun.com/2011/07/sherlock-holmes-and-mystery-of-osborne.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972844 | 445 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
eDNS - Top Level Domains gone Invisible
In September of 1995, NSI, the company which operates the Internic, started assessing fees for domain registrations. At about the same time, the policies of the Internic radically changed with regards to dispute resolution within the namespace. Many individuals and organizations took exception to these changes. eDNS along with many others, petitioned the IANA to permit them to enter the domain name marketplace under a free-market model, competing openly with NSI for registrations. The IANA took a set of applications, but never acted on any of them. Mr. Postel of the IANA, along with many others, published a set of Internet Drafts (IDs) discussing possible alternative solutions to the problem of monopoly control and assignment of domain names. Mr. Postel himself, in a step which many felt was unprecedented, was pushing a plan which would have assessed what amounted to a 2% sales tax on the sale of domains -- with the funds going back to the ISOC for unspecified uses.
Needless to say, this plan met with much controversy. During this period, two organizations were born -- eDNS, which began marketing and distributing its own set of top-level domains, and the IAHC -- the organization which recently published its own set of recommendations.
On March 4, 1997 The Enhanced Domain Name System (eDNS) announced the consensus agreement for the implementation and development of a different infrastructure for creation of additional top level domains (TLDs) and the governance of name assignments within those TLDs by Karl Denninger, eDNS founder and president of Chicago-based ISP MCSNet. eDNS was founded in January 1997. His agenda was that no corporation, organization, or individual had the right to monopolize the top-level domain namespace, either effectively through accumulation of market power or by edict.
eDNS never did gain widespread support, but it proved that alternate, free-market solutions could work from a technical perspective, and that there were no barriers to their use. Many ISPs switched to eDNS root nameservers, and in 1998 no operational problems have been recorded by those organizations as a result of that change.
eDNS has great potential in many venues.... several being 'ORGANIZED CRIME' and TERRORISM!
BAsically, these are invisible TLD's (top level domains) that only certain ISP's include in their DNS servers. So, all the criminals have to do is use isp's that suppor eDNS and walaaa.... they have a little subINTERNET FOR DREGS!
I wish it was that easy for me. When i cancelled...(lets see) 5yrs ago... They basically told me they would cancel and then never cancelled my account. I denied the charges like 5 times.
Good News.... They fired the guy at Aol!
Domain Appraisel for Aol.com --> $1.59 Down from $10,000,000.00
Although this happened back in 2004, I think this guy learned a great lesson in dealing w/ reputable registrars. Some of these cats are 18yr old kids that live at their parents house and sell webspace and domains IN THEIR UNDERWEAR! Research People.... Research!?!
The guy prolly took the customer's 50 bucks and then only registered him for a 1yr subscription. geeesh!
I am the webmaster for our church's website. We're not big, but we get
about 50 hits a day. Our domain name is our church's proper name. In August, I
paid $50 to our hosting company for a special they were offering to have our
domain renewed for the next 5 years automatically.
It was up for renewal
in November, and I didn't get any notices and assumed renewal was taken care of.
According to the hosting company, they sent the information to their registrar,
OnlineNIC, who had a "system breakdown" (hosting company's words) and didn't get
the domain renewed. That's when I discovered the problem, but by then, the
domain in a pending delete database and couldn't be restored.
within seconds after it came out of the pending delete database, someone else
bought it through namewinner.com.
So our domain has been down for a
month and now somebody else has it in their control. The whois hasn't been
updated in a week to show who now owns it, and I don't know when it will be
updated. How long does that normally take?
OnlineNIC is not returning my
emails. We are all concerned about what can happen to our domain that is on all
of our advertising and stationary and loosing patience.
Does anyone have
any idea what I should do? This doesn't seem to be a typical cybersquatting
case. It's not the new domain buyer who's at fault, but OnlineNIC, right?
Thanks for any advice or help! Let me know if you need more information.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Join Date: Sep 2003
Here's the background information:I do a web site for a RC flying club.A couple of years ago, a (now ex) member who was a webmaster renewed the club's domain name in his name. When some friction occurred with the club, he basically held the domain name 'hostage' and then proceded to obtain all other appropriate TLDs too.The club was forced to get a much longer domain name to maintain its identity.The 'ex-member' must have gotten tired of the 'game' and let the domain names expire, which just occured.We have been watching them like a hawk! Lukcily we were able to re-register the .org TLD. However, for some reason the .com TLD was not becoming available. It still showed as 'pending-delete' even though the 5 day period seemed to be past.Each morning I would get up and check for the domain name to be available.This morning I found that a domain-name buyer had picked up the domain-name and now it is for sale.The company seems to be in south africa.Is this just a coincidence? Or do some of the 'who-is' companies out there watch for multiple domain name checks and then try to buy the domain name before you get it?I find it ironic that I was checking this each day (even a few times a day on the expected expiration day) and before I could catch it, it went from 'pending-delete' to 'active' and now a domain-name seller has it.So how do they monitor domain name 'marketability'? Or do they simply buy expired domain names thinking that the pre-owner may want it back?Or did someone pick it up and broker it with this company?
Monday, June 19, 2006
Domain Name - IP Address - What did I pay for?
When I purchased my domain, did I actually buy the domain http://www.mytheo.com ??? One one think so. In actuality, Domain Names and Web Addresses are 2 completely different identifiers. In actuality, I didnt own either one of them. I rented the hosting space which included an IP(Internet Presence) Address and then I purchased a lease on the service of maintaining the 'RECORD' or DOMAIN NAME FILE on their server. I owned nothing of the sort.
According to www.w3.org
There is the commonly held belief that names and addresses are different
and distinct. We learn the importance of the difference between identifiers in a
programming language and addresses within a computer memory. We learn the
difference in properties between fully qualified domain names on the internet
and internet protocol addresses. This can lead us easily into imagining that
there are two types of objects: Names, which once attached to an object follow
it for its life wherever it should reside, and "addresses" which change
frequently whenever an object moves or is copied or replicated from one
"location" to another.
I dont have the full scoop on this area of domains, so any comments or additions to help me out would be appreciated.
The Domain Game
In the spirit of domain sharking, my domain got skooped by some opportunists when I went out of town. He wanted to sell the domain back to me for 100.00. I laughed and told them to keep the domain. This blog will hi-light all the domain scoopers and attempt to inform individuals of their potential lose. In reality, my domain means nothing to anyone except me. It was a blog about me and my wanderings and because of some laziness.... I lost it. I hope this blog turns into something meaningful to individuals that will potentially be in this boat.
btw partake in this humble experience. I came home w/ a great story to tell the world on my blog. I went to my laptop, powered it up and immediately drove to http://www.mytheo.com and this is what I found. | <urn:uuid:5d7548f2-4af7-4292-b4d8-721f3ce6b382> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://domainsnatch.blogspot.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966981 | 1,904 | 1.5625 | 2 |
"The Housebuilder's Bible" is unique - the first book in its field to mix information and advice with detailed yardstick costings for residential building projects. The author is an experienced house builder and renovator and much of the detail in the book is drawn from trade experience. It's very much an insider's guide and experienced construction professionals have expressed amazement at the amount of detailed information in the book. Yet it's accessible - many readers who have never been involved with building before have used this book to successfully build their own homes.The 8th edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect recent changes in prices, Building Regulations and other legislation. It also includes an expanded green building section, more information on extensions and a snagging list. It's an ideal companion for anybody, self builder or professional, who wants to know more about building well and on a budget. Previous editions have won huge praise. 'It contains all the things the trade know and take for granted, but that non-trade wouldn't know' said one reader. Written in a highly readable style this eighth edition is fully updated and takes into account the recent changes in fuel and property prices - including the Government's new 'Code for Sustainable Homes'.--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. | <urn:uuid:3d93d990-ab17-4a69-9374-e051018d6712> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Housebuilders-Bible-Millennium-Edition/dp/0952485230 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967121 | 257 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Too Big to Bail
By Alex Epstein (Providence Journal, March 18, 2008)
Every few days we hear that another leading financial institution has written down billions more on subprime investments gone bad. Nearly every major financial institution, it turns out, had a hand in loans to low-credit borrowers--borrowers whose ability to pay often hinged on endlessly low interest rates or a strong housing market. How could this happen? How could nearly all the leading lights of the financial industry--the experts in assessing and managing risk--expose themselves to such massive losses? Or, as a Fortune cover crudely put it: "What were they smoking?"
A major part of the answer is: government bailout crack.
For decades our government has had a semi-official policy that large financial institutions are too big to fail--and therefore must be bailed out when they risk insolvency--a policy that creates perverse incentives for them to take on far more risk than they otherwise would. "Too big to fail" is implemented through a network of government bodies that protect financial institutions from the long-term consequences of their decisions at taxpayer expense--a phenomenon we can observe right now.
Consider Countrywide, a major subprime money-loser just acquired by Bank of America. Private lenders have not been willing to grant Countrywide the $10s of billions it sought to keep afloat, given the company's huge and difficult-to-measure subprime exposure. In a free market, bankruptcy would loom--but in our system, Countrywide and others can turn to the government-backed Federal Home Loan Banks for cash; these banks have lent Countrywide over $70 billion so far. According to the Wall Street Journal, these banks specialize in "providing funding where other creditors won't go"--which they can do because of "a widespread belief the government would bail them out [with taxpayer money] in a crisis."
Cash from Federal Home Loan Banks is just one of the many entrees the government provides on its bailout menu. Another option a failing bank has is to court bank depositors--who will not be scared away because their deposits are backed by the government's Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Countrywide and others have a huge potential pool of capital accessible to them if they take on the additional cost of offering depositors higher interest rates than their competitors'. On its Web site, Countrywide is actively chasing your dollars, boasting, "Can your bank match our CD rates?" The policy is working; American depositors have invested or kept $10s of billions of their savings in Countrywide's coffers--despite regular headlines about the company's perilous finances. Depositors know that no matter how reckless Countrywide is with their money, other taxpayers will be there to pay the company's FDIC-backed commitments--just as they were there to bail out depositors in savings and loans in the 1980s.
Still another item on the bailout menu is provided by the Federal Reserve. Today and throughout history, when major financial institutions are losing money, the Fed uses its power to manipulate interest rates and the money supply so that banks can borrow cheaply--giving them easy money with which to paper over their old mistakes. Again, it is other taxpayers who pay--in this case, through inflation. Inflation depletes Americans' hard-earned savings; the trend of skyrocketing housing and commodity prices we have witnessed during the last five years is just the latest and most obvious harm done by our government's inflationary actions.
The combined effect of these and other bailout policies is to make risk-taking less risky for large financial institutions--because true failure is not an option.
If an institution can be bankrupted when its investments go bad, it is supremely clear to its managers and its creditors (its depositors, in the case of a bank) that they must be continuously diligent about risk. They have every incentive to thoroughly investigate long-term consequences--because enough money badly invested could mean the firm's extinction.
However, when the long term loses its meaning, when institutions are told they can never fail, managers are given an incentive to put more capital at risk. If the investments go well in the short term, as subprime investments did for several years, the profit potential is huge. If they eventually fail, the downside is only so bad; the government will "do something" to keep the firms afloat.
And when these reckless investments do go well in the short term, they're sure to be repeated. If one financial giant is reaping huge profits from subprime, other firms are pressured to follow along--or else risk losing investors, customers, or employees who want to be part of the exciting profit machine. The long-term result of "too big to fail" is a gradual and overall decline in responsible risk-taking--with periodic crises like the subprime debacle.
Any doctrine that encourages overly-risky investing, and punishes sound risk-taking is unfair and destructive. We need to phase out "too big to fail" and replace it with a free market in banking, which would reward sound long-term lending and borrowing practices and punish irresponsible ones. Otherwise, the next financial market fiasco is just a matter of time.
Alex Epstein is an analyst at the Ayn Rand Institute, focusing on business issues. The Institute promotes Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand--author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead." Contact the writer at email@example.com.
Video presentation (7 min.) | <urn:uuid:52dc5bbc-d00c-4afc-a2fb-d1226f29ccfd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=17121&news_iv_ctrl=2702 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951752 | 1,134 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
July 22, 1986
Argentina – 2 (Maradona-2)
England – 1 (Lineker)
Some footballers are often referred to as “God” by their fans. For Diego Armando Maradona the term has a far more literal meaning than others. There have been a number of legendary players over the years – some were arguably more complete players than Maradona. However, no one has ever managed to touch fans on an emotional level like the little Argentine. El Diego has a large array of memorable performances in his career but few come close to his one man demolition act of England during the 1986 World Cup, in a match containing two of the most talked about moments in the history of football.
Argentina qualified for the knockout round after topping Group A ahead of defending champions Italy. They defeated Bulgaria and minnows Korea comfortably but were held to a 1-1 draw by Gli Azzurris. They came up against fierce rivals and neighbours Uruguay in pre-quarter final and eked out a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Pedro Pasculli. This was Argentina’s first victory against Uruguay in a World Cup game and it added to their confidence when they faced off against England.
The Three Lions started their campaign on a disastrous note by losing 1-0 to Portugal. They followed it up with another insipid performance and a goal-less stalemate against Morocco. The former champions needed a victory against 1982 World Cup semi-finalists Poland in the last group match to qualify. They finally woke up as FA Player of the Year Gary Lineker struck a fantastic hatrick to help England sail past the Poles 3-0. The scoreline was repeated against Paraguay in the second round as Lineker grabbed two more goals to top the scoring charts.
England and Argentina’s football rivalry, which dated back to the 1966 World Cup and a controversial sending off of Argentine captain Antonio Rattin, was further spiced up by the Falkland Islands conflict few years before the 1986 World Cup. Though never officially recognized as a war in either country, the 74-day long battle cost over a thousand lives. Argentina’s surrender in the conflict was seen as a major embarrassment for the country.
Click here to read other articles in this series
Argentina (3-5-1-1): Nery Pumpido; Jose Luis Brown, Jose Cuciuffo, Oscar Ruggeri, Sergio Batista, Jorge Burruchaga, Diego Maradona, Hector Enrique, Ricardo Giusti; Julio Olarticoechea; Jorge Valdano
England (4-4-2): Peter Shilton; Gary Stevens, Kenny Sansom, Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick; Glenn Hoddle, Peter Reid, Trevor Steven, Steve Hodge; Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley
Argentina started this match with a 3-4-1-1 formation with Diego Maradona operating between Jorge Valdano and the midfield as a classical trequartista. England, on the other hand started with a flat 4-4-2 though without traditional wingers. The majestic Azteca stadium was fully ready for this encounter as 114,580 spectators thronged in the arena. The super charged atmosphere inside the stadium also got to players as neither team looked comfortable in the opening few minutes.
The Argentinians settled down first as they began to dominate the possession with the match inching towards the 10-minute mark. Maradona was yet to make a proper impact on the match but he showed a glimpse of his movement in the 9th minute. Some neat interplay between Valdano, Giusti and Buruchaga saw him receive the ball on the right flank. After trapping the ball, Maradona suddenly accelerated and squeezed past Hoddle and Sansom. Terry Fenwick had no choice but to bring him down and immediately received a yellow card.
Two minutes later a moment of madness from Pumpido almost gave England the lead. Reid aimed a long ball for Lineker but it eluded the striker and went towards Pumpido. The Argentine ‘keeper lost his balance despite it being a routine catch and allowed Beardsley to capture possession on the edge of penalty box. Beardsley turned past the diving ‘keeper and tried to score from a difficult angle on the right side but found the side netting instead.
England had another chance in the 23rd minute as Ruggeri’s slip allowed Beardsley another half chance. This time Pumpido confidently smothered the shot to clear any danger. Maradona was being double marked most of the times but he was still finding enough time and space to create chances for his team mates. One such instance came two minutes before the half-hour mark when he flummoxed three surrounding English defenders by back-heeling to Valdano who almost set up a scoring opportunity for Buruchaga. By the half-hour mark, Argentina had firmly taken control of the pace of the game as the English strikers barely got a sniff of the ball.
On the 34th minute, an amusing off-field incident showcased the kind of mental state Maradona was in. While taking a corner he had knocked over the flag, and Costa Rican linesman Morera insisted him to restore it. Maradona went on to set up the flag again with a boyish smirk on his face. Other players might have been suffering from nerves but El Diego was clearly beginning to enjoy himself. In the final quarter of the first half (36th minute), he started a run from deep into his half, showed a clean pair of boots to Hoddle and Butcher but lost his balance before shooting off target. It was a trailer of things to come. A minute later a cross from Maradona almost found the head of Valdano as England were getting pushed back more and more.
Despite Maradona and Argentina knocking at the door steadily, the first half ended goal-less.
Argentina’s first goal and one of the most controversial incidents in football history came six minutes into the second half. After receiving a pass from Olarticoechea.
Maradona continued his run past a couple of defenders and attempted to play a one-two with Valdano. Maradona’s pass didn’t fall for Valdano but was looped weakly towards Shilton by Steve Hodge. Maradona had continued his run into the English penalty box and he jumped to push the ball past Shilton into the goal with his hand. The Tunisian referee (ironically during the match the BBC team were debating on giving matches to officials from less affluent football nations) failed to spot the handball and the goal stood.
England was still reeling for the controversial first goal when the second most famous moment of the match came in the 55th minute. And of course it involved the little magician. Maradona received a pass from Enrique, ten meters inside his own half. He turned with the ball and took out two opponents closing on him – Fenwick and Beardsley. The 10-second sprint that followed is perhaps the most famous sight in football as Maradona got past Butcher, Reid and finally Shilton to score his second goal. It was a devastating combination of power, speed and ball control and showed Maradona at his very best.
Argentina’s second goal finally woke the Three Lions up as England began to make forays into the Argentine defence. At the hour mark, a flick-on from Reid almost set up a chance for Hodge from close range but Pumpido came off his line at the right moment. The Argentine custodian would be called into action two more times in the next five minutes – denying Beardsley and Steven. With quarter of an hour left, Bobby Robson threw in a wild card, bringing in John Barnes for the first time in ’86 World Cup.
Barnes had an immediate impact as he began to stretch the narrow Argentine defensive line. On the 81st minute, Barnes launched a perfectly weighted cross from the left wing as Lineker escaped his marker to pull a goal back. This was his 6th goal of the tournament and his first meaningful contribution in this match.
Argentina created a scoring chance of their own seconds after England’s goal. Maradona’s pass found substitute Tapia inside the English box. The River Plate striker’s shot beat Shilton but hit the post and bounced out.
England would have one last chance for scoring a second goal as Barnes once again floated a cross for Lineker from almost the same position as his assist in the 81st minute. Lineker was inches away from connecting his header but Brown got to the ball milliseconds before him.
When the final whistle went off English players couldn’t have helped but feel hard done by the referee’s decision but in reality they were always second best to an Argentine side which showed more creativity.
England’s tactic of aiming for Lineker with long balls was a complete failure. Lineker was in exceptional form in Mexico but he was kept under a tight leash by Ruggeri in this game. The Argentine central defender forced Lineker to play with his back towards the goal and correctly anticipated some of the long balls launched from midfield.
Glenn Hoddle had a good World Cup in Mexico but England needed proper wingers to stretch the Argentine defence. With Hoddle and Hodge being unable to provide any genuine width, England’s wing play became insipid. They needed technically gifted players to unlock the Argentine defence but Robson chose to start with hard workers. Credit must be given to the legendary coach for switching to a formation with proper wingers in second half. The Three Lions’ game play changed drastically when Waddle and Barnes, both proper wingers, came on and Hoddle moved back into central midfield.
The mutual understanding between Maradona and the two Jorges – Buruchaga and Valdano caused England all sorts of problems in the final third. The technically gifted trio played numerous triangles among themselves and were often part of the elaborate pattern play of Argentina. England didn’t have enough technically skilled players in their starting XI to stop this trio from taking control of the match.
Man of the Match – Diego Maradona
There is a reason why the 1986 World Cup is called Maradona’s World Cup. He was involved in 10 of the 14 goals Argentina scored and single handedly (pun intended) knocked England out in the quarter-final. Both of his goals could knock the stuffing out of any opponent but his overall influence in this match also made a difference. Despite being double marked, Maradona often successfully dribbled past two or three defenders and allowed his team mates more time and space on the ball. He also showed remarkable leadership abilities rallying the team when they were pegged back. He almost assisted a third goal when England were applying most pressure on the Argentine defence and often tracked back to central midfield to help out his defensive partners.
There was no stopping Diego Maradona in Mexico. After easing England out of the World Cup, the little man would once again turn on the magic against a rugged Belgian side. His second-half brace would see Argentina reach their third World Cup final. The South Americans dominated most of the final against West Germany but were left ruing their poor defending from set-pieces as the Germans clawed their way back. It was down to captain fantastic Maradona once again to provide inspiration. He duly obliged by releasing the through pass which led Jorge Buruchaga’s match winning goal. The 1962 World Cup is often referred to as Garrincha’s World Cup but there was never a doubt that the 1986 version indeed belonged to Maradona.
Despite the brilliant second goal, England still feel themselves hard done by thanks to the ‘Hand of God’ goal. The Three Lions would enjoy an era of modest success under Bobby Robson. They went on to qualify for Euro ’88, only to be knocked out in the group stages. In Italia 1990, England would finish 4th after narrowly losing to West Germany in the semi-final after penalties. England has not managed to reach the semi-final stage of a World Cup ever since. | <urn:uuid:78b29a05-563b-49b3-9fc8-a74dfc4728b4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/diego-maradona-in-god-mode-argentina-2-1-england-classic-clashes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975518 | 2,551 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Accommodating University Events
Under federal and state laws, all university-sanctioned events intended for CSU Easy Bay students must be accessible to students with disabilities. Those sponsoring such events should be prepared to directly provide (or allow Accessibility Services to provide) any reasonable accommodations needed for qualified students with disabilities to participate in the school event, club, or activity. A student is considered a "qualified student with a disability" if the student meets the eligibility requirements for the event being offered.
If the student with a disability is registered with Accessibility Services, we will generally provide the student with his/her approved accommodations (except for printed handout materials - see note below) upon the student´s request. Your role, as the event's sponsor, is to support the use of these accommodations at your event (for example, audio recording the event or having sign language interpreter present). If the student is not registered with Accessibility Services, the office or entity sponsoring the event may be required to provide the accommodation directly, at their own expense.
PLEASE NOTE: Even if the student is an Accessibility Services-registered student, the event's sponsor is responsible for the preparation of accessible materials (electronic text, large print, or Braille) for students with disabilities who may require them. Either the University´s Accessible Technology Office or Accessibility Services can help you prepare for this task; but it remains your responsibility to provide these required accessible handouts. To this end, be sure to bring to your event several electronic versions of the printed handouts (on disk) and one or two "large print" copies (in at least 18-point font size).
Outside Public Events
If your event is being offered to the general public or an audience that includes participants other than CSU East Bay students who are registered with Accessibility Services (not all students with disabilities choose to register with us), then any needed accommodations or auxiliary aids and services must be provided and supported (financed) under your budget. If a student with a disability is not registered with us, they must do so in order to receive accommodations from the University. If, however, they are attending your event as part of a general audience, then they must be provided these accommodations and it is the event sponsor's responsibility to fund them. Accessibility Services stands ready to provide you with technical assistance in these instances.
Sample Wording for an Event Announcement
In either case above, it would be important for you to advertise, in all your publicity materials, your willingness to offer these legally-mandated supports. Here are two sample announcements you might include in these materials:
- "This event is in an accessible location to people with disabilities. [Make sure physical access is indeed available.] If you require disability-related program accommodations, please let the event's sponsor know of your accommodation needs at least two weeks prior to the event."
- Please check the disability program accommodations that apply. I am a person with a disability who needs:
Sign Language Interpreters
Printed handouts in accessible format - check one that applies:
- Electronic text
- Large print copy (18 point type font or specify if larger)
- Other program accommodations: ____________________________
Please make your accommodation request at least TWO WEEKS PRIOR to the event or conference you wish to attend. Requests made within two weeks of the event may not be approved. | <urn:uuid:67b7a0b4-1aba-4203-ba7e-ca4a8731ce45> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www20.csueastbay.edu/af/departments/as/Policies%20and%20Information/accommodating-university-events.html | 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 | 0.93107 | 695 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Frederick was recently recognized by a national ranking organization for its safe and secure environment in which to live, work and raise a family.
The Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick area is the ninth most secure community among the nation’s large metropolitan areas—with populations of 500,000 people or more—according to the seventh annual Most Secure U.S. Places to Live rankings from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. The rankings, compiled by experts at Sperling’s BestPlaces, took into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, terrorist threats, environmental hazards life expectancy and job loss numbers in the 379 U.S. municipalities.
Frederick has had its share of accolades. The Bethesda, Md., metro region, of which Frederick is part, was ranked the second smartest area in the country by Forbes.com in 2008, surpassed only by Boulder, Colo. Each metro area was rated based on the percentage of residents with bachelor’s, professional and doctoral degrees, and high school diplomas.
In October 2010, downtown Frederick was named as one of the country’s top 10 Great Neighborhoods by The American Planning Association, a nonprofit educational group for community developers. The award celebrates places of exemplary social, cultural or historical character; community involvement; sustainability practices; and a vision for the future.
The city received a Great American Main Street award in 2005 and named as one of a dozen Distinct Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2002. | <urn:uuid:6b537ea1-90f0-4fb3-98d3-f0e690f8690c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hood.edu/about-hood/campus-news/campus-news/frederick-receives-national-accolades.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958133 | 318 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Cyprus is planning to impose a one-off tax on bank savings. It is one of the conditions for being given a 10-billion-euro bailout package by eurozone countries and the IMF. Particularly, the Euro Group demands that Cyprus levy a 6.75-percent one-time tax on all deposits up to 100,000 euros and a 9.9-percent one on larger deposits. The country’s President Nicos Anastasiades is holding urgent negotiations with creditors in an attempt to have the tax cut down, for this news touched a wave of public outrage and quiet discontent about business which keeps an estimated 80 billion dollars in Cyprus.
Should the taxes be imposed, it will be possible, without an exaggeration, to call this event financial revolution. Cyprus has long been considered the word’s No.1 offshore area. Besides, the Cyprian money remains a most powerful source of investments in Ukraine. In 2012 the net increment of deposits from this country was 3.92 billion dollars or 95 percent of the total growth of investments.
The Cyprian parliament, now convening an extraordinary session, will finally decide whether or not there will be a new order in Cyprus. As the MPs are drawing up a resolution, the Cyprian authorities have “closed” banks until Wednesday, The New York Times reports.
In an interview with The Day, Yaroslav LOMAKIN, owner of the consulting company Honest & Bright Ltd. which specializes in offshore taxation, told about the consequences that the Cyprus situation will have for Ukraine and the world:
“If Cyprus imposes a 10-percent tax on deposits, it will go belly up as a financial center. It is unlikely that somebody will want to work with that country after this. Businesspeople are rejecting the Cyprian offshore area and transferring money to other countries.
“The banking system of Cyprus is a living corpse. What effect will this have on other economies? On the one hand, the current investments on Cyprian accounts will undergo no changes. On the other, it is not clear what will happen to deposits and current balance settlements. So the No.1 task today is to redistribute this financial flow.”
Does Ukraine stand a chance to take advantage of this situation and bring its oligarchs’ and business people’s savings back home? What is to be done for this?
“Nothing. The money will not remain at home as long as ‘the Family’ is expropriating it. It will only be redirected. The worst thing will be if the Cyprian savings go into the ‘shadow.’ It will be better if they go to other jurisdictions. The situation, in which we are turning into a police state, only increases the number of policemen instead of improving business conditions.”
What “other jurisdictions” do you mean?
“Ukrainian capitals will rush from Cyprus, first of all, to the Baltic countries, for it is the easiest way. The Baltic countries have long been prepared to receive the Cyprian money. Latvia is most likely to become a new financial haven for Ukrainian capitals. Another direction is banks in Hong Kong and Singapore. The third direction is old Europe, particularly Austria, which likes to guard banking secrets so much.”
Why do you think the Cyprian government is taking this step?
“It is not a mere coincidence. The Cyprian government is well aware that this may result in colossal financial losses and the ruin of the country’s image. It is not an impulse decision. It was prepared well in advance by the previous Communist government which reasoned approximately as follows: ‘Let us seize the stolen and help ourselves.’ It is financial donor countries that prompted the government to take this step because the situation in Cyprus is by no means the best.
“In my view, the imposition of an additional tax is a way to survive which suits the Communists. But the new team of capitalist officials will ponder over how to do this in a finer manner. Maybe, they will make use of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent idea to tax the percentage income rather than the total deposited money. I hope the new governmental team will heed criticism and approve a softer option, for, otherwise, we should expect a mini collapse of Cyprus’s financial system, which will in turn lay the groundwork for destabilization of the European banking system. For Cyprus is part of the EU financial system.” | <urn:uuid:d8277274-2eb2-47ad-aca9-88ac5d0c71ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.day.kiev.ua/en/article/day-after-day/cyprus-killed-communists | 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 | 0.931293 | 923 | 1.507813 | 2 |
I received an e-mail from a friend the other day who said he's so concerned about rising gas prices that he's considering trade his gasoline-powered vehicles in for hybrids. That might not be a great idea, according to the folks at Consumer Reports, who say trading vehicles too quickly might cost vehicle owners more than the price of gas.
If you've owned your car or truck for three years, but have financed it for five years, trading in now will likely cost you more in depreciation and finance charges than paying the extra cost for fuel, Consumer Report says:
For example, a 2005 Ford Five Hundred SEL V6 sedan got 21 mpg overall in Consumer Reports' testing. The 2008 Toyota Prius got 44. Assuming 12,000 miles per year at the current national average for gasoline of $3.75 per gallon, the Ford will cost about $2,000 in gas this year, while the Toyota will cost just $1,000. But factoring in all of the owner costs of trading in the Five Hundred now, the Toyota will cost about $9,000 to own for the first 12 months, while the Ford costs $6,000. That's a difference of $3,000, or $0.23 per mile.
Gas prices have edged up to $4 a gallon in Michigan since Consumers Reports made that calculation, but the example is still relevant. Consumers Reports offers more comparisons on its web site. | <urn:uuid:4e2d22da-dc14-4646-bd29-bce51a606d5a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.mlive.com/autoblog/2008/05/dont_trade_the_gasguzzler_in_t.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953904 | 293 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Topic: Signs of Hearing Loss and What Our Loved Ones Can Do
Broadcast: 11/20/12, 7:30 p.m. WPTA
What is more important than having our family together and whole for the holidays? “We can't give ourselves and be part of the world if we can't hear." Hearing loss steals dignity and hope. Being part of the holiday gathering and participating with family and friends gives our older family members that dignity, lets them know that they are still a very important part of our lives.
What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "Your2Cents” comment.
© Copyright 2013 A Granite Broadcasting Station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:508b0733-8375-425a-ab78-7a36b72cc523> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/features/docs-on-call/Summit-Hearing-Solutions-11202012---Part-1-180020861.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949899 | 157 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Sharon Music Academy has been teaching children and adults how to love, understand and enjoy music since 1990. We don’t just teach you how to play a song; we teach you how to master an instrument. We have a track record of providing high quality music education for all ages and levels. Our students have won many local, national and international music competitions. Many of them have been awarded Official Citations by the Massachusetts State Senate for their achievements and community work. Our students play in prestigious youth orchestras, are featured in local and national newspapers and magazines, and have their performances broadcast by local TV stations.
We offer a wide range of music experiences for our students: from performing at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall to playing at community parks, entertaining local seniors, playing ensembles, visiting piano and violin factories, attending music camps in Europe and competing in various music competitions.
There are many proven developmental benefits of learning music – improved cognitive abilities, memory and coordination and we believe that everyone can learn to enjoy and create music. Please look at our special music programs for preschoolers and adults.
If you know which instrument you want to learn or the program you wish to enroll in, you can go directly to online registration page. Beginners may benefit from reading the FAQ for their chosen instrument under “Music Lessons and Programs”.
If you have questions or want to learn more about a specific topic please contact us. We are glad to answer all your questions. You can also browse our library on music education and answers to the Frequently Asked Questions. These pages contain many useful links and references to help you make the right decisions about your or your child’s music education.
Why Sharon Music Academy?
Sharon Music Academy has been a recognized leader in music education for more than 20 years.
• Proven high quality of music educationOur students have won numerous music competitions locally as well as internationally. Our graduates have been admitted to the best music colleges and conservatories. However, just as much attention is given to those who simply want to learn to play their best as to those who want to learn to play professionally. We offer each student a complete music education: music theory, ear training, and ensemble. Sharon Music Academy is a local ABRSM center and we offer special programs to prepare for ABRSM exams.
• Highly Educated and Qualified InstructorsOur teachers have advanced degrees from the world’s leading institutions and conservatories. In addition to being masters of their craft, they are masters at teaching it, regardless of a student’s previous knowledge of music or instruments.
• Wide Range of Music ExperiencesThrough performances at various venues and stages, master classes with world-renowned musicians, recording sessions in studios, performing with professional orchestras and many other educational activities our students have an opportunity to experience music in many different forms.
• Sense of CommunityWe foster a community feeling among our students through recitals and many social events. Sharon Music Academy is a great place to meet new people with the same interests as yours.
• ConvenienceAbility to schedule multiple family members within same time slot to save on driving and waiting. Your time is valuable.
Please read testimonials of our students and parents, learn about our students’ achievements, visit our Media Archive to listen to our students' award-winning performances and compare us to other music schools and private teachers. | <urn:uuid:cbb5d696-7030-4b22-8013-b08f498ca925> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sharonmusicacademy.com/tanyasblog/SMA_Media_Archive.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961059 | 696 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Internetworking Linux and Windows
I am having Red Hat Linux 9.0 installed along with Windows XP.
I am completely new to Linux.
I recently had a problem with my user account password on Win XP. I feel it is some spyware that might be the reason behind it.
Anyways I have decided to uninstall XP from my system since I am sick of it.
But the problem is that most of my important data is residing on the drives which can be accessed only through XP. I am unable to login into XP. These drives are inaccessible from Red Hat.
I want to transfer these files to my friend's system who has XP running on it.
I have seen that Knoppix can access these drives.
Can anyone please help me out as to how can I interconnect my Knoppix with Win XP? | <urn:uuid:13296040-1909-4893-8dff-76c716697e68> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/networking/internetworking-linux-windows-print-13657.html | 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 | 0.974431 | 174 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Post Office Box 9188 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80932
719-635-7776 Fax 719-635-9789
The Western harmony of the Sons of the San Joaquin is being heard in a lot more places these days. A rich, burnished vocal blend, its a distinctive sound that has carried the Hannah family from local church and community gatherings to such far-flung locales as Switzerland and Japan, where traditional cowboy music is esteemed above contemporary country music, and the Arab peninsula, where the trio was greeted warmly by a society that regards its own traditions to be a close parallel to the American cowboy heritage.
Here at home, their widespread acceptance is an indication both of the rich durability of the traditional Western music they present, as well as the outstanding original cowboy songs of Jack Hannah, whom cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell calls “one of the very best cowboy writers alive.” The Sons’ dedication to Western heritage has its origin in their deep attachment to the classic sound of The Sons of the Pioneers. “There are some early recordings by them that are just phenomenal,” says Lon Hannah, who is Joe's son and Jack's nephew. "When The Sons of the Pioneers were a trio with Roy Rogers, Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan, there was an innocence and exuberance to their sound that was just incredible We try to incorporate that emotion and feeling that the earlier trio had."
The Sons of the San Joaquin sound first took shape in the Great Central Valley of California in the shadow of the mighty Sierra Nevadas. That’s where the Hannah family migrated during the Depression from Missouri. "There were some prominent cattle ranches there," remembers Jack, "and that's where our romance with cowboys began. Our dad became a fan of The Pioneers back in the '30s, and he'd sing a lot of those songs at home. We learned our first ones from him, and became great fans of theirs, too." The Hannah brothers, Joe and Jack also learned a lot about harmony singing in church, and soon were in great demand in the Central California Valley as a vocal duo.
But their musical career had to be put on hold while they pursued their second love: baseball. From 1950 to 1962, the Hannah Brothers played professionally, Joe catching for the Chicago Cubs organization, Jack pitching in the Milwaukee Braves farm system. Once their baseball careers had concluded, Jack became a high school counselor and coach (he was named baseball Coach of the Year for the Western Region United States in 1980 and inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998) and Joe became a high school teacher, coach and music director. Lon, who teaches on the elementary school level, also sang in church, local musical theater and various musical groups. In 1987, Lon approached his father and uncle with the request that they sing some cowboy songs for his grandfather’s birthday celebration. Almost by accident, the Sons of the San Joaquin were born.
The trio got its big break when they were invited to perform at the 1989 Elko Poetry Gathering. Their appearance there caused a sensation. In the course of a weekend, they vaulted from total obscurity to sharing the main stage with Michael Martin Murphey, who immediately invited them to join him on his first Cowboy Songsalbum. In 1992, Warner Bros. Western label released A Cowboy Has To Sing. This was followed in 1993 by Songs of the Silver Screen, which revived B-movie soundtrack material recorded by The Pioneers, some of which had never been released on disc. In 1995, Warner Western released From Whence Came The Cowboy, a career milestone that featured Jack Hannah’s highly-praised originals. The title track, a tribute to the history of the cowboy, became a critically-acclaimed video.
