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Fine-free library a profitable idea
Trustees find 'conscience donation' a positive revenue generator
By Patrick Cronin
January 13, 2008
(Republished here with permission)
A grown-up Al Bundy returns an overdue library book he took out when he was a kid and ends up owing $2,163 in late fees for the "Little Engine That Could."
While that exaggerated scenario played out on television's "Married with Children," everyone can relate to having an overdue book.
But the days of fines at libraries may be a thing of the past, with more and more libraries choosing to do away with the overdue book fines.
The Lane Memorial Library in Hampton recently enacted an end to fines, joining the practice in place at Stratham and North Hampton public libraries.
Greenland, Epping and other smaller communities have implemented the same policy at their libraries.
Bill Teschek, acting director of Lane Memorial Library, said fines were replaced with a "conscience donation" box on a trial basis in April.
It was so successful that the library trustees made it permanent at their December meeting.
"I think the biggest reason why we made the change is because fines are so negative and people can be turned off by them," Teschek said. "We wanted to make their experience at the library a positive one."
And while they thought they would lose a lot of revenue that is usually used to purchase more books, the opposite occurred.
"We have found that people have been donating more," according to Teschek.
Being more user-friendly has also increased traffic and has benefited staff, which no longer has to "nickle and dime" patrons.
"We want to encourage people to come in and not give them a reason not to," Teschek said.
When the library did have fines, it had what is called "amnesty weeks" in which patrons holding on to books for fear of big fines could return them without any monetary penalty.
"It worked," Teschek said. "That just goes to prove that library fines can just as often be a deterrent to getting items back as it is an incentive."
A fines-free policy doesn't mean users are responsibility-free.
"We still charge for lost or damaged books," Teschek said.
Susan Grant, co-director of the North Hampton Public Library, said it has had no fines since 2006.
Like the Lane Memorial Library, it also has the "conscience donation." And what it has lost in revenue for overdue items the library has gained in good will.
Grant is quick to acknowledge that North Hampton's policy would not work everywhere, especially in a city.
"We are a small library in a small town where everyone knows everyone," Grant said. "I know all the patrons by name, and they are more than willing to contribute to the library without being asked to pay a fine." | <urn:uuid:1482ddad-1ebb-4920-b197-12dd9982b51e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hamptonlibrary.blogspot.com/2008/01/fine-free-library-profitable-idea.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980487 | 600 | 1.71875 | 2 |
An excerpt from Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives by David Eagleman
There are three deaths: the first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time.
So you wait in this lobby until the third death. There are long tables with coffee, tea, and cookies – you can help yourself. There are people here from all around the world, and you can try to strike up a conversation with whomever you'd like. Just be aware that your conversation may be interrupted at any moment by the Callers, who call out your conversations partner's name to indicate there will never again be another remembrance of him by anyone on the Earth. Your partner slumps out, face like a shattered and re-glued plate, saddened even though he's kindly told by the Callers that he’s off to a better place. No one knows where that better place is, or what it offers, because no one exiting through that door has returned to tell us. Tragically, many people leave just as their loved ones arrive, since the loved ones were the only ones doing the remembering. We all wag our heads at that typical timing.
The whole place looks like an infinite airport waiting area, but the company is terrific. There are many famous people from history books here. If you get bored, you can strike out in any given direction, past aisles and aisles of seats. After many days of walking, you'll start to notice that people look different, and you'll hear the tones of foreign languages. People congregate amongst their own kind, and what one sees is the spontaneous emergence of territories that mirrors the way they were set up on the surface of the planet. With the exception of the oceans, you’re traversing a map of the Earth. Along with no oceans, there are no time zones either. No one sleeps here, even though they mostly wish they could. The place is evenly lit by fluorescent lights.
Not everyone is sad when the Callers shout out their names, when they call as though announcing the next flight departure. On the contrary, some people beg and plead when the Callers enter. They prostrate themselves at the Callers’ feet as the next names are read out. These are generally the folks who have been here a long time, too long, and especially those who are remembered for unfair reasons. For example, take the farmer over there, who drowned in a small river 200 years ago. Now his farm is the site of a small college, and the tour guides each week tell his story. So he’s stuck and he’s miserable. For the more his story is told, the more it drifts. He is utterly alienated from his name; it is no longer identical with him, but continues to bind. The cheerless woman across the way is praised as a saint, even though the roads in her heart were convoluted. The gray haired man at the vending machine was lionized as a warhero, then demonized as a warlord, and finally canonized as a necessary firebrand between two moments in history. He waits with aching heart for his statues to fall. And that is the curse of this room: since we live in the heads of those who remember us, we lose control of our lives and become who they want us to be. | <urn:uuid:00b3088f-81b7-46db-a353-1555b2aad9aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eagleman.com/sum/excerpt | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977348 | 714 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Published February 23, 2013
LONDON – Britain's finance minister insisted on Saturday he would not change course after the loss of the country's 'AAA' credit rating but George Osborne is facing pressure to do just that as his bet on austerity falters ahead of the 2015 election.
Moody's dealt Britain its first sovereign rating downgrade on Friday, saying the $2.5 trillion economy faced years more sluggish growth and debt would continue to rise until 2016.
Economically the one-notch cut will have limited importance -- most of Europe, Japan and the United States have already suffered the same fate and Britain continues to borrow at historically low rates.
But politically it is toxic for Osborne who has repeatedly vowed to protect the top credit rating since the 2010 election campaign. The downgrade exposes him to opponents who say his failure to deliver economic growth is driving Prime Minister David Cameron towards electoral defeat.
Osborne said on Saturday the move by Moody's showed he was right to focus on restoring Britain to fiscal health, arguing that only by doing that will the conditions for growth be restored.
"I am absolutely determined to make sure we deal with our problems, to make sure that Britain stays the course, to make sure that it doesn't take from this credit rating the wrong message which is we should go and borrow a lot more," the 41-year-old Chancellor of the Exchequer said.
"I'm absolutely clear we're not going to do that."
For investors, the downgrade underscores Britain's predicament: a debt-ridden, stagnating economy which has kept bond yields low in large part thanks to the Bank of England becoming the world's biggest investor in UK government debt by buying it with newly printed money.
"Osborne no longer has any place to hide or anyone to blame," said David Blanchflower, who served on the Bank of England's interest rate setting committee from 2006 to 2009.
He said the minister should "stand up, be a man and accept responsibility for the worst recovery in 100 years" and, in a message on Twitter, suggested a swift cut to value-added tax, a labor tax holiday for workers under 25 and incentives for investment and hiring to kick start growth.
Osborne can take comfort from Moody's confidence that his austerity plan would eventually "reverse the UK's debt trajectory".
A Treasury official noted Moody's had given the UK's credit rating a stable outlook, meaning little chance of a further downgrade in the next 12-18 months. When the United States and France were downgraded, their outlooks remained negative.
But whether growth will return forcefully long enough before the 2015 election to allow voters to appreciate it is now highly uncertain.
Sterling fell by almost a cent to around $1.5160 after the downgrade, just off Thursday's fresh 2-1/2-year low. Analysts said they expected it to fall further on Monday.
Some of the Conservatives' Liberal Democrat coalition partners questioned the political judgment of attaching so much importance to Britain's AAA rating.
"This is a self-inflicted injury for George Osborne," said Matthew Oakeshott, a former Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman. "To be fair, he was very green in 2009 ... He foolishly erected triple-A status as a virility symbol."
"BLEEDING THE PATIENT"
Cameron, who led his Conservative Party back to office as part of a coalition government after 13 years out of power, risks another year of stagnation and giving his opponents and open goal to aim at.
The Labor Party - which left the biggest peacetime deficit when it lost the 2010 election - called for Osborne's head.
"The medicine is not working so the Chancellor says increase the dose - that's crazy economics. It is like an 18th-century doctor bleeding a patient as they get sicker and sicker," said Ed Balls, the party's main spokesman on finance issues.
But people close to Britain's most powerful two politicians say they are completely aligned. Osborne led Cameron's bid for leadership of the Conservatives and ran the 2010 election campaign. There is little or no chance of him being sacrificed or being forced into a humiliating policy U-turn which would wreck his career.
"Osborne has lots of critics, both inside and outside the party, who are now going to be emboldened by this, but there is no coherent alternative," said Tim Montgomerie, editor of the influential ConservativeHome website.
Though Labor is about 10 percentage points ahead of Conservative Party in polls, surveys show voters trust Cameron and Osborne more than Labor's leader Ed Miliband.
TIME FOR A TWEAK?
Osborne originally gambled that by slashing spending, growth rates of between 2 and 3 percent would kick in from 2013.
But with Britain's banks still recovering from the financial crisis and many of its main trading partners in Europe stuck in recession, his debt targets will be missed. His room for more spending is limited as he tries to avoid pushing up yields on Britain's 1.29 trillion pounds ($1.97 trillion) of debt.
With government spending so restricted, many investors' hopes lie with the Bank of England. Its governor, Mervyn King, this month voted to restart government-bond buying. Although in the minority, his change of heart suggested the bank may be closer than expected to pursuing more stimulus.
If Osborne slows his debt reduction plans, he could upset bond investors and throw his deficit targets further off course.
"We should stick to the plan," said Kwasi Kwarteng, a Conservative lawmaker. "The prime minister would not want to be seen to be panicking, and he's committed to keeping George Osborne where he is."
"But we do also need to look at growth," said Kwarteng, who suggested cutting corporation tax and red tape.
Business lobby the Confederation of British Industry has called for more investment on infrastructure and housing to be funded by more cuts in day-to-day spending. It also expects the government to guarantee more private-sector projects.
Osborne has a chance in his annual budget next month to deliver such tweaks to policy. ($1 = 0.6551 British pounds)
(Additional reporting by Mohammed Abbas and William Schomberg. Editing by Mike Peacock) | <urn:uuid:f39d42b5-77db-4649-aa22-8f013bf63a8e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2013/02/23/uk-downgrade-pressures-reluctant-osborne-to-change-course/print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970213 | 1,284 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Edinburgh Legionnaires' outbreak: HSE orders Macfarlan Smith to clean tower
An Edinburgh pharmaceutical company linked to a deadly Legionnaires' outbreak has been ordered to thoroughly clean one of its cooling towers.
The Health and Safety Executive also told Macfarlan Smith to provide access to the tower for inspection and maintenance.
Last week another company, the North British Distillery, was told to improve its disease control at a cooling tower.
Two more cases of the disease were confirmed on Monday.
There are also a further four suspected cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 39, with 49 suspected cases. Fourteen people remain in intensive care.
The HSE stressed that the improvement notices served on the firms did not mean they had been identified as the source of the disease.
The only person to have died during the outbreak, 56-year-old Bert Air, worked a short distance from both the distillery and the pharmaceutical plant, which are situated in the Gorgie area of the capital.
The HSE said the enforcement action against Macfarlan Smith was part of an ongoing investigation into the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in south west Edinburgh, and visits to other companies were being carried out.
It warned that the source of the outbreak may never be conclusively identified, based on experience from previous outbreaks.
The improvement notices allege that Macfarlan Smith failed to maintain their control measures for the safe operation of the cooling tower to the required standard.
It does not indicate an immediate risk from the legionella bacteria, as this was being controlled by the emergency dosing of chemicals and the company's subsequent voluntary shutdown of the cooling tower.
Both notices can be appealed by the company within the next 21 days.
HSE can issue an improvement notice where it believes there has been a contravention of health and safety law. | <urn:uuid:a49090c8-9669-447c-8049-8a28ab0f466f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-18402407 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977133 | 380 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Simon and the Oaks
Simon and the Oaks is a lot of things, but above all, it is too much. The film begins on a note of magical realism, then rolls through wartime struggles, familial conflict and growing pains. At times, it seems director Lisa Ohlin might pull off an emotional study of lives changing drastically during World War II. But by the end, it feels like a symphony in which no two instruments can play at once.
It’s a shame, because the film kicks off with some lovely visuals. It takes place in a village on the edge of Gothenburg, Sweden, during World War II. The title character rests in a giant oak tree on the rocky waterfront, looking at the golden fields and giant skies, seeing camels in the cloud shapes. Ohlin superimposes cinematographer Dan Lausten’s shots over one another to suggest a sort of mystical power held within the idyllic scenery. Young Simon (Jonatan S. Wächter) views his oak tree as a magical force, whispering to it and asking it to help him get into grammar school in the city. Once the tree answers that favor, he asks it to make his dad let him go to the school.
Simon’s disapproving father (Stefan Gödicke) is the perfect cliché, whining about how his son reads too much instead of playing sports and making friends. He laments that Simon never wants to pick fights with other boys, and teaches him how to throw a punch if someone insults him. This tip proves handy on the first day of school, when he meets Isak (Karl Martin Eriksson), a wealthy German Jewish boy. When some older boys start spewing Nazi hate at Isak, Simon simply clocks one of them in the face. Thus a friendship is cemented.
Isak is equally important to the story as Simon, especially during the film’s first—and best—section. The boys’ two very different families begin to interact. Isak’s wealthy father (Jan Josef Liefers) runs a huge book shop, a spring of culture unlike anything Simon sees during life outside the city center. Isak’s mother is a shut-in who has gone mad with fear of the Nazis. While such a fear is obviously justified, in her case she has lost all rationale, and soon becomes disturbingly volatile. Simon’s parents offer to help take care of Isak, and he needs more attention as it becomes clear he still has emotional scars from his time is Germany.
The families begin to merge, and the actors play well off one another while portraying both bonding and friction. Isak learns to do woodwork with Simon’s father, and Simon begins to take in more culture with Isak’s father. A conflict surfaces between the two dads, as the wealthy one always wants to show his gratitude with money, while the poorer man is easily insulted and refuses to take what he sees as charity. These very different sets of people discover their importance to one another because of the war.
But each time, just as the story starts to draw one in, the story skips forward to the next chapter. Bill Skarsgård and Karl Linnertorp take over the roles of Simon and Isak, respectively, as boys enter adulthood. Their performances never capture the immersive quality of their younger counterparts, largely because they never have time to reflect.
The film is not aiming to be a tightly structured narrative, so it would be foolish to complain that it’s not. But it lacks a clear sense of what each little episode achieves. I haven’t read the 1985 source novel by Marianne Fredriksson, but suspect the filmmakers might have been trying too hard to include everything from the book. In particular, Simon’s two romantic relationships lack any sense of payoff. They’re so rushed that the film never has a chance to show how one meaningfully affects the next, or how both contribute to the character’s worldview. In one case, a single meet-cute is the only interaction the filmmakers deemed necessary to establish a long-lasting relationship. Well, that’s not entirely true—there’s also an oh-so-original shot of them nervously holding hands while watching a movie.Simon and the Oaks would have benefitted by either a longer running time or fewer thematic elements. As it is, the film lacks the sustained focus or theme capable needed to effectively convey its characters’ journeys. It is merely 40 promising ideas, waiting to be gel into something meaningful.
Director: Lisa Ohlin
Writer: Marnie Blok; Marianne Fredriksson (novel)
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Jonatan S. Wächter, Karl Martin Eriksson, Helen Sjöholm, Stefan Gödicke and Jan Josef Liefers
Release Date: Oct. 14, 2012 | <urn:uuid:d83a1d58-af6e-464b-afc9-0297ada74af3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/10/simon-and-the-oaks.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957102 | 1,030 | 1.6875 | 2 |
In the LA Unified School District the dropout rate fell by 17 percent.
This is good news overall. However, 16,000 students who were counted as dropouts last year were duplications.
In addition, several individual schools continue to have dropout rates approaching 50 percent. These schools should not be open.
As the Los Angeles Times reported, "Jefferson High had an improved but still poor graduation rate of 48.6%. Ditto for the Santee Educational Complex, with a dropout rate of 41.2%."
When the Los Angeles school board revisits a proposal that would allow charter operators and other outside groups to bid for control of 50 new schools scheduled to open over the next four years, the students that attend these schools with high dropout rates should be first in line to attend new schools.
The Los Angeles school board should resist union opposition and remember the kids that attend high schools with 50 percent dropout rates. The board should allow outside operators to open new schools and let kids in failing schools have priority to attend the new schools. | <urn:uuid:b3c8f03a-ea8d-4695-8a15-75af72010fb8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://reason.org/blog/show/los-angeles-drop-out-rate-is-g | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978952 | 216 | 1.59375 | 2 |
|calendar>>October 4. 2012 Juch 101|
North, South and Overseas Organizations Call for Opening New Era of Independent Reunification, Peace and Prosperity
| Pyongyang, October 4 (KCNA) -- The North, South and Overseas Side Committees for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration Thursday released an appeal to all Koreans at home and abroad on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the October 4 declaration.
The declaration which clearly indicates practical ways for the country's peace, independent reunification and common prosperity is a precious fruition common to the nation which all Koreans achieved in the grand advance toward national reunification, the appeal said.
The adoption of the declaration opened a new broad avenue for putting an end to military standoff between the north and south and achieving peace and bringing earlier independent reunification, it noted.
However, this fruition was downplayed, the inter-Korean relations faced bankruptcy and a touch-and-go situation is prevailing in the Korean peninsula due to the moves of anti-reunification forces.
The North, South and Overseas Side Committees for Implementing June 15 Joint Declaration appeal as follows to all Koreans at home and abroad out of unanimous mind to open a new phase for national reunification in line with the inter-Korean declarations:
Let all Koreans at home and abroad pool intention, efforts and wisdom to implement the north-south joint declarations!
Let's pull down all barriers standing in the way of visits and exchange between NGOs and activate contacts and dialogues among people from all walks of life!
Let's resolutely oppose all forms of joint military exercises and arms buildup which escalate distrust and hostility among fellow countrymen and threaten wellbeing of Koreans and peace on this land.
Let's dynamically fight to remove the source of war and establish permanent peace mechanism on this land!
Let's activate solidarity movement among organizations of different strata and fields in all regions in the north and the south and further enhance the role of the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of June 15 Joint Declaration!
Let's fully display enthusiasm and make concerted efforts to open a new era of independent reunification, peace and prosperity!
Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:bdbdd04f-804a-4ce2-84f8-283760fdc47a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201210/news04/20121004-08ee.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930132 | 456 | 1.546875 | 2 |
|by Travis Ross '06 • October 20, 2005|
For most students Fall Break is a time to go home, catch up on some sleep, and possibly even work on solidifying that bothersome thesis for a final paper. This year a few students chose to travel to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in order to help the hurricane victims get their lives back in order.
For a few students, most of the time was spent at Pass Christian High School. It was not the building which students had attended classes in late August, but rather several rows of mobile classrooms which were parked in a field in DeLisle, Mississippi, a town which neighbors Pass Christian.
