text stringlengths 211 577k | id stringlengths 47 47 | dump stringclasses 1 value | url stringlengths 14 371 | file_path stringclasses 644 values | language stringclasses 1 value | language_score float64 0.93 1 | token_count int64 54 121k | score float64 1.5 1.84 | int_score int64 2 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This hotel dates back to the second half of the 18th Century. Ideally situated in a truly picturesque setting overlooking the lake, it exudes character and charm. In 1768, the first Virginia Water, constructed by William Duke of Cumberland, burst its dam and flooded the neighbourhood. In the ensuing repair and rebuilding work, The Wheatsheaf was constructed on the edge of Windsor Great Park.
George III began spending more time at Windsor and decided to extend and improve the lake but The Wheatsheaf stood in the way of his plans. The Crown tried to buy the Inn but the owner, a natural businessman, kept raising the price and happily the Inn survived.
In June 1801, The Wheatsheaf received a visit from George III, Queen Charlotte, Prince Adolphus and an unnamed Princess. The ladies remained at the Inn for some time whilst the King and his son visited Windsor Great Park to inspect the work being carried out at the “Pond Head”. With the work complete, the King’s third son William IV opened Windsor Great Park to the public in the 1830s and the fortunes of the Inn increased as tourists came to admire the Lake. There was trouble in 1851 however, when it was found that the Innkeeper was charging the public for going through the gate into Windsor Park and employing two disreputable characters as guides.
In 1862 The Wheatsheaf was enlarged, for the coming of the railways meant even more custom. In the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, The Wheatsheaf flourished as never before. The British Empire was at its height and The Wheatsheaf even today exudes the tranquil confidence of those halcyon days.
The hotel has 17 fully air conditioned en-suite rooms, plus family and four-poster bedrooms available. All rooms come with unlimited free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with Freeview™, tea & coffee facilities, an iron and a hairdryer. Meetings, conferences and weddings can all be catered for at the hotel where ample on-site parking is available.
These are general hotel policies for
As they may vary per room type; please also check the room description.
Cancellation Policy24 Hours Prior to Arrival. (unless specified otherwise in the room description)
Payment PolicyYour card is only used to secure the reservation. Full payment will be debited upon arrival/departure.
BreakfastRates exclude breakfast (unless specified otherwise in the room description)
Children and Extra Bed PolicyChildren Welcome.
Accepted Credit CardsAmerican Express. Diners Club. Maestro. Mastercard. Solo Debit Card. Visa. | <urn:uuid:afb15abe-fe9e-494c-b7e7-e573279db407> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.infotel.co.uk/details/Surrey/Egham/Wheatsheaf-Hotel | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94239 | 552 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The AP Top 25 is determined by a simple points system based on how each voter ranks college football's best teams. A team receives 25 points for each first place vote, 24 for second place and so on through to the 25th team, which receives one point. The rankings are set by listing the teams' point totals from highest to lowest.
The mathematical formula is the same as the one used for the AP Pro 32 rankings and the AP Top 25 rankings for men's and women's basketball. | <urn:uuid:b835f844-96a7-4374-98e7-351b10d55f50> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://collegefootball.ap.org/heraldnet/content/ap-top-25-college-football-poll-methodology | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95718 | 124 | 1.539063 | 2 |
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Which "Codebases" do these candidates really split into?
Spaf wrote: > >AFFECTED OSes: > > Digital Unix, FreeBSD, HPUX, AIX, IRIX, Linux, OSF/1, SCO, Solaris > > > >QUESTION: is the appropriate codebase "Unix"? Or do we separate it > >into BSD and System V? Or each individual OS? > > Systems that used the old BSD IP stack have this problem. The Linux > stack was developed independently, as was (I believe) AIX. All of > the others derived from the same underlying IP code. However, each > one has undergone quite a bit of change. > > MacOS is also vulnerable in some versions. I believe VMS and > NextStep were too. > > So here we have the problem of defining "same." > > Me feeling would be to split out each independent OS unless we know > they use the same underlying code. The drawback to this approach would seem to be a huge explosion of vulnerability numbers. We often won't know, as we don't here (correct me if I'm wrong), if the code that contains the vulnerability is materially the same or not in different systems. Most CERT advisories about Unix vulnerabilities contain a laundry list of which systems are vulnerable and which aren't. If every CERT advisory becomes 10 CVE numbers, that seems a high price to pay. Plus it seems insufficient to say that the codebase is "Solaris" vs "Solaris versions before 2.3, 2.4 without patch foo1, 2.5 without foo2....". Finally, would it be really obnoxious of me to point out that the typical Unix program on the typical Unix system is probably stuffed full of #ifdefs that may mean a program which is identical per 'diff' will behave differently, and possibly have different vulnerabilities, on different systems? I guess this is mainly a technicality - we can, at least conceptually, imagine comparing the code after the preprocessor has been over it. I don't have a constructive suggestion how to achieve this, but it seems a desirable property would be that the CVE not split up CERT and similar advisories into lots of different pieces (unless they were clearly referring to two different holes to begin with. "Same advisory, same vulnerability"? [Note - I'm not taking a position on how to proceed and please don't count this email as a vote. I'm just trying to understand the issues.] Stuart. -- Stuart Staniford-Chen --- President --- Silicon Defense firstname.lastname@example.org (707) 822-4588 (707) 826-7571 (FAX) | <urn:uuid:eecceab2-eee7-4526-9df2-935f8780e8fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cve.mitre.org/data/board/archives/1999-07/msg00064.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959944 | 585 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is proposing progressive changes to the city’s transit system. So progressive, in fact, that anyone who’s been living in a cave for the past eight years might think that Bloomberg could actually contribute to the wellbeing of the working people of New York City.
For instance, Bloomberg has recently noticed that the public transit system is “the lifeblood of our city.” He should know; he rides the 6 train to work (after being chauffeured from his mansion to a subway station by SUV, of course). Apparently, he’s come to the realization that the city’s lifeblood isn’t as plentiful as it should be. He’s released a whole 33-point program to fix transit for New Yorkers!
As a former Coney Island resident, I can appreciate the need (listed in his program) to add express service on the F line. That would cut a commute from Manhattan to the far edge of Brooklyn by maybe 20 minutes. And he doesn’t stop there! He wants to spread the largesse: Now, he’s advocating free crosstown bus service, reopening a whole rail line in Staten Island, van service to help underserved neighborhoods... The list goes on!
Bloomberg’s going all out. He’s created a petition to the MTA, featured on his website, so that we can tell the authority, “no more excuses, no more delays!”
The mayor has started this campaign with such a passion that, if taken at face value, would leave one feeling slightly perplexed, vexed by a number of questions.
Why has it taken the mayor eight years in office to notice that the MTA is a mess?
If he noticed the trouble before, why didn’t he do anything? Could he have just discovered the art of the petition, only now? Couldn’t he have at least said something?
Of course, the plan doesn’t mention the transit workers themselves. But that’s to be expected: We already know he hates them. During the 2005 labor dispute, which eventually led to a historic strike, Bloomberg wasted no time siding with the MTA management. In fact, the mayor was a major force pushing for then-Transport Workers Union Local 100 president Roger Toussaint to be thrown in jail. He also referred to the strikers as “criminals,” basing his comments on the state’s Taylor Law, which bans public workers from striking. (Many consider this law to be a violation of ILO labor standards, but Bloomberg can’t be bothered with that.)
So he’s against the workers, the people who actually run the trains, buses and so on. We’ve always known that. But we always thought he viewed the riders with a malevolent neglect. He seems to be saying this isn’t the case.
The problem with Bloomberg’s narrative—that of a caring mayor looking out for his constituents—is that it diverges wildly from reality, as do a number of statements on the website itself.
“Our transit system is run by the MTA, and controlled by Albany,” says the site.
Of course, even great lies have grains of truth in them. The MTA is a “bloated bureaucracy,” as Bloomberg’s site says. And it’s a public authority (the type that the Senate Democrats are trying to tame), that shields politicians from blame. This is bad, and the MTA should be democratized.
But one of the politicians shielded from blame by the MTA is Bloomberg himself. What he neglects to mention his website is that, of the 17 members of the authority’s board, eight are named by the leaders of New York City and surrounding communities, four by Bloomberg himself.
Is he really telling us that he’s had no influence over an agency of which nearly a quarter of its board are handpicked by him?
And even if it were the case that he had no authority, which it’s obviously not, where was he for the past eight years? While he’s been mayor there have been several fare increases (base fare was $1.50 in 2002; now it’s $2.25) and cuts: hundreds of booths in subway stations are now closed.
Earlier this very year, there was a crisis in the MTA, with the possibility of huge service cuts—the elimination of entire subway lines and bus routes, less frequent buses and so on, brand new tolls on the East River bridges—as well as steep fare increases. You’d think that Bloomberg would have been there, championing the rights of New Yorkers, figuring out a solution—doing something.
But where was he?
Where was he when the TWU was rallying against cuts? Where was he when people like Democratic mayoral candidate Bill Thompson (who, incidentally, has spent the past eight years actually supporting transit workers and commuters), comptroller candidate John Liu and others were holding press conferences demanding that there be no cuts or fare increases?
Thompson and Liu, as well as tens of thousands of New Yorkers were fighting for a solution: Raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, those who make over $500,000 per year, to stop what would have been devastating cuts, then look at reforming the authority so that people—like Bloomberg—couldn’t hide behind it.
Where was Bloomberg? When the demonstration of 75,000 people in front of City Hall, demanding taxes on the rich to avoid all sorts of public service cuts, was going on, he was inside telling the press, “We love rich people.” For some reason, he didn’t join his colleagues in elected office, Thompson, Liu and others, in speaking at the rally.
The reason that there is no plan as to how to pay for all the new services he’s offering is clear: he doesn’t intend to deliver on them.
His whole campaign is a lie, a sham, to cover up an abysmal record of not fighting for New Yorkers. Transit is a big issue for New Yorkers, and he’s looking to, if not convince people he’ll do something good, at least hide the fact that he’s been a hindrance to better transportation.
As his poll numbers drop, the mayor is desperately trying to find a way to distance himself from ... himself.
This campaign is a new low for Bloomberg, who has now taken to treating New Yorkers as fools.
Unfortunately for the mayor, people realize that you simply can’t be the solution to a problem of which you are a main part. | <urn:uuid:a23ff866-37e4-4f0d-9398-3c2e19669835> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.r8ny.com/blog/dan_margolis_ny_state_communist_party/does_bloomberg_think_new_yorkers_are_idiots.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977229 | 1,400 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Employment Situation, 2012
Foreign Workforce Growth Slows, More Locals Employed31 January 2013
- Local employment rose faster in 2012, as growth in foreign workers moderated amid the tightening in foreign manpower controls. With the high employment creation, unemployment remained low, despite a rise in layoffs. These are the key preliminary findings from the “Employment Situation, 2012” report released by the Ministry of Manpower’s Research and Statistics Department. More comprehensive labour market data will be released in the “Labour Market Report, 2012” on 15 March 2013.
- Supported by hiring for the festive season, the fourth quarter of 2012 saw higher employment growth. Preliminary estimates showed that total employment grew by 44,500 in the fourth quarter of 2012, up from the gains of 26,200 in the preceding quarter and 37,600 in the fourth quarter of 2011.
- For the whole of 2012, total employment increased by 129,600, slightly above the 122,600 in 2011. This mainly reflected the higher employment growth in construction (2012: 39,100; 2011: 22,000), boosted by public building projects. Excluding construction and foreign domestic workers, the increase in total employment at 87,200 in 2012 was lower than the 95,600 in 2011.
- Services continued to generate the majority of the total employment gains in 2012 (77,900), though this slowed from 2011 (96,100). Manufacturing added 11,100 workers in 2012, as gains mainly in chemical products outnumbered losses in electronics manufacturing.
- Local employment rose by 59,200, substantially higher than the gains of 37,900 in 2011. Amid the tightening in foreign manpower controls, the growth in foreign employment eased to 70,400 in 2012 from 84,800 in 2011. Excluding foreign domestic workers and construction, the growth in foreign employment was even lower at 32,200 in 2012, around half of the 60,200 in 2011.
- In December 2012, locals accounted for 66.4% of persons employed in Singapore (excluding foreign domestic workers). Foreigners formed the remaining 33.6%, compared with 32.8% in December 2011.
- Layoffs rose for the second consecutive quarter, reflecting the impact of economic slowdown and restructuring. Some 3,400 workers were laid off in the fourth quarter of 2012, up from 2,850 in the preceding quarter. For the full year of 2012, 11,000 workers were made redundant, higher than the 9,990 in 2011. Nevertheless, this was still less than the highs of 23,430 and 16,880 experienced during the last recession in 2009 and 2008 respectively.
- With the high employment creation, the seasonally adjusted overall unemployment rate dipped to 1.8% in December from 1.9% in September 2012. The decline in unemployment was also seen among residents from 2.8% to 2.6% and citizens from 3.0% to 2.9%. For the whole of 2012, the annual average unemployment rate remained at a low of 2.0% for overall and 3.0% for citizens, unchanged from 2011; while the resident unemployment rate dipped to 2.8% from 2.9%.
- Amid the tight labour market, the nominal income from work of Singaporeans continued to rise, though at a slower pace in 2012, reflecting the weaker economic conditions. The median monthly income from work (including employer CPF contributions) of full-time employed citizens rose over the year by 5.8% to $3,248 in 2012, down from the growth of 6.3% in 2011. Balanced by lower inflation, the real median income growth was 1.2% in 2012, compared with 1.0% in 2011.
For More Information
- The “Employment Situation, 2012” report is available online on MOM's Statistics and Publications webpage. More comprehensive labour market data will be released in the “Labour Market Report, 2012” on 15 March 2013.
Data pertain to private establishments each with at least 25 employees and the public sector.
The Consumer Price Index for all items rose over the year by 4.6% in 2012, down from the increase of 5.2% in 2011.
Last Updated on 31 January 2013 | <urn:uuid:73172e6c-519d-4569-b8ce-e47b366b45ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/Pages/PressReleasesDetail.aspx?listid=483 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952774 | 868 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Years ago the Muslim Brotherhood was considered among the most radical Muslim groups in the Middle East, and even today it is a vital force in Egypt. The organization is in the process of selecting a new “supreme guide.” There is a young reform body within the organization but it lacks power and even clear directions as to where the organization should be headed. MB branches in other nations hold fair and free elections, but Egypt is still characterized by a small group deciding who will head the organization. The new leader has to revitalize the MB and establish a more democratic and egalitarian course if the younger generation is to be attracted.
On the other hand, there are members of the MB who believe the main focus should be on establishing relations with the Mubarak government in order to be transformed from an underground religious organization into a legally functioning opposition party in Parliament. | <urn:uuid:e1bb585f-a52b-4318-a2bb-5c62171b1d46> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theimpudentobserver.com/tag/future-directions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962302 | 171 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Monday, December 10, 2007
Edited to add two fabulous posts that were mistakenly left off:
The ever fab Biodtl with what does need look like? and lovely Devra (we had her previous link wrong so here's the right one) with What about the other 9 months.
I often struggle with how to make a difference in the world. There are so many issues that need our attention: homelessness, poverty, education, the environment, health care, disease. So many things that it's easy to feel overwhelmed to the point of stagnation. Turning away is sometimes easier than rolling up our sleeves. Because at the end of the day, how much difference can one individual make?
And then sometimes it's simple. When you hear how our brothers and sisters are still struggling post Katrina, that after all this time there is still so much to be done. And easier still when you learn that there are kids there who need books. That we can each help to build a library. A library that will become the gateway for these children to learn about a world beyond their backyard, where they can become inspired, where they can learn, and where they can dream.
Jess recently travelled to the Gulf Coast and came back with a plea for all of us to stand with her to help build a library. After buying several books I realized that in the midst of so many sad stories it means so much to be a small part of a story of hope. The hope of allowing young minds who've already seen so much suffering locally to expand their minds around the world.
Public libraries are one of the best inventions of modern civilization. Libraries are places everyone can go for free to learn about anything they choose. But it's not a library without books. So if your finances permit it go to the Singleton/Hands On Library Wish List and help be a part of building a place for kids to go to open their minds and their hearts to what's possible in this world after already seeing so much of what is not.
The Just Post Writers
aimee with Where does your Candidate stand on Healthcare
azahar with Thought for the day
Beck with Welcome to The Macho World
BipolarLawyerCook with Your own best advocate
bon with Other Pictures
Chani with Blog Blast for Peace: If not now, when? Passing through the Gates, Horse Manure, and Gays in the Military
The Cool Mom Picks' Safe Toy Guide
Denguy with Bad Plastic, Bad Bad and 'Tis the Season
Erin with It's That Time Again
I am the master evil genius with What does need look like?
Jangari with Toilet culture, Exodus, and Four Corners on the Intervention
JCK at Motherscribe with We are all connected, we cannot be ourselves without community
jen with Power to the people who need it most, Tradition, Choosing and doing and going
jen at MOMocrats with Power to the People (who need it most)
jessi with Donorschooseorg--helping teachers across the country
Julie at Using My Words with Blog blast for Peace, Does the abstinence message for drug use work?, Let's Get it On: Abstinence only sex education is risky and ineffective, Does putting the arts at risk put kids at risk too? and Inconvenient Truth: A Transcript of my testimony to the EPA at the NESHAP Public Hearing
Kayleigh at Another Working Mom with I'm Dreaming of a... and Holidaze
Kevin at Life has Taught Us with Your signature does make a difference
Kyla with Healthcare is a bitch
Laura with A more important PSA
lori with Thoughts for the day
Mad with SOS? You can't be serious
Mad Organica with Tell Your Girls to Call for the Ball
Madame M. with Plan: Freezing butts, Stargazing and Retail (couples) therapy
Mary G with Charity begins at home
Mel from Actual Unretouched Photo with The Homeless
Pundit Mom with Do Republican Candidates Care About Women Voters?, You Know This Would All Be Different if Men Could Breastfeed and A Promise to American Women
Roy with Intersection of racisim, sexism and commerce
Sin with Seasonal Angst Disorder, Part 1
Suzanne Reisman on blogher with For a Good Time, Call a Feminist (Not that You'd Know This From the Media), No Smart Woman Left Behind and What's Bugging Women?
Thordora with Murders are Not Monsters; they're men
TIV with Post-traumatic stress disorder and ripples of trauma
Wayfarer Scientista with The Spilling of Oil
some of the many readers
The Just Posts turned one this month. Last year today so many of us were madly celebrating a wedding born of yearning and justice and we haven't stopped since. And a year later, my lovely social justice bride has never looked lovelier. Make sure to stop by and see what she, Hel and Su are up to today as well and stay further turned as we gear up for the big Just Post anniversary bash next month too. | <urn:uuid:7e75701f-ff40-4bb4-b87b-5aa7dca40f81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://droolstreet.blogspot.com/2007/12/november-just-posts.html?showComment=1197309900000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945048 | 1,056 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Lessons in produzione la pasta fresca
February 11, 2012 3 Comments
Italian is not my forte, as you might have guessed. Spanish, Basic French, Reading-level Russian – sure. Even some Latin. It seems, though with Italian – I just can’t get the pronunciation down. It seems there are a ton of different ways to pronounce words in Italian. Kind of like how there are exactly a bajillion pasta recipes out there. White/wheat/semolina flour, eggs, egg whites, water, milk… there are a million variations on the bajillion recipes. Approximately.
I had avoided making pasta for a while. I have no Italian heritage whatsoever – as much as I long for an Italian grandmother to break out her ancient family pasta recipe and for for us to spend a weekend making it… not going to happen. Boxed pasta will always be a cheap substitute for the real thing. But as boxed pasta is cheap – so is flour, so what did I have to lose? After an Italian grandmother-taught CRFM Homesteading class and an Atlas machine gifted for Christmas, there were no excuses standing in the way.
There is no secret SK-approved pasta recipe here, folks. In the spirit of Grow It, Cook It, Can It’s January Resolution – go try it out and report back with what works for you. I do have a few suggestions, though.
1. 100% semolina pasta is a) unkneadable and b) likely inedible. You really should look at a recipe before wasting a ton of flour. Ahem.
2. Fresh eggs – no exceptions. Friends with fresher than fresh eggs – even better. Let them come to room temp before using. With local-ish flour and local eggs – you’ve pretty much got yourself a Dark Days meal ready to go. As far as ratios – Sean of Punk Domestics suggested 1 whole egg per 100g flour. Peter at A Cook Blog uses only yolks. I found a happy medium in Smitten Kitchen’s 6 egg yolks to 1 whole egg ratio. Save the whites for meringue.
3. Why is it that no pasta recipes suggest how long to knead? I mean, you really can’t knead too much. If you’re tired, of course use the dough hook on your stand mixer. I found the kneading took about 10 minutes of work – it really does change texture and elasticity once ready. Pay attention and you can’t miss it.
4. Folding the sheet of pasta over on itself as you roll it through the machine is super important – it makes the sheet edges neater and helps make the sheet overall more even. Also helpful for fixing your own screwups.
5. When making ravioli, don’t overfill. Don’t underfill either – err on the side of slightly too little.
6. Again, for ravioli – I didn’t find I needed an eggwash to seal the pasta together. Just make sure when you boil the ravs the water is at a simmer and keep an eye on it, and it should be fine.
7. A ravioli mold is the greatest thing ever. You’ll never go back to a stamp.
8. Make sure your ravioli filling is dry ish- if you use frozen roasted tomatoes and basil there will be a lot of extra water, that makes your pasta wet. Its delicious, but hard to eat.
All in all, homemade pasta is fairly easy once you get the hang of it – this is something I could totally see myself whipping up for dinner with a glass of wine – homemade cacio e pepe here I come. | <urn:uuid:5558c850-1ebf-48df-bd94-78a8777a87c4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://snowflakekitchen.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/lessons-in-produzione-la-pasta-fresca/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946481 | 790 | 1.570313 | 2 |
State buys 625 acres as offset for SR 40 widening
Published: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 4:24 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 4:24 p.m.
Six hundred twenty-five acres of forest and wetlands just northeast of Ocala is now in public hands after a deal between Florida water regulators and an international timber company.
The St. Johns River Water Management District made the nearly $1.6 million purchase with Florida Department of Transportation money to offset the environmental impact of widening State Road 40.
That plan involves four-laning the east-west thoroughfare from Silver Springs east about 10 miles.
The purchased land is 10 miles northeast of Ocala and the Silver River State Park. It is on the west side of the Marjorie Harris Carr Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area.
About 42 percent of the purchased property is wetlands. It was bought from Jacksonville-based Rayonier, a timber and real estate company that owns 2.7 million acres in the U.S. and New Zealand. The new land will be overseen and managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Recreation and Parks.
Robert Christianson, St. Johns’ division director of operations and land resources, said the acquired land is a perfect fit with the existing protected land already in the area.
The plan is to build hiking trails and perhaps bicycle trails for people to enjoy and learn more about the forest and wildlife in the area. Walking trails should be completed within a year.
“This is definitely a great opportunity for enhancing the … access to the river corridor,” Christianson said.
The land acquisition, which closed in December, was a 1-to-1 exchange for the land that will be affected by the widening, he said. Some of the land impacted by the widening is wetlands.
The purchased land is called the Bear Track Bay property.
“The property is within the highest priority acquisition area identified by FDOT’s State Road 40 Task Force … ,” a St. Johns report on the purchase stated.
“Acquisition of this property will also conserve the natural features and functions of the floodplain and wetlands associated with tributaries to the Ocklawaha River, an Outstanding Florida Water (OFW) in the Ocklawaha River Aquatic Preserve,” the report said.
The widening project is expected to cost $8.1 million and was favorably received by environmental groups that assisted with some of its design.
That led to plans for numerous wildlife crossings, fences to herd wildlife through the crossings and away from roads, drainage ponds, and ample lines of sight to allow drivers and wildlife to see one another.
Charles Lee, director of advocacy for Audubon of Florida, who served on a task force to advise the FDOT on the project, said that all of the task force’s recommendations were adopted into the plan, which will make the four-lane section of State Road 40 “the most environmentally friendly” in Florida.
Contact Fred Hiers at firstname.lastname@example.org or 352-867-4157.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged. | <urn:uuid:3e81689e-55c1-4719-9549-6b6b21511a91> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ocala.com/article/20130107/ARTICLES/130109800/1171/weather?Title=State-buys-625-acres-as-offset-for-SR-40-widening | 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 | 0.953988 | 685 | 1.554688 | 2 |
World Leadership Conference
13 Jul 2011 - 15 Jul 2011ECO Singapore and sister organizations organize a regional prep meeting for youth, civil society, companies and government representatives.
The 5-day conference is designed to benefit both experienced individuals and also people that are new into the scene of sustainable development. Three tracks have been designed to meet the intended objectives of the World Leadership Conference 2011. The tracks are Policy, Knowledge and Trade Fair.
Together, these tracks build capacity; provide a platform for policy discussion and consultation as well as networking opportunity in the area of the green economy and a low carbon future.
Policy Track ? Targeted to deliver Document to Rio + 20 Summit
Knowledge Track ? Targeted to deliver learning and discussion with leading experts in environmental sustainability issues
Trade Fair Track ? Showcase projects, best practices and technologies for action. Open from 10am-6pm. | <urn:uuid:f1ff4ee8-6805-4714-8210-df0891d1d8b1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&nr=352&type=13&menu=23 | 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 | 0.932454 | 177 | 1.515625 | 2 |
This article about Elena Kagan's Supreme Court confirmation hearing incorrectly said that the court's recent Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling struck down limits on corporate contributions to political campaigns. It struck down prohibitions on corporations using their general treasuries to spend money advocating for and against candidates.
Kagan makes bipartisan appeal in Supreme Court confirmation hearings
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Elena Kagan told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that her political outlook is "generally progressive," but the glimpses she offered into her legal views defied Republican efforts to pigeonhole the type of Supreme Court justice she would be.
During the first day of questioning at her confirmation hearings, Kagan said that she respects legal precedent that upholds people's right to own guns and that she supports the use of military commissions to prosecute enemy combatants -- positions favored by many conservatives.
But she also suggested that a controversial requirement in the new federal health-care law that most Americans obtain insurance has a legal basis -- a question that is likely to come before the courts. She indicated that she differed with a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down limits on corporate contributions to political campaigns. And she adamantly defended her reluctance as dean of Harvard Law School to sponsor military recruiters on campus because of the ban on openly gay men and women serving in the armed forces.
During more than eight hours of friendly questions from Democratic senators and sharper grilling by Republicans, Kagan, 50, remained somewhat guarded. At times, she retreated into broad statements about the Constitution or recited legal precedent on polarizing questions without divulging her own views. Nevertheless, for a nominee who has spent her career in government and academia -- without displaying much of an ideology -- her testimony provided the strongest clues to date about her positions.
Kagan noted that she has worked for two Democratic presidents, including currently as President Obama's solicitor general. But at several points during the hearings, she played to conservatives. She said she has "the greatest admiration" for Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the high court's most conservative members. She lauded as "a great lawyer and a great human being" Miguel A. Estrada, a prominent conservative who has been a GOP cause celebre since his nomination to the appellate bench by President George W. Bush was thwarted by Senate Democrats. And she said that military lawyers she has worked with have been "stunningly good."
An explicit bipartisan appeal was a central theme of her performance as the televised hearings gave Americans the first opportunity to hear from Kagan since her nomination in May to become the 112th justice, and the fourth woman, to serve on the nation's highest court.
Her demeanor contrasted markedly with that on Monday, the first day of the hearings, when she sat silently for hours, wearing a slightly uncomfortable expression, until she somberly read a prepared opening statement. On Tuesday, she loosened up. She smiled. She showed frequent flashes of wit.
At one point, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) introduced a line of questioning about Miranda rights and military commissions by recalling the unsuccessful bombing attempt on an airplane last Christmas. He asked the nominee where she was on Christmas Day. "You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant," she replied, as the senators and audience members in the hearing room burst into laughter.
During pointed questioning by several committee Republicans, Kagan did not appear stumped at any point, nor did she commit any obvious gaffes. The committee, which has a 12 to 7 Democratic majority, is almost certain to forward her nomination to the full Senate, which probably will schedule a final vote in late July. By the end of the afternoon, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), one of the panel's most conservative members, told Kagan that she is smart and "tough as nails."
The hearing will resume at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Kagan rebutted Republicans' efforts to tie her to the left. "[My] politics would be, must be, have to be completely separate from my judging," she said.
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) prodded her to talk about the extent to which she had absorbed the values of one of her mentors, Justice Thurgood Marshall, for whom she clerked, including his belief in the law as a tool to help, as Kyl put it, "the little guy." Kagan sidestepped the question. "The courts are open to all people and will listen respectfully with attention to all claims," she said. "I love Justice Marshall. He did an enormous amount for me. But if you confirm me to this position, you will get Justice Kagan. You won't get Justice Marshall." | <urn:uuid:9c200011-e45c-4069-830b-b6d7ba002a5d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/29/AR2010062900840.html?hpid=topnews | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978396 | 971 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Thu October 4, 2012
Ca. Bans Therapy Meant To Turn Gay Kids Straight
Originally published on Thu October 4, 2012 2:30 pm
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
And now, we turn to California. Earlier this week, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a landmark piece of legislation banning a controversial form of therapy that is meant to change the sexual orientation of children under 18. Supporters of the ban say the so-called gay to straight conversion therapy can psychologically scar patients in the worst possible ways and there's no medical evidence that it works.
California state Senator Ted Lieu is with us now. He's the author of the bill banning gay to straight conversion therapy, but for another perspective, we have with us Mat Staver. He is the chairman of the Liberty Counsel. That's one of the legal groups, many with conservative and religious affiliations that are hoping to overturn the ban in California.
And I welcome you both. Thank you both so much for joining us.
SENATOR TED LIEU: Thank you.
MAT STAVER: Thank you.
MARTIN: Senator Lieu, you are not a mental health professional. As I understand it, you're an attorney. Do I have that right?
LIEU: That is correct.
MARTIN: How did you get interested in this topic?
LIEU: Last year, I watched a show on television. It was a news show and it was documenting reparative therapy, otherwise known as gay conversion therapy, and it talked about a person named Kirk Murphy who went through the sissy boy experiments, and he was held up as, you know, someone that they were able to convert and change and then, later, he committed suicide. And it was very clear for me that this therapy was evil and, earlier this year, a group called Equality California came to my office with an idea on reparative therapy and I jumped at the opportunity to carry the bill.
MARTIN: Mat Staver, there is a religious exemption, as I understand it. Why isn't that sufficient?
STAVER: Well, first of all, this particular bill negatively impacts the minors that we represent, their parents and the many counselors we represent in association has over 50,000 licensed mental health professionals from around the country and even around the world that are very concerned with this because, either way, on January 1, 2013, they will be forced to violate their ethical codes.
Clients have a right to self-determination. They have a right to seek counseling of their choice. They have a right to align their religious and moral values with the counseling that they choose. And, effective January 1, counselors will not be able to provide or refer to that counseling. That will violate the ethical codes that they operate under. And this is unprecedented that the government would come in and think that it has the wherewithal and the expertise to tell every single minor and parent and counselor a viewpoint that they can or can not receive. And that is clearly a viewpoint-based discrimination that's absolutely shocking and literally unprecedented.
MARTIN: Senator, what about that point of view? I mean, it is the case that the state does intervene in a number of parenting habits or, particularly, things that were habits in the past. Many states now intervene when physical discipline goes too far or there are also some states that intervene in certain medical practices. But what about Mr. Staver's point that this interjects between a parent having - being able to pass on his or her values or medical professionals being able to pass on a certain point of view. What about that?
LIEU: Parents don't have the right to harm their children and I'm a parent of two kids and I'm a strong supporter of parental rights, but we don't allow parents to harm their children and reparative therapy has been rejected by the entire house of medicine. They have said, not only does it not work, but it harms patients. That's why the American Psychiatric Association says this practice poses great harms and the California Psychological Association supported this law.
So we view it as a practice of medicine, not a viewpoint law and that's why the courts will uphold it.
MARTIN: Mr. Staver?
STAVER: Senator Lieu's statements there, I want to point out, are just absolutely ignorant of this particular subject matter. First of all, there's no counseling organization in the country, no ethical code that exists in America under any counseling organization - you name whatever it is that says you can not do sexual orientation change therapy. That's number one.
LIEU: The American Psychiatric Association tells its psychiatrists, do not do this practice.
STAVER: That is not prohibited. There is nothing in the country, no ethical...
LIEU: That's why there's a law now to prohibit it.
STAVER: Well, your statement says that they prohibit it. That is absolutely incorrect.
LIEU: They tell their psychiatrists do not do this practice.
MARTIN: Well, all right. How about this? How about this, Senator Lieu? Why don't we let Mr. Staver make his point and then you can address it? How about that? Let's let...
MARTIN: ...Mr. Staver finish his point.
STAVER: (Unintelligible) keep using the word reparative therapy. Reparative therapy is one kind of many kinds of therapies or counseling or therapeutic interventions with regards to someone who is experiencing unwanted same-sex sexual attractions. This law covers the entire gamut, not just reparative therapy.
MARTIN: Senator Lieu, what if a minor child himself wishes this kind of therapy? What if a 16-year-old goes to his parents and says, I don't want to experience same-sex attraction. I would like to be treated by someone who will help me not have these feelings. Is that outlawed here?
LIEU: What a mainstream psychologist or psychiatrist would say is, we will help you cope with your feelings, but the one thing we will not do is seek to change your sexual orientation from gay to straight because the medical literature says that can not be done and, if we try to do it, it will harm you psychologically.
MARTIN: Senator Lieu, this addresses licensed professionals, right? Medical professionals who take their code of ethics from groups like the American Psychological Association, for example, the American Medical Association, but it doesn't address people who receive their training in kind of a religious context and still consider themselves therapists. Would it?
LIEU: It would not apply to priests or pastors or spiritual counselors. It applies to psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed therapists, so we view it as the practice of medicine. A priest of pastor, under this law, could still teach whatever they want, but it's very different when a doctor tells you that you can change from gay to straight and then they try to do it to you. That's a very different experience than to listen to a priest talk to you about what religion may or may not teach.
MARTIN: But, given that you already said that the medical guidelines of these professional associations already take the point of view that this is not legitimate therapy and does not work, why is there a need for this law? Why isn't preventing this practice governed by their own professional canon of ethics and best practices?
LIEU: That's a great question because, as the opposition has noted, a psychiatrist can ignore what the American Psychiatric Association is saying, so all my law does - it says, if you do this, then the licensing boards can take your license away from you. It basically provides enforcement of what people should not be doing already.
MARTIN: Mr. Staver?
STAVER: Yes. It does say that when someone comes to a counselor - and they're not medical doctors - that's a psychiatrist. Most counselors are not doctors. But when someone comes to a counselor that says, I've got these unwanted same-sex attractions. Based upon other value systems that I have, I don't want to act on them. Can you ultimately help me to resolve that and prioritize my religious or moral values so that I don't act on - or at least reduce or help manage this? The psychologist, counselor, whatever it is, licensed in California, will not be able to counsel that individual or refer that individual according to that client's specific wishes of how that client wants to be counseled.
Under this particular law, the counselor has to ignore the client's wishes, and if they don't, they violate the law.
MARTIN: OK. Senator Lieu, this is your bill, so I'm going to give you the final word on why you think that this bill will be upheld.
LIEU: Patients don't go to psychiatrists and psychologists for viewpoints. They go to them for treatment. The entire house of medicine has said gay conversion therapy not only does not work, it harms patients. And so this law will be upheld because we're talking about treating patients - and every medical organization has looked at this has told their own practitioners, do not try to change someone from gay to straight because you can't do it and, if you try to, they'll have feelings of guilt, self-hatred, shame and some of them will commit suicide.
MARTIN: Well, we are not going to resolve this here. Evidently, that is what the courts are for, but I do thank you both for a spirited and interesting conversation and I thank you both for being civil in what is obviously a very emotional and important topic. So thank you both.
Ted Lieu is a California state senator. He's the author of the bill that we've been discussing. It bans gay to straight conversion therapy. He joined us from NPR West in Culver City, California. Mat Staver is the chair of the Liberty Counsel. That is a legal group hoping to overturn the law and he joined us from Lynchburg, Virginia.
And I thank you both so much again.
LIEU: Thank you.
STAVER: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio. | <urn:uuid:c8e1ae6a-d57b-4c8a-a6a1-77acb92b17fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kasu.org/post/ca-bans-therapy-meant-turn-gay-kids-straight | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970008 | 2,131 | 1.578125 | 2 |
After years of speculations about its plans to establish a new museum space in Chelsea, the Dia Art Foundation revealed some of what it has in the works to Carol Vogel at The New York Times.
According to Ms. Vogel, the nonprofit institution, which focuses on Minimal, Post-Minimal and Conceptual artists, and their artistic progeny, plans to build a 22,000-square-foot building on West 22nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. (Until 2004, Dia ran galleries in Chelsea. Its location at 548th West 22nd Street, which it later sold, has become a popular space for art fairs like the Independent and the inaugural NADA New York.)
Here’s the paper’s description of the proposed project, which is being designed by Roger Duffy, who is a partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and will include about 15,000 square feet of gallery space and about 3,600 square feet of rooftop space for showing art:
Plans call for creating a single building with a masonry-and-glass facade along the north side of West 22nd Street. It will consist of the one-story structure at what is now No. 545; a three-story building that will be erected on the site of the marble works at No. 541 [which Dia recently acquired], and the ground floor of No. 535. (The other five floors of that building will be used for administrative offices or leased to commercial galleries.)
Dia Foundation Director Philippe Vergne declined to tell the paper the budget for the building, or the amount of money that has been raised toward its construction. What’s the timetable? Here’s Ms. Vogel: “Construction is expected to start in the spring of 2014, and if all goes as planned, the building will open in late 2016 or early 2017.”
By 2017, 13 years will have elapsed since Dia closed its original Chelsea spaces. | <urn:uuid:9ae34f58-961a-4ce0-8998-d7d5dadb6614> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://galleristny.com/2012/05/dia-reveals-designs-for-new-22000-square-foot-chelsea-home/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961767 | 411 | 1.695313 | 2 |
It isn’t a surprise to anyone that our political system is in crisis, and that in times of crisis, real or imagined, civil liberties are most vulnerable.
Notwithstanding the compromise measure that led to final passage of the debt-ceiling deal Tuesday, the drawn-out debate over the bill demonstrated the weaknesses in our political institutions. Hardened ideological perspectives from the left and right have made compromise a dirty word, and brought the legislative process to a near-standstill. In a town that measures winners and losers with daily news cycles, there are no winners, not even those who appeared to prevail in the negotiation, despite the partisan backslapping and bickering.
Make no mistake: the battle over the federal budget is not over, it’s just begun. If anything, it is going to intensify, injecting more polarization into a volatile mix created by high unemployment and higher costs for life’s essentials, growing wealth disparity, and diminished opportunity for too many Americans.
With so many people feeling vulnerable, even those with jobs, their fears are more easily exploited and manipulated for political gain. From the dismantling of collective bargaining rights and coordinated voter suppression efforts in the states, to Congress’ willingness to plunge the world’s economy into chaos by threatening to default on our nation’s financial obligations, there is a common thread being pulled, unraveling the very institutions that preserve, protect and defend our safety and our civil liberties.