In 1997, the Sons released their first recording with Western Jubilee Recording Company. Gospel Trails, a special project featuring some of the Hannahs’ favorite hymns, sung in their signature cowboy harmony style. One of the selections, In The Sweet By and By, features a special appearance by Dale Evans Rogers as lead vocalist. In addition to their many concert appearances, The Sons’ subsequent award winning Western Jubilee Recordings Horses, Cattle & Coyotes, Sing One For The Cowboy and 15 Years – A Retrospective all feature Jack Hannah’s wonderfully crafted original Western music.
With such authentic commitment to their material, it’s no wonder that a number of avenues of expression have opened for this dynamic trio. Television appearances include the Grand Ole Opry and Austin City Limits. Their live performances range from rodeos in the West to New York City’s Carnegie Hall. The Sons appearance at the House of Blues in Los Angeles found their longtime supporter, actor Ed Harris providing a glowing introduction.They currently offer a Sons With Symphony program, combining Western music with orchestral accompaniment worthy of the grandest horse opera. Joe Hannah’s vocal and arranging skills while accompanying the group on upright bass is the Sons patriarch if not the patriarch for the entire genre. Younger brother Jack, now recognized as Western music’s number one songwriter with repeated Songwriter of the Year awards from the Western Music Association and recipient of one of the industry’s top honors, the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Also recognized by the Cowboy Hall of Fame, Jack continues to write for his critically acclaimed children’s series Read, Rite & Recite. The series of books, CD’s and videos feature Dusty Trails (Dr. Gary Sells), The Sons and special guests including Jack Palance. Group founder, Lon Hannah provides lead vocals and pure high harmonies.
The Sons’ release, Way Out Yonder, on Western Jubilee, was produced by Rich O’Brien. In April 2006, it received the Wrangler Award for Outstanding Traditional Album. Johnny Western, member of both the Western Music Hall of Fame and Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, writes: “When the late King of the Cowboys Roy Rogers said The Sons were the closest thing to the legendary Sons of the Pioneers (which he founded), he knew of what he spoke.” 2009 finds the Sons first live recording. Backed by Rich O’Brien and Steve Story, Live, Western Jubilee Warehouse is available on both CD and DVD formats. A Cowboy’s Song, a cowboy masterpiece released by Western Jubilee in 2011, features ten new Jack Hannah western classic compositions, produced by and performed with guitar legend, Rich O’Brien. The Hannah family legacy continues. Their uncanny vocal blend and true love of Western music have made the Sons of the San Joaquin the barometer for all Western harmony groups.
on The Son's Newest Recordings Visit
Western Jubilee Recording Company
Scott O’Malley & Associates also representing the published works of
Jack Hannah, Great American Cowboy Music
[ Norman Blake | Bryan Bowers | Flash Cadillac | Cowboy Celtic | Don Edwards ]
[ Waddie Mitchell | Rich O'Brien | Sons of the San Joaquin | Sons and Brothers | The Haunted Windchimes ]
[ Performance Schedules | Western Jubilee Warehouse | In the News | Favorite Links | Contact ]
[ Scott O'Malley & Associates Home Page ]
Copyright © 1999 - 2011 by Scott O'Malley & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:beae5c4d-8248-457b-bb4c-17e9979644f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://somagency.com/SonsoftheSanJoaquin/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956798 | 1,525 | 1.539063 | 2 |
By Tiernan Ray
During a morning keynote session at the Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, Qualcomm (QCOM) chief executive Paul Jacobs.
Jacobs talked huge R&D investments that have fueled dramatic change, and re-hashed a slogan he rolled out at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, “born mobile.”
Jacobs noted that a survey conducted with Time magazine found 81% of people said they check their phone at least once an hour.
“The best way to think of this is a vision we have for the digital sixth sense, where you will augment your five senses with a wireless sixth sense … ”
With devices that interact with information in your world. You can think of it as taking your phone and using your phone to augment reality by interacting with things that don’t have a user interface, such as the home automation, the HVAC. Imagine getting into your car and telling your car to stream information from your phone to your car. All these kinds of things are possible under the notion of a digital sixth sense. And a number of technologies will make this possible. And it’s all part of this Internet not of things, but of everything.
Jacobs threw up a slide that predicted 24 billion devices will be “connected” by 2020.
He said there is concern about building a Tower of Babel, where devices won’t talk to one another. So, Qualcomm is proposing a new technology standard called “AllJoyn” that let’s each device tell other devices what its capabilities are. “It creates this notion of a personal cloud of things that are in the world around me that I can interact with.”
Jacobs noted a stat, that smartphone shipments were more than twice the number of PCs sold last year. In emerging markets, the smartphone is “the only type of computing device.”
Jacobs noted the lack of change in the field of education and suggested that kids be able to collaborate with one another outside the classroom, and said it had revealed an improvement in test scores in some trial projects.
During same keynote session, General Motors (GM) vice-chairman Steve Grisky said the company is going to embed 4G wireless running the long-term evolution, or LTE, network standard in millions of vehicles, including Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC in US next year, then in Opal and other European brands following that. He said the system will not be dependent on mobile phones, and will bring a number of features, such as in-car entertainment. AT&T (T) is the initial partner for the deployment of LTE, said Grisky.
Grisky compared autos with LTE to Apple‘s (AAPL) iPad, something that starts out as “why do I need that” but then quickly moves to the status of “how did I live without that?” | <urn:uuid:d0c80b40-9a15-411b-b7c5-4f3de4c73c5b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2013/02/25/qualcomm-ceo-jacobs-talks-up-internet-of-everything-at-mobile-congress/?mod=BOLBlog?mod=BOL_article_full_blog_techtrader | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955544 | 609 | 1.835938 | 2 |
I first met Jeremy Deller at his studio in London in 2000. It was my last stop in the city en route to Heathrow and had been prefaced by two recent encounters with Jeremy’s work that heightened the anticipation of our meeting. As part of the Tate Britain show Intelligence, he’d presented his collaborative “Folk Archive” project with fellow artist Alan Kane which functions as an ongoing compendium of the art and cultural production of everyday contemporary Britons. I was blown away not only by the breadth and volume of the material, but also by his redefining the notion of what “folk art” could mean and represent—as something that could truly embody the creativity of a people rather than merely signifying a particular genre of art. The other was a more subtle and subdued work presented as part of the exhibition Protest and Survive at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, titled Has the World Changed or Have I Changed? (2000). I immediately recognized the phrase from the song “The Queen is Dead” by the legendary 1980s Manchester The Smiths. Both the song and the eponymously-titled album that it opens were a staple of my musical life as a Chicago-area teenager, yet I’d never really meditated on that lyric until prompted by Deller’s intervention. The work itself—represented as part of the larger installation Beyond the White Walls (2012) in CAM’s presentation of Jeremy Deller: Joy in People (opening February 1)—features documentation of a day that Deller spent with a circus clown in and around the German town of Hanover. The droll tragicomedy of the situation fit perfectly with the sense of world-weariness of the title phrase. While its appearance in the middle of The Smiths’ song is mitigated by the momentum of Johnny Marr’s urgent guitar, placed in this new context it becomes a somewhat maudlin reflection on growing old, on the passage of time, and one’s ability to truly feel in touch with the present moment. I suspect that both Marr’s guitar and a teenaged lack of life-perspective conspired to obscure the lyric for me in 1986, but since then I cannot help but reflect on the phrase when confronted with some new cultural phenomenon, the appeal of which I cannot fathom.
The forthcoming opening of Jeremy Deller’s survey exhibition at CAM has prompted me to ask the question “has the world changed or have I changed” once again from perhaps a more affirmative and optimistic perspective. The world HAS changed since The Smiths first posed that question to me, as have I—thanks, in part, to Jeremy’s work. As the exhibition demonstrates through a range of experiences—from a re-creation of Deller’s first show in his parent’s home to an exploration of the life and times of British glam-wrestler Adrian Street—there certainly is joy to be had in the things that people do, say, make, and sing—things that in large and small ways change the world and our relationship to it.
By Dominic Molon, Chief Curator | <urn:uuid:b44f4a2c-02cd-4738-b312-85220b74b235> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://2buildings1blog.org/contemporary/2013/01/28/has-the-world-changed-or-have-i-changed/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967225 | 654 | 1.515625 | 2 |
NORTH ADAMS -- Although many Northern Berkshire eighth-graders aren't plotting out their careers yet, they've already been given a look at some of the paths they'll have to take in order to reach their future goals.
On Thursday, 398 eighth-grade students from around Northern Berkshire met with area professionals during the second annual Northern Berkshire Eighth Grade Career Fair at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The Berkshire Compact initiative developed and supports the fair.
"Overall, we want to inspire them to begin to think about their future careers, especially at a time when they are transitioning from middle school to high school," Josh Mendel, associate director of admissions at MCLA, said. "Many of these students will be making a decision about which high school they will be going to next year. The type of career path they may be considering could have an impact on which high school they go to. Our mission is to be able to help them begin thinking about the paths they'll need to take to help them to enter the workforce in the future."
Students from Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School, Drury High School, Hoosac Valley Middle & High School, Mount Greylock Regional, Clarksburg Elementary and Gabriel Abbott Memorial School were able to select two workshops from a list of 19 to attend during two 30-minute sessions. The workshops ranged from banking and finance to dentistry to advanced manufacturing.
In a workshop on law enforcement, North Adams Police Director Michael Cozzaglio and MCLA Director of Public Safety Joseph Charon explained the numerous jobs within the field and the steps students can begin taking now.
"You need to have a good character. You need to have strong morals and ethics. You need to know right from wrong," Charon said. "You need to be physically fit. Academics are really important too. It's really hard to find a job today without some form of higher education. The higher you aspire to go in any field, the more education it is going to take to get there."
Cozzaglio added, "I can never stress this enough -- stay out of trouble. Your record is going to follow you your whole life."
In a workshop on the culinary arts, Adam Brassard, a chef at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, and Melissa King, a culinary arts teacher at McCann Technical School, spoke about how choices now can affect later goals.
"In our industry, we're able to move anywhere," King said. "Can you imagine moving to your favorite vacation destination and being able to live and work there?"
But she stressed, that choice doesn't come without sweat equity -- gaining experience in the kitchen of local restaurants and taking courses in high school that are in line with career goals.
"I can't stress how important your high school education will be," Brassard added. "I hated math class. I still hate math, but I use it every day. You wouldn't think I'd need it, but you can't be a chef without math."
He also spoke about the versatility of the field.
"You might not want to work in a restaurant or a kitchen, but love the culinary arts," he said. "There are so many other related fields -- food photography, food blogging and writing or being a food critic. You can combine several of your passions."
To reach Jennifer Huberdeau, email | <urn:uuid:35d1c544-7951-4b70-a8c8-2a7948fdf66d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thetranscript.com/townprofiles/ci_22352803/studying-their-possible-futures | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975457 | 691 | 1.585938 | 2 |
This is a rechargeable 4.8 V NiMH battery pack with a capacity of 2200 mAh. The pack consists of four AA cells in a single row and a 4" lead terminated by a “JR”-style connector.
This battery pack comes with 4" leads terminated by a 3-pin JR-style female connector (only two of the pins are used). The connector is the same as what is found on the most servos and has a 0.1" spacing, so it fits nicely with 0.1" male headers and can plug directly into most RC receivers, servo extension cables, and servo switch harnesses, and custom cables made with JR male connectors or Futaba J male connectors. Note, however, that this style of connector is often referred to as “male” in the RC hobby industry, so please use the picture on the right to clear up any potential confusion.
Our rechargeable NiMH battery packs give you variety of options for powering your robot or electronics project. The battery packs use 1.2 V cells and are available in several capacities:
The picture to the right shows the relative sizes of our NiMH battery packs. These packs are well-suited for powering small robots, and the smaller (1/3- or 2/3-AAA) battery packs make great power sources for miniature robots, such as those that might be based on our Baby Orangutan robot controller.
Battery pack color may differ from what is shown in the main product picture.
Note: The battery voltages listed in the product descriptions are based on the 1.2 V nominal voltage of the NiMH cells from which the packs are made. The actual voltage will depend on how charged the batteries are. A fully charged NiMH cell will deliver almost 1.5 V, so, for example, a “6V”, 5-cell pack can measure over 7 volts after being charged, and it can fall well below 5 volts when the pack is drained. The iMAX-B6AC battery charger works well with these battery packs. | <urn:uuid:c2246bfc-38f2-4012-8959-4cecfa9f24ac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/2221 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934811 | 428 | 1.515625 | 2 |
President Obama was heckled by a reporter during his immigration remarks on Friday.
Obama announced that the Department of Homeland Security will stop deportations and grant work permits for students who meet certain requirements. The policy change will apply to those who arrived in the U.S. before turning 16, who have been in the country for at least five years, and are under the age of 30.
During his remarks, Obama suddenly addressed a person in the crowd, telling him that he was not yet taking questions. "Excuse me, sir, it's not time for questions, sir," Obama said. "Not while I'm speaking."
At the end of his speech, Obama referred back to the person who interrupted him. "And the answer to your question is sir, and the next time I prefer you let me finish my statements before you ask that question, is this is the right thing to do for the American people...I didn't ask for an argument. I'm answering your question," he said, speaking over the man's protests. "It is the right thing to do for the American people."
The camera flashed to a man in a suit wearing sunglasses. He was quickly identified as The Daily Caller's Neil Munro, who wrote about the news of Obama's announcement on Friday.
ABC's Diane Sawyer, who was anchoring the network's breaking news coverage with George Stephanopoulos, described the man who interrupted Obama as someone who was "clearly considered a heckler." Former George W. Bush spokesman Tony Fratto tweeted, "Reporters don't interrupt presidential statements. Period. @NeilMunroDC should be banned from WH. #fb."
According to the site's masthead, Munro is the White House correspondent at The Daily Caller.
Tucker Carlson, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Daily Caller, defended Munro in an interview with The Huffington Post's Michael Calderone shortly after the incident.
"This is what reporters are supposed to do," Carlson said by phone. "They're supposed to get their questions answered."
"It's hard to know what's wrong with asking the president a question," he continued.
When told that Sawyer referred to Munro as a "heckler," Carlson said he "doesn't remember anyone saying that about Sam Donaldson," the aggressive former ABC News White House correspondent, if Donaldson interrupted the president. Carlson suggested Sawyer would probably describe Donaldson as "being a tough reporter."
"Politicians don’t get to make a statement and then retreat to a fortified castle," Carlson said, adding that "our job is to find out what's going on with federal government on our time-table."
As for those criticizing Munro for interrupting Obama, Carlson responded that the Daily Caller's "critics ought to make it official and take a gig at the White House."
Munro spoke out about his actions in a post published on the Daily Caller's website.
"I always go to the White House prepared with questions for our president. I timed the question believing the president was closing his remarks, because naturally I have no intention of interrupting the President of the United States," he said.
Later, Munro published a piece about Obama's remarks and reported that the president "declined to take any questions," even though two reporters called out questions to him.
"The president has often used this no-questions strategy when making important or poll-boosting announcements," he wrote.
The full exchange between Obama and Munro was cited in the official White House transcript. When Obama responded to Munro's first interruption, the Daily Caller reporter was quoted as saying, "No, you have to take questions."
The Daily Caller
Patrick W. Gavin
Rep. Keith Ellison | <urn:uuid:554c032f-cd50-46b0-86e7-f8e2c2d0e051> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/15/obama-immigration-reporter-heckles-speech_n_1600860.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D170326 | 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 | 0.971605 | 775 | 1.539063 | 2 |
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Wednesday, 28 March 2012 from 18:00 to 19:00 (EST)
Humans are social animals: relationships are critical to our wellbeing. Grattan’s new report, Social Cities, argues that the way we build and organise our cities is crucial to the quantity and quality of social connection, which in turn is critical to our psychological and physical health. Of course many other factors also influence our levels of connectedness - from individual disposition to family situation - but some kinds of urban design can encourage social connection, while others may ‘build in’ isolation.
The capacity of growing Australian cities to absorb larger populations and improve quality of life for all residents will depend to a considerable degree on the extent to which the urban environment promotes or hinders social connection. Our report, due for release late March, aims to put social connection firmly on the agenda for decision making about cities at every level - from the overall shape of the city, to neighbourhoods, streets and buildings.
Report author Jane-Frances Kelly will discuss the report and its recommendations with leading economist Professor Ian Harper in a conversation chaired by Peter Mares.
About the speakers:
Jane-Frances Kelly, Grattan’s Cities Program Director, spent three years in the British Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. She has led strategy work for the UK, Queensland, Victorian and Commonwealth Governments. She also worked for The University of Melbourne, the Chief Commisioner for Victoria Police, Noel Pearson at the Cape York Institute, and the Boston Consulting Group.
Emeritus Professor Ian Harper is one of Australia’s best-known economists. He has worked at the highest level with governments, banks, corporations and leading professional services firms. He was at the forefront of financial market reform in Australia as a member of the celebrated Wallis Inquiry and was inaugural Chairman of the Australian Fair Pay Commission. After a 25-year career in academic life, Ian left the Melbourne Business School in 2008 to become a Director of Access Economics When Deloitte acquired Access in March 2011 Ian joined Deloitte Access Economics as a Partner.
Peter Mares joined Grattan Institute as Cities Program Fellow in early 2012 after a career as a reporter and presenter with the ABC.
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Registration at 5.45 pm
Seminar 6 – 7 pm
Melbourne, VIC 3000
The event will also be streamed live
When & Where
Grattan Institute is based in Melbourne, Australia, and was launched in 2008 with strong support from both the private and public sectors. It aims to focus on the important rather than the urgent. The things that could make a difference to the well-being of Australians over the long run, not distracted by three year electoral cycles. Since launch, Grattan Institute has established a profile as a leader of independent analysis of Australian domestic public policy. It aims to influence both public discussion and senior decision-makers. | <urn:uuid:49a5ca81-473c-490c-92c8-a838d3ed6af9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://grattan-social-cities.eventbrite.com.au/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95062 | 621 | 1.804688 | 2 |
One of the in-vogue euphamisims for design contests is ‘crowd sourcing’ and there’s a ton of related sites popping up all over the interwebs. The concept of crowdsourcing is simple – would-be buyers post design gigs on a bulletin boards and would-be ‘designers’ post concepts and designs, hoping to ‘win’ the gig. Like most design contest models, crowdsourcing sites are rife with rip-offs, knock-offs and purloined design work. One of the newer ones is Lime Exchange – a new crowd sourcing site created by the developers of Limewire (one of the only peer-to-peer sharing platforms left after the RIAA crackdown) and like most crowdsharing and logo design contest sites, we were able to find examples of our work being pawned off to unsuspecting buyers. This time it’s a logo for a Chinese restaurant, a logo design gig that boasts a princely budget of $15.00. That’s right. Fifteen bucks. Amazingly, at time of writing, the project has 99 entries.
Trouble is, one of the entries (posted by some cat in Hyderabad, India calling him/herself Vvdesigns) is a complete knock-off from our Daily Logo archives, a design we created for an oriental cooking show back in 2004. There is a certain amount of irony in the way Lime Exhange previews the images on their site – each features a Lime Exchange watermark, ostensibly to prevent anyone from ripping off their designs.
Shouldn’t come as a shock that not too many ‘designers’ are going to give a design project their all for the price of lunch. Nor, should it be terribly surprising that those that do enter their logos are going to take every shortcut they can, including pinching related logos from other websites, usually found through a Google image search. Guess I wouldn’t mind about all this hackery, if such sites weren’t marketed as a so-called alternative to working with legitimate professional designers.
But they are.
So I do.
Setting some sort of record, yet another design pinched from our galleries has been entered into the Lime Exchange contest outlined above. See Design Crowdsourcing Part Deux for more.
Related: I want a logo just like theirs.
- Design crowdsourcing part deux
- Defending crowdsourcing & design contests. The platitudes of spec work.
- Twitter graphic $6 proof that design crowdsourcing works? Not quite.
- Children designers on design contest & crowdsourcing sites?
- Forbes: Why designers hate crowdsourcing | <urn:uuid:0bb29a0a-8a4f-4603-a06f-43f5747f3d36> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thelogofactory.com/logo_blog/index.php/design-crowd-sourcing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939273 | 558 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Q: What remedies exists with acupuncture to treat the
side affects of anti-seizure meds?
There are quite a few, but of course, which one would depend
specifically on what the side effects are, and what we interpret the cause
For instance, if your anti seizure meds cause you to feel
muddy in the head or fatigued and otherwise out of sorts, we might look at
this as a phlegm or damp problem of the digestion rising to the brain. So,
we'd give you something to dry the damp and strengthen the digestion.
We'd have to start out with symptoms, and then check you
out to see what's causing it, though behind that we'd understand that the
drugs are responsible, but the idea is to find out what effect the drugs are
having on your body and then treat that especially if the drugs are required
to protect yourself from seizures.
One drug could effect one person one way and another
person another way. So, we'd always need to talk to you in depth before
prescribing an herbal or acupuncture prescription.
We can definitely help with herbs, and maybe help with the
acupuncture, depending on what the symptoms really are.
Can acupuncture help relieve or minimize snoring?
It's really a question of why you are snoring. If it is worse with
stress, then acupuncture can help. If it is worse when you're fatigued, we
might look to herbal medicines to give you more energy. This wouldn't really
keep you awake, but it would give your oral muscles more tonicity which
might prevent them from getting all flaccid and obstructing the airway.
Those are two possible solutions. There are others, but
again, it really comes down to what is the cause of the problem rather than
just the symptom.
About our Doctors
This month's Ask the
Doctors questions were answered by:
Al Stone, L.Ac.
Beyond Well Being
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicines
Santa Monica, CA. | <urn:uuid:275bd2bd-44d3-47e5-b021-fb2aad5e73fb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://acupuncture.com/newsletters/m_feb06/askdoc.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944413 | 430 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Thread: Mystery Snail Died
01-27-2013, 09:29 PM #1
Mystery Snail Died
Came downstairs this morning to find the shell of my mystery snail completely empty. It took a while but I found some remains stuck to the back of the filter. There was about a 3rd of a chewed up body left.
I immediately checked the water and ammo-0/nitrite-0/nitrate-10. I dont think any of the fish could have pulled him from his shell unless he was already dead. Do mystery snails ever vacate shells of their own accord?55 Gallon Freshwater Tank (semi-planted) 48"x21"x13"
Video of 55GAL Tank - DEC 2012
01-27-2013, 09:42 PM #2
Have you checked if theres any copper in the water? I'd start there.20 gallon tall: moderately planted with 11 blood fin tetra
10 gallon QT: empty
01-27-2013, 11:22 PM #3
How long did you have the snail? They burn out after about a year, at least that's what I've read. They need a dormant period with cooler water, which they don't get in tropical aquariums. So he may have been dead, and then the shell was cleaned out by an ambitious fish. I have never heard of a snail leaving its own shell.
Many types of medication can also hasten snail demise. At any rate, sorry about your snail. And sorry that the end result was quite...gruesome (I'd imagine that body wasn't exactly pleasant to find).Beth
1 - 55 gallon planted community
3 - 10 to 20 gallon planted betta tanks
My advice: slow down, think, and be willing to learn. Then you'll be fine, no matter what.
01-27-2013, 11:23 PM #4
unlike hermit crabs, snails cannot vacate their shells without sustaining major damage.
How old is the snail? mystery snails have quite short lifespans in aquaria due to the lack of hibernation/aestivation
periods they would go through to "rejuvenate" in the wild. copper might be another possibility but on the other hand your snail has been living in your water for a while(or so I assume).
maybe inquire for any changes/construction projects aon your water mains?
EDIT: argh! ninja'd by BethyMT
01-27-2013, 11:52 PM #5
+1 to above, mystery snails cannot leave there shells they are attached and would die immediately. I had a huge mystery snail die after about a year or so of constant egg laying and she was unfortunately ripped apart by a hungry betta the way you have described. If your parameters are good which they are and you have seen it eat then it was probably just time. They do need to be fed however, they cannot simply live off the algae in the tank like other snails. They go crazy for algae wafers, other people suggest fresh vegetables but mine never responded.
01-28-2013, 12:24 PM #6
I got the Snail back in September, and it was relatively sizable when I got it. However, my theory is that it didnt get enough to eat. I put plenty of sinking algae wafers and veggies in the tank, but I never saw the snail ever get of it. I saw the nerites on the cucumber plenty of times but the battle of the wafer between the gourami, the algae eater, and the clown pleco makes it difficultfor a snail to get any.55 Gallon Freshwater Tank (semi-planted) 48"x21"x13"
Video of 55GAL Tank - DEC 2012 | <urn:uuid:d2ed793d-acf9-4dba-907d-4bd8dfb5a94e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=109841&goto=nextoldest | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970445 | 800 | 1.65625 | 2 |
When sweeping cybersecurity legislation failed to advance in the Senate in August, it went down with a barrage of finger-pointing and posturing. And aides from both parties say that nothing really has changed since it was filibustered.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is looking to revive the Cybersecurity Act as soon as this week, which seems optimistic given that he had also promised to take up the bill at the beginning of 2012; it didn’t hit the floor until July.
Over the summer, neither side could agree to a set list of amendments. Republicans wanted to tack on provisions dealing with the health care law and abortion. A group of Democrats tried attaching a gun-control amendment.
Last month, Reid accused Republicans of engaging in “tea party-motivated obstruction” over the summer and said that the GOP would have “one more chance to back their words with action” on the issue after the November elections.
Substantive disagreements about the legislation are also unresolved.
Democrats, backed by the White House, are pushing for minimum security standards for certain critical infrastructure companies, such as those that run electric grids or nuclear-power plants. Democrats say they have already compromised by making those standards voluntary instead of enforceable.
Republicans, supported by many businesses and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, say even voluntary standards could become de facto government regulation, which would only burden companies and do nothing to secure U.S. computer networks from cyberattacks.
Unlike in August, the lame-duck debate will take place in the shadow of an impending executive order by the Obama administration that would establish a system of voluntary standards.
The White House says that Congress will still need to act to fully address some issues, including information-sharing among businesses and government, as well as federal information-security policies. But White House officials say they’re not holding their breath.
“Unfortunately, the current prospects for a comprehensive bill are limited and the risk is too great for the administration not to act,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden told National Journal Daily. Even if the bill fails to clear the Senate again, it could provide the White House with more political cover for moving forward with an executive order.
All of this sets the stage for additional political posturing, said James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“By accident, they could pass a symbolic bill, but I think the main goal is to score points off the other sides,” he said. “Why, at this point, they want to do that, I don’t know.” | <urn:uuid:896a162e-e046-47d0-a56d-618fa8cfc9a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2012/11/cybersecurity-bills-outlook-still-bleak/59500/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969901 | 543 | 1.625 | 2 |
|Concentrated on Falling Apart
Author: Shampoo Suicide PM
Once upon a time there was a boy name Mike who liked to count the bones in his rib cage through his shirt.Rated: Fiction T - English - Angst - Words: 1,816 - Reviews: 25 - Favs: 18 - Published: 11-11-03 - Status: Complete - id: 1444555
|A+ A- Full 3/4 1/2 Expand Tighten|
Once upon a time there was a boy named Mike who liked to count the bones in his ribcage through his shirt. It was much more interesting to him than whatever book his English teacher was droning about. Mike hated his teacher's lifeless, monotone voice. It bored him, and made him think of getting out of class. Which made him think of lunch, which made him count his ribs again even though he'd already counted them forty-two times. The number of bones never changed, and he liked that. Consistency was good.
The bell finally rang, and despite wishing for it all ninety minutes of the class, Mike was in no real hurry to leave. The others can't know though, he thought, rushing out of class first, as usual. It was all part of his act, his game. He was getting good, he thought about being an actor. He decided not to, everyone would want to touch him, and talk to him, and know about him. Mike just couldn't handle that. He stopped walking to consider waiting for one of his friends, and decided against it. He determined it wasn't a good day for socializing too much, and made his way to the cafeteria.
The smells of people, and food, and all the body spray the girl in front of him had probably poured on herself nearly made him run out of the cafeteria less than a few seconds after entering. But a friend spotted him, so Mike played nice and joined him in the long lunch line. He kept his arms close to himself, and concentrated on not getting touched more so than he did whatever his friend Nick was saying. That was okay though, Nick just liked to hear his own voice. Mike noticed this, as he was very observant.
He and Nick left the cafeteria after what seemed like hours in that cramped noisy line. They headed outside towards the rest of their friends, and Mike felt he could breathe again. Mike enjoyed being outside, though you wouldn't know it from how pale he was.
Nick offered him a french-fry, dripping with ketchup and oil and probably other things that made Mike's head hurt to think about. He was about to decline, then noticed they were only a few steps away from all their friends, so it was show time. Mike held the fry in two fingers, wanting to grimace but suppressing the urge. He placed it in his mouth, the flavor of potato, ketchup, and something spicy exploding on his tongue.
It slid down his throat like a razor blade.
Mike had to admit, though, it tasted much better than he imagined a razor blade did. He pictured the french-fry slicing up his insides on its voyage of digestion. The thought disgusted him and hungered him at the same time. He reached for another fry, and Nick didn't notice because he was talking. Nick may have liked the sound of his own voice, but Mike realized he surely didn't. He grabbed more fries as his friends laughed at something he missed, but he wasn't too upset as it was probably stupid. Maybe it's me, he thought, and he stopped chewing. Mike was ashamed suddenly. He tried to recall how many he'd eaten, and suddenly felt very sick when he thought about it.
Mike never lost control. Well, not in front of anyone before, anyway. He pictured himself on one of the various occasions he was locked in his room, giving in to the evil messages his body was sending him. Eat, eat, eat; so he did, a lot, even things he didn't like, like those molasses cookies his mom pigged out on. Then, he'd snap out of his food-induced trance and realize he'd broken the rules of his own game. Then he'd cry, and that always made him sick too, like a freaking girl.
But he always fixed it, and he knew he'd have to now. Mike dropped Nick's fries, and ignoring the annoyed shouts Nick directed to him, ran inside the school. He ran so fast he couldn't hear the squeaky voice of the teacher on hall duty telling him he needed a hall pass, well at least that's what he'd tell her after he got out of the bathroom.
Mike dropped to his knees in front of a toilet. He was an expert at this now, so it didn't take long at all for him to be free of the poison he'd allowed into his own body. He flushed the toilet with a shaking hand, and pulled his knees to his chest, and cried. Not loudly though, just like at home. Someone might hear him. And indeed, Mike heard footsteps a second later, and he tried to silence himself, tears still running down his face.
"Mike?" he heard Nick call, the footsteps stopping. "I know you're in here, I asked the lady in the hallway if a little twig with curly blond hair had run by."
Twig. Right. Mike clutched his sides, and his fingers ran over his ribcage. He had a long way to go still.
"Mike! Talk to me."
"Go to hell," Mike replied.
Nick walked to the last stall, and the smirk wiped off his face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm sick or something."
"You were fine a minute ago," Nick said, observing his friend curled into a ball on the bathroom floor. Mike had always been small, but he'd never seen him so fragile looking, his skinny arms wrapped around his small frame, bloodshot blue eyes and a wet face. Mike wiped at his eyes, and stood to go to the sink.
"I'm okay, I promise," Mike smiled, after washing out his mouth. He swore to himself he'd never eat at school again; throwing up was even more disgusting when he didn't have a toothbrush handy.
"Did you puke or something?"
Mike fidgeted. "I just ate too many of your fries. Made me sick."
"You had about ten, dude," Nick frowned.
Mike felt a stabbing pain in his stomach. He just couldn't win, his body punished him when he ate, and when he didn't. "Just because you can eat a lot doesn't mean everyone else wants to stuff themselves," he snapped.
Nick snorted. "What, are you on a fucking diet? Like a girl?"
"Being skinny makes me a girl?" Mike was used to being charged with femininity. If being masculine meant filling himself with all that junk, he'd much rather not be.
"Dude, no…it's just…girls loose weight and shit. You don't even need a fucking diet."
"I'm not on a diet," Mike replied, and he really wasn't. Diets were for shallow quitters. Dieters were jealous over the control he had over his body. Mike smiled proudly, making a mental note to weigh himself as soon as he got home.
Nick shifted uncomfortably. "Well. Good. You don't need one…so, you sure you're okay?"
Mike's stomach rumbled violently. "I'm sure."
Mike lied under his covers, shivering. The house had been a lot colder lately, but everyone complained when he turned the heat up. It had taken a lot of work for his mom to excuse him from dinner. They were having pizza. And that was supposed to be his favorite food. Mike couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten pizza. He closed his eyes and saw steam rising from a golden crust, cheese melted and bubbling over the red sauce that he could smell.
He definitely wasn't hungry.
He'd weighed himself; he was at eighty-nine pounds now. Sixteen less than he'd started with. He couldn't believe his stomach thought—as it truly must have had a mind of its own—that he'd throw all that away for a slice of pizza.
He didn't want any, it would drip all over him with cheese and oil and sauce. It would brand him with its scent, its taste. Marking him a loser. A fat loser who couldn't even stop himself from eating when he didn't even need to.
Perhaps I can't, he thought, spotting a box of donuts he'd snuck up to his room a week ago.
Mike walked over to the box quietly. He could hear the donuts mocking him, laughing at his lack of control.
He wanted to devour them even more.
He nibbled at one, imagining the fat cells it was creating growing, multiplying, and finally exploding until he died.
Or worse, got fat.
Because, if he got fat everyone would know that he had no self-restraint.
He locked his door, and finished the donut.
His fingers slid up his shirt. He felt his ribs jutting out like a badge of honor. He could feel skin and flesh begin to cover them, just from looking at the glazed donuts, sitting there in their stale glory. His brain sent him messages to eat and not to eat all at once. The donuts sang his name. He couldn't feel his ribs. He saw the scale going to three hundred.
He took another donut. He had to. There was an uneven number in the box with only one missing. Mike hated odd numbers.
Mike didn't eat it though. He dropped it into the toilet. That's where it would've ended up anyway, and it's where its companion was headed as he stuck two fingers down his throat.
His eyes watering and his hand and mouth dirty, he leaned against the wall. The scale in the corner of the bathroom congratulated him. It encouraged him to step on, and make sure he still had things under control.
Eighty-nine pounds. One away from eighty-eight, and three away from eighty-six.
He leaned on the wall, and slid down to the floor. He felt a little dizzy, too tired to hold his body up anymore
It must have been all the excess weight.
Mike comforted himself with the knowledge he'd soon be free of the excess fat, and he could hold himself up tall and proud. He'd just have to keep everything consistent; the number of ribs he felt, the amount of food he ate—or didn't, the pattern of his weight loss.
He felt himself growing tired, too tired to even hold his eyes open. As he fought with his body he couldn't help thinking, I'm really happy when I'm in control.
Mike passed out on the bathroom floor, his head hitting the scale. There was a smile on his face when they found him an hour later. | <urn:uuid:91e484f8-6973-40b6-8fa9-5ffc9f0043c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fictionpress.com/s/1444555/1/Concentrated-on-Falling-Apart | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.99553 | 2,322 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Famous explorers have flown from pole to pole. Icebreaking ships have churned from deepest south to farthest north. PBS and Michael Palin have even turned the top and bottom of the globe into comedy TV.
Still, I will not be deterred. So what if it's been done? I'm going to do it again, and do it my way.
My plan is this: I want to get as far from the equator as I can while staying where there are roads and towns and keeping to the Americas. I want to explore not ice caps, but the extremes of where people and animals live year round.
And I want to do both South and North in one month.
Day of the Penguin First, I spend a week in Patagonia, about as far down as you can get without hitting Antarctica. And I am prepared. Thinking palm trees and coffee plantations, I have stuffed a suitcase with T-shirts and shorts. It is only the first of October, after all.
But when I get to the town of Punta Arenas at Chile's southernmost tip, I am reminded about changing hemispheres. Instead of mellow early fall, it is the edge of spring here, in the 30s, and a tigerish wind growls all night long.
Despite the cold, I am instructed to rub on sunscreen. ''The hole in the ozone," warns our guide, Enidio Villanueva. ''Not just Antarctica. It is here."
The airport and the town are home to hardly anyone who knows English, yet I am welcomed by Dunkin' Donuts franchises around every turn. Chilean coffee tastes awful, but I could, if I wanted, get some Munchkinos and a bebida (beverage) for little over a dollar.
Our little tour group loads up a bus named ''Teresa Fernandez" -- we can tell this from a handwritten sign up front -- and after a ride to the town of Puerto Natales, a beat-up Land Rover bangs and bounces us into the terrain of Torres del Paine National Park.
The scenery spreading out is like a mix of Scotland and Alaska. The torres themselves (blue towers) look more like jagged horns than mountains, and the lakes are all an impossible blue from the minerals that tint them.
Everywhere are herds of guanaco, cousins of the llama, posing like lookouts at the tops of ravines to make sure we drive on.
We hike to a lime-colored waterfall where puffs of wind shower us with gravel -- painful pieces -- and with icy foam. Reminded of Christmas, we look up and point at sprigs of mistletoe in the branches of the trees.