The high school building had been flooded up to the second floor and was in disarray. Students had not attended classes for the six weeks since Hurricane Katrina devastated the town. Though the building had been put out of commission, the school had not. The high school and middle school teachers worked feverishly alongside volunteers from across the country as they attempted to prepare the new facility to open its doors Monday.
Though their classrooms had been rendered inoperative, these teachers had not been deterred in their passion for teaching. Each teacher was genuinely ready to get their students back into the classroom, in order to re-establish the normalcy which learning brings.
Several students spent their Friday and Saturday working at the new high school as well. Nearly a thousand desks were moved from the old high school to the new facility, along with tables, chairs and almost anything else which could be salvaged and strapped into the back of a beat up AmeriCorps pickup.
While the volunteers loaded up the pickup truck to make their way back to the high school, a complicated journey with all of the bridges which were out, several teachers sat and discussed the impact of the storm. Each of them mentioned how annoyed they had been in previous years when they were forced to clear out their rooms after barely having gotten them set up for the year, only to come back from what was supposed to be a devastating storm, to find that everything would have remained quite safe. This year, however, the teachers had only been instructed to unplug their computers before leaving on Friday in order to prevent power surges from the electrical storm from damaging the circuits. They had not entered their classrooms since that day. No one was prepared for a storm of this magnitude.
The high school fared well, having only been flooded on the first floor, keeping the second floor classrooms and lockers intact. Walking through the hallways of the old high school was surreal, as lockers hung open, doors covered in pictures, perhaps with a jacket inside. The middle school had not been preserved nearly so well. A teacher long familiar with the school might be able to guess where certain classrooms had been. The front steps led to an archway, and from there it was a level pile of rubble. One teacher lamented her classroom might be visible were the cafeteria not sitting on top of it.
Though these teachers had faced many difficulties, they were excited about getting back into the classroom. Their buildings had been destroyed, but their schools had not. The Pass Christian Pirates played their biggest rivals last Friday night. Though they lost the game, the spirit of the school and of the town has not been broken, not by the football team of Bay St. Louis, and not by Hurricane Katrina. Wabash men saw something of themselves exemplified in the town of Pass Christian, Mississippi. They saw a people who, though injured, would not stop fighting. | <urn:uuid:99f6df05-70f9-4d1a-8c09-cae2b56dca22> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wabash.edu/news/displaystory.cfm?news_ID=%202894 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.992238 | 714 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The faith-based political ads in the Sunday Enquirer were quite a contrast. In the first Billy Graham did not support a particular candidate but urged us to vote our Christian values, especially concerning the sanctity of life, when we vote November 6th.
Two pages later a number of professed Catholics defied the church’s teachings, and urged Catholics to vote for Obama, who not only supports abortions including partial birth abortions, but the right to kill babies that survive abortions. So these good Catholics think we should ignore the most helpless among us, unborn babies, to vote against a man who has led by example.
We should vote against Romney, who has helped thousands become employed in the private sector, given millions of dollars and years of service to his fellow man, and lived his life in the service of his Lord. We should instead vote for Obama, who has caused more people to be unemployed than at any time since the great depression, gave nothing to anyone until it was politically expedient, and has lived a life that goes against biblical teachings.
Did these Catholics skip catechism classes, or do they know better than the Pope? | <urn:uuid:a54d835a-86fe-4061-a4ff-acb0008d0a34> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2012/10/29/faith-based-ads-show-contrast-of-beliefs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977875 | 233 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Tips & Strategies to Help You Speak Effectively to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime
Gestures and Body Language are important and powerful tools which have in them, an immense potential and ability to affect the end effect of our speeches and presentations! When used appropriately, our body gestures may enhance and strengthen the effect and points of our speech! Used indiscriminately, they’re liable to dilute and dampen the power and effectiveness of our presentations.
So what are some of the positive gestures and body language you may adopt to enhance your public speaking performance for maximum impact?
Well, I’ve been racking my brains trying to find ways to show you some simple yet effective ones which you may incorporate in your everyday speeches and presentations! It was really an uphill task finding ways to SHOW it you, instead of trying to TELLing it to you in a blog of words!
Initially, I thought of showing you pictures, but pictures were too static. Naturally, I hoped to find a speaking video on gestures on YouTube. However, that proved to be futile too… until I chanced upon another video, featuring Arlene Stepputat who happens to be a public speaker and trainer from the United States! Even though much of the content in the video revolved around Arlene’s pet topic of “Service”, I realised that she had utilised several body language strategies in her presentation that most of us could use in our own speeches!
So, for the benefit of everyone, I’ve not only decided to attach and share the video here, I’ll also be providing you an evaluation and analysis of the techniques and body language strategies she used to articulate and present her points for maximum impact!
I would recommend that you spend the next 7 minutes watching the video first to analyse her message and mode of delivery, paying particular attention to her body language. You may then scroll down and compare your notes with mine to see if they match yours!
Here it is!
Now, have you finished watching the video?
Here are my notes on some of Arlene’s positive use of body language and gestures!
Left – Right Rule
One of the best gesticulation techniques I managed to spot Arlene using was the way she used her hand to illustrate and throw her weight behind points she supported, and those she didn’t. For example, she used moved to the left, and gesticulated with her left hand to illustrate points that she didn’t particular agree with, or attached a negative connotation to, and conversely, moved to the right whilst utilising her right hand to illustrate points that she felt were “right”.
Indeed, research has shown that people do respond subconsciously to these body language signals, and these can become a powerful tool to use in a presentation when you’re trying to win over your audience!
Arlene uses another great technique to introduce another point to her audience by showing her palms to the audience. This Palms-Out technique is a “submissive” gesture, in the sense that it shows the opposite party that you’re unarmed and safe, thereby fostering trust and putting the opposite party at ease.
The Palm’s-Up Technique is another great tool to use in a presentation when you’re trying to win over an audience, or for introducing new ideas to the audience. It is also great when you’re approaching someone new and are trying to strike up a conversation with others!
Did you notice how the audience laughed along with Arlene’s animation? Not only had Arlene created an analogy of the Teflon-Velcro-Reverse Symdrom, she brought it to life by animating and showing what she meant by one’s Teflon and Velcro behaviour towards praise and criticism!
Animation is a powerful technique that helps paint vivid images before the audience’s eyes!
Wouldn’t you agree with me that Arlene succeeded in getting her point across and got her message to stick in the mind of her audience with her successful animation of her analogy?
Probably the most neglected of all body languages, facial expressions are powerful and effective tools to help you illustrate a point. Frown to invoke a sense of disapproval or pain or smile or raise an eyebrow to suggest an enlightening or attach a positive connotation to your point!
Of course, sometimes, while the subtle use of facial expressions may appeal to the subconscious mind, there may be times when you might be required to exaggerate it a little a times (like what Arlene did in this video) in order to make an impression with your audience!
Now, we’ve examined some examples of how to use your hands when you’re trying to make a point. But here’s where it really gets interesting… what should you do with your hands when you aren’t making a point?
In many cases in the Toastmasters, I’ve seen new speakers allowing their arms to drop like lead every time they’ve finished articulating a point. Under normal circumstances, I’ve nothing against arms resuming their rightful place besides one’s thighs. However, I do find the movement of hands as it travel up and down to make a point tends to distract the audience when done excessively, not to mention that it is also a big waste of time too!
A technique I learnt from television hosts and newscasters is a simple technique which I used to great effect! All you have to do is positioning your arms just beside or in front of the waist when you’re not using them. You may clasp your hands just in front of your tummy, or keep them tucked under your arms like what Arlene’s doing in the picture!
Well, like I’ve mentioned, it’s really difficult to explain. Therefore, to help you understand what I’m really driving at, and to cater to your interest in knowing and explore morning “styles” of holding your idle hands when they’re idle, I’ve compiled a simple picture list of how you go about keeping your hands occupied when they have nothing to do – all the while looking professional!
Here’s the treasure:
One of the advantages of having by your sides midway up your body is the convenience of using them to illustrate a point without having to move across GREAT distances! Having your hands around your waist area also gives your audience the impression that you’re always prepared and ready to make a point!
Well, there you have it, 5 Ways to Make Body Language Work for You!
Is there anything interesting you’d like to share? Or are there anything else you spotted in the video that I failed to highlight? Drop me a line or comment below so that everyone may benefit from your knowledge and insights!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon! | <urn:uuid:e64f940e-6933-4ebf-b9ab-e1372fc9ed3f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://garyguwe.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/power-moves-5-tips-to-make-body-language-work-for-you/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941375 | 1,436 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Natural Induction Methods
It goes without saying that natural induction methods are preferable to medical ones. Failed medical induction is the number one cause for the increase rate of cesarean in this country, so why not give Mother Nature a little hand….
Here some ideas I have borrowed from experts, midwives, childbirth educators, doulas, and the ancient tradition of midwifery. You will find many similar articles on the web and aside from a few small differences most natural methods are very similar.
- Relaxation techniques. Babies know when you are relaxed and sensed it is a good time to come. A mother who is frightened and stressed out may go passed her due date because her baby might decide that it is not yet safe to come out. One of the reason why many labors start at night is because mom is finally relaxed and baby gets excited about coming into this world. Use visual imagery like you can get from our Natural Induction CD . But if you are truly stressed out I know a good cry relieves tension, so get a real tearjerker movie and let it reap. Tears are sacred and I have heard of women going into labor after a good cry. The most important thing to do is to find a way to relieve tension. Tension works against labor. Relieve it, let everything go, and you may be surprised to find yourself in labor.
- Visualization. Get quiet and relaxed, and imagine your uterus contracting as well as the process of labor. Hypnosis or self-hypnosis has been known to really do wonders with this one.
- Sex is the most ancient and one of the best methods to inducing labor, the Prostaglandin in semen softens the cervix and your orgasm has the ability to open up the cervix. If penetration is difficult at least make yourself have an orgasm, it is relaxing and it bring love into the equation. I know some of my clients simply do not feel like having sex in the last month of their pregnancy, but it beats a cesarean and medical induction. It will not harm the baby, and if you can find a comfortable position female orgasm can open the cervix of 2cm. WOW . If you really are not in the mood try using his sperm by inserting it in your vagina as close to the cervix as you can.
- Nipple stimulation also works wonders according to Maternity Nursing: Family, Newborn, and Women’s Health Care by Reeder, Martin and Koniak-Griffin uterine hyper stimulation may be avoided by following this protocol:
-roll nipples between thumb and forefingers for 2 minutes
-rest for 3 minutes
-repeat rolling/resting for 20 minutes*
-increase rolling to 3 minutes and decrease resting to 2 minutes for 20 minutes if inadequate contractions occur after initial 20 minutes.
- Exercise- Walking, swinging in a swing and general exercise helps stimulate contractions and helps the baby slide down and engage.
- A bumpy car ride may sound like an old wives tale, but if the baby is not in a good position, sitting and relaxing while being moved by the car through bumps can work.
- Pineapple. I just found out about this one, and I love pineapple. If it doesn’t give you heartburn, eating lots of pineapple is reputed to begin labor and ripen the cervix. I assume it has to do with the enzyme found in Pineapple
- Cumin Tea. This is used by midwives in Latino cultures. Traditionally, a raw cube of potato is added to the tea, it absorbs the bitterness of the cumin. You can add sugar to this one or honey.
- Red Raspberry Leaf Tea This tea it is used as a tonic to strengthen the uterine walls. The best way to make a good cup of tea is by the infusion method. Place one tea bag in a cup and add no more than 6 oz. of boiling water. Let steep for 3 minutes. Press the bag before removing to enhance the flavor.
- Evening primrose oil. This oil is an excellent source of prostalgin which can help soften the cervix. You can either use internally, by placing a few capsules directly near the source or you can ingest it. As with all these methods please speak to your care provider before using any or all of these methods.
Acupuncture and acupressure have been by far the most successful natural induction methods I have seen. A strong foot massage especially concentrating on the following three points can do wonders. Once I teach this massage technique to the partners and they practice it nightly, labor starts within the week (after the 40th week of gestation.) Using this massage also helps get mom and partner together as they practice managing the contractions. The idea is to hold the acupressure spot one minute at the time as you help her breathe and rehearse surfing the contraction waves.
Connie Livingston from birthsource.com explains very well how to find three good points for this induction massage:
Hoku (Large intestine 6): located deep in the webbing between either hand’s thumb and forefinger; in between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones. Stimulation of this point has been know to begin labor, enhance contractions during labor and in non-pregnant females, bring on menstruation several days early. Also may relieve pain from migraine.
Chih-yin (Bladder 67): located approximately 1/10″ behind the lateral corner of the smallest toe’s nail of either foot. Stimulation of this point has been known to relieve labor pains and migraine discomfort.
San-yin-chiao (Spleen 6): placing your left hand on your right leg with your pinkie finger just above the interior ankle bone, the lateral tibia is located just under where your index finger lies. You may utilize both points simultaneously by placing a thumb on each point as shown.
Additionally This is LIV 3 Tai-chong (English translation = Great Surge) is a point on the top of the foot in the webbing between the big toe and the second toe. This point it is often massaged to relieved constipation, or menstrual cramps but it does work well for induction .
Before a scheduled induction and if you need to get a bit more aggressive let’s say past your due date here are some herbs many midwives recommend
DO NOT take any of these herbs without first conferring with a midwife, physician, and an herbalist
- Blue Cohosh Be careful when it comes to Blue Cohosh, many of the midwives I have worked with use it regularly but I have read that at times there are some negative reactions to this herb. Blue Cohosh is very effective but I prefer to start with using the homeopathic remedy, which has no risks. For Blue Cohosh the homeopathic remedy is - Caulophyllum for Black Cohosh is Cimifuga racemosa. Please consult your care provider always before beginning any induction procedure.
- Castor Oil This is truly the last resort, as it is very uncomfortable to take such a strong laxative and be in labor at the same time. Yet I have seen it work for many moms, so again consult your midwife and then try it.
- For a pain and difficult labor some suggests Ginger root (should not be given within an hour of birth) and Ginseng which can increase a mom’s energy level . Arnica Montana is a great remedy also in this case which midwives and homepathic doctors reccomend for difficult labors during and after the birth. For pain, I suggest chanting and walking and changing the environment, go to another room, take a bath, take a walk, if you can walk outside or even in the hospital corridors. Teas or tinctures that can help are Motherwort or Skullcap. Some studies suggest St. John’s Wort known to help with back and uterine pain which can be used in conjunction with Skullcap for a complete effect.
If all else fail you can:
After 42 weeks, ask your midwife about the Placement of Balloon Dilators. Your care provider will place a balloon inside your cervix and fill it with water. [The pressure from the balloon will imitate the pressure of the baby's head and hopefully your cervix will respond by ripening and dilating. Balloon devices provide mechanical pressure directly on the cervix as the balloon is filled.] A Foley catheter (26 Fr) or specifically designed balloon devices can be used. The main advantages of using hygroscopic dilators include outpatient placement and no FHR-monitoring requirements*
I strongly recommend you do not take any of these without speaking to a midwife, herbalist, your doula and your primary care provider. As you demand that all procedures are explained to you so should you tell your provider of what you are taking and doing to stimulate labor. many traditional doctors will either tell you that it will not work, that it is an urban legend and some are strongly against castor oil or blue and black Cohosh. So it is your job to get informed and stay away from scare tactics. I know you can have a wonderful birth and remember your child is also part of the equation some children just don’t feel like coming out the way we want them to.
Painless Childbirth is a Scientific Reality *
We have been helping women achieve the birthing experience they deserve and desire for fifteen years, bringing hope, courage, inspiration and love to thousands of families around the world. We hope our books and products touch your life in a similar way. Give the gift of one of our books or products to a family member, a friend, or yourself. Always a great value, they are a reminder of your love.
Millions of women all over the world experience a natural, drug-free, and painless childbirth. You can too. If you would like to join this growing number, this is what you have to do. Find out more
*A study conducted by CL Pasero and R Britt (August 1998). Managing Pain During Labor, published in the American Journal of Nursing 98:10-11, reports that indeed a painless childbirth is a reality for as many as 45,000 WOMEN EACH YEAR IN AMERICA. One of the universal laws states: if one person can do it, it can be done by others. | <urn:uuid:a9d9918f-ba74-48c9-8920-a762ff17ce5c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://joyinbirthing.com/emails/week-26/naturalinductionmethods/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948053 | 2,154 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Exploding the Myths About MARIJUANA (Apr, 1949)
Entertaining scare piece about all of the horrible and dangerous effects of smoking pot. Hence forth I will refer to all potheads as “tea slaves” and I will call smoking pot “muggling”. (I had no idea that muggle was another word for pot).
Exploding the Myths About MARIJUANA
You’ll get a kick if you try a reefer—but not the kind you expect, a “tea” slave warns in exposing startling secrets of dope-den life.
I’M scared—plenty scared. Not so much for myself but for the kids of school age. Ever since the Robert Mitchum scandal in Hollywood set the country talking, the myths about marijuana have been mushrooming—dangerous myths. I’m scared for the young boys and girls who want to try a reefer or two “just for the kick.” I’m scared because some people are saying marijuana is a harmless drug, marijuana is not habit-forming, marijuana damages neither mind nor body.
Marijuana is bad, insidiously bad. It grabs you tight, then slowly turns you into a slave. It pounces on your mental or physical weak points and drags you relentlessly down into disgrace.
I know—I smoke marijuana. I’ve been a slave to reefers ever since I was 16. Twenty-one years of marijuana “muggling” has taken a heavy toll on my health and shattered my nerves. I find release from my mental anguish only when I lose myself in a reefer trance.
I fell victim to marijuana while I was going to school in a tough New York neighborhood. One day when a group of us kids was hanging around near the candy store a smooth-talking stranger urged us to try one of his special “muggles.”
“What can you lose?” we argued. “Sure, mister, we’ll try it.”
That dope salesman kept after us. Soon he had us as regular customers—and marijuana had another batch of young slaves.
Now my companions are no longer young in health or heart but we must keep seeking solace in dope dens until we’re finally trapped—and thrown into jail or the madhouse.
To show you the life I’ve had to lead as a reefer addict, I’m going to take you behind the scenes into one of the marijuana dens I frequent. …
Five of us marijuana smokers are sitting in easy chairs in a small room. There are heavy draperies on the walls and the windows are tightly closed. The odor of Chinese incense is strong—to heighten the exotic effect. The only light is a dim one in the corner. Glare disturbs us when we’re high.
This is a “tea pad,” a private apartment where we smokers meet several times a week to “get loaded.”
I light up.
My lips hold the cigaret loosely, leaving space to draw in as much air as possible with the smoke. You get higher quicker when smoke and air mix in your lungs.