In one of the few bits of good news from the debt-ceiling debacle, the exploding budgets for military, intelligence, and law enforcement since 9/11 will finally be opened for reconsideration. Everyone agrees that the forces behind 9/11 and similar attempted terrorism attacks pose a real threat to our national security, but most Americans also agree the government’s responses to those attacks launched an unprecedented erosion of civil liberties. Our response resulted in seemingly unlimited authorization to use military force, to torture and to hide suspects in secret sites abroad -- removed from the reach of American law, and racial profiling, domestic spying and warrantless wiretapping at home.
Some argue that any cuts to our national security and defense spending pose a threat to our safety. The next phase of the debate will be framed as a false choice between defense cuts and revenue increases. Once again, some elected officials will play on fears of imminent attack and will find ways to elevate suspicions of those who don’t look, act, think, vote and pray exactly as they do.
We must frame the coming debate on our terms, reminding Americans that it is our freedom that makes us secure, not our security that makes us free. Focusing only on spending cuts and taxes, and never taking time to understand how our tax dollars affect individual liberties, while lurching from crisis to crisis, is no way to govern.
The month-long August recess is the most critical period that civil libertarians have to make our priorities known to members of Congress while they are home. We must demonstrate there is a constituency for rights. When Congress reconvenes in September, another mini-government shutdown battle looms, and no matter what the calendar says, we will begin a sprint to the 2012 election. Americans will have to be reminded that our liberties and not just our budget are at stake. | <urn:uuid:b345463e-95f0-4b1c-ba82-16bdc006b94e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aclu.org/blog/organization-news-and-highlights/brinksmanship-hidden-threats-liberty | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947037 | 670 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Upcycle ideas for the garden, including photos. While the thrill of the hunt can sometimes be enticing, remember that new should balance old. Having too many old items (or new items) can take away from your garden's overall appeal . . . If you enjoy this Magazine, you will love my blog: http://upcycledgardenstyle.blogspot.com
"When I bought this old rusty RC Cola cooler I thought I might use it as a drink cooler at a party or BBQ, but soon realized it had a better future, becoming a potting station. With old hooks, handles, metal trays and wire baskets it has become just that. It can be wheeled around and will hold all the equipment that is needed for this job."
These cute little pavers were created by Swedish garden writer Charlotte Bladh.
Mix cement as to the packet’s instructions. Find a suitable mould, plus a huge leaf, such as a rhubarb leaf. Oil the leaf so it releases easily. Lay down some plastic or tarpaulin on a flat surface and place the leaf, underside up, on top. Place the mould on top of the leaf, then fill with concrete. You may need to place a weight on top of the mould to keep it firmly in place. Let the concrete dry, then remove the mould. Set aside in a warm, dry spot to cure for a couple of weeks before placing it in your garden.
For this project, you’ll need the pallet you found, 2 large bags of potting soil, 16 six packs of annual flowers (one six pack per opening on the face of the pallet, and two six packs per opening on the top of the completed pallet garden), a small roll of landscape fabric, a staple gun, staples, and sand paper.
People tend not to know what an outdoor orb is (since I made the phrase up), so I’ve decided to change the name to White Glass Shades that Every House Used to Have But Now Doesn’t Because We all Threw Them Out Like Idiots. And Now We Have to Buy Them From Secondhand Stores.
"Broken shoes or a shoe which lost its pair can be media to create junk garden. Rotten wood ladder will make this garden unique and match with nature around it. Old wooden fence becomes the best background for them to give natural and beautiful accent. Bougainville flowers in pink and white color are planted in the man shoes which are arranged on the wooden ladder.
Some of rolled rusted wires and old rolled cable are hung on the wooden fence to complete the junk decoration. Many kind of shoes are perfect for make this art junk garden. Make sure you create a drainage hole as a place out of water so that plants do not rot."
These natural and durable building materials provide a very cool contrast to elegant succulent plants. Used bricks work even better because they have a bit of personality and history behind them, and not to forget the costs (if they are used, they are probably thrown away, so they are free) .
The tricky part is to drill the holes, it not very difficult but you’ll have to be very patient, because any shock could shatter the brick. The candle holder is optional, you can choose to do it, but it will only score points at style.
Plant this armoire anywhere inside to provide an organized potting place. Show off painted terra-cotta pots in upside-down stacks on a high shelf. Secure a paper-towel holder under the shelf for quick cleanup.
Bottom drawers can hold anything from books and magazines to knee pads and hats. Remove one drawer and use the shelf to store fabric-lined baskets that hold bulbs and seeds.
“We do lots of things, like have a garden, a compost, recycle, and also like to do artsy things out of “other things”. For example, I managed to get about 20 vintage toilet tanks in pastel colors, and used them to make planters!”
"Consisting of several private spaces, infused with childhood mementos from both my own past as well as my daughter’s, my garden is less a showpiece and more like a diary. It’s a place to play, experiment and show my personality, and I love it with all my heart." ~Rebecca Sweet | <urn:uuid:f5b6dda4-31a4-4ec2-b33b-8fca7ec4597b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scoop.it/t/flea-market-garden-style?page=8 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940507 | 906 | 1.796875 | 2 |
|Location of Event :
||Alpha / Delta Quadrant1
|Stardate of Event :
||79900 approx and 54973 approx1
|Nature of Event :
On the tenth anniversary of the U.S.S. Voyager's return to Earth in 2393, Admiral Janeway embarked on a conspiracy to alter the timeline in order to return the ship to the Alpha Quadrant early. Janeway was dissatisfied with the way in which events had unfolded on Voyager; in the original timeline her close friend Seven of Nine had died in 2380 after being injured on an away mission. Seven's husband Chakotay had been grief-stricken by the loss and had never fully recovered. Commander Tuvok also did not fare well in this timeline; he developed a neurological condition in 2377 which could only be cured by a mind meld with a compatible Vulcan. Since none were available in the Delta Quadrant, Tuvok's condition gradually worsened until he was largely incoherent.
Twenty two Voyager crew members had been killed between 2377 and the ship's arrival at Earth, and although most of the crew went on to live happy lives Admiral Janeway had become a much more cynical person after the journey.
She acquired a tachyon projector from the Klingon government through Ensign Miral Paris, daughter of Voyager crew members Tom and B'Elanna Paris, and a supply of the drug chronexaline from Joe, the Voyager EMH, in order to allow her to survive using the device to go back in time.
Before she could go back in time the USS Rhode Island, a Nova class vessel under the command of Captain Harry Kim, apprehended Admiral Janeway but she was able to convince Kim to allow her to proceed with her plan. Janeway successfully travelled back to 2377 and met with Voyager. She gave the ship complete access to the technology of her shuttle, including transphasic torpedoes and the ablative armour generator.
Using this technology Voyager penetrated a nebula in which they had previously detected dozens of wormholes. They had investigated the nebula only to find dozens of Borg vessels there, and had rapidly retreated. Now fitted with technology twenty five years in advance of their own, Voyager was able to batter her way through the Borg and reach the centre of the nebula. There they found not wormholes, but a transwarp hub - a set of gateways into transwarp conduits which allowed the Borg to reach any part of the galaxy in just minutes.
Realizing that Admiral Janeway had lied to her, Captain Janeway withdrew from the nebula. Despite her older self's advice, Janeway decided to destroy the transwarp hub whilst within the conduit in an attempt to both reach home and deny the Borg further use of the network. The two Janeway's hatched a plan by which they could do this; the Admiral infected herself with a neurolytic pathogen and allowed the Borg Queen to assimilate her whilst Voyager returned to the transwarp hub and headed for Earth. With the Queen destroyed and her Unicomplex damaged, Voyager was able to successfully destroy the hub whilst heading for Earth.
Unfortunately, a Borg sphere managed to catch up with the Starship. Captain Janeway allowed it to bring Voyager aboard, riding ahead of the shock wave all the way back to the Alpha Quadrant inside the sphere. Once clear of the conduit, Janeway destroyed the sphere from the inside and sailed clear of the wreckage to be greeted by a Federation fleet.
Although Admiral Janeway's actions were clearly illegal and immoral, her plan brought Voyager to Earth sixteen years early, allowed Tuvok the chance to seek treatment for his condition before it could become serious, saved the life of Seven of Nine and twenty one other crew members, and gave the Federation technology that has put it decades ahead of the other major Alpha Quadrant powers. As such, it can only be called a success.1 | <urn:uuid:4edfbd5e-1136-427a-b745-3ed374b7f238> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ditl.org/pagtemporal.php?IncidentID=6&ListID=Stations | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96637 | 801 | 1.648438 | 2 |
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (CASIS PR) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization managing research on the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, and the American Astronautical Society (in cooperation with NASA) are co-sponsoring the 1st Annual ISS Research and Development Conference being held June 26-28, 2012 in Denver, Colorado.
The conference will provide a tremendous opportunity for scientists and organizations from a wide variety of research fields – including those who have never flown research in space – to learn how a platform like the ISS, with access to microgravity and extreme environments, can benefit scientific investigations in ways that no Earth-based laboratory can replicate.
Conference sessions will focus on results of Station research to date and enable attendees to determine how to best work with CASIS to quickly and cost-effectively enable research projects in the physical and life sciences, as well as in spacecraft technology development. The final day of the conference is free and aimed specifically at new users – groups and individuals who want to better understand how removing gravity from their research can unlock a new understanding of their work’s potential.
The conference will offer panel discussions led by educators and industry leaders, and technical sessions. Featured keynote speakers will include NASA Scientists and Directors, as well as CASIS executives that will moderate a session specific to upcoming ISS R&D proposal opportunities.
“This conference is a great opportunity to show the R&D community the significant capabilities that reside through the ISS National Lab,” said CASIS Interim Executive Director Jim Royston. “We are pleased to be a co-sponsor of this event – one that will serve to help steer the research direction of the ISS National Lab for years to come.”
For more information or to register for the 1st Annual ISS Research and Development Conference visit http://astronautical.org/forms/iss_12/register_iss12.php. | <urn:uuid:efb221b8-6ecc-4765-a07a-043ee9b48087> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/05/22/casis-aas-set-first-iss-rd-conference/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932883 | 412 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Several weeks ago, I became a victim of identity fraud. Luckily, it wasn’t a big deal.
Of course, I didn’t think that at the time. I had logged into my bank account and saw a pending charge on my debit card for $470.25. It was from a website I’d never heard of – DHGate.com. As near as I can tell, it’s a Chinese version of eBay. The platform is legitimate. But obviously, not all of its users are.
There was also a $3.76 fee labeled as an “international service charge.”
I drove straight to the bank (thankfully only a few blocks away) and explained the situation: I’ve never heard of this company, I’ve never bought anything from this company, I’ve had my debit card with me at all times, and I haven’t noticed any suspicious activity – until now.
The bank rep listened politely and asked me a few questions: Are you sure you didn’t misplace your debit card even temporarily? Can you verify some of your other transactions to make sure they’re correct?
Then she told me I couldn’t dispute these charges unless they actually went through – this one was still “pending” as of that moment. She tapped at her computer and said she’d note all of this on my account. She assured me that this charge would probably never go through, but if it did, I should come back.
She was wrong, and a day later, I was back. I had to fill out a simple one-page dispute form, swearing I didn’t make a purchase. Then the woman shredded my debit card and issued me a new one on the spot. The same day, I got a “provisional credit” for the amount I was disputing, at least while they investigated. A few weeks later, I received a letter concluding that it was indeed a “fraudulent charge” and I didn’t owe a thing.
Anticlimactic, I know – although I still have no idea how somebody in China got my debit card number. But many people aren’t so lucky. Their stories are dramatic and even tragic.
Trends in identity theft
According to Javelin Research’s 2012 Identity Fraud Report, 11.6 million Americans lost $18 billion to identity theft last year, and “the growth in the fraud rate is being primarily generated by the increased incidence of existing card account fraud and not new account fraud.”
This can be taken as good news, though. It sounds like new account fraud is getting harder to pull off, and existing account fraud is easier to catch. The shift from new account fraud to existing account fraud is one of the key contributors to recent improvements in fraud resolution. That’s because existing account fraud – specifically, existing card fraud – is generally much simpler to resolve, both in time and cost.
This has happened at the same time the cost of fraud has dropped, according to the survey. While the total amount of fraud was up 12.6 percent in 2011 compared to 2010, the total cost was down $2 billion. Even better news: 91 percent of fraud cases were resolved last year, while only 82 percent were back in 2008.
This certainly doesn’t mean the problem is going away. Data breaches (like the one that happened when the PlayStation Network was hacked last year) were up 67 percent in 2011, and the report concludes that victims of those breaches are nearly 10 times more likely to become fraud victims.
The report found only “54 percent of victims were notified they had been a victim of identity theft by their financial institution, law enforcement, etc.” Many people are left to discover the crime on their own – like I did.
And people with smartphones and those who use social media are more at risk by exposing their personal information and installing a variety of apps. No matter how careful you are, it’s hard to account for what other people do, as a waitress caught skimming customer credit cards shows.
While nobody can cover all their bases, that’s no reason to give criminals an easy home run. Some simple steps to guard your data and finances…
- Police your accounts. Keep an eye on your bank balances. You don’t need expensive protection software. Just log in and check regularly – that’s how I spotted the fraud on my account. Crooks are like cancer: Early detection lessens the damage. Change your passwords every so often, don’t reuse the same one across important accounts, and make sure they’re strong.
- Use protected Wi-Fi. When you use a wireless connection, your data – possibly including logins you type into websites – is literally floating around in the air, and thieves know how to eavesdrop on your computer or smartphone. When you have access to a secure network (one with a lock icon, meaning it requires a passcode) choose those over public ones. Learn how to secure your network at home too.
- Use secure browsing. If you’re not on a secure network (which encrypts everything you do), only access or share personal information on secure sites (which at least encrypt what you do there). You can tell if a site is secure if the Web address starts with “https” instead of “http.” But make sure every page of the site has it – some sites only secure the login. You can learn more at OnGuardOnline.gov. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter offer secured versions, but you may have to enable them yourself. (Check the links for instructions.)
- Update regularly. Hackers hunt for security loopholes. Software updates plug them. It’s a constant war between good and evil, so maintain the latest version of your programs and apps, and be cautious when trying anything new – especially if it’s obscure, unexpectedly free, or doesn’t have any positive user reviews.
We’ve got plenty more advice in other identity theft stories we’ve done. Check out these:
- Free Identity Theft Protection with These 10 Tips
- 3 Tips to Prevent Identity Theft on Social Networks
- 4 Ways to Protect Against Old-School Identity Theft
- 6 Steps to Prevent Identity Theft of the Dead
- 7 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft and 7 Steps to Recover
Subscribe by email
Like this article? Sign up for our email updates and we’ll send you a regular digest of our newest stories, full of money saving tips and advice, free! We’ll also email you a PDF of Stacy Johnson’s ’205 Ways to Save Money’ as soon as you’ve subscribed. It’s full of great tips that’ll help you save a ton of extra cash. It doesn’t cost a dime, so why wait? Click here to sign up now. | <urn:uuid:e8d8ec6b-61aa-43a0-be5a-09cab015da6a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2012/03/26/what-happened-when-my-identity-was-stolen/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958039 | 1,460 | 1.601563 | 2 |
SCC Home » Campus Life » Children's Programs
The Solano Community College Children's Programs offer both full and part day programs for children from age 1 to kindergarten entry, as well as morning and afternoon preschool programs for children ages 3 to kindergarten entry. Priority is given to students carrying 6 units or more and on a space available basis to staff and faculty of Solano Community College. Occasional openings may occur for community based members.
The Children's Programs are located in buildings 200 and 200A. The hours of operation are 7:45 am to 3:30 pm and we offer an afternoon preschool program from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. The days of operation primarily follow the college's academic calendar with additional days added to for family fun events and other activities.
About the Programs
The Children's Programs are designed to provide a high quality, developmentally appropriate and intellectually stimulating educational experience for the children while providing safe, reliable childcare for student-parents. In addition to our excellent staff members, early childhood education students complete their student teaching "practicum" requirement in the Children's Programs and add their enthusiasm and creativity to the programs.
The programs for each age group are interesting and varied. In each program, children follow a planned schedule which includes both active and quiet activities offered both indoors and outdoors in the well-equipped yards. The daily activities feature art, science, math, music, cooking, story time, and outdoor activities. The teachers help the children gain self-help skills, language development, and interpersonal social skill development.
Children are placed in the toddler or the preschool based on their age and maturity. Student parents contract for their child's care based upon their need for services. Each child's days and hours of enrollment are aligned with the parent's school and work schedule.
The Children's Programs participate in the Child Care Food Program. In the morning, a breakfast snack and lunch are served; children staying all day also have an afternoon snack after nap time. The Afternoon Preschool Program serves lunch and an afternoon snack
The Children's Programs are open to the students, faculty and staff of Solano College. Community children may attend on a space-available basis. Fees are determined by the parent's income and the child's age. Many of our openings are State or Federally subsidized with free or low-cost child care available to low-income parents. Student parents enrolled in six units or more have priority for enrollment.
Parents may place their child(ren) on the eligibility list by visiting the Children's Programs Office in Building 200 (open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm).
For more information, call (707) 864-7182. | <urn:uuid:507cacf2-0d77-421d-b44d-fea5f209297a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.solano.edu/childcare/index.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953644 | 547 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Poetry News In Review
Poetry News In Review
1803 – Ippolit Bogdanovich, Russian poet (b. 1743), dies.
1835 – Jan van Droogenbroeck, Flemish poet, is born.
1840 – Austin Dobson, England, poet/critic/biographer, is born.
1867 – Rubén Darío, Nicaraguan Journalist, Diplomat, Poet (d. 1916), is born.
1896 – Hans H Holm, Norwegian poet (Jonsoknatt), is born.
1935 – Jon Stallworthy, English poet, is born.
1940 – Kazimierz P Tetmajer, Polish writer/poet (Young Poland), dies at 74.
2006 – Jan Twardowski, Polish poet (b. 1915), dies.
2009 – Grigore Vieru, Romanian poet (b. 1935), dies.
And what did I know, except
that you, the better part of me,
did not exist? But I have kept
today - or, there, tonight -
returning to the creek, and trying
to understand. I saw the light
falling, falling, and the rainbow flying.
—Jon Stallworthy (from "At Half-Past Three in the Afternoon")
Ezra Pound's daughter has filed suit to stop the Italian fascist group CasaPound from using her father's name. Mary de Rachewiltz, who is 86, was motivated to act when a sympathizer of CasaPound went on a shooting spree in Florence on Dec. 13, killing two men from Senegal, wounding three others and then killing himself. Read more at the LA Times.
The saddest thing was seeing how they took Mario Castillo away in handcuffs. But then again, it was also the most beautiful: seeing the firm look on his face, with no hatred for those men who couldn’t understand. On Friday 17 people read poetry in a bar on a corner of Old Havana. It’s one of those poor bars that don’t show up in the “Rutas y Andares” (Routes and Walks) issued by the City Historian’s Office. The reading was sponsored by Critical Observatory in a salute to the Poetry Without End Festival – and it was beautiful. Mario improvised some moving verses to the sound of a reggaeton rap and a libertarian spirit. Daisy read “El burocrata” by Roque Dalton, and Marfrey brought his own poems, which shocked everyone. Read more at the Havana Times.
When a family member is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, should relatives put on a brave face in the hope of sparing their loved one further anxiety, or should they openly grieve together? There is no easy answer for people faced with such a difficult situation. Kazuhiro Nagata, 64, is a writer of somonka love poems, which consist of two tanka poems--one an expression of love, and the second a response by another person. He lost his wife, Yuko Kawano, also a poet, in August 2010 to breast cancer. She was 64. Read more at the Daily Yomiuri.
by Michael Lindgren
Like their creator, the poems in this arresting meditation on loss bring to mind some highly evolved form of modernist design: sleek, elegant, and chilly to the touch. Brooklynite high flier Meghan O’Rourke occasionally skirts the banal and derivative, but most of the poems in Once land on the ear and the mind with startling freshness and force. In April, O’Rourke published The Long Goodbye, a harrowing and acclaimed memoir of her mother’s death from cancer; Once covers much of the same psychic territory, albeit more elliptically. Writing two such personal books in rapid succession—especially in the long shadow of Joan Didion—is not a project for the self-effacing, but O’Rourke, who shares with her generational cohort a conception of the boundary between the private and the public as gauzy at best, transforms the raw material of her suffering into convincing art. Read more at The L Magazine.
by Chloe Stopa-Hunt
English poetry is shot through with a mingled toughness and delicacy, going back at least to Edward Thomas and shaping some of the most impressive new collections appearing today. John Burnside’s Black Cat Bone, deserving winner of this year’s Forward Prize, is certainly one such book. Towards the end of the collection is a poem both ekphrastic and meditative,‘Pieter Brueghel: Winter Landscape with Skaters and Bird Trap, 1565’, and as Flemish painting is ruggedly luminous, so are Burnside’s eerie, formally exquisite lyrics. This poem articulates an incisive compassion that lies at the heart of the collection, even in poems that inhabit territories of tragedy and sin. Each skater “has his private hurt, her secret dread”, an Audenesque isolation of suffering which for Burnside is only the beginning: “we live in peril, die from happenstance, / a casual slip, a fault line in the ice; / but surely it’s the other thought that matters”. Read more at the Poetry Society.
by Aimee Williams
The Best British Poetry 2011, edited by Roddy Lumsden, is an anthology of meticulous compilation: after a year spent foraging in the various British literary magazines, Lumsden has gathered 70 poems—representing 70 poets. In a format openly indebted to The Best American Poetry series, each poet has in turn commented on their poem’s inception. Fundamental to the nature of this collection is the method of the editor; this is not an anthology of the most celebrated contemporary poets. Rather than being selected by virtue of reputation, each poet wins their place in this book by having a single good poem published in a magazine this year. Read more at the Oxonian Review.
by John Redmond
‘I wanted to see what a fortunate life would produce.’ So Kay Ryan has remarked of a poetic career which, after a slow start, has won her many garlands, including a laureateship and a Pulitzer Prize. Her deeply attractive work disproves the claim that happiness writes white. Specialising in short poems with short lines, her writing is not so much formal as formed. Sonnets, triolets, and villanelles are eschewed in favour of nameless poetic shapes which are as intricately worked as the innards of a prizewinning clock. Of course, short lines can achieve different things: one thinks of the mesmeric psychology of Laura Riding, the sonorous ceremony of Seamus Heaney, the elemental flexibility of A. R. Ammons. Here, they deliver the velvet punch of the proverbial. Read more at Tower Poetry.
How did the most visible poet in America—and a father of the Beats—become nearly forgotten?
by T.R. Hummer
Early in 1914, having heard a young and unknown poet perform in Chicago, W. B. Yeats approached him and asked, “What are we going to do to restore the primitive singing of poetry?” That young poet was Vachel Lindsay. Yeats’ recognition of something unusual in the style of the performance was the beginning of a strange episode in American literary history. Even dedicated readers of poetry in our own time can be divided into two groups: those who know Vachel Lindsay and his work, and those who don’t. When I was in my teens and 20s, the first group was by far the larger; now the latter is, and the difference in magnitude between them seems to grow exponentially with every passing year. Read more at Slate.
When Bay Area poets Robert Hass, Brenda Hillman, and Geoffery G. O'Brien were beaten by police during a peaceful protest at Occupy Berkeley, the answer to the question the headline poses was answered in dramatic fashion. The news spread quickly in the poetry community. We were astonished, horrified, and concerned. This is not Chile. This is not Turkey. This is not Russia. We are not a country that imprisons or brutalizes its writers because of their writings; in fact, Americans are not really used to writers -- especially poets -- placing themselves at the forefront of political issues or political protests. Read more at the Huffington Post.
by Mathew Timmons
Most poetry insiders and experimental prose aficionados know The Burning Deck Press, if not by name then at least by the lovely, simple design of their books. In fact, any small press that lasts 50 years tends to generate name recognition beyond the otherwise often insular boundaries of the experimental writing community. Even I had a fair knowledge of the press before beginning research for this project. I knew it was edited by Keith and Rosmarie Waldrop in Providence or Boston, and if hard pressed I would have guessed Providence. I’d have been right, of course, and I really lament the fact that I didn’t know about the Waldrops when I lived there in 1998 – 99. I guessed the press had been around since the early 1970s (wrong! 1961, to be exact) and that the design of their books and their obviously good eye for typography was to be much appreciated. I’d thought that poetry was the main focus of the press, and, maybe, work in translation from the French. (Actually they publish a fair amount of prose and a good amount of work in translation from German as well.) Otherwise, Burning Deck seemed, to me, a real old school small press publisher with a well-focused aesthetic behind their publishing—an aesthetic I deeply appreciate and, in my mind, associate with another great small press, The Figures. Read more at Molossus.
by Alan Heathcock
I hadn't slept well, had to get my three kids to three different schools in three different cities, had deadlines piled on deadlines. I leaned my head against my bookcases and there, at eye-level, was a book of poetry by Mary Oliver. I randomly opened to the poem "Egrets." Like magic, I was pushing through catbrier to the edge of a pond, where I watched "a spindle of bleached reeds" become egrets and "unruffled, sure, by the laws of their faith not logic, they opened their wings softly and stepped over every dark thing." I closed the book, transformed, bolstered from the inside out. Read more at NPR.
Poetry In The News
Known for her poetry, letters, love affair and marriage to Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett Browning also left a legacy of unanswered questions about her lifelong chronic illness. Now, a Penn State anthropologist, with the aid of her daughter, may have unraveled the mystery. Born in 1806, Barrett Browning suffered throughout her life from incapacitating weakness, heart palpitations, intense response to heat and cold, intense response to illnesses as mild as a cold, and general exhaustion in bouts that lasted from days to months or years. Her doctors were unable to diagnose or treat her illness, which apparently first appeared around age 13. Read more at Penn State Live.
Authorities report that the late poet Robert Frost's home in this historic mill city is being used by a church group for illegal apartments. City Inspector Gregory Arvanitis said he discovered four apartments in the Frost homestead had no electrical, plumbing or gas permits and inadequate exit. He said the home, highlighted on the Robert Frost Walking Trail, is owned by the Anchor Baptist Church of Woburn, Mass. Read more at Journal Express.
A Bromsgrove born poet has received a knighthood in the New Year Honours.
Geoffrey Hill, 79, is well regarded in the world of poetry and has won a plethora of literary prizes. Last year he was elected Oxford's Professor of Poetry, after winning a vote by an overwhelming margin among Oxford graduates. Professor Hill was born in Bromsgrove and brought up in Fairfield where his father was a village policeman. Read more at the Bromsgrove Advertiser.
Mayor Michael Nutter and the City of Philadelphia are embracing poetry as a powerful means of communication and artistic expression by creating a citywide position for poet laureate. And West Philadelphia resident Sonia Sanchez will be the first artist named to the post. According to this article from the Associated Press, the activist and poet was appointed to the newly created position Thursday. Mayor Nutter called Sanchez "the longtime conscience of the city." Read more at Philly Burbs.
W.S. Di Piero marries a streetwise, working-class sensibility to an intellectual rigor and precise language in poems that stare down depression, failed love, and urban nightlife. In a fast-paced, half-cracked/half-sane style reminiscent of bebop solos, Di Piero forges masterful poems that "keep it close, loose, and sweaty," and restore life's intensity while showing where real hope might be found.
[Paperback] Ohio State University Press, 88 pp., $14.95
The poems in Blood Prism span a lifetime. Its three sections, “Memory,” “Politics,” and “Age,” frame meditations on a violence-blotched world with reflections on the author’s childhood and conclusions about a decades-long life of writing. “I’m 60 and still . . . alive in this world, with love and with its palindrome,” one poem says. And the argument of the book turns on that precise puzzle: on evol, invoking as it does both evil and evolve, both human wrong and life as something more than mere survival. In a variety of styles—prose poems, standard and dislocated forms—Hoeppner uses “blood” to represent family and history, his surprising and richly imagistic language rendering the emptiness he calls imagination “into remains. Into what persists.”
[Paperback] City Lights Publishers, 88 pp., $10.95
Widely acclaimed for his lyrical language and innovative verse, Aaron Shurin brings the prose poem into new richness and complexity in Citizen. Through shape-shifting sentences and sensuous imagery he explores the nuances of civic and domestic life, the twists and turns of desire, and the mysterious shimmer of objects. Traveling across the borders of cities and the boundaries of form, he crafts a dazzling vision of daily life as a citizen of the imagination.
[Paperback] Southern Illinois University Press, 88 pp., $15.95
In this blistering collection of lyric poems, Cynthia Huntington gives an intimate view of the sexual revolution and rebellion in a time before the rise of feminism. Heavenly Bodies is a testament to the duality of sex, the twin seductiveness and horror of drug addiction, and the social, political, and personal dramas of America in the 1960s. From the sweetness of purloined blackberries to the bitter taste of pills, the ginger perfume of the Hawaiian Islands to the scream of the winter wind, Huntington’s fearless and candid poems offer a feast for the senses that is at once mystical and earthy, cynical and surreal. Echoing throughout are some of the most famous—and infamous—voices of the times: Joan Baez and Charles Manson, Frank Zappa and Betty Friedan. Jinns and aliens beckon while cities burn and revolutionaries thunder for change. At the center is the semiautobiographical Suzy Creamcheese, sensual and rebellious, both almighty and powerless in her sexuality. Achingly tender yet brutally honest, Heavenly Bodies is an unflinching reflection on the most personal of physical and emotional journeys.
This has happened before, but every time it happens I still love it: someone I’ve never read writes and asks if I’d be willing to take a look at some recently published thing, and I almost always say yes, and then sometimes, if I’m very lucky, the thing I’m looking at ends up being one of the more interesting and lovely books of the year—in this case, Jeff Alessandrelli’s Erik Satie Watusies His Way Into Sound, a book about which I’ve been struggling for a few days thinking how to talk about. The book is beautifully lyric and is—in ways I don’t think I’ll be much good trying to articulate—a quiet book. I read it off and on three times in a bit over a week and I don’t think I once played music while listening to it. The weirdness of this fact has to do of course with the fact that Erik Satie was a musician, and there are poems in this book which are on the page as musical scores. But stick with it: ultimately the book doesn’t urge one toward some (boring, or at least foregone) appreciation for the music of poetry or some such; what the book does, I think, and very very well, is it ends up proposing questions about limits and silence and music and self. That’s a fairly vague and broad way to talk about this book, but it holds, for me: the (according to Alessandrelli) little book packs quite a punch in terms of ideas. It’s just a fantastic thing—you should get and read this book as soon as possible. Read more at Corduroy Books.
by Rigoberto González
Bartlett’s preface and Northen’s essay “A Short History of American Disability Poetry” situate the need for such an anthology as Beauty is a Verb. Among them, to “look at poetry influenced by an alternate body,” and to highlight writing that “eschewed sentimental poetry that made disability the object of pity or charity” and that “rejected the image of the supercrip, the inspirational hero that overcomes insurmountable odds.” The varied voices in this anthology certainly speak to those expectations and more--they write about (and from) disability with quite a dramatic range of aesthetics and emotions. Indeed, the poems speak for themselves. What roles do you envision for the essays (some biographical and scholarly, others personal) that accompany a number of these poems? Read more at Critical Mass.
Envoi: Editor's Notes
Thanks to an invitation from Kwame Dawes, editor-in-chief of Prairie Schooner, this edition of Poetry News in Review marks the first issue coming from its new home at the Prairie Schooner website. For those of you who are familiar with the newsletter, the only substantive change you will notice will be the initial prompt. If you are reading this, you have already encountered all the changes there are. For those of you new to Poetry News in Review, PNiR is a weekly compendium of news items gathered from newsfeeds and websites around the world, which the editor (yours truly) feels might be of interest to those with a penchant for all things poetic. While not comprehensive, it is meant, at least, to be eclectic. I invite you to check the Prairie Schooner website on a weekly basis or, if you prefer, go to the Poetry News in Review website [http://poetrynewsinreview.com/] and subscribe to PNiR for free to receive an automatic notice when new issues go live. I am thrilled to be associated with such a fine publication, and I hope that readers of Prairie Schooner find Poetry News in Review to be an informative, entertaining, and valuable addition to the journal. Enjoy! | <urn:uuid:0b23566e-007b-4f28-a450-b7e268a920c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prairieschooner.unl.edu/?q=pnr/january-10-2012 | 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 | 0.958824 | 4,135 | 1.59375 | 2 |
OUTLOOK — By Ali Al Matani — Everyone follows the judicial decisions and court rulings that are in favour of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) with more surprise; amazement and anticipation because it is the first time in the Sultanate to have such rulings and decisions relating to aspects that aim to protecting consumer and combating fraud and cheating in goods, products and services. This attitude has had a very profound effect on the market. In fact, it had an extraordinary impact on wrong practices that have been impairing consumers in the Sultanate. Now, just signalling to resort to PACP, in any dispute between consumers on the one hand and sellers and traders on the other hand, raises unusual worry and concern in the hearts of traders and sellers.
These developments have contributed to the correction of many wrong practices in the field of commercial give and take, created self-censorship in the market, gave consumers their rights which were unavailable completely before and required the abusers to give up their negative practices.
There is no doubt that there is great satisfaction in different wilayats of the Sultanate with these developments regarding providing consumers with more protection and the efforts done by PACP to materialise its mission and vision. Most of court rulings issued in favour to PACP are resulting from violating the Consumer Protection Law; not to mention violating professional ethics that should be shown by the traders and sellers.
Islam explicitly prohibits fraud and cheating. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, warned us against fraud and cheating saying that whoever cheats people is not Muslim (not one of us). This emphasises on the importance of honest treatment.
Violations in today’s world have increased; greed is controlling the minds of people. So, deterrence is a must. The efforts done by PACP, in addition to the court rulings and judicial decisions is the way to this deterrence.
The 163 court rulings issued in favour of PACP in the first six months reflect a lot of things, including the amount of violations that have been doing harm to most of consumers. If this is the number of lawsuits on which courts have been issued rulings, what about the disputes between consumers and sellers that are settled by the PACP, before submitting them to competent courts? They are so many. What about these disputes that consumers didn’t report to PACP about? They are more and more. The sad thing is that all these disputes and lawsuits were absent before the establishment of PACP. In the past, consumers were subject to many violations; with no one lifted a finger to support them.
Of course, the court rulings have a positive impact on the market. They are signalling and delivering a clear message to everybody; this message says that there is no room for violation, fraud, cheating or price manipulation. PACP has become the subject of praise from all sections of the community.
Of course, all these wrong practices that are disgracing the markets can’t be erased overnight. No one can reduce them at one go. Errors and wrong deeds will stay as long as humans exist. But the development of awareness is vital and PACP can’t continue its way without it. Facts are facts. Consumer awareness is the base on which fighting violations is built. We are hoping that all efforts done by PACP meet success and that the authority itself doesn’t give up its great efforts to achieve its noble aims and goals. | <urn:uuid:19c88c9a-ec54-4b0a-b484-a97678a571d3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://main.omanobserver.om/node/105506 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972159 | 692 | 1.734375 | 2 |
By Janet Levaux
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 at 10:36 am in Uncategorized.
Alameda charter schools will host an information session starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, at the NEA Community Learning Center, 500 Pacific Ave.
Event organizers hope that residents will turn out to get more information on these public schools, which about 11% of Alameda’s children now attend, they say. (Admission to the schools is managed by a random-lottery system).
The schools include: Alameda Community Learning Center for grades 6-12 on the Encinal High School campus, 210 Central Ave.; NEA Community Learning Center for grades K-12; the Academy of Alameda Middle School for grades 6-8 at 401 Pacific Ave.; and the Bay Area School of Enterprise for grades 9-12 at 1900 Third Street, which is run by Alternatives in Action.
Alameda’s first charter school began serving students 11 years ago; these campuses are organized to help students learn in non-traditional classroom environments. | <urn:uuid:434112ec-713f-4eae-9e7e-a6d9138aafec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ibabuzz.com/alamedajournal/2012/01/04/alameda-charter-school-fair-slated/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95306 | 220 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Officials defiant despite attacks
Advancing coalition troops and repeated air attacks aren't enough to still the pace of daily life in Iraq's capital.
Plumes of black smoke waft over the horizon near Baghdad.
Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 23, 2003
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Senior Iraqi officials struck a posture of defiance Saturday in the face of advancing coalition troops and a night of punishing air attacks on Baghdad that reduced many of Saddam Hussein's most prized palaces and other crucial government buildings to hollowed-out, smoldering wrecks.
But for the rest of the citizens of Baghdad, life must go on, bombs or no bombs. As they never tire of repeating, it's not like they've never been bombed before.
By any measure, the attacks on Saturday appeared to find Hussein and his ruling elite in Baghdad in the tightest spot since the Iraqi leader took power in 1979. But far from acknowledging that Hussein's days as an absolute ruler might be numbered, the government went into a mode of insistent denial.
After daybreak, as parts of the city burned and officials assessed the damage of a night of bombing, children emerged to play soccer and ride their bicycles. Street sweepers went to work, cleaning up glass and other bombing debris. Automobiles moved about the city. Red double-decker buses traced their routes, picking up passengers on street corners and taking them to work.
Small restaurants opened. So did greengrocers and bakeries. Barber shops were open.
Most of Baghdad's rich have gone, taking refuge in the relative safety of the countryside or in neighboring Jordan and Syria. Those left behind in what ordinarily would be a metropolis of 5-million are mostly the poor, and even when their city is under attack, the poor must work to survive.
They've become accustomed to it.
At a cafe off al-Saadoun Street, a policeman armed with a Kalashnikov burst in and sat down to a glass of tea. He told other patrons how two warplanes swooped down on an air-defense position in southern Iraq. The patrons listened attentively, then resumed their conversation.
As patriotic songs blared from a television tuned to the main state channel, the cafe patrons casually discussed the events of Friday night.
First came the familiar wail of air raid sirens.
Then white and gold tracers from anti-aircraft guns streaked across a clear sky. An instant later, the crackle of the guns filled the night with what, to Baghdad residents, is a familiar sound.
And then the missiles fell.
"Do we really have anything that warrants so many rockets," wondered one, seated on a wooden bench under a portrait of Hussein in Arab dress.
The attacks have punched a huge hole in Hussein's prestige and the aura of personal invincibility he has cultivated through years of harsh rule.
Some 300 Tomahawk cruise missiles tore into this vast, fabled city on the banks of the Tigris River. The toll in human life is not yet known, but with each explosion, the city shook violently.
Many buildings symbolic of Hussein's power, including the Republican Palace that serves as the Iraqi equivalent of the White House, and a huge new palace named for his wife, Sajida, appeared to have been so severely damaged as to be uninhabitable, and possibly even unrepairable.
In practice, the Iraqi capital appeared to be an open target range for American attacks, with the Pentagon free to pick off any building it wanted, at any time.
In political terms, Iraqi officials appeared to be in a bind, describing the air attacks as "the barbaric bombardment of Baghdad" and taking reporters to a hospital with wards filled with many of the 215 Iraqi civilians said to have been injured in the attacks, in addition to three civilians said to have been killed.