Southern Patagonia has its own ice field, like Antarctica or Greenland, and after a bus ride into Argentina, we are suiting up to walk around on top of the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, considered one of the country's great natural wonders. We've got to take a boat from near the town of El Calafate that sails through crme de menthe and lands us at the base of a jaggedly-frozen cliff-sized Carvel dessert.
The glacier top is pointy and pure white, but the cracks in it are inflatable-pool blue. As a new set of guides is outfitting us with crampons, we hear a boom like thunder. It is Perito Moreno grumbling. He is not pleased.
Up we stomp, crampons cutting into slush, and worrying about the sign warning of how tourists have been killed. ''Danger," it said simply. ''When ice breaks, pieces of it are thrown violently dozens of meters away."
OK, I think. Walk and listen. We don't get flying ice, although climbing here turns out to be strange and dangerous. You can't rely on crampon edges as you would with skis, and you step over and around shiny aquamarine caves and deeply frozen holes like wells.
We scoop water from a cascade and pool that have been carved wildly by wind, water, and ice, and chip off pieces of the glacier itself, to taste. It is like a drink of winter.
The end of my Southern Hemisphere trip will be by sea. I am in Ushuaia, Argentina, which along with nearby Puerto Williams are the world's southernmost cities. Houses and hotels here are painted cheerfully, like props from an electric train set, but there is barely enough time to get them on film.
I am boarding the Mare Australis, a not very big but shipshape Chilean cruise ship that will take me ''around the Horn." Cape Horn. The Strait of Magellan. Beagle Channel, named for the ship that brought Charles Darwin here.
All of those famous names make me feel like an actual ocean explorer, and by mistake, I am assigned the cabin reserved for the ship's chief engineer, who apparently is not on board. The captain's stateroom is directly across the hall, and right next door I push open a hatch that says ''Puente." When I see a polished wheel I know I am sleeping inches from ''the bridge."
Passing Cape Horn, the southernmost continental tip, the water gets choppy right at the point where Atlantic blends into Pacific. We can see a clearing and a monument on the Cape itself. It is in the shape of an albatross, and all around us the real things, with their mighty wingspans, wheel and dive. Scores of ships have cracked up on the rocks just below.
When the ship gets to Wulaia Bay -- an amazing purple and gray place with far-off snow caps -- we passengers load into motorized rubber rafts for a hike on shore. If we fall into the ice-chunk-cluttered water, I am told, we will shortly die, even though we are outfitted with the cruise line's rain slickers, fishermen's overalls, and Paddington-bear-style boots.
We look at one another, and we look at the water, and we grab on.
The last of our shore trips lands us on the beaches of Magdalena Island early in the morning. This is just a lump in the sea, but it is populated with penguins -- breeding Magellan penguins who are busy shoveling trenches for eggs or walking around the island single file.
''Pinginos," says the guide from the ship, Mauricio. ''Muchos pinginos." One hundred twenty thousand, we are told, plus thousands of dangerous mounds of guano and thousands upon thousands of holes. ''Do not use the flash," instructs Mauricio. ''Why? Because the flash, it is not good for the eyes of the penguin."
The Eyes of the Penguin, I think. It sounds like a spy movie, and in fact I start to feel the eyes of black-and-white-striped penguins upon me as I trudge around in my boots. They look as if they are tussling with their beaks, or nuzzling, or settling back to emit their cries like notes from a kazoo.
But I know better. They are watching. Like the guanaco lookouts. Like the Perito Moreno Glacier that, as we approached it, was not pleased. ''You are a northerner," they would say if only I could understand them. ''You have seen enough of our southern world. It is time for you to go."
Night of the Polar BearBottom of the world: Been there, done that. Now, bring on the top.
It is still October, but late in the month, and I sign up for an adventure tour to the not-quite-North Pole. You can get farther north, in Alaska, Canada, and elsewhere, but I don't have much time, so I go for an organized trip, one that has us aiming for bear. Polar bears, that is, roaming the subarctic tundra near the outpost of Churchill, Manitoba.
When I look at a map, I note that the Arctic Circle is at latitude 66.6. Churchill, on the western edge of Hudson Bay, sits at 60. I throw in wool socks.
In Winnipeg, it is snowing already. We cram into a chartered prop plane that says on its side that it is run by ''Calm Air." The flight is punctuated by jolts that throw my orange juice into the aisle.
I try to distract myself with the in-flight magazine. ''Winter Living," teases the cover. ''Cure your cabin fever! Cook up comfort food! Cool cold-weather clothes!" It's going to be a very long ride.
Churchill, I discover, is a scattering of streets and insulated sheds, but it is also where polar bears arrive each fall in late October and early November to wait for Hudson Bay to freeze. As soon as it does, they pad out onto the ice to hunt seals.
Tundra, tundra everywhere. Our guide up here, a German named Matthias Breiter, tells us that ''tundra" is the land that doesn't have any trees and that the patches with scraggly forest are called ''taiga."
Forest? You can spot a few toothbrush-thin spruce trying to grow. But mostly there is wind and snow and a kind of distant cousin of daylight. I check my watch: 1:43 p.m. According to the light, it should be at least 5 o'clock.
On the ride from the airport we all yell and point. Three shapes that look like pictures in calendars plod along by the side of the road. It is a mother bear and cubs. Lens caps are dropped, windows on the bus are ajar, and shutters snap and snap.
These are not zoo bears. Not at all. Their fur is puffy, not yellowish or matted. And while the cubs are shy, their mom is confident and alert, like a cop on the beat.
We are in her world now, and it is we who unload our bags into a kind of cage. Our home for five days will be a specially-built, movable tundra lodge: four train-style cars linked together and jacked up on huge ATV wheels. There are Pullman-like bunkrooms for tourists, there are lounge and dining cars, there are decks with steel gratings, and there are polar bears.
Bears licking the tires under the lodge. Bears snuffling inches from our shoes out on deck. Bears growling and arguing. And bears staring up the open drains when you are trying to get clean. When I take a shower, I look down while rinsing the shampoo from my hair and see a medium-sized male watching carefully from below.
Every night we look at northern lights -- a glow-in-the-dark Frankensteinian green. Every day, we pile into a moon-buggy to ride away from the lodge in search of yet more bears. The buggy is cold, and we get bitten by an arctic wind that whistles with the zest of the insane.
Someone shouts about a snowy owl they can see. Maybe it's a rock, we say. It is probably an owl, decides our guide. When it tips its feathery head we know for sure.
Seconds later we spot an arctic fox that pops up, then disappears behind a bank of snow. He is whiter than the white of the landscape and surprisingly small. My cat, Sam, outweighs him by a good five pounds, but this fox is fast -- trotting and darting until he is out of sight.
Our last day of the tour is spent in town, and we are warned that there can be bears in Churchill, too.
The last time anyone got mauled here was in 1983, we are told. For reasons no one can explain, a local man went for a walk at night after filling his pockets with meat. A polar bear ate him and the pocketed meat as a single meal.
None of this is reassuring, and we look carefully around corners and spend a lot of our time inside bars and stores.
Aggressive Churchill bears end up locked inside a former military hangar. And now and then, on crisp and clear afternoons, they are given an extra-large dose of something to relax them and then are helicoptered far from town.
Before our group heads to the airport, we go to a hangar to see a deeply slumbering bear as he is stretched out into a hammock-like net, winched up by the copter, and then swung, high and swaying, into the blue-black arctic dome.
''Calm air," I say to myself. Calm air.
Peter Mandel of Providence writes children's books, including ''My Ocean Liner" (Stemmer House). | <urn:uuid:3969eb75-cf54-4dee-91a0-2797946d2b3a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/adventure/articles/2003/12/21/the_ends_of_the_world/?camp=pm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955826 | 2,689 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Jennifer Love Hewitt had the media buzzing this weekend after the newly svelte actress was scrutinized for offering a contradictory message to fans regarding body image - but she wasn’t the first. This gallery showcases many celebrities and their unhealthy weight fluctuations.
Typically, these fluctuations are driven by the need to fit a particular character for a movie… But the impact of dramatic shifts hitting the tabloids can have ripples into pop culture and the self-perception of teens. In the case of Jennifer Love Hewitt, the impact was exacerbated by the fact that she stated that it was okay to be large and beautiful and then she celebrated her dramatic weight loss on the cover of US Magazine.
The constant rise and fall of body mass indexes is as common in Hollywood as it is in real life North America, as well as other western parts of the world. Much of this confusion has to do with how the media portrays diet, fitness, exercise and overall well-being.
ABC News posted a slideshow of “Stars and the Weight Flux,” some of which can be seen in the gallery, including the dramatic transformations of Janet Jackson.
A huge proportion of magazines on the shelves tell you how to “get killer abs,” or “tone your hips and shape your butt,” while another large chunk encourages you to “embrace your curves,” and “love your feminine shape.”
The incredible popularity of an annual swimsuit issues further supports the argument that people are obsessed with celebrity role models, as many people use media figures as a measuring stick for what body shape is acceptable for them.
The Jennifer Love Hewitt controversy is an incredibly good example of the baffled messaged the media has left us with. Destining us to this state of disarray both feeds, then starves us, of the guidance we seek to live a life in balance.
How YOU feel at any time, now or in the future, is nothing the media will ever be able to answer for you.
10 Hollywood Weight Fluctuations
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More Stats +/- | <urn:uuid:e0c5fe41-e8ba-4161-b451-59aaadc70e81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jennifer-love-hewitt-weight-loss-pictures | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958712 | 434 | 1.601563 | 2 |
I got a tweet from Britain saying that Michael Gove, the minister of education, has approved three new schools for state funding that teach creationism as science.
We know that Gove has been consulting with Joel Klein and the leaders of KIPP and has expressed great interest in charter schools. This seems to be the next step.
It does make you wonder if the world is spinning backwards. When will we see a replay of the Scopes trial?
I was re-reading Albert Shanker’s columns from the late 1990s this morning, and he warned that the greatest danger of the charter school idea was that each would “do its own thing,” have its own curriculum, and even its own version of truth. He was right.
UPDATE: Here is another view of creationism in UK schools: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/18/creationist-free-schools-hysteria?intcmp=239
We must remember that US debates are different from those played out in other nations. | <urn:uuid:9a6a9b62-3c5b-4f9f-abf6-27617f12cd49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dianeravitch.net/2012/07/31/creationism-in-uk-schools-too/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981252 | 224 | 1.5625 | 2 |
From a purely selfish point of view, I think the best news to come out of Wu Yi’s visit to Washington was a deal to add 13 more daily flights to China by US carriers by 2012. Currently, there are only 10 routes per day, and so the competition for new ones is always ferocious. For example, last year, the FAA awarded a Beijing-Washington, D.C. route to United Airlines after a bitter contest between carriers that included online petitions with thousands of signatories.
It’s not entirely clear to me how the FAA chooses carriers and routes, but my impression is that the agency evaluates the proposals on the basis of whether they fulfill an actual market or political need. Thus, during the last round, a proposed China route originating from Dallas/Forth Worth didn’t make the cut, but one connecting the two national capitols did.
That’s all fine and good. Markets and politics should play a role in the choice of new routes. But I think that there’s a role for other criteria, as well: namely, past performance and customer service by the bidding airlines.
So I sincerely hope that the FAA does not award Northwest Airlines any of the new China routes until it makes a concerted effort to improve its services on its current China routes (recent reports in the Minneapolis Star Tribune suggest that Northwest would like the new routes very much, indeed). Two areas of needed improvement:
1. Northwest currently operates a Detroit-Shanghai round-trip, and though it has the right to operate it non-stop, the flight stops in Tokyo, where passengers must disembark the plane, go through airport security, and then find the gate for the new plane. This is not a non-stop, and in my opinion, if Northwest wants receive the right to new routes, it should have to operate this one as non-stop.
2. Northwest’s daily flights in and out of Shanghai’s Pudong Airport are flown on aging 747s that look like they could have been used as the set for Airplane (1980). The upholstery is often worn and ragged, headphone jacks barely work, and the flight attendants … well, I’ll leave that for another post. These same planes are used for – in my experience – the Tokyo routes to Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Detroit (the aforementioned “direct” flight between Shanghai and Detroit). Unlike most other international carriers and routes- including those run by Northwest’s competitors – the 747s do not have seat-back in-flight entertainment for coach passengers. In fact, I’ve found that Chinese airlines operate newer aircraft on their China-US than the ones that Northwest operates!
In other words, Northwest is shamelessly milking these routes for every last penny of trans-Pacific revenue, customer comfort be damned. Profiteering is the right of all American airlines, and lord knows they do it with impunity.
So, just this once, couldn’t the FAA exercise its right to take into consideration ever aspect of an airline’s service record when awarding new business? Theoretically, at least, the agency should be choosing the routes on the basis of what passengers need – comfort, quality, safety, and convenience – and not on the basis of what the airlines need. Naive, I know, but as a Northwest frequent flier, I can hope. | <urn:uuid:876a4dfe-0d0a-4015-ac29-3053c236c33c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shanghaiscrap.com/2007/05/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952235 | 703 | 1.578125 | 2 |
One coffeehouse customer’s random act of kindness went viral—resulting in hours of free beverages for hundreds of fellow patrons who couldn’t resist the urge to pass along the generosity.
On the morning of Dec. 21, a customer at a Tim Hortons in Winnipeg Canada decided to pay for the order of the person behind them in line. The customer on the receiving end was so moved they, in turn, decided to pay for the customer behind them in line.The trend continued for three hours and exactly 228 customers.
"It isn't uncommon for Tim Hortons customers to pay for the next person in line, but this was a real gift," Michelle Robichaud, a spokeswoman for the company, told the Winnipeg Free Press. "It was a boost of goodness, especially with everything happening in the world. ... We don't know who started it, but that's the beauty of this act of generosity. It was the start of something wonderful."
"There was a lot of energy in the store," manager Tony Thompson told the paper. "Our team was really excited and shouting out the number of pay it forwards all morning." | <urn:uuid:f20dcadd-9532-4fa5-ad1c-10e00f30ded6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1128536-paying-it-forward/page__pid__595425202?forceDownload=1&_k=880ea6a14ea49e853634fbdc5015a024 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982538 | 234 | 1.742188 | 2 |
So now that the banks are actually getting their hands on some of that $700 billion in government bailout money, we'll see if it's going to alleviate the financial crisis (CRISIS! That's kind of fun—maybe I should make this a tabloid) that's been the big story this year. (So far: maybe, maybe not.) Voices on all sides have been screaming that the bailout plan is neither fair nor equitable, and I wholeheartedly agree, but my hopelessly fiscally pragmatic brain does keep injecting the caveats that a) the alternative is another depression, which, according to my grandparents, pretty much sucked, and b) truly fair and equitable depression prevention would require the use of a time machine, which probably—let's face it—would be manufactured in China. So I'm inclined to see this a chance for skill development, in particular a skill that Americans have historically lacked: learn something for the next time around.
One initial takeaway should be a better intuitive sense of what it's like to live in a consumer-driven as opposed to a production-driven economy. In spite of the fact that the American economy has been driven by consumption for well over a century now, my sense is that most people still retain production-based assumptions about the way the economy works. But note that the current difficulties are not the result of people not producing enough stuff—that question hasn't even been on the table. It's that they're not spending enough—the baseline amount of moving money required to keep the economy going is now so high that, if banks stop lending money out for people to spend, there isn't enough money in the system left to move.
Here's an example. In between the U.S. House of Representatives rejecting the bailout and then, a few days later, approving it, one of the data points I heard illustrating the deepening crisis was that McDonald's franchisees were finding it near-impossible to secure small-business loans in order to upgrade their restaurants to include Starbucks-like McCafés. To me, that's the American economy in a nutshell—maintaining a free enough flow of money that people can easily buy and sell stuff they don't really need. I'm not trying to make a moral judgment here. (I love me my small vices and creature comforts, after all.) I am trying to point out that, in a consumer-driven economy, the movement of money is more important than its destination.
Given that this is a classical music blog, I should probably try and connect this with classical music, right? And it's easy. The economic categorization of music is always iffy, but if you look at music as a product rather than a service, it's awfully close to pure consumption. People pay, people get paid, and all for a product that's so intangible it disappears as soon as it's created. (Compare to the main culprit in the current mess, the housing market, in which there are large, physical objects that have depreciated below the paper value of the debt connected with them.) A typical symphonic concert throws producers, consumers, philanthropists, and government funding onto the dance floor with a minimum of financial friction. One of the supposed economic drawbacks of live music has always been that you don't get anything concrete for your money; but given the current molasses-in-January state of the economy, isn't that a simplifying advantage? I smell a marketing opportunity. | <urn:uuid:dccaf9ea-ad96-4040-8191-c250656e681a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sohothedog.blogspot.com/2008/10/coffee-in-cardboard-cup.html?showComment=1224097860000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971252 | 706 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Collaborators - Canadian Universities
Howard Adelman is the founding director of the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University and is currently a Research Professor at the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. He has published or edited 21 books and well over 100 academic articles in refereed journals or as chapters in books. In the area of forced migration, his current work focuses on refugee protection and the rights of return. He also writes on genocide and on the ethics of intervention.
Ranu Basu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at York University. Her research and teaching interests relate to the geographies of marginality, diversity and social justice in cities; power relations and governance of local communities; critical geographies of education; and spatial methodologies. Her current projects explore the impacts of educational restructuring in Ontario; multiculturalism in schools; social sustainability and public space in three Canadian Cities; and the provision of infrastructure for marginal groups in York Region.
Catherine Dauvergne is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Migration Law at the University of British Columbia. She was previously a member of the Faculty of Law, University of Sydney. In 1995, she clerked for Chief Justice Antonio Lamer. At UBC, Prof. Dauvergne teaches Immigration and Refugee Law as well as legal theory courses. She was a member of the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies Early Career Researcher Associate Professor Cohort 2003-04.
Don Dippo is the Associate Dean of Education and a former elementary school teacher. His Ph.D. is in the Sociology of Education with specialization in the sociology of knowledge. He is the Education coordinator of the Graduate Diploma in Environmental/Sustainability Education offered by the Faculties of Education and Environmental Studies. He serves on the Executive Committees of the CITY Institute and the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University.
Martha Kumsa is an associate professor at the Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University. She is a former refugee who came to Canada under the Woman-at-Risk program. More than a woman-at-risk, however, she has also been involved in the production of knowledge in refugee studies. She has reflected on refugee experiences and critically engaged the various perspectives attempting to explain these experiences.
Audrey Macklin is an associate professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. From 1994-96, she served as a member of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board, where she adjudicated refugee claims. Her areas of teaching and scholarship include migration and citizenship, criminal law, law and culture, human rights and feminist legal theory. She has published extensively in legal and interdisciplinary publications.
Peter Nyers is Assistant Professor of the Politics of Citizenship and Intercultural Relations in the Department of Political Science at McMaster University. His research analyzes global refugee politics for their implications for sovereignty, citizenship, and human agency. His publications include Rethinking Refugees: Beyond States of Emergency (Routledge 2006) and Citizenship Between Past and Future (Routledge 2008; co-editors: Engin Isin and Bryan Turner) as well as book chapters and journal articles in Citizenship Studies, Economy & Society, International Political Sociology, Millennium: Journal of International Studies, Refuge, and Third World Quarterly. Dr. Nyers is the Associate Editor of the journal Citizenship Studies.
Obiora Okafor joined Osgoode Hall Law School after holding faculty positions at the University of Nigeria and Carleton University. He has served as an SSRC-MacArthur Foundation Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School's Human Rights Program and was recently named a Canada-US Fulbright Scholar at MIT. He is currently working on a SSHRC-funded study relating to human rights activism in Nigeria, as well as on a project examining the comparative character of refugee rights in the Canada and the USA post 9/11. He has served as an expert panellist for the United Nations Working Group on People of African Descent, and as a human rights consultant for the British Department for International Development. Professor Okafor has published extensively in the fields of international human rights law and refugee law, as well as general public international law.
Peter Penz is Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Environmental Studies and is continuing teaching and research. His current courses are Global Environmental Politics, Global Justice, and Humanitarian Crises. He is completing a book on the ethics of displacement by development. One of his future research interests is the likelihood of humanitarian crises due to climate change. He was Director of York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies 1999-2004.
Peter Showler teaches Immigration and Refugee Law and Advanced Refugee Law at the University of Ottawa. He is also Director of the Refugee Forum located at the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the university. Mr. Showler is a former Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. He has spoken and written extensively on various aspects of Refugee Law. He is also the author of Refugee Sandwich: Stories of Exile and Asylum.
James C. Simeon is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies, York University and a Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS) Scholar, at York University, Toronto, Canada. Immediately before joining the faculty at York University, he served as the first Executive Director of the International Association of Refugee Law Judges (IARLJ) and from 1994 to 2005, he served on the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). | <urn:uuid:60453d49-dda5-46eb-a848-50d0ac1c79f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.refugeeresearch.net/node/17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956805 | 1,137 | 1.648438 | 2 |
"Green Tier recognizes businesses like ABB New Berlin that have made the pledge to make sure the natural resources surrounding their operations are protected as they seek business changes. The community now knows this company is going after superior environmental performance as part of their pursuit of business excellence," Frank said of the program signed into law in 2004 by Gov. Jim Doyle. "This is not only good news for the business and its workers, but also for the community neighbors."
Aaaron Aleithe, general manager for the Low Voltage Drives business, one of five local business units within the campus, accepted the Green Tier certificate from Frank.
All ABB employees, more than 400 in total, from the businesses were welcomed at the event by Frank, Aleithe and fellow ABB
"This is an honor we all share," said Aleithe, in accepting the plaque. "New Berlin signed up for Green Tier in 2007, and the program has challenged our businesses to work very hard to exceed minimal environmental standards."
The work continues, said Aleithe, "but this is the first ABB site to receive this recognition -- and the first company in the city of New Berlin to participate in this program," he noted.
Superior Environmental Performance, While Improving the Bottom Line
DNR organized the program into two tiers of participation levels. Tier 1 is an entry level, designed to encourage innovation, collaboration and new environmental goal-setting. Tier 2 involves more rigorous participation requirements, places greater emphasis on superior environmental performance, and uses contracts as a means of providing regulatory flexibility that can be customized and proportional to a participant's environmental performance.
There are 33 Tier 1 participants, two Tier 2 participants, and five Green Tier Charters.
"Green Tier encourages greater environmental compliance with incentives," Frank said, adding the incentives include public recognition and a dedicated contact for that business with the agency. "This innovative partnership program also helps companies restoring natural resources."
Spelling Green at ABB New Berlin
As part of Green Tier, ABB New Berlin is continuing to reduce the facility's carbon footprint, via improving energy efficiency and improving product-shipping processes. "With the implementation of our ISO 14001 program in March of 1999, we have dedicated ourselves to continuous environmental improvement. ABB New Berlin has expanded its reuse and recycling programs, and reduced our chemical waste stream," said Kegel.
ABB New Berlin recently formed a new committee called "The Green Team," which has the stated mission "To preserve and protect what matters most by conserving resources through our products, processes, and people." The team, created by Rich Bizek, Rick Kegel, and Kathryn Schwab; dedicate their time and efforts to habitat conservation, waste reduction, energy conservation, and carbon-footprint reduction. All employees attending the event were given a reusable shopping bag and a 2009 "going green" calendar, as reminders to be more conscious of how recycle and re-use resources.
Wisconsin's DNR Green Tier program is based on a collaborative system of contracts and charters crafted jointly by participating businesses and the DNR. These contracts and charters streamline environmental requirements in many cases and encourage new environmental technologies. Green Tier is designed to help environmentally responsible companies achieve environmental and economic gains: www.greentier.wi.gov | <urn:uuid:c4af797a-3ca8-47f6-9941-59472cc15afd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mhwmag.com/article.cfm?id=25318 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955699 | 670 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Before the “manosphere” or the “red pill,” there was a Vietnam Veteran and doctor, Gordon Livingston. Dr. Livingston wrote one of the few modern books on wisdom.
1. If the map doesn’t agree with the ground, the map is wrong. The map every man has been taught to follow is, “Get married, have children, be a good man.” What happens to a man who follows that map?
2. We are what we do. We are not what we think, or what we feel, or what we say, we are what we do. Be a man of action.
3. It is difficult to remove by logic an idea not placed there by logic in the first place. Most of your views of the world (or maps, see rule 1) didn’t come to you after careful deliberation. You haven’t thought things through. You are doing what others have told you to do.
4. The statute of limitations has expired on most of our childhood traumas. Stop crying yourselves to sleep. You obviously didn’t kill yourself. So live.
5. Any relationship is under the control of the person who cares the least. You can’t get into trouble if you don’t care.
6. Feelings follow behavior. I’ve gone into the gym feeling shitty and hating life. I’ve never left the gym feeling so grim. What do will change how you feel. If you don’t like how you feel, stop reflecting (see rule 2, above). Instead, take action. Change your behavior. Do something.
Rule 6 applies to negative behavior. Have you ever left a meeting with a “friend” in a bad mood? Identify conduct that sours your mood. Then quit.
7. Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid. Boldness is exciting. Take a stroll through Silicon Valley. Young men who are excited about life and sincerely believe they will disrupt the world, even if they can’t find funding, find mentors. Even billionaires are looking for excitement. Provide that excitement and you will never sleep on the streets.
8. The perfect is the enemy of the good. Most guys say, “I need a perfect plan,” to rationalize being a pussy. Rather than taking action, they use that line as an excuse to wait. “I can’t hit on that girl, she’s not hot enough,” is said by the guy who won’t hit on any woman.
9. Life’s two most important questions are “Why?” and “Why not?” If someone can’t give you a good reason for doing something, they are using you.
10. Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses. If you take big risks, you assume risk. If you take no risks, you will gain no rewards.Shop at iHerb. | <urn:uuid:7f480e6e-4da0-4398-af52-c7b126d4d066> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dangerandplay.com/2012/07/03/too-soon-old-too-late-smart/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933027 | 630 | 1.539063 | 2 |
This plot of land where I have built my house
It is not mine,
To someone else it belongs.
I don’t get the orders of the zamindar
In whose domain my house stands
Nor can I see him
Such is my lot
To whom shall I complain!
I don’t sow as he wants
And all year round I reap nothing.
I pay all my rents
Yet the land is put on auction
I try hard to please him
Yet I don’t get his call!
Transcreation of one of the most famous folk songs of Bengal – Parer jayga parer jamin ghar banayia ami roi/amito sei gharer malik noi – by Hason Raja (1854-1922), a rustic song writer and composer, whom Rabindranath made internationally famous by mentioning his simple philosophy in his Hibbert Lectures ‘The Religion of Man’ delivered in 1930 at Manchester College, Oxford. | <urn:uuid:165d0b98-f8e2-4589-bf33-4c870e370792> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Poem&PoemID=9897 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930252 | 214 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Higher education and specialized job training in the Environmental Fields are growing to meet demand. Obtaining required licensing allows you to work as an employee or start your own business as an independent contractor. Some of these careers that require a contractor's license are in; waste management, recycling, air quality and emissions controls, water treatment, food inspections, home insulation, HAZMAT and environmental remediation.
Environmental Engineering, Legal and Science… Continue
Posted on November 19, 2008 at 1:30pm | <urn:uuid:94a86e69-e0b6-4f04-a18a-e1ce40a6a7f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://push.pickensplan.com/profile/FredDC | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941991 | 99 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Minnesota's higher education systems and the state launch Web site to aid "new Americans"
September 19, 2005
Contact: Melinda Voss, (651) 296-9443, email@example.com
Immigrants and refugees who relocate to Minnesota will now have a new online resource for information and services. Called "New to America," the online resource center is part of the ISEEK web-based education and career gateway that was developed out of a partnership between the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the University of Minnesota and the State of Minnesota.
"Whether from Africa, southeast Asia or other places around the world, Minnesota has a strong history as a warm and welcoming place for new immigrants and refugees," said University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks. "This new Web site is an important part of continuing that tradition."
James H. McCormick, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, added: "Providing easy access to educational opportunities and other services can make a critical difference as new immigrants and refugees adjust to life in Minnesota. This Web site should help them see that their dreams for a better life can become a reality."
The "New to America" addition to the ISEEK.org site features information on education, jobs, business development, cultural services, language resources, and legal services. ISEEK is the state's Web site for career, education, job and business development resources. The site resulted from a partnership with the state's two higher education systems, the Minnesota departments of Employment and Economic Development, Education, Administration and Office of Higher Education and the Minnesota Private College Council.
The "New to America" site can be accessed at www.iseek.org/sv/42200.jsp
ISEEK, the Internet System for Education and Employment Knowledge, is a Web-based gateway to Minnesota career, employment, education, and business development information and services. This system helps individuals and businesses make smart choices about careers, employment, education, and business growth.
The University of Minnesota is one of the most comprehensive public universities in the United States and ranks among the most prestigious. It is both the state land-grant university, with a strong tradition of education and public service, and the state's primary research university, with faculty of national and international reputation.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 130,000 students in non-credit courses. | <urn:uuid:a6a06442-d8e7-49bc-8613-10a5b8787a0b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mnscu.edu/media/newsreleases/2005/091905newamericans.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934946 | 527 | 1.703125 | 2 |
I just finished a book about Marion Davies. She was a very famous actress in the 1920's and '30's - both silent and sound films. She was also the life long mistress (it was a very open relationship) with William Randolph Hearst. For those of you who might not know he owned, among other things like hotels and such, several newspapers and built Hearst Castle - San Simeon.
In the book I read that Marion Davies trained in ballet with Theodore Kosloff, in Southern California. He and his wife, Alexandra Baldina, were part of the original group of dancers who left Russia with Diaghelev. Baldina was the original waltz girl in Fokine's Les Sylphides. My first teacher was a student of the Kosloff's. Agnes De Mille was also a student at that school.
I was really excited to read about this in the book - even just these tidbits. I would like to find out more information about the Kosloff school in LA.
So, I know I got side tracked here, but Marion Davies is another who got side-tracked...
Here's a site about: Marion Davies
and some about: Theodore Kosloff | <urn:uuid:cace3055-7160-47d9-ad0a-d3f474987dfb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ballet-dance.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7928 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98534 | 253 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Located on the west coast of India, Goa is the smallest state in India in terms of area and the second smallest in terms of population only after Sikkim. Panjim is the state's capital with Margoa being the largest town.
Goa was annexed as a part of India since 1961 after about 450 years of it's existence as a Portuguese colony. The magnificent scenic beauty of Goa's beaches and the architectural splendours of its temples, churches and old houses have made Goa a firm favourite with travellers around the world.
Panaji (Panjim) is the state capital located on the banks of the Mandovi river and Vasco, Margao, Mapusa and Ponda are the other major towns. Goa is serviced by an international/national airport located at Dabolim near Vasco.
Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and sunshine, travellers to Goa love the laid-back, peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan people.
Temples in Goa: When you think of Goa in India, then images of beaches and sea cross your mind, so it comes as an added surprise to find that Goa in India also has numerous temples doted all around. Once you visit these temples in India's Goa, one is washed with a sense of purity and sanctity.
More on Goa Temples…
Churches in Goa: Thanks to the Portuguese invasion, Goa, India, has a number of churches to boast about. Many of these Goan churches are outstanding and exemplary cases of Christian architecture. Most of the church in Goa display a tiered frontispiece and are framed with columns and pilasters. They belong to the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The local population, with their artistically receptive minds, assimilated the symbols of Christian art.
More on Churches in Goa, India…
Beaches in Goa: God has been very kind to this Indian town of Goa in terms of beaches. Beaches in Goa rank among the top beaches in the world. With over 40 lovely beaches to its credit, one can just get lost in the mesmerising beauty of these beaches in India's Goa.
Carnival in Goa: Come February and you will find excitement bubbling across Goa…the reason…well, Goa is getting dressed for the carnival. It doesn't take much time for this small Indian state of Goa to get into the carnival mood, basically the party mood.
More on carnival in Goa, India…
Getaways in Goa: You will never get tired of the beaches or the temples or the churches in Goa, but just in case, you want to try something different, then there are many getaways in India's Goa.
More on Goan getaways…
You will never get tired of the beaches or the temples or the churches at Goa in India, but just in case, you want to try something different, then there are many getaways in Goa, India.
Fort near Tiracol
Drive along the full length of Goa's 130 km coast line and when you come to the last beach of Goa in India, Arambol, just look across the Tiracol river and you will find a pretty little fort which looks as if it has come out alive from a fairy tale. This fort has now been converted into a hotel.
To reach this fort at Goa in India, you will have to take the road which winds up through a little settlement of comfortable Goan cottages: wild lush gardens, coconut palms throwing dappled shadows on the red tiled roofs. After a slight uphill-climb, you reach the little Fort-hotel run by a husband-and-wife team who promises to make your stay a memorable one.
A beautiful little Goan church dominates the central court around which the fort of Tiracol rises: a living church full of light and quiet elegance. Cross the court and walk up the narrow stone stairs through short passages into split level rooms which follow the contours of the headland: old furniture, superb views over the river and the beaches and out to the blue horizon of the sea. The Portuguese had sailed in from there, established themselves in the old conquests like this one, taken over an existing outpost, converted it to a fort to repulse the latest technique of attack.
Tiracol gives an insight into the attitudes of the old colonials; invading Iberians determined to maintain their hold on the seemingly inexhaustible cornucopia of India.
Neighbouring Cities - Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra towards the North, Belgaum at the East, Karwar district of Karnataka on the South and on the West by the Arabian Sea.
Major Rivers of Goa - Tiracol, Chapora, Mandovi, Zuari, Sal and Talpona.
Main Beaches of Goa - Arambol, Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Sinquerim are the major beaches on the Northern stretch of Goa while Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Cavelossim and Palolem are towards the Southern stretch.
By Road - The Goa Transport Corporation, Kadamba, runs long-distance services throughout the state from their main stand at Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and from locations in the adjoining states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Private buses, serving everywhere else, including the coastal resorts, are affordable, frequent, and provide a relaxed mode of commuting.
By Rail - The Konkan Railway makes Goa easily accessible by rail from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Mangalore, Ernakulam and Thiruvanantapuram. Goa is also linked to Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune via Londa.
By Air - Dabolim Airport, 30-km from the state capital Panaji, has coach services operating to and from the airport. All the major hotels also arrange transport services for the guests and prepaid taxi services are also available. All the major airline services have daily flights to Goa from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune and twice a week from Chennai and Kochi. The International Service of airlines also connects Goa with Kuwait and Sharjah twice a week.
Local Transport - Taxis - For tourists, white Maruti Van Taxis serve as the main means of travelling between resorts. One will find them lined up outside most charter hotels, where a board invariably lists the destinations in and around the region. The fixed rate fares only apply to peak season, and at other times one should be able to negotiate a hefty reduction from the demanded fares. | <urn:uuid:2342265c-e4a6-40d5-9e67-fc9ed3d15978> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hotelpushpak.com/goa/deltaresidency/index.php?page=3&hotel_id=2317 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940995 | 1,414 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Spaniards show off touchscreen moto-computer tech
Fully hackable iSupercar concept unveiled
Further fuel for the touchscreen versus buttons debate was offered today at the British Motor Show, as Spanish car-tech newcomer IFR Automotive showed off its new, one-size-fits-all motocomputer kit.
One of the most notable features of this, as far as the driver is concerned, is that it replaces almost all hardware controls and buttons with a pair of interactive touch displays.
(Mostly) touchscreen motoring is here
Dubbed "Unidrive" by IFR, the new centralised car processing and wiring gear is just one of the technologies the company has developed since it was founded by Spanish motorsport engineer Ignacio Fernández Rodriquez in 2003. Fernandez and his team have also expended a lot of brainpower on design modelling and CAD, cunning structural and suspension tech and lightweight disc-brake systems. They hope to sell all this stuff separately to volume manufacturers, but are well aware that nothing gets attention in the car industry like showing people a car - so that's what they've done. All of IFR's nifty gear has been put into the company's "Aspid"* lightweight supertech demonstrator-cum-sportscar.
“Our market research confirms the importance of a supercar having strong emotional appeal," says Fernández. "But it also has to be totally unique. Combine these two factors with the need for robust environmental credentials and the result is what we’ve endeavoured to achieve with the Aspid.”
The enviro-credentials bit you can take with a pinch of salt - that refers simply to the fact that the Aspid is very light, at just 700kg. Given that it offers 400 horsepower in its not-particularly-green 2 litre supercharged engine, that equates to crazy performance - 62 mph from nil in 2.8 seconds. The new superbrakes, fortunately, can bring the lightweight car to a dead stop from 100mph in only 3 seconds.
Perhaps more interestingly, however, the Aspid is also light on its feet and puissant when it comes to computing and electronics. Modern cars are full of standalone microprocessor-controlled systems, many of which don't talk to each other or the driver. According to Fernández this means wasted computing power, needless duplication of wiring and components, unnecessary weight and reduced functionality.
IFR reckons its "Unidrive" computing and IT gear can be put into any car at the design stage, and happily perform all the necessary functions. The company reckons this would normally yield a two-thirds saving in weight and the elimination of four in five processors found in a typical modern car. Even better if you're a serious petrolhead, Unidrive lets you get control of all the stuff that the car designers normally lock you out of. In the Aspid, where they've taken pains to plug in and hook up absolutely everything, the two touchscreens offer menus that let you fiddle with all kinds of stuff.