This first puff is always bitter, like stale tobacco. There is a pungent odor, as of strong tea—hence the nickname. I want to retch, but I keep the smoke in my lungs as long as possible. Then I exhale slowly. It takes 20 minutes to finish the first stick.
I start to feel it. A soft languor envelops me. I’m beginning to float. My troubles are left behind as I rise from my easy chair beyond their clutch.
I smoke a second reefer. Now I get a feeling of supreme strength- I can do anything. But, strangely, I’m content just to float above my chair. Now I feel good. My joy is delirious.
I start giggling. I laugh loudly when a companion merely asks me for a match. It’s silly—but I can’t help it. The world is swirling with lights and fun.
Now a third smoke … a fourth. This time my hands feel huge, my feet miles away. I’m afraid to step out of the chair. A small downward step is like a deep plunge into a dark abyss.
That’s the danger point. I wish I could stop smoking, but I can’t. Suddenly I feel I’m soaring around the room. I spot a small vase and plunge into it. I swim around. Then I’m choking and frantically fight my way up for air. Finally I crawl out, gasping.
A portrait on the wall comes to life, the girl in the picture stretches out her hands, grasps my throat. I scream. …
At this point a smoker who has a minor neurosis—and who hasn’t—can be shocked into insanity by a terrifying hallucination. So far, I’ve escaped, but I live in fear of weird, mind-shattering delusions.
The morning after, my throat is parched. A dull ache throbs in my head, just behind the eyes. I am ravenously hungry. The headache and dry lips persist until nightfall. I feel I must crawl back to a dope den to escape the grim agony in my mind.
Some young people try marijuana as a love-making stimulant. They have been told that one moment of romantic passion seems to linger for hours under the influence of marijuana. This type of time distortion, I have learned, rarely happens. Most addicts find reefers a sexual depressant rather than a stimulant.
A word about the cigarets themselves. Marijuana is the Indian name for common hemp, an annual plant which grows from six to 15 feet high, in almost any kind of soil. Its legitimate use is in the manufacture of rope. Frequently, it grows wild in empty lots, along railroad sidings, in back yards. It’s even been cultivated in window boxes.
Four years ago a group of scientists, appointed by the late Mayor Fiorello La-Guardia, explored the marijuana problem in New York City and published their findings. They gave the stuff in measured doses to 70 prisoners in one of the local jails and watched their reactions. Here’s what they decided:
“Marijuana is not habit-forming. … It has very little to do with the commission of major crimes. … It does not lead to juvenile delinquency. . . ”
The report pointed out that the 70 prisoners appeared lazy throughout their bout with the drug. They showed no desire for action and never got into fights with one another.
The report added that no cases of mental weakness resulted from the use of marijuana. Bosh! The men simply didn’t smoke enough to reach a crisis. Some of the deadliest myths about this evil drug may be traced back to this extremely limited and inconclusive prison study.
Listen to what the powerful American Medical Association has to say about that report:
“. . . The report draws sweepingly inadequate conclusions which minimize the harmfulness of marijuana.”
The A. M. A. cites a report by six noted physicians who made a similar study and found a direct link between crime and marijuana. These doctors point to the case of a 16-year-old boy who began smoking after he read the LaGuardia Commission report. In a short time the lad’s mind began failing him.
Dr. Walter Bromberg, physician in charge of the psychiatric clinic in the New York City General Sessions Court, also helps explode that myth about marijuana having no effect on the mind:
“Thirty-two cases of mental disease are traceable directly to marijuana.”
Every law-enforcement official in the country, including district attorneys and Federal narcotics agents, right down to local police officers, has insisted that there is a definite link to crime. They say reefer peddlers operate where school children gather. They make countless arrests each year, for crimes’ ranging from pickpocketing to murder, and the police record always states that the criminals were under the influence of marijuana.
The Federal Narcotics Bureau warns:
“There can be no compromise with those who are enslaving our youngsters to a habit which results in swift deterioration of mind and morals and that has been exacting daily toll in murders, thefts and excesses of all kinds”
Take it from one who fell for a myth about marijuana. Try smoking a reefer for the kick. You’ll really get that kick—right into the gutter! | <urn:uuid:bb5350c1-7d6e-499e-b1f6-b1c2737d2581> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.modernmechanix.com/exploding-the-myths-about-marijuana/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944958 | 1,855 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Benefits vary depending on the date of the crime and are based on expenses the victim/claimant owes for eligible services actually performed. Payment cannot be considered based on estimated costs that might be incurred in the future. The overall maximum benefit currently available under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Program is $30,000. Benefits are reduced by the amount of any other public or private assistance available to the victim/claimant. This includes insurance; workers’ compensation benefits; medical, health or disability benefits, etc. Because the program is a fund of last resort, payment by the program is secondary to all other available benefits. For medical-related, dental and mental health counseling expenses arising from crimes on or after July 1, 2008, the program will only pay up to 75% of billed charges the program finds eligible for uninsured patient services and, if applied, requires the provider to accept the payment as payment in full if payment equals 75% of billed charges.
Click the corresponding link below to view benefit
Click the corresponding link below to view benefit
- Compensation for Medical or Mental Health Expenses
- Compensation for Lost Wages
- Compensation for Permanent Impairment
- Compensation for Pain and Suffering
- Death Benefits
- Compensation for Crime Scene Cleanup
- Compensation for Property Loss or Damage
- Compensation for Moving Expenses
- Compensation for Travel to Trial
- Compensation for Other Losses
A victim’s medical expenses directly related to a covered injury are reimbursable under the program, up to the maximum award available. Mental health counseling may be available for a victim and, in certain circumstances, for certain relatives of a victim as provided for under program provisions. A “relative” is defined under the program’s provisions in the law.
A victim whose crime-related injuries temporarily prevent him/her from working may be eligible to receive compensation for wages lost due physical inability to work due to the injuries. Reimbursement is determined in accordance with the criminal injuries compensation law and is based on the victim’s weekly wage at the time of the injury. To be eligible for compensation, a victim must be employed immediately prior to the injury. The level of compensation varies according to the victim’s salary at the time of the injury and the amount allowable under program provisions.
A victim may qualify for permanent total or permanent partial impairment that results from injuries incurred as the result of the crime. Payment for such disabilities is paid as allowable under the criminal injuries compensation law and is based on the victim’s weekly wage at the time of the injury, provisions in the law pertaining to the injuries, and a physician’s assessment of those injuries.
Persons who are victims of sexually-oriented crimes may be eligible for up to $3,000, if it is determined that the victim experienced pain and suffering as a result of commission of the sexually-oriented crime. Tennessee is currently one of only two states that allows a criminal injury compensation payment of pain and suffering.
Benefits are available to the dependents of a deceased victim, subject to the maximum amounts available under the program. This may include loss of support, as well as reimbursement for funeral and burial expenses up to $6,000 and crime scene cleanup expenses up to $3,000. Mental health counseling expenses may also be reimbursable up to $3,500 for relatives of the deceased victim (as defined in criminal injuries law), also subject to the overall award amount. All types of reimbursement fall within the overall maximum award amount.
Reimbursement may be considered for expenses incurred to clean a residential homicide, sexual assault or aggravated assault crime scene, provided that the cleaning is necessary due to the crime or processing of the crime scene and the residence is that of the victim or a relative (as defined by criminal injuries compensation law). Compensation may be available up to $3,000, subject to the overall maximum award amount.
Property loss or damage is not covered under the program. The only exceptions are:
- Loss of or damage to “dental devices,” “medically related devices” or “artificial prosthetic devices.”
- Reasonable costs for cleaning, repairing or replacing eyeglasses and hearing aids owned by a victim that were damaged or destroyed by the crime or processing of the crime scene.
- Reasonable costs for repairing or replacing personal property owned by the victim or a victim’s relative (as defined by criminal injuries compensation law) that was damaged or destroyed in processing the scene of a homicide, sexual assault or aggravated assault. This compensation may apply only if the scene was the residence of the victim or the relative of the victim who owned the property.
Reimbursement may be considered for certain moving expenses when the crime occurs in the victim’s primary residence. If eligible, payment may be considered for a victim’s reasonable moving costs, storage fees, and utility transfer fees.
Limited reimbursement may be considered for a claimant’s reasonable travel expenses to attend the trial, appellate, post conviction or habeas corpus proceedings of the alleged defendant(s) who committed the crime upon which the claim is based. This compensation may be available for the victim, guardian of a minor victim, legal representative of an estate (not an attorney who serves as such for a fee), or victim’s relative as defined by criminal injuries law. No claimant may receive an award if he or she is eligible for payment of travel expenses by the state or county as a result of attending the trial as a witness. Travel may not exceed a cumulative total of $1,250 for all claimants and no more than four (4) claimants may receive reimbursement as a result of the “same criminal act.”
Losses or expenses actually incurred by the victim that are related to the crime but which are not listed above may be approved for reimbursement if allowable and deemed appropriate by the Division of Claims Administration. | <urn:uuid:d6c7b0bd-dd30-4e2d-aa22-d5babf80f619> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.treasury.tn.gov/injury/CIC-Benefits.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940323 | 1,216 | 1.710938 | 2 |
In California for highways and busy streets they build sound walls, which are actually just brick brick walls. They use solid bricks, not hollow bricks, and the walls end up looking like this:
If you are a good arbitrator or debater, you might even make a good case to have the city, county or state build it for your neighborhood.
Another alternative is to use trees, shrub bushes or anything that can become a hedge in you yard. Even though the old golf saying is
trees are 90% air but I've never hit one through a tree. the same words for noise. Hedges and trees will block noise too. Either case make sure you follow your local code on both the block and landscaping. Pull permits where necessary. | <urn:uuid:34a02b81-1372-4b6f-811d-8e020cac99c0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/13350/ways-to-reduce-noise-in-a-home-near-railroad-tracks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959529 | 154 | 1.601563 | 2 |
What the Yuan Can Tell Currency Investors
If you're looking for clues to the likely direction of emerging market Asian currencies, the strategists at Wells Fargo have a suggestion for you: think China.
"Due to strong trading ties, Chinese developments can have a significant influence on Asian emerging currencies," said Nick Bennenbroek, head of currency strategy.
That makes sense, since China accounts for so much trade with other Asian and antipodean countries. For starters, it is Australia's main trading partner, and Bennenbroek said it accounts for some 27 percent of Taiwan's exports.
But is the yuan the best indicator to watch?
Bennenbroek has looked back over time, and compared whether moves by the Japanese yen or the Chinese yuan are more closely correlated to moves in other Asian currencies. The results, he said, are clear.
"In contrast, those six Asian currencies have often moved in an opposite direction to the yen," Bennenbroek said.
Wells Fargo expects the Chinese economic recovery to continue and the currency to strengthen, which Bennenbroek said is "consistent with our forecast of appreciation for most Asian currencies in 2013." For investors with a risk tolerance strong enough for these thinly traded currencies, Bennenbroek especially likes the Philippine peso, the Korean won, and the Malaysian ringgit, and expects them to appreciate 4 to 5 percent this year.
Just keep an eye on China.
Tune In: CNBC's "Money in Motion Currency Trading" airs on Fridays at 5:30pm and repeats on Saturdays at 7pm.
Learn more: The essential vocabulary for currency trading is on Key Terms Dictionary. Top currency strategies are broken down for you in Currency Class.
Talk back: Tell us what you want to hear about - email us at firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:0c4b9333-d36b-4cf1-813b-c9d06b99b531> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnbc.com/id/100523153 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933605 | 378 | 1.625 | 2 |
Navigating through the early stages of dating can produce its share of awkward and tension-filled moments, but Erika Ladouceur had an added reason to feel a bit anxious.
While some may give little thought to sharing a postdinner dessert or a peck on the lips at the end of the evening, the 24-year-old simply can’t afford the luxury of spontaneity surrounding food. She lives with anaphylactic allergies to peanuts, nuts, soy and legumes, as well as having intolerances to wheat and dairy.
Anaphylaxis is an extreme, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within seconds or minutes after exposure to an allergen.
“First of all, I didn’t even start dating for a while because I was so terrified that I would end up going on a date with someone and I would have a reaction, or them not understanding,” recalled Ladouceur, who writes the blog Living with Allergies and is a trainee with the McMaster University-based AllerGen NCE network.
“I’ve always tried to get to know people more doing things that didn’t involve food before actually going out to a restaurant,” added the Victoria, B.C. resident, citing potential alternative outings like going for coffee, tea or a walk.
Ladouceur works as a research assistant with the University of Alberta offering online social support for youth and teens living with allergies and asthma. The decision to dine out — even on a periodic basis — requires planning on her part.
Consuming meals served at many fast-food chains is out of the question. If she’s out with friends, she’ll usually buy a drink while others nosh on their menu choices.
Ladouceur will phone eateries in advance to find out what’s on the menu and whether there are a lot of nuts present in the kitchen. If she feels they don’t understand her needs, she won’t chance the visit.
Some of her initial concerns around dating centred on being with someone who may not realize the severity of her food allergies.
“I knew I could take care of myself, but I didn’t really feel comfortable trusting anyone else, because it’s basically like trusting someone else with your life,” said Ladouceur.
New York-based food allergy coach and advocate Sloane Miller counsels clients on both sides of the border and abroad. Living with anaphylactic allergies to tree nuts and salmon, she has penned several posts on her blog, Please Don’t Pass The Nuts, about her past dating experiences.
Miller recalled one memorable makeout session when she kissed a guy hours after he had eaten salmon.
“I felt my face tingling and my lips buzzing,” she wrote, also making note of the “saliva trail of hives” on her mouth, neck, jaw, ears and cheeks where she’d been kissed.
Like Ladouceur, Miller likes to make her first date nonfood-related. On subsequent outings, she’ll try to suggest a restaurant she’s visited frequently where perhaps she knows the staff or chef, or will call ahead to inform them of her allergies and that she carries emergency medications.
People at risk for anaphylaxis carry an auto-injector to deliver a dose of epinephrine — or adrenalin — in the event of a severe allergic reaction.
“As you move on in a relationship, then certain amounts of sharing come in; and that’s a different stage of any relationship. That’s for anyone. What to share, how to share it ... that’s just normal dating. And this is just part of that,” said Miller, president of Allergic Girl Resources.
Miller said she tries not to overwhelm new acquaintances with information. But she will use situations that arise as a “gentle opportunity” to inform dates of her allergies, like explaining why she can’t dine out at a sushi restaurant.
“I fully accept this as a part of who I am and it’s not a negotiation,” said Miller, author of Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies (John Wiley & Sons Canada, $29.95).
“It’s not like, ‘Well, I can have a little fish.’ I can’t have a little fish, and I can’t be in a restaurant where all they serve is fish — it’s not going to work. I’m very clear about what I can and cannot do, and that kind of clarity definitely helps. And people tend to respond to that, I think, in a positive way.”
Ladouceur said adopting the direct approach about discussing her allergies with dates has boosted her confidence. Even when relationships haven’t lasted, she’s been told “flat out” by exes that allergies weren’t a factor in the decision to part ways.
Ladouceur has been with her boyfriend, Mike Kelter, for more than 1½ years, and the pair moved in together last April, a transition that has led to a modification of his eating habits.
“He basically right off the bat said, ‘I’m not eating anything with nuts in the house or anything you can’t eat.’ And so he won’t,” she said.
“For him, anyways, it has been definitely a bit of a change. But all of the times he’s talked about it, he’s basically said ‘It’s something that I would do for someone I cared about and loved.’ And I think that’s true in most situations.”
Strategies on managing allergies while engaging in everyday activities like dining out and dating are in prime focus on Why Risk It. The youth-focused website developed by Anaphylaxis Canada is geared toward teens and young adults living with food allergies and at risk for anaphylaxis.
The organization has also produced a First Kiss PSA to raise awareness about food allergies, as well as an educational video featuring a young couple highlighting the importance of communication when a partner has a food allergy.
“I think specifically when it comes to social settings and dating, having food allergies kind of adds an extra layer of — I guess you can call it complexity,” said Beatrice Povolo, director of marketing and communications for Anaphylaxis Canada.
“Teens today ... when they’re on their first dates or they’re meeting people in a social setting, there’s that common anxiety I think everybody has. But then to have to disclose to friends or potentially girlfriends, boyfriends, et cetera, that you also have to deal with food allergies, I think there is some anxiety when it comes to that, and being able to talk to people and let them know about your allergies so that they’re aware.”
Povolo said she realizes such a disclosure isn’t the easiest conversation for teens to have — particularly with people they’ve just met. But she said it’s an important fact they should share.
“It’s part of who they are but it doesn’t define them,” said Povolo. “They can have relationships, they can do it all, but with that extra level of vigilance.
“That’s kind of the key messaging we always want to get across, especially for teens and young adults. We really want to empower them, but we want them to stay safe. It’s that careful, not fearful mentality.”
The Canadian Press | <urn:uuid:91d7ca13-16f6-4a91-bbc5-76ba29f1f4c4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thespec.com/living-story/2145489-dishing-on-food-allergies/ | 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 | 0.957146 | 1,665 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Will This Irritable Bowel Syndrome Drug Be a Cash Cow?
Jordo is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
As embarrassing and difficult to manage as chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are, there are surprisingly very few treatments available for patients at the moment. The treatments that do exist often cause diarrhea and nausea as side effects. Synergy Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SGYP) has been focusing on its lead investigational drug Plecanatide, which is aimed at treating chronic constipation and constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
Plecanatide is currently in Phase 2b/3 clinical trials. The hallmark of the drug is that it does not cause diarrhea as a side effect. Moreover, Synergy's Chairman Gabriel Cerrone purchased 87,820 shares of Synergy for an amount of $317,250, attracting the attention of many investors and observers. Below, I will examine the constipation drug Plecanatide and the theory behind the insider buying.
What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome can cause extreme distress to individuals. Much of the discomfort is related to not being able to pass stools in spite of experiencing an urge to move. The condition is treated with drugs that ease constipation and promote bowel movement without causing discomfort. When such treatment fails, psychotherapy is often recommended, as chronic IBS has often been linked to psychosomatic causes as well. Often, a combination of psychotherapy to reduce psychological distress and drugs to ease physical discomfort are used when treating individuals with irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation. Synergy’s Plecanatide could prove to be a panacea to those who suffer from this embarrassing but common condition.