Against this, the officials seemed reluctant to acknowledge the full extent of military casualties from the attacks, or the physical damage, perhaps in an effort to say nothing that could set off a downward spiral in the prestige -- and ultimately the power -- of Hussein.
Eyes on Iraq
Reports from a region in conflict
Iraq: War price tag pegged at $80-billion
Iraq: Bush reminds Americans war may be long, difficult
Iraq: 10 Questions
Iraq: Officials defiant despite attacks
Iraq: Status of Iraqi leaders murky
Iraq: Iraqi cartoonist skewers Hussein
Iraq: 3 errant missiles hit Iran, U.S. says
Iraq: Quick, new Apaches can shoot, hunt and escort
Iraq: From coast to coast, families mourn
Iraq: Protests wane as war rages
Iraq: Enemy in plain clothes distracts convoy
Iraq: From coast to coast, families mourn
Iraq: Soldier held in attack on his own camp in Kuwait
Dispatch from the 101st: Infantrymen thrive in the thick of things
Dispatch from the 101st: From the Front
World in brief: Russian jets watch U.S. spy plane flight
Canada report: Manley: Neighbors will survive disagreement
Nation in brief: Skinny teen's Fla. death may lead to murder trial | <urn:uuid:78f44420-21ee-45ad-ba55-37fb746d12c8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/23/Worldandnation/Officials_defiant_des.shtml | 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 | 0.957785 | 1,066 | 1.570313 | 2 |
As she most skillfully elucidates, I present Ursula, vindicated:
And the sneakiest gambit is that of talking as if only orphaned books are being illegally digitalized. All the time the Settlement has been in the courts, Google has been blithely going ahead digitalizing any book it wanted without obtaining permission, let alone contractual terms. (I can attest to this, since they have thus pirated several of my books, with no attempt whatever to contact the publishers, my agent, or myself — none of whom are exactly hard to locate.)
Such methodical theft looks like more than corporate indifference to the law. It looks like a deliberate effort to destroy copyright. In other words, the corporation would like to do away with the concept of workers getting a fair share of the profit from their work.
That would “be good” for the corporation. Not good for the worker, the writer — or for readers, or for anybody else.
And yes, I have a gmail account, proving Ursula’s point #1. So there.
Ursula Le Guin has some stones. This whole Google digital books settlement is a bit complicated, but it boils down to something more than opting in and out for the authors. It’s about signing away your authorship, and forcing companies like the great and powerful Goog to negotiate with you before you do so and not after they’ve been caught. Le Guin says it better:
The “opt-out” clause in the Settlement is most disturbing:
First, it seems unfair that, by the terms of the class-action settlement, authors can officially present objections to the Court only by being “opted in” to the settlement and thereby subjecting themselves to its terms.
Second, while the “opt-out” clause appears to offer authors an easy way to defend their copyright, in fact it disguises an assault on authors’ rights. Google, like any other publisher or entity, should be required to obtain permission from the owner to purchase or use copyrighted material, item by item.
The free and open dissemination of information and of literature, as it exists in our Public Libraries, can and should exist in the electronic media. All authors hope for that. But we cannot have free and open dissemination of information and literature unless the use of written material continues to be controlled by those who write it or own legitimate right in it. We urge our government and our courts to allow no corporation to circumvent copyright law or dictate the terms of that control.
Google has some stones as well, dictating the terms of their own settlement to authors of works they’ve digitized without consent. Perhaps Google is trying to claim some sort of perverted sense of fair use by chumming with libraries to assist in their digitization without bothering to negotiate with authors and forking out the dough to buy the item they want to scan from Amazon or AbeBooks.
Found this on LibraryThing. Looks essential for us library types. Author used to be at my old institution. Now at Columbia. | <urn:uuid:def4b06f-60a7-4a55-b18c-043b2b38734d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gonzobrarian.wordpress.com/tag/copyright/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954725 | 639 | 1.640625 | 2 |
I initially thought to title this post ‘because it works’, which is a more basic way of describing the impact of the truths of Christianity on individuals and society. And unlike many arguments this isn’t an argument merely for the existence of God, but rather the fact that the transformation we see in the lives of people who convert to Christianity is consistent with the existence of God, and thus lends credence to the claim He exists.
First though, a couple of observations by objective observers (atheists in this case) which I think demonstrate the claim. The first comes from Penn Jillette, in an interview with Las Vegas Weekly about TV show Bull****!:
Are there any groups you won’t go after?
We haven’t tackled Scientology because Showtime doesn’t want us to. Maybe they have deals with individual Scientologists —- I’m not sure. And we haven’t tackled Islam because we have families.
Meaning, you won’t attack Islam because you’re afraid it’ll attack back …
Right, and I think the worst thing you can say about a group in a free society is that you’re afraid to talk about it—I can’t think of anything more horrific. [...]
You do go after Christians, though …
Teller and I have been brutal to Christians, and their response shows that they’re good ****ing Americans who believe in freedom of speech. We attack them all the time, and we still get letters that say, “We appreciate your passion. Sincerely yours, in Christ.” Christians come to our show at the Rio and give us Bibles all the time. They’re incredibly kind to us. Sure, there are a couple of them who live in garages, give themselves titles and send out death threats to me and Bill Maher and Trey Parker. But the vast majority are polite, open-minded people, and I respect them for that.
What is interesting about this response is its tacit acknowledgement of the transformative power of Christian beliefs – Christianity is distinguished experientially from other belief systems by its ability to change the responses of believers to attacks by opponents. They respond to such attacks with kindness. This is a direct manifestation of the truth articulated in Scripture:
Romans 12:21 (NAS)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Another observation comes from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, an atheist, critic of Islam and author from her book Nomad:
The Christianity of love and tolerance remains one of the West’s most powerful antidotes to the Islam of hate and intolerance. Ex-Muslims find Jesus Christ to be a more attractive and humane figure than Muhammad, the founder of Islam.
Hirsi Ali, a Somali émigré to the Netherlands (who is now in the US), has had a unique opportunity to observe the impact of beliefs around the world. Her recommendation for dealing with the oppression of Islam? Christianity. She has said:
So long as we atheists and classical liberals have no effective programs of our own to defeat the spread of radical Islam, we should work with enlightened Christians who are willing to devise some. We should bury the hatchet, rearrange our priorities, and fight together against a much more dangerous common enemy.
Given the choice, I would be far rather live in a Christian than a Muslim country.Despite her lack of belief, she recognizes the transformative power of a belief in Christ. In short, she observes that the effect such belief has on adherent is consistent with the claims of Christianity – and that speaks volumes to the reality it represents.
One last observation, which is a bit older, but I think equally powerful. It comes from Matthew Parris, an atheist writer for the Times of London, concerning the impact of the spread of Christianity on Africans and African culture:
Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.
I used to avoid this truth by applauding – as you can – the practical work of mission churches in Africa. It’s a pity, I would say, that salvation is part of the package, but Christians black and white, working in Africa, do heal the sick, do teach people to read and write; and only the severest kind of secularist could see a mission hospital or school and say the world would be better without it. I would allow that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine: but what counted was the help, not the faith.
But this doesn’t fit the facts. Faith does more than support the missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.
First, then, the observation. We had friends who were missionaries, and as a child I stayed often with them; I also stayed, alone with my little brother, in a traditional rural African village. In the city we had working for us Africans who had converted and were strong believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world – a directness in their dealings with others – that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall.
As one who has travelled in Africa and Central America, this claim fits my own experience; the truths of Christianity are exemplified in the visibly transformed lives of those who comes to accept them. This effect is universal, cross-cultural, and powerful. It is not merely anecdotal, but a matter of record.
So I would offer this is is perhaps one of the greatest evidences for the truth of Christianity – it is capable of transforming the lives of believers in the best possible ways in a way no other belief system can. | <urn:uuid:0ab3eb2c-4552-4683-8edb-8baa43d1c3c4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jackhudson.wordpress.com/2010/07/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964653 | 1,276 | 1.539063 | 2 |
The Childhood Research Group
Starts: 18 January 2012
Wednesday 18th January, 5.30-7.30, Cardiff Arts Institute upstairs in the common room.
(Cardiff Arts Institute, 29 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA, http://cardiffartsinstitute.org/ for a map).
Childhood Research Group Seminar
Speaker: Mike Ward (SOCSI)
Mike Ward has agreed to speak for about 30 minutes on his research followed by questions and answers and a discussion. The following is a summary of Mike's research:
My doctoral research investigated the performance of young men's masculinities within a former industrial community in the South Wales valleys. The principal aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of white, working class masculinities in different educational pathways in a locality of social and economic disadvantage. Over a period of two and a half years an ethnography was conducted to explore how these young lives were formed, articulated and negotiated in different academic and vocational subjects and as the study progressed, across different contexts beyond their educational institutions. The study shows that despite structural inequalities, the young men's performances of masculinity were played out in different settings with different people (peers, girlfriends, family, teachers, researcher!) and a degree of code shifting or what I want to term 'chameleonisation’ occurs. To understand the performance of young men's masculinities, masculinity has to be seen then as situated within a particular space and relational to social structure, but it also must account for their own agency in this.
As you can see the research relates to young men rather than young children, however it is very relevant for many members of the childhood doctoral group and beyond. Issues of youth, identity, gender, ethnicity, class, performativity, agency, social structure and education are all factors.
As such I am opening the invitation to colleagues beyond the Childhood Doctoral Group who are interested in hearing about Mike's work
Open To: Staff and Students | <urn:uuid:191589f4-e194-45fa-b485-3280e1336eab> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/newsandevents/events/18012012crg.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958961 | 408 | 1.625 | 2 |
Sample a slice of treeplanting life with Eating Dirt author
For 17 years Charlotte Gill worked as a tree-planter in clear cuts across Canada.
Her bestselling memoir, Eating Dirt: Deep Forest, Big Timber and Life with the Tree-planting Tribe, journeys through B.C.’s coastal rainforests in exploration of the wild and solitary lives of professional silvicultural workers. This Vancouver Island story is a slice of tree-planting life in all its soggy, gritty exuberance as well as a look at the role that conifer plantations play in the logging industry.
Can tree farms replace original forest ecosystems, which contain some of the world’s largest organisms, our slowest-growing “renewable” resource?
Gill will give a slideshow and reading from her book Eating Dirt on Feb. 3, from 1-3 p.m. at the Museum at Campbell River. A book signing will follow the presentation.
Gill’s tree-planting book was nominated for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize, the Charles Taylor Prize, and two B.C. Book Prizes.
It won the 2012 B.C. National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction. Her previous book, Ladykiller, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award and winner of the B.C. Book Prize for fiction.
Her work has appeared in Best Canadian Stories, The Journey Prize Stories, and many magazines. Gill teaches creative writing at UBC and the Banff Centre.
She is this year’s Haig-Brown Writer-in-Residence. Call the Museum at 250-287-3103 to register.
The cost for the talk is $5. | <urn:uuid:61fa8aae-6f04-4547-93ce-dc6edfd3ab08> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bclocalnews.com/entertainment/187025961.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937011 | 365 | 1.84375 | 2 |
PSYC 113: Career and Educational Planning: Finding Your Way
Name: Colin Mischel
Hometown: Eatonville, Wash.
Major: Undeclared, leaning Business or Economics
Instructor: Eva Johnson, dean of student development
As if college wasn’t going to be hard enough, Colin Mischel ’13 knew that being the first member of his family to go to college could make it harder. So when his academic adviser suggested he take Psychology 113, a class that helps students transition to college life – both in and out of the classroom – he knew he had to take it.
“It helped me so much,” he said. “I was in a class of first-gen(eration) students, and when you are, you realize you have so much common ground. You realize you are not here alone.”
Classes cover a range of topics, from developing study skills or landing a campus job – even how to talk to the folks about your experience in a university setting. When the goal is to help students be successful, everything is open for discussion.
“First-gen college students are in uncharted territory,” said Eva Johnson ’95, dean of student development. “The goal is to provide support and create a comfortable and safe space for students to ask questions that are at the heart of the matter to them.”
That is exactly what Mischel found.
“It helped me to understand what PLU could offer me as an individual,” said Mischel. “It helped me understand that this is my home, and this is where I need to be.”
Your First YearThere are numerous things PLU also does outside the classroom to ensure that first-year students make a smooth transition to university life and have all the tools they need to succeed.
For instance, PLU’s Charting Your Course advising program doesn’t simply help students register for classes, it advises students on all aspects of first-year student life, even before they set foot on campus.
During orientation weekend, first-year students go “On the Road,” – exploring the Pacific Northwest, from kayaking Puget Sound to volunteering at a rescue mission. During J-Term, first-year students are invited to an overnight retreat where they can discuss the meaning and purpose in life.
When on campus, all residence halls have first-year wings, which allow students to meet others in which they have much in common. For commuter students, they can choose to connect with a residence hall community through “Commuter Connections,” and take part in residence hall events.
To return to the 'College is Hard' main page, click here. | <urn:uuid:98ff91bd-43b7-4c21-a589-6f6eaa2af16e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.plu.edu/news/2010/08/college-is-hard-PSYC113/home | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963351 | 572 | 1.75 | 2 |
Once and for all, Congressional Republicans didn’t lose the 2006 elections because of scandal. They got fired because they forgot that the purpose of a political party is to govern, not simply to get re-elected. They forgot that ideas matter.
The “power, pork, and attack” strategy, devised and executed by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) over the course of seven years, did bring scandal with it. But to interpret the 2006 loss as the result of corruption is to miss the greater point.
Simply put, voters sacked the Republicans because they perceived the GOP had done nothing to address voter problems and fundamentally misunderstood their growing concerns with cost-of-living issues. Instead of offering new ideas, Republicans continued negative attacks and tried to “out-Tip” Tip O’Neill when it came to district-by-district pork.
The problem Republicans faced then —and still face today — stems from a lack of substance behind their brand, a reliance on dogmatic ideology to define themselves rather than focusing on finding solutions to larger voter concerns on health care, energy, jobs, housing and security.
The GOP “brand problem” has led voters to believe that Republicans do not care about people, in particular the middle class. House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), whose recent GOP energy proposal is a significant step toward addressing negative voter perception, often says that Republicans have to “earn” their way back to majority status.
What does that mean? It means defining a view of the future that is compelling and possible, not defining one’s opponent. It means defining a Republican Party concerned about people, not one that says problems can’t be solved or it isn’t Washington’s job.
It means applying conservative principles to problems with the kind of intellectual vibrancy that underpinned the Reagan and Gingrich revolutions. That is the challenge facing the party in this historic election. The Republican brand problem is all about defining the future for voters — what a Republican president and Congress can do to help them.
We need a clean break from the politics of the past. We have to break from the party’s image of power for power’s sake, its image of incompetence, of a lack of purpose or caring. To prove that we are the party best able to achieve the lofty goals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we have to create a modern GOP that embraces change.
That doesn’t mean abandoning conservative principles. It does mean, however, rejecting the thinking that got a right-of-center party on the wrong side of a right-of-center country. Data show the GOP label itself is a drag on the party and its candidates at all levels.
In a recent survey, we tested the Democratic message of unity and change to solve problems with a Republican message asserting that Washington is broken and needs fixing to ensure a safer, healthier, more prosperous future.
When the statements were read to voters without partisan attribution, the GOP message won by 12 points. When we attached partisan labels to the very same statements, it lost by 6 points. Clearly, the Republican Party brand is in serious trouble.
Given the products of a political party are its ideas on issues, years of running campaigns that relied on defining Democrats rather than Republican policies have weakened the GOP brand. Survey research over the past four years has shown Democrats with a huge issue-handling advantage on energy, education, health care and Social Security.
What should be even more alarming to Republicans is that research shows voters put more faith in Democrats to be more fiscally responsible and to better handle the economy, jobs and the Iraq War. Republicans hold an advantage on one issue, the war on terror, and they tie on taxes.
How did Republicans dig themselves into this hole? They simply forgot that the broader purpose behind Ronald Reagan’s and Newt Gingrich’s revolutions was to change America through ideas. When a party is more concerned about earmarks, hitting up K Street and attacking the opponent than finding conservative solutions for rising health care costs, falling home prices or high gas prices, voters will perceive its leaders as uncaring and insensitive to their needs.
Yet, despite the 2006 election debacle and despite three special election losses this year in Republican districts, a number of influential party operatives are arguing for more of the same. They advise, “Stick with the status quo; attack your opponent, bring home some bacon to brag about, spend more money. You’ll be fine.” Tell that to the three special election candidates who won’t be joining the House Republican Conference.
While Democrats face the same kind of voter discontent, they remain ahead in national polls because Republicans haven’t broken through as a viable alternative. Contrary to Democratic claims, however, voters haven’t embraced their party’s ideology over the past year. That gives Republicans an opening.
Whether the party can take advantage of the opportunity depends on whether it accepts the premise that ideas will win this election, not money or dogma, and shows that it is ready to govern. That will take a clean break from the past to modernize and create the Republican Party of the future.
Article on rollcall.com | <urn:uuid:7bbea770-1aef-4010-a501-c66f834ece50> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://winstongroup.net/2008/06/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943932 | 1,084 | 1.820313 | 2 |
August 14, 1997
Another Melee Erupts as Women Pray with Men at WesternWall
The forcible eviction of the worshipers from Judaism's mostrevered site came as thousands gathered there to mark Tisha B'Av, afast day marking the traditional anniversary of the destruction of,first, Solomon's Temple and, then, Herod's Temple.
The men and women were worshiping together in aspecially-designated area at the entrance to the plaza, a couple ofhundred yards from the wall itself.
Monday's incident was the latest confrontation between OrthodoxJews and members of the other branches of Judaism, who have beenlocked in a divisive debate in the Knesset over the authority of theOrthodox rabbinic establishment in Israel.
"They're symbolically, and more than symbolically, driving us outof the gates of Jerusalem," said Rabbi Uri Regev, director of theReform movement's Israel Religious Action Center.
"Even in the former Soviet Union, Jews can pray in peace. To beexcluded from the most important Jewish place in the world gives ussome perspective on the issues. This isn't about freedom of worship;this is about where Israel is going."
Even as the police action occurred, a committee charged withstaving off a crisis over conversions, faces a deadline this week.
The committee, headed by Finance Minister Ya'acov Ne'eman, wasformed by the government to forge a path acceptable to the threemajor Jewish streams to avert the passage of controversial pendinglegislation.
Friday, Aug. 15, is the slated deadline for the committee'srecommendations, to be followed by the government coalition'sapproval by Sept. 5.
A recent unconfirmed report by the daily Ha'aretz said that thediscussions included a proposal by Ne'eman for the establishment of a"joint conversion school for all streams of Judaism." The conversionitself would be performed in an Orthodox rabbinical court accordingto halacha. Such a proposal, the newspaper said, could be applied toother rituals, including marriage.
At the same time, the report continued, the Reform andConservative synagogues would, for the first time, receive governmentfunding "similar to those of Orthodox synagogues." -- Compiled fromWire Services | <urn:uuid:9b988edf-7d49-4a51-ab41-a30acb868e28> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/print/another_melee_erupts_as_women_pray_with_men_at_westernwall_19970815 | 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 | 0.945958 | 470 | 1.742188 | 2 |
The U.S. Treasury gave all his titles tied to mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that he had bought during the crisis, said Monday the agency .
The Treasury Department said in a statement that the state recovered 250,000 million dollars he spent on the operation and made a profit of 25,000 million for the resale of the securities.
“The success of the sale of these securities marks a new stage in the completion of the efforts deployed by the state in the urgency of combating the financial crisis,” the Treasury estimated in a statement. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed under state protection in September 2008 against the risk of collapse due to its heavy indebtedness.
The Federal Government granted an unlimited credit line to overcome the crisis and between 2008 and 2009 purchased a significant equity mortgage loans attached to allow you to continue to be funded and to support the housing market.
According to the Treasury, the cost of bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stood at 151,000 million dollars to U.S. taxpayers before it was announced that the sale of the shares showed gains.
Public support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was a pillar of the expansive policy of Washington to revive the economy. These two agencies own or guarantee more than 40% of home loans in the country.
Category: Business News | <urn:uuid:1295dfb8-dbb8-4c19-be0e-06b5c49bfadd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bestgrowthstock.com/2012/03/19/the-u-s-treasury-yields-all-securities-issued-by-fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966328 | 272 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Everblue Training for Building Analyst & Envelope Professional Combo courses include classroom training, field training, written exam and field exam. This course is also available to HERS Raters. Students have the option of just taking the Building Analyst or Envelope Professional portions separately. You can complete your energy auditor training and testing for BPI certification in 5 days, and since the skill set is transferable to so many areas including energy auditing, weatherization, insulation, heating and air conditioning, home construction, home inspection, air quality abatement, as well as design and engineering, it is attractive to a growing number of people. The Envelope portion of the course will prepare you to understand not only how to analyze a home, but help you to understand why the process is so important. Every home is different and it is important to understand not only what is happening, but why problems related to the building envelope such as moisture, ice dams, mildew and drafts were created in the first place. | <urn:uuid:a350f10c-d5c3-4574-8760-a1f545c52a70> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/events/bpi-building-analyst-and-104 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968175 | 203 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Like Vienna, Budapest is a city of cafés. Its famed historic cafés can still evoke a reflection of the lustre of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's past. It's said that there were more than 500 cafés in the city in the late 19th century. Under Socialism, the regime looked askance at the good life, and many were closed. Nowadays they're back with a vengeance, giving Budapest a kind of carefree air that makes Hungary's capital a centre of old world joie de vivre. The current century, however, has added an entirely new phenomenon to the café scene - romkoscma, or "ruin pubs", as they are known.
In a decade, this inimitable phenomenon, with no real equal in any other European city, has become a kind of movement - the creation of cafés in abandoned buildings destined for demolition. You can find ruin pubs in derelict apartment buildings, shuttered cinemas and closed factories. These dilapidated structures get a fresh breath of life that allows them an alternative existence. There's no facelift. The cobwebs might get swept out (with an emphasis on might), but otherwise - the space is utilized as is, making do with whatever is left of it. The tossed aside bouquet that is the site's unique dereliction is merely supplemented with similarly discarded objects - the furnishings of former cinemas, cafeterias or shops, or whatever trove might be unearthed in a forgotten cellar or in a grandmother's attic. At first these places were popular mostly among younger people - by now, almost everybody in Budapest has a favourite ruin pub. Over the years, the romkoscma have changed, too - they're no longer just places to drink, since many of them host art exhibits, concerts, theatrical performances and diverse happenings.
There are more than a dozen ruin pubs in Budapest at the moment. Most are in the 7th District, the old Jewish Quarter - the Bohemian atmosphere gets the area compared to Kreuzberg in Berlin. Geographically, this is the heart of the city - it's only a few minutes from the elegant boulevards. If you wander in unawares, however, you might get the feeling that you've fallen into a time warp. Buildings that preserve an aura of Habsburg ostentation stand cheek by jowl with the concrete monsters of imposed Socialism. Here and there a "for sale" sign beckons, next to a sealed window. The pulse of life and something outside time come together. Some of the older buildings look like nothing has touched them since the war. Some structures seem like they've seen no one since. This was indeed the site of the Jewish ghetto during the war. Crooked, cracked facades remind of aristocratic faces fallen upon despair and doom, still giving glimpses of a forgotten glory. Wandering through this rather surreal landscape, you come upon a door with no visible sign. You feel that the gateway leads somewhere. You go in. You enter a courtyard. The courtyard likely leads to another courtyard. Then to yet another courtyard. These labyrinthine wanderings are without end - ruin pubs have no laws, no identifiable structure, and no real association. They offer a space, and action takes place spontaneously within. All of them are similar in that they are kind of chaotic, and always eclectic. The atmosphere of each, however, is wholly unique.
The most legendary ruin pub is doubtless Szimpla Kert (Kazinczy u. 14; www.szimpla.hu). It means "simple garden." Opened in 2001, it has shifted locations many a time. It's been where it is now since 2004. This is hardly an unknown place - as it's featured in Lonely Planet, it's a café where you're as likely to hear loudly spoken American English as you are to hear Hungarian. Even so, the Szimpla is one of the most colourful ruin pubs, and the location is unforgettable - it's in what was once an ornate building, on the verge of collapse. The facade is already disappearing - only crumbling brick remains.
Potted flowers on the practically non-existent balconies lend the place a ghostly but vibrant ambience. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp could have a surreal lunch here, and this could be a stage set. As in any ruin pub, the courtyard is centre stage. On the margins, there are various niches and diverse bars. A Trabant, the classic automotive relic of East Germany, considered one of the worst cars ever produced, has been turned into a table. In the courtyard's chaos, it looks as though it has accidentally been stranded here. Nothing, no matter how weird, seems out of place - a telephone handset is the knob to the door of the women's room, but whether this is intentional design or whether the real knob was simply somehow lost is unknown.
As in most ruin pubs, you can not only drink but also eat here. There are exhibits, movie festivals, and unpredictable, spontaneous performances. Once there, wander over to nearby Akacfa utza and check out Fogaz ház (at No. 51) un Sufni g'art'n (at No. 47). The first address has gone beyond a ruin pub to become a real cultural centre, with important exhibits of local contemporary art. There's cinema in the evenings. The second address is fresh. The interior is an odd work of art all by itself - one bar is composed of old picture frames, whilst another sports what appear to be retro meat grinders. It's an experience, like the wall covered with Soviet-era TV sets and tennis rackets. Reading materials abound. A recently graduated conservatory student offers piano lessons to anyone of any ability. A little further in and you'll come upon a weird room decorated with oriental carpets, miniature hockey paraphernalia, and a gigantic fish competing with an overturned bicycle hanging from the ceiling. Nothing here makes any sense at all, but you may finally realize that the ruin pub phenomenon doesn't have to make sense.
One thing you must know, though - the primary characteristic of a ruin pub is that it is ephemeral. They're situated in places that can disappear, be sold, or suddenly restored. Or it could be that neighbours complain about their existence and the noise they generate. They could get shut down without notice. Then they go underground and perhaps pop up elsewhere. Some are only open in summer. Some all year. Before you try to seek out a ruin pub, check www.ruinpubs.com for the latest news.
Keywords: Ruin Pubs, cafe, cafes, Budapest | <urn:uuid:eecd497d-22c4-4041-9449-bc197681f2a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.anothertravelguide.com/eng/europe/hungary/budapest/destinations/restaurants/ruin_pubs/ | 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 | 0.961486 | 1,372 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Tim O'Brien, a Democrat serving his first term as mayor of New Britain, makes the case that state assistance to municipalities may be more generous than it needs to be as an age of austerity dawns. O'Brien did not intend to become a leading urban voice for cutting aid but he's provided a vivid example of why the public often believes more can be chopped from government spending.
O'Brien and some local landlords have been sniping and fighting for months over proposals by the mayor to impose new fees on property owners. Landlords are especially vexed by an O'Brien plan to charge for certain types of calls to city emergency service providers.
Sounding like a puffed-up dictator in an early Woody Allen film, O'Brien declared that some landlords, "have launched a dangerous attack on the city of New Britain and its anti-blight ordinance." Uh-oh. Gather the air raid wardens. Put up blackout curtains. There's an outbreak of dissent in New Britain.
O'Brien feels beleaguered. He must lack confidence in his ability and that of the large municipal staff to persuade the people of New Britain of the merits of the programs. The mayor found $100,000 in a legal services budget to hire Democratic public relations firm Global Strategies Group to combat the landlords, who'd hired a former local television reporter.
The resources and authority of the city exceed those of the landlords, but it is never enough when opposition breaks out in what's become a one-party town. O'Brien must have known he'd stumbled when a couple of fellow Democrats on the city council told The Courant they would have opposed the unappealing contract if they'd been given a chance to vote on it.
The next several months of budget-making in Hartford will include starring roles for municipal leaders claiming that not only should not one nickel be cut from state aid to their towns, but they need more. O'Brien's partisan, sweetheart deal with Global Strategies confirms what the rest of us suspect. There's a lot of money stuffed into shadowy accounts to spend on expenses that no reasonable person would call essential.
When those municipal leaders start singing the budget blues, someone ought to ask them to define essential services. How many deputy superintendents, chiefs of staff or town managers are there in the moaning leader's town? The answer is rarely zero. Perhaps the municipal fleet could be trimmed. Does the mayor of any Connecticut municipality really need a driver?
Collecting money, not saving it, occupies our legislators at this time of year. Many are in shakedown mode to squeeze what they can out of people with interests before them in the legislative session that begins Wednesday morning. It's not enough that taxpayers provide millions to fund their political campaigns. They want more.
This is the season of the political action committee speed reception. Make sure you bring a lot of checks. They'll be watching.
Special interests were supposed to be banished from the political fundraising bazaar once the public started carrying the campaign funding load. Even the most ardent advocate of the public picking up campaign tabs cannot resist the chance to sell some access and goodwill at this time of year.
Invitations have been landing in lobbyist and other email in-boxes with menacing frequency. The new speaker and majority leader will gather for a "pre-session reception" in Hartford Tuesday night. Other political action committees can give the speaker's and majority leader's DEMpacs $2,000 each to join in the festivities. Lobbyists can give $100; their friends, who are not lobbyists, can pony up $1,000 each.
Last Thursday, "your Progressive Connecticut Friends" sought contributions of up to $2,500 each under the auspices of four PACs acting together. It makes one wonder about the sincerity of the left when a champion of public financing such as state Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, is the first bold name on the unsavory invitation.
We know these events have nothing to do with good government. They are not policy seminars. They serve only one purpose on the eve of a legislative session. People with distinct interests are putting a down payment on access and assistance for the next five months. Their interests, not yours. | <urn:uuid:3973a9df-082e-4060-8c28-292fbdaadbe9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ctnow.com/topic/hc-op-rennie-0106-20130104,0,3800644.column | 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 | 0.962153 | 866 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
WINSTED >> A free panel discussion will be held in the Blue Room of the Winsted Town Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 29. Titled “Beyond Medicine” the panel will be moderated by psychotherapist Glen Zeh and will include Jenny Fairservis, acupuncturist; Jacquie Kane Bowen therapist; Dr. Matthew Pagano, chiropractor; and Pat Shelesky, massage therapist.
The panel members, Zeh said,would like to explore the alternatives to the medical model and help individuals have other choices in managing their health, including the overlooked idea of prevention.
The public is welcome to attend the panel discussion. For information, email a message to firstname.lastname@example.org.
“With so much emphasis being put on the high cost of medical treatment today, we are all concerned about how to manage the outcome, both nationally and personally,” Zeh said in a written statement. “It is our belief that the elephant in the room that has not been addressed is the ‘medical model’ of treatment of the sick. It is time to begin the discussion and explore alternatives to the triumvirate of modern medicine: testing — which often leads to over diagnosis and expensive unnecessary treatment; surgery ,which can be both life-saving and life-threatening; and pharmacology — the use of drugs that always have “side-effects” that often require more drugs.”
“Our hope is that we leave everyone with a more holistic concept of health that includes talk, touch, laughter and love. We want to explore the link between happiness and health. To encourage self-observation and participation in our bodies, and recognize what self-reliant and autonomy we can have. | <urn:uuid:b2fbe561-da35-4b4b-9be0-d17fe09b0501> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2013/01/15/news/doc50f63cc4d5bef839573216.prt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948747 | 372 | 1.75 | 2 |
Clarence Carter was executed in Lucasville, Ohio with a drug used on animals. The putative democratic system in the United States executes scores of oppressed and poor people every year., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
US executes inmate with animal drug
Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:29AM
Clarence Carter had spent 23 years on death row.
Authorities in the US state of Ohio have executed an inmate, who had spent more than 23 years on death row, with a drug normally used for killing animals.
Clarence Carter was put to death on Tuesday at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, and was the second person to have been killed using the sedative pentobarbital in Ohio, the Associated Press reports.
A shortage of sodium thiopental -- an anesthetic usually used to make death row inmates unconscious just before their execution -- has forced Ohio to use pentobarbital.
Experts argue that the use of the new sedative, which is typically used to put down old and sick animals, is inhumane since inmates could be conscious but paralyzed when the other drugs are administered.
Carter was convicted of killing another inmate, Johnny Allen Jr., 33, who died two weeks after a December 1988 beating in the Hamilton County jail.
At the time, Carter was in jail, awaiting sentence for another aggravated murder conviction.
His support committee had argued against the execution, saying that Allen's killing was not premeditated.
They stressed that former US Army soldier Allen died during the fight -- likely to have been instigated by himself -- when it got out of control, not because Carter intended to kill him.
The lawyers also said that a key witness, whose testimony played a major role in Carter's conviction, had changed his story years after the murder trial.
The witness had earlier testified that he had seen Carter "sucker punch" Allen and then beat him for more than 20 minutes after the latter changed a TV channel.
But later the witness admitted to investigators that he didn't really see who started the fight.
Lawyers say the distinction is important, as it means that Carter did not kill Allen with "prior calculation and design," making him ineligible for the death penalty.
They also said that Carter suffered from a borderline personality disorder, and that his upbringing was marked by violent role models, including a stepfather who beat him when he stuttered and a cousin who paid him 50 cents to fight other children.
However, despite the belief by Carter's lawyers that there was a lack of proper evidence, Carter was executed on Tuesday.
In his final statement, Carter told his family he was enjoying his last moments.
He also asked Allen's family for forgiveness.
"I'd like to say I'm sorry for what I did, especially to his mother. I ask God for forgiveness and them for forgiveness," he said.
There are nearly 3,260 death row inmates in the United States, as of January 2010, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a leading US civil rights organization. | <urn:uuid:0af33723-d039-408f-b8ac-0ae2644aa4d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2011/04/clarence-carter-executed-in-united.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986479 | 643 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Today france opened secret files covering 50 years of U.F.O. sightings. The 1,600 sightings are well organized and can all be found at www.cnes-geipan.fr
Minutes after the site posted, the server crashed due to heavy traffic from worldwide U.F.O. buffs and scientists.
“It is a world first,” said Jacques Patenet, the aeronautical engineer who heads the office for the study of “non-identified aerospatial phenomena.”
Known as OVNIs in French, UFOs have always generated intense interest along with countless conspiracy theories about secretive government cover-ups of findings deemed too sensitive or alarming for public consumption.
“Cases such as the lady who reported seeing an object that looked like a flying roll of toilet paper” are clearly not worth investigating, said Patenet.
But many others involving multiple sightings — in at least one case involving thousands of people across France — and evidence such as burn marks and radar trackings showing flight patterns or accelerations that defy the laws of physics are taken very seriously. | <urn:uuid:71d6ed03-b5bb-425f-a862-4bc3907dceff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://petitebrigitte.com/2007/03/22/ufo-unidentified-frenchie-oddities/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94592 | 232 | 1.804688 | 2 |
"In general I would say that men actually have more feeling, and women perhaps more intelligence."
"I do seem to have some confessional impulse, and it may have to do with my catholic training."
For over half a century Mary McCarthy was at the center of intellectual life in America. Both through her writing-she published twenty-four books and countless reviews and essays-and through her personal involvement-from protesting Stalinism in the thirties and forties to opposing the war in Vietnam in the sixties and seventies-she helped to shape American thought and culture. She became a respected critic and was a founding editor of Partisan Review.
Fresh out of college, she set the literary world astir with a series of articles attacking the mediocrity of America's book reviewers. She very naturally gravitated to the center of controversy and remained caustic and forthright to the end of her life.
The interviews collected in this book reveal a fascinating life and the brilliant mind of a born conversationalist. With a riveting, liberal intellect that could attach itself to any worthy topic, Mary McCarthy was a great and entertaining talker, able to dissect politics, literature, or nincompoops. These interviews reveal Mary McCarthy's grand-scale mind and give facts about her biography. She was interested always in finding the truth. "I believe there is a truth," she said, "and that it's knowable."
Carol Gelderman, author of Mary McCarthy: A Life , is a research professor of English at the University of New Orleans.
228 pages (approx.), 6x9 in., chronology, index | <urn:uuid:8cd34481-7e01-42c9-8ef5-3591c2cdce49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.upress.state.ms.us/books/202 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969449 | 337 | 1.84375 | 2 |
SANTIAGO, Chile -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has defeated a respiratory infection and has begun additional medical treatment in Cuba after struggling with complications following cancer surgery more than six weeks ago, a government spokesman said Saturday.
Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said that it remains unclear how soon Chavez could return home.
He won re-election in October, and lawmakers indefinitely put off his inauguration.
earlier this month in a decision that was condemned by opponents but upheld by the Supreme Court.
The vice president said that Chavez "has reviewed and evaluated reports on different areas and has made decisions."
He said Chavez evaluated the country's economic situation and budget and made decisions about gold reserves, funding for public housing projects and "social investments and economic development." Maduro didn't give more details but said the actions approved by the president were intended to "guarantee the country's economic growth, infrastructure, housing."
Maduro said that one of the documents signed by Chavez dealt with the selection of his socialist party's candidates for mayoral elections later this year. The vice president showed the signature in red ink on one of the documents.
Associated Press writers Jorge Rueda and Ian James in Caracas, Venezuela, and Chris Gillete in Santiago, Chile contributed to this report.
Luis Andres Henao is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuisAndresHenao | <urn:uuid:c16b5ccb-9903-4524-ad9d-da0726423204> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.recordpub.com/ap%20international/2013/01/27/chavez-starting-more-medical-treatment-in-cuba | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972083 | 284 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Despite the wealth of perhaps far more interesting themes that I could explore, I'm instead going to share a sedate photograph of a shop front from my own collection, one which has little in common with that sad scene from the Depression era. It is a loose paper print (149.5 x 109.5 mm) which may at one time have been mounted on card, although all sign of that has long since disappeared, along with its provenance and any external identification of the subjects.
The shop front is that of W. Barnes & Co who, according to the signs, offer a full range of services: glovers, general drapers, milliners/hat specialists, mercers and tailors. I'm guessing that it's winter as they are offering "warm winter gloves" and "jumpers." The group arrayed in and around the front doorway consist of two men and six women. From the women's hairstyles, I'm guessing that it dates from either just before or during the Great War, say between 1910 and 1916ish. A tradesman's bicycle with the firm's name on it is leaning against the window. The shop forms the ground floor of what appears to be a three-storey building. The doorway and the left hand display window are illuminated by electric lights. The pavement is formed, but a little uneven, and the roadway looks to be rather muddy.
If anyone knows where W. Barnes & Co. plied their trade, or can ferret out further clues as to their location, please do leave a hint in the form of a comment below. For the moment, we'll have to just enjoy the photograph, and perhaps some others offered over at Sepia Saturday. | <urn:uuid:73e20173-fe84-41ce-a236-b02013517da7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://photo-sleuth.blogspot.com/2011/08/sepia-saturday-89-w-barnes-co-shop.html?showComment=1314298949745 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979542 | 347 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Women in the New Economy
The article “The New Economic Reality” by Tamar Snyder (winter 2011) is so very relevant.
I was disappointed, however, that one specific topic was not discussed.
What about all the young women who have been working to support their families while their husbands were learning? When their jobs disappear, their life styles change dramatically. This applies not only to their gashmiut, but in most cases, there are ruchniyut changes as well. Husbands and fathers who were spending their days in pursuit of Torah studies now struggle with entry-level jobs (they have little or no training for most higher income positions) while still trying to fit in as much learning as possible in very little time, especially considering their family obligations.