Interactive touch screens ... allow the driver to change many parameters such as the rev limit, valve timing, power output, steering assistance, ABS, noise valve, brake balance, ride height, traction and stability controls, as well as influencing the pitch, roll and yaw of the car by adjusting its damping characteristics.
For motorsport enthusiasts the system offers an in-built and extendable data logging capability, readily configured for all onboard diagnostics and control area network sensors with 24 analogue channels available and upwards. For the road this is complemented by GPS satellite navigation, GPRS/GSM mobile communications, motion-sensing accelerometers, Wi-Fi wireless technology, Ethernet interface connections, as well as touch screens for both driver and co-driver.
The system can help reconfigure the car to suit different drivers and different driving conditions and can ensure the Aspid is set-up correctly for the road or track. It can even direct the driver through a series of tests and operations that will enable it to calculate engine torque and power.
IFR emphasises that the Aspid is certified both by the FIA and as road legal, meaning you can drive it from road to race track just as you please. Deliveries are expected to start next summer, but there's already an order backlog and initially production will be just one a week. Price? £75,000 and on up. "No two Aspids will be alike ... expect fully loaded models to cost twice as much".
All in all, a moto-hacker's dream. For now Unidrive is only available on the Aspid, but IFR hopes that will change, and that the tech will make its way into mass-produced vehicles and thus get into ordinary drivers' hands. ®
* Named after "the small and very quick snake that killed Cleopatra". Aspid is Spanish for asp. | <urn:uuid:e8540472-3b3f-4f00-85b5-33b291527cb5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/07/22/aspid_touchscreen_car/print.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958299 | 1,025 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Learner Support Services
Academic Success Center (ASC)
Our mission is to serve NWACC students with resources and experiences to support academic success, promote student responsibility in learning, and build life-long learning skills.
The Academic Success Center (ASC) offers instructional, supplemental, and computer assistance to support students' efforts to achieve academic success. Tutoring services and workshops are offered by CRLA certified tutors in the areas of math, science, and basic computer skills.
Stop by and "ASC" how we can help you soar to success!
To view video in full screen, click button to the right of volume control.
For questions or comments please contact firstname.lastname@example.org | <urn:uuid:f19def36-5fe2-4532-bbf9-bd6b1c06d500> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://llloyd@nwacc.edu/web/asc/index | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938938 | 143 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Community college best practice program to develop workforce
Donation of Iowa Western Community College launched the Siemens PLM Software best practice technology program.
Siemens PLM Software has launched a new community college best practice program to enhance the effort to revitalize manufacturing throughout the United States.
The program, developed in conjunction with Iowa Western Community College, provides resources to interested community colleges and local manufacturers including a recommended associate’s degree curriculum, a guide for obtaining in-kind software grants to provide the technology needed for implementation, and a detailed white paper, titled Community Colleges Revitalize Manufacturing, outlining the process for building a successful academic, government and business partnership for the program’s execution.
It is estimated that within five to 15 years the retirement of skilled baby boomers will create a workforce shortage of 10 million additional workers by 2020. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) job growth is projected to rise at twice the rate of the economy by 2018. The shortage of engineers in 2010 totaled 750,000 worldwide. With this in mind, manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to fill open positions with individuals who have advanced technology skills.
Jane Oates, assistant secretary for employment and training at the U.S. Department of Labor, stressed the importance of partnerships and the critical need for STEM education in her keynote address at the 2012 Siemens PLM Connection Americas User Conference earlier this month.
“Strong partnerships between employers, training providers, and all levels of government are crucial to ensure our workforce has the skills and experience to remain a global manufacturing leader,” said Oates. “By focusing attention on specific training needs in areas like data management and high-tech manufacturing, these partnerships are helping community colleges expand into community career centers—places that teach people skills that businesses are looking for right now—and that’s a model the President and I fully support.”
In February 2011, Siemens PLM Software announced the largest in-kind corporate contribution ever received by IWCC that enabled the college to successfully launch a design technology program. The program prepares graduates to enter the workforce in a high-demand career field or transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Through the successful IWCC and Siemens PLM Software partnership, the new community college best practice program has been implemented. The program provides a two-year, fast-track curriculum, developed by an advisory board of academia and industry, with an emphasis on upgrading incumbent worker skills as well as training dislocated and minority-categorized workers. The curriculum introduces individuals to product design and development software technology used by many of the world’s leading manufacturing, architectural and construction companies.
“Now community colleges around the nation have a proven blueprint to meet the needs of local employers and prepare local students for high-paying careers in design technology,” said Dr. Dan Kinney, president, IWCC.
“As the baby boom generation retires and product complexity continues to grow, students who are able to use PLM technology are expected to be highly recruited,” said, Bill Boswell, senior director, Partner Strategy, Siemens PLM Software. “We are delighted to have had Assistant Secretary Oates present with us at our Americas User Conference to reinforce the need for STEM education and the importance of practical industry, academic, government partnerships.”
To find out more about the best practice new community college program, register to receive the Community Colleges Revitalize Manufacturing white paper. | <urn:uuid:de464d68-997d-4d6f-a964-d4885455864a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.controleng.com/industry-news/single-article/community-college-best-practice-program-to-develop-workforce/d63038b925f0ac953b70bde6c618c38a.html | 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 | 0.943318 | 721 | 1.695313 | 2 |
City says 12 Detroit homes accidentally demolished
DETROIT (AP) — A dozen homes in Detroit have been mistakenly demolished, a city official says.
One of the residences had been purchased by a pair of artists who bought it for $500 at a tax auction in October.
Kristine Diven and Micho McAdow planned to fix up the empty two-story home and move in by the spring. But when they drove by one evening in December, their new house was gone.
“Instead of taking measurements for the boards we needed, we found our house in a pile,” Diven told The Detroit News for a story (http://bit.ly/UrsrHy ) published Saturday.
The structure had been demolished by the state’s Land Bank Fast Track Authority as part of a program to eliminate blight near schools. At least 11 other properties, all bought by an area investor, also were razed in error, said Karla Henderson, director of Detroit’s planning and facilities department.
Mistakes such as these are rare, city and state officials said. Before being sold at auction, all of the homes had been scheduled for demolition, said state government spokesman Kurt Weiss.
The other 11 properties mistakenly taken down were purchased by Sameer Beydoun, a Dearborn real estate agent. Beydoun declined to comment to the News, but a spokeswoman for his company, Metro Property Group, said he bought the properties with the idea of rehabbing them to help restore Detroit neighborhoods.
“MPG is working with the state and county to resolve this matter, in terms of reimbursement,” said spokeswoman Darci McConnell.
After it was discovered that Diven and McAdow’s home had been wrecked, Henderson gave Diven a list of empty, city-owned properties with an offer that she could take one, and Weiss said the Wayne County treasurer’s office refunded the $500 paid for the house.
Weiss said the state remains committed to tearing down blighted structures near schools and is confident that similar errors will be avoided. Continued...
Last summer, Gov. Rick Snyder launched a pilot project among the city, state and Wayne County to use $10 million to demolish about 1,200 abandoned buildings surrounding schools in three Detroit neighborhoods.
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Stephen Frye has covered the police beat and courts for The Oakland Press and now serves as online editor for www.theoaklandpress.com.
Informs on and discusses current matters of legal interest to readers of The Oakland Press and to consumers of legal services in the community.
Caren Gittleman likes talking cats. She'll discuss everything about them. Share your stories and ask her questions about your favorite feline.
Roger Beukema shares news from Lansing that impacts sportsmen (this means ladies as well) and talks about things he finds when he goes overseas to visit his children, and adding your comments into the mix.
Join Jonathan Schechter as he shares thoughts on our natural world in Oakland County and beyond. | <urn:uuid:8949cd77-dca0-4497-b176-ba21b7abd6f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/01/05/news/doc50e83147b7a01695228651.txt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954663 | 955 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Well, it’s 1:50 a.m., EST on 12.21.12 and NOTHING has happened yet. Just a little rain. I TOLD YOU SO!!!!
ORIGINAL POST FROM MAY 2, 2012:
Was reading an article just now, that claims a full 15% of the world’s population believes the world will end in their lifetime. Fittingly, this was filed under “Weird News”
A few excerpts:
“Whether they think it will come to an end through the hands of God, or a natural disaster or a political event, whatever the reason, one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming,” said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs which conducted the poll for Reuters.
About one in 10 people globally also said they were experiencing fear or anxiety about the impending end of the world in 2012. The greatest numbers were in Russia and Poland, the fewest in Great Britain.
Gottfried also said that people with lower education or household income levels, as well as those under 35 years old, were more likely to believe in an apocalypse during their lifetime or in 2012, or have anxiety over the prospect.
This would explain my skepticism, as I’m old and fairly well-educated. In my opinion, this “end of the world” hysteria is NO different from the Y2K scare. Anybody remember that? Yes, all hell was supposed to break loose, when the calendar changed from 1999 to 2000. Do you recall what happened? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
It seems, there will always be somebody, somewhere who wants to create fear within the masses.
Other alarmists cite the shifting of the Earth’s north and south poles as the catalyst. Weather certainly has seemed to be more extreme in recent years and there is some scientific basis for this, (as the producers of the movie 2012 will tell you ), however, what the fear mongers are spouting is beyond that, by far.
“HowStuffWorks” has it covered:
So what does this all have to do with 2012? Alarmist Web sites have falsely connected magnetic reversal with a reversal in the rotation of the Earth. Conspiracy theorists also claim that a magnetic reversal is scheduled for 2012 (in most cases, on Dec. 21), and that when it does occur, catastrophic disaster will strike the planet as it starts to spin in the opposite direction.
My best advice is to relax, enjoy your life, don’t look for conspiracies and hidden meanings everywhere and above all, “DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR OR READ!”
I’m sure it’s all just a misunderstanding!
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2013!! | <urn:uuid:80cc85b8-db3d-471d-8e4f-bf69313913db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thedogladysden.com/2012/12/21/end-of-the-world-seriously/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958438 | 587 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Foundry: Greg Ponchak
Qor is an all purpose typeface made for body copy and display. It is heavily influenced by modernist typography, and was made with functionality in mind. Confusing characters (such as "I" and "l") were handled so that legibility, specifically in body copy, was retained. Qor currently contains 338 characters in each weight and comes in four styles (regular, oblique, bold, and bold oblique). | <urn:uuid:f2dc5562-187b-4b18-b1dc-870c6c2a30ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hypefortype.com/qor.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976179 | 96 | 1.5 | 2 |
|Ship Name:||USS Prometheus|
|Type:||Long range tactical cruiser|
|Yard:||Beta Antares Fleet Yards|
|Length:||415 m m|
|Beam:||170 m m|
|Draft:||113 m m|
Quantum field assisted tetyron plasma warp drive
|Armament:|| 18 Type-XII phaser emitters;|
3 torpedo launchers
|Shuttlecraft:|| Prior to stardate 55118:|
1 Type-11 shuttlecraft,
4 Type-9 shuttlecraft,
Subsequent to stardate 55118:
1 Yellowstone class runabout,
4 Type-9 shuttlecraft,
|Motto:||All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players, they have their exits and their entrances and one man in his life plays many parts; his act being seven stages... - William Shakespeare|
The Prometheus-class was one of if not the the most advanced Starfleet vessels in service as of the late 24th century. The Prometheus underwent many extended trials (both simulated and physical) and is the culmination of several separate research projects which have been combined into one prototype test-bed vessel. Since it was so highly classified and possessed a hitherto unseen degree of automation only four Starfleet officers were trained on how to operate the Prometheus' systems before the vessel was deemed ready for active duty.
Among the Prometheus' state of the art features was the advanced type XII phaser arrays, quantum torpedoes, photon torpedoes, regenerative and Metaphasic shields augmented by a polaron modulator, and ablative armor with underlying Parametallic hull plating.
The Prometheus' warp engines which were designed to be the fastest in the fleet with a cruising speed of warp 9 and a maximum speed of warp 9.99 (due to its tetryon warp plasma equipped warp nacelles). With these speeds being standard it was deemed necessary to develop a customized navigation system, the RAV/ISHAK Mod 3a warp celestial guidance system, specifically designed to handle the ship's high warp capability. The warp engines of the Prometheus Class were based on a scaled down version of the Sovereign class' warp nacelle design, which eliminated subspace distortion effects inherent to standard warp drives without the use of variable geometry nacelles.
A unique feature included in the Prometheus design was the multi-vector assault mode, which allows the ship to split into three semi-independent sections (or fully independent sections if there are sufficient crew members onboard) that could each deliver massive force against an enemy target. All three sections are warp-capable. Combined with the extensive automation, the Prometheus can be run by as few as four people. To allow this system to function it was again deemed necessary to develop a customized system for the ship, this one being the M16a tri-core bio-neural gel pack isolinear III processor.
In addition to standard automation systems, the design also featured omni-directional holo-diodes on every deck, which allowed the ship's Emergency Medical Hologram (Mark II as of 2374. Mark IV as of 2378) to access all areas of the ship (most EMHs were confined to sickbay only).
The Prometheus Project was the research program initiated in 2359 as a project to design a starship whose sections each were equipped with a warp drive and reorganized into a combat ship program to develop the schematics for the Prometheus-class starship and construct the class prototype. When the project was re-organized into a combat ship design program in 2364 it was decided by Starfleet Command to keep the Nebula-class USS Prometheus in service as a cover for the Prometheus class Project.
The 2359 version of the Prometheus class Project was created to explore the possibility of a true multi-section vessel able to separate into at least two independent sections, each with a fully functional warp drive of its own. One would be capable of launching an attack with almost all of the ships weaponry, at high speed and maneuverability. The other, comprising the scientific, diplomatic and accommodation sections, would clear the area at high warp carrying the civilian complement. Much of the technology being developed for the Intrepid-class project was included in this design, with the result that the theoretical model finalized in 2363 bore a close resemblance to the Intrepid herself.
In 2364 Starfleet was considering moving to construction of the spaceframe of the multi-section starship. However, during this year contact with the Romulans was re-established when the USS Enterprise-D encountered a warbird at the Neutral Zone. Since the warbird appeared to outgun the Enterprise, then Starfleet’s most powerful ship, by a considerable margin Starfleet was confronted with what appeared to be a powerful and aggressive enemy. As part of their response, Starfleet requested a complete re-design of the multi-section starship. The new requirement called for an almost totally re-designed vessel; the ship would be capable of splitting into three sections, each of which would have an independent warp drive system. The scientific and diplomatic sections were mostly removed in favor of increased armament and power for the weapons. In place of the type-VIII phaser arrays that the original ship had shared with the Intrepid class, the type-XII phaser arrays from the Sovereign-class project were included. The shield system was upgraded with the auto-modulating shields of the Sovereign-class. The advanced warp engine design included many elements of the Sovereign-class, while the ablative armor, high capacity structural integrity fields and quantum torpedoes developed in conjunction with the Defiant-class project were also included. The computer system was upgraded to a custom built system designated the M16a tri-core bio-neural gel pack isolinear III processor and the navigational system installed was a custom RAV/ISHAK Mod 3a warp celestial guidance system specifically designed to handle the ship's cruising speed of Warp 9 and maximum speed of Warp 9.99.
This technology combined to make the new starship one of the most massively armed and armored vessels of its size ever contemplated, let alone built. The small size combined with incredible speed and maneuverability when in multi-vector assault mode.
When the prototype was launched in 2374 it was rated at having a combat capacity nine times that of the equally-sized Intrepid-class, while her Type XII Phasers made her a formidable foe for any vessel in the alpha quadrant. These systems were so advanced and cutting edge that the Romulan Empire risked a war by attempting to intercept and commandeer the prototype vessel during its field trial phase. Their goal was to secure the Prometheus and navigate it into Romulan space to be retrieved by the Tal Shiar, for analysis, and back engineering of its advanced systems. During their escape aboard the ship, the Prometheus easily disabled the USS Bonchune when the Romulans enabled the multi-vector assault mode. Fortunately, for the security and integrity of the Federation, the Romulans onboard were thwarted by the mark 1 EMH from the USS Voyager and the since replaced mark 2 EMH, before the Tal Shiar task force was engaged by the Akira-class USS Spector and the Defiant-class starships USS Relentless and USS Stalwart who, alongside the Prometheus subsequent to the Prometheus' destroying one of the warbirds and forced the remaining warbirds to retreat to Romulan space.
The performance of the Prometheus during this accidental live-fire trial exceeded all expectations for the ship. With Starfleet losing ground against the Dominion, the class was moved into production. Unfortunately the Prometheus class ships arrived in too limited numbers and too late to make a significant impact on the war.
Cruise modes and alertsEdit
The Prometheus is capable of all cruise modes and alerts standard to a Starfleet vessel capable of a planetary landing and/or separation sequences, which includes:
- Red alert
- Yellow alert
- Blue alert
- Silent running
- Collision alert
- Intruder alert
- Decompression alert
- Security alert
- Cruise mode
- Grey mode
Reaction Control SystemEdit
The Prometheus is equipped with Starfleet's standard issue Reaction Control System, the heart of which are the RCS thrusters (short for Reaction Control System thrusters). The RCS thrusters are the standard maneuvering thrusters found on Federation starships and shuttlecraft. The thrusters utilize interstellar deuterium collected by the Bussard collectors to generate thrust. Like impulse, acceleration provided by the thrusters does result in time dilation effects so as a result high speeds, if the thrusters were capable of producing them, would not be advised. In order to conduct a full, emergency thruster shutdown, deuterium must be vented from the system.
The Impulse Drive on the Prometheus is, like all Impulse Drives, essentially an magnetoplasmadynamic thruster, consisting of a fusion reactor, an accelerator-generator, a space-time driver coil assembly and a vectored thrust nozzle to direct the plasma exhaust. The fusion reaction generates a highly energized plasma. This plasma, ("electro-plasma") can be employed for propulsion, or can be diverted to the power transfer grid, via EPS conduits, so as to supply other systems. The accelerated plasma is passed through the driver coils, thereby generating a subspace field which improves the propulsive effect.
The warp drive on the Prometheus is a tetryon warp plasma warp drive system which operates in the same manner as non-Tetryon warp plasma warp drive systems except for the fact that Tetryon warp plasma is used instead of normal electro-plasma to generate a superior propulsive effect. When the Tetryon warp plasma is released into space it temporarily disrupts any warp field it comes into contact with, essentially "stalling" said vessel's warp drive which forces it to go to Impulse. The warp drive on the Prometheus is also augmented by the usage of Starfleet's most advanced design of Cerenkov emitters and the application of Quantum Slipstream technology which consists focusing a low power quantum field through the ship's main navigational deflector to generate minor changes in local spacial curvature which resulted in the Prometheus' cruising speed of warp nine and maximum speed of warp nine point nine nine requiring only sixty-one point five percent of the amount of energy that was required to maintain the same speed prior to the quantum field projection refit.
The Prometheus is equipped with Starfleet's standard compliment of communications equipment including the following:
The Prometheus has been outfitted with Starfleet's most advanced viewscreen system which utilizes high resolution, multi-spectral imaging sensors and a hologrid to display images on a virtual viewscreen. When not being used for communications the viewscreen reverts to holographic wall. On the Prometheus the viewscreen was controlled, primarily, by the ops position with auxiliary controls at the tactical and first officer stations as well as on the arms of the captain's chair.
The Prometheus has been outfitted with Starfleet's standard issue distress beacon to alert other ships that they are in need of help or of a dangerous situation on-board ship that would make boarding the ship an unacceptable risk to the away team.
The Prometheus has also been outfitted with Starfleet's standard Universal Translator which receives periodic, automated updates during each contact with a Starfleet starbase computer system or Starfleet data stream.
The Prometheus has been outfitted with the standard issue Starfleet subspace communications systems for ship-to-ship and ship-to-ground communications as well as hyper-subspace communications technology, developed by Pathfinder Project to communicate with the starship USS Voyager while it was in the Delta Quadrant, to allow communications with Starfleet Command at greater distance than was previously capable. The Prometheus ' communications systems have also been outfitted with Holofilters to allow for the transmission of false visual signals.
Holographic Communications SystemEdit
The Prometheus is outfitted with a mark two Holographic Communications System (a.k.a. Mark II Holo-Communicator) which, like the Mark I, allows officers onboard holo-communicator equipped vessels to converse as if in the same room by sending holograms of each other courtesy of installed holo-projectors. Unlike the Mark I holo-communicator the Mark II holo-communicator is equipped with a Holofilter and was also capable of projecting multiple holograms thereby allowing a conference mode. Both incarnations of the holo-communicator are very robust and are able to easily resist the effects of a cascade virus. The holo-communications system of the Prometheus is integrated into the shipwide holo-emitters thereby allowing the a hologram to be projected anywhere on the ship, as well as allowing intra-ship holo-communications.
The fact that the Prometheus class was mainly designed for combat was reflected in the design of its main bridge. The bridge was obviously designed with efficiency in mind, providing the commanding officer with visual access to all major stations when seated in the command chair. Directly in front of the captain's chair, sunken down with three steps, was the location of the operations manager and conn stations, combined in one large console. Both officers shared an unobstructed view of the main viewscreen with the commanding officer. All other stations were mounted against the wall, running around the entire length of the room. Directly aft of the captain's chair was the master systems display, and to the captain's left and right were doors that both provided access to a turbolift and deck one, respectively.
As of stardate 57540 (2380) the bridge of the Prometheus had undergone minor refits including the replacement of the Captain's chair with the new mark seven command chair; with independent inertial dampening, safety restraints, and arm mounted computer interfaces. During the refit a dias raised one step above the main level of the bridge was installed to serve as a base for the Mark Seven command chair. The rest of the bridge refit consisted of a significantly larger viewscreen and master systems display, the addition of consoles facing the viewscreen to the two forward most stations on the bridge's main level, and the addition of two bridge weapons lockers located in the deck in front of the environmental control station and mission operations stations the controls for which were located on the tactical station, First Officer's station, and Captain's chair command interfaces.
Due to the fact that the Prometheus is able to split into three separate sections two auxiliary bridges were included during the construction of the ship for use when each section is acting independently of the others. One of which is located in the middle or Beta section and the other is located in the lower or Delta section. Each of these battle bridges are fully equipped command centers which can, if the need should arise, take over control of the main bridge functions. The design for battle bridges of the Prometheus were a re-use of the design for the main bridge of the Defiant-class. Since each section of the Prometheus is a pure combat design the designers felt that there was no need to design a new battle bridge since the design for the Defiant-class' bridge was more then suitable for the task.
Captain's Ready RoomEdit
Like most Federation starships the Prometheus is equipped with a Captain's ready room for the captain to perform administrative work with all relevant office equipment at hand as well as hold private discussions and/or receive classified communications. The captain's ready room is located port of the main bridge. The Prometheus 's ready room was based on the design of the Intrepid 's ready room with minor modifications.
The desk, which features a work area and computer access panels, is the focal point of the room, located in front of the main entrance door. A raised level in the aft section of the room features a small table, a curved couch and a food replicator. Unlike the Intrepid 's ready room the bulkhead behind the couch on the Prometheus ' has no windows and is facing aft. A shelf beside the main work desk allows the commanding officer to display personal belongings, As of 2378 Captain MacLeod used this shelf to display a set of bagpipes.
Behind the desk, on specially installed wall mounts Logan displayed the eight hundred year old clan MacLeod claymore with a sash in the color and pattern of the Clan MacLeod tartan draped over the handguards and behind the handle. Prominently displayed in a corner of the raised aft level, opposite the replicator, was a four hundred year old Swiss-made Grandfather clock.
The Prometheus' was equipped with a conference room, like most Starfleet vessels, which possesses a large viewscreen. Unlike the Observation lounges of the Galaxy class and Sovereign-classes the conference room of the Prometheus does not possess the panoramic set of windows common in other lounge designs.
The sickbay's original configuration consisted of a circular surgical area with a single bio-bed on a slightly raised dais and a computer workstation a few feet from the bio-bed and an office area to the aft of the surgical area. Around the surgical area was a circular walkway which provided access to the office area and surgical area while still affording the surgical area with a degree of privacy. Between the surgical area and the chief medical officer’s desk, which faced the bio-bed and was in a recessed alcove with LCARS computer access panels on the wall of the alcove, was a duty nurse’s station and pharmacy station.
Should the need arise the Prometheus' sickbay is supplemented by the Emergency Medical Protocol, which when initiated automatically activates the trauma ward program in all of the holodecks which recreates a fully equipped trauma ward. In addition during an emergency selected deck panels are beamed from sickbay to a cargo bay while bio-beds are simultaneously beamed into place in sickbay and connected by engineers standing by in sickbay.
As of stardate 56201, The Prometheus' sickbay underwent a major refit and upgrade as a result of Starfleet Command becoming aware of the woefully under equipped nature of the original configuration in regards to cases of multiple patients need to be treated at the same time with little or no fore warning. As a result the Prometheus' sickbay was upgraded so its simultaneous treatment capabilities equaled those of the Intrepid class' sickbay. The new sickbay is equipped with the chief medical officer's office, a load-out of three bio-beds along one wall and one dedicated surgical bio-bed in the surgical bay, a small med-lab, and an expanded ship's morgue acessable via the med-lab. As a result of the upgrades to the sickbay the Prometheus' medical capabilities were significantly expanded thereby allowing the ship to potentially be assigned to more medical oriented missions than previously possible given sickbay's original configuration.
The Prometheus was outfitted with a state of the art, custom, computer system programmed with the most up to date LCARS computer software and computer database. The computer system is formally known as the M16a tri-core bio-neural gel pack isolinear III processor. The M16a tri-core bio-neural gel pack isolinear III processor is a variant on the standard mark sixteen multi-tronic computer equipped with third generation Isolinear circuitry and bio-neural gel packs. The differences between a M16 bio-neural gel pack isolinear III processor and a M16a tri-core bio-neural gel pack isolinear III processor are the addition of a third computer core, as compared to the standard two, to assist in coordinating the second docking system and speed up communications while the ship is in multi-vector assault mode, and the use of second generation bio-neural gel packs which contain one point five times the synthetic neurons as standard gel packs resulting in a fifty percent increase in data transmission and processing.
In addition to the main computer system the Prometheus is equipped with two secondary cores which are brought on-line during the Multi-Vector Assault Mode and take over the main computer functions for those sections for the duration of the separation.
Emergency Medical HologramEdit
The Prometheus had been outfitted with the prototype of the Mark II EMH at the time of her hijacking by Romulans in 2374. By 2378 the Mark II had been succeeded by the Mark III and Mark IV EMHs. With the installation of each EMH the Prometheus' EMH back-up module for the previous version of the program was removed, placed in storage for eventual transfer to the Starfleet Corp of Engineers, and replaced with the back-up module for the present version of the program. Providing the communications links between the three sections of the ship are fully functional the EMH can be transferred between the sections if necessary, however this procedure is not recommended as the EMH can be permanently lost if the communications are disrupted during the transmission.
Emergency Command HologramEdit
By Stardate 57540 the Prometheus had been outfitted with the prototype of Starfleet's Mark I Emergency Command Hologram which was based on the ECH extension that was added to the starship Voyager 's Mark I EMH. When installed protocols were established for the chain of command regarding the ECH which stated the ECH was merely an command advisor and could only assume command of the ship if all members of the senior staff were incapacitated. However the ECH command protocol did state that the ECH could be given temporary command (i.e. as in while the Captain was off the bridge or command of bridge for night shift) of the bridge like any other officer.
The Prometheus is equipped with four standard science labs that are equipped with standard equipment for the Sovereign class starship's science labs. Each of the labs can be refitted with minimal to moderate effort for specialized purposes at the Captain's discretion. Among the various possible configurations (for which supplies are maintained onboard ship) for the science labs are:
- Long-term Patient Care Ward
- Dedicated Surgical Ward
- Decontamination Ward
- Cloning/Biological Researh Lab
The Prometheus is also equipped with a Stellar Cartography/Astrometrics Lab visually identical to Voyager's Astrometrics Laboratory, but equipped only with Federation technology.
As of stardate 56201 (2379), The sensors of the Prometheus were augmented with by the installation of additional sensor pallets, which were developed for the Luna class of starships
The Prometheus' main engineering is visually identical, and from an engineering standpoint nearly identical, to that of the Intrepid-class' due to the fact that the two classes share common elements and some design lineage. The main difference between the two types on engineering are the corresponding changes for and to the Gravimetric Field Displacement Manifold, more commonly known as the warp core, due the multi-vector assault mode.
The Prometheus is also equipped with two Auxiliary Engineering compartments which serve as "main engineering" departments for their sections when the multi-vector assault mode is initiated/engaged. These sections are not as large as the Main Engineering compartment because of their secondary nature, but are none the less more than adequate to serve as a temporary main engineering when the multi-vector assault mode is engaged or if main engineering is somehow disabled/inoperative. To further enhance this each of the engineering compartments is equipped with over-ride circuits specifically designed to allow the remote control of the other engineering sections.
The Prometheus was equipped, during its construction, with the navigational deflector design from the Akira-class enhanced with elements from the Sovereign-class starship's navigational deflector design. The enhancements allow the navigational deflector to operate with a marked increase in efficiency at higher warp speeds.
In spite of the fact of that the deflector design was used for a vessel with a lower maximum warp speed the Starfleet designers in charge of the Prometheus Project felt that the design was still suitable (with minor modifications) since it was designed for a vessel with a wider beam measurement and a greater bow to stern length and a mass roughly 3.59411 times greater then that of the Prometheus.
Warp Core/Anti-Matter Pod EjectionEdit
In the event of an imminent warp core breach the Prometheus class starship, like all 24th century Starfleet vessels, is capable of ejecting is warp cores and/or its anti-matter pods depending on the severity of the situation. Either procedure requires the authorization code of the chief engineer or a member of the senior staff. The core and pods are ejected through dedicated ejection ports on the underside of the secondary hull. Magnetic rails inside the channels accelerate the core/pods once disengaged from the vessel, and fire it away from the ship. Under normal circumstances, the vessel then moves away from the core/pods as fast as possible under impulse power. Should the core not go critical, then the vessel can recover it by use of tractor beams and careful manipulation. The anti-matter pods are likewise capable of being retrieved and reinstalled, although their re-installation is more complicated due to the volatile nature of anti-matter. It is not unheard of, although it is by no means common or encouraged by Starfleet Command, for an anti-matter pod or pods to be ejected so its/their detonation can be used as a part of a combat maneuver.
Landing And Atmospheric FlightEdit
Being a ship belonging to one of the few Starfleet starship classes capable of atmospheric entry and planetary landing, the Prometheus starship is equipped with hybrid microfusion and EM driven airflow atmospheric thrusters as well as anti-gravity lifters and landing struts strategically placed at the mass and stress points on the ventral surface of the secondary hull. Prior to and during landing or taking off procedures, the vessel typically goes to Blue Alert, indicating to the crew they are to assume their code blue stations.
The Prometheus is equipped with an emergency bulkhead system designed to protect the majority of the Prometheus' crew in the event of a hull breach and the failure of the atmospheric containment forcefields. The emergency bulkheads on the Prometheus are set up at every junction point between each major section.
The Prometheus, like the Sovereign-class, was equipped with a Manual Navigation Control System for use in precision and emergency sublight maneuvering via the manual steering column located in the Flight Control Console. The system was installed with the intention of providing and intuitive control method for use when the normal flight controls are inoperative.
Located in the aft dorsal portion of the secondary hull, the shuttlebay of the Prometheus is based largely on the design of the Intrepid-class' shuttlebay and is the only point of entrance and egress for auxiliary craft, as well as management of said craft. The shuttlebay is managed by a team of pilots, engineers and technicians, and operations personnel under the supervision of the Chief Flight Control Officer and Chief Operations Officer. Located behind the shuttlebay (closer to the bow) is a the maintenance bay. This secondary area is almost as large as the main shuttlebay and is where all shuttle maintenance takes place. Shuttles and cargo are moved from the the shuttlebay to the maintenance bay by way anti-gravity lifts (for cargo) and by the shuttle using its own anti-gravity lifters.
The Prometheus is equipped with the following types and numbers of auxiliary craft:
- 1 Type-11 shuttlecraft (Deucalion NX-59650/1) (Prior to Stardate 55118)
- 1 Yellowstone-class Runabout (USS Banff) (Subsequent to Stardate 55118)
(Assigned to replace the destroyed Type-11 shuttlecraft Deucalion)
- 2 Type-9 shuttlecraft (Equipped with custom tetryon warp plasma nacelles for high warp capabilities)
- 4 Work Bee class EVA pods
- 21 8-Person "Prometheus class" escape pods
The Prometheus, like most Federation starships, is outfitted with a gymnasium for crew recreation. The Prometheus' gym included change facilities, a pool, a work-out room, a multi-purpose room, a parrises squares court, and a dedicated fencing room.
On the Prometheus, the design of the mess hall was borrowed from the Intrepid class and was placed on deck five, section thirteen. The particular configuration of the Prometheus' mess hall was identical to the configuration of the Intrepid class' mess hall with the Captain's private dining room reconfigured into a galley. The mess hall aboard the Prometheus' was host to many social gatherings including the change of command ceremony in which Logan formally assumed command of the Prometheus.
The Prometheus has been equipped with two holodecks for both entertainment and training purposes. Like all other Federation holodecks the holodecks on the Prometheus are capable of running programs in either objective (Non-participatory) or subjective (participatory) modes. The Prometheus' holodecks are equipped with safety protocols to prevent serious injury during their use, perceptual filters for holographic characters, spatial orientation sub-systems, and are capable of playing a wide assortment of holograpic programs.
Onboard the Prometheus, like on all Starfleet vessels equipped with holodecks, the holodeck safety protocols on the Prometheus can be disengaged when required. but only by a senior officer, however to ensure safety for the participant(s), any person onboard ship can reactivate safety protocols as long as they are within the holodeck or at the control panel outside the holodeck. On the Prometheus a record is automatically made of all times the safety protocols are disengaged and by whom. This record is accessible by all senior staff but can not be deleted by anyone onboard the ship in the event that the record is needed to document a pattern of self harming behavior.
The Prometheus has been equipped with the standard transporters that have been installed on ships constructed since the construction of the Intrepid-class starship. Like all Starfleet transporters the ones onboard the Prometheus had a normal maximum range of 40,000 kilometers, although in an emergency this can be extended by tying the transporter system into the navigational deflector. While tying the transporters into the navigational deflector does extend the range of the transporter it also severely limits the number of places a person can be transported to/from.
By stardate 56201, due to the "tinkering" the Prometheus' Lieutenant commander Durgan Morlon, Master chief petty officer Joshua Gunn, Ensign D4 Green, Gorn Hegemony exchange officer Korsha, and Lieutenant junior grade Kiaphet Amman'sor the transport cycle for the transporters on the Prometheus and the USS Banff were reduced from five to four seconds. Like all Starfleet transporters the transporters onboard the Prometheus have the same limitations regarding shielding, transport inhibitors, and naturally occurring transport inhibiting minerals/formations/events.
Like all Starfleet vessels the Prometheus has been equipped with a brig to facilitate the confinement of individuals who must be detained - such as dangerous individuals, criminals, and crew members found guilty of violating Starfleet regulations. On board the Prometheus, the brig is a heavily guarded room containing multiple cells, a control console, a reinforced security door, and a overhead observation platform.
Like all Starfleet vessels and installations the Prometheus is equipped with Jefferies tubes to allow the crew access to various ship's systems. In emergencies when the turbolifts are inoperative, the Jefferies tubes can also used for moving around the ship. Doors within the Jefferies tubes can be sealed for safety or security reasons. It should be noted that on all ship displays of internal structure Jefferies Tubes are not displayed.
One third of the quarters onboard the Prometheus are special variable environment quarters for crew/guests with special requirements, the remainder of the quarters are standard M-class atmosphere quarters designed for humanoids and near humanoids. The Prometheus is equipped with the standard outload of cabin/quarter types which consists of the following cabin types:
- V.I.P. quarters:
- The V.I.P. quarters contain a living area, a bedroom, a bathroom, as well as a large desk area and work terminal. The quarters feature four windows, which offer an excellent view of space. These quarters are reserved for visiting ambassadors, dignitaries, and other high ranking officials.
- Captain's quarters:
- The captain's quarters contain a living area, a bedroom, a bathroom, as well as an office containing a desk and work terminal. The quarters feature five windows in addition to the window in the office all of which offer an excellent view of space in front of the vessel.
- Officers' quarters:
- These quarters line the edge of the saucer section and contain a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. They are generally reserved for those of ranking lieutenant (full grade) or higher and members of the senior staff, regardless of their rank. Senior staff members are typically assigned quarters featuring a pair of large windows.
- Guest quarters:
- Like the Officer's quarters these quarters line the edge of the saucer section and contain a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
- Standard crew quarters:
- These small quarters units are located within the primary hull and lack windows. They are comprised of a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The living area contains a replicator terminal and is customizable with a variety of furniture and decorations. Crewmembers of lieutenant junior grade and Ensign ranks are given their own quarters, as are non-commissioned officers of the rank of chief petty officer; non-commissioned officers below the rank of chief petty officer are required to share quarters.