Plecanatide: How it Works
Plecanatide is an analogue of Uroguanylin (UroG), which is critical for digestion to take place normally. While Uroguanylin (UroG) is a natural human hormone, Plecanatide is eight times more potent. The drug targets a large underserved market, which until now has depended on psychotherapy and drugs that cause unpleasant side effects. The Phase 2a clinical study revealed that plecanatide eases constipation and improves bowel movement without causing diarrhea. Reduction in abdominal discomfort, severity of constipation and increased gastric relief can be experienced within seven hours of ingestion of the drug, as compared to 16 hours for the placebo. All adverse events were both mild to moderate, and certainly transient. These factors make plecanatide a very attractive drug that could potentially target a market worth $2 billion annually. Moreover, plecanatide is a new class of drug and has only one competitor, Linzess.
Plecanatide Compares Favorably With Linzess
Linzess is developed and marketed by Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD). Linzess is currently prescribed in the United States for chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. But Plecanatide could outperform Linzess due to its lack of adverse side effects. Linzess (linaclotide) can cause diarrhea and nausea, both of which are as uncomfortable as the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The Boston Globe reported that Linzess could achieve blockbuster status and generate sales of $1 billion annually. However, with the announcement of Plecanatide and its benefits over Linzess, Synergy could trounce Ironwood and achieve sales of $2 billion each year. Ironwood also borrowed $175 million to support Linzess, which increased the company’s liability.
Will Linzess Affect Synergy’s Profitability?
One cause for concern among investors is that Ironwood has already entered the IBS market with Linzess. The fact that it entered the market first does not mean the drug will ultimately be successful. The first few months are often a test for the drug and its maker, as side effects and other issues often arise during this time. Since Linzess can cause severe diarrhea, the drug may not be as well received as Synergy's plecanatide. Consider the following examples of drugs that faced headwinds after launch:
Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE) Lipitor (Atorvastatin), a statin used to lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, topped the list of best selling branded drugs for nearly a decade. In 2001, patients filled more than 57 million prescriptions for Lipitor. However, the drug had its share of problems. Jay S. Cohen, M.D. is a nationally recognized expert in the area of medications and side effects. He wrote about hearing more complaints about side effects from Lipitor than all of the other drugs in its class combined. "Perhaps this is because the standard dosage of Lipitor is so strong; it is far stronger than many patients actually need or can tolerate," he wrote.
He also wrote, "The Lipitor dosage guidelines do not distinguish between patients with or without heart disease. They do not distinguish between patients requiring large reductions and those needing small reductions. The recommended initial dose of Lipitor, 10 mg, is so powerful that doctors can treat many patients with the same dose and not have to bother matching the dose to individual patients."
Similarly, Merck's (NYSE: MRK) Vioxx (Rofecoxib) was withdrawn from the market after safety concerns arose. It was developed to treat osteoarthritis and other acute pain conditions. The drug was later found to increase the risk of heart attacks, which led to Merck withdrawing it voluntarily.
Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE: BMY) Yervoy (Ipilimumab) is used to treat skin cancer. It was later found to be associated with potentially fatal T cell activation and proliferation. Serious side effects related to the gastro-intestinal tract were observed as well. These examples should be enough for us to conclude that just because a drug enters the market first does not mean it will have an upper hand, especially when it has unpleasant side effects.
With that in mind, I am not surprised to see hurried insider buying taking place at Synergy. Synergy's Chairman, Gabriel Cerrone, raised a lot of eyebrows by purchasing Synergy shares worth $317,250. Mr. Cerrone currently owns 631,230 shares at Synergy and has been the company’s Chairman since July 2008. The company announced a net loss of $9.9 million in November 2012 and total cash of $37.4 million. Synergy is a relatively small company when compared to its closest competitor, Ironwood, which has a market cap of almost $1.1 billion.
Moreover, the fact that Mr. Cerrone is buying shares at Synergy instead of selling them suggests that he is hoping to make a lot of money in the future. That hope stems from the success of plecanatide in clinical trials. Plecanatide has the potential to tap into a largely underserved market. Sales could potentially reach $2 billion annually.
At the moment, Synergy appears to be a promising investment candidate. Investors looking for exposure in the pharmaceutical sector should consider buying this stock.
jordobivona has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own! | <urn:uuid:e225d28c-adf9-41b9-9949-69e5ba1a96c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://beta.fool.com/jordobivona/2013/01/25/will-irritable-bowel-syndrome-drug-will-be-cash-co/22531/?logvisit=y&published=2013-01-25&source=eptcnnlnk0000001 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957666 | 1,624 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Market Watch reported that a new powerful motor developed by Toshiba will avoid using rare earth minerals sourced from China, in an attempt by the Japanese to reduce their dependance on China’s supply of the minerals.
As quoted in the report:
While dysprosium is mostly found in China, the new Toshiba motor substitutes a different rare-earth metal — samarium — which abounds in Australia and the U.S., the report said. Japan and China have clashed over rare earths, notably in late 2010, when China briefly halted rare-earth shipments to Japan. The Nikkei report said Toshiba hopes to begin selling the new engine, which can be used in cars, trains and industrial machinery, by next March. | <urn:uuid:92c7a5a9-a5ae-4e1c-9129-db32ddb9edd0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rareearthinvestingnews.com/7717-new-toshiba-motor-uses-u-s-ree-avoids-china-sourced-minerals.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936668 | 151 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Women's hostels in Arunachal Pradesh in a mess
Itanagar: The Union government's scheme to
provide hostel accommodation to single, divorced and unmarried
working women in the country lay in a shambles in Arunachal
Pradesh where 10 such hostels exist.
The women's hostels were built under the ambitious
scheme launched by the Union Ministry of Women and Child
Development way back in 1972 to provide accommodation to
working women at a minimal charge.
A visit to several of these hostels suggests that all
of them, with the exception of a few, have become almost
unliveable for lack of proper maintenance.
The hostels are located at Tawang, Bomdila, Itanagar,
Naharlagun, Roing, Ziro and Changlang which are managed by
Non-Governmental Organisations, Voluntary Organizations and a
few by the state Social Welfare Women and Child Development
The two hostels at Itanagar and Naharlagan are,
however, managed by the Arunachal Pradesh Social Welfare
Advisory Board (APSWAB).
A visit to a working women's hostel in the capital,
established in 1980, tells a sad tale.
The hostel with 10 rooms though boasts of several
toilets and bathrooms to cater to a more than 20 women
inmates, their dilapidated condition render these almost
What comes as a shock is that the inmates have to
cope with almost defunct water and power supply.
A boarder, said there were times when water supply
remained suspended for months together.
During such times, we have to beg water, and that
too a bucket at most, from the hotels nearby and make do with
it somehow,'' she lamented.
To add to the woes, doors and windows of the hostels
are all broken and to make up for this, the inmates shield
them with cardboards, cartons and whatever such like staff
they get hold of.
The irony is that every inmate pays rent regularly.
A double room costs about Rs 300, single room Rs 200
and another Rs 100 towards water and electricity bills per
As if this was not enough, many boarders complained
officially that males also, at times, stay in the hostel for
months claiming to be relatives or family members of women
The hostel warden, who is a working woman herself
residing in the hostel, acknowledged the boarders' account and
APSWAB member-secretary M Ali, when contacted, blamed
the alleged entry of males in the hostel on the delay in
approving a proposal for construction of a boundary wall. | <urn:uuid:526d949c-6053-4efc-b922-a584e4e26114> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://zeenews.india.com/print.aspx?nid=752858 | 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 | 0.939995 | 569 | 1.695313 | 2 |
City Council Passes Local Water Rate Hike
Alderman Dan Ensing was the lone dissenter, saying he believes the city should explore other options before increasing fees.
City of Oak Forest aldermen voted 5 to 1 Tuesday, Jan. 24 to increase residents' water fees by $1 per 1,000 gallons used—almost two weeks after officials had tabled the issue.
Ald. Richard Simon was not present at Tuesday's meeting; Ald. Charles Toland said Simon is dealing with a personal situation.
The lone dissenter against the hike—which is the result of a 25 percent increase in water supply costs enacted by the city of Chicago—was Ald. Dan Ensing (5th Ward).
"Nobody wants to see the water rates increase at this point," Ensing said after Tuesday's meeting. "Nobody wants to see anything increase."
The rates will take effect on Feb. 1. The average resident should expect to see a $20 increase per quarter. The increase will reportedly help cover the increase in supply cost as well as a $700,000 deficit in the city's Water and Sewer Fund.
Ensing said he would have rather investigated more ways to cover the costs rather than a rate increase, especially because the city passed a $15 surcharge two years ago that was supposed to address the Water and Sewer Fund deficit.
"At that time [officials] were told that surcharge would address about a $500,000 deficit," Ensing said. "Two years and two months later, the deficit has now grown to $700,000. ... We need to look at why this deficit is occurring and what we need to do with it, rather than raise fees."
During public comment, resident Joe Rossi asked why the rate increase per unit of water sold is 67 cents, when Oak Lawn—which is where the city gets its water—is passing on an increase of 50 cents.
Finance Director Colleen Julian said the increase per unit is due to the amount of water that is wasted, primarily due to a leaky and aging infrastructure.
"Although it is difficult to raise rates during hard economic times," she wrote in a memo, "it is necessary to maintain and improve the system required to deliver safe and reliable water and sewer utlities."
Treasurer Dwayne Fox said it's important to remember that the City of Chicago is increasing its own fees in an attempt to repair that municipality's infrastructure as well."I want the council to be informed," Fox said. "They're not just raising fees because they want to, they're raising them because they have to."
Ensing said he understands the issue, but still wanted officials to explore alternatives further."It's unfortunate," he said. "We have a water deficit and it needs to be balanced. Unfortunately, it needs to be balanced on the backs of the consumer." | <urn:uuid:a81008ad-5d76-47df-a592-14f4c962c790> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oakforest.patch.com/articles/city-council-passes-local-water-rate-hike | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97891 | 590 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Universal Credit’s been in the news this week. The thing that caught my eye was Frank Field’s broadside again in the Guardian, just before Labour’s Opposition Day debate. It’s worth noting what he says, as he’s previously supported many Coalition reforms. But is he right?
To look at the arguments here, I’ll fisk the main claims of his article.
"It is clear that there are fundamental problems with universal credit. The new payment, due to be fully delivered by 2017 and initially set to cost £2bn more in benefits annually, aims to sweep together the main means-tested benefits and tax credits into one "universal" benefit. Instead of having a number of Gordon Brown's different tax credits, there will be one benefit – at least, that was the idea. The government has had to admit defeat on this front, as only six benefits and tax credits are now being merged. The universal credit will also taper gradually, thus supposedly overcoming the disincentive to work embedded in the current benefits system."
I know this is written sarcastically, but it actually sums up much that is theoretically good about UC. Making many benefits into one is a good idea – who would intentionally design a system with overlapping, confusing, contradictory benefit regimes? Ditto the work incentives point – making work pay is a good principle. Criticism of the Government should not be leveled at its intentions but on what the credit will actually do in practice, whether those principles can be realised, and if the £2bn is worth it.
"I disagree. Means-testing only encourages dependency, and the universal credit is, in one sense, the ultimate form of means-testing. It obviously gets extra money to hard-working families who earn low wages… "
On the latter, JRF research suggests UC will mean 900,000 or so people would no longer be in relative poverty. Its overall distributional affect is pro-poor, with the highest gain in disposable income being seen in the bottom income decile (according to the IFS). That’s what ‘extra money’ refers to, I think, and this beneficial impact shouldn’t be underestimated.
"… but in doing so it rots the soul. Recipients have to be saints not to take the loss of credit payments into account when deciding whether to work longer or to train for a more highly paid job. At present, claimants can lose more than 90p for every extra pound in earnings. Under universal credit people can still lose about 65p of every extra, hard-earned pound – 20p more than the highest rate of tax."
This is where it gets tricky. It might indeed seem shocking that people losing 65p in every extra pound earnt – and if you pay national insurance, then it’s actually 76p. For some people, this will be an increase from the current rate: levelling the taper rate at 65% means that there are winners and losers, with some people having a higher rate than before.
There’s also something rather important to note in this context. Council tax benefit is being devolved, and depending on how councils structure it, this might shoot UC’s work incentives to pieces, and push the marginal tax rate up into the 90% level – this blog explains why. Ironically, by showing the fallout when you further complicate things, this move shows how correct simplification is.
But – and this is the big thing – overall UC represents an improvement on the current system. Losing 65p isn’t great, but it’s better than losing 90p. To demonstrate the point, have a look at this graph below, from the IFS’ initial assessment of UC. I’ve chosen this one because it shows just how nuts the current system is. It shows the participation tax rate (how much p in a £ you lose when you enter work – ie your incentive to enter work at all) for a lone parent with two children.
The light blue shows how under the current system, if the parent works less than 30 hours work a week their tax rate varies widly. The purple is the planned rate under UC.
Which one looks more soul-rotting to you? This is just one example, and as I say, there are winners and losers. But the overall effect should be that the people who currently have the least incentive to work have a bit more reason to do so.
"I am, therefore, against universal credit in principle, but also fear the programme is practically unachievable. Rumour has it that the prime minister does too, hence the attempt to move IDS to the justice department in the reshuffle so that the plans could be shelved. The project has already been delayed owing to IT problems. Last year a leaked report highlighted concerns from the IT industry itself that the timescales involved were unrealistic. I fear the department is burying its head in the sand because the risks are so great…My understanding is that problems are continuing to mount up. Can HMRC collect real-time information from PAYE records? Leading civil servants working on the project have left their posts and HMRC is, apparently, refusing to share the pilot results with the DWP, despite claiming that all is well. Can anyone remember – with the exception of the pension credit – a satisfactory introduction of a new state IT project?"
"It was brave of IDS to insist on occupying the command on the bridge, but it was the prime minister's wish to avert a catastrophe that drove him to try to move his work and pensions secretary so that the government could quietly shut down the whole reform. His failure to act leaves the disaster on course."
I’m in no position to comment on government computer systems. This certainly seems like a fairly daunting picture: dodgy IT might be a reason rethink some of the back-end or technical details, or ways that HMRC and DWP will work alongside each other, or some of the details around frequency of payment.
Is it really a reason to stop the whole thing though? I don’t think it is. Delay, maybe – cancel, no. That would just leave us with the current system, and nobody – as far as I’m aware – would welcome that, for all the reasons above. Whether you do probably depends on your instincts, and if you feel the perfect is the enemy of the good. I’d chose the latter every time.
Universal Credit certainly has its problems. The one thing worse than resolving those problems would be sticking with the status quo. | <urn:uuid:02a3b902-2066-4998-ba21-e641b148d325> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/2012/09/what%E2%80%99s-problem-universal-credit | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965882 | 1,363 | 1.828125 | 2 |
From our perspective, the childlike state of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was not intended as the final state of mankind. For us to truly put on the divine nature and fulfill our destiny as glorified sons and daughters of God, it would be necessary for man to move beyond the innocence of the Garden and grapple with the dangerous gifts of knowledge and free agency. Why? That we might become more like Christ, even joint heirs with Him (Romans 8), destined to put on the divine nature (2 Peter 1) and become "like Him" (1 John 3:1). This required that we obtain the kind of knowledge and agency not available in the Garden. Remember, it was only after the Fall that the Lord said, "Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil . . . ." (Genesis 3:22).
Latter-day Saints differ from much of modern "mainstream" Christianity in their views on the Fall of man. Many other Christians teach that God intended for mankind to remain in the Garden of Eden without knowledge of good and evil, childlike and innocent. Adam is the great villain, who spoiled everything for the rest of us. As Augustine taught, Adam's sin was so terrible that all human beings deserve to suffer eternal punishment because of him and the original sin that comes upon us because of Adam (see Seth Farber, "The Reign of Augustine," The Christian Activist: A Journal of Orthodox Opinion, Vol. 13, Winter/Spring 1999, pp. 40-45,56). Adam's rebellion forced God to come up with an (inferior) alternative to His original plan. One minister explained to me that this whole existence of ours and all that we go through is a big mistake, all because of that villain of villains, Adam.
In the LDS view, God's plan was not thwarted. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God to rescue fallen mankind was not an unfortunate backup plan, but was a key part of God's perfect plan from the beginning. Thus, the New Testament speaks of Christ as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). In fact, it was God's purpose from the beginning for all of us to be introduced into mortality where we would learn to walk in faith, to grow up and become accountable, choose to follow Him, and receive of His grace. Thus, the Fall of Man was intended. As Brigham Young explained, "The Lord knew they would do this and he had designed that they should" (Journal of Discourses, 10:103).
Adam and Eve, as innocents without knowledge of even their own nakedness (Gen. 2:25; 3:7), were unable to have children and were unable to keep the greater commandment that they had been given, to multiply and replenish the earth. This is my understanding based on the teachings of the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 2:22-23:
22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.It was God's intent and sacred plan that they should have children, for as the Lord explains in Isaiah 45:18, He "created [the earth] not in vain, [but] he formed it to be inhabited." God gave Adam and Eve a higher and a lower commandment - multiply on one hand, or avoid the tree of knowledge of good and evil on the other. God knew of Satan's intent to stir up disobedience, but was one step ahead. Yes, Satan deceived Eve, and she partook of the fruit, which meant that she would be cast out of the Garden. Then Adam had to choose between staying in the Garden of Eden without Eve, where he could never hope to multiply, or following Eve into mortality by partaking of the fruit in order to keep the higher law. Adam, in choosing to partake of the fruit, Adam was transgressing a lower commandment to keep the higher law. Eve was deceived, but Adam was not, as the Bible states in 1 Tim. 2:14. What does this passage mean under "mainstream" views of Adam as a villain? Is there a more reasonable explanation than the LDS perspective, which holds, as the Book of Mormon teaches, that "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25)?
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
Yes, Adam faced a dilemma because of Eve's disobedience, and thus had to disobey one instruction to keep another that was more important (to multiply and replenish the earth). As a result of the transgression, they were cast out of God's presence and became mortal, fallen creatures, yet they were blessed with knowledge of good and evil, free agency, and the ability to have children. But faced with death and the certainty of sin, they were doomed creatures - were it not for the foreordained role of the Messiah, who would redeem them and provide a way to return to the presence of God as glorious sons and daughters of the Father of glory. The end result is that God's children, by passing through this fallen state of mortality, can gain knowledge of the glories of God and become joint heirs with Christ of all that God has (Rom. 8:14-18). We must taste the bitter to fully understand the sweet, and we must enter into the dangerous stage of mortality in order to receive the blessing of eternal life, which is God's kind of life (not just immortality per se). The words of God to Enoch, recorded in the Book of Moses (given to Joseph Smith by revelation), summarize this powerful doctrine well (see Moses 6:55-61).