These women have been the heroines of our generation. They have proudly served us all and deserve special consideration. | <urn:uuid:820fd52f-b14d-4921-823d-1d3e0b86d95a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ou.org/jewish_action/08/2012/women-in-the-new-economy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98648 | 182 | 1.570313 | 2 |
KARACHI: Representatives of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) along with the civil and legal community passed a resolution to keep the two bodies federally regulated instead of transferring powers to provinces.
This was decided at an open-ended roundtable discussion on the status of the PMDC and DRA after the 18th Amendment. The event was organised by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) at PMA House on Wednesday.
Doctors and speakers agreed that both PMDC and DRA should be federally regulated whereas the implementation could be handed over to the provinces.
The PMA Centre general secretary, Dr Mirza Ali Azhar, pointed out that although it may be early to take up the issue, the medical community is being proactive since the Sindh health minister has already asked the federal government to transfer the two bodies to the province under the 18th Amendment.
The consensus was that such a move would be suicidal for both the departments. The division of PMDC, which regulates medical education, would result in different curriculums for different provinces. Doctors said that would provide innumerable opportunities for corruption such as opening up new medical colleges to make money.
Similarly, provincial DRAs would create an issue of different medicines, different prices and different rules for issuance of licences in each province.
Former minister of law and human rights activist, Iqbal Haider, said that parliament did not consider the issues that would arise after the transfer of education and health to provinces. According to the constitution, the right to make laws lies with the bodies, said Haider while offering to file a case against this issue.
All in favour say aye
The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) chairperson, Haroon Qasim, brought up the ordinance to keep the two bodies under federal regulation which was passed by President Asif Ali Zardari on February 16, 2012. He said that it needs to be made into a law for full effect.
Haider advised the doctors to get the promulgated ordinance passed before the budget session otherwise it would be delayed further. His suggestion was unanimously agreed upon and a resolution to this effect was passed after the debate.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2012.
More in PakistanPentagon releases censored Guantanamo testimony | <urn:uuid:4208befa-1e8d-4628-a6a9-9d524f8fb181> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tribune.com.pk/story/377123/round-table-debate-medical-council-and-drugs-authority-to-stay-under-islamabad/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970546 | 473 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Combining garage shelves with storage options such as plastic storage boxes is one of the best ways possible to keep the house clean and free of clutter. Garage shelves are useful for storing things such as:
Most people use their garage as storage space to keep DIY tools and gardening equipment. But they can be pretty dangerous, especially if there are small children around. Keeping gardening tools safe and away from kids on garage shelves is a fantastic way to minimise accidents and make sure that only people who know how to use them have access. http://www.bernardsbins.com/
Old forms of media
As technology advances, older forms of media become obsolete. That doesn’t mean that they lose their sentimental value, though, and many people choose to keep hold of their old media memories. Keeping them stored safely on garage shelves will go a long way to keeping them in good condition, and accessible for when owners decide to show them off again. http://www.bernardsbins.com/
Avid sports fan? People who participate a lot in sporting activities are likely to have all the necessary equipment that goes with it. Keeping it sorted and organised on garage shelves is a great way to keep sporting equipment in good condition, whilst other storage options such as wall racking are great for heavier items such as golf club bags, bicycles and more. | <urn:uuid:1c9caf28-6ca9-4872-9634-0a7c2e38b388> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prlog.org/11625322-brilliant-uses-for-garage-shelves.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956167 | 274 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Black immigrants say they are now under siege in Ireland
Point to taxi driver killed, politician ripping black families
Racial tensions are rising in Ireland and the government under attack, after black community leaders claimed immigrants are "under siege," while a Nigerian embassy official was critical of attitudes to West Africans.
The comments came at the end of a week that saw a black taxi driver murdered in Dublin and the mayor of Naas forced to resign over racist remarks.
Leaders from across the black community told a Dublin press conference that racial abuse is now at an all-time high in Ireland. Their sentiments were echoed by Dr Georges O Alabi, deputy head of mission at the Nigerian embassy.
Dr Alabi told the conference that he had no choice but to break diplomatic ranks and speak out after a Nigerian born taxi-driver was killed on the streets of Dublin.
“I’m foreign office. I should not comment,” Dr Alabi told the Irish Examiner. “My family and I have personally experienced the stark reality of racism, with people repeatedly phoning our house and calling us niggers.
The top 100 Irish last names explained
“We just need to do more in the area of political leadership. The silence is too much.”
Journalist Chinedu Onyejelem, the editor of the Metro Éireann newspaper aimed at the immigrant community, also addressed the conference.
He said: “There is a widespread regime of verbal, physical and psychological attacks on immigrants and black Africans in particular.
“The Irish Government has to live up to its responsibility to protect all residents and to introduce strong measures to end racism in Ireland.”
A statement from the group who organized the press conference said: “Immigrants in Ireland are under siege - there is evidence of widespread attacks against them.
“We now have a regime of verbal, physical and psychological attacks on immigrants and Black Africans in particular.
“There is evidence of the growing boldness of bigots. We have called this meeting to discuss the racism that has been felt by immigrants, non-native Irish and black Irish folk as a result of unprecedented levels of racist attitudes, attacks, and a lack of leadership by the government and the institutions of the state.”
15 - 155 | See all comments
- Boston immigration center apologizes to young...
- Irishman John Downey arrested for 1982 IRA...
- Government minister calls for investigation...
- Young Irish woman turned in to U.S. authorities
- Justice Minister hangs on as Shattergate...
- Amnesty International says Ireland’s abortion...
- One in seven people on social welfare in...
- New book ‘John F. Kennedy - Among the Germans’.
- Sleazy secrets and the American Dream of...
- ‘Quiet Man’ star Maureen O’Hara says John... | <urn:uuid:61024179-dbc3-46b1-85d1-3a97f2c73b7c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Black-immigrants-say-they-are-now-under-siege-in-Ireland--134526888.html?page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943203 | 601 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Although this platform might be foreign to many in the PHP community, over the past few years I have discovered quite a few who have either worked with PHP on this platform by following IBM's Redbook instructions or have installed PHP on a UNIX/Linux server and then interoperated with the i5/OS.
As part of this project we will be providing all i5/OS users Zend Core for i5/OS for free. This will very much lower the barrier of entry to get up and running with PHP. We will also be providing ways for them to access their existing code-base by creating language bridges (such as an RPG bridge), native drivers for accessing DB2/400, and various other bridges to operating system services.
He continues on to talk about how this will (positively) effect the i5/OS community, giving them an alternative to Java. He also compares the PHP community and the i5/OS community - they're both passionate about what they do and they both tend to be made up of people with no formal computer science experiences. | <urn:uuid:5bf828d5-9226-4a50-bd0d-8906fcf91766> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://phpdeveloper.org/tag/I/O | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966212 | 218 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Hospice of the Valley Helps Kids Heal after Loss
Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is an undoubtedly difficult journey. For children, it can be a particularly confusing and debilitating transition. The Sharks Foundation chose Hospice of the Valley (HOV) as a 2011-12 grant recipient to support the organization’s mission to comfort children as they partake in the healing process. Recently, HOV staff hosted the Sharks Foundation to share how they assist their youngest clients in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
At first glance, the children’s therapy room at HOV resembles a typical play area, adorned with colorful drawings, art projects and dolls. A second glimpse reveals that this room, despite its flair, is a place to mourn and reflect. The drawings portray images of loved ones lost and the dolls are stitched with different facial emotions to help children communicate their feelings. The room has a distinct calming effect to which the HOV staff quickly alluded, telling stories of teenagers and adults who discovered the children’s room by chance and requested that their future counseling sessions be held there.
For 13 months following the loss of a loved one, children as young as three-years-old are counseled at minimal cost to their parents, giving families the opportunity to mend while eliminating the worry of incurring additional expenses. During that time, they converse with their counselor, draw and paint, write poems, act out their feelings with the aid of toys and dollhouses, and care for the growing pumpkins in HOV’s peaceful outdoor garden. Due to their youth, hands-on activities are often the easiest and most therapeutic ways for children to express themselves as they grapple to come to terms with a loss.
The Sharks Foundation grant allowed the organization to continue to improve and bolster their positive effect. "Hospice of the Valley is extremely grateful to the Shark's Foundation for ensuring that grieving children in our community have the tools they need to cope with a loss, share their feelings, and function better in school and at home while giving them hope, support and guidance for the future,” said President and CEO, Sally Adelus.
Every element of HOV evokes a collective calm. From the passionate staff to the quiet settings, HOV is an organization that understands the grieving process and provides much-needed comfort to their clients. The Sharks Foundation is proud to support Adelus and her team in their efforts. | <urn:uuid:b81d0fb6-6652-4e95-a899-fb072757d54b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=640627 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965696 | 499 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Monday, Oct. 29, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Gov. Nikki Haley says South Carolina used the same standards as banks and other private institutions when it decided not to encrypt Social Security numbers and other information on a database of state tax returns.
Authorities say an international hacker was able to get into the database months ago. The hacker may have stolen up to 3.6 million returns from as far back as 1998.
Investigators are still trying to determine how much information was stolen. Tax returns can include names, address, Social Security numbers and bank account information.
The state is offering free credit monitoring to anyone affected. Haley said Monday that more than 450,000 people have swamped a phone bank and more than 150,000 people have signed up for the monitoring since it started Friday.
(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)
Designed by Gray Digital Media | <urn:uuid:76acc533-cdbf-42d9-8fda-31a0eda8e572> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wrdw.com/news/politics/headlines/Haley-Taxpayer-info-didnt-need-to-be-encrypted-176276231.html?site=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953547 | 184 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Nat Hentoff on the Shaming of the New York TImes
Clip Job: an excerpt every day from the Voice archives.
June 1, 1960, Vol. V, No. 32
The Soft Decay of The New York Times
By Nat Hentoff
We're witnessing, it seems to me, the gradual decline of what has generally been considered the country's most distinguished newspaper. There is no disputing the Times' continuing usefulness as a paper of record, but printing complete speeches and Presidential press conferences is not enough to sustain the Times' previous reputation.
Take the question of news placement. This is one example of several in recent months that indicates an odd inability of the editors there to recognize an important story when they see one. On Tuesday, may 10, the Herald Tribune - which is much improved - ran a front-page story on the vitally important fact that for the first time the Food and Drug Administration had approved a pill as safe for birth-control use. Even the Daily News with its large Catholic readership printed the story on page 5 with the head "OK '100% Effective' Birth Control Pill." The N.Y. Times ran a five-paragraph AP story deep down on page 75 alongside the radio listings.
The Times has a huge, ponderous city staff, but the Times consistenly misses local news...There is simply no initiative any longer on the Times' city side. Not among the reporters, but among the editors. No wonder the Times is Robert Moses' favorite newspaper...
What may be the lowest point the Times has ever reached in its own self-esteem occurred May 16 on page 22. The head was "Times Retracts Statement in Ad." The story concerned an ad that had been placed in the Times by the Committee to Defend Martin Luther King. The ad was published March 29. Alabama's Governor John Patterson, an avowed white-supremacist, demanded that the Times retract assertions made in the two paragraphs of the ad. Every statement in those two paragraphs is entirely factual. Patterson also objected vaguely to "the publication as a whole" but specified no other sections.
In an extraordinary - and shameful - display of cowardice, the Times retracted the two paragraphs without explanation as to the specific facts therein it had presumably found to be untrue. The Times, underlying the fact that it had nothing to do with the ad, published the list of signers, among them myself. Is the Times saying I'm a liar? I'm mildly tempted to sue the Times, for defamation of character, but the Times has done itself such serious damage by its pusillanimous yielding to the Governor of Alabama that anything any of us tried to add would be superfluous...
[Each weekday morning, we post an excerpt from another issue of the Voice, going in order from our oldest archives. Visit our Clip Job archive page to see excerpts back to 1956.] | <urn:uuid:4cb5a07a-4912-4c20-b9f8-37dd12a0281b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2008/09/clip_job_hentof.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952805 | 593 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Turkey’s Leader Urges More Aid for Syrian Rebels, but Most Turks Say No
As Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with President Obama today, his calls for more Western aid to Syrian rebels put him at odds with Turkish public opinion.
Public Interest in Benghazi Investigation Remains Limited
Fewer than half of Americans say they are following the Benghazi hearings very or fairly closely, virtually unchanged from late January when Hillary Clinton testified.
Many Israelis and Palestinians Want Larger Role for Obama
While Israelis and Palestinians differ widely in their outlook for a peaceful resolution of their longstanding conflict, both want U.S. President Barack Obama to play a larger role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate.
U.S.-Middle East Relations: Key Data Points from Pew Research
The U.S. public is pessimistic about changes in political leadership after the Arab Spring. Two years after the Arab Spring, there continues to be unrest in the Middle East and the U.S. public has become more skeptical about the political changes that have occurred. Our October 2012 survey found nearly six-in-10 Americans (57%) do not [...]
U.S. Foreign Policy: Key Data Points from Pew Research
Despite the difficult foreign policy problems facing the United States, most Americans agree that the nation should focus more on problems here at home. At the same time, the public expresses robust support for an active approach to world affairs.
Support for Military Force if Syria Used Chemical Weapons
More Americans favor than oppose the U.S. and its allies taking military action against Syria, if it is confirmed that Syria used chemical weapons against anti-government groups.
Iran: Key Data Points from the Pew Research Center
Key data points from Pew Research Center surveys on public opinion in the U.S. and abroad about Iran and its nuclear program, and other issues.
Public Remains Supportive of Israel, Wary of Iran
As Barack Obama arrives in the Middle East this week, the sympathies of the American public remain firmly with Israel in its dispute with the Palestinians.
After Fight Over CIA Director Ends, A Look at Public Opinion on Drones
The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Brennan to be the new director of the CIA after several senators took part in a filibuster focusing on the administration’s drone strategy. A majority of Americans support drone strikes against suspected terrorist targets abroad, but some (31%) express concerns are about the legality of the program.
Will Budget Cuts Shrink the U.S. Global Role?
The forced budget cuts, known in Washington as sequestration, are now in force in the United States and $85 billion in spending cuts are in the process of being implemented, with about half of them coming out of Washington’s spending on international engagement. | <urn:uuid:3971985e-2579-4657-9114-fbd0dbcacbdf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/foreign-affairs-and-policy/2013/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938385 | 567 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Back in August, we reported on Geek.com about the Australian man who uploaded a pirate version of the “The Simpsons” movie before the film saw a release in the U.S. (see our previous coverage).
It took the authorities just 72 hours to track down the man through his IP address and remove the film from an online video streaming site, but that still allowed enough time for it to be viewed over 3,000 times and downloaded 110,000 times on P2P networks.
Now, the pirate in question, 21-year-old Jose Duarte, has appeared in a Sydney court and been fined US$888. Duarte had pleaded guilty to distribution of copyright material, and his lawyers explained he didn’t even realize he had succeeded in uploading it after two attempts to do so.
Lawyer Ken Stewart said:
It would appear that this young man had the sophistication of a dead fish … I have sat and spent time with this young man… and I am quite satisfied that he had no idea what he was doing.
Read more at the Associated Press article.
An $888 fine doesn’t seem too bad for online piracy, but I think from the comments the lawyer made it is clear he wasn’t a repeat offender and wasn’t uploading hundreds of movies every week. If he had been found to be doing that I would expect a substantially bigger fine and some jail time.
With the implementation of content filters across video sharing sites, I wonder whether the above crime could happen again? In this case, the P2P networks picked it up off the video streaming site and did not get it directly. With content filtering, it may have only been viewed a handful of times before removal. | <urn:uuid:17252535-1ac8-4c95-a48d-c68de8a44576> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.geek.com/news/the-simpsons-movie-pirate-fined-888-570502/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978191 | 357 | 1.585938 | 2 |
|Agrimoney.com - http://www.agrimoney.com/news/news.php?id=5460|
|Corn prices shrug off dire US ethanol data
By Agrimoney.com - Published 30/01/2013
Corn prices shrugged off the worst US ethanol production data on record amid ideas that the decline in output of the biofuel may have reached a low, with prices also getting a boost from worsening South American weather.
US ethanol output slumped by 22,000 barrels a day to 770,000 barrels a day last week, the lowest figure since the Energy Information Administration began collecting data in 2010.
The decline follows a series of further capacity cuts by ethanol producers, with Valero on Tuesday saying it had idled three of its 10 plants in the last quarter of 2012, while Abengoa Bioenergy and Poet have over last week unveiled three temporary shutdowns between them.
On Tuesday, White Energy said that a Texas ethanol plant it shut on January 7 because of poor margins, squeezed by high corn prices, will remain closed until March, and potentially until the last quarter of 2013.
'Record period of losses'
As a further sign of a slack ethanol market, US stocks of the biofuel rose 2.3% last week to 20.54m barrels, taking gains in 2013 nearly to 700,000 barrels.
However, the market's outlook may be less dismal than it appears, with industry losses waning after what Linn Group analyst Jerrod Kitt termed "the longest period of negative profitability in the history of the ethanol industry".
Benson Quinn Commodities analyst Brian Henry said that while ethanol maintained a large discount to gasoline, of more than \$0.50 a gallon, "prices have been rising, as have those of distillers' grains," an important byproduct of corn ethanol manufacture used as animal feed.
These dynamics are "seeing production margins improve, which should be expected as capacity is declining".
Paper vs physical
Mr Kitt said that ethanol plant profitability, as measured in Nebraska, had improved from the equivalent of \$0.50 losses per bushel of corn close to breakeven, and producers "may be even a little bit profitable if they sell at the right opportunity".
The geography of ethanol manufacture is important, with plants close to main Corn Belt corn-growing states seen having an advantage in buying cheap raw material compared with sites in states, such as Texas, with small corn production, and competition with cattle ranchers for supplies of the grain.
Furthermore, it was getting more expensive for blenders to buy so-called Rins (renewable identification numbers), a paper proxy for ethanol, to meet targets for ethanol use, compared with using the physical biofuel itself.
Prices of Rins have soared to 33 cents a gallon, from 1 cent a gallon in mid-June, as buying compliance with the US mandate has become more attractive compared with physical blending.
"This has not yet fed through into the physical market, but we believe it will," Mr Kitt said, terming Rins supplies "undeniably tight", and comparing the cheapness of ethanol compared with gasoline to the high cost of Rins.
"When we look back in a few months time, I think we will identify around now as having been the bottom for ethanol production."
'Weather leans positive'
Corn prices also received support on Wednesday from a further deterioration in the South American weather outlook, where dryness in Argentina and southern Brazil is sparking concerns.
"The weather leans positive, with a drier tone to Argentina in the on-to-four day and 100-to-15 day forecasts prompting more analysts to trim Argentina corn and soybean production forecasts," Richard Feltes at broker RJ O'Brien said.
Lanworth on Wednesday reduced its estimate for Argentina corn output by 400,000 tonnes to 25.6m tonnes, although it offset this downgrade with a 300,000-tonne upgrade to 75.8m tonnes in its forecast for the Brazilian crop.
Chicago corn futures for March delivery closed 1.5% higher at \$7.40 ¼ a bushel.
|© Agrimoney 2010| | <urn:uuid:a6df7dbb-9170-4e53-b49a-aab80bac7a06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.agrimoney.com/printnews.php?id=5460&area=n | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950982 | 864 | 1.5 | 2 |
One of the great delights of Indian newspapers is that they often report seriously news that is insanely, rotfl-ly funny. Take the following news headline: 'Dhoni Keeps Promise, Adopts a Tiger'. On reading this story, you find that India's cricket captain, MS Dhoni, has adopted a tiger called Agsthya in the Mysore Zoo. Javagal Srinath persuaded him to do so, and Dhoni isn't the only early adopter: Zaheer Khan has adopted a leopard, Anil Kumble has adopted a giraffe and Virat Kohli has adopted a rabbit. (Incredibly, I'm making up only the bit about Kohli.) The tiger is 9 years old, so any questions about whether it will be nursed by his wife are out of place here. In any case, young Sakshi Dhoni would no doubt not want her Masaba saris to be peed on by a baby tiger, and I'm safely assuming that young Agsthya Dhoni will remain a resident of Mysore Zoo.
As you would guess, this reminds me of MF Husain. The celebrated painter died last week, and the media has been full of tributes to him. (My friend, the prolific Salil Tripathi, wrote four of them: 1, 2, 3, 4. My fellow Yahoo! columnist Girish Shahane also wrote one.) Husain is one of the most recognisable and familiar figures in this country: almost everybody surely knows his name. He was an uber-celebrity, which is ironic for two reasons. One: He was hounded out of the country by goons who believe that goddesses should not be painted naked. (Ludicrously, they believe in goddesses. WTF?) Two: Most of the people to whom he was such a recognisable figure, who would have burst crackers and felt mega-proud if a nobel prize for painting were instituted and given to him, wouldn't be able to tell you what made him great. They wouldn't have an opinion on what was notable about his art, and why his paintings are more or less compelling than those by Raza, Souza or Salman Khan. They'd know that he likes to be barefoot because Bombay Times (and Lucknow Times and Kota Times and suchlike) would have mentioned it a few hundred times, and they'd know he liked painting horses and developed crushes on Bollywood actresses from time to time. But that's it. To them, he's a celebrity because he's a celebrity.
It's a sign of the widespread shallowness of human beings that being celebrated and being a celebrity are two different things. People become celebrities by achieving something, or by being someone's wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend/alleged shag. But once they make it to page 3 a few times, the original reason for their celebrity becomes redundant, and they become 'famous for being famous'. First they get their 15 minutes of fame for XYZ; then they get a lifetime of fame for being famous for that original 15 minutes, and XYZ no longer matters. Husain the quirky public figure displaces Husain the painter. When he dies, we pretend to be celebrating his work, but we're really just celebrating his celebrity, which is as much our doing as his. Then we move on to Dhoni's tiger and Kohli's rabbit. (I can't get Kohli's rabbit out of my mind.)
Why are we so shallow and obsessed with the superficial? One reason, undeniably, is that we are all voyeurs. I watch Bigg Boss religiously when it's on, and spend as much time on Bombay Times as The Times of India. (This is because ToI is boringly awful and BT is glamorously awful, and I prefer pretty pictures.) Which of us doesn't clamour for gossip on who is sleeping with who, and who had a wardrobe malfunction resulting in a near nip-slip (as if everybody doesn't have two nips), or which designer flicked a design from which fellow designer (as if they both haven't flicked from an old issue of Vogue)? We crave wealth and beauty, and are obsessed by the rich and the beautiful: that is in our genes.
Another possible reason is an evolutionary one, cited by Johann Hari in an old essay on the subject. It is possible, he writes, that "we are hard-wired to seek out Big Men (or Women) and copy them," an instinct that evolved for our survival and has led to the flourishing of the tabloid media. We are drawn towards success and achievement and beauty; celebrity seems a validation of all these things; so we are drawn towards celebrity, ultimately for its own sake.
This is not necessarily harmful, unless we become stalkers or are stalked by them. But this celebrity thing can be taken too far -- consider the temples built for this cricketer or that film star, and the near-religious adulation heaped upon them. This is especially dangerous when they enter politics, extending the halo of their celebrity into a field where you actually need to be competent, and merely being photogenic or charming or controversial or famous isn't enough. The south has had its share of filmstar-turned-chief ministers, who gather cults, not followings. Their power makes them celebrities, their celebrity gives them more power, and the perpetual motion machine keeps running. This cannot be healthy.
We also make the mistake of assuming that because we are familiar with the public image of a celeb, we are familar with the celeb himself. If a particular cricketer is known for being humble and unassuming, it doesn't actually mean that he is really that way. His public persona is being mistaken for his personality, which may or may not coincide, and if they do, that is bound to go to his head, so how the hell can he stay humble? Celebrity is tough.
Another mistake we make is assuming that being a celebrity extends your competence in fields other than what you are originally known for. The frequently naive views of celebs are given more importance than they deserve, often in subjects they know nothing about. (For example, Dhoni's giving a lakh to Mysore Zoo does nothing for animal rights. It is a cosmetic gesture, though I have no doubt it is a well-meaning one, and he's an awesome cricketer, so Agsthya is now my favourite tiger.) Sometimes, of course, they are sensible, but I am always surprised when that is the case. In general, celebs' views on politics or economics are staggeringly banal or stupefyingly silly. But then, just as we get the leaders we deserve, perhaps we also get the celebs we deserve.
* * * *
Going back to the news item on Dhoni, I notice his quote about the tiger being our 'national animal'. WTF is a national animal? Is the concept itself not absurd, like a national bird or national sport or national colour or a national brand of underwear? It's like an insecure nation reassuring itself with a signalling device. Why isn't the donkey our national animal? There are more donkeys than tigers in India, surely? Is it because donkeys are vegetarian?
Dhoni should have thought about this and adopted a donkey in protest. | <urn:uuid:e5df405a-729a-468f-96eb-ef730d9c5b70> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://in.news.yahoo.com/blogs/opinions/tiger-painter-celebrity-machine-085150153.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980585 | 1,526 | 1.53125 | 2 |
OVAE Unveils Newly Redesigned LINCS Website
OVAE has just re-launched the newly redesigned LINC website, to coincide with Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. “We are excited to share this new site to help inform, involve, and inspire the adult education community,” said OVAE Assistant Secretary Brenda Dann-Messier. “Our nation’s adult educators are playing an invaluable role in helping many thousands of Americans access greater educational and economy opportunity.”
The new site features a redesigned look and enhanced functionality to provide a collection of evidence-based online resources for adult educators. A key feature is the LINCS Community, with16 topic area groups. It allows for real-time discussions with peers, a professional learning community with specific topic area groups, and additional professional development materials. These virtual communities are among the site’s most exciting changes, allowing for on-demand professional development, and topic-specific networking. Educators now have an opportunity to come together and build on their collective experience, to share and obtain real-time answers to questions from their peers, and to receive the latest information, news, and events.
“The LINCS Community will enable educators and program administrators to inspire learners in their classrooms on a daily basis,” stated Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Division for Adult Education and Literacy. “We want adult educators to use LINCS to find new ideas, stay informed on the latest research and events, and most importantly, get involved in the discussions.”
We encourage you to get involved in the conversations in the LINCS Community, get informed with the latest tools and techniques, and get inspired by the new information and ideas! For more information on the re-designed site, please contact Mary Jo Maralit, in OVAE, at email@example.com
Education Drives America Bus Tour Begins
“Education Drives America,” the third annual bus tour featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and senior leaders of the Department, will push the message that Education drives America as communities across the nation mark the return to school of our nation’s students. The bus tour will begin in California’s Silicon Valley and conclude in Washington, D. C. Additional stops include: Sacramento, Calif.; Reno, and Elko, Nev.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Rock Springs, Rawlins, and Cheyenne, Wyo.; Denver and Limon, Colo.; Topeka and Emporia, Kan.; Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis, Mo.; Mount Vernon, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; Lexington, Ky.; Charleston and McDowell County, W.Va.; and Roanoke and Richmond, Va.
“America’s future is directly linked to the quality of education that we provide our children, young people and adults,” Duncan said in August when announcing the tour. “It is the key to a vibrant middle class, strong national security, and our global economic competitiveness.”
“In the past three years, I’ve traveled to 47 states, visited hundreds of schools and met with thousands of teachers, parents and students who are finding new and innovative ways to teach and learn,” Duncan said. “This bus tour is an opportunity to highlight what’s working and create momentum for education reforms that improve the lives of all students.”
OVAE Assistant Secretary Brenda Dann-Messier and other senior department officials will play a major role in tour events. On Monday, Sept. 10, and Tuesday, Sept. 11, Dann-Messier was in Las Vegas where she toured local adult, career, and technical education programs and held roundtable discussions on disconnected youths, adult education, and career pathways. She also toured Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nev., and engaged in a discussion with students and faculty on adult literacy and language programs.
Today, Sept. 12, Dann-Messier is scheduled to tour Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno where she will host a roundtable discussion on adult education and career pathways.
On Thursday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Sept. 14, she is scheduled to visit Rock Springs and Rawlins, Wyo., to highlight education successes and lead community discussions about school reform, college affordability and completion, and the connection between education and jobs. On Sept. 13, she is scheduled to visit Rock Springs High School, where she is scheduled to tour a training center and host a roundtable discussion on career academies with students, faculty, staff, and business partners.
Also on Sept. 13, Dann-Messier is scheduled to visit Western Wyoming Community College to participate in a roundtable discussion with faculty, staff, and students.
On Sept. 14, Dann-Messier will lead a roundtable discussion with career and technical education faculty, staff, and students from Laramie County Community College (LCCC) and the Laramie County School District. Later that day, Dann-Messier, Under Secretary Martha Kanter, and Chief of Staff Joanne Weiss are scheduled to participate in a town hall meeting on education and the economy at LCCC.
The following week, on Sept. 19, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Tony Miller is scheduled to be joined by Sue Liu, special assistant for community colleges in OVAE, for a visit to Continental Tire in Mount Vernon, Ill., where they are scheduled to lead a roundtable discussion with representatives from the community and Rend Lake College, as well as business and education leaders focusing on partnerships that have been forged among community colleges, businesses, and industry and the connection between education and jobs. Earlier in the day, Liu is scheduled to visit Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill., where she is scheduled to meet with students, faculty, and staff to discuss ways to help students become college and career ready. She also is scheduled to lead a discussion with local school district superintendents about access and transition to college for K–12 students.
On the final day of the bus tour, Friday, Sept. 21, Dann-Messier is scheduled to lead a roundtable with students from Virginia Western Community College focusing on their postsecondary transition experiences and the academic supports that are crucial in assisting students to transition successfully from secondary to postsecondary education. Dann-Messier is scheduled to then join Secretary Duncan at a town hall on the Virginia Western Community College campus on college and career readiness.
Later on Sept. 21, the 2012 bus tour will culminate with a rally at the Department of Education in Washington, DC, where Secretary Duncan is scheduled to be joined by senior department officials. Secretary Duncan is scheduled to deliver a back-to-school address to inaugurate the 2012–2013 school year.
More specific details about the bus tour will be made available as the events draw closer. For live, up-to-the-minute updates from the road, follow the Education Drives America tour on Twitter using the hashtag, #edtour12 or visit the Department’s bus tour blog. To receive media advisories, press releases, notifications about posting to the blog, and other special updates during the tour, subscribe to the Department’s Education Drives America e-mail updates by clicking here.
Adult Education and Family Literacy Week Sept. 10–16, 2012
The National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) will hold its annual Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, Sept. 10–16, 2012. The National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week is designed to raise public awareness of adult education and family literacy, assist adult learners in need of literacy services, leverage local resources, and support increased access to adult education and family literacy programs. The week’s events provide an opportunity to elevate adult education and family literacy nationwide with policymakers, the media, and the community.
The NCL works to advance adult education, family literacy, and English language acquisition in the U.S. by increasing public awareness for the need to increase funding and programs; by promoting effective public policy; and, by serving as an authoritative resource on national adult education issues. Adult education supports our nation’s priorities: individuals with more education are more likely to get and keep jobs, lift themselves out of poverty, reduce healthcare costs and take better care of their families. Education also better equips adults to support their children’s education and break cycles of illiteracy and poverty; and, helping people attain the basic skills and training they need to reach their goals not only benefits them but also their families and the nation.
The national reach of Adult Education and Literacy Week is significant. It draws the attention and support of the Congress, federal agencies, state and local leaders, and stakeholders across the spectrum.
For the fourth consecutive year, a resolution was passed in the House recognizing the importance of adult education and family literacy and the need to support programs serving these individuals, and for the second consecutive year, the Senate also passed the resolution.
Mayor Vincent Gray proclaimed Sept. 10–16, 2012, as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, in the District of Columbia. At the annual D.C. adult education agency professional development conference held during the week, OVAE Deputy Assistant Secretary Johan Uvin, and Adult Education and Literacy Division Director Cheryl Keenan offered keynote addresses covering OVAE priorities on college completion, career pathways, teacher effectiveness and high-quality instruction.
We encourage interested parties to visit the NCL website for more information on the coalition’s work, and Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, and to access their new adult education fact sheet. | <urn:uuid:9099a490-4a57-4257-bce4-3edcb213ef33> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/ovaeconnection/2012/09122012.html?exp=4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946972 | 1,998 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Category: Brief - news
21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 03-07 June 2013, Copenhagen - Call for abstract deadline: 21st January 2013Submitted by etaflorence on 17-January-2013
What will be the key innovations to be reported in 2013?
The European Union Energy Initiative was launched in 2002 in Johannesburg durin
The Ethiopian government has released its energy plans for 2012 with a couple of big changes expected on the horizon.
The workshop, organised by the AFRETEP project, was held in Kampala, Uganda from 3rd to 7th October.
Feed-in tariffs (FiTs) are already used to promote RE in more than 30 countries globally, and South Africa has also recently introduced a FiT scheme.
Ethiopia’ first ever wind power plant will be built in Ashegoda, near Mekelle, the capital of the nation’s Tigray province.
This year has already seen numbers jump for wind power with the addition of approximately 40 GW of capacity being added, according to the
Liberia’s electricity generation capacity will be more than double within the next year from 10 megawatts to 23 megawatts, the Cabinet was told on last Friday.
The World Bank also announced that it will invest $200m in mini-grid and stand alone renewable energy schemes in Nigeria. | <urn:uuid:2932217e-82fa-4af3-9d38-04e8627dd214> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.euei.net/document-type/summary | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96025 | 280 | 1.625 | 2 |
As global leaders prepare to attend the G20 summit in Mexico (18–19 June), they have been urged to offer more support to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in gaining access to finance, by ensuring that a more widespread approach is taken to policy development for the sector and that there are greater levels of co-ordination at a global level.
The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Global Forum for SMEs has said in its new Global Agenda on Access to Finance for SMEs, that more co-ordinated and consistent efforts are needed when it comes to SME financing policy.
Mexico, which holds the Presidency of the G20 for 2012, has put fostering financial inclusion to promote economic growth among its five priorities for the G20 this year.
The Global Forum's agenda outlines the challenge facing the G20 in these areas, saying that SMEs around the world need - but are not receiving $4 trillion in financing - and that official ‘SME’ or ‘enterprise’ policy forms only a small part of the actual policies relevant to the development of SMEs.
The Global Forum argues that more attention ought to be given to how central government departments impact on SMEs who may have more influence on how SMEs access finance than the departments or agencies responsible for business and enterprise. For example, those departments responsible for fiscal policy, justice or employment law may well have a bigger effect on SMEs’ access to finance – through their decisions on tax policy on equity funding, setting up or developing better access to efficient credit information facilities right through to well-functioning property and contract law frameworks.
While governments are right to try to address the funding gap for SMEs by offering loan guarantees or providing SME funds from the central budget, they need to consider carefully how sustainable these are, especially where they seek to heavily subsidise the cost of borrowing. The full potential for defaults on such schemes cannot be deduced from the first years of operation, during which scrutiny tends to be highest. Awareness levels of the schemes also need to be carefully addressed where the demand for such products is often low.
Official institutions, such as banks, through which these funds and products are often channelled, need to be encouraged to promote them more actively to their SME clients.
The agenda also says that while banks remain the most significant source of external finance for formal small firms, bank finance is generally only available to those businesses that can offer collateral or a strong record of generating profit. This leaves a large number of SMEs which need large investments, but which have mostly intangible assets. While it is right that much effort is invested in encouraging banks to reach out to the SME sector and provide more suitable financial products to existing clients, alternatives to bank lending need to generate similar attention and investment in order to build more complete financing markets for SMEs.
While the microfinance sector is offering a promising solution by tapping into social networks on the ground for the information that banks are missing, the extent to which it helps the SME sector needs to be better understood at a macro level, especially where experiences from a number of markets can be shared. The option of equity finance also needs to be improved, and emerging and innovative financing solutions need to be encouraged and supported, including 'crowd funding', which uses online communities for raising equity.
Without the buy-in of a major industry, these alternatives to bank lending run the risk of not fulfilling their potential. While more research is needed to enable evidence-based policy, these efforts need to be highlighted at a global level to ensure that the goodwill and the potential for greater levels of financial inclusion behind many such initiatives are harnessed for the benefit of small business.
The agenda also says that while a lot of emphasis is placed on how companies present their business plans when approaching lenders or investors, more should be placed on finding out how sound internal governance practices are implemented and communicated. This approach should be promoted within the global policy circles with the aim of sending strong messages to national policymakers. SMEs should also be encouraged to consider how they use technological solutions in helping them with financial management.
The agenda says that the skills gap among business owners need to be addressed. Very few have formal enterprise or management training which has an impact on their ability to access finance – from having the knowhow to present a business plan, navigating through the financial markets on offer, to knowing how to apply business skills and acumen to manage and grow their business with a strategic approach to its operations, and ultimately finance.
It calls on the accountancy profession to address this challenge, and to work with governments and other relevant institutions such as SME bodies, to provide financial literacy and management training for owner-managers. The Forum urges international organisations to work with national governments to encourage much wider use of such initiatives in the interest of raising the level of skills, with a particular emphasis on working with the existing SME intermediaries to enable a reliable access to the sector.
'Small businesses around the world all face the same challenge - which is how they access finance. With an estimated 420-510 million SMEs worldwide, which between them have an unmet need of nearly $4trillion in funding, the way in which they access the capital they need to start, survive and grow is of paramount importance to the global economy.
'There are a range of issues which policy makers, banks and the accountancy profession need to address and we urge the G20 to consider many of these problems at its meeting. There are persistent market failures that stand in the way of a long-lasting change in SME financing across the world and we hope the G20 can begin to address them, and we look forward to discussing these issues further with G20 members and other bodies around the world,' said Mark Gold, Chairman of ACCA's Global Forum for SMEs. | <urn:uuid:6b5542ea-037b-4c4f-8fa1-1e275b4d3df5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.accaglobal.com/en/discover/news/2012/06/g20-sme.html?from=1318287600000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95403 | 1,199 | 1.703125 | 2 |
In his online blog today at Murdoch’s Herald-Sun newspaper, Andrew Bolt, a well known convicted Australian racist, has suggested that Australia stop allowing black African migrants into Australia.
The article is probably the most blatant piece of racism yet from Bolt who usually attempts to avoid being so obvious about his racism.
Bolt uses an article in the Age newspaper as an opportunity to peddle his hatred. The article tells of a group of Australian students who happen to be black who are complaining of police harassment when they visit the inner city in Melbourne. They have said that many of them are getting fed up with this harassment and, if it continues, there could possibly be a backlash such as there was last August in the UK when Londoners rioted over the death of a black Londoner who was shot to death by the police.
Racism, sponsored deliberately by the likes of Andrew Bolt and his fellow Murdoch so-called ‘journalists’ like the Islamophobic Tim Blair, Piers Akerman et al, is marginalising black youth in Melbourne who, in turn, look to each other for socialising and studying whilst readying themselves for work – if they can get it.