When assigned to active duty the Prometheus was equipped with all of Starfleet's standard issue personnel equipment, which includes but is not limited to:
- Standard Starfleet PADDs
- Mark XI Tricorders
- Type IIIa EVA Suits
- Type 1 Phasers
- Type 2A Phasers
- Type 3B Phaser Rifles
- EVA Phaser Rifles
- Photon Grenades
- Photon Grenade Launchers
In addition to the standard personnel weaponry the Prometheus' was also stocked with the following non-standard equipment:
- Isomagnetic disintegrators
- Tetryon pulse launchers
- Transport inhibitors
- TR-116a Tactical Sniper Rifles
- TR-120 Magentic Pulse Rifles
- Mark III Starfleet Hazard Suits
- Isolation suits
- Commanding Officer: Captain Logan MacLeod
- First Officer, Communications Officer & Records Officer: Commander Solen
- Chief Tactical Officer, Second Officer & Intelligence officer: Lieutenant Commander Garav Rimosi
- Chief Engineer & Third Officer: Lieutenant Commander Durgan Morlon
- Chief Operations Officer & Quartermaster: Lieutenant Gleicy Ruiz
- Chief Flight Control Officer: Lieutenant Jonathan Sulu
- Chief Science Officer: Lieutenant Commander T'Wan
- Chief Medical Officer: Doctor (Lieutenant Commander) Atana Ral
- Assistant Chief Engineer: Lieutenant Lisa Westgate
- Assistant Chief Flight Control Officer: Lieutenant Junior Grade Kiaphet Amman'sor
- Engineer: Ensign D4 Green
- Transporter chief: Master chief petty officer Joshua Gunn
- Emergency Medical Holographic Program AK-1 Diagnostic And Surgical Subroutine Omgea 323 Mark IV
- Chef: Tedak
As of 2379 (specifically stardate 56201) the crew also includes:
- Engineer: Lieutenant Tarag
- Operations officer: Ensign Igmar
- Engineer: Petty Officer Third Class Celes Tal
- Engineer & Auxilliary Bridge Officer: Korsha (Exchange officer from the Gorn Hegemony)
- Command Advisor & Bridge Officer: Emergency Command Holographic Program AK-1 Command and Tactical Subroutine Omega-323 Mark I
Ships of the classEdit
|USS Aegis - USS Alaska - USS Bell - USS Black Knight - USS Cerberus - USS Constitution - USS Gerentaika - USS Hercules - USS Interstellar - USS Mawson - USS Niagara - USS Olympus - USS Ottawa - USS Pandora - USS Praetorian - USS Prometheus - USS Prometheus (PDN) - HMS Prometheus - USS Titan - USS Tombstone - USS Zealous|
|Trekmania: USS Ariel - USS Earnest - USS Guardian - USS Miranda - USS Nirvana|
|This is a Star Trek Expanded Universe featured article. We believe that it is well put together, informative and one of the best examples of the wiki's work. If you see a way to improve this page further, we invite you to contribute. To see other featured articles, click here.| | <urn:uuid:6c39cd42-5261-4193-b681-6cac01aacf19> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://stexpanded.wikia.com/wiki/USS_Prometheus_(NX-59650)_(Prometheus) | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941122 | 7,578 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Pestival Productions: Bringing the natural world to you and your work…
“If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” E.O. Wilson, renowned biologist and thinker.
Bespoke Art and Design
Pestival can create bespoke art pieces which align with the brand, brand values and target audiences of corporate sponsors, whilst integrating science, sustainability, design and biomimicry in a highly aesthetic and interactive way.
Pestival has wide-ranging experience in creating art with an ecological message which has a high media impact and draws in new and diverse audiences.
The Termite Pavilion (on the right), created by Pestival in 2009 with award-winning architects Softroom, was an instant success, generating media coverage both in mainstream media (including The Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph) and specialized publications such as AD, Icon Magazine, etc.
The BBC even presented the weather forecast from inside the pavilion!
The art pieces can be large or small scale and could tour or reside at the corporate sponsor’s head office.
Workshops and talks
Pestival can organize inspirational talks and/or run day-long workshops for the corporate sponsor’s organization.
World-renowned scientists and designers will demonstrate how to make an organisation happier, more harmonious and more efficient by learning from natural systems.
Arts and Ecology Events
Pestival can advise on structuring and curating bespoke arts and ecology events promoted by the corporate sponsors.
Project Ocean at Selfridges
Pestival, advised Selfridges on Project Ocean: a high-profile in-store campaign to save the oceans which combines scientific and conservation content with interactive and engaging exhibits, events and activities.
Pestival @ ZSL London Zoo draws on a wide network of artists, designers and scientists to create unique events.
Rupert Soar, Freeform Engineering: “I want to pass on my deep felt gratitude and some of the emotions I’ve experienced over the last few days. I’ve never encountered such an immediate and public thirst for information as Pestival and the Pavilion generated. I have many beautiful stories of encounters with people who passed through and went away with a tale to tell, a slightly different take on the world and I would even say a reassessment of humanities position within nature. A small sense of wonderment and awe tempered with a thrill that humanity is learning about nature again.”
Malcolm Shirley Ceng. Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851: “The media coverage you attracted was phenomenal and indeed I copied the picture in The Times and included it in my report to Commissioners at their meeting last week! I am really glad that we took a bit of punt with supporting Pestival, which initially looked a bit wacky for us but has really paid off – and delivered too. Well done."
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In <firstname.lastname@example.org>, Borden Rhodes wrote:
>1) Is there a way to apply debugging symbols retroactively to a dump? A few
>times I've had Linux crash on me and spit out a debugging dump. I do my
>best to install debugging symbols for all 1400 packages I have on my system
>(when I can find them) but this requires a huge amount of hard disk space
>and, invariably, the odd dump is missing symbols. Recreating the crash
>isn't always possible. Is there (or could someone invent) a way to save a
>dump without the symbols, download the symbol tables and then regenerate
>the dump with the symbols so it's useful to developers?
Yes, it is, sometimes. Ubuntu has a process to do it automatically, that
mostly gets it right.
Modern versions of "strip" et. al. allow you to save the debugging information
to a separate .so that just contains debugging information. gdb (et. al.) can
then use the debugging-info only .so to decorate an existing backtrace.
This is actually how a lot of distributions produce separate -dbg or -DEBUG
However, this debugging-info only files only match with the *same exact build*
of the real .so. Taking a random backtrace, determining which build it came
from and finding the appropriate -dbg packages is a bit difficult.
Also, things like prelink, that modify existing .so files result in the
debugging-info only .so not matching. This might also happen this some types
of hardening that reduces the impact of heap/stack overflow/underflow attacks.
Compounding this problem is the large number of programs that are being
written with parts in "scripting" languages, or otherwise non-C/C++ languages
where the path from a symbol in a ELF file to the problematic code is not as
In short, it can be done in some cases and there are programmers working on
making backtraces from Joe Sixpack or Jane Boxwine more useful. It does seem
to be like there may need to be more people working on this, but it is not
very "sexy" work. Most programmers would rather spend their time improving
the user experience when things are working; IME, that is where the user
spends most of their time.
>2) I find that the logs contain lots of facts but not a whole lot of useful
>information (if any) when something goes wrong. I've had KDE go
>black-screen on me, for example, and force a hard reboot but there's no
>mention whatsoever (that I can find) in xorg.log, kdm.log, messages, syslog
>or dmesg. Windows seems to be fairly good at making its last breath a stop
>error before it dies which means when I get back into the system (or when
>I'm looking at a client's computer days after) I can find that stop error,
>look it up and figure out what went wrong. Are Linux's logs designed for
>troubleshooting or only for monitoring? Are proper troubleshooting logs
>kept somewhere else or in a special file? Is there a guide on how to read
>Linux's logs so I can make sense out of them like I can Windows' logs?
In the case of a kernel crash, the last breath of the system is unfortunately
not writing to dmesg/syslog and sync()ing disks. Depending on the nature of
the crash, there are some good reasons not to do this, though. (E.g. is the
case of a PANIC(), the kernel developer is basically indicating that the
kernel image has been compromised -- doing FS operations with a compromised
kernel might cause [more] data loss.)
I think that logs in general are... dropping in quality. They seem to be less
focused around failed "sanity" checks, mis-configuration warnings, and I-was-
here before I called exit() message. They seem to more filled with I-didn't-
comment-this-out-before-our-release build debugging messages for random
developers. This is not true of kernel logs for the most part; I find them
informative, but it is rarely my kernel that causes me problems.
I speak as someone that has been working as a developer in some capacity for 8
years. Take that for what you will.
>3) Linux needs better troubleshooting and recovery systems. The answer I
>usually get when I get an unexplained error is to run the program inside a
>dbg or with valgrind. I'm not convinced that this is a practical way to
>troubleshoot serious problems (like kernel panics) and it requires a
>certain amount of foresight that a problem will occur. According to this
>logic, the only way that someone can produce useful reports and feedback
>(or even get a clue as to what happened) on the day-to-day crashes and bugs
>is to start Linux and all of its sub process inside valgrind and/or gdb.
>This is obviously not an intended use of these programs.
If we don't know how to reproduce the problem, we can't fix it. If we do know
how to reproduce the problem, the foresight needed to use gdb/valgrind is not
too much more. They shouldn't be your first tools, but they are necessary.
I've also had gdb/valgrind mask errors, which is truly unfortunate. Still, if
you know a way to make it crash every time EXCEPT when in gdb/valgrind, that
tells me something as a developer
NB: I've never had gdb/valgrind help with kernel errors, since they generally
live in user space.
Being able to reproduce the error is the *most important* step. IME, there
are very few problems that can't be fixed/worked-around in 8 man-hours once
you can reproduce the problem in under 15 minutes.
Also, if you have an unreproducable problem, I'm gonna blame the hardware or
cosmic radiation, not the code.
>1) Logs need to have useful information.
>When I look at a client's Windows
>box days after they report something going wrong, the logs tell me at what
>time the problem happened, which process failed and what error it threw just
>before it blew. I can look those error codes up and (usually) fix the
>problem within an hour.
As a less homogeneous environment, there's no ultimate table of error codes to
>When something dies on Linux, the log entry
>(assuming it even makes one) only tells me how many seconds into that
>particular boot the problem occurred. I've never been able to go back a few
>days later and find the log entries related to a particular crash - maybe
>because they've been purged.
I've still got logs from 2009 on my currently running desktop. They *have*
been archived, but they are still available. You should check your logrotate
settings to make sure your logs are being handled the way you'd like.
>I know that the Linux tradition is to identify
>processes only by ID but surely there must be a way that it can print a
>file or package name or anything more useful than memory addresses and
>registers so at least I know where to start pointing fingers.
The kernel doesn't know about packages. It does know about files, but once
the process is running, it doesn't identify the file using a pathname. As it
is dying is it difficult to extract accurate information, particularly if it
has already "eaten" it's own memory image.
>people have told me that it's pointless trying to debug a dump in the logs.
> What's the point of dumping it in the first place if nobody can read it?
It is a place to start, but it's not a very good one. A kdump or corefile is
usually much better. A backtrace tells you a set of functions to look at for
obvious errors, a kdump or corefile allows you to inspect local variables and
determine exactly which of your assumptions was violated.
>2) I wish error logs had simple codes or messages (which have documentation)
>like Windows Stop errors so I can look them up and figure out why something
>died. Often times I try to Google the whole error message and either get
>directed to source code or totally irrelevant postings (since it seems that
>many messages are reused for all kinds of problems). For example,
>'segfault' gets thrown so much that it only tells you that the program
>crashed - something I already know.
segfault is a very specific type of crash: A process attempted to access a
memory address that was either not mapped or was mapped without the required
permissions. (Trying to move the IP to a place that is mapped NOEXEC, trying
to write to a read-only mmap(), or even a simple dereference of a NULL
Unfortunately, it is the most common type of hard crash. It can be caused a
multitude of programming errors. If your program is not segfaulting, it can
likely recover in some meaningful way, or at least write a log message and
cleanly exit. If it is segfaulting, there is relatively little you can do; a
signal handler is C isn't allowed to call all of the library functions, and
returning from the SIGSEGV handler causes the program to terminate or
immediately get the signal again, so you can't set a flag.
Error codes and fixed error messages are established after the main body of
code is written, so they can be standardized throughout the body of the code
and documented. However, with release early, release often being the mantra
of many projects, that level of "freeze" never happens. New error messages
and conditions are added all the time, and (more often than not) old error
messages and conditions go way when recovery code is added.
>xorg.conf files (which are depreciated
It's not depreciated. xorg.conf is *the* correct place to configure your
Xorg. However, one of the goal of Xorg is to have enough auto-detection and
dynamic re-configuration that an empty (or missing) xorg.conf is enough for
>there one log that only deals with hardware status and changes, another one
>that only deals with network status and firewall logging, another one which
>only deals with dumps and crashes and so on?
There a a fixed number of "syslog" facilities, but they were designed in the
days of AT&T UNIX, so not all of them are entirely relevant. It seems like
Linux could probably add some more, but portable programs would use them.
Plus, a lot of programs don't log via syslog() anymore anyway.
Anyway, it could be a lot better, I agree. I seem to remember that Debian and
most upstream projects do accept volunteers.
Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. ,= ,-_-. =.
email@example.com ((_/)o o(\_))
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Shaman King: Legacy of the Spirits, Soaring Hawk Game Home
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Thom Rainer outlines five stages of pre-Christian attitudes about Christianity that unbelievers inevitably populate. Ranging from the unabashedly antagonistic to the almost-there, insights into all five stages are peppered with quotes from some of the interviewees, providing a valuable resource to evangelists, who will inevitably encounter all five stages. Rainer also provides 10 reasons why some Christians do not share their faith as well as strategies for reaching individuals in each of the stages of unbelief.
The appendices include the blank survey used in this study and an inventory for assessing the stage of an individual. The mode of research design and statistical review are included as well, as is the complete statistical outlay.
Customer Questions & Answers: | <urn:uuid:cd9e6ef2-b4bf-4e95-b9f7-9666382c070d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://answers.christianbook.com/answers/2016/product/2958EB/zondervan-the-unchurched-next-door-understanding-faith-stages-as-keys-to-sharing-your-faith-ebook-questions-answers/questions.htm | 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 | 0.943997 | 147 | 1.507813 | 2 |
News: Awareness training for health care providers at Fort Bragg
FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Health care providers at Womack Army Medical Center learned more about their role in the health care of intimate partner violence at Weaver Auditorium, Oct. 11.
“The Role of the Health Care Provider in Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence” was an in-depth overview of the medical necessity and liability for the providers.
“I was asked to speak in honor of Domestic Awareness Month, to try to engage the health care providers here in accessing for domestic violence and effectively intervening on behalf of their patients,” said Jennifer Pierce-Weeks, a registered nurse and a forensic nurse examiner with the International Association of Forensic Nurses and Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The training covered topics including confidentiality issues, legal issues, intervention and management, documentation and different types of strangulation's that health care providers should look for.
Pierce-Weeks said the training was for health care providers. However, professionals of the community who come in contact with domestic violence victims were able to participate in the training.
During the training, Pierce-Weeks described how screening appropriately, helps health care providers make the connection between victimization, health problems and risk behaviors. To make screening easier for the health care providers, Pierce-Weeks mentioned a few helpful tips.
“Patients are more willing to have a conversation, rather than just asking,” she said. “You don’t want to just ask the bare minimum and assume that nothing is going on at home.”
She also suggested that health care providers should talk to the patients alone, and not while the patient’s spouse is in the same room.
“If you ask the patients in front of their significant other, it gives their partner an idea of what goes on and possibly rehearsed answers will be given at the next appointment,” said Pierce-Weeks.
The first portion of the training focused more on how to effectively screen for domestic violence by talking to the victims, the second part centered on strangulation and the signs, which aren’t commonly recognized.
“Strangulation's are more prevalent as a whole (in the country),” said Valerie McNeill, a Victims Witness Liaison with the XVIII Airborne Corps Judge Advocate General office. “We have several cases that deal with strangulation and some of the signs were shown during the presentation.”
“Only about half of strangulation victims have visible injuries,” said Pierce-Weeks. “You have to get close and really examine your patients. For example, if a patient is a sitting across from you, you will never see there are capillaries opened up underneath the eyelids or on the eyes.”
Ultimately, the training emphasized the importance of accurately accessing a patient for domestic violence and recognizing the red flags before something worse happens.
The training helped emphasize Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and also honored 2nd Lt. Holley L. James-Wimunc, a registered nurse from Womack Army Medical Center, who died from intimate partner violence.
“Prevention is the key,” said Robin Span, a victim advocate coordinator at Army Community Services, at Fort Bragg, N.C. “We want people to know there is an array of services available both on post and off post to help prevent domestic violence.”
Date Posted:10.31.2011 13:51
Location:FORT BRAGG, NC, US
- Casing colors for Kosovo
- Soldiers return home to their Families
- Jackal Stone11 exercise: SEALs perform military free fall training
- Jumpmasters help strengthen partner nation bonds | <urn:uuid:ea0bc740-4cb3-49ed-8f62-56215ad6c2a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dvidshub.net/news/79335/awareness-training-health-care-providers-fort-bragg | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94974 | 780 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Our friend Tsukasa had planned to get married on March 12th – the day after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that destroyed entire towns along the northeastern coast of Japan. Luckily, his fiancée and his family were unharmed, but his neighbours, his home, all his possessions, and $10,000 that he had saved up for a honeymoon in Mexico were all lost in the tsunami.
Three weeks later, he offered to show us around his town and give us what was essentially a guided, personal tour of the damage and the effect this tragedy had on him and the people of his town, Soma. To say it was surreal, confronting and heartbreaking would be a huge understatement – each of us were deeply moved by the experience and Tsukasa himself immediately won us over with his good humour and warmth.
His story is not unique. There are thousands of others who have experienced similar hardships and losses. However, after he so kindly invited us into such a deeply personal part of his life, and after witnessing him confront his losses with such humility and strength, we decided we needed to help.
Tsukasa and his family own and operate Haragama Youchien, a kindergarten in Soma. All 64 of their students were safe from the tsunami as they were aboard a bus being driven by Tsukasa when the massive wave destroyed their neighbourhood. Twenty-seven students lost their homes and are now living in evacuation centers. Many families are now without incomes, as various businesses in the area were also washed away. Fortunately, thanks to being located atop a small hill, the kindergarten itself was untouched by the tsunami. They are already planning to re-open and resume lessons on April 11th – exactly one month after the tsunami ravaged their community – free of charge.
On top of this, despite their own personal losses, and with the help of some of the students’ mothers, Tsukasa and his family have taken it upon themselves to provide hot meals and offer a bus service to and from the kindergarten for each student, beginning April 20th. Due to the lack of income and essential resources in the Soma area, we have decided to help Tsukasa in this noble endeavour by providing them with the food, supplies and financial support they need until life in Fukushima begins to return to normal and they can operate efficiently once again.
Thanks to the generous donations we have secured from businesses and other NPOs alike, Tsukasa already has enough food to provide his students with hot meals for the immediate future. However, he still needs our help to cover the kindergaten’s operating costs. By donating, you will be helping to replace destroyed white goods, food preparation supplies and teaching materials, as well as helping cover delivery, transportation and tuition costs which Tsukasa and his family had originally planned to cover by themselves.
Ensuring the welfare and quality of life of the students of Haragama is our first priority. However, by helping Tsukasa himself shoulder this burden, we also hope we can grant him and his family the time and peace of mind they so deserve to begin rebuilding their own lives in Soma. By helping the students of Haragama, you will also be helping the man whose selflessness and heart was the inspiration for all of our efforts so far.
Billy, Darren, Danny, Sayaka, Haruka, Vinnie and Kevin
how to donate
For those outside the Fukushima area, you can donate money at any time directly to our PayPal account by simply clicking on the button at the top of this page. If you don’t have a PayPal account, you can make a donation via credit card by entering your details and clicking ‘continue.’
If you would like to make a non-monetary donation, please let us know at firstname.lastname@example.org.
For those of you in Fukushima, aside from asking for donations, we will be doing various fundraising activities over the next two or three months in order to raise money for Tsukasa, Haragama and the city of Soma. We will be sending out info about these activities to guests of Hearts for Haragama on Facebook, so please RSVP, save the date and get involved!
You can keep up-to-date on donation goals and where your money is going by checking back on this website. If you would like to host your own fundraising event, whether you’re in Japan or anywhere else, please drop us a message at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:b38e4477-00de-4cf0-beff-968615cab834> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hearts4haragama.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/our-inspiration/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984003 | 929 | 1.625 | 2 |
February 9, 2012
If you are not prepared to go to war, you cannot threaten that “nothing is off the table” as you search for diplomatic solutions.
Thus there are completed plans, updated daily, at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv and at the Pentagon for carrying out attacks on Iranian facilities in a last-ditch effort to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
… In any event, the plans exist, and they illustrate the difficulties in carrying out what some people think would be a simple operation.
For example, should Israel act alone, it would face the extraordinary problem of needing to refuel its bombers en route to targets about 1,000 miles away and refueling them again on the way back. That is why in the new Bipartisan Policy Center report, “Meeting the Challenge: Stopping the Clock,” former senator Charles S. Robb (D-Va.) and retired Air Force Gen. Charles F. Wald suggest that the United States provide Israel with three KC-135 refueling tankers.
This article was posted: Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:32 am | <urn:uuid:e50b853d-db48-41c4-8faa-6ad8c2f6d185> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.infowars.com/pentagon-admits-there-are-major-difficulties-in-striking-iran/ | 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 | 0.955283 | 230 | 1.84375 | 2 |
5:42 p.m. | Updated The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to cover the cost of medical care for rescue workers and others who became sick from breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The measure, which passed by a voice vote, came soon after a deal was reached between conservative Republicans and Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Democrats of New York. Mr. Schumer and Ms. Gillibrand agreed to changes demanded by the conservative lawmakers, who raised concerns about the measure’s cost and prevented the bill from advancing in the Senate. After drawing criticism in recent days from Democrats and Republicans alike, the Republican senators backed down.
Under the new agreement, the bill provides $4.3 billion over five years for health coverage to the 9/11 workers, instead of the original $7.4 billion over eight years.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Mr. Schumer and Ms. Gillibrand called the deal a “Christmas miracle.”
“Over the last 24 hours, our Republican colleagues have negotiated in good faith to forge a workable final package that will protect the health of the men and women who selflessly answered our nation’s call in her hour of greatest need,” the statement said. “This has been a long process, but we are now on the cusp of the victory these heroes deserve.”
One of the main critics of the bill, Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, expressed satisfaction with the legislation’s final price tag.
“Every American recognizes the heroism of the 9/11 first responders,” he said. “But it is not compassionate to help one group while robbing future generations of opportunity.”
The new version of the bill calls for providing $1.8 billion over the next five years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero; New York City would pay 10 percent of these costs. The legislation also sets aside $2.5 billion to reopen the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund for five years to provide payment for job and economic losses.
An additional provision allows for money from the Compensation Fund to be paid to any eligible claimant who receives a payment under the settlement of lawsuits that 10,000 rescue and cleanup workers recently reached with New York. Currently, those who receive a settlement are limited in how much compensation they can get from the fund, according to the bill’s sponsors.
There are nearly 60,000 people enrolled in health-monitoring and treatment programs related to the 9/11 attacks, according to the bill’s sponsors. The federal government provides the bulk of the funding for these programs.
The deal reached on Wednesday was a major turn of events for a bill that had been stalled in the upper chamber. Only 12 days ago, Senate Republicans blocked the legislation from proceeding to a floor vote.
But the lawmakers relented after facing a barrage of criticism — not just from Democrats, but also from traditional Republican allies, including former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, and conservative news outlets like Fox News. | <urn:uuid:4137e431-0f1b-4299-9a23-6f9f11491497> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/deal-for-911-health-bill-reached-in-senate/?emc=na | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951691 | 652 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Retailers can scale back their efforts to offer same-day delivery to online customers. A new study from The Boston Consulting Group found that free delivery and lower prices significantly ranked above same-day delivery as a means to improve the shopping experience.
Only 9 percent of the 1,500 U.S. consumers surveyed cited same-day delivery as a top factor that would improve their online shopping experience; while 74 percent cited free delivery, and 50 percent cited lower prices.
The survey did find that "affluent millennials" — ages 18 to 34 and with a household income exceeding $150,000 — who live in urban areas might be an attractive market for same-day delivery. Affluent millennials are willing to pay up to $10 to receive a delivery the same day, according to the survey, while other consumers are likely to pay up to $6, less than the fee charged by most retailers today. At those rates, same-day delivery would generate between $425 million and $850 million annually in delivery revenues if — as the consumer survey data suggest — up to 2 percent of online orders are fulfilled on the day of purchase.
BCG's analysis suggests that Boston and Washington, D.C., which have large shares of affluent millennials and population densities similar to other U.S. cities, would be more promising places to test national acceptance of same-day delivery.
"National carriers are understandably looking to expand their portfolio of offerings, guard against innovative competitors and protect share from smaller, specialized players," said Mel Wolfgang, a senior partner at BCG. "But they need to be selective in their approach and test scenarios before committing to large rollouts, and they need to experiment creatively with new technologies and partnerships with regional carriers."
Read more about online retailing. | <urn:uuid:9abc8733-b9bc-4932-a0bf-28b457c5e0bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/article/209305/Study-finds-consumers-lack-interest-in-same-day-delivery | 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 | 0.957289 | 361 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Last week Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney embarked on a European tour. Visiting the United Kingdom to mark the beginning of the Olympics, the former Massachusetts governor made a well-documented gaffe by noting that London’s preparation for the games was “disconcerting.”
Although no one is likely to mistake him for a political pundit, when sprinter Carl Lewis said, “Every Olympics is ready, I don’t care what he [Romney] said. I swear, sometimes I think some Americans shouldn’t leave the country. . . . stay home if you don’t know what to say,” he struck a nerve with one of the fatal flaws of the Romney campaign: Mitt Romney is utterly unprepared for the presidency.
Romney followed up by telling the press about a meeting with MI6, the UK’s foreign intelligence service, where they discussed the situation in Syria and “the hope for a more peaceful future for that country.” But according to the English-language German newspaper Der Spiegel, the meeting was supposed to remain secret as part of an earlier agreement, making an embarrassment of the whole affair.
Romney also held a fundraiser Thursday night in London that drew donors from Goldman Sachs to J. P. Morgan. Also among the donors were bankers from Barclays, the firm at the center of the Libor interest-rate fixing scandal.
Some of these trip-ups aren’t likely to last long: Romney’s comment about London’s preparedness may have simply been an unusually candid remark from a candidate who happens to have some experience planning the Olympics. But the rest of the trip is a good look into what a potential Romney Administration portends.
Romney already suffers from an image of being rich and out-of-touch. Although this claim can be made of almost anyone running for the modern presidency, Romney is hardly the first wealthy man to seek the Oval Office. But while he may be touting himself as an economic aficionado because of his success at Bain Capital, Romney is overwhelmingly supported by the biggest fish in the financial sector. As one report during the primary revealed:
“[Romney's] top three contributors this election cycle are Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse Group, and Morgan Stanley. In addition to these three, four more of Mitt Romney’s top ten contributors are also ‘too-big-to-fail’ banks and giant international financial corporations, including: HIG capital at #4, Barclay’s at #5, Bank of America at #7, and J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. at #10.”
If Romney has a reputation as a Wall Street fat cat who is more interested in the bottom line than broad economic growth there is little that a report like this or his London fundraiser will do to dispel the image. While he is gaining momentum due to a poor economy and his perceived economic prowess, Romney is supported by the richest, best-connected, and least-transparent financial corporations in the world.
Internationally, however, Romney is actually more well-liked than President Obama. This is true in Egypt as a poll before their June presidential election indicated. However, much of the goodwill directed toward Romney is merely a reaction against Obama’s policies.
But just as the bloom is falling off the Obama rose internationally, because the Democratic president has shown himself to be a defender of the status quo, so too will Romney’s good standing erode as it becomes known that he is likely to return to the more naked aggression seen under the Bush administration.
The immediate fall-out from revealing the MI6 meeting may be minimal in America, but it betrays Romney as an amateurish potential commander-in-chief who can’t remain silent about a sensitive intelligence meeting. This already from a candidate who frequently talks about foreign policy, but is woefully misinformed.
IVN editor Kymberly Bays pointed out on the Pangea blog that Romney foreign policy adviser Richard Williamson referred to Russia as the Soviet Union. It may have been an honest slip-up but it still conveyed the aggressive stance Romney has taken in which a line is drawn between the United States and Russia, just as it was between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The European trip may end up damaging Romney. In contrast to Obama’s own European trip in 2008, during which the Democratic candidate famously referred to himself as a “citizen of the world” and generally incurred international goodwill, Romney has knocked over the furniture to the point that a trending Twitter hashtag was “Romneyshambles” and was described anonymously in the Daily Mail as “worse than Sarah Palin.”
The reference to the previous Republican vice presidential candidate is devastating, but probably more accurate than it seems. When Romney is not protecting the big monied interests he is spouting the latest partisan talking point. Put together, it makes the differences between Romney and his recent Republican predecessors all the more negligible. | <urn:uuid:1be97684-1067-4854-8e31-72c0c71cbd38> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ivn.us/2012/07/28/mitt-romneys-europe-trip-stumbles-out-the-gate/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966236 | 1,033 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Andy Greenberg, Forbes Staff
Covering the worlds of data security, privacy and hacker culture.
In an exclusive interview earlier this month, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Forbes that his whistleblower site will release tens of thousands of documents from a major U.S. financial firm in early 2011. Assange wouldn’t say exactly what date, what bank, or what documents, but he compared the coming release to the emails that emerged in the Enron trial, a comprehensive look at a corporation’s bad behavior.
“It will give a true and representative insight into how banks behave at the executive level in a way that will stimulate investigations and reforms, I presume,” he told me.
“You could call it the ecosystem of corruption,” Assange added. “But it’s also all the regular decision making that turns a blind eye to and supports unethical practices: the oversight that’s not done, the priorities of executives, how they think they’re fulfilling their own self-interest.”
WikiLeaks recent priority has clearly been the publication of hundreds of thousands of government documents: 76,000 classified documents from the war in Afghanistan, another 392,000 from Iraq, and on Sunday, the first piece of an ongoing exposure of what will likely be millions of diplomatic messages sent between the U.S. State Department and its embassies.
But that government focus doesn’t mean WikiLeaks won’t embarass corporations, too. Since October, WikiLeaks has closed its submissions channel; Assange says the site was receiving more documents than it could find resources to publish. And half those unpublished submissions, Assange says, relate to the private sector. He confirmed that WikiLeaks has damaging, unpublished material from pharmaceutical companies, finance firms (aside from the upcoming bank release), and energy companies, just to name a few industries.
Whether and when those secrets come out is solely a matter of Assange’s discretion. “We’re in a position where we have to prioritize our resources so that the biggest impact stuff gets released first.”
For more, read our cover story on Assange’s plans, how a legendary hacker is working with the Pentagon to stop him, and how Iceland hopes to spring a flood of leaks worldwide. | <urn:uuid:d982a662-50a9-431f-8f11-0db375efc61a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2010/11/29/exclusive-wikileaks-will-unveil-major-bank-scandal/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937672 | 467 | 1.695313 | 2 |
It is often said that ‘Content is King’ in the world of internet marketing. Indeed, creating informational material that provides value establishes a company or organization’s brand and reputation among online consumers. Writing articles on the web is a cheap advertising tool, and can be beneficial in formulating a long-term marketing strategy.
There are many article submission sites on the web that allow anyone to post content at their convenience. However, having a realistic chance of success at article marketing requires more than just the ability to string words and sentences together. In order to really gain attention, articles need to incorporate proper Search Engine Optimization techniques that will make them more visible to the top search engines.
For some businesses with limited experience in producing web content, SEO writing and proper article submission can be a challenging exercise. Luckily, there are article submission services today that can save companies a great deal of time and money when it comes to producing top-notch content.
These companies offer article submission packages that will not only produce quality content with well-integrated search engine keywords, but also create ‘back links’ that drive traffic and hence, customers, to a company’s website.
‘Back links’, in web marketing language, are essentially links from a website that leads to another site. The more back links a business has, the more people are likely to visit their site. For one, search engines rank the search results partly by looking at how many times a particular website has been referenced from another website. It is a way for the search engines to determine the authority level of a particular site.
Article submission services produce these back links by submitting content on article directories that generally rank well with search engines. Technically, businesses can do this by themselves, but doing so would be tedious and counterproductive. Instead of doing the job manually, article submission packages allow businesses to redirect their time to other productive pursuits that can enhance their bottom line.
Search Engine Marketing is not something that can be done sporadically. There needs to be a consistent and well-directed effort in order to succeed. For this reason, it is also more economical for companies to hire outside sources to fulfill their Search Engine Marketing needs. Article submission services save businesses a lot money by cutting out the costs associated with hiring, training, and retaining in-house personnel.
Of course, not all article submission companies are the same. Some offer high-end services, while others can be complete flops. Businesses must make the effort to evaluate which companies can actually produce the best results for the least amount of money. After all, a good article submission service is similar to having a quality public relations agency. It can make or break the image of a company. | <urn:uuid:d7ae940c-8648-403d-b802-eecc9558fe1d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.isellpr.com/wp/tag/online-article-submission/ | 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 | 0.951655 | 557 | 1.601563 | 2 |
This past Saturday, Erik invited me over to brew a batch of porter with his good friend Brad. I had never homebrewed before, so this was completely new to me. I arrived at Erik’s house a while before Erik, who was running late, returned from Dan’s Homebrewing Supplies with the malt and hop ingredients. Luckily, I was really on time because Holly had just finished making lunch. I was already liking brewing by this point.
When Erik got home with the goods, the first thing we had to do was heat up some water for the first phase, mashing. Mashing involves mixing the malted barley (the recipe of which Erik can fill you in on) into hot water. Our malt mixture contained very little roasted chocolate malt (you could see the odd black fleck), which you might be surprised to find out is all that’s needed to give a beer that dark porter colour. The water had to be heated up to approximately 170F on the stove to get a temperature of 152F in the mashing vessel. How Erik knows this, I cannot tell. We used Erik’s fancy beer making software to figure out the ideal temperature of 152F. Apparently, anything three degrees above would lead to too many unfermentable sugers in the mash (leftover sugar means sweeter beer) and anything three degrees less would lead to too many fermentable sugars (not much leftover sugar means dry beer). After Erik had mashed in his barley malt and was ready to let it sit in the lautering process, we were dead on at 152F. Erik’s giant beer cosy system only loses 1F per hour, which I was pretty impressed with. Lautering is the process of letting the mash steep, to extract the fermentable sugars that yeast turns into alcholol.
Now Erik would tell you that home brewing is easy, and it is fairly straight forward, but it is really only easy when you are me. It is true that while homebrewing, you do a lot of work in bursts and then wait around for an hour or so. Homebrewing is also fairly precise and requires a fair amount of careful sanitization, as well as a good chunk of knowledge (that Erik has and I don’t). For me, brewing consisted of playing a lot of frisbee with Luca, Erik’s dog, and drinking a lot of beer. Whereas Erik spent a lot of time tearing around, cleaning stuff, carefully measuring/mixing, and took part in a good deal of attentiveness. I had a great time though, because frisbee and beer drinking are pretty fun. We drank a lot of fantastic beers, including Mission Springs Fat Guy Oatmeal Stout, Swans Coconut Porter, Swans Berry Ale, and Anderson Valley Tripel. We also had Paddock Wood IPA, which I thought was more of a decent pale ale than a respectable IPA, and Granville Island Brockton IPA, finally a westcoast IPA.
After an hour of waiting (drinking beer and playing frisbee), it was time to sparge. After draining the wort (unfermented beer) from the mashtun (Erik’s has a filter in the bottom), we poured hot water (hotter than the first go because we need no more extraction) through the mash to get more of the sugar out. We did this three times, stirring each time before draining more wort.
After we’d recovered the wort, it was time to fire up the brew kettle. Erik’s kettle is a turkey fryer that he heats with a potent propane burner. Bringing the wort to a boil was fairly challenging (mostly for Erik) because the wort wants to quickly extricate itself from the kettle. After achieving a boil, Erik immediately added the bittering hops for the hour long boil. After fifty minutes, the aroma hops were added. I do not recall the types of hops we use, but I seem to recall willamette being used for aroma. I’ll be honest, by the time the aroma hops were added I was out of beer making mode and into beer drinking mode. After the hour long boil, Erik cooled the wort using cold water running through a coper hose. Once cool, the wort was put into a carboy, to which yeast was added, and left to ferment for a week or so. After further ageing in the bottle for a few more weeks, we’ll have a tasty porter. Although, I fear my involvement may have somehow ruined this beer, but we’ll see. Erik, thanks for letting me make beer with you and I apologize if I somehow ruined it. | <urn:uuid:62ca523d-221e-4363-a84f-573c69785d5c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lovegoodbeer.com/tag/swans-coconut-porter/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978195 | 978 | 1.679688 | 2 |
The organisation now known as JewishCare was conceived in 1935 in response to the atrocities in Europe. A telegram from England which was received by Samuel Cohen in March 1936 provided the catalyst for an appeal which aimed to save German Jewry through migration. This appeal was launched on the first day of Passover, April 7 1936. On March 18, 1936, the German Jewish Refugee’s Fund was established which would later become the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, Jewish Community Services and today JewishCare.