If Adam were the ultimate villain, it is puzzling that the Bible would speak of him as a symbol of Christ ("the figure of him that was to come" - Rom. 5:14) or say that he was not deceived (1 Tim. 2:14) or refer to Christ as the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). Yet Adam's fall resulted in temporal death (being cut off from the physical presence of God; see Alma 42:7-9) and sin in the world, which could only be overcome through an infinite price paid by a sinless Redeemer who took our pains (the price of our sins) upon Him and sacrificed His own life that we might be free from the Fall and become new creatures in Him (Rom. 5:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:17-21). Christ's Atonement overcomes spiritual death, the state of being cast out of God's presence by sin, by having paid for our sins and offering us forgiveness through his cleansing blood, if only we will follow Him. His Atonement also overcomes physical death, the death of the body, by the power of the Resurrection, offering immortality to all (1 Cor. 15:21,22 - "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive"; see also John 5:28,29). Further, "temporal death" in Alma 42 refers to physical separation from God, more so than mere physical death, a catastrophe which the Atonement remedies for those who accept Christ.
Christ's glorious role as Redeemer required that there be a Fall. Without the Fall, there would be no grace. Without temporal death (being physically cut off from the presence of God; see Alma 42:7-9), we could never be tried and there would be no righteousness. Without knowledge of sin, there would be no knowledge of goodness and thus no true appreciation of the glory of God. As the Book of Mormon teaches, there must be opposition in all things to achieve God's purposes (see 2 Nephi 2).
The ultimate implication of the Fall is the possibility of having joy. True joy comes in knowing God and Christ and knowingly choosing to follow them, entering into their presence as sons and daughters who chose the good part and the grace offered by Christ. A babe without knowledge of good and evil cannot know the joy that comes with good, or the growth that comes by choosing the source of all good. It is through overcoming the trials of mortality, "our light affliction," that we have hope of "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). This mortal experience gives us the opportunity to become the "jewels" of God (Malachi 3:17), being refined and chosen in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10), enabled to sit with Christ in his throne if we overcome (Rev. 3:21). God wants us in heaven with Him and Christ. The Garden of Eden was not heaven. Our intended and long-planned destiny is not ignorant nakedness in the Garden of Eden, but as Paul said in 2 Cor. 5:2-4,
2 ...we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven;By the way, I'm pleased to note that not all non-LDS denominations feel that the Fall was a big mistake. A good treatise from someone a bit closer to our view is Erwin W. Lutzer in his book, Ten Lies about God (Word Publishing, Nashville, TN, 2000). See particularly Chapter 8, "Lie 8: The Fall Ruined God's Plan," pp. 137-157. Lutzer is a pastor at the Moody Church in Chicago.
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up in life.
A good resource for further reading is "Salvation History and Requirements" - chapter 4 of Barry Bickmore's excellent book, restoring the Ancient Church. | <urn:uuid:7990a605-f882-4cd2-bcac-238db712ce9d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mormanity.blogspot.com/2007/11/adam-and-fall-gods-plan-thwarted.html?showComment=1194484200000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975413 | 2,120 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Tension against Hispanics is rising because of the rape, leading to events such as this.
HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) -- Two teenagers have been arrested in the arson of the home of an Hispanic man suspected of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old Caucasian girl, police said Friday.
Police said one of the teens is Hispanic, the other Caucasian. People in the city's fast-growing Hispanic community have complained of being targeted for intimidation since the sexual assault.
"Rapest" and "child molester" were spray-painted on the house and windows were broken out after the sexual assault was reported June 19, and the house was set on fire two days later. Investigators didn't provide details of the arson fire, which heavily damaged the house and also scorched the side of the Living Water Ministry office building next door. However, they said they expect to make more arrests.
Hispanics in the neighborhood said they were threatened and some people in Ku Klux Klan garb came into the neighborhood, near the city's downtown.
"Our point has always been that the Hispanic community is just as upset as any other community residents," police Sgt. Tom Kilgour said of the sexual assault.
City officials and police have worked to calm tensions in the neighborhood and community leaders have held forums to promote dialogue in the racially diverse area.
Kilgour said the suspects, ages 15 and 17, were arrested two weeks ago and remain in the Butler County juvenile center.
"We want the community to know what we are actively involved in this case," Kilgour said.
He said police are still appealing for information about the rape suspect, identified as Alfredo Lopez Cruz. Police issued warrants on rape and kidnapping charges last month for Cruz, who police said had used several aliases and was identified by residents of the neighborhood.
Police believe that Cruz fled the area soon after the sexual assault. | <urn:uuid:f7c3e4aa-7625-419d-9086-87ea9a713813> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vindy.com/news/2005/jul/23/teenagers-arrested-in-arson/ | 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 | 0.98688 | 388 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Abby Sunderland didn't make it, but apparently nobody's going to be happy until a teenage girl circumnavigates the globe on a sailboat.
Did we say happy? We meant everyone is very angry all over again.
Laura Dekker, a 14-year-old from the Netherlands, has set sail from the Southwestern coast of Spain to make her way around the world. She's two years younger than Abby Sunderland, which would make her the youngest person ever to circle the world via boat, where she's felt at home since literally the moment she was born
She sailed from the Netherlands to England for her 13th birthday, and is now apparently ready to make that journey one hundred times over, even though Dutch child-protection watchdogs have apparently expressed concern
To prepare for her trip, which is expected to take about a year, Laura has purchased a larger, sturdier boat, taken first aid classes, and learned how to deal with sleep deprivation. She will continue to do her homework and will receive visits from her family on the voyage, when she'll hopefully be able to quell her teenage hormones long enough to be hugged by her parents. | <urn:uuid:0af59a10-f644-404e-8051-e03d3e95eb4e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/08/26/the-newest-teen-girl-must-have-a-world-record-apparently/ | 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 | 0.981155 | 238 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Working out can feel like a burden. But it’s essential to our well being, and by taking the time to do it, we are actually exemplifying our love for ourselves. Now, I was not born one of those people (like my brother) who LOVES to workout. But, when I began nurturing my body and found fitness routines that made me ‘come alive’, I realized working out wasn’t all about looking a certain way, it was WAY MORE about feeling energized, connected to my body, and just an extension of living with passion!
It’s all about how we look at it — fitness can be fun, and soon you’ll wonder how you lived without it. Here are 10 simple ways to make exercise a part of your life and fit fitness in:
If you’re sitting, stand. If you’re standing, walk. If you’re walking, run! Don’t go from sitting to running circles around your block. You’ll burn out or pass out! Take the appropriate steps to make real changes happen. This isn’t a fad, it’s your life.
Stop Time from Vanishing
I am a huge fan of time choice over time management. I know you may feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, and you’re definitely not alone. Take a good look at your schedule – where is all of your time going? Once you map it out clearly, you’ll have a much better picture your time, and you’ll see what is just a ‘time vacuum’ that can be released so you can choose to amp up your energy instead!
Use Your Environment
There are days where making it to the gym might be out of the question, or you may want to supplement your workouts in between. You definitely do NOT need fancy equipment to work out. You can do a “wall sit” combined with a “dragoncurl” and get a very effective total body strengthening workout in just a few minutes a day. All you need is a wall and two cans of soup or veggies.
Fitness that Fits In
Life is busy, and sometimes you just have to find exercises that are both effective and efficient. That’s why I love Curves - 30 minutes and it includes a total body cardio and strength training workout! If you have a packed schedule, workout at your desk, do squats in the shower, lunge up the stairs, keep your core muscles isolated all the time.
Break It Up
It’s okay to have a favorite show, so why not try a commercial workout? Do crunches on one break, side kicks on another. You can get a total body workout just during the commercial breaks of your favorite show, and for an added cardio effect, do jumping jacks or jog in place while watching.
Make “Movement” a Family Affair
If you have young children, take them for walks with you, explore nature, or jump rope together. Get a trampoline, and bond while bouncing for 30 minutes. They’ll love it and it’s a great activity.
Always Ready to Hit the Gym
Keep your gym bag packed and in your car. If you always have sneakers or sweats with you it will serve as a mental reminder to go to the gym. If you attach your workouts to trips out, they are much easier to fit in.
Find a friend or relative who also wants to be healthy. Having a support system to keep you positive, motivated and focused always helps. You always can enlist the help of a professional if you really want motivation and accountability.
Live Actively — Wherever You Go
Malls and food stores are great places to get moving. Carry your groceries in a hand carrier when you only have a few things to buy. When you’re out shopping, don’t waste time and circle the lot in search of the closest spot. Park far from the door and walk. Don’t use the escalator or elevator — take the stairs. And who needs a drive-thru window? Park the car and walk to the bank or ATM.
Seek Out Your Inner Dancing Queen
Why not take a salsa or belly-dancing class? Or, find a place to go and dance with your friends. Let your hair down and get your heart rate up. You can burn up to 400 calories with just an hour of social dancing. | <urn:uuid:38aeb7fa-135f-46c4-b9c0-b84d01dd7796> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://inspiredgirl.net/self-love/body-love-10-simple-tips-to-fit-fitness-in/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938835 | 941 | 1.640625 | 2 |
"It is my hope that Malala's struggle will be a watershed moment for women and girls' rights in Pakistan. Going forward, the International Day of the Girl will be a day of advocacy and action, by and for girls, to highlight, foster discussion and advance girls' lives and opportunities across the globe. We all need to support and honor girls who have the courage to come forward and demand their rights so that they can become equal and active members of society. Today, we celebrate them and reinforce our commitment to make equality and justice a reality for all girls." -Yasmeen Hassan, Global Director, Equality Now [Read More...]
Your action makes a difference. Raise your voice to stop human rights abuses against women and girls. | <urn:uuid:7b6afe17-f8e0-46f6-b1b0-6c1e7ec97941> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.equalitynow.org/ru/node/1482 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948149 | 150 | 1.71875 | 2 |
45 Years of Stirring the Pot
BY Neal Broverman and Michelle Garcia
August 21 2012 4:00 AM ET
At The Advocate we’ve worked hard to keep people talking about the issues of the day, though the response to some articles was not always what we expected. Sometimes we got it wrong, and sometimes, despite our best efforts (or because of them), we became part of the news ourselves.
September 1969: The “Newspaper of America’s Homophile Community,” as The Advocate called itself then, relegated the Stonewall riots to page 3, while a still image from Midnight Cowboy featuring a naked Jon Voight took the cover.
April 23, 1975: The Advocate became a contender, landing an interview with up-and-coming star and Continental Baths diva Bette Midler. None other than legendary queer photographer Annie Leibovitz snapped the accompanying photo of Midler primping for a performance, while her PR team sweated over the “gay” interview.
March 10, 1976: Former San Francisco 49ers running back Dave Kopay was the first major pro athlete to come out when he shared his story with The Washington Star in December 1975. A few months later he spoke to The Advocate about being gay in the locker room and his decision to come out.
August 7, 1980: With an image of San Francisco as the cover, “Gentrification: Is the Gay Role in Urban Restoration Creating a Backlash?” centered on gays turning around rundown urban neighborhoods, sometimes to the detriment of African-American residents who found themselves priced out of their homes. Writer Thom Willenbecher took on the nuanced subject with aplomb, pointing the finger at racist gays as well as homophobic black city leaders. Willenbecher suggested the new queer, mostly white, residents partner with their racial minority neighbors on elections and improvement projects. Thankfully, Willenbecher didn’t forget that gays of color exist: “Gay blacks must stand up and be counted,” he urged.
March 18, 1982: The term AIDS wasn’t mentioned once in “Is the Urban Gay Male Lifestyle Hazardous to Your Health?” cover story. The mysterious illness at the story’s center was then known as GRID (gay-related immunodeficiency). A questionnaire from the Centers for Disease Control found that many of the infected were promiscuous, and some were drug users. Amid all the clinical discussion of T cells and Kaposi’s sarcoma, an overarching fear that the “fast-living” urban gay existence may have serious repercussions was evident.
December 23, 1982: “Sock It to ’Em: The Foot & the Fantasy”: Yes, while AIDS was exploding, we devoted a cover to an utterly out-of-touch exploration of foot fetishes. (Or was it? After all, foot play is safe sex.)
February 17, 1983: The Advocate finally put AIDS on the cover, with the unforgettable image of three men in a bathhouse seeing, hearing, and speaking no evil. The article, “Coping With a Crisis,” was just as powerful, with writers Larry Bush and Nathan Fain asking scientists, doctors, and politicians what they were doing to halt the seemingly unstoppable progression of AIDS.
- New Antigay Children's Book Teaches Kids to Hate LGBT Families
- WATCH: What Happens When a Gay Boy Scout Comes Out to His Camp Leader
- Boy Scouts Vote to End Discrimination Against Gay Youth
- Op-ed: Boy Scouts Must Complete the Inclusion Process to Remain Relevant
- Nevada Takes Another Step Toward Marriage Equality
- Ugandan LGBT Activists Arrested While Protesting Media Censorship
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- Youth Boy Scouts Vote to End Discrimination Against Gay Youth May 23 2013 6:22 PM | <urn:uuid:860fe0b8-4c6a-4d29-a774-28af138ed89e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/advocate-45/2012/08/21/45-years-stirring-pot | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946784 | 935 | 1.617188 | 2 |
As the Unity Breakfast began Monday morning in Heritage Hall, Jim Embry was working the room.
Lean, fit and hard to miss in his colorful clothing and gray dreadlocks, Embry was quickly moving from table to table, handling out leaflets to promote his annual Bluegrass Local Food Summit, March 22 to 24 at Crestwood Christian Church.
Breakfast was followed by inspirational speakers and award presentations. But when Embry’s name was called as one of two Unity Award winners — along with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass — he was gone. A son accepted the award for him.
“I have to leave by 8:15 to catch a 9 o’clock flight,” Embry had told me as he rushed from table to table, handing out leaflets to the breakfast’s 1,400 attendees. “I’m speaking this afternoon at Yale.”
It was classic Jim Embry. Who has time to rest on laurels when there is a world out there in need of improvement?
Embry, 62, was the featured speaker Monday afternoon in New Haven, Conn., at a master’s tea, sponsored by Yale University’s Pierson College and the Yale Sustainable Food Project.
Embry now spends most of his time promoting sustainable living and locally grown food. But the Richmond native has been an activist since age 10, when his mother was president of the Covington chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality. He grew up attending civil rights events.
As state youth chairman of the NAACP, he helped organize the 1964 March on Frankfort, led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Embry went on to become president of the University of Kentucky’s Black Student Union. While he was in college, a summer job in New York City sparked his interest in health and food justice. In 1971, he helped found Lexington’s Good Foods Co-op.
After a four-year stint in Detroit as director of the Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, Embry returned to Lexington in 2005 and founded the Sustainable Commun ities Network (Sustainlex.org). He has helped develop more than 30 community gardens and taught school garden workshops for more than 300 teachers.
Embry’s other passions range from the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice to the Interfaith Alliance and Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden. Later this year, he plans to publish his autobiography, Black and Green, and a book of photographs, Through the Lens of a Sacred Earth Activist.
“I come from a long lineage of activists, so I don’t know any better,” he said.
Outlook for 2012
John D. Stempel, retired director of UK’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, doesn’t so much try to improve the world as understand it.
He spent 24 years as a U.S. Foreign Service officer, including a four-year stint in the U.S. embassy in Iran before the 1979 revolution.
Stempel gave his annual State of the World speech to the Lexington Rotary Club earlier this month, saying he expects this year to be even more turbulent than last year. Among his concerns:
■ The likelihood that European debt and American politics will hamper economic recovery.
■ The possibility of cyber attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure. “Our illusion of invincibility serves us poorly,” he said.
■ The potential for an Iranian nuclear crisis, increasing instability in Pakistan and tensions between India and Pakistan.
■ Iraq’s future. “The violent sectarianism the U.S. takeover and occupation provoked has already begun to transform Iraq from a nastily ruled balancer of Iran into a traumatized society under extensive Iranian influence. Not a good trade-off.”
Stempel said he worries about a “crisis of global governance that impedes common-sense solutions to common challenges like climate change, energy and food costs and availability, plus the imbalance between expanding human needs and the limited capacity of the world’s ecosystem to satisfy them.”
The U.S. presidential election is unlikely to help, he said.
“An administration that has delivered on only a precious few of the major promises it made to achieve election in 2008 seeks re-election against an opposition that seems more intent on repealing the 20th century than addressing the real and pressing challenges of the 21st,” Stempel said. “No one expects a serious discussion of the challenges now facing either the United States or the world.” | <urn:uuid:0f881323-c48b-408d-9537-7f050343bb0d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/tag/middle-east/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963791 | 959 | 1.609375 | 2 |
British novelist Hilary Mantel (57), who won this year’s Man Booker Prize for her novel Wolf Hall, took nearly five years to write the novel and is now working on a sequel.
She joked that while a previous Booker winner had said that winning the prize was like being in a “train crash” she felt as though she was “flying through the air”.
She said it took her 20 years to decide to write the book and praised her publishers for their patience.
“I hesitated for such a long before beginning to write this book, actually for about 20 years… When I began the book I knew I had to do something very difficult, I had to interest the historians, I had to amuse the jaded palate of the critical establishment and most of all I had to capture the imagination of the general reader,” she said.
Ms. Mantel, described by critics as one of Britain’s most “under-rated” writers, made her debut as a novelist with Every Day is Mother’s Day in 1985. She has won several prizes but was never nominated for Booker, regarded as the English-speaking world’s most prestigious literary award.
Chair of judges for the Booker Jim Naughtie, a BBC broadcaster, said: “Our decision was based on the sheer bigness of the book. The boldness of its narrative, its scene setting. The extraordinary way that Hilary Mantel has created what one of the judges has said was a contemporary novel, a modern novel, which happens to be set in the 16th Century. We thought it was an extraordinary piece of story-telling.”
Besides previous winners A.S. Byatt (The Children’s Book) and J.M. Coetzee (Summertime), other contenders included Adam Foulds (The Quickening Maze), Sarah Waters (The Little Stranger) and Simon Mawer (The Glass Room). | <urn:uuid:a964ce6d-17ca-47ee-a359-5a0fbb25ce02> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/flying-through-air-mantel/article30497.ece | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989531 | 406 | 1.757813 | 2 |
I am confused about how to decide whether to treat time as continuous or discrete in survival analysis. Specifically, I want to use survival analysis to identify child- and household-level variables that have the largest discrepancy in their impact on boys' versus girls' survival (up to age 5). I have a dataset of child ages (in months) along with an indicator for whether the child is alive, the age at death (in months), and other child- and household-level variables.
Since time is recorded in months and all children are under age 5, there are many tied survival times (often at half-year intervals: 0mos, 6mos, 12mos, etc). Based on what I have read about survival analysis, having many tied survival times makes me think I should be treating time as discrete. However, I have read several other studies where survival time is in, for example, person-years (and so surely there are tied survival times) and continuous-time methods like Cox proportional hazards are used.