It’s time to end racism in Australia. Bolt’s blatant racism should never be allowed to take hold in Australia. | <urn:uuid:895beddb-be2c-46d8-8566-69566bb4c1a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lataan.blogspot.com/2012/05/convicted-australian-racist-andrew-bolt.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975833 | 270 | 1.640625 | 2 |
OTTAWA – Housing starts declined for the fourth consecutive month in December, but remained well above sustainable levels, leading to further fears the economically important sector could be headed for a hard landing.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Wednesday the pace of housing starts slowed by a modest 1.7 per cent last month to 197,976 on an annual basis, the fourth drop in as many months.
On an real basis, CMHC said there were 16,352 actual starts in December, with condo construction falling 4.7 per cent and single-unit dwellings rising by 8.6 per cent.
But the decline was less than analysts expected, even before the agency revised November’s starts upwards to 201,376.
That made the average starts for 2012 tip the scale at a hefty 215,171, up 11.4 per cent from 2011 and the highest level since 2007.
On Tuesday, Canada’s leading bankers judged the country’s real estate market as “relatively solid” despite the slowdown and concerns about overbuilding in the condominium segment, forecasting that 2013 would see a “soft landing” in the market.
But December’s relatively strong numbers also gave skeptics more reason to warn of a future reckoning.
David Madani of Capital Economics said Canada’s real estate market is exhibiting the same cracks as the United States before the 2007 crash.
While lower, December’s starts were still well above the 175,000-185,000 the annual growth requirement needed to accommodate population growth. Meanwhile, sales are heading south. Toronto resales of existing properties have fallen 19.5 per cent from a year ago, while Vancouver’s crash has been worse, down 31.1 per cent from last year.
“The upshot is that too many housing units have and are still being build, excesses that will eventually upset the balance of demand and supply,” Madani warns.
“We will stand by our long held view that home prices are likely to fall by around 25 per cent over the next year or two.”
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney has long voiced concerns that Canadians are borrowing too much to enter the housing market, primarily because low interest rates makes ownership affordable even with inflated home prices.
The worry is once the correction comes — whether soft or hard — Canadians will find themselves with record levels of debt and depreciating assets, which could slow consumer spending not just in real estate but across the economy.
In its most recent economic outlook, the central bank forecast housing would be a net drag on the economy in both 2013 and 2014, although it sees the extent of the pull-back in modest terms.
December’s numbers continue a slowing trend from the summer. Starts surged above 230,000 annualized in the spring, and pulled back after July, when new stricter mortgage rules went into effect.
Bank of Montreal economist Robert Kavcic said he expects homebuilding activity to slow to about 180,000 this year, which “would meet underlying demographic demand, and be just the scenario that policy-makers ordered.”
Seasonally adjusted, December’s annual rate of urban starts slipped 0.1 per cent in December to 178,870 units, with single starts up 8.6 per cent to 67,419 units and multiple starts down 4.7 per cent to 111,451 units.
Regionally, Ontario led the way in starts with a rise of 31.1 per cent to 78,245 units annualized. But there were setbacks in the Atlantic region, Quebec and the Prairies. | <urn:uuid:f1a4f1f5-8f29-427b-bf5a-7fd1befc3be0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.canadianbusiness.com/business-news/pace-of-housing-starts-slowed-in-december-cmhc/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948839 | 744 | 1.703125 | 2 |
How Will Sequestration Cuts Affect Macungie Area?
Friday's possible government spending cuts triggered by sequestration could affect the East Penn School District
East Penn School District could lose money for remedial and special education if automatic "sequestration" spending cuts trickle down from Washington, D.C. to the local level on Friday.
But, the impact of such spending cuts on East Penn will be minor compared to the problems they will cause in the Lehigh Valley’s major cities, according to Charles Ballard, President of the East Penn Board of School Directors. Ballard shared his thoughts on the topic with Patch via email on Monday, stressing that his comments are his personal opinion and do not represent a position of the East Penn School Board.
"Looming over all school districts in Pennsylvania are the potential impacts on educational programs, particularly for disadvantaged students, that may occur because of the federal budget sequestration crisis engineered by Congress.,” Ballard writes. “East Penn does receive some Title I funds that would impact our programs if these automatic cuts occur, but our problems pale in comparison with those of our large urban centers in the Lehigh Valley with their low property tax base and large populations of disadvantaged students. They will be hit even harder by the federal cuts on top of inadequate state funding."
Passengers at Lehigh Valley International Airport may have to wait in longer lines for security checks.
And desperate homeowners facing foreclosure might not be able to get help from the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.
Statewide, cuts would eliminate job search assistance for about 37,000 people and furlough 26,000 Department of Defense civilian contractors, Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, said Monday. Pennsylvania would also lose $73 million for medical research funding and innovation.
Sequestration cuts won't affect Social Security, Medicaid, Pell grants, veterans' benefits and Defense Department spending on wars.
Other affected programs would be Individuals with Disabilities Act (for special needs students) funding and medical services funding for those same students.
In January, the East Penn School Board voted to stay within the state tax cap in developing the 2013-2014 school budget. The board is adminstration is scheduled to present the preliminary budget in March.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas L. Seidenberger issued the following statement to Patch via email with respect to the potential budget decisions coming out of Washington, D.C. this week:
"We are very concerned long term. Everything I am hearing, the cuts
won't have an immediate impact," he writes.
Here are other possible local impacts:
- Head Start in the Lehigh Valley could see a cut of up to 8 percent. That could involve as many as 100 children losing places in Head Start as well as a decrease in personnel – 10 teachers and assistant teachers and home visitors, for example, according to Community Services for Children, based in Allentown.
- Lehigh Valley International Airport could lose its air traffic control midnight shift as a result of cuts to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to LVIA Executive Director Charles R. Everett, Jr. Passengers could experience delays getting through security if federal Transportation Security Administration workers are furloug
- Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley would lose about $125,000 of the $2.5 million the agency receives from federal sources. This cut would result in about 20 fewer homes being weatherized and would cripple the agency's efforts to save families from losing their homes to foreclosure, said Executive Director Alan Jennings.
"The crisis Congress imposed on itself is a reflection of its own inability to find a consensus on how to solve a problem it created. It would be amazing to see Congress, in all its wisdom, acknowledge that its own solution – sequestration – will impose new, untold crises on people in need and their opportunity-starved neighborhoods throughout the nation. This is the real story. The impact on the institutions that serve them is secondary."
President Obama has asked Congress to pass a short-term package to postpone the March 1 sequestration deadline. Republicans are pushing back, threatening to allow sequestration if tax reforms aren’t included in a deal.
Republicans are floating a plan to force the same amount of cuts but let the Obama administration decide where to make the cuts. Two Lehigh Valley lawmakers -- U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-15th District) and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey -- told the Morning Call they might be OK with that option.
"There's plenty of time to work out an agreement," said Casey, who is urging both sides to agree on a deal before March 1.
The problem with sequestration cuts, Casey said, is that they are not strategic or targeted based on priorities; they're indiscriminate.
Barb Walters, president of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party, said taxpayers are getting tired of financial crisis in Washington.
"Even when it was settled and Congress gave the President his tax cuts, now he's changing the rules of the game. We're going down the same road all the time. But we're not going to go back to sleep again."
Walters said the issue hasn't been discussed before the membership of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party, which meets monthly in Palmer Township.
"We really haven't talked about it so I don't know the consensus of the board," she said. "But this issue has been discussed for so long that it's getting boring. First, it was the Fiscal Cliff. Now they're bringing the same stuff up all the time without any decisions. Even when we think things are settled, they pop up again. Well, we're tired of the same old song and dance." | <urn:uuid:eb3f660e-da2c-4266-9b47-390fc36aadcc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lowermacungie.patch.com/articles/how-will-sequestration-cuts-affect-macungie | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966055 | 1,172 | 1.65625 | 2 |
1999-06-14 04:00:00 PDT OAKLAND -- Children clambered over a shiny red kiddie play set, an elderly couple sat in the shade under a 100-year-old live oak tree and hundreds of homeless people lined up for food. Meanwhile, speaker after speaker at a ceremony to celebrate Lafayette Square Park's reopening yesterday heralded the event as a symbol of change in Oakland.
The park, which dates back to Oakland's earliest days but had become an eyesore and a site of flagrant drug dealing, reopened yesterday with a whole new look. People from all walks of life sat on the new benches, used the clean unisex bathrooms, studied the babbling underground fountain and walked across the squishy wet sod.
City leaders and local residents who have helped plan the renewal of the 146-year-old "Old Man's Park" hope it will encourage use by both old and new downtown residents, the long-timers who have enjoyed resting in the shade or playing dominoes to the new apartment and condominium dwellers expected to move in as part of Mayor Jerry Brown's effort to revitalize the neighborhood.
Stevenson, who was dressed in a red dress and hat, said she hopes people of all cultures will be able to enjoy the park together.
"I hope the planners of the the park stand up behind their words" and continue to welcome everybody, she said.
Brown made a brief appearance before the official ceremony at 2 p.m, declared it "a great day" for Oakland and then proceeded to join a group of drummers before mingling with residents.
The city has spent $1.1 million so far on the park, located at 10th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, and plans to spend an additional $700,000 completing phase 2, which will include modern sculptures and more grass.
"It's important to the city that we create community spaces for all different people to gather and meet, safe places," said resident Duncan Bennett, 51, who plans to donate his time working with recreation, cultural and arts programs at the park.
In the park's concrete plaza -- next to a row of tables with built-in chessboards -- a group of children from Prescott Elementary School made the crowd laugh with their juggling antics.
"This is a day the Lord made us. Let's celebrate and be thankful that we are together," said the Reverend Rob Eller-Isaacs of the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. Eller-Issacs said that the city's goal for the park has evolved over the past 10 years from one of pushing the homeless out to one of inclusiveness.
"We said 'no' to sweeping the poor out," Eller-Issacs said to rounding applause. "That's not the way to rebuild a park. You make it a place for all people. This is a new beginning for Oakland."
Sherry Belville, resident of the new Old Town Square condominiums catty-corner to the park, could not have said it better.
Clutching a roll of toilet paper, which she planned to put in the rest room, Belville, a member of the park volunteer committee, said she hopes the changes downtown will not result in pushing poorer and minority residents out to make room for middle-class whites.
"If they have only market-rate housing, there will be no place for people to live," she said.
Zachary Weitner, 9, came back from the kiddie play set, sweat covering his brow, to say hello to his mother.
"I like it because of the playground. It looks nice," he said. "Now I don't have to walk five blocks to go to a park." | <urn:uuid:bdf913e8-8728-4ddd-9d80-fb59050f9aeb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Lafayette-Square-Celebrated-As-Symbol-of-Hope-2924631.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967948 | 776 | 1.75 | 2 |
The Coffee Grinder – we have discussed coffee grinders here in the past and defined what a weight measuring coffee grinder can do. Now I’m going to tell you a seldom revealed astonishing fact; the quality of the coffee grinder directly affects the taste and crema of the espresso!
For instance you can experiment starting with a very good espresso machine like the Gaggia Classic. Make espresso shots using grounds of the same coffee from various coffee grinders like a low end burr grinder, then go up in quality to a better home burr grinder, then to a prosumer-commercial burr grinder and on to a high end commercial conical burr grinder. You will actually notice how much better the espresso is using coffee grounds from each coffee grinder!
In keeping with the spirit of our espresso-as-science experiment and the ability to be consistent, we had talked about the very good Baratza Vario-W Coffee Grinder.
The next step up, in my opinion, would be a prosumer-commercial grade machine like the Ceado E37 Coffee Grinder, which is a programmable dosing grinder that has amazing burrs and will give you a better espresso because of the burrs and the design of the grinder. It also lets you program the dose electronically based on grind time. So again you can be consistent in the amount of coffee you use. Here is a link to learn more about this amazing grinder. Ceado E37 Coffee Grinder.
The next step up to a commercial grade machine may seem like a little much for home use; however, a great choice would be the Mazzer Kony as it has conical burrs and it is also available in an electronic version for producing consistent doses of coffee grounds. This coffee grinder or any commercial conical burr coffee grinder would permanently end any further need to upgrade your coffee grinder. A coffee grinder like this will absolutely give you the best chance of making a truly superior espresso.
Looking at the coffee grinder as one of the controllable variables in our espresso-as-science experimenting we find that selecting the best grinder we can afford is one thing we can change and get a predictable result. That is, if we keep everything else the same, tamp, amount and type of coffee, and the size of the shot, then adjusting the grind and tasting the shot results will determine what grinder and grind fineness will give us the best tasting results.
For most people the grinder and grind settings would be the variable that would give them very noticeable results quickly.
The Espresso Machine – So far we have looked at many of the variables involved in making great espresso. Another variable is the espresso machine. Many espresso aficionados consider the espresso machine to be the most important one. I do somewhat agree that the machine is an important part of producing quality espresso.
With the correct machine you have the potential to make a great tasting shot of espresso. I say potential because so many factors go into making a great espresso. Many of these factors are going to be based on the user’s knowledge and skill at crafting an espresso from what they have to work with. Again if we look at this as a science experiment one of the factors that can be controlled if you have the proper machine is the brewing water temperature.
Espresso coffee taste will vary considerably when brewed at different temperatures. I always tell people about wine and how to relate wine temperature and how it affects wine almost the same as coffee. Actually wine and coffee have many similarities as far as how they are cupped, tasted and have different characteristics based on where they are grown and even how good or bad the growing season was.
Back to temperature and wine; If you order a really good bottle of white wine somewhere and it is kept in the beer cooler at near freezing you know when you get that wine it will only taste cold. It is not at the proper temperature for the wine to let you in on all the nuances and flavors the vintner has worked so hard to get in that great bottle of wine. As the wine warms up and gets to the proper temperature for serving then you start to notice the flavors of the wine such as oaky, fruity, flowery, and all the other great descriptions of the wine.
Coffee is the same way. Temperature plays a very large roll in how exactly the espresso will taste. The whole idea of looking at this as a science experiment is to learn how you can control many of the variables in making espresso. Having a machine where you can control temperature is a huge advantage at being able to make an espresso that may be the best you have ever had.
Spending your money on the right equipment will give you the potential to make an espresso shot that is downright amazing. The ability to control temperature is going to let the espresso have different tastes. You may be able to pick out chocolate, berry, caramel, fruit and also something like currants. Notice the similarity to wine descriptions.
If you invest in a machine that allows you to control the brewing water temperature, like one of my favorites the Expobar Brewtus IV Espresso Machine, and you keep all the other variable parameters consistent, you will get to the point where you know exactly the temperature that will yield the best tasting espresso coffee.
Having an espresso machine that will brew at exact temperatures will certainly help us in our quest to make the perfect shot. Since our love of espresso coffee and our ability to be scientists should have a goal and a plan to get there I will discuss how this all ties together in part three of espresso as science and perhaps reveal what this all means!
I always applaud those manufacturers who stay close to their product consumers and listen to feedback and suggestions on how to improve or enhance their offerings and communicate with customers as if they are talking to a friend. Too many times I have witnessed products that seem to have a great promise or purpose fail in the marketplace because the maker doesn’t communicate with the user and follow-up and correct or remake the product to fit the needs of the consumer.
That is why I am genuinely happy that Whole Latte Love carries the outstanding line of coffee grinders from the Baratza Company of Bellevue, Washington. This American design and engineering company is focused on making affordable coffee grinders for home-baristas that have professional grade characteristics. Kyra Kennedy and Kyle Anderson, co-founders, have surrounded themselves with a team of employees that is an extension of their collective vision of continuous product improvement and innovation, world-class service, and focus on listening to customers. They have created a socially responsible company that fulfills its corporate citizenship role passionately.
While providing outstanding product support, they have continued to listen to users and have enjoyed phenomenal success as a result. For example, they introduced an affordable home-use burr grinder, the Maestro in 2001. They continuously analyzed customer feedback, and made changes and improvements to the Maestro grinders in 2003, 2007 and 2010. This pattern of continuous improvement and listening to users is the rock-solid key to product success and market dominance.
This month Whole Latte Love is participating in launching the Baratza Encore which is the next generation of coffee grinder replacing the Maestro series. It is very apparent that they have retained all of the best operating characteristics of the Maestro series, while introducing improvements in under-the-hood design, engineered materials and precision manufacturing methods from around the globe. The grinder is designed and engineered in USA, the burrs are precision machined in Liechtenstein, and more parts are manufactured in Taiwan along with final assembly of the grinder.
The major changes included in the Encore include:
The shape and appearance of the Encore is barely changed from the Maestro, and the popular existing accessory enhancements like the Baratza Portafilter holder and the Baratza Esatto grind control scales will also fit the Encore.
Important features that migrated to the new design unchanged include a weighted base, 40-step grind settings (although they grind finer at the low end), and an efficient DC motor that still rotates the burrs at a slow 450 RPM for cool static-free grinding. Perhaps the aspect that will be most appreciated is that even with all of the changes and enhancements the price of the Encore is still the same as the Maestro.
I am confident that those who purchase the new Encore will be very satisifed with the performance of the grinder, and pleased with the Baratza company culture and customer interface.
It’s time for the fourth, and final, installment of the “Best Bang for Your Buck” blog series. This time around, I’m highlighting the grinders I believe offer the best value for your money. I’ll sort our grinders into three categories: drip, espresso and universal.
Judging criteria will include: price, ease of use, build quality, overall durability, and access to after-sale parts and service. I know you’ve probably read this elsewhere, but remember not to short change your grinder. It is actually half of the equation to brewing a solid shot of espresso. Even for drip coffee, you’ll need to spend more than $20 for a blade grinder. Blade grinders, as you may have read, simply spin around two blades at high speed and chop the beans into smaller pieces. Chopping the beans can burn and actually change the flavor structure of the coffee, which is why we tend to recommend burr grinders, here at Whole Latte Love. Burr grinders produce more consistent grinds and help eliminate heat transfer to preserve the flavor of your beans. With that in mind, let’s get right into it…
For drip-coffee drinkers, I’m going to go with the Jura Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder. It’s under $100, unless you go for the stainless steel body, and is a solid little grinder. Sporting a pair of conical burrs, 16 grind settings, a gear-reduction system, and running at a low RPM rate of 420, the Infinity is a great companion for drip coffee makers. While it won’t deliver grounds exact enough for commercial portafilter baskets, you could argue that this grinder can produce results good enough for espresso machines with pressurized portafilter systems. Overall, the Jura Capresso Infinity is an excellent grinder for under $100.
For espresso lovers, once you factor in price, the Baratza Virtuoso and Virtuoso Preciso are incredible grinders that can cater to almost any espresso machine, all the way up to Prosumer-level units. The Virtuoso has a hardened burr set, a beefy, 480-watt motor, a metal retaining collar on the top burr( to eliminate the flex that results in different-sized coffee particles) and 40 grind settings. This grinder can accommodate any of the Gaggia semi-autos, with their exacting commercial portafilters, and deliver the grinds needed to produce great shots. The Virtuoso Preciso is basically the Virtuoso evolved. It is $100 more but has an additional 11 micro adjustments per grinder setting, giving you a total of 440 grind settings. You’ll be able to fine-tune your espresso grind to accommodate machines as finicky as the Rancilio Silvia. The Silvia is one of the most demanding semi-automatic machines we carry. It’s a great feat for any grinder to keep up with Miss Silvia.
Lastly, the Baratza Vario gets my vote as the “Best Bang for your Buck” in the combo or all-purpose grinder category. If you brew multiple types of coffee, there is nothing else that compares or even comes close to the Vario. Other grinders may have more settings, bigger motors and hoppers, but none pulls it all together like the Vario. Within its compact frame lies a pair of Mahlkonig 54mm ceramic burrs, 230 grinder settings, and a digital timer for hands-free operation. The ceramic burrs last twice as long as their steel counterparts and Mahlkonig is the leading ceramic-burr manufacturer. There are two dials on each side of the grinder, one with 10 macro and 23 micro settings. Switching between the settings is as easy as sliding the dials up or down and, unlike infinite grinders, you can duplicate the grind setting every time. Regardless of whether you’re using an espresso machine, French press, stovetop or drip coffee maker, the versatile Vario can keep up with all your needs.
I hope you enjoyed this blog. Feel free to leave a comment and weigh in on my top picks.
One of the things I enjoy the most about the coffee industry is the variety. I really like all the different types of people who are involved with the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). It truly is a diverse group of passionate people who really love what they are doing. I am always quite impressed by the fact that everyone shares a common goal–make better coffee.
Trade shows, such as the one recently hosted by the SCAA, and new products are so important to keep the industry going. Many of the most exciting new products are being made by established brands represented by Whole Latte Love. For example, one of the biggest hits at this year’s SCAA show was the weight-driven grinder produced by our good friends, Kyle and Kyra from Baratza. It is the only grinder that will actually grind the amount of coffee you need, based on weight and not time. I could see this grinder being used at home or in a commercial application to grind accurate and consistent doses of coffee. Baratza’s weight-driven grinder also has a great set of conical burrs from MAHLKÖNIG. This innovative grinder made Baratza’s booth very busy at the SCAA show. I think the company has hit a home run with this grinder. Baratza has always made great products and its technology keeps improving. Whole Latte Love will be carrying the new Baratza grinder shortly, so if you’re interested in this grinder be sure to check back to our site.
Also at the Baratza booth was Bill Crossland, previously of La Marzocco fame. Bill, not one to be out done, also unveiled a new product. It was the Crossland Espresso machine. The machine has many features including a PID-controlled boiler for precise brew temperatures. It also has a digital display for brewing temperature as well as volumetric controls. The Crossland Espresso machine even comes outfitted with an integrated shot timer as well as programmable pre-infusion, a two-liter water reservoir and a thermo enhanced steam outlet. I really think this machine will create a lot of buzz; we will be getting it as soon as it is available. I look forward to doing a video on this machine.
Bill is also coming out with a great line of precise water dispensing devices. They are uniquely designed and can actually not only deliver water at a specific temperature, but also pour it in a fashion that mimics the circular motion that would be used by someone using one of the pour over coffee devices such as a Melittta or Chemex coffee brewer.
Another one of my show favorites was the Espro booth. They are very passionate about what they are doing and it shows in the enthusiasm they have for all of their products. Espro has a new stainless steel French press that brews a little differently than the norm. It actually keeps the grounds in a neat little basket and has a unique way of extracting coffee that is a lot less messy than the average French press. I also really like one of Espro’s tampers. It actually lets you know when you have hit 30 pounds of pressure. Again, you should be seeing Espro products on our site in the near future.
I really enjoyed the show, the classes as well all the cool things I was able to look at and try. If you have any questions about these products or the SCAA show, feel free to leave me a comment.
Whole Latte Love Sales
In this video I'll go over the difference between a french press grind and an espresso grind and show you what each looks like. I also discuss the difference between a blade grinder and a burr grinder. Hope you enjoy the video. Happy brewing!
Two great machines unite—the Rancilio Silvia and the Baratza Virtuoso Preciso. These machines have been paired together to offer excellent value and superior results. In our video, Mark and I will give you an overview of the components and capabilities of this grinder and semi-automatic espresso machine combo. We’ll also brew a shot of espresso and give you a look at the final product, so you can see exactly what this package is capable of…Enjoy!
The coffee community has been anxiously awaiting the Baratza Virtuoso Preciso for over a year. Now that the Preciso has arrived, it certainly will not disappoint.
The Virtuoso has been a wildly popular home grinder for quite some time, garnering high praise for its reliability, efficient operation and compact frame. But if espresso lovers had one gripe, it would be the grinder's lack of micro adjustments. While the 40 standard grind settings are more than adequate for most people, there are some people who desire greater control over their grind. The Virtuoso Preciso is made to cater to them. Along with the 40 macro settings, the Preciso offers an additional 11 micro settings. Each micro range is equal to one macro setting, so you'll be able to fine-tune your grind to get exactly what you need, coarser for French Press or finer for espresso.
Aside from expanded grind adjustments the Preciso also comes with upgraded 40mm conical burrs. Designed for precision, these burrs deliver uniform coffee as well as very precise espresso grinds. With the improved burrs, the Preciso has seen remarkable speed improvements as well. Depending on the grind, you're looking at producing 1.8-2.5 grams per seconds—pretty impressive speeds for a home grinder. Though the first series of the Preciso grinders did not come equipped with these upgraded burrs, Baratza will be happy to replace your burrs if you have purchased one of these units. If your grinder was purchased before November 15, 2010, chances are it was equipped with the old set of burrs and is now eligible for an upgrade. (Be sure to contact firstname.lastname@example.org for more information.)
Expanded grind adjustments and enhanced burrs are sure to make the Preciso a highly sought after grinder, but this model has not strayed too far from the winning Baratza formula. It retains a small, kitchen-counter friendly footprint and easy-to-use controls—attributes that have made previous Baratza grinders so popular with home users. The 480-watt gear reduction motor is powerful enough for most users and the Preciso is relatively quiet for its class. The burrs operate at only 450rpm to reduce heat transfer to your coffee and help preserve flavor and aroma. As an added bonus, the Preciso comes with a hands-free portaholder. Use it in conjunction with the integrated timer and you'll be able to set your portafilter in place, program the grinder to deliver the exact amount of coffee needed and walk away. At under $300, the Preciso is a great investment for espresso lovers looking for a precise, utilitarian burr grinder.
I love the Baratza Vario because it is a great little grinder with all of the bells and whistles of the expensive commercial coffee grinders at a fraction of the price. Given its programmable features and ability to alternate easily among different grind settings, the Vario is the perfect grinder for anyone who brews different coffee styles like I do.
There are only a few days left before October 31 and our 5th Annual Halloween Contest is in full swing. This year, coffee lovers have to guess how much candy corn we have stashed in the bean hoppers of five different grinders: the Gaggia MDF, Rancilio Rocky, Baratza Vario, and Ceado E7. The Whole Latte Love member with a guess closest to the actual count will take home the Gaggia MDF. The second-place prize is a $100 Whole Latte Love Gift Certificate.
If you’re serious about winning one of these great prizes, I’ve got a few tips to help you out. First, a little research goes a long way. Check out our product descriptions for these grinders, chances are you’ll be able to find the bean hopper capacity of each model. Determine the total capacity and you’ll have a rough idea of how much volume we’re working with. Also, keep in mind that candy corn is bigger and denser than coffee beans. For example, if a hopper can hold 500 beans, it won’t be able to hold nearly as much candy corn. Last but not least, make sure you watch Tracy and Darren’s video. It will give you a live-action visual of what we’re talking about and may be able to help you eyeball the count.
Remember, you have to be a Whole Latte Love member, 18+ and located in the continental US to win. Good luck and Happy Halloween!
A few weeks ago, in anticipation of the arrival of Kona beans and my desire to brew it as espresso, drip and French press, I decided that it would be a great time to put a Baratza Vario to the test. Given its programmable features and ability to alternate among different grind settings, I figured that it would be the perfect grinder for the job.
The Vario is amazingly well designed with a small footprint. It is the patriarch of the Baratza line which includes the Virtuoso, Maestro Plus and Maestro. It measures 14.5" high by 4.5" wide by 7.25" deep and weighs in at 10 pounds. One of the nicest features is that all of the controls and functions are on the front of the grinder.
The Vario delivers an incredibly wide range of grinds with 230 possible settings to choose from ranging from 250 micrometers to 1200 micrometers. It uses macro and micro adjustments, where one macro setting is equal to a full range of the micro settings. This makes it easy to fine tune and dial in the right grind, and, makes it simple to duplicate previous settings.
Ceramic 54mm burrs, developed in collaboration with Mahlkonig, help to reduce friction during the grind process, keeping the beans cooler helping to retain the intended flavor characteristics from roasting. One of the advantages to having ceramic burrs is that they are resistant to having coffee oils stick to them, keeping them cleaner. Another key benefit to ceramic burrs is that they have twice the lifespan of stainless steel burrs.
The Vario has simple and easy programmability. There are separate programmable buttons for espresso, drip and press, so you simply press your preset button and push the start button. The timers can adjust down to 1/10th of a second for precise grind amounts. This latest version of the Vario features a battery back-up in case power fails so that you will not lose any of your programmed settings.
There are two dosing options on this feature filled grinder. For drip, press or cold brew it uses a simple, removable bin to catch your grounds. Baratza has included their PortaHolder accessory for grinding directly into your portafilter if that is what you prefer. It can be adjusted to accommodate different sized portafilters. This is a very convenient feature, but, as with most doserless grinders, it does require more clean up afterwards.
The Baratza Vario made it very simple to enjoy my Kona beans in all three styles of brewing, with very little time between adjustments. The programmed buttons made the dosing easy with very little waste of quality beans. Overall, the Vario is a great little grinder, with all of the bells and whistles of the expensive commercial coffee grinders at a fraction of the price.
How many different brewing styles do you use to make coffee?
What do you think of having all of these features in one grinder? | <urn:uuid:b18df359-03c8-475d-acca-32e5ddf8fae6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wholelattelove.com/baratza.cfm?cid=3&scid=0&bid=70&vid=88&prid=0&crid=22&clid=0&ulcid=0&ulmid=0&ultid=0&query= | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945808 | 5,143 | 1.617188 | 2 |
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The National Farmers Union issued the following news release:
National Farmers Union (http://www.nfu.org/)(NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement today following a new round of criticisms that federal crop insurance programs chiefly benefit insurance companies and large farmers:
"It is vitally important that farm policy include programs for farmers and ranchers to manage their risks of bad yields and low incomes, and the current system of crop insurance does a good job of that. However, crop insurance, particularly revenue protections, should not be considered a replacement for fair market prices.
"Last summer's drought was devastating for many farmers around the country, but the damage was not as catastrophic as it was in other bad years, like the 1988 drought, largely because the crop insurance system provided a vitally necessary backstop. Only 55.8 million acres of major crops were covered by crop insurance in 1988, while in 2011, a total of 265.4 million were insured. More farmers carry crop insurance coverage today so that they might be able to stay in business through tough times.
"NFU also believes that crop insurance subsidies, like other safety net programs, should be targeted to family-sized farmers.
"NFU has supported reasonable limits on the amount of crop insurance premium subsidies that farmers can receive. During the Senate consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill, NFU supported an amendment that would have reduced premium subsidies by 15 percent for farms with adjusted gross incomes greater than $750,000. This would have saved $1.2 billion over 10 years. Furthermore, NFU policy supports a limit of $75,000 worth of crop insurance premium subsidies that one farmer can receive in a year."
TNS 61RiaMontes 130117-4169521 StaffFurigay | <urn:uuid:108b51ec-2106-4200-8705-58dd0a9295ec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=369614 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965812 | 369 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Mr. Farrell, does belief change your personal outlook on life?
Belief is very important. It’s like when you are riding a horse and you want it to go to the left, you look to the left first and then pull the horse’s head. As a human being it is the same thing: wherever you put your attention is probably where you are going to find yourself. With that in mind, the ideas of imagination and stories are very important for a more real and centralized truth.
Do you believe in fairy tales?
I believe in fucking everything, man. Human life is magic – in all its tragedies and all its glory; it’s really magic that we exist here at all. If you think about what it takes to create a life it’s just insane. But we get away from that way too easily.
Because we worry too much?
Yes, because we are consumed with existence, mortgages, jobs, competition, clothes, cars, houses. It is nice to allow the imagination room to breath again and see life as something that is spectacular and magic. And sometimes we need the imagination to do that, to take us out of our immediate environment. Then we can come back into our environment with that gift that we’ve been bestowed.
Would you agree that people in smaller villages aren’t as affected by these worries?
There is a more community-based existence and people share their lives more. They don’t have the fortune or misfortune to isolate from each other as much as possible. I am not saying that people don’t choose to, but in the city people tend to be more self-centered even though they are more crushed together.
They can be anonymous.
City people tend to be more self-centered and self-driven, where in the smaller villages – and of course these are generalizations – people share stories, experiences, grief, and celebration. The support behind local football teams in certain rural villages around Ireland, for example, is insane; it’s brilliant. They all gather in the pub and celebrate a victory, you know.
Speaking of pubs, you once said that you learned at your first acting job how to drink during work.
Yeah, that was a mad gig. But I was too drunk and hyperactive back in the day.
Do you drink at all anymore?
Nah, I just have no desire to do that anymore. I am very fucking lucky that way, that it’s not something I white-knuckle my way through, that it’s not something that I feel like I am lacking in my life.
Did becoming a parent change your outlook on things?
I actually don’t think that parenthood changes you. I don’t think it does in and of itself – I know it doesn’t. Look around the world and you can see that it doesn’t. And I was adamant that it wouldn’t change me.
Not many people would sit here and tell me that…
But it doesn’t change your life. You can use it as a platform for change, which I eventually did. Three years into being a father I was like, “Why am I so fucking insistent that being a father shouldn’t change my life?” It should change my life. Is my life so fucking good that it shouldn’t be changed? I mean, personally? And then I let it in more and that was the way it was. I was adamant that I was just going to be the cool dad and I wasn’t having a son, I was having a friend – you know, all that kind of stuff. So eventually I let the change in. Yeah, it’s a glorious change, Jesus.
Are there any worries that come with being a father?
The world has always been an incredibly dangerous place, but I live in very safe circumstances. Fear is an incredibly powerful force and I think in order to not let fear become a destructive thing you must acknowledge it and not let it dominate your life. I will just do my best to protect my son.
No more drinking, raising kids, working all the time. How do you balance your life?
I do have it really good. I have a house in Los Angeles and an apartment that I rent in Dublin even though I only stay there about three times a year – Christmas for two weeks and then I try to bring my son home at least once a year so he can hear the great Irish accent from somebody other than me. That gives my life the balance I need. Where I come from is very important to me.
You still have that image of the bad boy, though. Is that something you don’t want to be attached to anymore?
I am not attached to anything with regard to people’s opinions. Which is not to say opinions don’t affect me, but I am definitely not attached to them. I run not from anything nor run towards anything either, do you know what I mean?
People often say that having kids makes them choose different films. I guess that doesn’t count for you either?
I am only going to do Pixar films from now on. No, there is no specific kind of criteria of what I want to pursue regarding my work. When you read something and it speaks to you, you know it right away. Of course it always depends a bit on where you are in your life as well or even the kind of mood that you are in when you read it, but something either speaks to you or it doesn’t.
What about the scripts with a big paycheck attached to them, maybe you choose those yourself?
I love a big paycheck; it’s grand. I have no repulsion to that idea. I love a good action film, I love the spectacle of going to the cinema, so if I can find something big that I think can reach the goals it has, that will open big, then I do it. But only if I like it. In the past years it has just seemed like the more intimate films were the ones worth it.Return to Top | <urn:uuid:c6795d53-c678-4829-a2f7-f1eca7147325> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.the-talks.com/interviews/colin-farrell/ | 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 | 0.974962 | 1,284 | 1.625 | 2 |
Pew’s latest annual report on the state of the news media is out and should be required reading today. It’s on the top of my stack when I get time later today, but for now a few summaries and reactions will have to suffice.
Pew provides their own guide to “key findings” in various areas, from changes in the digital world to the continuing transformation in the economics of news. Among the main points. Advertising revenue is growing, but most is going to the big boys, Google and Facebook. Some trickles down, such as through the Google ads on this blog. But you can’t make a living that way, especially in local markets.
Paywalls are in, with more appearing all the time. The Seattle Times and the Washington Post have both announced they are moving behind a subscription paywall. The movement has reached a critical mass, and the pace of conversion is likely to increase.
From a website called PandoDaily comes this observation:
Consider this sentence from Pew: “A growing list of media outlets, such as Forbes magazine, use technology by a company called Narrative Science to produce content by way of algorithm, no human reporting necessary.” This was only one sentence from Pew’s report, but it is a portentous one. Narrative Science automatically creates stories out of raw data that would otherwise have been written by human hands. More robots producing news means fewer humans needed for the task.
This follows but dramatically extends the idea of outsourcing local news to reporters on the other side of the world who check in by phone or online to get the material they need to write stories about small towns and cities in the U.S. That was bad enough. Now robots? Of course, some of today’s talking heads might as well be robots, I suppose.
And from the Washington Post, “The political media’s declining power.”
When news organizations are pushed out of the information pipeline, voters alone are left to sort through messages that are tested in focus groups and opposition attacks tailored with great specificity. And on the heels of a presidential campaign in which one candidate’s pollster said he refused to let the campaign be dictated by fact-checkers, such a strategy is growing easier to execute.
The facts are these: Campaigns and candidates have more power than ever before to frame both their positive narrative and their opponents’ negative one. And, if the Pew numbers are right, both sides are spending much more time on the negative side of the ledger — at least in 2012.
And so it goes in the world of news. | <urn:uuid:2f3ded67-3157-424a-94e1-28fbccca921c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ilind.net/2013/03/19/put-the-pew-report-on-the-top-of-your-reading-list/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962478 | 546 | 1.8125 | 2 |
I’ve never understood why liberals think that entrusting their health care to government employees will result in more generous or compassionate treatment. Insurance companies have to compete, after all, while there is only one federal government. Now, the Independent Institute cites data from the American Medical Association’s National Health Insurer Report Card that indicate Medicare denies claims at twice the rate of private insurance companies:
According to the American Medical Association’s National Health Insurer Report Card for 2008, the government’s health plan, Medicare, denied medical claims at nearly double the average for private insurers: Medicare denied 6.85% of claims. The highest private insurance denier was Aetna @ 6.8%, followed by Anthem Blue Cross @ 3.44, with an average denial rate of medical claims by private insurers of 3.88%
In its 2009 National Health Insurer Report Card, the AMA reports that Medicare denied only 4% of claims–a big improvement, but outpaced better still by the private insurers. The prior year’s high private denier, Aetna, reduced denials to 1.81%–an astounding 75% improvement–with similar declines by all other private insurers, to average only 2.79%.
I’m not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. I suspect that many more claims are fraudulent or otherwise inappropriate than are denied by either private carriers or Medicare, with higher costs the result for the rest of us. But the Democrats have been relentlessly demagoguing the private health insurance industry by pointing out that insurers sometimes deny claims. In that context, it is noteworthy that the government does so twice as often. And it is certainly true that once the government has your health care safely in its hands, it will treat you with the same shoddy carelessness that typifies every socialized medicine system in the world. | <urn:uuid:d0b2be85-3499-453d-a148-bf26a8f673d8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/12/025203.php?tsize=small&tsize=large&tsize=small | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944889 | 384 | 1.601563 | 2 |
JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - 5:30 p.m. is not the usual time to hold a 5K run, but it made sense for Saturday night's event. The organizers did not want people to get sunburned.
"We do it in the evening when we're out of the hottest rays of the sun and it's really caught on because you'll notice a lot of families are out here too," said Clarion Ledger cartoonist Marshall Ramsey.
It is the 7th annual Run From The Sun to raise awareness about Melanoma skin cancer. Free screenings are offered before and after the run.
"I got an email this week from a lady who got screened and had cancer and she found it here. She was so appreciative that we did this and that makes all the hard work worth it," said Leonard E. Warren Melanoma Foundation President Keith Warren.
For organizers Warren and Ramsey this hits close to home. Warren's father died from the cancer and Ramsey is a survivor.
"I'm great," said Ramsey. "I was very fortunate that it got caught early and that's why we do the race. We want folks to get that same chance that I had."
Melanoma strikes children too, like ten year old Khloe Fowlkes of Brandon. "She has had 6 surgeries, has spent a month in Houston at the hospital and goes back every three months for check ups," said Khloe's mother Missy Fowlkes.