It was through the work of the German Jewish Refugee’s Fund that several hundred Jews were saved from Nazi persecution. After the war the then Australian Jewish Welfare Society continued to assist many people to come to Australia and to help them settle here.
JewishCare today is the major provider of non-residential services to our community. Each year JewishCare provides a wide range of services that help 4,000 people. These services are provided in response to the needs of the aged, people with a disability, families and youth in crisis, people with mental health issues. These are often the most vulnerable people in our community and therefore those most in need of our help.
Thanks to great community support from the 2010 Capital Appeal JewishCare moved into its new headquarters in Saber Street in October 2012.
If you ever need a helping hand or a sympathetic ear and JewishCare will be there. For further information call 1300 133 660.
For more information about the history of the organisation from 1935 to 1985 ring us to obtain a copy of ' 50 Years of Caring ' by Anne Andgel.
JewishCare is a not for profit organisation classed as a Public Benevolent Institution, endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient.
According to its Constitution it is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by the members.
JewishCare offers over 25 programs which help 4,000 people each year.
We support people by :
There are around 160 staff and over 600 volunteers
Staff numbers by team are:
Child, Family 20
Community Aged 70
JewishCare has an annual Business Plan which documents what will be achieved in the next twelve month period.
There is also a Strategic Plan which has a longer term perspective from 2009 to 2012.
Allan Vidor Director since 2006
Allan is the Managing Director of the Toga Group of Companies, an international property development, construction, investment and hospitality management group.
He graduated from the University of NSW with Bachelor of Commerce and Laws degrees in 1985 and was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in 1986. Other Directorships include the Tourism and Transport Forum and the Australian/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.
Antony Breuer Director since 2000
Antony is an investment banker and Director of companies within the Gresham Partners group. He graduated from UNSW with a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws in 1986 and was admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW in 1987.
Lawrence Myers Director since 2008
Lawrence is the Managing Director of the Sydney Office of GBP Advisory, an accounting firms specialising in mergers and acquisitions, corporate and business advisory, tax, succession planning and family services.
Holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (University of South Australia), is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, Taxation Institute of Australia and NTAA and is a Registered Company Auditor and a Registered Tax Agent.
Jeffrey Engelman Director since 2006
After completing qualifications at University of NSW Jeffrey pursued further research in England. Jeffrey is a Gastroenterologist, currently working in private practice in the Eastern Suburbs and Kogarah. He has been in practice for over 10 years.
He has been actively involved in communal work having served on the Jewish Board of Deputies and being on the Holocaust Remembrance committee for two years. He is also a member of the Australian Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendant.
Erica Turek Director since 2003
After being born in Romania, Erica survived a Concentration Camp and with the help of Australian Jewish Welfare Society came to Australia with her mother in 1948. Erica has worked in recruitment and human resources for over four decades and currently serves on the Boards of Scott Recruitment Services and Recruitment Services Superannuation Fund and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as the Recruitment Consultants Services Association. She was previously employed by JewishCare as a Development Officer.
Shirli Kirschner Director since 2013
Shirli has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Law (UNSW) and is a Nationally accredited mediator.
She worked as a lawyer for six years before founding Resolve Advisors in 1996. Resolve provides services resolving disputes, assisting group decision making and process design to a wide client base in Australia and Internationally.
Shirli holds the position of dispute resolution adviser for the National Electricity and wholesale gas markets, an appointment as a sessional Lecturer in the Masters of Law Program at UNSW, a part time Registrar for the Federal Circuits Court.
Shirli currently sits on a number of National and International mediation panels. She has held positions on the Board of the Shalom Institute, the ADR committee of the Law Society and the Board of BRC (the Brain Resource Company) which specialises in brain functional analysis.
Darron Lonstein Director since 2013
Darron holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science from UCT
He was one of the founding Directors of the network technology company, Com Tech, which was later sold to the global technology organisation, Dimension Data. During his time at Com Tech, Darron served as its Technical Services Director, responsible for all service and support activities as well as being involved in the strategic direction of the company.
Since then Darron spent several years as Executive Chairman of Controlled Climate Logistics, a logistics business focused on warehousing and distribution for confectionary and allied industries. Darron now invests across a range of property and equity assets and also has a number of private equity investments in start-up enterprises.
Darron has worked with JCA for many years and has been a member of the IT, Allocations, Planning and Executive Committees.
Chief Executive Officer
Claire Vernon firstname.lastname@example.org Mobile 0401 979 921
Warren Hurst email@example.com Mobile 0414 752 299
Chief Financial Officer
Manager, Disability Services Team
Amber Walker on maternity leace Paula Roberts locum
Manager, Aged ServicesTeam
Manager, Children Family and Community Team
Manager, Donor Relations
Manager, Human Resources
Manager, The Burger Centre | <urn:uuid:20fd7473-b068-420f-af0f-5e944c86cfa0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jewishcare.com.au/cms/about-us | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96543 | 1,377 | 1.648438 | 2 |
We often see homeschoolers highlighted in the news. What will you do if reporters want to interview your family? This week on Home School Heartbeat host Mike Farris is joined by media expert Joseph Farah to give your family advice on communicating with the news media.
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Our guest today is founder, editor, and CEO of WorldNetDaily.com, Joseph Farah. Joseph is also my buddy. Welcome to the program, Joseph.
Thank you, Mike, it’s an honor and privilege to be with you.
Joseph, you’ve had extensive involvement in the news media: you’ve been a reporter, foreign correspondent, newspaper editor and publisher, and talk-show host. How do you suggest homeschoolers present themselves when they’re approached by the media?
Well, the answer to your question, Mike, is very very carefully.
I think it’s important to understand the worldview that dominates and pervades the news media in this country. It skews very liberal; it skews very secular. But, having said that, my perception is that even among my overwhelmingly progressive colleagues in the media there is far more respect for homeschooling now than there was maybe five years ago. And where the media will, you know, try to poke and pry, I think, is in the gray area that they refer to as socialization—are homeschoolers isolated from the world around them to their detriment, that’s the big question. The answer is usually no, of course, but those are the questions to watch for if you have contact with the media.
Joseph, thanks so much for your insights; look forward to our conversation this week. I’m Mike Farris. | <urn:uuid:257f3e15-0318-40e7-91e8-7debae6265bf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/110/hshb11001.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94496 | 450 | 1.554688 | 2 |
A Vision in Minimalism
A couple builds a dream home in the Baraboo forest
Bluff House blends with the Baraboo landscape. SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE HOME IN THE SLIDESHOW BELOW.
Amy Bruns dreamed about living in a place that felt like camping at Devil’s Lake. Her husband, Stephen Bruns, had visions of building his ideal modern house.
Happily, they both got their wishes in their new home in the wooded hills of Baraboo.
Called Bluff House, the 1,500-square-foot home is a striking example of the minimalist architecture Stephen specializes in at his firm, Bruns Architecture. Surrounded by a thick forest of poplars, oaks and maples, the house blends organically into its environment, and it’s the perfect spot for the Brunses, who split their time between there and Milwaukee.
The couple discovered the three-and-a-half-acre lot on their bicycles while training for the Devil’s Lake triathlon. After they purchased the property, they spent time studying the site and planning the home they would build on it.
“This was really a great opportunity to explore ideas,” Stephen says.
After considering several different concepts, they decided on a design characterized by two simple structural forms that intersect yet distinguish public and private areas of the home. They began construction in June 2008 and finished in February 2009.
The couple chose understated furniture—a cognac-hued sectional, a low-profiledining room table—and few accessories to keep the focus on the striking architecture and the views, which are highlighted through a wall of windows running from the master bedroom to the living room.
“One thing that separates the work I try to do is that the architecture is the interior design,” Stephen says. “I try to expose the structure and planar elements for what they are.”
“The views are the art,” Amy adds.
Yet earthy tones, natural materials and a wood-burning fireplace keep the place feeling cozy.
“We gravitate toward modern lines with a hint of warmth—and a touch of vintage,” Amy says, referring to her collection of mid-century modern chairs.
Another priority for the Brunses was making their home sustainable. A radiant heating system provides warmth, while the trees surrounding the house create a natural solar shield—they block the sun in the summer and allow heat in during the winter.
With a strict budget in mind, they opted for a sound structure and quality windows but postponed certain projects. One day, they’ll replace concrete walls with stone and upgrade fixtures and features in their bathrooms.
Since completing the house, Stephen and Amy—and their cats Sage and Peanut—have enjoyed seeing deer, foxes, raccoons, turkeys, cranes, wrens, woodpeckers and other wildlife from their windows. And each season brings new beauty to experience. “Fall is probably the favorite,” Stephen says.
“I love the view of the woods,” Amy says. “This is what I wanted.”
Katie Vaughn is associate editor of Madison Magazine.
Find more House of the Month features here. | <urn:uuid:f2d0abdb-4bee-4eb9-a711-defdc87c78a2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.madisonmagazine.com/Madison-Magazine/November-2011/A-Vision-in-Minimalism/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954716 | 687 | 1.507813 | 2 |
This past week I was in Alberta and was greeted with a foot and a half of snow. The drought in Western Canada is not as bad as last year and many producers were ready to plant. I had the opportunity to meet with an agribusiness group of 400 people, conduct seven press interviews, and finish the day off meeting with a legislative group and the Minister of Agriculture.
The Canadians were concerned over trade issues with the United States and country of origin labeling. A recent study I was part of with the George Morris Centre in Guelph, Ontario, found that country of origin labeling, if enacted, would cost producers and rural communities in the upper Midwest up to $2 billion annually just in the hog industry!
Additional studies in other agricultural sectors have found similar results. We must be very careful of a protectionist attitude in the short run. The long term economic consequences will ripple through, affecting our producers and rural communities.
I would recommend that producers take a trip to Alberta to visit some of the producers. I find them very entrepreneurial and progressive. It appears the government, academic, agribusiness, and producer groups have a strategic vision to compete in 21st century agriculture.
I was the only one going through the United States customs in the Toronto Airport at 7:05 a.m., so I had my choice of about five customs agents. The SARS scare has really decreased the amount of people going to Canada.
The Canadian dollar is strengthened compared to the U.S. dollar right now, which is hindering Canadian producers in exporting agricultural products to the U.S.
This week I’ll be visiting California; Spokane, WA, and Portland, OR, then to Sedona, AZ, and the Grand Canyon!
My e-mail address is:firstname.lastname@example.org
Editors' note: Dave Kohl, The Corn and Soybean Digest Trends Editor, is an ag economist at Virginia Tech. He recently completed a sabbatical working with the Royal Bank of Canada. He is now back at Virginia Tech with his academic appointment, which is teaching, extension, and applied research.
To see Dave Kohl's previous road warrior adventures type Dave Kohl in the Search blank at the top of the page.
This online exclusive is brought to you by The Corn and Soybean Digest | <urn:uuid:8db9daf0-15d2-4dde-b6ce-d8522b0dd284> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/edmonton-alberta-18-inches-snow | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970112 | 477 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Margaret Jurd College is one of a handful of ''last-chance'' high schools for at-risk children in NSW; now the school itself is at risk of closing due to funding cuts being considered by the state government.
And a second ''last-chance'' education program, run by the welfare group the Exodus Foundation, will close at the end of the year due to a lack of funds.
The closure of the Exodus program and the threat to Margaret Jurd College places pressure on the few remaining schools that cater for vulnerable children who don't fit in with the mainstream education system.
Margaret Jurd College, in Newcastle, faces losing up to $276,000 in funding from Family and Community Services.
The principal, Melise Sutton, said the 26-year-old facility helped 24 year 9 and year 10 students.
''The young people we cater to are the most damaged in the community,'' she said. ''They just don't fit the mainstream system. If we're gone there is nowhere else for them.''
With 95 per cent of students completing the program going on to work, cutting funding to the school would be a false economy, she said.
''For 24 students to end up on Newstart for 12 months is $331,000,'' she said. ''It's over $150,000 to keep one person in juvenile detention for a year.''
A spokesman for the Community Services Minister, Pru Goward, said no decision had been made on funding for the school.
The Exodus Youth program, which has sites in Ashfield and Redfern, helps students gain a year 10 equivalent. The program is not affected by the state government cuts, but The Sun-Herald understands that after faltering support from private donors the foundation has a debt of about $1.5 million.
The foundation's Reverend Bill Crews confirmed the closure, as Exodus had decided to focus on helping homeless people.
But another Exodus program called Multilit, which provides literacy support for indigenous children in conjunction with Macquarie University, will receive financial support from a tour next month by the former world heavy weight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
''The money we raise will enable the young kids to continue learning to read and write,'' Mr Crews said.
Other schools for at-risk children are looking to grow.
Sylvestro Lavite, a teacher at East Sydney High School, which caters for about 60 troubled students up to year 10, said there was strong demand for the program. He hoped the program could expand to cater for year 11 and 12 students.
Tears of frustration into tears of pride
TWELVE months ago Gail Watson was at the end of her tether. Her teenage daughter Ranee Watson-Bennett had been suspended from school three times and it looked as if she would drop out of education entirely.
A year later, the 15-year-old is on the verge of completing year 10 at the college and is planning to start year 11 at a mainstream school next year.
''I was in tears of frustration before and now I'm in tears of pride because of how far she has come,'' Ms Watson said. ''That school has turned her life around.''
For Ranee, the change in her life has been priceless. As well as continuing her education, she is also planning to undertake a traineeship in aged care.
''If I hadn't been able to come to Margaret Jurd I would have failed year 10 or I would not be at school,'' she said. ''The school has been great. I've matured heaps. I've grown up and realised what's right and wrong.''
with Natalie O'Brien | <urn:uuid:21947785-edff-40b7-8a88-9040a6eb98bf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/410057/lifeline-for-at-risk-students-could-go/?cs=24 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973099 | 754 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Google on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to "net neutrality" after a newspaper reported the Internet giant was moving away from its support of the principle that all Web traffic should be treated equally.
"Google remains strongly committed to the principle of net neutrality, and we will continue to work with policymakers in the years ahead to keep the Internet free and open," Richard Whitt, Google's Washington-based counsel for telecom and media, wrote in a posting on the company blog.
Whitt was replying to a story in The Wall Street Journal which said Google had approached major cable and telecom companies that carry Internet traffic with a proposal to "create a fast lane for its own content."
Such a move would conflict with the principle of net neutrality, which is backed by the regulatory US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under which cable and telecom companies provide equal network access for all content providers.
Cable and telecom companies, with Web traffic soaring, have been seeking ways to get Internet content providers to share in their network costs, the Journal noted, and charging companies for "fast lanes" is one option.
The Journal quoted one major cable operator in talks with Google as saying it has been reluctant so far to strike a deal, however, because of concern it might violate the FCC guidelines on network neutrality.
Whitt, the Google counsel, described the Journal report as "confused" and said what the Internet company has sought to do is to place "edge caching servers" within the facilities of broadband Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Edge caching on servers near end users allows for quicker delivery of data such as YouTube videos and other frequently accessed content.
Whitt noted that "some critics have questioned whether improving Web performance through edge caching ... violates the concept of network neutrality," but he argued that it does not.
"Edge caching is a common practice used by ISPs and application and content providers in order to improve the end user experience," he said, adding that "Google has offered to 'colocate' caching servers within broadband providers' own facilities.
"We've always said that broadband providers can engage in activities like colocation and caching, so long as they do so on a non-discriminatory basis," Whitt said.
"None of them require (or encourage) that Google traffic be treated with higher priority than other traffic," he said.
During his campaign for the White House, US president-elect Barack Obama came out strongly in favor of net neutrality.
© 2008 AFP | <urn:uuid:dc3a9d14-ee1e-4735-b1b0-1fa92c317a72> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.kioskea.net/news/11080-google-reaffirms-commitment-to-net-neutrality | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963424 | 506 | 1.828125 | 2 |
"How, for example, could I make a fat lady, walking down Fifth Avenue, slip on abanana peel and still get a laugh?" he asked. "It's been done a million times... What's the best way to get the laugh? Do I show first the banana peel, then the fat lady approaching: then she slips? Or do I show the fat lady first, then the banana peel, and then she slips?"
"Neither," Chaplin replied. "You show the fat lady approaching; then you show the banana peel; then you show the fat lady and the banana peel together; then she steps over the banana peel and disappears down a manhole."
[Chaplin knew whereof he spoke. Audiences laughed so hard at his comedies that theater managers had to have the bolts on their seats regularly tightened.] | <urn:uuid:c1dc0930-6fc7-4116-b9aa-bbd626f6366d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://anecdotage.com/articles/8816/ | 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 | 0.937207 | 172 | 1.507813 | 2 |
I am a child of the 50s. I clearly remember when the TV (a tiny screen housed in a huge cabinet) first came into our house in 1955. Ten years later, I was delighted to own a battery-powered transistor radio that crackled out the Beach Boys and the Beatles from hundreds of miles away. I wrote my college papers on a portable Smith Corona typewriter and thought the heavens had opened when I got an electric self-correcting typewriter sometime in the mid-70s, about the same time I picked up a 35 mm camera for the first time. Jump forward at least three decades and I’m playing with what feels like magic with my Nikon D90 and my little MacBook while watching a DVR’d movie on my flat-screen TV. Tonight, I thought I’d see what I could do with the magic of Lightroom and Photoshop.
I used layer to create the image below. I used a shot of the full moon (taken from the street outside my city condo) and a boring image of a a high-desert hill. However, I don’t know how to use layers. I wanted the moon higher in the sky & more to the right. I also wanted to manipulate the hues of the moon to reflect what a rising moon typically looks like — a little more warm. When I figure out how to use layers, I will re-post this image. | <urn:uuid:0876ffa2-243e-48e2-9c30-c41d1ff1f75a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://monahoward.com/2012/03/30/digital-magic/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953031 | 293 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Last mission to repair the Hubble telescope Hubble space telescope discoveries have enriched our understanding of the cosmos. In this special report, you will see facts about the Hubble space telescope, discoveries it has made and what the last mission's goals are.
For their own good
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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Hyphens, histories and the hypocrites
By Bill Maxwell, Times Columnist
Published March 2, 2008
Each week, I receive at least one letter or e-mail from a white person asking me to explain why blacks hyphenate their identity, referring to themselves as "African-Americans."
And each week, I receive a least one correspondence admonishing blacks for bringing up the past. "I didn't own slaves, and I'm sick and tired of you people always whining about old history," one man wrote the other day. "We need to be one nation and one people."
I never respond to these readers, even when I believe they are being sincere. Needless to say, since the "postracial" Barack Obama, as many swooning journalists call him, has done so well in his run for the presidency, the tone of the complaints I receive has become more strident, contemptuous and mocking.
I have a long and personal history with the term African-American. When Jesse Jackson first proposed, during the 1980s, that we adopt it as our official cultural and racial name, I was a reporter and columnist for the Fort Pierce News-Tribune. My editor asked me to write the newspaper's editorial opposing the use of African-American.
I wrote what I thought was a balanced piece that looked at both blacks' desire to capture their heritage by using the hyphen and the possible downside of blacks symbolically separating themselves from other Americans and thereby causing deep resentment.
Over the years, I rarely have used African-American. For one, I see no evidence that it has changed how the rest of the nation views us or treats us. Second, my contrarian bent leads me to resist the name because its use has become de rigueur, and I try to steer clear of anything that is de rigueur. Third, using the hyphen has not stopped the tragedy of black-on-black crime that has paralyzed our neighborhoods with fear and suspicion.
Many white people who complain about the use of African-American are shameless hypocrites. Others are simply naive. Most of these same people did not have a problem with the nation's crush of hyphenated names until the Rev. Jackson suggested that we place the hyphen between African and American, when all hell broke loose.
Until then, we accepted the use of names such as Jewish-American, Polish-American, Italian-American, Portuguese-American, Chinese-American, Japanese-American, German-American, Czechoslovakian-American, Cuban-American, Arab-American, Hispanic-American, Russian-American and Greek-American.
The hypocrisy involving hyphenated names is often laughable. Several years ago, a man with an Italian surname attacked me for using African-American in the lead of a column. I learned a few weeks later that he was a long-time member of the Italian American Club of Greater Clearwater. When I confronted him, he grudgingly acknowledged his hypocrisy.
In March of each year, millions of people nationwide wear something green, and bodies of water are dyed green. This event is St. Patrick's Day, when Irish-Americans celebrate the Irish side of their hyphenation. We also have the annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City that attracts more than 3-million spectators and 100,000 marchers. I was there last June, and all around I saw placards announcing "Puerto Rican pride" and "Puerto Rican-American pride." Ricky Martin was the parade king, and many of New York's movers and shakers rode on floats, waving to the crowd, celebrating the culture of a hyphenated people.
Black History Month, which many blacks now refer to as African-American Culture Month, has just ended. Predictably, I received a lot of unprintable complaints. Many of the writers, like others over the years, did not realize that they were practicing a double standard.
The same double standard is at play when whites condemn blacks for bringing up the past. A man in Tuscaloosa, Ala., a member of the League of the South, challenged me, during a public forum at which I was the guest speaker, to explain why blacks "can't forget the past." Ironically, the League of the South's raison d'etre is to glorify the inhuman and racist legacies of the Confederacy and the Civil War.
In short, white history still matters. But African-American history - slavery, separate-but-equal schools, "colored" water fountains, poll taxes, redlining, salary differentials, lynching and the Tuskegee syphilis experiment - is seen as being passe and should be forgotten.
We are being asked to pretend that these events and unjust practices have no direct or residual influence on the current status of black life in the United States, especially since the black man running for president supposedly has "transcended race."
I would try to forget the past if I thought history was irrelevant. But the past is relevant. It influences who we are now, and it will affect who we become. We cannot cherry-pick whose history is relevant and whose is not if we are earnestly seeking truth.
All people's history, including black history - or African-American history - is relevant in the cultural mosaic that we call America. | <urn:uuid:22533094-cda5-4159-ba9a-4532a99ad4df> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/02/Opinion/Hyphens__histories_an.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968599 | 1,222 | 1.710938 | 2 |
The 1981 Major League Baseball season was an unusual one because of a midsummer strike and the Red Sox finished out of the running again. After the season, construction started on a multi-year project to renovate Fenway Park's grandstand roof and install the park's first luxury boxes.
Record: 59-49, 5th in American League East
Manager: Ralph G. Houk
In 1981, Jean Yawkey established the Jean R. Yawkey Trust and transferred team ownership over to it. She also appointed John Harrington as Co-Trustee of the Yawkey Trust. Harrington had worked for Joe Cronin in the American League's office and when Cronin retired, Tom Yawkey hired him to work for the Red Sox. Though he left the club after Tom passed away in 1976, Harrington returned to help Jean oversee the franchise and had a huge impact on the club until the Yawkey Trust sold the Red Sox in 2002.
In preparation for the 1981 season, the Red Sox turned to skipper Ralph "The Major" Houk, a veteran manager who had led the New York Yankees for 11 years. His team entered the new season without Fred Lynn and Carlton Fisk following the contract snafus of the previous December. Fisk signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox in March, while Lynn had been dealt to his hometown California Angels over the winter. Opening Day against the White Sox seemed almost scripted to underscore Haywood Sullivan's postmark faux pas: Fisk hit a three-run homer in a 5-3 Chicago victory against his former Red Sox teammates.
Boston had also traded Rick Burleson and Butch Hobson to the Angels for third baseman Carney Lansford and pitcher Mark Clear during the offseason. This transaction worked out pretty well for the Red Sox, as Lansford won the 1981 AL batting title with a .336 average and Clear led Boston's pitching staff in wins in 1982.
A midseason strike wiped out the schedule from June 11 to August 10 and the season was split into two halves. The Red Sox placed fifth in the first half of the season and ranked second in the latter half, creeping to within half a game of first place on September 25.
The most remarkable game of the year was a September 3 tilt with the Mariners at Fenway Park that entered extra innings tied 7-7. The game went 10 scoreless extra frames and play was suspended until the next day, when Seattle scored the go-ahead and ultimate winning run in the top of the 20th.
In 1981, Fenway Park began undergoing a major renovation project to its roof that was completed in two major phases, one from 1981 to 1982 and the other from 1982 to 1983. The first phase focused on the right field roof, where the construction of 21 luxury boxes began after the 1981 season.
Snapping the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Stars' three-game winning streak at Fenway Park, the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball All-Stars wound up tying the Cape team, 4-4, at Fenway Park on July 20, 1981.
|1981 Non-Red Sox Baseball At Fenway Park|
|July 20||Cape Cod Baseball League 4, Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League 4 (Tie)*|
* From 1975 to 1987, on a biennial basis, Fenway Park hosted an all-star game between the Cape Code Baseball League and the Atlantic Collegiate League. The all-star game alternated between Fenway Park and sites closer to the ACL's teams, such as Yankee Stadium and Veterans Stadium. In 1988, the Cape Cod Baseball League returned to an intra-league format for their annual all-star game and in 2009, Cape Code League All-Stars returned to Fenway Park for the Cape Cod League All-Star Game, which was played again in 2010. | <urn:uuid:65aad3dd-ea34-4269-950d-69f9cfcd804a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/bos/fenwaypark100/timeline.jsp?year=1981 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967809 | 778 | 1.703125 | 2 |
A flock of red sheep have been entertaining motorists driving past a business park in West Lothian.
The sheep have been released on a hillside beside the M8 between junctions three and four and is the brainchild of Pyramid Business Park.
The stunt in Bathgate was set up "for a bit of fun" to "brighten things up".
Farmer Andrew Jack, who owns the 54-strong flock, spent hours spray painting the woolly mammals. They will be red for a month until sheared.
He said: "They are causing quite a stir with passers-by. It is a bit of fun and it does brighten things up.
"It was a bit messy and it really did take a while, but they look fantastic.
"We used a sheep spray, but it was totally animal friendly and would not do them any harm. We will leave them like that until it is time to shear their coats off."
It comes after the M8 Art project which created artistic talking points along the main travel corridor between east and west.
The 'Sawtooth Ramps', which quickly became known as the pyramids, were the first to be installed in 1993 by artist Patricia Leighton.
They were followed by the 80 foot high 'Horn', which transmits recorded music, poetry and prose, the 'Big Heids' at Eurocentral Terminal site and the Iron Horse at Easterhouse.
Craig Chalmers, senior facilities manager at Pyramids Business Park, said: "We wanted to do something different to brighten up the area and make it a nicer place to work.
"The sheep have become a huge attraction. They look fantastic and they serve the double process of maintaining the grass on the pyramids.
"The dyes are obviously animal friendly and we are now considering replacing them with pink sheep when these ones have their coats sheared." | <urn:uuid:632970d6-5b21-422f-9f12-15abb81485bf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6521149.stm | 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 | 0.978116 | 389 | 1.5 | 2 |
SUMMER IS HERE
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE TROUBLE IN THE WATER?
ARE YOU SURE?
My mom is a fish in the water. She’s always been good at everything. Because of that, it didn’t occur to her that I might struggle with swimming. I did. I still do.
Growing up, we didn’t have a pool or regular access to one and there was absolutely no money for swim lessons, so swimming was a skill that I didn’t need much. However, when I became a teenager and all the other “cool kids” were hanging out at the pool, that’s what I wanted to do also. It was then that I found myself in several moments of panic in water. When in trouble, my body would be vertical in the water and no amount of treading helped because all my physical effort was focused on getting my mouth above water for my next gulp of air. No one around me ever knew I was in trouble.
The scariest thing though, was seeing my daughter in a similar situation. She has no fear of the water, but after three years of swim lessons is only now gaining the swim skills to back up her bravado. Several times I’ve had to come to her rescue and she knows that she is not allowed in the water unless mommy’s eyes are on her. Thank goodness I know what to look for.
I’m so proud of preschool girl. She’s been heartily working with swim coaches for three years and has “the most amazing frog kicks” Coach Courtney has ever seen.
What Drowning *Really* Looks Like
Because of my own experiences, I know that drowning doesn’t look like the dramatic splashing, gulping for air scene Hollywood has painted for us over and over again. Rather, the Instinctive Drowning Response, named by Francesco Pia, Ph.D., is a relatively quiet sequence of events that humans do in order to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. Last summer, I read an article by Mario Vittone in which he included Dr. Pia’s summary of the drowning response. I could relate to each and every item on the list, but accomplished swimmers or those who have had extensive lessons may have never seen or experienced them and, therefore, may not know:
- drowning people are physiologically unable to call for help
- drowning people’s mouths are not above the surface long enough to call for help
- drowning people cannot wave for help
- drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements
- from beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response, the body remains vertical in the water
If you see these signs, you have a matter of seconds to provide assistance. Vittone went on to provide other overt signs of drowning:
- head low in the water, mouth at water level
- head titled back with mouth open
- eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
- eyes closed
- hair over forehead or eyes
- not using legs, or vertical in the water
- hyperventilating or gasping for air
- trying to swim in a particular direction but not making any progress
- trying to roll over on the back
- appear to be climbing an invisible ladder
And just like any other time, kids make noise when they play. If they are quiet in the water, you need to investigate!
Basic Water Safety for Kids
Because my mom is naturally an accomplished swimmer and never had formal training, it didn’t occur to her to share basic water safety information with me. But we MUST talk with our children about water safety. They are not ducks and their instincts are not always right! There are many wonderful internet resources for extensive information such as The American Red Cross, SafeKids.org and KidsHealth.org from Nemours Children’s Hospital, but the following are what have helped me and my daughter become more accomplished swimmers and can help swimmers of all skill level:
- Always teach children that “the wall” is their best friend. Teach them that, as they jump in, they need to turn and “go to the wall!” This may seem like a “simpleton” suggestion, but sometimes you have to say it out loud for children to register. Also, if they are aiming for the sides as they fly off the diving board, they are that much closer when they land and weak swimmers don’t get stranded in the middle of the pool.
- When in a situation where you are struggling remember 1-2-3…1) take a gulp of air 2) put your head under the water facing the wall and 3) KICK! Getting the body horizontal and kicking toward the wall can LITERALLY be a lifesaver.
It’s vitally important that children and adults know how to help themselves in the water, but it is also just as important to know how to help others. The most important thing we can do is “keep our eyes open and assume nothing.” Supervision is key, but so is vigilance. Don’t assume that everyone in the pool has the necessary skills to be there. Whenever we are at the pool, I am that boring mom with her eyes on the water. I don’t engage in much conversation because I have my eyes on my children AND everyone else’s. If I see a little one in trouble, I get to them. Sadly, I’ve had to do this several times.
Not only do I keep my eyes on the water, but I ask my children to do the same. I remind them that if a friend is in trouble, that person may not be able to call for help, but “you can on their behalf.” I also stress to my kiddos that they are NEVER to jump in the water to help someone. If a child sees someone struggling in the water, their first instinct is to jump in and try to help. You must tell them otherwise or that is what they will do and get themselves in trouble. If your child sees someone struggling, they should:
- shout “dial 9-1-1″
- grab a noodle or other flotation device
- lay on their stomach with only their arms extended over the edge of the pool and extend the noodle to the person in need
- continue shouting “dial 9-1-1″ until someone comes to help
It is important to go over these things with your children so that they can do the right thing in a dangerous situation.
All of the above sound stressful? It does to me. That’s why we have a sprinkler (okay, three) in our back yard. So, if you’re like me and want to sit back, relax and socialize, get yourself a back yard sprinkler. | <urn:uuid:f9636986-5d49-4223-a1c5-163db9237ddc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theshoppingmama.com/2012/06/swimming-safety-tips-what-drowning-really-looks-like/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969191 | 1,459 | 1.523438 | 2 |
MOSCOW -- High risk drinking on college campuses is in the news again. Data compiled by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism is drawing attention to what many experts believe is a growing problem.
The NIAAA reports that each year, fellow students who have been drinking assault nearly 700,000 students, 400,000 have unprotected sex while drunk, almost 600,000 are injured, and some 1,825 students die due to alcohol poisoning and alcohol related accidents.
Student deaths and injuries at the University of Idaho have raised concerns about the culture of drinking on that campus, so KTVB's Dee Sarton traveled to Moscow to find out how the university, local law enforcement and students are responding.
"The University of Idaho has high graduation rates," said UI student Jordan Wilson. "It's a really good school. I love it here, and the whole fact of it being a party school, it's kind of a stereotype."
That's a stereotype some Vandals despise, but most, even Wilson, admit it does have some basis in fact. "Binge drinking is a huge problem with kids," said Wilson.
"It's a very big drinking party school," said student Kathryn Gustafson. "That's like, the reputation everybody knows."
"Sadly, it's the bad cases that make the name." said student Ben Watson.
DEATHS, INJURIES, AND ALCOHOL
Some of those "bad" cases have turned tragic, making plenty of headlines in recent years. Since 2004, there have been three serious injuries and four student deaths, all blamed on alcohol consumption. Now another apparent alcohol related fatality, Joseph Wiederrick.
"We feel really sad about what happened. It's a really sad story," said student Blanca Valadez.
It is the story of Wiederrick, a freshman who reportedly drank at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, and then wandered outside the city limits in below freezing weather, disoriented and hopelessly lost - finally dying under a bridge of hypothermia.
Wiederrick's story ended miles from the party he left, and miles from the dorm room he was trying to get back to. His story and all the others lead to the obvious question; can more be done to prevent tragedies like this?
"If there were easy answers, we would have solved it a long time ago." says UI Dean of Students Dr. Bruce Pitman.
Pitman has been dean of students at UI for over 40 years. He says the university has implemented quality programs and stepped up its communication with students about the dangers of high risk drinking.
FIGHTING AGAINST EXCESSIVE DRINKING
"Unlike what the headlines would describe in the last couple weeks, we had a very good fall semester," said Pitman. "We did put a very heavy emphasis on safety programming, safety messaging during orientation but also beyond."
In addition, he says enforcement is up, too. According to records KTVB obtained, the number of students referred for disciplinary action because of alcohol violations is up dramatically, doubling from 79 in 2010 to 164 in 2011.
Most students KTVB talked to are aware of the university's efforts to discourage the culture of drinking.
"If we're caught drinking, we could get kicked out of the school." said Wilson.
"As far as the university goes, I feel like they do get the message out." said student Kayla Ericksen.
However, others think more could be done to crack down on what they describe as the hotbed of excessive drinking -- parties at fraternities on what is known as Greek row.
POLICE, GREEK SYSTEM SEARCH FOR ANSWERS
"They get away with so much," said Gustafson. "Every weekend there's a party, and you always know about it. But the university doesn't do anything to stop those kids from drinking underage." When KTVB asked, "Do you think there's anything they can do?" Gustafson replied, "I think they could enforce it with the law. I think the cops could be called. They could break up parties. It's not too difficult. I see it every day."
Turns out, it is not that easy. UI fraternities are not on university property. Their houses are privately owned, and without a search warrant, police cannot just walk in and shut the parties down, even if they suspect underage drinking.
"It seems to be an acceptable culture that you drink to an excess and the binge drinking and it's just something that has evolved. I think over time to college campuses, and I don't know how that occurred, but I know for sure that we gotta change that culture," said Moscow Police Lieutenant Dave Lehmitz.
Lehmitz heads up the campus division of Moscow Police. He says enforcement became even more difficult when lawmakers took the teeth out of Idaho's law dealing with those who serve alcohol to minors.
"Years ago providing alcohol to a minor on a second office became a felony, and now it's only a misdemeanor," said Lehmitz.
However, despite those hurdles, Lehmitz stresses - they have got a good partnership with the university and worked together last year to shut down Delta Chi, a fraternity with persistent alcohol violations.
"I think we're making progress, and I think if that word travels that the university's committed on making a change. The police department is committed on making a change, I think you will see change," said Lehmitz.
Pitman says evidence of that change is the trend toward dry fraternity houses. "We are gradually having fewer and fewer chapters that at least by policy, at least by policy, allow alcohol in the fraternities." When KTVB asked, "But if you had your druthers?" Pitman replied, "If I had my druthers they'd all be dry." KTVB asked, "And are you moving in that direction, as you said aggressively, or is that or on a case by case basis when something comes up?" Pitman replied, "We have had some conversations with all of the house corporations and alumni. In the last year or so and we're talking to them about that," Pitman said.
Still students point out that the law and the university can only do so much.
"There's many students that don't abide by the rules either way so if there were stricter rules or policies, I'm pretty sure they'd still go out of their way to break those policies." said Valadez.
"I think it can be a problem here, but it just depends on the individual, I think." said student Nolan Gibbens.
"You can try to stop it, but there's not a lot that anyone can do besides the person making the choice," said Wilson.
The investigation into Joseph Wiederrick's death continues as the toxicology report still have not come in.
KTVB did learn that the fraternity house where he is thought to have been drinking the night he died, lost its alcohol privileges last spring over past violations.
Pitman would not speculate on what another violation might mean to the future of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Idaho. | <urn:uuid:bb35e5b9-070c-4631-a285-9f24db7a1239> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ktvb.com/news/Police-UI-respond-to-culture-of-binge-drinking-perception-after-student-death-189956491.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975895 | 1,503 | 1.828125 | 2 |
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GEN News Highlights : Jul 18, 2011
Nanostructured Support Developed for Maintaining MSCs in Undifferentiated, Multipotent State
Study implicated small RNAs in keeping MSCs quiescent but able to differentiate.