What are the criteria I should use to decide whether to treat time as continuous or discrete? For my data and question, using some continuous-time model (Cox, Weibull, etc) makes intuitive sense to me, but the discrete nature of my data and the amount of tied survival times seem to suggest otherwise. | <urn:uuid:ddcd70b2-eae0-4d95-8ae7-c8ff899d748d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/5859/survival-analysis-continuous-vs-discrete-time | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954761 | 271 | 1.742188 | 2 |
The Guest Post Series on “My Favourite Things” has contributions by those sharing my interests in travel, books, photography, music, and on issues that I am passionate about. Though the guest posts are not always by fellow bloggers, the guest authors are always those who have interesting experiences to share.
Today’s guest post is by Srinayan, the infrequent blogger of The Random Walkaround. Srinayan, however, prefers to be known as a lethargic blogger who is long on intent, but somehow falls short on delivery. An engineer by profession, he writes on many topics, but always with sensitive insight and understated humour. Today’s guest post is on something that readers attending classical music performances would be familiar with.
Performing artistes of today — especially classical dancers and musicians — often speak about the necessity to connect with their audiences. The ability to do so decides the difference between recognition (and a healthy bank balance) and obscurity. Audience tastes and receptiveness is no longer taken for granted.
A generation-and more-ago this approach would have been dismissed as pandering to the audience. Concert-goers were generally knowledgeable and came to the performances fully aware of what to expect. A well-known artiste knew that he (or she) had to live up to expectations. A less well-known performer knew that this concert could be another step forward in his (or her) quest for wider recognition. Fulsome praise or damming criticism — the artiste had to be prepared for both.
There would the occasional misstep or the wrong note which made the performance more memorable. | <urn:uuid:48729727-d07c-4013-93c6-2858d2f397c8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thatandthisinmumbai.wordpress.com/tag/dance-appreciation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975757 | 336 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Those were the days when AIDS was not yet in the world. You couldn't die from getting laid. Those were different days. And cocaine! Doctors said it was not addictive . . . it was habituating. They didn't know at the time that the drug would eventually take a sharp turn after a certain day. Blow, once the life of the party, became the stuff of fear and loathing, the source of devious and secretive behavior, and the mother of all lies. "What, me? No, I don't have any!" "Sorry, ran out, bummer, man!" "Nope. Hey, I gotta go to the bathroom." And that's where the rock 'n' roll bathroom came from. That's when people started keeping stuff in two pockets — you had your courtesy bindle you'd share, your sock. And thus sin and doubt entered our happy world.
Fame derails people — not to mention the drugs. But drugs were nothing new to me. I'd had a lot of practice with drugs; I'd been getting high since I was sixteen. I was getting high all the time back then. It was part of my education. Ray and I would set our alarm for four o'clock, drop acid, go back to sleep, and then wake up at five thirty or six just slammin'. It really started before that with speed, so much so that I wrote a poem . . .
Set your alarm, it'll do you no harm to get off while you're asleep
You'll get off so fast, with the next hit you blast
You'll do in a day what you could in a week
With speed your brain knew you took it and you were up. But acid, you could take it and go back to sleep. We'd get up and go to high school tripping our brains out. I used to smoke pot and listen to the Beatles, trying to decipher their lyrics. With grass you could read between the lines . . . with acid there was nothing but between the lines — both essential talents of the times. "Norwegian Wood," now what could that possibly mean? Today, it would be as obvious as the balls on a tall dog. Smoking pot was so much better than drinking — which I also did, of course. God, a couple of drinks and you go to that same old place, but smokin' the good stuff and you're up in your fucking way-out-o-sphere.
The great red hash was hard to come by, as were Thai sticks and Nepalese temple balls . . . real round ones. It had such a sticky, resiny, sweet, tangy taste. It's a real dream-inducing high. People would tell you it was laced with opium, but why would anyone lace a common drug like hash with something as expensive and rare as opium? Another urban legend gone wild. Not too different from the one where the girl supposedly fucked herself to death on the gearshift knob. That one we wanted to believe.
From the book DOES THE NOISE IN MY HEAD BOTHER YOU? by Steven Tyler. Copyright © 2011 by Steven Tyler. Published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here
POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix
Picks From Around the Web
blog comments powered by Disqus | <urn:uuid:a8fd7450-8017-40e2-aeb4-35d26c6b0b77> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steven-tyler-on-cocaine-acid-weed-alcohol-and-other-diversions-20110516 | 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 | 0.986014 | 704 | 1.65625 | 2 |
By Serge Thorn, Architecting the Enterprise
This is the first post in a three-part series by Serge Thorn.
When introducing Enterprise Architecture as a program or initiative, it is regularly done from an IT perspective rarely considering what the costs will be and if there will be any return on investment. This presents a particular challenge to Enterprise Architecture.
Generally speaking, IT departments have all sorts of criteria to justify projects and measure their performance. They use measurements, metrics and KPIs. Going to the solution level, they commonly use indicators such as percentage uptime for systems from the system management team, error rates for applications from the development support team or number of calls resolved on the first call from the service desk, etc. These KPIs usually are defined at an early stage and very often delivered in dashboards from various support applications.
On the other hand, it is much more difficult to define and implement a quantifiable measure for Enterprise Architecture. Many activities introduced with appropriate governance will enhance the quality of the delivered products and services, but it still will be a challenge to attribute results to the quality of Enterprise Architecture efforts.
This being said, Enterprise Architects should be able to define and justify the benefits of their activities to their stakeholders, and to help executives understand how Enterprise Architecture will contribute to the primary value-adding objectives and processes, before starting the voyage. The more it is described and understood, the more the Enterprise Architecture team will gain support from the management. There are plenty of contributions that Enterprise Architecture brings and they will have to be documented and presented at an early stage.
There won’t be just one single answer to demonstrate the value of an Enterprise Architecture but there seems to be a common pattern when considering feedback from various companies I have worked with.
Without Enterprise Architecture you can probably NOT fully achieve:
IT alignment with the business goals
As an example among others, the problem with most IT plans is that they do not indicate what the business value is and what strategic or tactical business benefit the organization is planning to achieve. The simple matter is that any IT plan needs also to have a business metric, not only an IT metric of delivery. Another aspect is the ability to create and share a common vision of the future shared by the business and IT communities.
With the rapid pace of change in business environment, the need to transform organizations into agile enterprises that can respond quickly to change has never been greater. Methodologies and computer technologies are needed to enable rapid business and system change. The solution also lies in enterprise integration (both business and technology integration).
For business integration, we use Enterprise Architecture methodologies and frameworks to integrate functions, processes, data, locations, people, events and business plans throughout an organization. Specifically, the unification and integration of business processes and data across the enterprise and potential linkage with external partners become more and more important.
To also have technology integration, we may use enterprise portals, enterprise application integration (EAI/ESB), web services, service-oriented architecture (SOA), business process management (BPM) and try to lower the number of interfaces.
In recent years the scope of Enterprise Architecture has expanded beyond the IT domain and enterprise architects are increasingly taking on broader roles relating to organizational strategy and change management. Frameworks such as TOGAF® 9.1 include processes and tools for managing both the business/people and the technology sides of an organization. Enterprise Architecture supports the creation of changes related to the various architecture domains, evaluating the impact on the enterprise, taking into account risk management, financial aspects (cost/benefit analysis), and most importantly ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives. Enterprise Architecture value is essentially tied to its ability to help companies to deal with complexity and changes.
Reduced time to market and increased IT responsiveness
Enterprise Architecture should reduce systems development, applications generation and modernization timeframes for legacy systems. It should also decrease resource requirements. All of this can be accomplished by re-using standards or existing components, such as the architecture and solution building blocks in TOGAF 9.1. Delivery time and design/development costs can also be decreased by the reuse of reference models. All that information should be managed in an Enterprise Architecture repository.
Better access to information across applications and improved interoperability
Data and information architectures manage the organization assets of information, optimally and efficiently. This supports the quality, accuracy and timely availability of data for executive and strategic business decision-making, across applications.
Readily available descriptive representations and documentation of the enterprise
Architecture is also a set of descriptive representations (i.e. “models”) that are relevant for describing an enterprise such that it can be produced to management’s requirements and maintained over the period of its useful life. Using an architecture repository, developing a variety of artifacts and modelling some of the key elements of the enterprise, will contribute to build this documentation.
The second part of the series will include more examples of what an enterprise cannot achieve without Enterprise Architecture.
Serge Thorn is CIO of Architecting the Enterprise. He has worked in the IT Industry for over 25 years, in a variety of roles, which include; Development and Systems Design, Project Management, Business Analysis, IT Operations, IT Management, IT Strategy, Research and Innovation, IT Governance, Architecture and Service Management (ITIL). He is the Chairman of the itSMF (IT Service Management forum) Swiss chapter and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. | <urn:uuid:87652d23-d5ac-4fd7-8952-9f856a7d74c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.opengroup.org/2012/03/13/part-1-of-3-building-an-enterprise-architecture-value-proposition-using-togaf-9-1-and-archimate-2-0/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=4e28c04ab9 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934081 | 1,107 | 1.5 | 2 |
To promote the equal opportunity, dignity, and self-sufficiency of refugee and immigrant individuals and families in Vermont, regardless of race, ethnic group, religious or political affiliation, or sexual orientation.
AALV serves refugees and immigrants from 35 different countries and all ages. New Americans in Vermont live primarily in the greater Burlington area, as well as in Washington and Windham Counties. We are concerned with affordable housing, maintaining our health, jobs with livable wages, and the well being of our children. We are proud to be united New Americans living in Vermont.
The AALV was founded more than 7 years ago as a way for the small African community at that time to get together and discuss the challenges of being in America. Over time, the AALV has steadily grown into a small social service agency with full-time staff. In 2009, AALV made a decision to serve all refugees in Vermont. Bhutanese, Burmese, Iraqis, Karen, Meskhetian Turks and others can now access AALV services just like our African clientele. AALV is proud to be able to extend its experience in mutual assistance to newly arrived refugee groups.
1. Enhance the economic mobility of refugees and immigrants in Vermont: encourage improved English language skills; deliver vocational training; secure high quality jobs; and support refugee-owned business.
2. Improve the health outcomes of Vermont’s refugee and immigrant population: support preventative education and screening; promote healthy behavior; improve access to and utilization of healthcare services.
3. Foster civic education and leadership: provide leadership development; needs and asset-based assessment; and promote uptake of decision-making positions. | <urn:uuid:a6f547c8-83a1-42dc-b08d-66dbc1db0cce> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.africansinvermont.org/about-us/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945692 | 344 | 1.65625 | 2 |
NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. - 301 U.S. 1 (1937)
U.S. Supreme Court
NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., 301 U.S. 1 (1937)
National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp.
Argued February 10, 11, 1937
Decided April 12, 1937
301 U.S. 1
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
1. The distinction between what is national and what is local in the activities of commerce is vital to the maintenance of our federal form of government. P. 301 U. S. 29.
2. The validity of provisions which, considered by themselves, are constitutional, held not affected by general and ambiguous declarations in the same statute. P. 301 U. S. 30.
3. An interpretation which conforms a statute to the Constitution must be preferred to another which would render it unconstitutional or of doubtful validity. P. 301 U. S. 30.
4. Acts which directly burden or obstruct interstate or foreign commerce, or its free flow, are within the reach of the congressional
power, and this includes acts, having that effect, which grow out of labor disputes. P. 301 U. S. 31.
5. Employees in industry have a fundamental right to organize and select representatives of their own choosing for collective bar gaining, and discrimination or coercion upon the part of their employer to prevent the free exercise of this right is a proper subject for condemnation by competent legislative authority. P. 301 U. S. 33.
6. The congressional authority to protect interstate commerce from burdens and obstructions is not limited to transactions which can be deemed to be an essential part of a "flow" of such commerce. Pp. 301 U. S. 34-36.
7. Although activities may be intrastate in character when separately considered, if they have such a close and substantial relation to interstate commerce that their control is essential, or appropriate, to protect that commerce from burdens and obstructions, Congress has the power to exercise that control. P. 301 U. S. 37.
8. This power must be considered in the light of our dual system of government, and may not be extended so as to embrace effects upon interstate commerce so indirect and remote that to embrace them would, in view of our complex society, effectually obliterate the distinction between what is national and what is local and create a completely centralized government. The question is necessarily one of degree. P. 301 U. S. 37.
9. Whatever amounts to more or less constant practice, and threatens to obstruct or unduly to burden the freedom of interstate commerce, is within the regulatory power of Congress under the commerce clause, and it is primarily for Congress to consider and decide the fact of the danger and meet it. P. 301 U. S. 37.
10. The close and intimate effect which brings the subject within the reach of federal power may be due to activities in relation to productive industry, although the industry when separately viewed is local. P. 301 U. S. 38.
11. The relation to interstate commerce of the manufacturing enterprise involved in this case was such that a stoppage of its operations by industrial strife would have an immediate, direct and paralyzing effect upon interstate commerce. Therefore, Congress had constitutional authority, for the protection of interstate commerce, to safeguard the right of the employees in the manufacturing plant to self-organization and free choice of their representatives for collective bargaining. P. 301 U. S. 41.
Judicial notice is taken of the facts that the recognition of the right of employees to self-organization and to have representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining is often an essential condition of industrial peace, and that refusal to confer and negotiate has been one of the most prolific causes of strife.
12. The National Labor Relations Act of July 5, 1935, empowers the National Labor Relations Board to prevent any person from engaging in unfair labor practices "affecting commerce"; its definition of "commerce" (aside from commerce within a territory or the District of Columbia) is such as to include only interstate and foreign commerce, and the term "affecting commerce" it defines as meaning
"in commerce, or burdening or obstructing commerce or the free flow of commerce, or having led or tending to lead to a labor dispute burdening or obstructing commerce or the free flow of commerce."
The "unfair labor practices," as defined by the Act and involved in this case, are restraint or coercion of employees in their rights to self-organization and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and discrimination against them in regard to hire or tenure of employment for the purpose of encouraging or discouraging membership in any labor organization. §§ 7 and 8. The Act (§ 9a) declares that representatives, for the purpose of collective bargaining, of the majority of the employees in an appropriate unit shall be the exclusive representatives of all the employees in that unit; but that any individual employee or a group of employees shall have the right at any time to present grievances to their employer. Held:
(1) That in safeguarding rights of employees and empowering the Board, the statute, insofar as involved in the present case, confines itself to such control of the industrial relationship as may be constitutionally exercised by Congress to prevent burden or obstruction to interstate or foreign commerce arising from industrial disputes. P. 301 U. S. 43.
(2) The Act imposes upon the employer the duty of conferring and negotiating with the authorized representatives of the employees for the purpose of settling a labor dispute, but it does not preclude such individual contracts as the employer may elect to make directly with individual employees. P. 301 U. S. 44.
(3) The Act does not compel agreements between employers and employees. Its theory is that free opportunity for negotiation
with accredited representatives of employees is likely to promote industrial peace, and may bring about the adjustments and agreements which the Act, in itself, does not attempt to compel. P. 301 U. S. 45.
(4) The Act does not interfere with the normal right of the employer to hire, or with the right of discharge when exercised for other reasons than intimidation and coercion, and what is the true reason in this regard is left the subject of investigation in each case, with full opportunity to show the facts. P. 301 U. S. 45.
13. A corporation which manufactured iron and steel products in its factories in Pennsylvania from raw materials, most of which it brought in from other States, and which shipped 75% of the manufactured products out of Pennsylvania and disposed of them throughout this country and in Canada, was required by orders of the National Labor Relations Board to tender reinstatement to men who had been employed in one of the factories but were discharged because of their union activities and for the purpose of discouraging union membership. The orders further required that the company make good the pay the men had lost through their discharge, and that it desist from discriminating against members of the union, with regard to hire and tenure of employment, and from interfering by coercion with the self-organization of its employees in the plant. Held that the orders were authorized by the National Labor Relations Act, and that the Act is constitutional as thus applied to the company. Pp. 301 U. S. 30, 301 U. S. 32, 301 U. S. 34, 301 U. S. 41.
14. The right of employers to conduct their own business is not arbitrarily restrained by regulations that merely protect the correlative rights of their employees to organize for the purpose of securing the redress of grievances and of promoting agreements with employers relating to rates of pay and conditions of work. P. 301 U. S. 43.
15. The fact that the National Labor Relations Act subjects the employer to supervision and restraint and leaves untouched the abuses for which employees may be responsible, and fails to provide a more comprehensive plan, with better assurance of fairness to both sides and with increased chances of success in bringing about equitable solutions of industrial disputes affecting interstate commerce, does not affect its validity. The question is as to the power of Congress, not as to its policy, and legislative authority, exerted within its proper field, need not embrace all the evils within its reach. P. 301 U. S. 46.
16. The National Labor Relations Act establishes standards to which the Board must conform. There must be complaint, notice and hearing. The Board must receive evidence and make findings. These findings as to the facts are to be conclusive, but only if supported by evidence. The order of the Board is subject to review by the designated court, and only when sustained by the court may the order be enforced. Upon that review, all questions of the jurisdiction of the Board and the regularity of its proceedings, all questions of constitutional right or statutory authority, are open to examination by the court. These procedural provisions afford adequate opportunity to secure judicial protection against arbitrary action, in accordance with the well settled rules applicable to administrative agencies set up by Congress to aid in the enforcement of valid legislation. P. 301 U. S. 47.
17. The provision of the National Labor Relations Act, § 10(c), authorizing the Board to require the reinstatement of employees found to have been discharged because of their union activity or for the purpose of discouraging membership in the union, is valid. P. 301 U. S. 47.
18. The provision of the Act, § 10(c), that the Board, in requiring reinstatement, may direct the payment of wages for the time lost by the discharge, less amounts earned by the employee during that period, does not contravene the provisions of the Seventh Amendment with respect to jury trial in suits at common law. P. 301 U. S. 48.
83 F.2d 998, reversed.
CERTIORARI, 299 U.S. 534, to review a decree of the Circuit Court of Appeals declining to enforce an order of the National Labor Relations Board.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES delivered the opinion of the Court.
In a proceeding under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, [Footnote 1] the National Labor Relations Board found that the respondent, Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, had violated the Act by engaging in unfair labor practices affecting commerce. The proceeding was instituted by the Beaver Valley Lodge No. 200, affiliated with the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers of America, a labor organization. The unfair labor practices charged were that the corporation was discriminating against members of the union with regard to hire and tenure of employment, and was coercing and intimidating its employees in order to interfere with their self-organization. The discriminatory and coercive action alleged was the discharge of certain employees.