"It has been kind of scary in some parts and then in some parts it has been exciting," said Khloe who is referring to being in remission for the last year.
"It just feels good to stay where I'm at," said Khloe.
Every dollar raised in the run will go to help research a cure and education others about skin cancer. Organizers expected to raise $30,000.
©2010 WLBT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:65c30fac-17f1-48ec-84b1-ad1b050c2bf0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/12290372/7th-annual-run-from-the-sun-draws-hundreds | 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 | 0.983965 | 417 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Get involved: send your pictures and news by texting Hillingdon Times to 80360, or email us
Meat not from approved firm - Tesco
Meat in Tesco burgers which was found to contain horse DNA did not come from a list of approved suppliers, the supermarket has said.
The meat also came from outside the UK or Ireland, which was contrary to company policy. The supermarket has dropped its frozen burger supplier, Silvercrest, following what it termed a "breach of trust".
It has vowed to introduce a DNA testing system on meat products to "ensure the quality" of the food on its shelves in the wake of the scandal.
It said: "The evidence tells us that our frozen burger supplier, Silvercrest, used meat in our products that did not come from the list of approved suppliers we gave them. Nor was the meat from the UK or Ireland, despite our instruction that only beef from the UK and Ireland should be used in our frozen beefburgers.
"Consequently we have decided not to take products from that supplier in future. We took that decision with regret but the breach of trust is simply too great."
Tesco was forced to issue a public apology earlier this month after tests in Ireland discovered traces of horse meat in three frozen beefburger lines.
The findings sparked a national outcry and 10 million burgers were taken off shelves as a result of the scandal. The supermarket launched an investigation into how the meat ended up in stores in the UK and Ireland on January 16.
It has promised to set a "new standard" with the introduction of a testing system designed to detect "any deviation from our high standards".
It issued a statement saying: "Ultimately Tesco is responsible for the food we sell, so it is not enough just to stop using the supplier.... To underpin the strong measures already in place, we will now introduce a comprehensive system of DNA testing across our meat products.
"This will identify any deviation from our high standards. These checks will set a new standard." | <urn:uuid:f45b3aa9-40eb-4371-9027-be120056fcbb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/uk_national_news/10193664.Meat_not_from_approved_firm___Tesco/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971389 | 416 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Without being able to drive, I’ve always thought that blind people who use guide dogs — especially those of us who live in big cities — must walk more than the average person does. Now I have a chance to prove it.
Some of you blog readers know I have a part-time job at Easter Seals Headquarters here in Chicago — last week they started a six-week “Walk For U, Go The Extra Mile” challenge as part of their wellness program. Every employee received a free pedometer to keep track of progress for six weeks, and those of us who meet the daily goal of 7,000 steps per day — a distance of 3.5 miles — throughout the entire six weeks will be entered into a drawing to win a six-month fitness club membership.
The human resources department here realized I wouldn’t be able to read the number of steps I’d taken each day on my own, so they ordered a special talking pedometer for me — it says my results out loud. And so, I’m on my way to prove my theory.
The list of requirements for people applying to train with a Seeing Eye dog says candidates need to be able to walk one or two miles a day:
Applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 75, motivated and emotionally stable, capable of walking one to two miles a day, and able to receive and implement instruction.
In a post I published on the Easter Seals blog about all this, I explained that when you live in a city you can’t simply open a sliding glass patio door to let your guide dog out. I take Whitney down the street, around the corner and to her favorite tree at least four times a day. That’s 1,000 steps per trip. My talking pedometer counted out 12,157 steps the day I walked to Walgreens to pick up prescriptions, and that included a safety shortcut I take each way to cross State Street. Whitney and I walk down the subway stairs on one side, pad along under State Street and then ascend the stairs on the other side…safe & sound.
Not sure what Whitney and I will do with the free six-month fitness club membership when we win the “Walk For U, Go The Extra Mile” challenge at Easter Seals. Seems to me we already have a free pass to the gym: running errands in our neighborhood is like using a treadmill, and every El station is a StairMaster! | <urn:uuid:285e8600-17d3-48a6-aff1-370396184356> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bethfinke.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/i-think-the-prize-should-really-be-a-free-night-in-a-fancy-hotel/ | 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 | 0.945082 | 512 | 1.679688 | 2 |
The New York Times printed my Op-Ed today on how the High Line "has become a tourist-clogged catwalk and a catalyst for some of the most rapid gentrification in the city’s history."
August 21, 2012
Disney World on the Hudson
By JEREMIAH MOSS
WHEN the first segment of the High Line, the now-famous park built atop an old elevated railway on the West Side of Manhattan, opened in 2009, I experienced a moment of excitement. I had often wondered what it would be like to climb that graffiti-marked trestle with its wild urban meadow. Of course, I’d seen the architectural renderings and knew not to expect a wilderness. Still, the idea was enticing: a public park above the hubbub, a contemplative space where nature softens the city’s abrasiveness.
Today it’s difficult to remember that initial feeling. The High Line has become a tourist-clogged catwalk and a catalyst for some of the most rapid gentrification in the city’s history.
My skepticism took root during my first visit. The designers had scrubbed the graffiti and tamed the wildflowers. Guards admonished me when my foot moved too close to a weed. Was this a park or a museum? I felt like I was in the home of a neatnik with expensive tastes, afraid I would soil the furnishings.
But the park was a hit. Fashion models strutted up and down. Shoppers from the meatpacking district boutiques commandeered the limited number of benches, surrounded by a phalanx of luxury clothing bags. I felt underdressed.
That rarefied state didn’t last, though. As the High Line’s hype grew, the tourists came clamoring. Originally meant for running freight trains, the High Line now runs people, except where those people jam together like spawning salmon crammed in a bottleneck. The park is narrow, and there are few escape routes. I’ve gotten close to a panic attack, stuck in a pool of stagnant tourists at the park’s most congested points.
Not yet four years old, the High Line has already become another stop on the must-see list for out-of-towners, another chapter in the story of New York City’s transformation into Disney World. According to the park’s Web site, 3.7 million people visited the High Line in 2011, only half of them New Yorkers. It’s this overcrowding — not just of the High Line, but of the streets around it — that’s beginning to turn the tide of sentiment.
Recently, an anonymous local set off a small media storm by posting fliers around the park that read: “Attention High Line tourists. West Chelsea is not Times Square. It is not a tourist attraction.” A local newspaper talked to a 24-year-old who reported that young people who once met for dates at the park now say, “How about doing something that doesn’t involve the High Line?”
But the problem isn’t just the crowds. It’s that the park, which will eventually snake through more than 20 blocks, is destroying neighborhoods as it grows.
And it’s doing so by design. While the park began as a grass-roots endeavor — albeit a well-heeled one — it quickly became a tool for the Bloomberg administration’s creation of a new, upscale, corporatized stretch along the West Side. As socialites and celebrities championed the designer park during its early planning stages, whipping community support into a heady froth, the city rezoned West Chelsea for luxury development in 2005.
The neighborhood has since been completely remade. Old buildings fell and mountain ranges of glassy towers with names like High Line 519 and HL23 started to swell — along with prices.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation published a study last year stating that before the High Line was redeveloped, “surrounding residential properties were valued 8 percent below the overall median for Manhattan.” Between 2003 and 2011, property values near the park increased 103 percent.
This is good news for the elite economy but not for many who have lived and worked in the area for decades. It’s easy to forget that until very recently, even with the proliferation of art galleries near the West Side Highway, West Chelsea was a mix of working-class residents and light-industrial businesses.
But the High Line is washing all that away. D&R Auto Parts saw its profits fall by more than 35 percent. Once-thriving restaurants like La Lunchonette and Hector’s diner, a local anchor since 1949, have lost their customer base.
Hardest hit have been the multigenerational businesses of “gasoline alley.” Mostly auto-related establishments that don’t fit into Michael R. Bloomberg’s luxury city vision, several vanished in mere months, like species in a meteoric mass extinction. Bear Auto Shop was out after decades; the Olympia parking garage, after 35 years, closed when its rent reportedly quintupled.
Brownfeld Auto, on West 29th Street near 10th Avenue, lost its lease after nearly a century. Today it’s another hole in the ground. Its third-generation owner, Alan Brownfeld, blamed the High Line for taking away the thriving business he’d inherited from his grandfather. “It’s for the city’s glamorous people,” he said.
Mr. Brownfeld is right, for now. But just as the High Line’s early, trendy denizens gave way to touristic hordes, Chelsea’s haute couture moment may be fleeting. As big a brand as Stella McCartney is, she can’t compete with global chains like Sephora, which are muscling into the area’s commercial space.
Within a few years, the ecosystem disrupted by the High Line will find a new equilibrium. The aquarium-like high rises will be for the elite, along with a few exclusive locales like the Standard Hotel. But the new locals will rarely be found at street level, where chain stores and tourist-friendly restaurants will cater to the crowds of passers-by and passers-through. Gone entirely will be regular New Yorkers, the people who used to call the neighborhood home. But then the High Line was never really about them.
Folsom East and The Eagle | <urn:uuid:5d3efcb2-5906-41f2-8e13-65bdcf3d902f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/2012/08/disney-world-on-hudson.html?showComment=1345670410317 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9531 | 1,357 | 1.65625 | 2 |
No offence to anyone. But i personally think that people should only be able to change the sex on their birth certificates after they have had gender reasignment surgery.
Why? Your gender identity is not dependant on what you have, or don’t have, between your legs – why do people keep trotting out this particular irrelevance? Why are people so obsessed with genitalia?
And starting a comment with “no offence…” usually means you’re about to say something you know to be deeply offensive…
I wouldn’t care what I had between my legs, so I don’t really understand why people feel they need to change gender. In a sense the desire to deny the gender we’re born with is the opposite of pride.
I’m sorry that you don’t understand this issue, but surprised that you nonetheless seem more interested in putting forward uninformed views rather than going away and educating yourself some more. There are many excellent resources available on the web that provide information on gender dysphoria and help articulate trans experiences for the benefit of people such as yourself.
Well that is pretty much what defines males and females whether you like it or not. How do you think gender is defined? perhaps you think we should choose it for ourselves then discard it when we get boreed with it?
Leave us alone, troll. You are biologically and morally wrong.
What do morals have to do with it. Which moral authority are you invoking for your assertion that I am morally wrong?
Your constant promotion of flawed biological essentialist viewpoints helps to reinforce a kyriarchal structure that harms feminism, queer rights, and equalities as a whole. That’s all you’re getting from me – if you don’t understand what you’re being told, look it up. Educate yourself, troll. Stop baiting others to do it for you.
Fascinating. When you meet someone on the street, do you ask to see their crotch before deciding whether to call them “he” or “she”?
Do you get arrested a lot?
No offence, but stop obsessing with other people’s genitals without their consent!
Some people don’t feel the need to conform to what their body “should” look like. There are also so many options for surgery. At what stage would you deem someone elses genitals worthy enough of a letter on a piece of paper?
Bash me all you want. I am only stating my personal opinion, which i am entitled to. I believe my view is shared by the majority of the British public. If you honestly think i said something “deeply offensive” then you honestly need to get out more. Nearly all countries that allow gender reassignment surgery only allowed people to change their gender legally after going through the surgery.
There has to become a point at which someone can call themselves male or female legally.
Robbie, I agree with you, there does have to be such a point.. The UK GRA doesn’t require surgery, so the point at which someone can be legally defined as a man or woman does NOT depend on surgery. The reason the UK took this approach is to recognise that surgery is not a feasible proposition for some, and is far more risky and intrusive for trans men than trans women. I presume California has taken the same view, that who we are exists in our brain and not between our legs.
Let me know if you ever lose your ‘bits’ in a car crash though, and I’ll see if I can get you declassified according to your own special rules!!
That is different and you know it. I just do not see the need for someone to call themselves by a new sex when they havent even had a sex change. By using that logic, that means i could call myself a woman tomrrow. All i would have to do would to be dress up as one. If they have had the surgery, then i completely understand why they should be classified as having a new gender. ,
“By using that logic, that means i could call myself a woman tomrrow.”
In what respect is this a problem? Apart from the fact that you presumably do not experience yourself as being a woman – in which case, why would you go to the trouble of changing your birth certificate in the first place?
People transition physically long before surgery which for a lot of people only changes genitals or sometimes breasts as most of the changes are caused by trans people taking hormones.
Do you really think someone who just looks like any other women but has a penis should still have a male birth certificate when would cause them large amounts of discrimination?
Male and female brains are markedly different in form and usage, therefore it should not be sufficient to think you are the opposite to what your genitals scream at you. If a supposed man ‘claims’ to be a woman, he should submit to a brain examiination (at his own expense) to determine whether or not the brain is male or female. Fals e gender claims are testable and debunkable. No male to date has ever been known to have a female brain!
I would like to be a horse. Do I need species reassignment surgeryor can I just assert that I am a horse and sue anyone that says I am not?
Why dont you just go and stand in a field, and spare us all from your bigoted inanities.
While you’re there, maybe you can take some time to think about why your ridiculous analogies don’t work.
You are obviously an equinaphobic bigot
These comments have just shown me that the transgender community cannot take other people views on board, even if they aren’t really offensive. I can sit and have a debate with someone about their views on me being gay, but i don’t go and bash them and call them a bigot at a wim. They would have to be really offensive for me to say that.
I regret something i just said a minute ago. I said that people in the transgender community cannot take criticism. What i meant to say is that some of them can’t. I didn’t mean to generalise. So my apologies. I would also like to point out that in general i have nothing against transgender people. I know its not a sexual fetish and i don’t think it is a mental health illness either.Although i know that WHO says it does. But other organisations say otherwise. As a minority myself being a gay Jew, i know what discrimination is. So i respect transexual people like other people and i actually defend them sometimes. I didn’t like the fact though that i was bashed because i gave my own opinion that people should only be classified as their new gender on their birth certificate only after surgery. I didn’t find that comment offensive. Infact i would say it was a liberal thing to say, as alot of people would say that transexuals shouldnt be allowed to change their gender at all. So as i am not an extremist with my opinions all i have to say is that you respect my right to say what i have to say. I
Oh Robbie. Nobody called you a bigot – we simply deconstructed your arguments (and with considerable restraint, I’d have said). Nobody showed disrespect for your right to say what you said, even if we might have wished you’d made an effort to inform yourself properly about the issues involved before putting forward your views. Please respect our right to call you out on those views.
“I didn’t find that comment offensive.”
That’s irrelevant – *you* have no framework to decide what is or isn’t offensive to an underprivileged group you don’t belong to. If you take some time to learn more about trans people’s identities and experiences, you might gain some insight into why we feel offended by your views. In the meantime, I’d recommend that you have a read of this: http://www.derailingfordummies.com/ – it may help you to gain a new perspective on your latest comments.
Actually, for me, your position was objectionable not so much because it was offensive, but because it endorses a state of affairs that is actively harmful to trans people. Why not take some time to read up on the nature of gender, rather than relying on an over-simplistic understanding of human biology? Why not read up on gender dysphoria, and how a delayed or denied recognition of trans people’s identities can be acutely damaging to our mental health? Why not find out about the hurdles we have to overcome, and the levels of discrimination and violence we face when our identities are treated with institutionalised disrespect? Maybe you are more accepting in your attitudes towards trans people than, say, those who stigmatise trans identities and preach hatred towards us, but that’s hardly a good standard against which to measure yourself.
I doubt that anyone here thinks that you’re a terrible person. You’re coming from a position of ignorance, so it’s hardly surprising that you messed up. We all mess up from time to time, when we don’t notice our own privilege in our dealings with people from marginalized groups. The trick is to *listen* (accepting that any person who’s directly affected by what we’ve said will almost certainly know a lot more about it than we do), apologise, read up on the issue, and move on.
So much prejudice from the gay community, some of which I believe is misogynist and particularly trans-mysogynist.
So many of you guys want to ‘debate’ whether or not someones gender is genuine.
I really think this is a gender thing in itself. Men debate. I don’t know why….it all just sounds like self aggrandisment and bull to me. Women get offended when someone says something against them and walk off with a poor opinion of the person making the imflammatory statements. That’s why I say those that demand debate are being mysogynist.
Those that don’t accept trans women as women are trans-mysogynist. We know who we are…..your opinion doesn’t count. And it’s not our job to convince you.
I don’t think you are a bigot. But I do think you are a little misinformed on the risks of genital surgeries. I am a trans man and I have no wish to have risky, potentially disfiguring and deeply painful, expensive and repetitive surgeries just for a piece of paper. I am coming to terms with the genitals I have and doing my best to live with that. I should not have to go through such surgeries just for bureaucracy’s sake. Agreed hormones and some long-term proof of transition is necessary. A commitment to live in your true gender permanantly is neccessary. But not surgery. This is a step in the right direction for California.
well, as a gay woman, i once got an very unpleasant surprise, at least for me. i had been dating a woman for awhile, and imagine my surprise when i found a penis when i put my hand in her under pants when we were getting intimate.
you’d have thought at some time in the weeks we were “getting to know” each other, she might have mentioned that i might not find what i expected and make sure i was okay with that. but no, she didn’t have the grace or the good manners to do that.
transpeople demand respect for being who they are – ok, no problem – like many people, i try to do my best – but how about transpeople respect who other people are and their preferences?
in my case, it’s my preference not to encounter male genitals when i am being intimate. and i didn’t even get a chance to try and get used to the idea. i was lied to. and disrespected. | <urn:uuid:df8d7cad-f557-4f22-b8a2-7f1e2e997b08> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/10/11/california-removes-surgery-requirement-for-transgender-birth-certificates/comments/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969014 | 2,540 | 1.523438 | 2 |
- Arts & Lifestyle
- Special Sections
- Community Directory
- Ticket Offers
Minneapolis NAACP changes leadership to a "younger model"
However, as president of the Minneapolis NAACP, Reed said, “Two years became four; Four years was not going to become six.”
Just last year, the national NAACP changed leadership to what Reed describes as a “younger model” in appointing 35-year-old Benjamin T. Jealous as their president. Years before this occurrence, Reed began mentoring Booker Hodges, now 31, in preparation for leadership of Minneapolis branch of the organization.
Only after accepting the appointment did Reed realized how taxing a position it was. “It’s time consuming,” Reed explains, “And until you get in the seat, you don’t know how much, and once you’re in it, you’re in it.”
During this mentoring period, though Hodges knew that he was being prepped as president, he says, “When [Reed] had said that he was ready to make this transition, it kind of caught me by surprise because I was expecting it to happen two years down the road at least.”
The NAACP under Reed
Over the last four years, Reed has spent much of his time at the State Capitol during the legislative sessions lobbying on issues regarding education and joining in with other organizations to draft a brief to move through imminent domain legislation.
His main focus, however, was to bring credibility back to the NAACP Minneapolis branch: “We literally [had] one [foot] on a banana peel and the other one in the grave when it came to this branch five years ago. We’ve turned this branch around with [an] infusion of people who wanted to do the work, and we did it without money.”
Reed says that they have not been successful due to fundraisers, which he describes as the lifeblood of the organization. Nor was their success due to a constant flow of grants from other organization or membership dues, but through networking.
Over the years, the organization has developed strong links to community resources: “Booker will be able to pick up the phone and call the attorney general’s office,” Reed explains, “The feds…the FBI [and]…not get the administrative assistants but get a direct line to people [with authority].”
He believes that the NAACP is a stronger organization than it was five years ago not only because of members or volunteers (he estimates only 100 currently active members), but also through leveraging the organization’s historical nature.
“Me or Booker, [or] anyone that come after him, will only be as strong as the name of the NAACP.”
Is the NAACP still relevant?
One of the biggest misconceptions of the NAACP, Reed says, is in comparing it to its sister organization, the Urban League. Where the Urban League has paid staff, the NAACP exists on an all-volunteer membership, with paid offices at the national level only.
Both Reed and Hodges agree that if youth and young adults do not understand the historical relevance of the NAACP, they may not see the relevance of the organization in their lives. “The old folks [know] it’s relevant and maybe folks my age in their sixties know it’s still relevant,” Reed explains, “but I would imagine folks in the teens and 20s and the 30s don’t see the relevancy because they haven’t lived the relevancy.”
Reed says that the volunteer-based nature of their work creates a challenge in community participation. “If someone says there is some money to be made, you can find a thousand people lined up in the name of advocacy.” Without financial compensation, however, Reed says, people say they don’t have time.
“You have to be firmly passionate about what you are doing as far as leadership,” Reed continues. “If you don’t have that, you’re going to chase the dollar.”
The NAACP under Hodges
Hodges says that there are two central issues that NAACP will focus on under his leadership: economics and education. He believes that the infusion of new jobs created through the stimulus package can make a big difference in communities of color.
He plans to ensure that people of color are not left out of the equation by first drafting a letter to both the Minneapolis and State elected officials, making them aware that the NAACP will be monitoring the number of position filled by people of color. Hodges says that in the past they have had more concerns at the City level than the State. The reconstruction of the 35W bridge actually exceeded expected numbers as it related to percentages of people of color employed, according to Hodges.
Secondly, he says that the NAACP will do all that it can to get the word out to the community. “These jobs are out there, and you don’t need to go to a special school to pour cement… You can have a felony on your record, and you can still get one of these good-paying jobs.”
Reed says that the jobs generated by the stimulus package are only a short-term fix. “Long term, we have to instill [in] our kids that this is a global economy. You have to view it a little more global than your own backyard.”
That’s why Hodges believes education is so important. “[With] outcome-based education, [kids] are forced to sit still for hours on end,” he explains. “What we want to do is go back and take a hard look at [our] educational curriculum, and it’s something that we really haven’t done for a while.”
“We want them to learn how not to go to school to get As, Bs and Cs,” Reed says, “but to go to school to learn to think… Until we get to that point, we’re just going around in a circle.”
Hodges says that as he looks at the current NAACP administration, it is clear that education is what made a difference. He describes the new administration as “a group of young professionals” who don’t easily fit into the mold of what people usually view as activists. Like Hodges, most are born and raised in Minnesota.
He says his job as a deputy sheriff in Dakota County makes his role unique as leading the NAACP, and he admits it may present some challenges.
Even during Reed’s administration, education has been the driving force of the NAACP. It was the NAACP that led the lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools that resulted in the Choice is Yours Program, allowing students access to all public schools within the state, regardless of what city students reside in.
“Education is really what’s going to affect the outcome of our community and the health of our community,” Hodges says.
He plans a much more visible role for the Minneapolis NAACP than that of the past few years by writing regular columns in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He also envisions a public access television show to attract kids and all people from the community to the NAACP.
“It’s a tremendous organization,” Hodges says, “and I just feel that I got involved initially from a historical standpoint… We have to learn from the lesson of the past, but at the same time, it’s time to move forward to a different era, but we need the support of our elders.”
As for Reed, “Obviously I’m not going to drop off the end of the earth,” he says of his involvement with the NAACP. “Just like people mentored me, I’m going to mentor him every step of the way.”
Vickie Evans-Nash welcomes reader response to vnash [at] spokesman-recorder [dot] com.
©2009 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder | <urn:uuid:cef09bee-76d0-4569-83a7-883d5b8841da> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2009/03/04/minneapolis-naacp-changes-leadership-%E2%80%98younger-model%E2%80%99.html | 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 | 0.973182 | 1,712 | 1.742188 | 2 |
For Immediate Release
EMILY’s List Celebrates Signing Of The Violence Against Women Act: With The Help of EMILY’s List Women In Congress, VAWA Finally Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, celebrated President Obama signing the Violence Against Women Act. He was joined at the ceremony by Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Gwen Moore, whose leadership helped successfully pass the legislation protecting women.
“Thanks to the incredible leadership of pro-choice Democratic women in the House and Senate, the Violence Against Women Act has once again become law,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “Flanked by Leader Pelosi and Representative Gwen Moore who fought tirelessly to ensure that all victims of violence were protected, President Obama signed the expansive Senate version of this bill and ended Republican efforts to make protection for women a political issue. Today was a huge – and overdue - victory for women and families across the country.”
During the 2011- 2012 election cycle, EMILY’s List helped elect an historic number of candidates – the only pro-choice Democratic woman governor in the country, 19 new women to the House, six Senate incumbents, and three new Senators – all the first women to represent their states in the Senate. And this cycle, women we’ve helped elect include the first Hindu and first female combat veterans to serve in the House, the first openly gay Senator, and the first Asian American woman to serve in the Senate. With a community that has quintupled since 2010 – now more than two million members strong – EMILY's List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has worked to elect 100 pro-choice Democratic women to the House, 19 to the Senate, 10 governors, and over five hundred women to state and local office. In the 2011-2012 cycle, EMILY's List had the largest number of members and donors in our 28 year history, and raised a record-breaking $52 million dollars. | <urn:uuid:8a34f249-4e5b-4212-97e3-84d61ac88386> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://emilyslist.org/news/releases/emily%E2%80%99s-list-celebrates-signing-violence-against-women-act-help-emily%E2%80%99s-list-women-con | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962928 | 445 | 1.789063 | 2 |
The history of ''SNL'''s presidential impersonators
The history of ''Saturday Night Live'' presidential impersonations extends back to season 1 and has remained both a fixture and a burden ever since. Audiences love how ''SNL'' offers political satire that's pointed or absurd, but rarely savage -- George Bush publicly got a kick out of Dana Carvey's ''naht-gonna-do-it'' bit, making the aloof Kennebunkport WASP seem more chummy. But with cast changes and shifting administrations, pairings have sometimes been an awkward fit. (See Will Ferrell and George W. Bush.)
Dan Aykroyd as Richard Nixon The first superb ''SNL'' prez impersonation. A slicker comic, David Frye, had made his career doing Nixon as furtive and elusive on ''Ed Sullivan,'' but Aykroyd seemed to slip into Nixon's skin, where it was sweaty and the urge to hunch and beetle his brow was reflexive. The president may have been pardoned, but Aykroyd was unforgiving.
Dana Carvey as George Bush Halting, simpering, dropping syllables the way the old boy did to ingratiate himself to the hoi polloi, Carvey made this president nearly as prim as the Church Lady.
Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford He didn't try to look or sound particularly like Ford, as the primary gag was a pratfall. By now you have to explain to young 'uns that because Ford was occasionally clumsy, ''SNL'''s first superstar got easy laughs just by being announced as the president and taking a tumble. Mild yuk.
Phil Hartman and Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton It took two of ''SNL'''s greatest performers to capture the beguilement and guile of the Arkansas Elvis. The late Hartman performed the unforgettable sketch in which the jogging Clinton gorges on fast-food burgers while charming the press corps. (Hartman also did a fine Ronald Reagan, feigning dithering on camera only to snap brisk orders when they weren't rolling.) The more ruthless Hammond got the way Clinton's charm could curdle into smugness, his smile into a sneer, his charisma into a character-smothering curse.
Will Ferrell as George W. Bush Ferrell deserves praise for fearlessly committing to each foolish character he helped conjure on ''SNL.'' The one he didn't create, our current president, was also the big guy's least interesting project. Incapable of stinging rebuke, Ferrell instead honed in on Bush's chuckling lucky-boy image, a role he'd play much better in ''Old School'' -- which could, of course, be viewed as the alternate history of Bush at Yale. | <urn:uuid:294e4c97-aea0-4c5f-97ba-3ac0ce7be99e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,687407,00.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966914 | 581 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Like the rest of the country, New York City has weathered several recent years of economic turbulence. But amid the uncertainty, a new report shows that at least one trend has remained consistent: The rent keeps going up.
Even during the downturn, the city's median rent increased to $1,100 a month in 2011 from $950 in 2008, according to an analysis to be released Wednesday by the Community Service Society, an advocacy group for low-income New Yorkers.
At the same time, as incomes flattened, tenants are handing over a larger portion of their pay to landlords than they did before the recession. The percentage of New York City households spending more than half their income on rent grew to 29% in 2011 from 26% in 2008, the report says.
The report comes at a sensitive time: The city's Rent Guidelines Board is scheduled to vote Thursday on increases of anywhere from 1.75% to 6.75% for about one million rent-stabilized apartments throughout the city, a contentious annual event that can attract heated rhetoric from both sides. About a quarter of New York tenants live in rent-regulated apartments.
"If you don't give owners the kind of cash flow they need in terms of operations, you're going to find that they're going to delay doing necessary repairs," said Joseph Strasburg, president of the Rent Stabilization Association, a landlord advocacy group. "You're going to have further deterioration of housing that hurts the owner, but in the end that's going to hurt tenants as well."
While advocates are putting pressure on the board not to allow any increase, the city's rental landscape is bumpy for tenants at most income levels.
Demand for rentals is on the rise as fewer people buy apartments and houses, either because they can't get loans or they are worried about not being able to sell if things turn sour. More people are moving to the city, where employment still outpaces the rest of the country. Meanwhile, developers say the rising cost of land means it has become tough to build new, moderately priced rental housing.
"In this downturn, people's incomes have gone down, but it's not like their expenses are going down," said Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future. "In a lot of other downturns, New York often trailed the rest of the country in the recovery. Now New York has as many or more jobs than other places in the country, so people may be hanging on."
When rents increase, the search for a comparable spot is growing increasingly more difficult, brokers and tenants said.
Jessica Ralston, 26 years old, was living in a Midtown West apartment with three roommates when they learned their individual shares of the rent would climb to more than $1,300 from about $1,000 a month. Although the apartment was large and the neighborhood is on the rise, Ms. Ralston, who works in a photography studio, decided to strike out on her own.
She found a studio on the Upper West Side through her broker, Ivan Jara of Citi Habitats, but privacy came at a price: $1,500 a month. The extra cost would have chewed through all her disposable income but for a promotion and raise that came just in time.
Malaine Schmid, a 28-year-old medical office manager, lives in a rent-stabilized studio in Greenwich Village for $1,400 a month—a practical steal that was below the allowable rent even considering that the apartment doesn't have a full kitchen.
Still, she was shocked when she got her rent renewal notice: The cost will shoot up to $2,400 a month when her lease expires in the fall. "I didn't think that it was correct. I thought that there had to be something wrong," Ms. Schmid said.
Her broker, Noelle Bailly of Citi Habitats, said the rental vacancy rate in the West Village is now less than 1%. "She doesn't really have anything in that price point. We'll have to raise it to about $1,500 to $2,000 [a month], and even then to live in that area probably isn't even possible," Ms. Bailly said.
Advocates argue that the pressures that are making apartment-hunting challenging for everyone are considerably worse for poor and low-income tenants.
"Rents are escalating in New York," said Victor Bach, a senior housing policy analyst for the Community Service Society. "What we're finding in particular is that people with modest incomes are having more trouble making the rent and meeting their needs."
Chris Reese, a 47-year-old substitute teacher who pays $1,250 a month for his rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, said he now spends about 75% of his annual income on rent.
When Mr. Reese moved into the apartment in 1999, the rent was $900, but his income has been stable for the past five years, he said. "I pay nothing but my rent and utilities. I can't buy a car. I can't buy a computer," Mr. Reese said. "I recently took out food stamps, which helps a lot."
Write to Laura Kusisto at firstname.lastname@example.org | <urn:uuid:525a8b86-7a2e-4332-9f92-32b7982a861c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303703004577476980984617266.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981846 | 1,095 | 1.75 | 2 |
By Bill St. John, Special to Tribune Newspapers
October 25, 2012
This is the time of year when people tell me, as they return from their European vacations, that they drank bottle after bottle of wine with their meals and "never got a headache." They explain this miracle by saying that wines in Europe "do not contain sulfites," unlike wines sold in the U.S., the labels of which clearly state "Contains sulfites."
Because wine bottle labels in Europe do not print "Contains sulfites," the assumption is that the wine does not as well. But it does; the label merely does not state that it does.
"Contains sulfites" is on all bottles of wine sold in the United States, no matter where the wine was made, because of our government's regulations, rules that do not hold outside the U.S.
My sadly returning vacationers further claim that winemakers in other countries "must make a separate wine for export." They do not; the Antinori Chianti Classico that you drink in Tuscany is the same Antinori Chianti Classico that you drink in Toledo.
The reason that you didn't get a headache drinking it in Tuscany is that you were on vacation. In Tuscany.
Anyway, most people do not "get a headache" from ingesting sulfites.
The "typical allergic reaction to sulfites," says Dr. Mary C. Tobin, director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Rush University Medical Center, "is hives, itching, flushing, swelling, nausea, diarrhea and low blood pressure." All bad, but no headache.
Reactions to sulfites vary from mild to life threatening and affect a small percentage of the population (the FDA estimates one in 100, although up to 5 percent of the population of asthmatics). People allergic to sulfites by and large know that they are.
"Sulfite" describes a form of the common, natural, nonmetallic element sulfur. The preservative sulfur dioxide is another form of the element. Because sulfur is an antioxidant and anti-microbial, it prevents spoilage and browning in food and wine. What sulfur does for Tokay, it does for Tater Tots.
Furthermore, you cannot find a wine — any wine — completely free of sulfite. Sulfite is a natural byproduct of fermentation; around 5-10 mg/liter of sulfite exists in wine willy-nilly. Wine labels may state "No added sulfite" (sometimes seen on organic or so-called natural wines) but that is merely as true as it stands. The wine still contains some sulfite; none was added to that which occurred as matter of course.
The amount of sulfite in a bottle of wine will vary, depending on vineyard and winemaking practices, from 40-80 mg/liter. Again, these are levels in all wines conventionally made, from all regions of the globe. Wines that contain more than 10 mg/liter of sulfite must mention, again by our government's laws, "Contains sulfites."
To put sulfite levels in perspective or context, many foods contain sulfites but are not labeled so. For instance, bottled lemon juice, dried (orange) apricots, grape juice, many a salad bar and many a frozen white food (such as potatoes) that the processor wishes to remain white, all contain sulfite, often in amounts many-fold to that in wine.
So, why is there no warning label on a bag of trail mix? A good ol' American answer: politics.
According to Thomas Pinney, in the second of his two-volume work "A History of Wine in America," the congressional engine behind the sulfite warning label, finally enacted in 1986, was then-Sen. Strom Thurmond, of South Carolina, a teetotaler who once growled that "party animal" Spuds MacKenzie, the Budweiser bark-person with one black eye, was "glamorizing the use of alcohol" among young people.
Beginning in the 1970s, various neo-prohibitionist groups lobbied Congress for ingredient labeling on bottles of wine and other alcoholic beverages, with the ostensible aim of preventing such disasters as fetal alcohol syndrome. Stymied by the courts throughout the 1980s and prevented from passing into action such legislation, these efforts morphed into warning labels of one form or another, writes Pinney, "Only now the object was not to inform but to frighten."
Thurmond's crowning achievement was the passage in 1988 of the law that mandates the "government warning" label on all bottles of wine sold in the United States. You'll see it, sometimes, slapped on bottles of wine made in other countries but sold here, looking like the afterthought that it is considered to be by foreign winemakers.
It's the label that tells everyone what they already know, sort of like a sportscaster describing to you what you're currently watching: to beware of ingesting alcohol if you are pregnant or about to operate a machine.
Reading it always gives me a headache.
Bill St. John has been writing and teaching about wine for more than 30 years. | <urn:uuid:52676c51-171f-4850-a4ff-9fb480054f5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wask.com/waskfm/lifestyle/food/sc-food-1019-wine-sulfites-20121025,0,4646105,print.story | 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 | 0.953842 | 1,094 | 1.828125 | 2 |
United States v. Stafoff - 260 U.S. 477 (1923)
U.S. Supreme Court
United States v. Stafoff, 260 U.S. 477 (1923)
United States v. Stafoff
Nos. 26, 197, 403
Argued November 29, 1922
Decided January 2, 1923
260 U.S. 477
1. An act of Congress cannot make past conduct criminal by purporting to construe a former act as having been in force at a time when this Court has held it was repealed. P. 260 U. S. 480.
2. As applied to criminal prosecutions, (1) for carrying on the business of rectifier, wholesaler or retailer of liquor for beverage purposes, without having paid the special tax therefor, (2) for keeping a still for production of such spirits "for beverage and commercial purposes" without having registered it with the Collector of Internal Revenue, (3) for carrying on the business of a distiller of spirits for beverage purposes without having given bond, and, (4) for making a mash for production of such spirits, in an unauthorized distillery, and separation of spirits therefrom -- Rev.Stats. §§ 3242, 3258, 3281 and 3283, respectively, were repealed by the National Prohibition Act. P. 260 U. S. 479. United States v. Yuginovich, 256 U. S. 450.
3. These laws, however, were revived by the Supplementary Prohibition Act of November 23, 1921, c. 134, § 5, 42 Stat. 223, as to conduct subsequent to its enactment. P. 260 U. S. 480.
4. Congress may tax what it also forbids. P. 260 U. S. 480.
5. A conviction upon an indictment based upon Rev.Stats. §§ 3258, 3281 and 3282, repealed, cannot be sustained under the National Prohibition Act by spelling out acts violative of that statute from the indictment. P. 260 U. S. 481.
68 F. 417 (No. 26) affirmed.
283 F. 685 (No. 403) affirmed in part and reversed in part.
The first and third of these cases came on writs of error sued out by the United States to review judgments of district courts sustaining demurrers to counts of indictments based on sections of the Revised Statutes relating to internal revenue. The second arose upon questions certified by the circuit court of appeals in a similar case in which the defendant, Brooks, had been convicted. | <urn:uuid:00f3dee8-7459-4e94-b681-a82549936482> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/260/477/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949001 | 537 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Thousands pay tribute to those who served
Thousands of people in Perth attended a dawn service and lined the streets of the city on Anzac Day to pay tribute to those who fought and died for the country.
An estimated 40,000 people gathered at the state War Memorial at Kings Park for the dawn service.
As the sun rose, silence descended on the crowd, which included teenagers, children and veterans from World War Two, Korea and Vietnam.
It is the first Anzac Day without a World War 1 veteran after Claude Choules died last year aged 110.
Ex-serviceman John Sargeant believes it is the most important day of the year.
"Today we honour those who died for our country but also those who gave commitment to the country," he said.
"It's our chance to show that we have not forgotten and that they will be remembered for what they have done and for what they have sacrificed for our country."Tyron Hanlon
Vietnam veteran Harry Hickson says he was pleased to see so many young people turn out to pay their respects to Australia's fallen soldiers.
"They've been brought up with this all around them and not really paying much attention but on this particular day, they seem to all come together and realise what has taken place," he said.
"I'm more than happy because they're being taught about it."
This year's RSL youth speaker, Tyron Hanlon, whose great uncle fought in the Battle of Greece in 1941, says it is important that younger generations pay their respects.
"It's our chance to show that we have not forgotten and that they will be remembered for what they have done and for what they have sacrificed for our country," he said.
Tyson Grieves, 11, understood the day's significance.
"To respect the Anzac people, the people who died and survived," he said.
Eight-year-old Cameron also knew what the day was about.
"They saved our country," he said.
Officials, including state RSL president Bill Gaynor, the Premier Colin Barnett, and Labor Leader Mark McGowan laid wreaths at the State War Memorial.
Mr Gaynor says it is important for people to pay their respects.
"We've lost all that generation now but of course we're still here to honour them," he said.
"It's just awesome to look at the crowd and the dawn light coming and it's really something to behold."