Researchers have fine-tuned the nanotopography of a stem cell growth substrate to generate a support that maintains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in their undifferentiated, multipotent state for eight weeks. The growth support is manufactured by a straightforward injection moulding technology akin to that already used to produce Blue-ray disks. It could provide the answer to generating large-scale quantities of autologous cells for clinical use, claims the U.K.-based team.
Reporting in Nature Materials researchers at the Universities of Glasgow and Southampton say their achievement paves the way for the design of nanoscale features into tissue-engineering scaffolds that support reservoirs of progenitor cells for a range of tissue-specific stem cell types and improve the regenerative capacity of in vitro-fabricated tissue and organs. The work has also implicated upregulation of small RNAs in the mechanisms that keep MSCs quietly ticking over without losing their multipotency.
Led by Rebecca J. McMurray, Ph.D., and Matthew J. Dalby, Ph.D., at the University of Glasgow Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology’s Centre for Cell Engineering, the team describes its work in a paper titled “Nanoscale surfaces for the long-term maintenance of mesenchymal stem cell phenotype and multipotency .”
The investigators previously designed and produced a polycaprolactone (PCL)-based support with nanoscale features that allows osteogenesis from stem and progenitor mesenchymal populations cultured in osteogenic media. This osteogenesis-promoting support comprised 120 nm pits in a square arrangement with a center-center spacing of 300 nm but with a +/- 50 nm offset in pit placement in x and y axes.
What the researchers have now found is that by reducing the level of offset to as close to zero as possible (absolute square lattice symmetry, SQ), the resulting nanotopography induced a switch from osteogenic stimulation to a surface conducive to MSC growth while permitting prolonged retention of MSC markers and multipotency.
In fact, the researchers claim, MSCs cultured on SQ retained the expression of stem cell markers and, critically, displayed no markers of osteogenesis. Importantly, the SQ surface supported the growth and multipotency of a range of MSCs including commercially available skeletal- and adipose-derived MSC preparations as well as 20 different patient-derived cell populations. MSCs grown on the SQ surface for four weeks could be removed, plated onto coverslips, and treated with differentiation media to promote osteogenesis or adipogenesis.
Interestingly, MSCs grown on SQ had reduced expression of metabolic genes, supporting previous observations that stem cell populations are quiescent and relatively inactive metabolically when compared with the increased metabolomic activity found in adult stem cells undergoing active differentiation.
When the researchers looked more closely at gene expression in the SQ-supported MSCs, they found that a range of small, untranslated, RNAs were up-regulated in comparison with osteogenic MSCs. These included C/D box snoRNAs (SNORDS) that are implicated in methylation of ribosomal RNA and alternative splicing of mRNA.
This observation suggests that differential regulation of small RNAs may hold back mRNA transcription and slow growth, so reducing metabolism and repressing differentiation-related canonical signaling. Concurring with the notion that changes in metabolism and canonical signaling drive phenotypic change, the researchers found that downstream functional pathways were also repressed in MSCs grown on SQ topography.
They postulate that nanoscale modifications to surface topography alter the interaction of integrin receptors within cell adhesions, resulting in changes in intracellular tension. In support of this they found that a degree of tension is required for MSCs to retain multipotency: inhibiting actin/myosin interaction resulted in gene expression changes that promoted adipogenesis.
“Certainly, it would seem that MSCs have a direct form-function relationship, and we speculate that a surface needs to influence the adhesion/tension balance to permit self-renewal or targeted differentiation,” the authors write.
“Together, our results imply that increased self-renewal in MSCs requires the cells to be sufficiently biochemically and mechanically active to undergo proliferation, but their metabolic activity must be kept to a minimum, possibly regulated by ERK to allow proliferation but differentiation being attenuated through small RNAs.”
Critically, the production process for the support is relatively simple and reproducible, they stress. The design used for the reported studies was fabricated by electron beam lithography and processed into the thermoplastic PCL by hot embossing. The importance of the surface topography was further demonstrated by confirming that cells could be maintained when the pattern was embossed in either polycarbonate and polystyrene. The original osteogenesis-triggering surface was produced on PCA.
“The demonstrable sensitivity of MSCs to materials, with < 50nm alterations in feature placement and the role of such defined topographies on cell fate and function, offers nanoscale patterning as a powerful tool for the noninvasive manipulation of stem cells,” the team concludes.
“The data presented offers an insight into the potential role of small RNAs in mediating nanotopography-induced stem cell function and fate. Small RNAs thus provide us with potential target(s) to focus on control and modulation with materials, and such studies are continuing in our laboratories.”
© 2012 Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, All Rights Reserved | <urn:uuid:5aee81b3-bc3d-467c-9615-7cf2e60d7978> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.genengnews.com/keywordsandtools/print/4/23688/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933036 | 1,233 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Children and visitors of the INFINITY Science Center in Hancock County will benefit greatly from a new agreement between the science center and The University of Southern Mississippi.
On Friday, Feb. 15, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Dr. Gordon Cannon, vice provost for research at Southern Miss, and George Schloegel, chairman of INFINITY, partnering both institutions to allow for greater educational opportunities.
“Taking the science, mathematics and technical side of what we are doing at Stennis, in combination with our partnership with Southern Miss, we are going to touch a lot of lives,” said Schloegel. “By focusing on the classroom, this partnership creates the perfect marriage. With Southern Miss as our university in south Mississippi and Stennis’ location in south Mississippi, we are joined at the hip geographically and now we are joined at the hip through science and technology.”
As part of the agreement, Southern Miss will seek out grant funding to populate INFINITY, a $30 million state-of-the-art science center that opened in 2012, with additional interactive educational exhibits and to implement educational programming at the science center, such as teachers' workshops and K-16 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs. INFINITY is one of only nine NASA Visitors Centers in the country.
Cannon describes the partnership as being a natural fit for the university and science center. “Having educators who have worked with INFINITY, as well as students at Stennis Space Center, there was a natural interaction when we started discussing how we could assist with educational programs. In addition to appealing to a younger audience, this also serves as a very broad educational opportunity for our faculty and students.”
One project is already underway between INFINITY and the university’s Business and Innovation Assistance Center. Using advanced technologies, researchers are using controlled environment agriculture to grow food using non-traditional methods. Currently, butterhead lettuce is being grown at INFINITY using no soil, 80-percent less water and no pesticides. Attendees for the MOU signing were served salads during lunch using lettuce harvested from the project.
“The interest from both institutions is the same,” said Fred Haise, Apollo 13 astronaut and vice-chairman of INFINITY. “In a smaller way, INFINITY Science Center is interested in education for children, who may be visiting on field trips or through different kinds of programs. Southern Miss, in a bigger way, has their mission focused on education. In this partnership with Southern Miss, we hope this sparks children’s interest in the right way and hopefully one day become students at Southern Miss.”
Representatives during the memorandum signing included Jack Blitch, INFINITY board member, Tish Williams, executive director of INFINITY, Linda McCarthy, general manager of INFINITY, Ken Human, associate director of NASA Stennis Space Center, Joe Graben, director of the Southern Miss Business and Innovation Assistance Center, and teacher Connie Roth with her sixth grade science class from Bay-Waveland Middle School.
For more information about Southern Miss, visit www.usm.edu. | <urn:uuid:1a597f1b-7861-486a-b7e7-495c535d6f4f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.usm.edu/news/article/southern-miss-infinity-science-center-create-unique-partnership | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946722 | 655 | 1.84375 | 2 |
NY Magazine: All Joy and No Fun
For Independence Day, ironically, New York Magazine saw fit to publish a fantastic article on parenting and well-being titled “All Joy and No Fun: Why Parents Hate Parenting” by Jennifer Senior. It details research around parents and their childless peers, men and women, singles and couples, and how and why parenting can be both joyful and rewarding and simultaneously less pleasurable than even housework! [Kahneman, 2004]
I’m still processing, but here are some of the bits that caught my eye:
I thought of something a friend once said about the Children’s Museum of Manhattan—“a nice place, but what it really needs is a bar”—and rued how, at that moment, the same thing could be said of my apartment. Two hundred and 40 seconds earlier, I’d been in a state of pair-bonded bliss [with her 2 1/2 year old]; now I was guided by nerves, trawling the cabinets for alcohol. My emotional life looks a lot like this these days. I suspect it does for many parents—a high-amplitude, high-frequency sine curve along which we get the privilege of doing hourly surfs. Yet it’s something most of us choose. Indeed, it’s something most of us would say we’d be miserable without.
…what children really do…is offer moments of transcendence, not an overall improvement in well-being.
Before urbanization, children were viewed as economic assets to their parents. If you had a farm, they toiled alongside you to maintain its upkeep; if you had a family business, the kids helped mind the store. But all of this dramatically changed with the moral and technological revolutions of modernity. As we gained in prosperity, childhood came increasingly to be viewed as a protected, privileged time…. (The Princeton sociologist Viviana Zelizer describes this transformation of a child’s value in five ruthless words: “Economically worthless but emotionally priceless.”)
…all parents spend more time today with their children than they did in 1975, including mothers, in spite of the great rush of women into the American workforce. Today’s married mothers also have less leisure time (5.4 fewer hours per week); 71 percent say they crave more time for themselves (as do 57 percent of married fathers). Yet 85 percent of all parents still—still!—think they don’t spend enough time with their children.
(see also a parentsguild question thread about this contradiction: Parenting time on the rise?)
Mothers are less happy than fathers, single parents are less happy still.
… psychologists W. Keith Campbell and Jean Twenge… in 2003, did a meta-analysis of 97 children-and-marital-satisfaction studies stretching back to the seventies. Not only did they find that couples’ overall marital satisfaction went down if they had kids; they found that every successive generation was more put out by having them than the last—our current one most of all….“They become parents later in life. There’s a loss of freedom, a loss of autonomy. It’s totally different from going from your parents’ house to immediately having a baby. Now you know what you’re giving up.” (Or, as a fellow psychologist told Gilbert when he finally got around to having a child: “They’re a huge source of joy, but they turn every other source of joy to shit.”)
When people wait to have children, they’re also bringing different sensibilities to the enterprise. They’ve spent their adult lives as professionals, believing there’s a right way and a wrong way of doing things; now they’re applying the same logic to the family-expansion business, and they’re surrounded by a marketplace that only affirms and reinforces this idea.
(sidenote: we launched parentsguild.com to help counter the pervading message in the parenting media and marketplace that there’s a right and wrong way to parent.)
“In our studies, it’s the men, by a long shot, who have more work-life conflict than women,” says Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute. “They don’t want to be stick figures in their children’s lives.”
One of the things [Hans-Peter Kohler, a sociology professor at the University of Pennsylvania] noticed is that countries with stronger welfare systems produce more children—and happier parents….“We’ve put all this energy into being perfect parents,” says Judith Warner, author of Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety, “instead of political change that would make family life better.”
Most studies show that marriages improve once children enter latency, or the ages between 6 and 12, though they take another sharp dive during the war zone of adolescence.
Seven years ago, the sociologists Kei Nomaguchi and Melissa A. Milkie did a study in which they followed couples for five to seven years, some of whom had children and some of whom did not. And what they found was that, yes, those couples who became parents did more housework and felt less in control and quarreled more (actually, only the women thought they quarreled more, but anyway). On the other hand, the married women were less depressed after they’d had kids than their childless peers. And perhaps this is because the study sought to understand not just the moment-to-moment moods of its participants, but more existential matters, like how connected they felt, and how motivated, and how much despair they were in (as opposed to how much stress they were under)…. Parents, who live in a clamorous, perpetual-forward-motion machine almost all of the time, seemed to have different answers than their childless cohorts.
“Should you value moment-to-moment happiness more than retrospective evaluations of your life?”
What do you think? Are you more or less happy than before you had kids? Is happiness the right question?
[update: thoughtful response at Salon's Broadsheet - Joyless Parents: You're doing it wrong] | <urn:uuid:7a327c06-3e5e-43e0-9efd-95b5561dd64b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.parentsguild.com/2010/07/ny-magazine-all-joy-and-no-fun/?wpmp_switcher=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967462 | 1,332 | 1.523438 | 2 |
GSW teams up with Chehaw to benefit students
Albany, Ga.- Chehaw Park’s Education and Animal Care Department and Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) Biology Department are to begin a new partnership in Conservation Biology. For the first time during Fall Semester 2012, the University and the Zoo will collaborate in teaching a class in “Zoo Animal Care and Maintenance.”
“It has always been a dream of mine to see Chehaw used to engage students as a learning institution,” said Doug Porter, executive director for Chehaw. “This new and exciting partnership will not only be beneficial to the Park and the University, but to the greater community of Southwest Georgia as well.”
The class will be a hands-on practice oriented course in which more time will be spent working at the Zoo than sitting in the classroom. The goals of the course are to introduce students with a passion for animal husbandry and conservation to a career in zoo keeping. The course will cover the basics in zoo keeping, including, animal handling techniques, management, nutrition, breeding, behavior enrichment, exhibit design, zoo administration and public education of the major animal groups.
At Chehaw, the students will work alongside zoo professionals to learn the practical details of this important field. They also will be spending time with some of the Zoo’s leadership team, the Zoo Director, the Zoo Curator and Education Coordinator to gain valuable insight into the inner workings of an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accredited Zoo.
The relationship between Chehaw Park and GSW has slowly gained momentum over the past eight years. In recent years the zoo has used student assignments as supporting material in grant applications. To date, three GSW biology majors have been hired as summer program instructors and another three have volunteered as zoo keeper assistants.
“I am looking forward to getting this program off of the ground,” shared Ian Brown, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at GSW. “The chance to have our students working in this field as undergraduates will give them the experience that they will need when applying for future jobs in conservation.” | <urn:uuid:32db01aa-4eb0-4448-8689-96330c9c191e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thealbanyjournal.com/2012/08/the-gsw-chehaw-collaboration/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956016 | 449 | 1.515625 | 2 |
But a Muslim student gets to wear her Islamic attire in gym class, while everyone else has to follow the dress code rules:
CNSNews.com) - A Muslim ninth-grader in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington will be allowed to wear Islamic attire in gym class, thanks to the intervention of an Islamic civil rights group. The Maryland and Virginia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it intervened after the gym teacher warned the girl she would flunk the class if she didn’t dress out in the nylon shorts that other students are required to wear. According to CAIR-MD/VA, the teacher allegedly told the girl that the law required her to wear shorts. The student’s family contacted CAIR-MD/VA for assistance, and following CAIR’s discussions with school officials, the student was moved to a different gym class and will be allowed to dress in attire that meets her religious needs, the group said.
Here comes the “sensitivity training” card:
CAIR-MD/VA said it will conduct “diversity training for some of the school’s newer staff.” CAIR-MD/VA has also plans to visit other middle schools and high schools - “to review their policies for accommodating the religious needs of Muslim students during Ramadan, Eid and throughout the school year.”
You know what happens when you keep bending over backwards for someone?, you snap, and that is exactly what is happening to our society. We are about to bend and break.-- 'The Commish' A.J. Sparxx | <urn:uuid:43c2c1aa-ef41-44a4-b657-9b8aaf057e0b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jillstewart.net/2006/09/they%E2%80%99re-taking-away-my-right-to-wager-on-the-internet-iii/ | 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 | 0.971272 | 330 | 1.742188 | 2 |
One of the most useful tab-management features of modern browsers is opening recently closed tabs using the Ctrl+Shift+T hotkey. It certainly saves the time one would’ve spent sifting through browsing history to find and open closed tabs. In contrast to browsers, Windows 7 manages folders and application windows differently; despite storing recently opened programs and items in Start Menu, it doesn’t support bringing them up again using a hotkey. Today, AddictiveTips brings you UndoClose - a free program that remembers all recently closed folders and applications, so that you can restore them in the same sequence in which they were closed using two hotkeys. In short, it enables you to open the last closed folder(s) and application(s) just like the way Firefox, Google Chrome and other browsers let you open the recently closed tab(s).
UndoClose supports two hotkey combinations; Ctrl+Shift+F and Ctrl+Shift+A, to open last closed folder (in Windows Explorer) and application, respectively. The hotkeys can be used multiple times. For example, if you close VLC Player, Notepad and iTunes, press Ctrl+Shift+A hotkey three times to launch VLC Player, Notepad and iTunes again.
UndoClose sits in the system tray after being launched and silently starts monitoring all folders and applications that are closed. It then helps you restore them using the hotkeys.
If the pre-defined hotkeys come in conflict with other global hotkeys, you can change them from Settings. To access Settings, click the system tray icon. You will also find all recently closed folders and applications with their complete source paths. You can open them by double-clicking the items in the list.
You can watch how it all works in the video walkthrough below.
The application is built to actively keep log of all the apps and folders you close, and therefore, it consumes 35 MB of system memory. It’s worth mentioning here that memory usage depends upon the number of apps and folders you close during the session. UndoClose is a portable app that works on Windows 7 only. Both 32-bit and 64-bit OS are supported.
Version 1.1 – Now works with all Libraries (main folder, default Windows libraries, custom user-made libraries), Computer, Recycle Bin, Control Panel (Category view), and Network.
Version 1.0 - Initial Release | <urn:uuid:eb75d9d5-0d62-4363-bc8c-dbf62d5fb62a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/undo-close-for-windows-addictivetips-apps/?wpmp_switcher=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930132 | 499 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Apr 09, 13
By Jessica Domel
When I was in high school, my dad often said that in the coming years our country wouldn’t fight over oil or money, we’d fight over a resource that is much more scarce and valuable–water.
I hadn’t thought about him saying that until the other day when I was visiting our family farm. My dad took me on an ATV ride through our pasture to feed the fish he’d stocked in three of our family’s tanks. When we arrived at the first tank, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Aug 14, 12
By Amanda Hill
I keep a close eye on food prices—mostly for my own family’s budget, but also for Texas Farm Bureau’s Grocery Price Watch. I wonder, though, how many shoppers know why food prices increase.
If you watch the news, you’ve probably heard stories about how the devastating U.S. drought—a drought that caused billions of dollars in damage to Texas crops last year—will cause you to pay more at the grocery store. The stories make it seem as though you’ll shell out a whole lot more on your next shopping trip, due directly to crop shortages from parched lands.
Feb 14, 12
By Nathan Smith
Most years on the Southern High Plains of Texas, farmers like Brandon Patschke and his family are busy growing the fabric of our lives—cotton. Brandon is a Texas Farm Bureau member and grows cotton on his family farm near Lubbock.
Farmers like Brandon come from generations of families with decades of practice weathering the good and the bad. Through floods and drought, they care for the land and work together to leave the farm in better shape for the next generation. Last year, record drought and heat devastated the Texas cotton crop and pushed some farmers out of business altogether. Without rain, 2012 could be an ugly sequel. It’s years like 2011 that make me wonder why Texas farmers and ranchers do what they do. The answer is simple… because they love it.
Nov 29, 11
By Amanda Hill
Science is an amazing thing. Think about some of the advancements we’ve made in the past 100 years: new medicines have advanced the average lifespan from 49.2 years at the turn of the century to 77.5 years in 2003; cars don’t just take us from point A to point B, but they also tell us how to get there; and through complicated communications networks, we can reach our friends and family in an instant—anytime, anywhere.
Sep 27, 11
By Amanda Hill
Food prices at Texas grocery stores appear to be holding steady, for now. Today, Texas Farm Bureau released its third quarter Grocery Price Watch survey, which monitors the cost of 16 staple food products across the Lone Star State. This latest survey shows Texans are paying slight more—72 cents—than they did in June for the same basket of goods.
Of the 16 food products surveyed, nine items either dropped in price or stayed the same, while seven items cost more than they did in June. Here’s a look at the full survey results: | <urn:uuid:0433f49d-d321-42b4-945c-8f97d580192b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tabletop.texasfarmbureau.org/tag/drought/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958593 | 665 | 1.671875 | 2 |
On July 8, 1999, Chicago police narcotics officers Glen Lewellen and Noel Sanchez arrested 29-year-old Refugio Ruiz Cortez in Aurora, Illinois and charged him with possession of 10 kilograms of cocaine. At the time, police said it was the largest seizure of cocaine in the city’s history.
Ruiz Cortez was indicted by a federal grand jury and went on trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago in December 1999.
Lewellen testified that he and Sanchez went to investigate an apartment building in Aurora, a suburb of Chicago, after receiving a tip about narcotics trafficking occurring there.
Lewellen said that at 4:30 p.m. Sanchez began watching the front of the building, while he parked 450 to 500 feet away and watched the rear entrance with binoculars. He said he saw a van pull into the driveway of the building and Ruiz Cortez get out and go inside. On three separate occasions, Ruiz Cortez came onto the back porch, looked around and went back inside.
At 7:30 p.m., Lewellen said a silver car without license plates pulled up to the rear of the building and backed up to the porch. Lewellen said he sensed a narcotics transaction was about to occur, so he moved his car closer to the building. He said he saw Ruiz Cortez come out of the building carrying a bag, so he immediately drove up next to the silver car. Lewellen said Ruiz Cortez dropped the bag and ran into the building, while the silver car sped off.
The police officers found Ruiz Cortez in his apartment in the rear of the building. Police also found $1,800 hidden inside a vacuum cleaner in the apartment. The bag that Ruiz Cortez dropped contained cocaine that police said was worth more than $1 million on the street. No drugs, drug paraphernalia or other signs of drug trafficking were found in Ruiz Cortez’s apartment. The silver car was never located.
Ruiz Cortez testified that he had not carried the bag of cocaine and was not involved in drug trafficking. He said that he had arrived home from his construction job at about 6 p.m. and was lying down after eating dinner when the officers knocked on the door and arrested him.
The defense also argued that fingerprints found on the bag of narcotics did not belong to Ruiz Cortez.
The jury convicted Ruiz Cortez on December 22, 1999. In March, 2000, he was sentenced to 17½ years in prison.
Ten years later, in May 2010, federal prosecutors notified Ruiz Cortez that they had evidence that Lewellen had testified falsely at his trial.
Lewellen, who left the police department in 2002 to start a home construction business, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2010 on charges of framing Ruiz Cortez. He and several drug traffickers were also charged with teaming up with a former drug informant to help a group of drug-traffickers who committed at least two murders, and who kidnapped and tortured rival drug dealers to steal their money and drugs.
The indictment alleged that in 1996 Lewellen arrested Saul Rodriguez for drug trafficking and offered Rodriguez a deal to become his informant. Rodriguez accepted, and over the next five years he was paid more than $800,000 in police funds for working as an informant.
During that time, according to the indictment, Lewellen allowed Rodriguez to continue trafficking drugs. He also tipped Rodriguez off to a wiretap and provided other assistance.
Along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Ruiz Cortez’s attorneys presented a joint motion to vacate his conviction and dismiss the charges. The motion was granted on May 31, 2010 by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, who later wrote a letter of apology to Ruiz Cortez.
Lewellen was convicted of conspiracy in January 2012 after Rodriguez, who pleaded guilty, testified against him.
In his testimony, Rodriguez testified that one of his associates threatened to harm Ruiz Cortez unless he agreed to store the 10 kilograms of cocaine in his house in Aurora.
Rodriguez then arranged for one of his drug couriers to pick up the drugs from Ruiz Cortez and then tipped Lewellen off to the ensuing transaction.
Federal prosecutors interviewed the drug courier, who told them that she went to Ruiz Cortez’s apartment building where Ruiz Cortez gave her the cocaine and she put it into her trunk. Before she could drive away, however, Lewellen drove up and demanded she open the trunk, which she did from inside the car. Lewellen took the cocaine, put it in his car and then ordered her to leave, the courier said.
At Ruiz Cortez’s trial, Lewellen gave a vastly different—and untrue—version of what happened, according to Rodriguez.
For his role in the Ruiz Cortez arrest, Rodriguez had been paid $10,000 by the Chicago Police Department.
Lewellen was still awaiting sentencing in October 2012.
In November 2010, Ruiz Cortez filed a federal wrongful conviction lawsuit against Lewellen and his partner in Ruiz Cortez’s arrest. That lawsuit was pending in October 2012.
– Maurice Possley | <urn:uuid:4499c104-2c80-4416-9b66-34ee7746b87e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=4038 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983537 | 1,082 | 1.640625 | 2 |
The IRS offers a credit to some small businesses that pay at least half the cost of workers' health insurance, but few seem to know about it.
As small-business owners sharpen their pencils this tax season, they may be overlooking a little break tucked away in IRS Form 8941.
A relatively new tax credit is available to certain small businesses and charities to help offset the cost of providing health insurance to their workers. But tens of thousands of businesses in Minnesota and across the nation are leaving money on the table, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
As part of the federal health reform law, businesses and nonprofits that pay at least half the cost of health insurance can claim the credit if they employ fewer than the equivalent of 25 full-time workers and pay less than $50,000 on average.
Employers can get a break on up to 35 percent of their premium costs, based on a sliding scale. The smaller the organization, the bigger the tax credit.
Despite mass mailings from the Internal Revenue Service, the number of businesses claiming the credit last year, the first year it was offered, was much lower than the government anticipated.
By May of last year, only 309,000 of the nation's small businesses and charities had taken advantage of the provision, receiving about $435 million in credits, according to the most recent data from the Treasury Department. An estimated 1 million small businesses currently offering insurance didn't take it.
"There's obviously a big gap," John Arensmeyer, CEO of Small Business Majority, a California-based policy advocate for small businesses and backer of health care reform. "Clearly more needs to be done in terms of communication."
Minneapolis businessman Dan Nordley has taken the credit for the past two years, though he said the $700 hardly makes a dent in the spread of rising premiums for what his broker calls a "Cadillac plan."
Nordley has small group coverage through HealthPartners and pays 100 percent of premiums for his workers at the graphic design firm TriangleParkCreative, where average salary for the 10 workers is about $48,000.
"I was kind of excited about [the credit] last year as a way of reducing some of the costs," he said. "But for companies whose compensation is above living wage, it doesn't do a whole lot."
TriangleParkCreative does branding, print and Web design work for nonprofits involved in social justice, economic and environmental sustainability issues. It's part of Nordley's personal ethos to provide health benefits even though he believes the current model that puts the onus on businesses is misguided.
"I'm in the business of graphic design. I'm not in the business of providing health insurance to my colleagues or having them make tough decisions that are going to impact their health and their family's health," he said.
Minnesota's IRS office couldn't provide a breakout of how many businesses and charities in the state are claiming the credit.
Nearly 80,000 small businesses in Minnesota could potentially qualify for a partial tax break if they offer insurance, according to a survey done for the Small Business Majority and Families USA by the Lewin Group. About three in 10, or nearly 23,000 small businesses, could be eligible for the full credit.
The complexity of figuring out the credit for those on the edge, and the size of the break, may be part of the reason business owners are slow to taking the credit. And the credit doesn't seem to be sweet enough to convince a company that isn't offering health benefits to start, particularly as the economic recovery remains fragile.
"No one's really making any decisions based on the tax credit," said Eden Prairie accountant Scott Manion of Boulay, Heautmaker, Zibell & Co., who has created a spread sheet to work through the calculus. "They might say, 'Oh, you got me an extra $500. Thanks.'"
The credit is one of the few provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act to kick in before 2014. It was designed to give a hand to some 4.8 million business that employ fewer than 25 workers, but also encourage them to buy insurance for their workers.
In 2014, the individual mandate kicks in. Small businesses won't be required to offer insurance, but workers who don't get it through the workplace will have to buy it themselves, on a state-run exchange or elsewhere.
The IRS has kicked up its outreach efforts this year, working with the tax software industry, insurance brokers and accountants.
President Obama's 2013 budget called for simplifying the rules for claiming the credit, making it more generous and expanding it to include businesses with up to 50 workers. Subject to congressional approval, the expansion would benefit nearly half a million employers who provide insurance to 4 million workers, according to the White House.
"We're not in any way suggesting this is a panacea," said Arensmeyer of the Small Business Majority. "It's simply one tool to help businesses with the high cost of coverage, particularly businesses with lower-paid employees or smaller firms who might have more trouble paying for insurance than the average business."
Jackie Crosby • 612-673-7335 | <urn:uuid:500dcaae-442c-46f5-9427-7a46cb6843af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.startribune.com/business/142157523.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y | 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 | 0.9711 | 1,064 | 1.554688 | 2 |
So you finally saved up enough vacation days and frequent flyer miles to take that trip to the tropics to indulge in a week of dive-eat-dive-sleep-dive-dive-dive. Nothing's going to stop you from loading up on bottom time—except maybe hypothermia from diving too long in that worn-out wetsuit you've been meaning to replace.
While a lot may have changed in the world of wetsuits since you plunked down those eighty bucks on that old neoprene soldier in your closet, a 3mm fullsuit still tends to be standard fare for diving low-70s to 80-degree water. And since warm water tends to be where most divers flock when they get the chance to take a dive trip, it's arguably the most popular type of wetsuit being sold today. But while at first glance all 3mm wetsuits may look pretty much the same, there are many differences in material, seam construction and sealing methods that play a role in maintaining comfort and warmth, which translates into more dive time, which, of course, is what it's all about.
As soon as you hit the water the clock starts ticking toward hypothermia, even when diving in the tropics. The goal of a wetsuit is to delay this event by reducing the heat loss caused by the water that comes in contact with your skin, while at the same time providing a level of comfort and flexibility. How well a wetsuit accomplishes this depends on how well its components work together to create an efficient thermal wrap.
Materials: On each side of a wetsuit's neoprene rubber there is a layer of material, usually nylon. The purpose of the outer layer is to provide some protection for the neoprene, while the inner layer, or lining, goes more for comfort. Some suits use no inner lining, opting instead for a smooth-skin interior. This approach offers better warmth capabilities because the whole suit seals against your skin, minimizing or even eliminating water flow, which is a key ingredient to an effective wetsuit. The downside: wetsuits with smooth-skin interiors, with some notable exceptions, tend to be more difficult to don and doff, especially when the suit is already wet, and the inside of the suit is more prone to damage.
The big push in recent years has been toward stretchier neoprene to increase comfort and flexibility. A stretchier suit is easier to climb into, is comfortable and is able to maintain a snug fit by conforming to all your curves. Of course, stretchier neoprene compresses more at depth than denser, stiffer, standard-stretch neoprene, reducing its insulation capabilities. Because of this, some wetsuit manufacturers have chosen to stay with more traditional compression-resistant neoprene for its thermal advantages, which is then cut into a series of anatomically shaped panels and sewn together to address the flexibility issue.
Seams: Seams of 3mm wetsuits are usually flat-stitched (also called flat-seam or flat-lock stitching) or glued and blind-stitched. Flat-stitching is less costly and offers a softer seam that's more comfortable against bare skin. However, a flat-stitching needle goes completely through the neoprene and nylon laminate, resulting in a thousand thread holes and leaky seams.
Glued and blind-stitching involves first gluing the suit's neoprene panels with two or three coats of neoprene cement. This makes the seams waterproof. The second step is sewing the seams together to prevent them from pulling apart. This is done with a "blind-stitch," where the needle penetrates only the top layer of the material, never going all the way through the neoprene. Glued-and-Taped is a variation of this method, where flexible bonding tape is applied with heat and pressure over the glued seam, eliminating the need for any stitching at all.
Seals: A wetsuit's ability to keep you warm will be compromised if water can flow freely in and out of the suit. Of course, these are "wet" suits, and some water is expected to seep in, you just want to keep it to a minimum, and you want to definitely avoid any type of water flow that continually displaces the warm water that's already in the suit with new cold water that immediately starts sucking more heat from your body. Water entry points, in order of importance, are the neck, the wrists, and the ankles. Some manufacturers put serious sealing systems on each of these entry points. Others focus on the neck while forgoing seals on wrists or ankles or sometimes both. The ideal way to minimize water intrusion, of course, is to have some type of sealing system at each of these entry points.
There are a number of types of seals used on modern 3mm wetsuits. Starting with the most effective, they are:
- Rolled smooth-skin seals. You often find this type of seal on dry suits but we've started seeing it on wetsuits too. It's a long cuff of neoprene with smooth skin on the outside that's been rolled or folded under so the smooth-skin seals against your bare skin.
- Standard smooth-skin seals. This is a length of smooth-skin material that runs up the wrists and ankles and/or around the neck. Sealing against bare skin, it provides an excellent water block—if the seal isn't broken. Generally, the farther the area of smooth-skin reaches up onto forearms and calves the better the chances that the seal won't be broken. This happens often on ankle seals, where the area of smooth-skin isn't quite long enough to reach above the top edge of a diver's tucked-in booties. However, if you're not wearing booties, which is quite common in tropical waters, this is not a problem.
- O-ring seals. This is an elastic smooth-skin ring seal located right at the hem of the wrist or ankle cuff. It's a simple design that doesn't get in the way when donning or doffing the suit. However, such a narrow ring of smooth-skin against bare skin creates a seal that is very easy to break. On some sinewy divers, protruding veins on the inner wrist is all it takes to break the seal and start water flowing.
Zippers: The zipper creates the largest opening of a wetsuit, so you can be sure that water will try to gain entry here. To combat this, most suits are equipped with a zipper underflap that lies between your bare back and the zipper track to help block water flow as well as provide some cushioned comfort. Some suits take it a step farther by using one or two sections of smooth-skin neoprene on one or both sides of the track that seal against the underflap and/or each other. Some suits take another approach by using zippers with overlapping teeth designed to reduce water seepage. The G-Lock zipper is a popular example of this type of zipper.
Time to Test
The 14 brand-new 3mm wonders sent in for this year's round-up got a rigorous working-over in the ScubaLab shop. We stretched the arms, pulled the legs, tugged at zippers. We turned them inside out, took note of the finish work and attention to detail. Then we hauled them down to our test pool where 75-degree water awaited us—well within the operational range of a 3mm wetsuit, yet just cool enough to easily feel the leaks.
ScubaLab staff, staged on the pool deck, donned each suit, checking to see how easy it was to pull on and self-zip. Then we went through a series of squats, body bends and arm reaches to assess each suit's comfort and range of motion. Checking to see that all seals and closures were snug, we then slowly entered the water, taking note where we felt leaks, i.e. through the seams, or at zipper, neck, wrist and ankles. Once fully-immersed, we checked for water entry at the ankles and wrists during feet-first descents. Then we shifted into standard swimming mode and checked for water scooping at the neck. Finally, using the same test diver to assure consistency, we performed a buoyancy check to give us a general idea of each suit's relative inherent buoyancy.
Find Your Fit
Finding a wetsuit that fits you like a second skin is 90 percent of the battle. Seals, seams, zipper … none of this matters if the wetsuit doesn't fit. Gaps in your armpits and spaces between your legs, behind your knees or in the curvature of your spine are just waiting to fill up and pump cold water around the inside of your suit, literally sucking the heat from your core.
A properly fitting suit encompasses your body with no gaps or spaces. Unfortunately, finding such a fit can be easier said than done. Everybody has a unique shape, and every manufacturer's definition of small, medium and large seems to be different. Some suits tend to be designed for muscular divers, others fit lean divers better. Some manufactures offer a dizzying array of sizes, others offer only the basics. Bottom line: To get a snug-fitting suit, you're going to have to work for it. That means trying on as many suits as you can. Find a manufacturer who caters to your body shape and who hopefully offers the suit you like in lots of sizes, then try them all on until you find the right size and the perfect fit.
By wearing a snug-fitting suit with no gaps or spaces, you'll burn less energy and stay warm longer. So keep looking until you find the suit that feels like it was made for you. And if you just can't find a stock suit that will do the job, many manufacturers are willing to custom cut a suit to match your unique measurements.
General Test Observations
- Glued and blind-stitched (G&BS) seams are almost in a whole different category from flat-stitch seams because, simply, flat-stitch seams leak and G&BS seams don't. Flat-stitched suits used to be less expensive than G&BS suits, although that's not so much the case anymore. However, when it comes to diving in warm water, many divers don't mind—or actually prefer—to have their suits leak because it feels good and they aren't going to be the water long enough to get chilled anyway. Bottom line: for maximum warmth you want minimum water leakage, and all other wetsuit components being equal, that means a G&BS suit. Note: of the 14 suits in this review, all but four use G&BS seams.
- The neck seal is the most important seal in a 3mm suit. A good snug fit will keep the collar from scooping water and flushing your suit as you swim. While a smooth-skin seal is always preferred, we found some suits with nylon necks worked well simply because they had an adjustable collar that could be cinched up snug.
- Having zippers in wrist and ankle cuffs is generally considered to be an asset when it comes to donning and doffing a wetsuit. This is especially true with thick 7mm suits, where having zippers can make the difference between really difficult, and relatively easy, entries and exits. However, the contrast is much less stark with thinner 3mm wetsuits, especially 3mm high-stretch wetsuits which are generally very easy to don and doff without zippers, and only marginally easier with zippers. Bottom line: Zippered wrist and ankle cuffs almost always leak more than regular cuffs, so you end up with all the downsides of a zippered cuff, without needing what little upside it offers. Of the 14 suits in this review, four come with zippered cuffs on either wrists, ankles or both.
- Zipping up a back entry suit can be tough sometimes, due to the slider getting snagged in the zipper flap. A loop of webbing at the base of the zipper gives you something to pull against which helps. About half of the suits in this review had such loops.