The National Labor Relations Board, sustaining the charge, ordered the corporation to cease and desist from such discrimination and coercion, to offer reinstatement to ten of the employees named, to make good their losses in pay, and to post for thirty days notices that the corporation would not discharge or discriminate against members, or those desiring to become members, of the labor union. As the corporation failed to comply, the Board petitioned the Circuit Court of Appeals to enforce the order. The court denied the petition, holding that the order lay beyond the range of federal power. 83 F.2d 998. We granted certiorari.
The scheme of the National Labor Relations Act -- which is too long to be quoted in full -- may be briefly stated. The first section sets forth findings with respect to the injury to commerce resulting from the denial by employers of the right of employees to organize and from the refusal of employers to accept the procedure of collective
bargaining. There follows a declaration that it is the policy of the United States to eliminate these causes of obstruction to the free flow of commerce. [Footnote 2] The Act
then defines the terms it uses, including the terms "commerce" and "affecting commerce." § 2. It creates the National Labor Relations Board, and prescribes its organization. §§ 6. It sets forth the right of employees to self-organization and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing. § 7. It defines "unfair labor practices." § 8. It lays down rules as to the representation of employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. § 9. The Board is empowered to prevent the described unfair labor practices affecting commerce and the Act prescribes the procedure to that end. The Board is authorized to petition designated courts to secure the enforcement of its orders. The findings of the Board as to the facts, if supported by evidence, are to be conclusive. If either party, on application to the court, shows that additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the hearings before the Board, the court may order the additional evidence to be taken. Any person aggrieved by a final order of the Board may obtain a review in the designated courts with the same procedure as in the case of an application by the Board for the enforcement of its order. § 10. The Board has broad powers of investigation. § 11. Interference with members of the Board or its agents in the performance of their duties is punishable by fine and imprisonment. § 12. Nothing in the Act is to be construed, to interfere with the right to strike. § 13. There is a separability clause to the effect that, if any provision of the Act or its application to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, the remainder of the Act or its application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected. § 15. The particular provisions which are involved in the instant case will be considered more in detail in the course of the discussion. The procedure in the instant case followed the statute. The labor union filed with the Board its verified charge.
The Board thereupon issued its complaint against the respondent alleging that its action in discharging the employees in question constituted unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the meaning of § 8, subdivisions (1) and (3), and § 2, subdivisions (6) and (7) of the Act. Respondent, appearing specially for the purpose of objecting to the jurisdiction of the Board, filed its answer. Respondent admitted the discharges, but alleged that they were made because of inefficiency or violation of rule or for other good reasons, and were not ascribable to union membership or activities. As an affirmative defense, respondent challenged the constitutional validity of the statute and its applicability in the instant case. Notice of hearing was given, and respondent appeared by counsel. The Board first took up the issue of jurisdiction, and evidence was presented by both the Board and the respondent. Respondent then moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction, and, on denial of that motion, respondent, in accordance with its special appearance, withdrew from further participation in the hearing. The Board received evidence upon the merits, and, at its close, made its findings and order.
Contesting the ruling of the Board, the respondent argues (1) that the Act is in reality a regulation of labor relations, and not of interstate commerce; (2) that the Act can have no application to the respondent's relations with its production employees, because they are not subject to regulation by the federal government, and (3) that the provisions of the Act violate § 2 of Article III and the Fifth and Seventh Amendments of the Constitution of the United States.
The facts as to the nature and scope of the business of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation have been found by the Labor Board, and, so far as they are essential to the determination of this controversy, they are not in dispute. The Labor Board has found: the corporation is
organized under the laws of Pennsylvania and has its principal office at Pittsburgh. It is engaged in the business of manufacturing iron and steel in plants situated in Pittsburgh and nearby Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. It manufactures and distributes a widely diversified line of steel and pig iron, being the fourth largest producer of steel in the United States. With its subsidiaries -- nineteen in number -- it is a completely integrated enterprise, owning and operating ore, coal and limestone properties, lake and river transportation facilities, and terminal railroads located at its manufacturing plants. It owns or controls mines in Michigan and Minnesota. It operates four ore steamships on the Great Lakes, used in the transportation of ore to its factories. It owns coal mines in Pennsylvania. It operates towboats and steam barges used in carrying coal to its factories. It owns limestone properties in various places in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It owns the Monongahela connecting railroad which connects the plants of the Pittsburgh works and forms an interconnection with the Pennsylvania, New York Central, and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad systems. It owns the Aliquippa and Southern Railroad Company, which connects the Aliquippa works with the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie, part of the New York Central system. Much of its product is shipped to its warehouses in Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati and Memphis -- to the last two places by means of its own barges and transportation equipment. In Long Island City, New York, and in New Orleans, it operates structural steel fabricating shops in connection with the warehousing of semi-finished materials sent from its works. Through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, it owns, leases and operates stores, warehouses and yards for the distribution of equipment and supplies for drilling and operating oil and gas wells and for pipelines, refineries, and pumping stations. It has sales offices in
twenty cities in the United States and a wholly owned subsidiary which is devoted exclusively to distributing its product in Canada. Approximately 75 percent. of its product is shipped out of Pennsylvania.
Summarizing these operations, the Labor Board concluded that the works in Pittsburgh and Aliquippa
"might be likened to the heart of a self-contained, highly integrated body. They draw in the raw materials from Michigan, Minnesota, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, in part through arteries and by means controlled by the respondent; they transform the materials and then pump them out to all parts of the nation through the vast mechanism which the respondent has elaborated."
To carry on the activities of the entire steel industry, 33,000 men mine ore, 44,000 men mine coal, 4,000 men quarry limestone, 16,000 men manufacture coke, 343,000 men manufacture steel, and 83,000 men transport its product. Respondent has about 10,000 employees in its Aliquippa plant, which is located in a community of about 30,000 persons.
Respondent points to evidence that the Aliquippa plant, in which the discharged men were employed, contains complete facilities for the production of finished and semi-finished iron and steel products from raw materials; that its works consist primarily of a byproduct coke plant for the production of coke; blast furnaces for the production of pig iron; open hearth furnaces and Bessemer converters for the production of steel; blooming mills for the reduction of steel ingots into smaller shapes, and a number of finishing mills such as structural mills, rod mills, wire mills, and the like. In addition, there are other buildings, structures and equipment, storage yards, docks and an intra-plant storage system. Respondent's operations at these works are carried on in two distinct stages, the first being the conversion of raw materials into pig
iron and the second being the manufacture of semi-finished and finished iron and steel products, and, in both cases, the operations result in substantially changing the character, utility and value of the materials wrought upon, which is apparent from the nature and extent of the processes to which they are subjected and which respondent fully describes. Respondent also directs attention to the fact that the iron ore which is procured from mines in Minnesota and Michigan and transported to respondent's plant is stored in stockpiles for future use, the amount of ore in storage varying with the season, but usually being enough to maintain operations from nine to ten months; that the coal which is procured from the mines of a subsidiary located in Pennsylvania and taken to the plant at Aliquippa is there, like ore, stored for future use, approximately two to three months' supply of coal being always on hand, and that the limestone which is obtained in Pennsylvania and West Virginia is also stored in amounts usually adequate to run the blast furnaces for a few weeks. Various details of operation, transportation, and distribution are also mentioned which, for the present purpose, it is not necessary to detail.
Practically all the factual evidence in the case, except that which dealt with the nature of respondent's business, concerned its relations with the employees in the Aliquippa plant whose discharge was the subject of the complaint. These employees were active leaders in the labor union. Several were officers, and others were leaders of particular groups. Two of the employees were motor inspectors; one was a tractor driver; three were crane operators; one was a washer in the coke plant, and three were laborers. Three other employees were mentioned in the complaint, but it was withdrawn as to one of them and no evidence was heard on the action taken with respect to the other two.
While respondent criticizes the evidence and the attitude of the Board, which is described as being hostile toward employers and particularly toward those who insisted upon their constitutional rights, respondent did not take advantage of its opportunity to present evidence to refute that which was offered to show discrimination and coercion. In this situation, the record presents no ground for setting aside the order of the Board so far as the facts pertaining to the circumstances and purpose of the discharge of the employees are concerned. Upon that point, it is sufficient to say that the evidence supports the findings of the Board that respondent discharged these men "because of their union activity and for the purpose of discouraging membership in the union." We turn to the questions of law which respondent urges in contesting the validity and application of the Act.
First. The scope of the Act. -- The Act is challenged in its entirety as an attempt to regulate all industry, thus invading the reserved powers of the States over their local concerns. It is asserted that the references in the Act to interstate and foreign commerce are colorable, at best; that the Act is not a true regulation of such commerce or of matters which directly affect it, but, on the contrary, has the fundamental object of placing under the compulsory supervision of the federal government all industrial labor relations within the nation. The argument seeks support in the broad words of the preamble (section one [Footnote 3]) and in the sweep of the provisions of the Act, and it is further insisted that its legislative history shows an essential universal purpose in the light of which its scope cannot be limited by either construction or by the application of the separability clause.
If this conception of terms, intent, and consequent inseparability were sound, the Act would necessarily fall
by reason of the limitation upon the federal power which inheres in the constitutional grant, as well as because of the explicit reservation of the Tenth Amendment. Schechter Corp. v. United States, 295 U. S. 495, 295 U. S. 549, 295 U. S. 550, 295 U. S. 554. The authority of the federal government may not be pushed to such an extreme as to destroy the distinction, which the commerce clause itself establishes, between commerce "among the several States" and the internal concerns of a State. That distinction between what is national and what is local in the activities of commerce is vital to the maintenance of our federal system. Id.
But we are not at liberty to deny effect to specific provisions, which Congress has constitutional power to enact, by superimposing upon them inferences from general legislative declarations of an ambiguous character, even if found in the same statute. The cardinal principle of statutory construction is to save, and not to destroy. We have repeatedly held that, as between two possible interpretations of a statute, by one of which it would be unconstitutional and by the other valid, our plain duty is to adopt that which will save the act. Even to avoid a serious doubt, the rule is the same. Federal Trade Comm'n v. American Tobacco Co., 264 U. S. 298 307; Panama R. Co. v. Johnson, 264 U. S. 375, 264 U. S. 390; Missouri Pacific R. Co. v. Boone, 270 U. S. 466, 270 U. S. 472; Blodgett v. Holden, 275 U. S. 142, 275 U. S. 148; Richmond Screw Anchor Co. v. United States, 275 U. S. 331, 275 U. S. 346.
We think it clear that the National Labor Relations Act may be construed so as to operate within the sphere of constitutional authority. The jurisdiction conferred upon the Board, and invoked in this instance, is found in § 10(a), which provides:
"SEC. 10(a). The Board is empowered, as hereinafter provided, to prevent any person from engaging in any unfair labor practice (listed in section 8) affecting commerce. "
The critical words of this provision, prescribing the limits of the Board's authority in dealing with he labor practices, are "affecting commerce." The Act specifically defines the "commerce" to which it refers (§ 2(6)):
"The term 'commerce' means trade, traffic, commerce, transportation, or communication among the several States, or between the District of Columbia or any Territory of the United States and any State or other Territory, or between any foreign country and any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, or within the District of Columbia or any Territory, or between points in the same State but through any other State or any Territory or the District of Columbia or any foreign country."
There can be no question that the commerce thus contemplated by the Act (aside from that within a Territory or the District of Columbia) is interstate and foreign commerce in the constitutional sense. The Act also defines the term "affecting commerce" (§ 2(7)):
"The term 'affecting commerce' means in commerce, or burdening or obstructing commerce or the free flow of commerce, or having led or tending to lead to a labor dispute burdening or obstructing commerce or the free flow of commerce."
This definition is one of exclusion as well as inclusion. The grant of authority to the Board does not purport to extend to the relationship between all industrial employees and employers. Its terms do not impose collective bargaining upon all industry regardless of effects upon interstate or foreign commerce. It purports to reach only what may be deemed to burden or obstruct that commerce, and, thus qualified, it must be construed as contemplating the exercise of control within constitutional bounds. It is a familiar principle that acts which directly burden or obstruct interstate or foreign commerce, or its free flow, are within the reach of the congressional power. Acts having that effect are not
rendered immune because they grow out of labor disputes. See Texas & N.O. R . Co. v. Railway Clerks, 281 U. S. 548, 281 U. S. 570; Schechter Corp. v. United States, supra, pp. 295 U. S. 544, 295 U. S. 545; Virginian Railway v. System Federation, No. 40, 300 U. S. 515. It is the effect upon commerce, not the source of the injury, which is the criterion. Second Employers' Liability Cases, 223 U. S. 1, 223 U. S. 51. Whether or not particular action does affect commerce in such a close and intimate fashion as to be subject to federal control, and hence to lie within the authority conferred upon the Board, is left by the statute to be determined as individual cases arise. We are thus to inquire whether, in the instant case, the constitutional boundary has been passed.
Second. The fair labor practices in question. -- The unfair labor practices found by the Board are those defined in § 8, subdivisions (1) and (3). These provide:
"Sec. 8. It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer --"
"(1) To interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7."
"(3) By discrimination in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment to encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization. . . . [Footnote 4] "
Section 8, subdivision (1), refers to § 7, which is as follows:
"Sec. 7. Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities, for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection."
Thus, in its present application, the statute goes no further than to safeguard the right of employees to self-organization and to select representatives of their own choosing for collective bargaining or other mutual protection without restraint or coercion by their employer.
That is a fundamental right. Employees have as clear a right to organize and select their representatives for lawful purposes as the respondent has to organize its business and select its own officers and agents. Discrimination and coercion to prevent the free exercise of the right of employees to self-organization and representation is a proper subject for condemnation by competent legislative authority. Long ago we stated the reason for labor organizations. We said that they were organized out of the necessities of the situation; that a single employee was helpless in dealing with an employer; that he was dependent ordinarily on his daily wage for the maintenance of himself and family; that, if the employer refused to pay him the wages that he thought fair, he was nevertheless unable to leave the employ and resist arbitrary and unfair treatment; that union was essential to give laborers opportunity to deal on an equality with their employer. American Steel Foundries v. Tri-City Central Trades Council, 257 U. S. 184, 257 U. S. 209. We reiterated these views when we had under consideration the Railway Labor Act of 1926. Fully recognizing the legality of collective action on the part of employees in
order to safeguard their proper interests, we said that Congress was not required to ignore this right, but could safeguard it. Congress could seek to make appropriate collective action of employees an instrument of peace, rather than of strife. We said that such collective action would be a mockery if representation were made futile by interference with freedom of choice. Hence, the prohibition by Congress of interference with the selection of representatives for the purpose of negotiation and conference between employers and employees, "instead of being an invasion of the constitutional right of either, was based on the recognition of the rights of both." Texas & N.O. R. Co. v. Railway Clerks, supra. We have reasserted the same principle in sustaining the application of the Railway Labor Act as amended in 1934. Virginian Railway Co. v. System Federation, No. 40, supra.
Third. The application of the Act to employees engaged in production. -- The principle involved. -- Respondent says that whatever may be said of employees engaged in interstate commerce, the industrial relations and activities in the manufacturing department of respondent's enterprise are not subject to federal regulation. The argument rests upon the proposition that manufacturing, in itself, is not commerce. Kidd v. Pearson, 128 U. S. 1, 128 U. S. 20, 21; United Mine Workers v. Coronado Coal Co., 259 U. S. 344, 259 U. S. 407, 259 U. S. 408; Oliver Iron Co. v. Lord, 262 U. S. 172, 262 U. S. 178; United Leather Workers v. Herkert & Meisel Trunk Co., 265 U. S. 457, 265 U. S. 465; Industrial Association v. United States, 268 U. S. 64, 268 U. S. 82; Coronado Coal Co. v. United Mine Workers, 268 U. S. 295, 268 U. S. 310; Schechter Corp. v. United States, supra, p. 295 U. S. 547; Carter v. Carter Coal Co., 298 U. S. 238, 298 U. S. 304, 298 U. S. 317, 298 U. S. 327.
The Government distinguishes these cases. The various parts of respondent's enterprise are described as interdependent and as thus involving "a great movement of
iron ore, coal and limestone along well defined paths to the steel mills, thence through them, and thence in the form of steel products into the consuming centers of the country -- a definite and well understood course of business." It is urged that these activities constitute a "stream" or "flow" of commerce, of which the Aliquippa manufacturing plant is the focal point, and that industrial strife at that point would cripple the entire movement. Reference is made to our decision sustaining the Packers and Stockyards Act. [Footnote 5] Stafford v. Wallace, 258 U. S. 495. The Court found that the stockyards were but a "throat" through which the current of Commerce flowed and the transactions which there occurred could not be separated from that movement. Hence, the sales at the stockyards were not regarded as merely local transactions, for, while they created "a local change of title," they did not "stop the flow," but merely changed the private interests in the subject of the current. Distinguishing the cases which upheld the power of the State to impose a nondiscriminatory tax upon property which the owner intended to transport to another State, but which was not in actual transit and was held within the State subject to the disposition of the owner, the Court remarked:
"The question, it should be observed, is not with respect to the extent of the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce, but whether a particular exercise of state power in view of its nature and operation must be deemed to be in conflict with this paramount authority."
Id., p. 258 U. S. 526. See Minnesota v. Blasius, 290 U. S. 1, 290 U. S. 8. Applying the doctrine of Stafford v. Wallace, supra, the Court sustained the Grain Futures Act of 1922 [Footnote 6] with respect to transactions on the Chicago Board of Trade, although these transactions were "not in and of themselves interstate commerce." Congress had found
that they had become "a constantly recurring burden and obstruction to that commerce." Chicago Board of Trade v. Olsen, 262 U. S. 1, 262 U. S. 32; compare Hill v. Wallace, 259 U. S. 44, 259 U. S. 69. See also Tagg Bros. & Moorhead v. United States, 280 U. S. 420.
Respondent contends that the instant case presents material distinctions. Respondent says that the Aliquippa plant is extensive in size and represents a large investment in buildings, machinery and equipment. The raw materials which are brought to the plant are delayed for long periods and, after being subjected to manufacturing processes, "are changed substantially as to character, utility and value." The finished products which emerge
"are to a large extent manufactured without reference to preexisting orders and contracts, and are entirely different from the raw materials which enter at the other end."
Hence, respondent argues that,
"If importation and exportation in interstate commerce do not singly transfer purely local activities into the field of congressional regulation, it should follow that their combination would not alter the local situation."