Thousands of people also lined the city's streets for the parade.
Veterans, active servicemen and women and military bands made their way along St Georges Terrace.
The loudest cheers were reserved for those veterans too frail to walk as some were pushed along in wheelchairs while others were driven past in jeeps.
Among those marching was Korean War veteran, Don King.
"What I love and what I've noticed recently over the last five years is that the crowds are bigger and bigger and bigger," he said.
"There's more kids involved in the crowds which is a wonderful thing."
Vietnam War veteran Brian Meyers says he was overcome with emotion when he saw the massive crowd.
"It just about brought tears to my eyes you know," he said. | <urn:uuid:5b134b4e-282a-4389-ba02-88728477def5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-25/perth-crowd-gathers-for-anzac-ceremony/3971302 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983792 | 673 | 1.6875 | 2 |
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Department of State have already removed 207 noncitizen voters using a federal immigration database, and there could be more to come.
But most of the people on the initial list of potentially ineligible voters will remain on the state's voting rolls, officials said Wednesday.
The announcements were part of a settlement with a coalition of voter rights groups that had sued over the state's attempt to purge potential non-U.S. citizens from the voting rolls.
"We want every Florida voter to be confident that their vote is protected and not hurt in any way by the illegal activity of others," Secretary of State Ken Detzner said in a news release. "We know that every vote counts, especially here in Florida where only 537 votes decided the presidential election in 2000."
In April, the state identified 2,625 potentially ineligible voters after checking voter rolls against a motor vehicle database that contained some outdated citizenship information. The coalition filed its lawsuit in June, accusing the state of unfairly targeting minority voters.
The plaintiffs agreed Wednesday to drop most of the suit after the state signed off on several "stipulations."
For example, the state will restore individuals to the voters rolls unless they are verified as being ineligible using a federal immigration database.
Most the people on the list of 2,625 who received notices that they were potentially being kicked off the rolls will receive new letters verifying that they remain eligible to vote.
The plaintiffs are still actively pursuing one claim against the state: that Florida violated a federal law that precludes voter purges within 90 days of an election. One of the plaintiffs, civil rights group Advancement Project, issued a news release praising the "stipulation" agreement.
"It will ensure that naturalized citizens, the majority of whom are Latino, black and Asian, have the same opportunities as all Americans to participate in our political process and exercise the most fundamental right in our democracy — the right to vote," co-director Judith Browne Dianis said.
Some of the 207 registered voters kicked off the rolls had previously admitted they weren't citizens, but most were found through a federal immigration database, called SAVE, State Department spokesman Chris Cate said.
"The information about these voters will be provided to state attorneys to investigate, as well," Cate said, noting that registering to vote illegally could be a felony.
Tia Mitchell can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or (850) 224-7263. | <urn:uuid:a648cdad-f055-449f-9067-555530897030> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/settlement-will-keep-most-potential-non-us-citizens-on-florida-voter-rolls/1251223 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964643 | 515 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Washington (CNN) – The National Rifle Association will assert that President Barack Obama’s attempt to enact new gun control laws will result in the “confiscation” of people’s firearms in a new web video scheduled to run in five states and the District of Columbia.
The video went online around the time Obama began delivering his State of the Union address Tuesday. In the speech, Obama mentioned his effort to reduce gun violence through legislative means.
NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam told CNN that the organization based its warning on what he said is a Justice Department document, “Summary of Select Firearm Violence Prevention Strategies,” that was written in January and given to the NRA.
A Justice Department spokeswoman told CNN that she couldn’t immediately authenticate the document, but did confirm that Greg Ridgeway, whose name appears on it, is currently deputy director of the National Institute of Justice, which is the DOJ’s research arm.
“This internal Justice Department memo says ‘an assault weapons ban is unlikely to have an impact on gun violence,’ ” NRA’s chief lobbyist Chris Cox says in the video that was provided to CNN before it aired online. “Unlikely, that is, unless it comes with something else. Obama’s experts say that a gun ban, like the one being debated right now in Congress, will not work without mandatory ‘gun buybacks and not exemptions.’ ”
Cox continued, “Mandatory gun buybacks. That’s government confiscation of legal firearms owned by honest citizens.”
Cox also said the report noted that gun registration would need to be part of the equation for universal background checks to be effective.
“Requiring gun registration with the federal government, that’s an illegal abuse of privacy and freedom unprecedented in our history,” said Cox, who then urged people to call Congress and express opposition to new gun regulations.
One of the NRA’s main talking points for opposing new gun regulations is that the federal government is attempting to take away citizens’ Second Amendment rights to own firearms.
The NRA will spend about $100,000 in the next 24 hours to run the 1 minute and 40 second video on various news web sites in Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, South Dakota, and D.C., Arulanandam said. Each of the five states has a Democratic senator seeking re-election in 2014.
The emotional debate over enacting new gun regulations was visibly present in the House chamber as gun rights advocates and victims of gun violence attended Obama’s address to the joint session of Congress.
CNN's Terry Frieden and Todd Sperry contributed to this report | <urn:uuid:5892da5c-ca5f-437f-bce6-fbcedd860d2a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/12/first-on-cnn-nra-charges-obamas-efforts-will-lead-to-gun-confiscation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955887 | 570 | 1.65625 | 2 |
I bet a lot of folks around here have been under the impression that what’s called solicitor-client privilege exists to protect clients.
But they’ve been reminded, thanks to a decision by the chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court, that it exists to protect lawyers, too. Robert Bauman, in a judgment released at the end of last month, showed that what lawyers call “the Privilege” denies access to lawyers’ bills and accounts, too.
Specifically, he denied access by auditor general John Doyle to $6 million in legal bills paid by B.C. taxpayers to defend two aides to Liberal cabinet ministers even after they pleaded guilty to breach of trust in connection with the sale of B.C. Rail.
Even NDP justice critic Leonard Krog, who wants a lot of questions answered about this deal, concedes Bauman’s decision “may well be correct on the law.” But then, he’s a lawyer.
I’m inclined to say, like Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist, that if that’s the law, “the law is a ass — a idiot.”
Bauman cautioned all of us who have questions about this derailed court case not to conclude that his decision “represents the triumph of secrecy over transparency and accountability,” although that’s exactly what it does.
What it represents, he claimed, is “the reaffirmation of a principle which is a cornerstone value in our democracy” and “a critical civil right.”
Eh? This “law” was conceived in 16th-century England when Thomas Cromwell was knocking down monasteries and the law was what a king said it was.
The current president of the U.K. Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, has said the privilege is “solely for the benefit of the client.”
In ruling last year that the privilege doesn’t extend to the relationship of clients to tax advisers or others offering legal advice, he said, stuffily, that lawyers are “held to higher standards than members of other professions.”
In a discussion paper prepared for the Canadian Bar Association last February, Adam Dodek of the University of Ottawa recorded how solicitor-client privilege has been elevated to a quasi-constitutional right today. Canada’s Supreme Court has recognized it as a principle of fundamental justice under the Charter of Rights.
Canada’s top court has also accepted that lawyer’s accounts are protected by the privilege, said Dodek.
Curiously, though, or not so curiously, what are called lawyers’ exceptions allow lawyers to reveal privileged information to defend themselves against charges of malpractice or misconduct “or to collect a fee.”
A former treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada, Gavin MacKenzie, has observed that sort of thing might lead the rest of us to suspect that “the legal profession may not be free from self-interest.” Mr. Bumble wouldn’t have been so polite.
I don’t know if lawyers in the East are more sensitive than ours, but the Ontario Bar Association launched a public-relations campaign last week to prove that lawyers are not, as a lot of folks seem to believe, a bunch of self-serving rogues and liars, but pillars of the community and paragons of virtue.
Dodek’s paper acknowledged something that has dominated, as it should, public debate here in B.C. since Doyle, like a pitbull brandishing a slide rule, went after the government’s “practice” of paying the legal fees of public servants in trouble with the law.
It noted that Parliament and the legislatures haven’t been able, on their own, to hold governments to account, so they’ve appointed officers like ombudsmen, ethics commissioners, budget officers and auditors general, like Doyle, to ask questions that might be awkward and demand documents that might be embarrassing.
“Public officials are concerned that providing privileged information to government bodies such as the auditor general may constitute waiver of the Privilege,” wrote Dodek. He said that though Parliamentary privilege prevails over solicitor-client privilege in theory, the Privilege “is still pre-eminent.” He sounded relieved.
It’s time our legislators showed some guts and put the privileged in their places. If the courts deny parliamentary officers the ability to show whether we received value for money when we paid off the B.C. Rail miscreants, only a public inquiry can serve the public interest.
© Copyright 2013 | <urn:uuid:1f0139ee-8634-4384-aeae-da4b8cfd62ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/iain-hunter-lawyer-client-privilege-taken-too-far-1.70181 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958779 | 973 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Over the past 10 years, trading in the U.S. securities markets has dramatically changed from primarily manual trading to almost predominately computer-based trading. New regulations – such as Regulation ATS, decimalization requirements and Regulation NMS – fostered comprehensive computer linkages among trading venues and concomitant upgrades to market participants’ trading systems. Technological advances – such as high speed computing and co-located servers, increased bandwidth, and electronic messaging standards – have accelerated the adoption of new electronic trading strategies, tools, and behavior.
Recent concerns raised in connection with the operation of today’s markets have been focused on computer-based trading activities and strategies that generically have been referred to as “high-frequency trading” (HFT). SIFMA shares its views on computer-based trading, including HFT. Among other points in this paper, SIFMA seeks to describe the benefits electronic markets and computer-based trading provide to investors, and also specific activities and behaviors that may warrant additional regulatory consideration. | <urn:uuid:ce909c2b-c129-4e83-8f83-a4fa16399f1c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sifma.org/issues/item.aspx?id=8589936694 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953343 | 210 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Medical Research Fellowship Program
Today, there is a shortage of clinicians with in-depth expertise on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Research Fellowship program seeks to increase the number of scientists focused on studying and treating psoriatic diseases by encouraging young scientists to become physician researchers and dedicate their careers to psoriatic diseases.
Recruited from top medical schools as residents, each fellow receives a one-year grant of up to $40,000 to conduct research on questions related to the cause and cure of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The schools provide lab space, equipment and supplies needed to carry out their investigative work while the funds from the fellowship help pay their salaries.
The National Psoriasis Foundation Research Fellowships are made possible by a grant from Amgen.
Learn more about the most recent Fellowship recipients » | <urn:uuid:da534de6-8bbf-43a3-b614-5ffd72f73d82> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.psoriasis.org/research/our-research/grants/medical-fellowship-program | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950297 | 177 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Advice should be protected speech
North Carolina is giving Steve Cooksey some choices. He can stop speaking. Or he can get a Ph.D. in nutrition, or a medical degree, or a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and then pass an examination after completing a 900-hour clinical internship. Or he can skip this credentialing, keep speaking and risk prosecution.
He has chosen to get a lawyer. His case, argued by the libertarians at the Institute for Justice, will clarify the First Amendment’s relevance to an ancient human behavior and a modern technology.
Four years ago, Cooksey was obese, lethargic, asthmatic, chronically ill and pre-diabetic. The diet advice he was getting from medical and other sources was, he decided, radically wrong. Rather than eat a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet, he adopted what he and other enthusiasts call a Paleolithic diet, eating as primitive humans did: beef, pork, chicken, leafy green vegetables. Cooksey lost 75 pounds and the need for drugs and insulin. And he became a blogger, communicating his dietary opinions.
When a busybody notified North Carolina’s Board of Dietetics/Nutrition, it launched a three-month investigation of Cooksey’s writings and his dialogues with people who responded to them.
“If,” the board said, “people are writing you with diabetic specific questions and you are responding, you are no longer just providing information — you are counseling — you need a license to provide this service.” This had the intended effect of chilling his speech; his self-censorship stopped his blog. By saying his bloggings will be subject to continuous review, the state hopes to silence him in perpetuity.
The Institute for Justice’s Jeff Rowes notes that Cooksey’s speech “involves no sensitive relationship (as in psychological counseling), no uniquely vulnerable listeners (as in potential legal clients forced to make snap decisions), and no plausible presumption that the listeners are unable to exercise independent judgment.”
That presumption is, however, the animating principle of modern regulatory government. North Carolina is uninterested in the fact that Cooksey’s advice is unpaid, freely solicited and outside any context of a professional-client relationship. The state simply asserts that Cooksey’s audience is “a uniquely vulnerable population.”
Were Cooksey blogging to sell beef and other Paleolithic food, he would be free to advise anyone to improve their health by buying his wares. So his case raises two questions: Is an individual’s uncompensated advice constitutionally protected? And does the Internet — cost-free dissemination of speech to spontaneous, self-generated audiences — render many traditional forms of licensing obsolete?
Two principles are colliding. One is that when government regulates speech based on its content, judicial “strict scrutiny” of the regulation requires government to bear the burden of demonstrating a “compelling” need for “narrowly tailored” speech restrictions. The second is that when government regulates occupations in ways that restrict entry to them, excluded citizens bear an enormous burden of demonstrating that there is no reasonable basis for the regulation.
Since the New Deal, courts have applied the extremely permissive “rational basis” test: If legislatures articulate almost any reasons for regulating, courts will defer to them. Laws like the one silencing Cooksey are primarily rent-seeking: They are written to enhance the prestige and prosperity of a profession by restricting competition that would result from easy entry, or from provision of alternatives to its services.
People have been dispensing advice to one another since the advent of language, and have been foisting dietary opinions since cavemen weighed the relative benefits of eating woolly mammoths or saber-toothed tigers. So the Institute for Justice has two questions for North Carolina and the judicial system:
Did Ann Landers and Dear Abby conduct 50-year crime sprees by offering unlicensed psychological advice? Is personal advice as constitutionally unprotected as child pornography? If so, since a 2010 Supreme Court opinion, it is less protected than videos of animals being tortured.
George F. Will writes for the Washington Post Writers Group. | <urn:uuid:891f4c17-a6f3-49b4-90c5-8ecf7e1d5345> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/09/28/advice-should-be-protected-speech.html | 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 | 0.955498 | 876 | 1.59375 | 2 |
GDP Case Study : Department for International development
A prestigious training contract to introduce diversity into DFID’s existing Management Development Training Programme. This contract involved the training of 1800 DFID staff at all levels in the UK and overseas. It’s a classic example of the ‘golden thread’ of diversity merging with other training programmes to achieve mainstream organisational change. We had a skilled team of designers who have developed innovative behavioural models on diversity, which meet the needs of all personnel who work for this Civil Service department with international responsibility.
The course is customised to meet the particular needs of DFID and has received very positive evaluations from participants. Bespoke models and activities help to position the issue of diversity and equality in a way that reflects the particular challenges facing this department. Creative training techniques that appeal to a wide range of learning styles have been employed to maximum effect.
The successful delivery of this programme resulted in a contract to design and implement a follow-up course and standalone training intervention. The training has been delivered all over the world and has led to the award of other contracts including reviewing all training provision identifying best practice and recommending next steps which included developing a mixed menu modular approach e-learning and accredited competency development.
The GDP team delivered in over 35 countries across the world
Further projects have since been awarded including an Award Winning project to integrate Diversity and Inclusion into the learning cycle . The launch of this project took place in the UK with a facilitated session on the topic followed by coaching provided to virtual global teams from China, Zimbabwe India and Brazil. They took the task forward to develop the Principles, Collate Internal and External best practice and provide evidence of demonstrable interation of Diversity and Inclusion across the DFID learning community. | <urn:uuid:53fcbbf0-c78d-4aa0-828c-6ec3974bc008> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.globaldiversitypractice.com/index.php?p=373 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952054 | 358 | 1.6875 | 2 |
On job training gives candidates real life exposure to organisations, their work culture, the processes and policies of the industry. It is an essential part of the learning curve and makes the students job ready. Students until now have mastered the theoretical aspects of networking, information technology, or any other discipline. Hereafter the student spends time with more knowledgeable and skilled personnel of an organisation to learn the ropes in each department. They spend a week or so in each department to get familiar with the processes. Finally they may be given a small real time job to execute on their own. The coaching and mentoring given to students helps them to take on the job independently while reporting to the superior. Trainees, as they are referred to during this period, provide feedback on the course and work to superiors with close monitoring from mentors. This may be done till the trainees are able to execute the job flawlessly. | <urn:uuid:fabe19b4-4f08-4fd6-a2e0-e27b4a413818> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cmsinstitute.co.in/whats_ojt.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959039 | 179 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Park roads and parking areas to be chip sealed in August 2008
Contact: Allison Banks, Public Information Officer, 907-697-2230
Superintendent Cherry Payne announced today that Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve has contracted to apply a chip seal to the main park road and parking areas. The project will start at the park boundary and end at the public use dock. Bicknell Inc. of Juneau is the primary contractor for this project. A chip seal is applied to protect, preserve and extend pavement life, and to improve vehicle slip resistance. Traffic delays will occur during the project, but should be no longer than ten minutes. Closure of the Bartlett Cove vessel launch ramp may be required during aggregate off loading. The project is expected to occur between Friday August 8th and Friday August 29th. , but the actual dates of work may vary depending on material delivery dates and weather conditions.
Did You Know?
Glacier Bay is a changing landscape. Today's beaches where brown bears slurp up crushed barnacles are tomorrow's forest meadows where moose will browse on willow branches. | <urn:uuid:e04556ea-0a07-4b10-b0b0-48aba6730c9f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nps.gov/glba/parknews/2008-06-08.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939453 | 226 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The pound dollar exchange rate has taken a battering in late play in London. GBP/USD is 0.64 pct down at 1.5170. "The US dollar pushed higher against the other major currencies on Friday, as strong U.S.
The British pound sterling (Currency:GBP) is mixed today - at present there is little by way of GBP-specific action for traders to focus on so the wider themes surrounding the Yen, Aussie dollar and US dollar are driving markets at present.
The British Pound has advanced against the majority of its peers after data showed that the nation's dominant services sector recorded its strongest rate of growth in April since last year's Olympic Games. | <urn:uuid:2b422c77-c22c-46e3-bb7f-edd4ab08030b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.google.com/finance/company_news?q=GBPUSD&ei=JUGrULi6HoHgiAL3Sw | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965911 | 144 | 1.507813 | 2 |
But there's always a dark side to denim. In 2012, it's hiding out in the freezer in a gallon zip-close bag.
"There are some people now who will get a pair of jeans and never, ever wash them. It's water that leads to indigo loss, and people are trying to preserve the color," explains Jon Patrick, whose blog The Selvedge Yard has chronicled the nostalgic resurgence of raw, midnight-blue denim — often woven on vintage looms in Japan, which confer a coveted nonfraying selvage edge. "It's kind of gross, but they'll wrap their jeans and put them in the freezer for a while because cold will kill the bacteria and the smell."
These days, those rough and rigid artisanal jeans from brands like A.P.C., Tellason and Prps regularly cross paths with soft and stretchy, candy-colored commodity jeans bought at the Gap. That the extremes can lead parallel lives in fashion points to denim's unique universality.
Jeans can be all things to all people, and yet still display each individual's DNA like nothing else.
"What else can be worn by presidents and construction workers, supermodels and soccer moms?" said Andy Knight, creator of the hybrid blog/store Denimology.com. "Denim is a second skin and like your body it ages with time and tells a story about who you are."
"For women there definitely is more of a focus on who is wearing what," said Patrick, who previously worked in corporate merchandising for Ralph Lauren. "Also, with women's body types and curves, they find a designer brand that fits them really well and they pay a premium for it, and they're very loyal because for lots of women finding a perfect fit is tough."
Earning a cult following, labels such as Prps and Evisu (a play on Levi's, dropping the "L" and tacking on a "U") have reincarnated American heritage styling in Japan, which salvaged the old-fashioned shuttle looms but applied modern tweaks. The denim is made to patina with wear, revealing the owner's signature.
Influenced by Americana sites such as A Continuous Lean, other denim aficionados are reviving domestic brands that date to the late 19th century, such as Stronghold of Los Angeles and Cone Denim of Greensboro, N.C.
Patrick identifies with both the Japanese and American denim camps. He collaborated with Prps on a limited edition Selvedge Yard jean, which hits stores in April and is priced around $500. But he still fondly remembers his first pair of Levi's 501s from his youth in Phoenix.
"When I was in fifth grade or so, I got a weekend job busing tables at a restaurant working for a couple bucks an hour. The first thing I bought were my very own Levi's 501 shrink-to-fit jeans, still my favorite to this day."
The colorful jeans of spring may never achieve that iconic immortality, said Chris Laverty, who has paid homage to vintage denim on his Clothes on Film blog. "The '50s rebel in his thick selvage Levi's careering about town on a motorbike and scaring the elderly is long gone," Laverty said.
But transitory styles also deserve a page in the denim record books, he said.
"Right or wrong, such jeans capture the zeitgeist of an era — that is denim's heritage."
It speaks any language, said Valerie Steele, chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
She points to her book "50 Years of Fashion: New Look to Now." She chose a Dior dress for the cover of the American edition. "I was delighted but surprised by what they did in the French edition," she said. The cover replaced the Dior image with a pair of blue jeans.
Blue jeans: An American story
The French town of Nimes is credited with inventing denim — "de Nimes," get it? The word "jeans" originates from the French word for Genoa — Genes — where sailors wore denim trousers. "But at the end of the day where it really happened was with Levi's making trousers for miners in San Francisco," said Jon Patrick, who writes the blog The Selvedge Yard.
1873: Levi Strauss & Co. files a patent for riveted pockets, to reinforce stress points on pants. This is considered the birth of blue jeans, known as "waist overalls" for several more years. | <urn:uuid:c8229e36-9ce9-4c77-9ba1-aa78f1dcb9ac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/fashion/sc-fash-0423-denim-20120427,0,4128706.story | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969296 | 945 | 1.71875 | 2 |
since this Rogue piece on the literati and mainstream literary system went online, what has infinitely been interesting is how it has revealed the kind of thinking that we have about literature and culture, including but not limited to: (a) “Why write about this at all? What a waste of time!” (b) “bakit hindi ka na lang magsulat?” (c) writing is a solitary enterprise anyway (d) you just moved from one house to the next (e) there is no talking about literature without literary jargon (f) it’s the same everywhere, deal with it (g) you are not being attacked, your work is being engaged in (h) let’s have a conference on this! (i) you are not free.
will respond to most these points in this space, and in that sense this series must begin with the question why here? after all there is this and this from which most of the aforementioned responses come. the answer is simple:
Conchitina Cruz is right, as is Angelo Suarez (in another FB comments thread I can’t find right now): you want limited engagement? do it on Facebook. this is not to put into question what are in all comments threads across the board, on FB and otherwise, but it is to highlight how different a task it is to sit, write a comment, press enter. different, from oh I don’t know, spending days thinking and rethinking a piece, doing too many drafts of it, missing your deadline by a day, passing it through your editors with fingers crossed (as I did with the original Rogue piece). different, from sitting down to respond in as well threshed-out a form and engaging the writing on all its levels, even as you are conscious of limning over certain aspects of it in deciding to only respond to what it says versus how it’s being said versus how it makes you feel, etc. etc.
Marivi Soliven Blanco says that it was “slightly disingenuous” of me to have written the piece and then “take umbrage at the flood of comments that arrive at <my> door.” in fact, i was taking offense at the kinds of comments that these were, engaging with the comments themselves, which barely discussed what it was the original piece was talking about. i was meta-commenting which, i now realize, was just wrong in the face of people who weren’t seeing their own biases in the comments they were so gleefully patronizing me with.
which brings me back to the comments thread as venue for enlightened discussion and why I refuse now to be part of particularly the one that Lila Shahani had started. full disclosure: I worked as teaching assistant to her last year, work that has absolutely nothing to do with the scholarship I (used to) do and the writing I continue to do now. that FB thread, from the beginning, was about generating a response from the writing community, at least those who are part of Lila’s network, where the status that introduces it begins with “I wonder what my literary friends make of Ina Santiago’s recent Rogue magazine piece on the pathological inbreeding of the literary scene here at home?”
that the first set of responses dealt with the tone of that piece is fine, that this prompted patronizing comments is interesting. from Alma Anonas Carpio:
“That essay sounds so bitter – it is full of uncontrolled bitterness that interferes with and obscures the point the author seeks to make. Bitterness is never good for writing unless it is kept under a very tight leash.”
she then goes on to write an FB note where she says:
“<…> the decision was reached after I read a very bitter essay ranting about how hard it is to break into the local literary scene without a patron. <…> Pardon me, but patronage politics exists everywhere in Philippine life like the most cankerous of cancers. Live with it. Rise above it. Do not let it stop you from writing and, for goodness’ sake, do not use it as an excuse for the poor quality of your work or your writer’s block. Get over it and get over yourself. Then, perhaps, when you have stripped away the hubris binding your fingers, you may find your pen flying over paper and your mind fully focused on what it is you want to write.”
that response then goes on to teach me how to be a writer, to which my response really is this: I grew up with Angela writing everyday, I write everyday and have no romance with it at all, and unless i am asked i will never ever start talking about what it is to be a writer, what it’s like to be creative. I don’t know that I’m supposed to get over myself, as Ms. Carpio should be more conscious about her (mis)readings of texts: Burn After Reading was not about “breaking into the literary scene” as it was about the systemic dysfunction that doesn’t allow for criticism or change within this house that the literary scene has kept standing. it was about literary patronage as crisis. true that patronage politics exists everywhere, but pray tell does that make it right? true that this has been assessed before, and yes theorists from Raymond William to Edel Garcellano to Adam David have discussed it in the past, but does this make it any less reason to discuss it again – and again and again?
does that make it unworthy of the task of intervention, even if only in this form of the essay in a popular mainstream magazine like Rogue, which is replete with its own limitations?
and yes, unlike what Lila says in the thread, that piece is my intervention. this is not a matter of hubris, as it is a matter of fact. I did not only write that essay at this point when apparently people think it’s a waste of time, I also suggested that Rogue put it online, as a matter of getting more people to read it given the magazine’s P180-peso prize tag. the only other people who can claim credit for that piece as intervention are my Rogue editors, who wanted me to write that story, and who engaged with me in throwing ideas around and let me write the piece in the form I wanted at this point in time. it goes without saying that reactions to it are but engagements; these don’t make the latter secondary, as it puts people’s comments and reactions in its proper place in the creation of discourse.
thinking that a comments thread is the intervention begs the question: had this piece stayed within the pages of Rogue, would anyone, least of all Lila and the rest of the people on that comments thread, have wasted time typing it up and posting it online “to generate discussion”? would anyone have cared that it existed at all in print? the mode of production of that FB comments thread was dependent not on that essay’s mere existence, but on the essay being made accessible online. full stop.
if anything, this comments thread reveals itself to be complicit in the continued existence of this house of literature as critiqued by Burn After Reading, and the notions of power and control it works with. Lila says:
“This discussion has continued elsewhere on the walls of some of the main “protagonists” of this thread, who somewhat passive-agressively disagree with its contents but apparently do not have the courage to engage with us openly.”
and then this:
“there are an increasing number of PMs in my inbox at this point from those who take umbrage at Ina’s refusal to engage. Personally, I am fine with it because I think the discussion is rich enough on its own.”
“Ina dismissed the writers and the critics who in turn dismissed her.”
why was this discussion not allowed to go on elsewhere? why would my silence on someone else’s comments thread, and my presence in others, be seen as an act of non-courage? why would my silence, or my calling them out on patronizing comments be seen as dismissal? why is there a demand at all for my responses to happen? that Rogue piece was written, and put online, to generate discussion; were it ignored completely that would’ve been fine, too. the pressure to respond did not come from that piece, as it did from Lila who tagged everyone she says are her literary friends — a decision replete with its own notions of relevance and power, online and elsewhere, false and otherwise. in fact we can look at all those people tagged, remove my name, and tadah! the literary establishment, ladies and gentlemen!
meanwhile there is this: my wall is public, my writing online, that is as open an engagement as any. one comments thread is not more valuable than another, one person posting a piece and asking for comments doesn’t require that all of us limit the discussion to that. nor does a list of names from the writing and literary world that decide to respond to the piece through the comments thread, make it any more credible, than say a comments thread that has on it Nelson Bakunawa and his experience with judging a major writing contest, and a bunch of other people who are but names, not friends of whoever, or the mentee of someone else, and who engage with the piece nevertheless.
if there’s anything the comments thread on Lila’s wall proves, it’s that the house of literature doesn’t just have patronage to keep it together, it’s got this kind of criticism to thank for talking about literature the way they do: by quoting and namedropping other critics, by working with language difficult to understand, by looking down on the forms of criticism that are happening beyond the academe, by failing to turn upon themselves and ending each conversation with notions of familiarity and friendship, as if everything is water under the bridge. even better for the literary system, a thread such as this one has a false sense of its own relevance and power in affecting change, by doing what again? talking to each other on Facebook. yeah.
the misreadings about my silence and my responses on Lila’s thread prove in fact that here, in what we presume is democratized online space, the patronage and friendship and togetherness of the literary world is alive and well, and it happens through its own critics. the burning house of literature has room for criticism after all, and we now know what kind of criticism it allows to exist, and also know who among these critics finds this space to be comfortable and cozy. look at Lila’s thread, welcome to the house that literature built.
next: jargon and criticism,
from Pierre Macherey to Edel Garcellano popular writing versus academic writing. sinong dakila, sino ang tunay na baliw. | <urn:uuid:c820ce6c-df6a-4207-8764-7a78a8decfd4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.radikalchick.com/burn-baby-burn-the-falsity-of-fb-engagement/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973154 | 2,304 | 1.523438 | 2 |
How Companies That Buy Houses Are Helping The Market
Published on January 16, 2012 | Author: Harish
The Benefit of Cash Buyers when trying to Sell House Quick
Regardless of what they disagree on, financial experts are able to agree that the UK’s economy has suffered a major hit. They can also agree that the economy will continue to wane for a little while, and could possibly see another recession. It is this reality that is currently affecting the housing market. Job losses, rising debt and repossession fears have been forcing people to find every possible avenue to get cash.
Lenders are not very forthcoming, forcing many would-be borrowers to use short term cash facilities in order to offset immediate threats. Those who do own property have more choices however, they are finding that the economy is still making it difficult to capitalize on them. Among the advantages of property ownership is the option of selling one’s home for a cash lumpsum.
Unfortunately, with so many persons facing hardships, the market has been flooded with houses, and potential property buyers are experiencing their own difficulties. The result is, many of the properties being sold for quick cash are languishing on the market with no solution in sight. To make matters worse, homeowners are being forced to spend money in order to sell their houses despite the consistent fall in house prices.
Making A Quick Property Sale
Companies like Quick Cash for Properties help the market because they assist homeowners in selling properties quickly. Additionally, as cash buyers, they tend to purchase at market value instead of forcing prices down by bargaining with vendors. These types of cash buyers in general tend to buy houses as-is, so there is no need to invest in renovations, real estate agents, or costly advertising.
Homeowners get to sell house fast, which does its part in increasing the housing turnover, and this in turn contributes to the over all market outlook. These companies are not new, in fact Quick Cash for Properties has been around for over forty years. The problem is, many homeowners do not understand the benefits of using their services.
A cash lumpsum in four to eight weeks can eliminate a lot of the financial problems being faced by the average homeowner which is why our services are so important. Best of all, the transaction is of no cost to the seller, and privacy remains respected at all time. Thousands of homeowners have found reprieve by just calling 0800 6528 396 for a consultation with a quick sale property agent, so why wait? Make the call that could change your life today. | <urn:uuid:9f6d368f-3c8e-4cd2-b15c-74f129549495> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.quickcashforproperties.co.uk/blog/news/how-companies-that-buy-houses-are-helping-the-market-9550/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974652 | 518 | 1.5 | 2 |
If At First You Don't Succeed
Doctor's appointments, tests, treatments, medications: all these things related to IVF can not only interfere with your career, your life, and your relationships, but they can also take them over. Many feel overwhelmed, saddened by failure, angry at not conceiving, and even depressed and guilty. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), this is normal. In contrast, the ASRM says that it may be these very emotions that motivate a couple to keep trying.
"I wanted a baby so badly that I had to snap myself out of what seemed to be a never-ending cycle of anger and depression," says Becky Forris, a medical transcriptionist from Oklahoma City. "It was the anger at myself and the depression at not having a baby that made me think, 'This is not what I want; I want a baby.' So, I—we—kept trying."
Level of Difficulty
In many things, practice makes perfect. Unfortunately, this concept is not always true with the procedure of IVF. While the procedure's terminology and testing may be more familiar the second time around, trying to conceive may not be easier. In all actuality, for some, it is more difficult.
"From a patient's perspective, a second attempt is easier because of familiarity," says Dr. Gloria Richard-Davis, director of the reproductive endocrinology program at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. "Knowing what to expect because they have already gone through the injectables, tests, procedures, etc., makes the process a little less stressful and may keep the couple from being as nervous. However, knowing what may or may not happen can often add an entirely new stress."
It's About the Benjamins
The cost of a single cycle can be significant. When the first try fails, costs can accumulate quickly. According to Dr. C. Maud Daherty, co-author of The Fertility Handbook, setting a spending limit prior to a second try may be wise. "Couples must know going into IVF that there will be some costly procedures," says Dr. Daherty. "Setting a financial limit is wise. By almost anyone's standards, infertility treatment is expensive. Countless couples have gone into debt to try 'just one more time.' [We] advise against this, saying those who reach this point may be suffering from a compulsion much like any other activity they feel 'driven' to accomplish. It helps to have a plan in place, one based on logic rather than unsettled emotions."
Feelings of guilt, anger, or disappointment from a failed first attempt can frequently offer a new set of stressors to a couple trying to conceive. "IVF the second time may be harder because it didn't work the first time," says Dr. Richard-Davis. "Different sets of stressors are associated with going through repeated attempts. One of the ways to help cope with this or lessen the harsh emotional involvement is to address with the doctor what happened the first time and whether or not anything can be done in terms of change of protocol to improve outcome for the second attempt."
Taking the Time
A substantial time commitment is required by both partners to complete an entire course of IVF therapy. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, additional time will be needed in order to make a second attempt. "It will be necessary for couples to adjust their schedules to undergo additional testing and therapies associated with a second attempt at IVF," says Dr. Richard-Davis. "This type of situation often creates or exacerbates marital conflict and may require a bit of extra effort on both parts. Find time to talk about it and decide if it's conflict within your relationship or if it's created by your infertility experience. It is normal for marriages to have problems during this time." | <urn:uuid:a86ceafe-0e41-4c9c-a746-59ad4b3eab31> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.babyzone.com/getting-pregnant/infertility/ivf/ivf-process_65061 | 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 | 0.967197 | 786 | 1.71875 | 2 |
When a metal object sits on a humid rug or even the carpet in the trunk of your car, it often leaves rust stains. They're very difficult to remove and there's always been only one good way to get them off: Oxalic Acid -- also known as Lemon Salts. So for years I've lived with the frustration that I would recommend this to people, knowing they'd have difficulty locating any. The problem is its name. Lemon Salts sounds like something you would find in the spice section of the grocery store. But it is a dangerous acid. So instead, it is sold at the drugstore, and often kept behind the counter. You have to ask the druggist for it. Why, because it is too easy to confuse with food. Although it did remove the rust stains better than anything else, it also tended to remove a bit of the tissue as well.
I was delighted when I came across the RUST GUN, a non-toxic rust remover that doesn't eat the fabric you're working on. Unfortunately it is a bit hard to find. If you know of other rust removers that are kind to textiles, let me know. | <urn:uuid:36c26f6e-e224-4ade-bb29-da9ae00536f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/1006-How-do-you-clean-rust-off-rugs | 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 | 0.986212 | 240 | 1.640625 | 2 |
He was gay, and he asked her to officiate a ceremony for him.
"I declined," she says. "I was in my first parish. I wasn't sure what the reaction would be, and I've regretted that ever since."
Like so many, she struggled with the concept of civil unions versus marriage, too. It's not that she didn't like gay people. She was welcoming to friends and congregation members who were gay. "I was always really aware of this group of folks in the church who were disenfranchised."
As she thought about the issue more and met more gay people over the years, Daniel's view evolved. "When you say civil union, it doesn't have the same meaning."
Daniel is now pastor of the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ in Frederick, Maryland. The United Church of Christ passed a resolution in 2005 affirming marriage equality. Daniel's church voted two years later to be an affirming congregation, allowing gays and lesbians to be active in all aspects of the church.
"We're a church where people are welcome, where families are nurtured, where families are families."
She believes right-wing preachers get too much air time, that for far too long, conservative pastors have drowned out the voices of progressive people of faith.
The Maryland legislature passed marriage equality, and the governor signed it into law earlier this year. But opponents gathered enough petition signatures to force a vote this year.
Daniel watched from the sidelines last year as conservative clergy led the charge to try to block the legislation and ban gays from marrying. "Not doing anything this year was not an option," she said.
She and other leaders helped form an interfaith group called AMEN -- Advocating for Marriage Equality Now. They received social media training on how to spread posts rapidly across Facebook. They knocked on doors, placed hundreds of phone calls and wrote letters to the editor to area newspapers, anything to reach out to the state's more progressive electorate. | <urn:uuid:a587fa5b-6c73-43fc-b182-d54fd3311036> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wyff4.com/entertainment/Life-experiences-shaped-gay-marriage-votes/-/9323898/17462534/-/item/2/-/mfiuuo/-/index.html | 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 | 0.985471 | 405 | 1.632813 | 2 |
For 30 tragic years, we've heard the mantra that government is the cause of all of our problems, not their solution.
"It's wasteful, unproductive, and obstructionist," the faithful chant. On the flip side of the broken record, the same, droning chorus repeats that business, the for-profit sector, does everything right and good — real or imagined. Cash registers ring up nirvana.
So, naturally, it has been just a syllogistic hop, skip, and a jump in some people's minds that if we elect business people to office and gut government to get it out of the way of entrepreneurs, everyone will achieve the American Dream.
Of course, that's hooey. The exact opposite is true: Our economy is in crisis precisely because of collusion between elected officials and corporate interests. "The people" have been sold out. Business and government don't mix.
A successful business and good government operate under a different set of values and goals. Boards of directors and Wall Street don't reward CEOs because they create a lot of jobs. Investors are interested in bloated profits, not burgeoning payrolls. By sharp contrast, our republic was not conceived as a series of profit centers created to line the pockets of corporations — a latter-day perversion of our Founding Fathers' ideals.
Of course, under some circumstances, government and business may be complementary. When it is in the public interest, government should support the for-profit sector — certainly not create unreasonable barriers to success. But breach the firewall, tilt the balance to profit over people, and you get the corporate welfare state.
It would be disastrous for Americans to elect a CEO as president. Unfit for public office, they all suffer from CEO (Consummate Ego Obsession). They don't think they serve, but are served. They can't/won't/don't/will never understand that elected officials work for "the people." Consider some of the disastrous CEOs now or recently in politics.
Like Casper the friendly ghost, Texan Ross Perot spooked the 1992 and 1996 presidential races. With an ego bigger than a 10-gallon hat, he peppered his rhetoric with populist twaddle and a homegrown twang, promising to rescue America from bad government.