How a Wetsuit Works
Wetsuits are made with neoprene rubber, a closed-cell foam that traps millions of tiny gas bubbles within its structure. Unlike open-cell foam (i.e. a sponge), water won't saturate neoprene, but the gas bubbles tend to give the material a lot of inherent buoyancy. When you climb into a wetsuit your 98.6-°F body temperature warms the gas bubbles in the neoprene, which act as insulation. This, combined with a snug, sealed fit that minimizes the amount of water that enters the suit and flows across your bare skin, is what keeps your body heat from escaping into the watery environment.
In order for a wetsuit to do its job it has to 1) be of a material thickness that suits the temperature of the water you're diving in, 2) it has to have seams, seals and zippers that minimize water intrusion, and 3) it has to fit. The truth is, no one suit will deliver the same thermal performance for all divers. There are simply too many variables that need to be factored in, like body size, body shape, body fat, etc. So when you hear some "expert" claim that one particular model of suit is warmer than another, what he's really saying is that it's warmer for him. You can't count on this being true for you. But what you can count on are a number of design and construction methods that make the difference between merely an okay wetsuit and a veritable top gun in thermal protection. Find a suit with all the right stuff, that also fits like a glove, and you will have found wetsuit nirvana. | <urn:uuid:208dbdef-eb60-4692-b8ad-1118a88bb6d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/accessories/scubalab-warm-water-wraps | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956716 | 2,908 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Easter is only a short while away and Johanna at The Passionate Cook invites us to blog about Easter, Easter baskets, Spring, Passover and all the other ways that we celebrate the end of winter and the coming of new life. Well, that's the theme of Waiter There is Something in My...Easter Basket, but the focus is food. My basket holds brightly colored hard cooked eggs.
In my house, it wouldn't be Easter without Easter eggs. I love the chance to play with color and the egg is such a beautiful shape. After my recent fun with red food dye, I really thought that it would be a while before I ventured into food dye territory again, but I just had to make these eggs. So, with slightly blue and green splotches of dye on my fingers, I bring you the recipe for Easter Eggs, with comments and a series of photos to help you along the way. Hope you have fun with it!
You can also make a bread that looks like colored Easter eggs...perfect for someone who doesn't like real eggs...or sweet Easter treats. Check it out HERE.
Bring to a boil in cold water as many dozens of eggs as you wish to color. Once water has come to a boil, simmer the eggs for ten minutes. Turn off heat and cool, or turn into a colander and run cold water over until the eggs are cool. My Dad used to add a little Borax, about a ½ teaspoon) to the water before boiling. I think it was to keep the eggs from cracking.
Bring a tea kettle full of water to a boil. Set out one heat proof small cup…we used custard cups…for each dye color. Place 1 tablespoon cider or white vinegar into each custard cup. Add 3-4 (or more if you are daring) drops food color to a cup for one color. Do the same for the next color in another cup. Repeat until you have different dyes in each cup. Fill custard cups half way up with boiling water.
To dye the eggs, place gently in the cup which has the color you want to dye the egg. You can also use a spoon to lower the egg into and lift the egg out of the dye. You can also use the spoon to swirl some the the dye bath on the part of the egg that sticks out of the dye, or turn the egg while it is dying for a more even color. You can dye the egg lightly in one dye, then slip it into another dye to make things like spring green, gold, or purple.
My Mom notes that my Dad used to love to do the Easter eggs, just as he loved to prepare for Christmas. Even when the children grew up, she says, he would make colored hard boiled eggs with names on them for those who would be visiting at Easter.
You can write or draw on dry eggs with crayons or plain wax right before you put them into the dye bath. The wax will resist the dye where you wrote or drew.
Store the eggs in the refrigerator in the cartons the eggs came in. Figure out (after the Easter egg hunt) how to use soooo many hard boiled eggs!
For Easter we would have an Easter egg hunt every year, either inside or out in the yard depending on the weather. When we were little, my Dad would hide them in the house late at night so we could find them first thing in the morning, sort of like coming down on Christmas morning to presents. My Dad always kept in touch with his inner child. After church and breakfast, he would hide them in the yard. Some would be easy to find, like on a car bumper, others would be well hidden. When some of us were older, we would do some of the egg hiding for him. It was always fun to see the expressions on the faces of the children as they found an egg…pure delight. When I had my own kids, I kept up with the tradition. We dyed eggs together, decorated them, at times, to within an inch of their life, and hid them for an egg hunt on Easter. If you have little ones around the house, give it a try. It’s sort of messy, so put down newspaper to catch the drips and wear aprons or old clothes, but have fun with it. You’ll never smell vinegar again without thinking ‘Easter eggs’. | <urn:uuid:5bd2174d-324f-460f-80ef-e4acf36378e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://feedingmyenthusiasms.blogspot.com/2007/03/waiter-there-is-something-in-myeaster.html?showComment=1175114220000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972482 | 910 | 1.539063 | 2 |
A frustrating fact of life for many runners is that some of us are more injury-prone than others. While most people will eventually become injured if they push themselves too hard, there are some who seem almost injury-proof, while there are others who seem to find themselves sidelined every time they start to make any progress. Unfortunately, I belong to the second group.
I shouldn't complain too much, though, since it used to be a lot worse. Back in my foot coffin days I got injured on literally every run over five miles I ever attempted. Switching to minimalist shoes has helped a lot, as has strength training, building mileage gradually, and trying to be less of an idiot.
|Plantar fasciitis? Is that made by the nut company?|
As frustrating as this is to me, it really isn't the end of the world. We have all been given different strengths and weaknesses. Some of us are social butterflies with dozens of devoted friends but who struggled in school; others are academically gifted but socially awkward and lonely. Either way, as I see it, we all have a choice: either we can spend our lives complaining about our personal disadvantages (which we all have) or we can figure out ways to achieve our goals anyway.
|Goal: reach other side of lake. Solution: ride moose. (Duh.)|
Like most difficulties in life, with every injury comes an opportunity to learn. I for one have learned a lot from my injuries. Every time I have been injured I have come back from the injury stronger, smarter, and with a better understanding of my body. My injuries have forced me to find new ways of training that are safer and more effective. I have learned different methods of cross-training and strength training, the importance and function of muscles in the body, and which kind of aches and pains are not safe to run through.
|"What do you mean I can't run on it?"|
Don't run on consecutive daysI first got this idea from Fellrnr's website (it's also one of the main tenets of the FIRST approach), but it was a while (and several injuries) before I finally gave it a shot. It seems a bit extreme (actually, it seems a bit lazy) but the results have been fantastic.
The idea is based on the fact that your body grows stronger by a process of stress (exercise) and recovery (rest). Exercise breaks down your muscles which adapt and rebuild themselves to be stronger during the recovery period--but only if they have a recovery period in which to do it. When you run on consecutive days (especially when you run hard on consecutive days) you are stressing your body but not giving it a chance to recover and rebuild muscle. This not only stunts your body's ability to build new muscle, it also puts you at a greater risk of injury because you're putting stress on your body when it's in a weakened state.
|Sometimes you just need to rest|
The part that has really surprised me during this experiment is that not only have the quality of my individual runs improved, the quantity of my weekly mileage has increased as well. Back when I was running five days a week this spring, my weekly schedule at peak mileage looked like this: [rest, 5, 5, 5, rest, 20, 5], with a weekly total of 40 miles per week. (In practice, it more often ended up being 35, since I tended to skip the last run of the week because I felt so beat up). This schedule left me constantly fatigued and feeling on the verge of injury (eventually it just left me injured). With my current running plan, my peak mileage week looked like this: [7.5, rest, 10, rest, 5, rest, 25], for a total of 47.5 miles. (My weekly mileage varies wildly since running every other day means some weeks I run 3 days per week and some weeks 4.)
Best of all, even though I'm running more, I feel like I'm running a lot less. There just isn't the same amount of cumulative wear and tear on my body that there was when I ran on consecutive days. I feel more energetic when I run and my legs feel fresh instead of achy when I start. Best of all, I'm achieving my goals (peak weekly mileage near 50, longest run 25) and staying healthy, which is a novelty for me. In fact, even though I have been running races for two and a half years now, when I run the Paatuwaqatsi 50k next week it will be the first time that I will have ever gotten to the starting line of a "goal" race without having gotten injured during training.
|And if that's not a reason to dance, I don't know what is| | <urn:uuid:9ab5301b-21a9-4cbb-bc8f-084911be54fa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bfinaz.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976731 | 993 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Welcome to the website for the Pope John Paul II Forum for the Church in the Modern World
A man of great courage and wisdom, Blessed John Paul II inspired millions of people with his life and teaching. Philosopher, actor and playwrite, poet, pastor, mystic and statesman, Pope John Paul II blazed a great path in the world. His great legacy will serve the education and formation of men and women for generations to come – well into this new millennium upon which he launched the Church.
The Pope John Paul II Forum exists to explore and to develop his legacy and to share it with all those interested in seeking the whole truth about the world and human existence. "Be not afraid!" he said upon assuming his role as Pope in 1978.
I hope you check our website from time to time to learn about upcoming events. Explore the archives for papers and videos of great speakers who have visited the Forum such as Archbishop Chaput, Fred Freddoso, Rick Santorum, Michael Waldstein and many others. Our resources page provides some materials to learn about and study the legacy of Blessed John Paul II.
Please contact me if you have any suggestions on how to improve this website or ideas about how we might continue to explore and learn from the legacy of Blessed John Paul II.
John P Hittinger
"To those who had the opportunity to be close to him, that firm and forthright faith was almost tangible. If it impressed the circle of his collaborators, it did not fail during his long Pontificate to spread its beneficial influence throughout the Church in a crescendo that reached its highest point in the last months and days of his life." Pope Benedict XVI | <urn:uuid:6949149d-59c7-4dd8-bc47-486dfa9f673b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jp2forum.org/welcome.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96044 | 339 | 1.640625 | 2 |
I re-discovered a fondness for hiking during preparations for last year’s UVP/AMP Hike Day. And I realized that, although I’ll find a million excuses to avoid the gym, I’m always up for a hike. Here’s why:
1. 40 minutes of walking actually gets you somewhere.
2. Mountain air is better than gym air.
3. Hiking is open to variety.
Trails vary in many ways–terrain, width, incline, length of time needed to complete, etc. You can work on completing increasingly difficult trails and/or hike at different locations–It’s easy to keep hiking interesting.
4. Hiking is a buddy activity…
…and a good family activity. Contrary to what my mother used to think, hiking does not mean you will have to machete-hack your path through foliage. Trails can be wide, flat, and open, and an easy hike can be a great way to start a monthly hike day tradition with your family. Pack some sandwiches and fruit to eat and prayer rugs to pray on together at your trail midpoint. To keep younger kids interested, try playing “I spy” or other games as you hike and choose trails with landmarks like creeks or lookout points. Make sure to take varying skill levels into consideration when choosing a trail. Try it with a group of friends too!
5. It’s good for the soul.
Have you ever looked straight up to the sky on a clear night? I like seeing the stars and thinking about the expanse of the universe. It reminds me of how small I am and reinforces my dependence on Allah. In the day, I can get a hint of this feeling when I’m hiking and surrounded by nature. Taking the small effort to notice the intricacies and variety of Allah’s creation is, personally, very humbling.
Something I want to do someday is go on a night hike and pray in a clearing. If you have guide who knows what he/she is doing, and it’s safe to do so, try it!
6. Hiking is cheap (and environmentally friendly)!
You can start hiking with as little as a sturdy pair of athletic shoes and a backpack with a water bottle and first aid kit. Note: If you want to hike at a national park, you might have to pay a small fee per vehicle entering.
7. It’s quiet, peaceful, and usually seclusive.
Except for your trusted hiking buddy and the occasional passerby/forest creature, nobody has to watch you struggling to catch your breath.
Remember to check the weather, pack the essentials, start early in the day, and tell someone where you’re going and who you’re going with. After you come back from your hike, you can call the gym to cancel your membership. | <urn:uuid:8d15615e-8815-4308-8158-eb35e2943bde> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://al-talib.org/2011/04/16/7-reasons-to-skip-the-treadmill-and-go-on-a-hike/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94227 | 606 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Tightrope Walker Ready to Take On Niagara Falls
As he does every time he climbs on a tightrope, Nik Wallenda will say a little prayer Friday as he mounts the thin steel wire for what could be his greatest aerial triumph.
Perched on an impossibly narrow steel cable some 60 meters (200 feet) in the air, this scion of one of America's first families of acrobats is aiming to do something untried in more than a century: crossing the treacherous Niagara Falls on a highwire.
If he succeeds, the achievement will add to the lore and legend of the renowned Wallenda family, famous over the decades for jaw-dropping stunts executed from dizzying heights.
Wallenda says this coming challenge -- which will be watched live by his three children -- will be his greatest feat yet.
"It's been a dream of mine since I was six years old. Twenty-seven years I've been waiting and to do this, and it finally is coming true," said Wallenda, 33, who has been walking on tightropes since the age of two.
Any attempt to cross the falls is usually strictly forbidden, but an exception was made for Wallenda, who is descended from a long line of acrobats and circus performers.
Wallenda estimates that it should take about 40 minutes to cross from one side of the falls to the other, along the 550-meter (1,800 foot) metal cable on which his life hangs.
Aided by a balancing pole, he will begin his crossing on the American side of the falls, slowly walking to Canada and guaranteed acclaim.
Friday's attempted Niagara crossing is expected to draw thousands of anxious spectators, all glued to his first careful steps.
For the task, Wallenda will be wearing a pair of shoes custom-made in supple leather by his mother.
"They are almost like Indian moccasins with a suede leather bottom: the leather is there to protect my feet from getting bruised by the cable and so that I can feel the wire," Wallenda said.
The "Flying Wallendas" have soared, cantered -- or ever-so-carefully tiptoed -- over the heads of mesmerized audiences for seven generations.
The Wallenda name for generations has been the stuff of legend, astonishing audiences first in Europe, then in the United States with their aerial acrobatics.
Their fame really took off in 1978, when they were made the subject of popular made-for-TV movie, "The Great Wallendas."
But their name is also synonymous with tragedy. Several family members over the years have lost their lives attempting dangerous routines.
Nik's great grandfather, Karl Wallenda, is among those who have died while performing, plunging to his death at the age of 73 as he attempted a highwire walk between two towers in Puerto Rico.
The danger is real in this latest stunt as well, Nik Wallenda said. Although to placate his U.S. sponsor ABC television -- which is planning a three-hour special about the event -- he will be wearing a safety harness.
"I never wore one my in my life or in my entire career," Wallenda told Agence France Presse. "I am not excited about it, but I really don't have a choice unfortunately."
In addition to the harness, Wallenda's best protection will be the weeks of relentless training he has put in.
"We set up a cable practically the same distance -- as well as the same tension -- as when I'll be walking over Niagara Falls," he said.
"We also simulated high winds, winds up to 55 miles (90 kilometers) per hour, and a heavy, heavy mist, so I'll be prepared for whatever I face."
But nothing can fully prepare someone for the vagaries of wind and the crashing waters of the tempestuous falls, said to be one of the world's most imposing natural wonders.
"It adds a lot of challenges, not only as the cable will be moving, but there is heavy mist in the air, there can be high winds from multiple directions," Wallenda told AFP.
Still he said, such variables are "all things I've been preparing for, and that's why we trained the way that we did, simulating those worst-case scenarios."
The challenge is particularly difficult because the steel cable, weighing several tons, is somewhat slack, meaning he will likely bob and bounce as he carefully traverses the rushing waters below.
Wallenda is already listed twice in the Guinness Book of World Records for highwire acts while simultaneously cycling. | <urn:uuid:52ff0048-c4f2-4f32-83a4-4b8c379f03b1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/43399-tightrope-walker-ready-to-take-on-niagara-falls | 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 | 0.969609 | 949 | 1.59375 | 2 |
On Tuesday we linked to an article in the Free Lance-Star about our senior educator's annual one-day winter eagle survey. Here's his own account of the day...
Guest author, Bill Portlock, CBF Senior Educator
I took newspaper reporter Rusty Dennen, news photographer Scott Nevelle, and USFWS Biologist Sandy Spencer out Saturday, February 25, on my boat to conduct a winter Bald Eagle survey on the Rappahannock River. You probably know the drill. Left Tappahannock at 0800 into a 20-30 mph north headwind with 27-degree air temperature, and a clear sky. Spray was flying and freezing on us and on the boat. I planned to cross the river and then go up 3 miles to Cat Point Creek where I knew it would be calmer. Getting there was the challenge. With head winds and mostly 2-3' seas (a few larger), we made our way. Then, at mid-channel, decks became awash and quickly frozen when a couple of 4 foot waves partially crashed over my bow.
Past boat handling practice and experience in big winds and seas paid off in this could-have-been-a little-dangerous situation. While the boat is self-bailing, that is for water, not ice. And I knew I could not easily turn the boat around mid-channel in those conditions for fear of having the waves broadside us instead of now mostly coming broad on our bow, which I was handling OK. So I pushed on, motoring rather quickly and with the boat occasionally pounding uncomfortably, as we continued to take icy spray. I wanted to make the creek as fast as possible before the weight of ice in the boat became an issue for the boat’s stability. Completing our crossing was imperative now. I could assess all other possibilities for the day once we were in the creek. I also knew that the return trip would be drier and easier with following and quartering seas. The weather forecast was for the wind to drop through the day, too, so this morning should be the worst of it.
We found ourselves encrusted in ice as we reached Cat Point Creek three miles upstream. During the passage the reporter and photographer had hunkered down behind me aft in the cockpit so they were more sheltered. Once in the calm of the creek, and after checking with everyone for hypothermia, I bailed out most of the 'slushy-ice' bilge so the boat wouldn't be heavy. Then we started looking for eagles, with some ice still around & under our feet.
“Decks are a little slippery, be careful as you move about”, I reminded everyone as we powered up creek, trying to sound professional and like this was just another normal day for me, and as a captain in control should sound. Three miles and forty eagles later we began leaving the creek, now 10am, to re-enter the river. The wind had dropped to 15-20 N and, with just a one-foot chop or less on the river, spray would not be a problem for us. Everyone assured me they were fine and wanted to continue the survey. I mentioned that one early sign of hypothermia is "bad judgment". We all laughed and then headed out, continuing up river and then back to Tappahannock to cover 75 miles in all, in open boat, by sunset.
The ice in the boat never really melted until around 3pm, and the day’s air temperature stayed in the high 30’s. Water temperature was 35-36 F degrees all day. We even passed a real iceberg (c. 3' high, 30' long) leftover from last week's total freeze up of the river, hosting an eagle on it. Not a common Virginia sight.
We totaled 209 eagles for the day, which was actually lower than we expected. In comparison, we totaled 276 eagles last February, and 395 in 2005. But it was still a good day.
It WAS a great day, really, with adventure, perseverance, some adversity, bracing weather, and excellent views all day of eagles perched, flying, fishing, talon-locking & mating, incubating eggs, and having the odd sensation of watching them watch us as we watched them. And for me, I feel very fortunate to be able to experience total immersion in this spectacular landscape for yet one more winter day.
February 25, 2007 Bill Portlock
To read Rusty's description & his version of the trip, check the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star on line at: www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/sooy/02200702252007.262901 | <urn:uuid:77753868-03d4-4d40-b69b-602a8d898d48> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cbf.typepad.com/chesapeake_bay_foundation/2007/03/on_tuesday_we_l.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976461 | 982 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Art Modell, former Ravens and Browns owner, passes away at 87
Owings Mills, MD (Sports Network) - The National Football League lost a legendary figure on Thursday, as former Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell passed away at the age of 87.
Modell died of natural causes at John Hopkins Hospital. His son, former Ravens president David Modell, confirmed the news in a statement released by the Ravens.
"Sadly, I can confirm that my father died peacefully of natural causes at 4 a.m. this morning," David Modell said. "My brother John Modell and I were with him when he finally rejoined the absolute love of his life, my mother Pat Modell, who passed away last October.
"'Poppy' was a special man who was loved by his sons, his daughter-in-law Michel, and his six grandchildren. Moreover, he was adored by the entire Baltimore community for his kindness and generosity. And, he loved Baltimore. He made an important and indelible contribution to the lives of his children, grandchildren and his entire community. We will miss him."
Modell purchased the Cleveland Browns in 1961 for $4 million, an unprecedented sum at that time. The Browns won the NFL Championship in 1964, blanking the Baltimore Colts, 27-0.
Three decades later he uprooted the franchise, moving to Baltimore in 1996. However, he did leave behind the Browns franchise name.
Behind one of the most stout defensive units, the Ravens won the Super Bowl after the 2000 season, crushing the New York Giants by a 34-7 score.
Financial issues forced Modell to sell a minority share of the team to Steve Bisciotti in 1999 before yielding controlling interest to Bisciotti in 2004.
Modell served as NFL president from 1967-69 and as the chairman of the NFL's television committee for 31 years (1962-93). He also led negotiations on the NFL's first collective bargaining agreement with its players in 1968.
"Art Modell's leadership was an important part of the NFL's success during the league's explosive growth during the 1960s and beyond," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "As the longtime chairman of the league's Broadcast Committee, Art was a visionary who understood the critical role that mass viewing of NFL games on broadcast television could play in growing the league.
"Art played important roles in many other league matters as a key advisor to Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue, and also built championship teams in Cleveland and Baltimore. His skills as an owner and league contributor were matched only by his great sense of humor. Any conversation with Art included laughs. He always left you with a smile on your face. We extend our condolences to John, David and the rest of the Modell family."
09/06 15:36:00 ET | <urn:uuid:2121c198-9dc9-40d8-be48-2f8a149afa02> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/news/news.aspx?id=4527392 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982354 | 585 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Talking Garbage Collection with Gil Tene, Azul Systems
After selling out a London Java Community meetup (so to speak),
it seemed rude not to catch up with one of the key men behind the
radical rethinking to JVM garbage collection, Azul Systems’s Gil
Tene. Here’s Part 1 of our chat, delving into different approaches,
the origins and upcoming trends. Make sure to check back on
Wednesday for part two of our exclusive interview.
JAX: Obviously garbage collection has been around for decades - can you detail the origins of GC?
Gil Tene: The wider way of looking at garbage collection or automatic memory management is something that has been around for quite some time, probably a good four decades with a lot of good academic work on it - interestingly a lot of that was done during the 70s and 80s and more groundbreaking stuff recently.
What is garbage collection good for? It seems sort of obvious but a lot of people seem to think of it as ways to let lazy programmers that are not very skilled still program. But I think there are very important industry trends that come out of it and now that Java and other platforms are dominant in parts in the industry, we can see the effect of what that does to actual productivity.
JAX: Does it differ depending on the working environment?
GT: The first thing is that if you work in a mixed environment, or compare environments where people code in Java or C# to those programming in C and C++, what they do is build applications that support, maintain and enhance over time. They don't look at the time to initial delivery so much as a year and a half or two years into a project. My experience of embedded systems, servers and software you shift is that when the stuff is built in C and C++, you get it stable, you get it shipping and then you have these rare things that crash and you spend about half of all your engineering efforts trying to figure out what the rare crashes are.
When you look at core Java, they spend their time debugging other things. It's not that they don't have bugs, but it's very rare that they look for crashing bugs, they usually end up looking for functional bugs, enhancements and slowness and other things. The other part that is not so obvious. Automatic memory management is a core requirement almost for an effective framework ecosystem and leveragable software. That is not an obvious thing to most people.
JAX: So do you think Java developers, in general, care enough about GC? Do they put it at the back of their minds?
GT: I think they predominantly don't care. And I think that's the right way - they shouldn't care. When they run into tuning in production, they end up caring for practical reasons but I actually think the term GC-friendly programming or heap-friendly programming is a symptom of a really bad execution on a garbage collection side, not a good thing for programmers to do. Saying heap-friendly programming is kind of like saying 16bit-friendly programming. It should be considered that way.
If a collector can't give you the invisible experience, then the collector's broken, the JVM's broken and it's a toy that isn't working right and you should be programming better.
JAX: Shall we move on to more specific garbage collectors and what typical things they do?
GT: I think that if you look at garbage collection implementations, the modern mature runtimes such as Java and .NET, Ruby and others - the evolved garbage collectors which are pretty good. Usually you'll see precise garbage collectors, one that knows where all the pointers whenever it collects, so it can move objects around for example, it can compact memory. You can't do that if you can't fix the pointers.
As far as techniques go, there's no commercial JVMs that don't do that, it's a given. Generational collection, observation that young generation focus on recently allocated objects produces efficiency - again it's a universal practice and every JVM on a server. There's ways to run without that, but usually you don't get very good throughput or scalability.
JAX: What particular trends appear to coming through, particularly in a Java context?
Over the past 15 years, certainly since Java started, we keep improving garbage collection but the way people tend to improve it is by taking the really bad thing that's happening and trying to make it happen a little less often. So, pushing it into the future and further into the future rather than taking it on and figuring how to solve it.
JAX: Does that mean the mindset needs to change dramatically?
GT: I think so. In effect, our design for GC started nine years ago. It was started from the simple statement of saying that that trend is not sustainable - we have to go in the exact opposite direction. Rather than figuring out how to take a problem and ignore for a little longer. Instead of a few seconds, it's going to be a few minutes, maybe hours. That's the Microsoft Windows 95 approach to stability. And we stopped making fun of Windows laptops and rebooting because Java needs to rebooted more often than a Windows laptop.
The opposite direction is find that thing, solve it and maybe by solving it, all this other crud you had to do avoid it, doesn't even have to be done. That's the choice we made nine years ago. So far, I don't see it as something the industry has followed but I do think that it is unavoidable that everybody will have to choose that other path. The path of delaying the problem even longer is running out of steam. Or arguably already has run out of steam five or six years ago.
Within that, there's various modes. You've got non-compacting collectors, the fall-back compaction, incremental compaction, default and full compaction. Then there's mostly concurrent, mostly incremental, mostly non-stop the world. The word mostly means, sorry I can't deliver except for some of the time. All those are common exercises in delaying. Every time you add to them you buy a little more time.
JAX: To an outsider, the jargon with garbage collection can be a bit perplexing at first. Can you attempt to classify the key terms?
I have this talk (see below) which defines terms, types and classifies metrics and puts it all together to classify modern collectors. I like to distinguish concurrent collection from parallel collection. Concurrent collection happens without stopping the application, parallel collection can use more than one thread at a time.
JAX: Obviously Azul Systems has a spin on things - care
to explain how Zing differs?
The C4 collector has two main behaviors that are visible from a classification perspective. First, it has got a single pass concurrent marker. Guaranteed, regardless how fast you change or mutate the heap, the marker will always complete and never have to revisit what you've touched. Because of that it is independent of application throughput.
It has a concurrent compactor that allows us to move objects without stopping the application and more importantly allows us to fix pointers without stopping. That's one of the key difference from the other commercial collectors. It has this for both the old gen and the new gen - it's actually the same collector. It has zero stop the world fallback code. In practical terms, this results in a compactor that is not sensitive to heap size, it's not sensitive to allocation rate or mutation rate. None of those things will affect pause time or response time.
JAX: I'm guessing it thrives under high pressure situations?
GT: It does very well but actually it was designed to work across the whole spectrum.
JAX: What mistakes are common when tackling garbage collection?
GT: From a developer perspective, obviously I'd like to see people use those collectors and never look at them. But given that Zing in its native Linux form is a new thing, relatively young less than a year, the same techniques aren't available on other vendors. I think developers do what they have to do and use a lot of duct tape and work with reality and make their applications work as well as they could be expected to. So when I see people program in a GC-conscious way, I don't think they're doing something wrong. I think it's sad that they have to do that. But good engineers have to solve real world problems.
Part 2 of our interview with Gil will appear on Wednesday, where we discuss his company’s role in the Java Community Process, and Java 8. Photo by brianfuller6385. | <urn:uuid:9012a5f8-7e45-4c1c-9321-993388f5b79e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jaxenter.com/talking-garbage-collection-with-gil-tene-azul-systems-43935.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967267 | 1,789 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Majed Hamdan/Associated PressJihad Masharawi, a Palestinian journalist who works for the BBC in Gaza, cradling the dead body of his 11-month-old son, Omar, at the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Nov. 14, 2012.
Last Updated, Wednesday, 11:52 p.m. As The Lede reported in November, within hours of the start of Israel’s Gaza offensive that month, images of the dead and wounded, particularly those of children, were shared widely on social networks by Israelis and Palestinians, as both communities sought to alert the world to their grief.
Four months later, a new argument has erupted online over one of those images, a photograph that showed Jihad Masharawi, a Palestinian journalist who works for the BBC in Gaza, cradling the dead body of his 11-month-old son, Omar, at the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The child, and his teenage aunt and uncle, were killed by a bomb that dropped on the family home on Nov. 14, shortly after Israel launched Operation Pillar of Cloud with a precision-guided strike on the car of Ahmed al-Jabari, the Hamas military commander.
As my colleague Isabel Kershner explains, a United Nations report released last week suggested that the bomb that tore apart the Masharawi family home might have been “a Palestinian rocket that fell short of Israel,” rather than an Israeli strike.
The cause of the boy’s death remains disputed, however, because the the United Nations report on casualties of the Gaza conflict devotes just one sentence to the finding and provides no details of the evidence on which it was based. A United Nations spokesman said that the investigators, who visited the ruined home four weeks after the incident, could not “unequivocally conclude” that a Palestinian rocket was responsible. Read more…
Uriel Sinai/Getty ImagesAfter passing through an Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank on Monday, Palestinians boarded buses to take them to jobs in Israel.
Israel’s transportation ministry introduced Monday what it billed as improved service for nearly 30,000 Palestinians who live under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and commute to work daily in Israel: two new bus lines “designated” for their use.
Israeli rights groups, however, denounced the move as the de facto segregation of public transportation in response to pressure from Israeli settlers who live in the West Bank but are unhappy about sharing buses with their Palestinian neighbors.
“Creating separate bus lines for Israeli Jews and Palestinians is a revolting plan,” the director of the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, Jessica Montell, told Israel’s Army Radio. Although settler leaders endorsed the plan to provide separate buses for Palestinians as necessary to prevent crowding and assuage fears of suicide bombers, Ms. Montell said: “This is simply racism. Such a plan cannot be justified with claims of security needs or overcrowding.” Read more…
One day after Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told a United Nations forum the world should consider Islamophobia a crime against humanity, “just like Zionism or anti-Semitism or fascism,” his Israeli counterpart lashed back. “I strongly condemn the remarks made by Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, comparing Zionism to fascism,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu replied on Twitter.
I strongly condemn the remarks made by Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, comparing Zionism to Fascism.This is a dark and false statement,
A young Israeli soldier was reprimanded by his superiors this week after his urge to share his military life with friends and strangers online led him to post a photograph on Instagram offering a view of the back of a Palestinian boy’s head in the cross hairs of a sniper rifle.
The photograph was discovered last week by the Palestinian-American activist Ali Abunimah, who monitors social networks for “raw and unfiltered” glimpses of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank to publicize on The Electronic Intifada, a site he co-founded.
InstagramA screenshot of an image posted on Instagram by an Israeli soldier.
Part of an Australian television report on the mystery of Israel’s “Prisoner X” broadcast on Tuesday.
Last Updated, 2:53 p.m. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday that a man referred to in Israel as “Prisoner X,” who was jailed and died under mysterious circumstances in 2010, might have been an Australian-born Israeli who worked for Israel’s secret service, the Mossad.
According to the ABC, an unnamed source “with connections to Israel’s security establishment” claimed that the prisoner — whose detention and suicide at the high-security Ayalon Prison outside Tel Aviv was briefly reported on an Israeli news site in December 2010 despite a gag order — was named Ben Alon. That same month, the network reported, a man from suburban Melbourne, Ben Zygier, who had emigrated to Israel 12 years ago and changed his name to Ben Alon, died in Israel.
Although the Australian state broadcaster published video and a complete transcript of the 28-minute report online, Israeli news sites removed articles describing the ABC investigation after editors were summoned to an emergency meeting by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Reuters reported. Read more…
About 200 Palestinian activists set up camp, and a Twitter feed, on Friday in a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank just east of Jerusalem known as E1, where Israel plans to build homes for thousands of new settlers. The activists described their encampment as the start of “a new Palestinian village named Bab al-Shams,” Arabic for “Gate of the Sun,” after a book by the Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury.
As my colleague Isabel Kershner reports from Jerusalem, Israeli military authorities served the protesters an eviction notice, but the activists said they had preempted that action with an appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court for a delay and would be allowed to stay for at least six days.
Eviction notice handed to #BabAlShams. At the same time High Court ruled that the village cannot be evicted for 6 days http://t.co/cJ2ItMZT
Efforts to introduce some drama, or comedy, into the somewhat lackluster Israeli election campaign, in the form of satirical television ads for two parties at opposite ends of the political spectrum, have been stifled by the country’s Central Election Committee, which deemed them too offensive to broadcast. Despite those rulings, however, both ads have attracted tens of thousands of views online this week.
That has not gone unnoticed by the parties’ leaders. As the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported, before the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party bowed to a request to stop showing an ad that makes fun of émigrés from the former Soviet Union who are not considered Jews according to Halakha, or religious law, a party leader, Ariel Atias, said: “The ad isn’t supposed to hurt anyone. There is no word in it against Russians or any hurtful remarks, but an emphasis on Shas’s role in preventing legislation which will damage the state’s Jewish identity. We see it’s effective and tens of thousands have already viewed the video on YouTube.”
An election ad for Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas Party which mocks Russian-speaking immigrants who are not considered Jewish under religious law.
Security-camera footage of a shooting at a checkpoint in the West Bank city of Hebron this month, provided to Israel’s Channel 10 by the Israel Defense Forces.
Sarit Michaeli, a spokeswoman for the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, wrote to The Lede on Thursday to draw our attention to the fact that more video of a fatal shooting at a checkpoint in Hebron this month has been posted online.
As The Lede reported last week, when the Israel Defense Forces released security-camera footage of an Israeli officer killing a 17-year-old Palestinian at the checkpoint in the occupied West Bank on Dec. 12, activists and bloggers in the region asked why the video had been edited before release.
On Wednesday, a correspondent for Israel’s Channel 10 uploaded what appears to be unedited video of the encounter at the checkpoint to his personal YouTube channel. According to the correspondent, Roy Sharon, the security-camera footage, which includes 19 seconds omitted from the edit posted on an Israeli military channel last week, was “raw material provided by the I.D.F. Spokesperson’s unit.” Read more…
Last Updated, 7:01 p.m. Palestinian students disrupted a dissident Egyptian blogger’s address at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Sunday.
The blogger, Maikel Nabil, is a controversial figure in Egypt who now lives in Germany, as The Lede reported on Friday. A member of the country’s Coptic Christian community who describes himself as an atheist and an admirer of Israeli democracy, he was jailed for eight months after the 2011 revolution for a blog post denouncing the military council that ruled Egypt at the time.
As the Gazan blogger Rana Baker reported on Twitter, video posted online showed Palestinian students in the front row of the hall rising to their feet during the speech, shouting: “Shame on you! The Egyptian revolution hates you!”
Palestinian students disrupt Maikel Nabil’s talk at the Hebrew University upon his normalization visit http://t.co/F0zVOpMG
Video of a fatal shooting last week at a checkpoint in the West Bank city of Hebron, released by Israel’s military.
Updated | Thursday, Dec. 27 When the Israel Defense Forces released 49 seconds of grainy, black-and-white video this week, showing some of what happened at a checkpoint in the West Bank city of Hebron before the fatal shooting of a Palestinian teenager by an Israeli officer, a military spokesman expressed confidence that the security-camera footage proved that the killing was justified.
As The Lede reported last week, the officer who shot and killed Muhammad al-Salameh on his 17th birthday said that the boy had subdued her partner and pressed a real-looking toy gun to his head, leaving her no alternative but to fire. An I.D.F. spokesman, Capt. Barak Raz, said that the video left no doubt that the young female officer had acted correctly.
(Cont’d) Watch security tape and ask yourself how you would react if this was your partner: https://t.co/JYHOE7Bz
Looking at the footage posted on the I.D.F.’s Arabic-language YouTube channel, though, some Palestinian activists and skeptical Israeli journalists asked why the video had been edited, omitting part of the encounter, and seemed not to match the initial account provided to the Israeli media by the officer who fired the fatal shots. Read more…
As the unrest in Brazil has intensified, readers of The New York Times have attempted to explain the protests to a curious American audience in comments posted on this site in both English and Portuguese.
Protests in Brazil against the high cost of living and lavish spending on soccer stadiums ahead of next year’s World Cup have intensified as images of police brutality against peaceful protesters spread on social networks.
The Lede followed developments in Iran on Saturday, where Hassan Rowhani, a moderate cleric supported by the country’s reformist movement, was declared the winner of Friday’s presidential election.
About The Lede
The Lede is a blog that remixes national and international news stories, adding information gleaned from the Web or gathered through original reporting to supplement articles in The New York Times and draw readers in to the global conversation about the news taking place online.
Readers are encouraged to take part in the blogging by using the comments threads to suggest links to relevant material elsewhere on the Web or by submitting eyewitness accounts, photographs or video of news events. Read more. | <urn:uuid:881408b8-c5af-4b4d-bed1-39cfbc001b73> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/israel/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957057 | 2,535 | 1.648438 | 2 |
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