But Electronic Data Systems, the company he founded, made him billions from computerizing the Medicare records of that same, bad, federal government. Eventually, out of cocoon of his company, where employees had to put up with his antics, the public saw through him, and his candidacy imploded. Trust someone like him as president — and it's your bad!
As Florida governor, CEO-afflicted Rick Scott still doesn't "get" that the business of government is "the people," not business. Like a short-sighted salesman massaging just his current clients, he continues to suck up only to tea party voters, his "base" — violating the oath he swore to govern on behalf of all the people. Like other politicos bashing government, as CEO, he made millions from a company that depended upon taxpayer dollars — and sees his job as helping other CEOs do the same.
Former CEOs Meg Whitman (failed California governor candidate) and Carly Fiorina (failed California senator wannabe) treated campaigning for office like a hostile takeover. Multimillionaire Jon Corzine went from business into government (as U.S. senator from New Jersey, then disastrously as governor), then back into a business that mega-failed.
CEO Herman Cain turned presidential campaigning into a business — to sell books. Donald Trump — so many bankruptcies, so much bluster — thinks that, as president, he could "fire" China like one of the sycophants on his TV show. As CEO of Bain Capital, a vain Mitt Romney believed "no pain, no gain." He shuttered businesses and threw people out of work without giving a hoot about the effects on the general economy. A president doesn't have that luxury.
It isn't just lonely at the corporate top. It's looney. CEOs mistakenly think their skills are fungible. Instead, we need leaders who will save us from venal corporate schemers, who know how to maximize a return on investment, and who know who their real clients are — the people.
Follow Stephen L. Goldstein on Twitter at @drslgoldstein, or email him at firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:495dea66-cf8a-42bb-a05d-e961a87145db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-12-11/news/fl-sgcol-oped1211-20111211_1_ceo-business-people-government | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970226 | 912 | 1.75 | 2 |
Boston Leader Connects Parents to Learning
Michele Brooks | Assistant Superintendent
Office of Family and Student Engagement, Boston Public Schools
The day Michele Brooks "lost it" as the frustrated mother of a Boston high school student became a moment that transformed her life forever.
That was 20 years ago, and today Brooks works inside the Boston school system as the assistant superintendent in charge of the district's office of family and student engagement.
Brooks is credited with strategically aligning Boston's parent-engagement efforts with the district's academic goals, which moved the work of her office from a peripheral activity to one that is central to the needs of the district's 57,000 students and their families.
"When I first started in this role, I could say I was the only one who would bring up, 'So, what about the families?' Now, whether I'm at the table or not, the conversation is about the families," says Brooks, who has been leading the office for the past four years.
One of her high-profile efforts over that time has been launching and overseeing Parent University—a program that has educated parents on their roles as teachers, advocates, leaders, and learners themselves. Her staff collaborates with the other offices in the district, coordinates outreach and training, creates publications, and implements programs to advance the district's vision: "Every school will welcome every family and every student, actively engaging them as partners in student learning and school improvement."
None of that was in Brooks' scope as the disgruntled mother of a 9th grade daughter two decades ago. Brooks, 59, had moved her family from Tennessee back to Boston so her three children could benefit from the outstanding education she herself had received in public schools there.
But things went south fast. When her daughter received an A on a slapdash essay, and defiantly conveyed a guidance counselor's comment that "not everyone is cut out for college," Brooks—who worked in information technology then—came to the school to talk with the principal. His secretary first ignored, then insulted her, Brooks says.
"I was livid," Brooks recalls. The principal respectfully asked Brooks why she was so upset, saying, " 'I work for you. How can we make this right?' " He explained his challenges with the teaching staff and enlisted Brooks' help, asking that she demand better, and be present at the school.
Brooks volunteered the following day, then the next—quickly deciding to leave her full-time job so she could devote even more time to the schools.
Brooks has never looked back. She started a family center in her daughter's high school where parents can meet to network and seek resources. She also helped organize parents when the school lost accreditation and, four years later, shared in the pride as the school graduated an entire class of students. "Every single one had a college-admission letter or was going into the [military] service," she says.
She went on to become the founding director of the Boston Parents Organizing Network, which began as a community-based group advocating to avert school budget cuts and establish a strong office of family and community engagement. Brooks spent five years in the network and later was appointed to the school board. Superintendent Carol Johnson recruited Brooks for her current position in 2008.
"As an organizer—that's how I do this work. I'm always looking for connections. That's the key. When the district lays out its priorities, every single one of my colleagues has a piece of that work, including me," says Brooks. "I do an analysis: How can I support their work and connect our work?"
For example, this year the district's priority is literacy. Her office conducted a parent and child writing club, which turned out to be a successful pilot, with 15 families meeting to improve their 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders' performance as writers on open-response assignments. Over eight sessions, parents and children worked on projects together. Eventually, parents became writing coaches for their children.
This laser focus on broader districtwide goals means Boston has avoided the pitfalls of similar family-related offices in many other districts, where schools become caught up in what experts call "random acts of family engagement," says Karen L. Mapp, a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the director of its education policy and management program. "In Boston public schools, we really see that family engagement is a strategy toward whole-school improvement," Mapp says.
Brooks' first step when taking her position was to define "family and student engagement" as the work of everybody in the district: administrators, teachers, support staff, custodians, and bus drivers.
The school system adopted the National PTA's six standards for family-school partnerships, and measures schools and teachers against them. "We measure ourselves to those standards, too," Brooks explains.
Early on, Brooks confronted another issue. "We know the folks in the district really believe family and student engagement is critically important. One of the assumptions you make is that, if you believe in it, you'll go out and do it. That was wrong," she says.
So Brooks began to focus on a new area: capacity building. For her shrinking staff, that meant training them to do more with less, deepen their knowledge base, focus on strategies rather than events, and leverage instructional shifts to influence educational practice. For parents, she says, the goal was to "build confidence in their own ability to navigate the school system, advocate for their children, partner with their teachers to support student learning"—helping them to become what Rudy Crew, a former schools chief in the New York City and Miami-Dade County, Fla., districts, calls "demand parents."
One way Brooks' office attempts to do that is through Parent University, launched in her first year on the job. Parents choose classes in three intensive Saturday "universities" throughout the year. Topics include what children should know at different grade levels, their brain development, how to deal with adolescents, how to navigate the school system to advocate for your child, healthy cooking, and how to use a computer. Those programs have more than doubled in attendance since they began. In addition, parents attend satellite sessions in a range of subject areas, from English-as-a-second-language instruction to completing their own high school education or getting a GED. Funding for Parent University primarily comes from the district's Title I funds.
In her second year, Brooks' team created grade-level guides for student learning in conjunction with the curriculum and instruction office. The guides instruct parents about what their students should be learning as they progress through school. Aligned with the Common Core State Standards, those guides have been translated into a number of languages.
In 2011, Brooks' office launched professional development to help educators think about family engagement in new ways. Plans are also in the works to award "Family Friendly School Certification" to schools that excel or progress in their efforts to engage families.
A backdrop to the accomplishments of Brooks and her office are the budget cuts that caused the size of her staff to drop from 23 when she was hired in 2008 to 13 today, and shrank her budget to its current level of $2.9 million.
They were "a curse because we're limited in what we can do, and a blessing because [they] really forced us to focus and prioritize," she says.
Brooks' work has gained a national reputation, partially thanks to her position as a founding member of the District Leaders Network on Family and Community Engagement, a 50-member peer network that brings together district leaders from across the country to meet in Washington at the Institute for Educational Leadership.
Michael Sarbanes, the executive director of the office of engagement for the Baltimore public schools, is one of the district leaders who have worked closely with Brooks through the network. "What I think has been extraordinary about how Michele has come at the work is a combination of her deep experience working with parents, coupled with an understanding of the leverage points around academic achievement within the school system, and then how to link those up," he says.
Brooks' ultimate goal is to create sufficient capacity so that her office will be unnecessary. "If we've done our job right, we will not have a job," she says.
Vol. 32, Issue 20, Pages s19,s20
Access selected articles, e-newsletters and more! | <urn:uuid:d84b6fa4-19b3-4016-aef0-76bc3724af60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/02/06/20ltlf-brooks.h32.html?intc=EW-LTLF13-EWH | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982493 | 1,735 | 1.578125 | 2 |
"Adults Should Read Adult Books." Now, the author of this article actually hasn't read any of the books he mentions in his article (The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Twilight) so I didn't take his article too seriously (you can read a very good commentary on the article here.) While this article reminded me of one of my number one pet peeves (people judging others based on what they read) it also made me think about why I still read books that are written for children. Is it because I'm lazy and don't want to take the time to read an intellectually stimulating novel written for people my age? While people like Joel Stein would think so, here are the real reasons why I read kid-lit and why I will never stop.
1. I don't want to forget what it's like to be a kid. When I was a kid I was worried that I would turn into one of those adults who have completely forgotten what it was like to be a child (like Ms. Trunchbull in Roald Dahl's Matilda.) Fortunately, that has yet to really happen to me. Reading kid's books instantly helps me remember even more vividly than usual what it's like to be seven years old. I never want to be one of the adults The Little Prince describes, or turn into a villain worthy of a Roald Dahl book. While not reading children's books definitely doesn't mean you will suddenly be unable to relate to children or become every kid's worst nightmare, I think reading children's lit helps ensure that you will never forget. It's nice to be able to read a book and find that it permanently holds a part of who you used to be and what it felt like to be that person.
2. I can learn a lot from books like The Little Prince, Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. And from so many other books for children. Sometimes books for kids are full of simplistic wisdom. The first that comes to mind is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which is pictured above (from PosteSecret.) In 91 pages this book can teach you about love, what's important in life and what you should never forget, no matter how old you are. When writing Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie was inspired to write a book about a boy who will never grow up based on the death of his older brother David, who died just short of his fourteenth birthday. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is about the solitary journey into adulthood, the loss of childhood and how one can never go back. While Alice's sister dreams about Wonderland after hearing about it from Alice, she can't truly go there and even in her dream she knows it's not real. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman offers a different perspective on the fall in the Garden of Eden and equates the fall with consciousness, not sin. Harry Potter is not only about the battle of good versus evil between Harry and Voldemort, but also about the internal battle within us all.
3. I don't care if people judge me. If someone on a plane sees me reading The Penderwicks or The Invention of Hugo Cabret and assumes that I'm either lazy or not very bright, then that's fine. Fortunately for me, I'm confident enough with my intelligence to be seen reading a book that was written for ten year olds. When I was younger I didn't feel this way, as I mentioned earlier, but thankfully I've grown up enough not to care anymore. C.S. Lewis wisely said "When I became a man I put away childish things, such as the fear of childishness and the desire to be terribly grown up."
4. It can be just plain fun. I read for a lot of reasons: to discover things I didn't know before, to see the world through someone else's eyes, to find adventure, to learn about what was, to learn about what could be, to escape, to fall in love or to go to places I may never get to see in reality. But sometimes I just want to read a book that's a lot of fun. While it is not true that books for kids are always just for entertainment, some of them are a lot of fun to read and sometimes that's what I need. Roald Dahl is a good author to go to when you want to read a fun book that reminds you what it's like to be ten, and every once in a while that's exactly what I'm looking for.
5. I try not to underestimate kids or the books that they read. While it is true that I liked some embarrassing books as a kid (the Mary-Kate and Ashley mystery books first come to mind) I also liked a lot of things that I'm sure adults assumed would go right over my head (like the dark humour and literary references in A Series of Unfortunate Events.) I'm sure there are people who will hear a child praise a book and patronize them, assuming that this book is much too silly for anyone over the age of twelve. You can even see this in some children's books that are condescending and talk down to the reader (another pet peeve of mine.) Believing that all children's books are subpar means believing that children are essentially silly and waste their time on less than satisfactory literature. Some kid's books are popular for a reason: they're good.
6. Just because a book is written for a younger audience doesn't mean it doesn't touch on important issues. This makes me think of a quote from Madeleine L'Engle, writer of A Wrinkle in Time: “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” Dr. Seuss's books could be written off as simply being wacky rhyming books for kids, but in reality they are about a lot more than that (x). Just because the writing isn't necessarily challenging doesn't mean that it doesn't touch on some challenging issues. Remember, these books were written by adults.
7. I try to be open minded about what I read. If someone recommends me a book that they love, I'm going to read it whether it's for children, teens or adults. If I was less open minded about reading I would have missed out on a lot of amazing books.
8. I know that writers of junior fiction can be just as talented as writers for adults. A lot of people seem to think that junior fiction has no literary merit, or even that writers of children's books do so because they couldn't write for adults. Sort of like 'those who can't teach, teach gym,' but instead 'those who can't write, write for children.' This is, of course, completely untrue. Some very talented writers of junior fiction include Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, L.M. Montgomery, Lois Lowry, E.L. Konigsburg, Madeleine L'Engle, Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling and Frances Hodgson Burnett. In fact, some of these writers also write for adults.
9. Sometimes I like to escape from the adult world. Let's be honest: sometimes it's nice to forget about the lows of adult life and read books about adventure from the eyes of a wide eyed child protagonist.
10. Because a good book is a good book. Who cares which section of the library it's in? You see books that are torn between the YA and the Adult Fiction section, and wherever you find The Book Thief, it's still going to be amazing.
I think people should read whatever they want, no matter what the intended age group is. While I think that there are a lot of good reasons to read junior fiction, that's all beside the point. Whether you're reading The Hobbit or a Mary-Kate and Ashley mystery novel, that's your choice and no one should judge you for reading whatever it is that you're reading. Personally, I hope that I never stop loving something just because it's not intended for my age group: what would life be like without Pixar movies, children's books, cartoons and ring pops?
Feel through to respond with your comments on children's literature and the adults who read it. | <urn:uuid:29f66afc-3d66-4738-8e7b-7f40d708c51c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hernoseinabook.blogspot.com/2012/05/10-reasons-why-i-still-read-childrens.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978885 | 1,712 | 1.65625 | 2 |
MONTEZUMA CASTLE - What do you do when you graduate college but the economy is in such shambles you can't find a job?
There is always the option of staying in school, getting a master's degree or a PhD, then spending the rest of your life figuring how you are going to pay off your student loans.
You could also decide to hang out in your parent's basement until things get better, hoping they won't notice you are still living at home.
Or you can choose to flip burgers, put aside your dreams of successfully explaining string theory to the rest of the us and trust your comparative literature major/astrophysics minor will be enough to carry you on to a six-digit salary as a middle manger for a national fast food chain.
In truth, though, there are other options -- like what four young women are doing at the valley's three National Monuments.
Amanda Jennison, Caroline Crecelius, Leah Duran and Sarahanne Blake are gaining some real world experience as dismally paid but happy interns for the National Park Service.
They are all members of the Student Conservation Association, a 50-year-old organization that offers high school and college age students an opportunity to serve in America's parks, marine sanctuaries, national forests and other cultural landmarks.
Jennison, from New Hampshire, has a degree in Spanish and linguistics. Crecelius is an anthropology major with a language minor (Russian and Italian) from Missouri.
Duran is from Connecticut and recently graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. And Blake is a New York native who graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in psychology and history.
They work 40-hour weeks for $75 a week plus housing.
For the most part they spend their days on the monument grounds and in the visitor centers, meeting and greeting the public, and explaining the history and culture of the Sinagua people, Tuzigoot, Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well.
"In truth they do just about everything a regular ranger does. They just don't get paid for it," says their boss, Interpretive Ranger Josh Boles.
Although they would all like to find work in their chosen fields, they are young enough that the idea of putting off the inevitable is acceptable -- or at least affordable.
"There weren't any journalism jobs to be had, so I decided to fall back on my minor, parks and protected area management," says Duran, "I'm here because I want the experience, I can afford to be dirt poor, and nothing else was happening."
They all have a tale or two to tell of the dismal job market. And none of them are fully accustomed to the summer weather.
But at the same time, none of them regrets the decisions they made that brought them to the Verde Valley.
"I always wanted to get into the Park Service," says Blake, "I went to a family birthday party and talked to a cousin who was a park ranger. Here I am. I love the outdoors. I hate the idea of working in an office and I will talk my brains out to just about anyone who will listen."
Jennison says she thought about using her Spanish degree to get into the Border Patrol, but decided instead to serve as a volunteer with AmeriCorps. Through that organization, she discovered SCA.
"I spoke to Josh one day and got really excited with the opportunity to do some interpretive work at a National Park. And I had never been west. I decided to give it a shot. It's been great," says Jennison.
They are all serving a 16-week internship, after which their plans, for the most part, are to continue putting off the inevitable.
Duran says she has signed up for a 10-month stint as a volunteer with the State of Massachusetts. She will be living by a lake, teaching conservation education in the winter and working on trails in the summer.
Jennison will be doing a similar internship at a state park in New Hampshire.
Crecelius says she is headed back to Missouri to work on a mushroom farm, cook in a bakery, and take a trip to Russia sponsored by a local Rotary club.
Blake says she will first go to the Grand Canyon to shadow some search and rescue workers and see if she can finagle a backcountry job come next summer.
After that she will be working at a restaurant back home, practicing rock climbing and rappelling, and doing whatever it takes to avoid working in an office.
And they all say will be leaving with a new outlook on the world.
"In college you are surrounded by people with similar interests and understandings. The real world is completely different," says Crecelius, "Before I came here I wondered what I would do with an anthropology degree.
"Now I know. I will answer questions like, "where did the Sinagua go to the bathroom.' This has truly been an eye opening experience and my first freefall since kindergarten."
Copyright 2009 Western News&Info | <urn:uuid:913c97f4-c800-43f2-b5c9-b8c303333b72> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thesca.org/print/23943 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967907 | 1,056 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Modi in pole position but can his politics have a pan-Indian appeal?
Predicting elections can be injurious to the health of journalists and pollsters, more so when there is still a month to go before voting. Even so, there is a near unanimity that Narendra Modi is poised for a hat-trick of victories in Gujarat. The CNN IBN-The Week-CSDS poll done a fortnight ago, in fact, puts him as much as 14 points ahead, which if translated into seats, should give Modi a comprehensive two-thirds majority. The Modi groupies will no doubt attribute a victory solely to the charisma and achievements of the Gujarat chief minister. His critics will be quick to point out that Gujarat is sui generis, and a win is the result of communal polarisation in the state. The truth, as is often the case, lies somewhere in-between.
Yes, Gujarat is the first state in the country that can be called a BJP-dominant party state. A win in Gujarat in December would be the fifth consecutive win for the BJP, making it a saffron citadel, much like Bengal was once a red fortress, or Maharashtra was a Congress bastion. There are as many as 58 seats in the state which the BJP has never lost in the last four elections, a statistic which confirms the party's ability to rise above any anti-incumbency factor.
Yes, the 2002 riots may have confirmed the supremacy of a so-called Hindu vote bank, but the fact is the emergence of this vote bank pre-dates the violence. In 1995, for example, the BJP won more than 50 per cent of the vote, proof that the party's rise is a 90s' phenomenon and the last 10 years have only seen a further consolidation of this vote. Gujarat has been a laboratory for Hindutva politics since the Ayodhya movement and the genesis of the BJP's rise must be traced back to that defining period when religion and politics became a highly combustible mix.
It is equally true that the 'development' agenda of Gujarat didn't start in 2002 with the ascent of Modi as the chief minister's astute marketing machine would have us believe. Gujarat chief ministers, from the time of Morarji Desai (CM of the old Bombay state which existed prior to May 1, 1960, when it was dissolved and Maharashtra & Gujarat were born as separate states) to a Chimanbhai Patel to a Madhavsinh Solanki, have always had a robust, forward-looking approach to economic progress. Many of the road, irrigation and oil and gas exploration projects are from a previous era. Modi has done a fine job in harnessing Gujarat's entrepreneurial energies and his policies on the power sector in particular have been innovative and successful. But to suggest that Gujarat would not have prospered without Modi's dynamism is to deny credit to the time-tested Gujarati business acumen. Gujarat's average growth rate in the eighth plan (between 1992-97) was 12.9 per cent. It is now estimated to be around 11.2 per cent for the last five years.
At the same time, it would also be easy to wish away Modi's own contribution to the BJP's continuing dominance in the last ten years as his critics often do. There is little doubt that the persona of Modi, first as a Hindu Hriday Samrat and then as a 'vikas purush,' has helped the growth of the BJP's natural constituency. His leadership style may be authoritarian, even divisive, but its appeal cannot be ignored. On the road with Modi, one is struck for example with the large female and youth following he seems to attract. For both these groups, the Gujarat chief minister exudes a certain macho attraction, a belief that he is an all-conquering hero who will single-handedly take on all the enemies of Gujarati 'asmita' or 'pride' (recall his 'chappan inch kee chati' or 56 inch chest remark from the last election). In a state where politicians have tended to be soft spoken and almost effeminate, and where the Congress has no credible regional 'face', Modi stands out with his aggressive CEO style of communication.
Indeed, it would be fair to suggest that brand Modi is well suited to the changing demographics of Gujarat. With a 42 per cent urban population, Gujarat now ranks third, after Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, in urbanisation. There are bustling townships along the highway at almost every 30 kilometres, with hoardings of the latest lifestyle products competing for attention. Large posters of religious sect leaders dot the urban skyline. In no state is the rise of the new urban middle class as visible as it is in the market-driven economy of Gujarat. It is this urban voter, with religion in the heart, consumerism in his head, and a possible NRI cousin in America, who has been a driving force behind Gujarat's saffron surge. In the last two decades, the BJP has dominated the politics of urban and semi-urban Gujarat by offering stable governance, economic freedom and yes, overt religiosity that sees the Muslim as the 'outsider'.
Modi, with his decisive, no-nonsense leadership style, is a symbol of this new Gujarat on the fast track to growth. As the urban-rural divide is slowly blurred, Gujarat's politics now revolves around the ability to manage the aspirations of the upwardly mobile voter. With a track record of focussed governance and market-friendly policies, Modi appeals to those who are convinced that the state must be, above all else, a facilitator in achieving high growth rates. The land acquisition battles, for example, which resonate in states like Bengal, appear to hold less relevance to the Gujarati land-owner who is simply looking to strike the best deal for his property. And the quality of urban infrastructure - Ahmedabad's BRT, for instance, is now a model transport system - has only added to the sense of well-being of the core Modi constituency.
So, yes, a Modi win in Gujarat seems a safe bet for now. The nagging question though remains: can Gujarat be a benchmark for measuring popularity in a complex, diverse India?
More about Rajdeep SardesaiRajdeep Sardesai is the Editor-in-Chief, IBN18 Network, that includes CNN-IBN, IBN 7 and IBN Lokmat. He comes with 22 years of journalistic experience during which he has covered some of the biggest stories in India and the world. Prior to setting up the IBN network, he was the Managing Editor of both NDTV 24X7 and NDTV India and was responsible for overseeing the news policy for both the channels. He has also worked with The Times of India for six years and was the city editor of its Mumbai edition at the age of 26. During the last 22 years, he has covered major national and international stories, specialising in national politics. He has won numerous other awards for journalistic excellence, including the prestigious Padma Shri for journalism in 2008, the International Broadcasters Award for coverage of the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for 2007. He has won the Asian Television Award for best talk show for the Big Fight on two occasions and his current flagship show on CNN-IBN, India at 9, has been awarded the best news show at the Asian awards for the last two years. He has been News Anchor of the year at the Indian Television Academy for seven of the last eight years and won more than 50 awards in this period. He has also been the President of the Editors Guild of India, the only television journalist to hold the post and was chosen a Global leader for tomorrow by the world economic forum in 2000. An alumni of St Xavier's College, Mumbai, he has done his Masters and LLB from Oxford University and has also played first class cricket for the Oxford University team. He has contributed to several books and writes a fortnightly column that appears in seven newspapers.
- + Imran Khan: Politics is not a game of cricket
- + Mr Prime Minister, sing the sound of silence no more
- + Ajit Pawar is emblematic of a class of unaccountable political czars
- + Unequal justice breeds communalism and terrorism
- + To be (the PM) or not to be, Rahul's Hamletian dilemma continues
- + BJP's Modi dilemma
- + Shinde's list is one of abject failures
- + Making sense of sensationalist TV journalism
- + Rahul vs Modi: the long and short of it | <urn:uuid:8788720f-32cf-4f5a-a3a8-1314334f22e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/newsman/1/64069/modi-in-pole-position-but-can-his-politics-have-a-panindian-appeal.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968732 | 1,775 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Little did anyone suspect that two revered members of American corporate royalty, Martha Stewart and Jack Welch, would slip off their thrones in 2002.
First, domestic doyenne Stewart was hit with allegations of insider trading.
Stewart sold nearly 4,000 shares of biotech firm ImClone Inc. at $58 the day before it failed to receive regulatory approval for its cancer drug Erbitux. Strongly denying the insider charges, Stewart has turned over 1,000 pages of documents to congressional investigators, who have asked the Justice Department to look into her stock sale.
Esteemed former CEO Welch took it on the chin when his estranged wife's divorce papers disclosed millions of dollars of extravagance in his General Electric Corp. retirement package. Although Welch was shamed into curtailing the corporate jet, luxury Manhattan apartment and lucrative consulting perks, the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating.
Expect greater disclosure of the benefits of current and retired executives through new rules, renegotiation of some packages and a chilling effect on future packages.
"Egregious excess reflects poorly on company management, directors and their decision-making," said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer of First Albany Corp. in Albany, N.Y. "For example, you don't need elaborate analysis to determine if Jack Welch's retirement plan was excessive."
Insider trading, the allegation in the Stewart case, is always interesting because there are illegal and legal examples of it.
Illegal insider trading involves buying or selling a security while in possession of material information not available to the general public. Trading violations can include giving a tip, as well as trading by the person receiving the tip and other individuals. The "tipper" must be someone with a fiduciary responsibility not to give out the information, such as a top officer.
In the Stewart situation, family members of Samuel Waksal, the chief executive of ImClone and a close Stewart friend, sold $9 million in shares at the same time as Stewart. Waksal tried to sell shares, but two brokerage firms refused to execute his order. Waksal was indicted on securities fraud charges.
Legal insider trading occurs when corporate insiders such as officers and directors buy and sell stock in their own companies. They must report trades to the SEC, with new rules requiring that transactions be reported within two business days, not the previous time period of as much as 40 days.
Insider buying and selling is a good indication of company prospects. "We saw historically bearish levels of trading by insiders in May, but that turned to extremely bullish buying patterns the last couple of months," observed David Coleman, editor of Vickers Insider Report (www.vickers-stock.com) in Huntington, N.Y. "Insiders are opportunistic long-term investors who buy with more understanding of the company's future than any analyst or other market participant."
Stocks bought aggressively by corporate insiders have recently included Lucent Technologies (LU), CNET Networks (CNET), Nortel Networks (NT), Orland Park-based Andrew Corp. (ANDW) and JP Morgan Chase (JPM), according to Vickers.
Experiencing significant selling by insiders have been Coventry Health Care (CVH), HCA (HCA), HealthSouth (HRC) and Nucor Corp. (NUE).
"We're seeing a pickup in buying and a reduction in selling, which is positive," said Lon Gerber, insider research director for Thomson Financial. "Insider trading is an accurate leading market indicator usually six months ahead of the S&P 500."
"The chief executive and others at Household International (HI) have been buying shares the past several weeks," added John Spears, co-manager of Tweedy Browne's American Value Fund (TWEBX) and Global Value Fund (TBGVX), referring to the Prospect Heights-based firm. "Despite some concern about litigation involving the firm, insiders voted with their wallets and bought, and I also bought shares the other day."
Historical studies show that in the 12 months after executives buy significant share amounts, those shares beat the market by 10 percent, he said.
"Find out how many insiders there are in a company to determine the percentage they represent and see whether they're all trading in the same direction," said Stephen Bainbridge, law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. "The next issue is who's selling, because a CEO and CFO selling a lot of stock is worrisome, while selling by a division vice president is not." | <urn:uuid:13f55390-41c6-4e9e-884a-4b62fdd3fb84> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-09-24/business/0209240276_1_insider-trading-stewart-case-samuel-waksal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965051 | 929 | 1.53125 | 2 |
The suspect in Friday's school shooting is now being identified by law enforcement as Adam Lanza (20), whose mother was a teacher at the Connecticut elementary school.
Authorities say the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School took place in two rooms, but they are not giving details on exactly how it unfolded. Youngsters and their parents have described teachers locking doors and ordering children to huddle in the corner or hide in closets when shots echoed through the building.
Officials have confirmed that 27 people, including 20 children were killed. Lanza's mother, Nancy Lanza, was subsequently found murdered at her home. Officials say Adam Lanza was found dead shortly after the shootings took place, from what appear to be self-inflicted wounds.
Officials say Lanza's 24-year-old brother Adam Lanza, who officials originally misidentified as the shooter, was being questioned by police Friday afternoon; It is unknown whether or not he was involved.
A 6-year-old told his father that he was in his classroom when a gunman burst in and shot the teacher. Robert Licata says his son "grabbed a bunch of his friends and ran out the door." Licata says the shooter didn't say a word.
Stephen Delgiadice says his 8-year-old daughter heard two big bangs and teachers told her to get in a corner. His daughter is fine.
He says the shooting is alarming because his family always considered Newtown to be the safest place in America.
Seventeen-year-old Mergim Bajraliu heard the gunshots echo from his home and raced to check on his 9-year-old sister at the school. He says his sister heard a scream come over the intercom at one point. And he says teachers were shaking and crying as they came out of the building.
The investigation into the shooting is still underway, and Lanza's motive for carrying out this tragic massacre is still unknown.
By: Marissa A. Wagner
Information taken from the Associated Press
Friday, December 14, 2012 4:51 p.m. | <urn:uuid:411724b4-2c5c-4719-add2-8cfa435bf256> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ktsa.com/pages/15039708.php?poll118714ViewResults=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.991964 | 427 | 1.585938 | 2 |
105. Joseph Peatross HADEN was born on 23 September 1783 in Fluvanna County, Virginia.39,239 He died in 1820 at the age of 37 in Todd County, Kentucky.1,322,323
Baptized 8 Jul 1787
ALBEMARLE CO VA MARRIAGES, 1780-1853
James Porter was bondsman with Daniel Carr as witness. Consent given by Rezin Porter Jr. Witnesses to marriage: Peter and James Porter.
Young Joseph may have planned at one time to move to Lousia Co, or even actually lived there. Among the Unrecorded Deeds:
LOUISA CO RECORDS YOU PROBABLY NEVER SAW OF 18TH CENTURY VIRGINIA, compiled by John C. Bell, 1983.
p.49 [p.3-4 of original] List of John Poindexter, Clerk, dated about 1813: 190 acres Wit: Jos Haden Jr., Wm Clarke, Joanna Clark, Jno Hailey Benja. Harris
p.58 [p.13-14 of original] William Slayden & wife to Jos. Haden, 6 Nov 1802. Wit: Ro. Yancey Wm Kimbrough, R. D. Hayden, M. P. Haden [wife was Sarah Slayden], Jos. Haden of Fluvanna Co. Proven by Yancey & Kimbrough on 13 Jun 1803. Tract was 4 1/8 acres.
Louisa Co VA
Book: L, Page: 28, Grantor: Sally M. Clark, Grantee: , Date: 17-Apr-1777
Sally M. Clark cannot conviently travel to Louisa court and was examined by Henry Garrett and James Poindexter, Justices. DB L. p 29 17 Apr 1777 Isaac Clark and Rebeccah, his wife, of Louisa to John Barker of Goochland 30 Lbs. currt. money 190 acres north side of Fork Creek adjoining Isaac Clarks plantation, Isaac Clarks old line, Thomas Clarks line on Creek. sig. Isaac Clark and Rebecca R. Clark. Wit; Joseph Haden, Jr., William Clark, Louisa Clark. John Hailey, Benjamin Hailey. Rec. 13 Jul 1807.
Lived in Albemarle County VA in 1807. Children born here. By 1814, the family had moved to Todd County, KY
This family was present in Todd/Logan Counties at the same time as the children of William Haden. Rezin Porter and Joseph D. Haden both married in Logan County. There is a note in the Logan County Court Records concerning maintenance of a road: Monday 22 Apr 1839 "and the hands where Rezin Haden formerly lived". Possibly removed to Missouri about the same time as William Franklin Haden. Mary K. Haden Sprout may have made her home in Springfield with Joel Harris Haden when Mr. Sprout died.
"Abstracts of Wills And Settlements Logan County, KY 1795-1838" p.120, , Will Book E p.54, dated 10 Dec 1831, Settlement agreed to by heirs with consent of widow. Division of Estate names widow, Nancy Haden, son Rezin P., daughter Eliza/Elizabeth T., daughter Mary K. and son Joseph D. Widow to have possession of land during her natural life and then it shall pass to sons Rezin and Joseph. Recorded January 1832.
Joseph Peatross HADEN and Nancy Ann PORTER were married on 1 March 1806 in Albemarle County, Virginia.1,324 Nancy Ann PORTER92,152, daughter of Rezin PORTER and Elizabeth TOOLEY, was born on 22 June 1781. She died on 13 May 1850 at the age of 68 in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri.325
Logan Co DB O
p.352. 22 Jun 1827 James Porter, Geo. R. Dismukes & Jane his wife and Nancy Haden & Wm Porter of one part to David Burks of the other part. For $1400. Tract in Logan Co South of Russellville ...corner of James Williams 290 acres. One other tract in Todd Co. Charles Barkers line . Tract deeded to Reson Porter by Charles Meriweather & Azariah Daviss & allotted by mutual consent of the heirs of said Resin Porter to David J. Burks and Mary Porter, heirs of the said Resin Porter.
Signed: William Porter, George R. Dismukes by Joseph Covington his attorney in fact, Jane Dismukes by her attorney in fact Joseph Covington, James Porter by his attorney in fact Joseph Covington, Nancy Haden.
Deed Ack by Wm Porter & Nancy Haden & Joseph Covington. Rec. 23 Jun 1827.
p.353 Power of attorney. 11 Jun 1827 Humphrey Co, TN James Porter to Joseph Covington of Warren Co KY Transfer all right & title of tract in Logan Co derived through Mary Orindu deceased, sister of the aforesd James Porter. And transfer & convey right & title in three tracts in Todd Co, property of Rezin Porter Decd to 1/7 part of which I am entitled as one of the heirs of sd Rezin, Dec'd. The lotts to be conveyed being designated in the divisions as #2, 3, and 7 and containing each 70 1/3 acres.
Signed: James Porter
Witness: Robt Jarmon, James Teas, Justices of Peace in Humphrey Co TN Rec. Logan 22 Jun 1827
p.355 Davidson Co TN 8 Jun 1827 George R. Dismukes & James his wife late Jane Porter appoint Joseph Covington of Warren Co KY attorney. Transfer right in tract in Logan Co derived through Mary Orindorff dec'd sister of aforesd Jane.. And transfer right in 3 tracts in Todd Co, property of Rezin Porter, dec'd. 1/7 part entitled as heirs of sd Rezin. Lotts designated #2, 3, 7, each containing 70 1/3 acres. Signed: George R. Dizmukes, Jane Dizmukes Ack in open Ct.. Rec. Logan 22 Jun 1827
Beginning in 1826, Nancy Hayden/Haden is listed on the Tax Rolls of Logan Co KY; 100 acres land on the Red River; 7 total slave, 2 horses in 1826. She had a son at home, age 21 in 1828 - this would be Rezin Porter. In 1829 Rezin is listed alone & seems to be claiming ownership of her slaves as she does not state any this year, although she still claims 100 acres of land. In 1830, only Nancy is listed with 200 acres on the Red, 11 slaves, 4 horses - perhaps a joint household with Rezin again.
Logan Co DB Q, p.324 2 Aug 1830 Nancy Haden to Samuel Clinton. Tract near the road, corner to Genl. R. Ewing, on his line. 10 acres. Wit: R. D. Bradley, David Clinton, who proved 4 Oct 1830.
p.326 2 Aug 1830 Robert Ewing to Samuel Clinton for $240. 120 acres south side Red River, near Clintons fence, Bakers, line, on widow Haden's line, corner to sd widow Haden & sd R. Ewing. Signed: Robert Ewing. Wit: R. D. Bradley, David Clinton, Thos. Townsend. Proved by Bradley & Clinton on 4 Oct 1830.
Logan Co DB T, p.66 18 Oct 1830 Richard D. Bradly and Culliman Bradley his wife to Rezin P. Haden. $200.50. Land in the fork of Red River containing the house and 2 acres being the part of Mrs. Hadens tract which was reserved for said James H. when she purchased from Richard D. Bradley as described in her deed. Signed: R. D. Brandly, Caleny Bradly. Wit: Jeremiah Nellms, Adam Pence. Said deed was proven before John B. Slaughter, late deputy for Spence Curd, late Clerk on the 1 Nov 1830 by oaths of Jeremiah Nelmes & Adam Pence. Rec. 12 May 1834.
Bill of Sale from Greene Co MO, DB D, p.57
John De Bruin of Greene Co in consideration of $600 paid by Nancy Haden of same. All interest and claim to the following property [which interest is all I have to the said property by virtue of my intermarriage with my present wife Mary K. De Bruin, formerly Mary K. Sprout] to wit. Negro woman Malinda, age 45, Negro girl Judith Ann, age 10. And I do by these presents convey to said Nancy Haden all title. 16 May 1845. John De Bruin
Missouri, Greene Co. 16 May 1845. John De Bruin acknowledged the same to be his act and deed. Recorded. Joshua Davis, Recorder.
[Mary K. & John DeBruin also married in Greene Co MO. Possibly they went to Missouri before the rest of the family.]
Logan Co DB V; p.457 19 Oct 1837 Nancy, Rezin P, and Joseph D. Haden of Logan Co to David J. Burks of same. $8 per acre. Tract in Logan Co of 100 acres. Corner to Wm Ross, his line; another corner Ross, corner of James Bradley's field. Conveyed to Nancy Haden by Richard Bradley & to Bradly by Amos Milliken and to Millikin by John Trimble and being the same tract where Joseph D. Haden dec'd of his last lived. Reserving the land sold out of the above tract by Nancy Haden to Richd D. brandly and deed to Samuel Clinton.
Signed: Nancy Haden, Rezin P. Haden, Joseph D. Haden
Wit: John P. Burks, John L. Burkes
Proven by oaths of witnesses and rec. 26 Feb 1838.
Letter in "John Haden of Virginia "children were born in Virginia, but moved to Kentucky when young". By 1839, she had gone to Springfield, MO, with her children. Deed #932 from Greene Co MO Deed Index - John Debruin (who would marry Nancy's daughter Mary Kasiah) to Nancy Haden, 16 May 1845.
Hers is the only visible marker in a cemetery in Section 27, Twp.19N, Range 21W in Greene County, Missouri (Greene Co. Cemeteries, Vol. IX, p.221)
Nancy Haden, Consort of Joseph Haden, deceased, born 22 June 1781, died 13 May 1850
Nancy Haden is listed on the slave schedule for 1850 with two slaves, a male age 30 and a female age 12.
Joseph Peatross HADEN and Nancy Ann PORTER had the following children: | <urn:uuid:74e21666-5372-4d90-ae79-637647f12f0f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~katy/haden/b656.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930383 | 2,310 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.