We do not find it necessary to determine whether these features of defendant's business dispose of the asserted analogy to the "stream of commerce" cases. The instances in which that metaphor has been used are but particular, and not exclusive, illustrations of the protective power which the Government invokes in support of the present Act. The congressional authority to protect interstate commerce from burdens and obstructions is not limited to transactions which can be deemed to be an essential part of a "flow" of interstate or foreign commerce. Burdens and obstructions may be due to injurious action springing from other sources. The fundamental principle is that the power to regulate commerce is
the power to enact "all appropriate legislation" for "its protection and advancement" (The Daniel Ball, 10 Wall. 557, 77 U. S. 564); to adopt measures "to promote its growth and insure its safety" (Mobile County v. Kimball, 102 U. S. 691, 102 U. S. 696, 102 U. S. 697); "to foster, protect, control and restrain." Second Employers' Liability Cases, supra, p. 223 U. S. 47. See Texas & N.O. R. Co. v. Railway Clerks, supra. That power is plenary, and may be exerted to protect interstate commerce "no matter what the source of the dangers which threaten it." Second Employers' Liability Cases, p. 223 U. S. 51; Schechter Corp. v. United States, supra. Although activities may be intrastate in character when separately considered, if they have such a close and substantial relation to interstate commerce that their control is essential or appropriate to protect that commerce from burdens and obstructions, Congress cannot be denied the power to exercise that control. Schechter Corp. v. United States, supra. Undoubtedly the scope of this power must be considered in the light of our dual system of government, and may not be extended so as to embrace effects upon interstate commerce so indirect and remote that to embrace them, in view of our complex society, would effectually obliterate the distinction between what is national and what is local and create a completely centralized government. Id. The question is necessarily one of degree. As the Court said in Chicago Board of Trade v. Olsen, supra, p. 262 U. S. 37, repeating what had been said in Stafford v. Wallace, supra:
"Whatever amounts to more or less constant practice, and threatens to obstruct or unduly to burden the freedom of interstate commerce is within the regulatory power of Congress under the commerce clause and it is primarily for Congress to consider and decide the fact of the danger and meet it."
That intrastate activities, by reason of close and intimate relation to interstate commerce, may fall within federal control is demonstrated in the case of carriers who
are engaged in both interstate and intrastate transportation. There federal control has been found essential to secure the freedom of interstate traffic from interference or unjust discrimination and to promote the efficiency of the interstate service. Shreveport Case, 234 U. S. 342, 234 U. S. 351, 234 U. S. 352; Wisconsin Railroad Comm'n v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co., 257 U. S. 563, 257 U. S. 588. It is manifest that intrastate rates deal primarily with a local activity. But, in ratemaking, they bear such a close relation to interstate rates that effective control of the one must embrace some control over the other. Id. Under the Transportation Act, 1920, [Footnote 7] Congress went so far as to authorize the Interstate Commerce Commission to establish a statewide level of intrastate rates in order to prevent an unjust discrimination against interstate commerce. Wisconsin Railroad Comm'n v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co., supra; Florida v. United States, 282 U. S. 194, 282 U. S. 210, 282 U. S. 211. Other illustrations are found in the broad requirements of the Safety Appliance Act and the Hours of Service Act. Southern Railway Co. v. United States, 222 U. S. 20; Baltimore & Ohio R. Co. v. Interstate Commerce Comm'n, 221 U. S. 612. It is said that this exercise of federal power has relation to the maintenance of adequate instrumentalities of interstate commerce. But the agency is not superior to the commerce which uses it. The protective power extends to the former because it exists as to the latter.
The close and intimate effect which brings the subject within the reach of federal power may be due to activities in relation to productive industry although the industry, when separately viewed, is local. This has been abundantly illustrated in the application of the federal Anti-Trust Act. In the Standard Oil and American Tobacco cases, 221 U. S. 221 U.S. 1, 221 U. S. 106, that statute was applied to combinations of employers engaged in productive industry.
Counsel for the offending corporations strongly urged that the Sherman Act had no application because the acts complained of were not acts of interstate or foreign commerce, nor direct and immediate in their effect on interstate or foreign commerce, but primarily affected manufacturing and not commerce. 221 U.S. pp. 5, 125 [argument of counsel omitted in electronic version]. Counsel relied upon the decision in United States v. Knight Co., 156 U. S. 1. The Court stated their contention as follows:
"That the act, even if the averments of the bill be true, cannot be constitutionally applied, because to do so would extend the power of Congress to subjects dehors the reach of its authority to regulate commerce, by enabling that body to deal with mere questions of production of commodities within the States."
And the Court summarily dismissed the contention in these words:
"But all the structure upon which this argument proceeds is based upon the decision in United States v. E. C. Knight Co., 156 U. S. 1. The view, however, which the argument takes of that case and the arguments based upon that view have been so repeatedly pressed upon this court in connection with the interpretation and enforcement of the Anti-trust Act, and have been so necessarily and expressly decided to be unsound as to cause the contentions to be plainly foreclosed and to require no express notice"
Upon the same principle, the Anti-Trust Act has been applied to the conduct of employees engaged in production. Loewe v.Lawlor, 208 U. S. 274; Coronado Coal Co. v. United Mine Workers, supra; Bedford Cut Stone Co. v. Stone Cutters' Assn., 274 U. S. 37. See also Local 16 v. United States, 291 U. S. 293, 291 U. S. 397; Schechter Corp. v. United States, supra. The decisions dealing with the question of that application illustrate both the principle and its limitation. Thus, in the first Coronado case, the Court held that mining was not interstate commerce, that the power of Congress did not extend to its regulation as such,
and that it had not been shown that the activities there involved -- a local strike -- brought them within the provisions of the Anti-Trust Act, notwithstanding the broad terms of that statute. A similar conclusion was reached in United Leather Workers v. Herkert & Meisel Trunk Co., supra, Industrial Association v. United States, supra, and Levering & Garrigues Co. v. Morrin, 289 U. S. 103, 289 U. S. 107. But, in the first Coronado case, the Court also said that
"if Congress deems certain recurring practices, though not really part of interstate commerce, likely to obstruct, restrain or burden it, it has the power to subject them to national supervision and restraint."
259 U.S. p. 259 U. S. 408. And, in the second Coronado case, the Court ruled that, while the mere reduction in the supply of an article to be shipped in interstate commerce by the illegal or tortious prevention of its manufacture or production is ordinarily an indirect and remote obstruction to that commerce, nevertheless when the
"intent of those unlawfully preventing the manufacture or production is shown to be to restrain or control the supply entering and moving in interstate commerce, or the price of it in interstate markets, their action is a direct violation of the Anti-Trust Act."
268 U.S. p. 268 U. S. 310. And the existence of that intent may be a necessary inference from proof of the direct and substantial effect produced by the employees' conduct. Industrial Association v. United States, 268 U.S. p. 268 U. S. 81. What was absent from the evidence in the first Coronado case appeared in the second, and the Act was accordingly applied to the mining employees.
It is thus apparent that the fact that the employees here concerned were engaged in production is not determinative. The question remains as to the effect upon interstate commerce of the labor practice involved. In the Schechter case, supra, we found that the effect there was so remote as to be beyond the federal power. To find "immediacy or directness" there was to find it "almost
everywhere," a result inconsistent with the maintenance of our federal system. In the Carter case, supra, the Court was of the opinion that the provisions of the statute relating to production were invalid upon several grounds -- that there was improper delegation of legislative power, and that the requirements not only went beyond any sustainable measure of protection of interstate commerce, but were also inconsistent with due process. These cases are not controlling here.
Fourth. Effects of the unfair labor practice in respondent's enterprise. -- Giving full weight to respondent's contention with respect to a break in the complete continuity of the "stream of commerce" by reason of respondent's manufacturing operations, the fact remains that the stoppage of those operations by industrial strife would have a most serious effect upon interstate commerce. In view of respondent's far-flung activities, it is idle to say that the effect would be indirect or remote. It is obvious that it would be immediate, and might be catastrophic. We are asked to shut our eyes to the plainest facts of our national life, and to deal with the question of direct and indirect effects in an intellectual vacuum. Because there may be but indirect and remote effects upon interstate commerce in connection with a host of local enterprises throughout the country, it does not follow that other industrial activities do not have such a close and intimate relation to interstate commerce as to make the presence of industrial strife a matter of the most urgent national concern. When industries organize themselves on a national scale, making their relation to interstate commerce the dominant factor in their activities, how can it be maintained that their industrial labor relations constitute a forbidden field into which Congress may not enter when it is necessary to protect interstate commerce from the paralyzing consequences of industrial war? We have often said that interstate commerce itself is a practical
conception. It is equally true that interferences with that commerce must be appraised by a judgment that does not ignore actual experience.
Experience has abundantly demonstrated that the recognition of the right of employees to self-organization and to have representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining is often an essential condition of industrial peace. Refusal to confer and negotiate has been one of the most prolific causes of strife. This is such an outstanding fact in the history of labor disturbances that it is a proper subject of judicial notice, and requires no citation of instances. The opinion in the case of Virginian Railway Co. v. System Federation, No. 40, supra, points out that, in the case of carriers, experience has shown that, before the amendment of 1934 of the Railway Labor Act,
"when there was no dispute as to the organizations authorized to represent the employees and when there was a willingness of the employer to meet such representative for a discussion of their grievances, amicable adjustment of differences had generally followed, and strikes had been avoided."
That, on the other hand,
"a prolific source of dispute had been the maintenance by the railroad of company unions and the denial by railway management of the authority of representatives chosen by their employees."
The opinion in that case also points to the large measure of success of the labor policy embodied in the Railway Labor Act. But, with respect to the appropriateness of the recognition of self-organization and representation in the promotion of peace, the question is not essentially different in the case of employees in industries of such a character that interstate commerce is put in jeopardy from the case of employees of transportation companies. And of what avail is it to protect the facility of transportation if interstate commerce is throttled with respect to the commodities to be transported!
These questions have frequently engaged the attention of Congress, and have been the subject of many inquiries. [Footnote 8] The steel industry is one of the great basic industries of the United States, with ramifying activities affecting interstate commerce at every point. The Government aptly refers to the steel strike of 1919-1920, with its far-reaching consequences. [Footnote 9] The fact that there appears to have been no major disturbance in that industry in the more recent period did not dispose of the possibilities of future and like dangers to interstate commerce which Congress was entitled to foresee and to exercise its protective power to forestall. It is not necessary again to detail the facts as to respondent's enterprise. Instead of being beyond the pale, we think that it presents in a most striking way the close and intimate relation which a manufacturing industry may have to interstate commerce, and we have no doubt that Congress had constitutional authority to safeguard the right of respondent's employees to self-organization and freedom in the choice of representatives for collective bargaining.
Fifth. The means which the Act employs. -- Questions under the due process clause and other constitutional restrictions. -- Respondent asserts its right to conduct its business in an orderly manner without being subjected to arbitrary restraints. What we have said points to the fallacy in the argument. Employees have their correlative
right to organize for the purpose of securing the redress of grievances and to promote agreements with employers relating to rates of pay and conditions of work. Texas & N.O. R. Co. v. Railway Clerks, supra; Virginian Railway Co. v. System Federation, No. 40. Restraint for the purpose of preventing an unjust interference with that right cannot be considered arbitrary or capricious. The provision of § 9(a) [Footnote 10] that representatives, for the purpose of collective bargaining, of the majority of the employees in an appropriate unit shall be the exclusive representatives of all the employees in that unit imposes upon the respondent only the duty of conferring and negotiating with the authorized representatives of its employees for the purpose of settling a labor dispute. This provision has its analogue in § 2, Ninth, of the Railway Labor Act, which was under consideration in Virginian Railway Co. v. System Federation, No. 40, supra. The decree which we affirmed in that case required the Railway Company to treat with the representative chosen by the employees and also to refrain from entering into collective labor agreements with anyone other than their true representative as ascertained in accordance with the provisions of the Act. We said that the obligation to treat with the true representative was exclusive, and hence imposed the negative duty to treat with no other. We also pointed out that, as conceded by the Government, [Footnote 11] the injunction
against the Company's entering into any contract concerning rules, rates of pay and working conditions except with a chosen representative was "designed only to prevent collective bargaining with anyone purporting to represent employees" other than the representative they had selected. It was taken "to prohibit the negotiation of labor contracts generally applicable to employees" in the described unit with any other representative than the one so chosen, "but not as precluding such individual contracts" as the Company might "elect to make directly with individual employees." We think this construction also applies to § 9(a) of the National Labor Relations Act.
The Act does not compel agreements between employers and employees. It does not compel any agreement whatever. It does not prevent the employer "from refusing to make a collective contract and hiring individuals on whatever terms" the employer "may by unilateral action determine." [Footnote 12] The Act expressly provides in § 9(a) that any individual employee or a group of employees shall have the right at any time to present grievances to their employer. The theory of the Act is that free opportunity for negotiation with accredited representatives of employees is likely to promote industrial peace, and may bring about the adjustments and agreements which the Act, in itself, does not attempt to compel. As we said in Texas & N.O. R. Co. v. Railway Clerks, supra, and repeated in Virginian Railway Co. v. System Federation, No. 40, supra, the cases of Adair v. United States, 208 U. S. 161, and Coppage v. Kansas, 236 U. S. 1, are inapplicable to legislation of this character. The Act does not interfere with the normal exercise of the right of the employer to select its employees or to discharge them. The employer may not, under cover of that right, intimidate or coerce its employees with respect to their
self-organization and representation, and, on the other hand, the Board is not entitled to make its authority a pretext for interference with the right of discharge when that right is exercised for other reasons than such intimidation and coercion. The true purpose is the subject of investigation with full opportunity to show the facts. It would seem that, when employers freely recognize the right of their employees to their own organizations and their unrestricted right of representation, there will be much less occasion for controversy in respect to the free and appropriate exercise of the right of selection and discharge.
The Act has been criticized as one-sided in its application; that it subjects the employer to supervision and restraint and leaves untouched the abuses for which employees may be responsible; that it fails to provide a more comprehensive plan -- with better assurances of fairness to both sides and with increased chances of success in bringing about, if not compelling, equitable solutions of industrial disputes affecting interstate commerce. But we are dealing with the power of Congress, not with a particular policy or with the extent to which policy should go. We have frequently said that the legislative authority, exerted within its proper field, need not embrace all the evils within its reach. The Constitution does not forbid "cautious advance, step by step," in dealing with the evils which are exhibited in activities within the range of legislative power. Carroll v. Greenwich Insurance Co., 199 U. S. 401, 199 U. S. 411; Keokee Coke Co. v. Taylor, 234 U. S. 224, 234 U. S. 227; Miller v. Wilson, 236 U. S. 373, 236 U. S. 384; Sproles v. Binford, 286 U. S. 374, 286 U. S. 396. The question in such cases is whether the legislature, in what it does prescribe, has gone beyond constitutional limits.
The procedural provisions of the Act are assailed. But these provisions, as we construe them, do not offend against the constitutional requirements governing the
creation and action of administrative bodies. See Interstate Commerce Comm'n v. Louisville & Nashville R. Co., 227 U. S. 88, 227 U. S. 91. The Act establishes standards to which the Board must conform. There must be complaint, notice and hearing. The Board must receive evidence and make findings. The findings as to the facts are to be conclusive, but only if supported by evidence. The order of the Board is subject to review by the designated court, and only when sustained by the court may the order be enforced. Upon that review, all questions of the jurisdiction of the Board and the regularity of its proceedings, all questions of constitutional right or statutory authority, are open to examination by the court. We construe the procedural provisions as affording adequate opportunity to secure judicial protection against arbitrary action in accordance with the well settled rules applicable to administrative agencies set up by Congress to aid in the enforcement of valid legislation. It is not necessary to repeat these rules which have frequently been declared. None of them appears to have been transgressed in the instant case. Respondent was notified and heard. It had opportunity to meet the charge of unfair labor practices upon the merits, and, by withdrawing from the hearing, it declined to avail itself of that opportunity. The facts found by the Board support its order, and the evidence supports the findings. Respondent has no just ground for complaint on this score.
The order of the Board required the reinstatement of the employees who were found to have been discharged because of their "union activity" and for the purpose of "discouraging membership in the union." That requirement was authorized by the Act. § 10(c). In Texas & N.O. R. Co. v. Railway Clerks, supra, a similar order for restoration to service was made by the court in contempt proceedings for the violation of an injunction issued by the court to restrain an interference with
the right of employees as guaranteed by the Railway Labor Act of 1926. The requirement of restoration to service of employees discharged in violation of the provisions of that Act was thus a sanction imposed in the enforcement of a judicial decree. We do not doubt that Congress could impose a like sanction for the enforcement of its valid regulation. The fact that, in the one case, it was a judicial sanction, and, in the other, a legislative one, is not an essential difference in determining its propriety.
Respondent complains that the Board not only ordered reinstatement but directed the payment of wages for the time lost by the discharge, less amounts earned by the employee during that period. This part of the order was also authorized by the Act. § 10(c). It is argued that the requirement is equivalent to a money judgment and hence contravenes the Seventh Amendment with respect to trial by jury. The Seventh Amendment provides that, "In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved." The Amendment thus preserves the right which existed under the common law when the Amendment was adopted. Shields v. Thomas, 18 How. 253, 59 U. S. 262; In re Wood, 210 U. S. 246, 210 U. S. 258; Dimick v. Schiedt, 293 U. S. 474, 293 U. S. 476; Baltimore & Carolina Line v. Redman, 295 U. S. 654, 295 U. S. 657. Thus, it has no application to cases where recovery of money damages is an incident to equitable relief even though damages might have been recovered in an action at law. Clark v. Wooster, 119 U. S. 322, 119 U. S. 325; Pease v. Rathbun-Jones Engineering Co., 243 U. S. 273, 243 U. S. 279. It does not apply where the proceeding is not in the nature of a suit at common law. Guthrie National Bank v. Guthrie, 173 U. S. 528, 173 U. S. 537.
The instant case is not a suit at common law or in the nature of such a suit. The proceeding is one unknown to the common law. It is a statutory proceeding. Reinstatement of the employee and payment for time lost are
requirements imposed for violation of the statute, and are remedies appropriate to its enforcement. The contention under the Seventh Amendment is without merit.
Our conclusion is that the order of the Board was within its competency, and that the Act is valid as here applied. The judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.
For dissenting opinion, see p. 301 U. S. 76.
* No. 419, National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp.; Nos. 420 and 421, National Labor Relations Board v. Fruehauf Trailer Co., post, p. 301 U. S. 49; Nos. 422 and 423, National Labor Relations Board v. Friedman-Harry Marks Clothing Co., post, p. 301 U. S. 58; No. 365, Associated Press v. National Labor Relations Board, post, p. 301 U. S. 103, and No. 469, Washington, Virginia & Maryland Coach Co. v. National Labor Relations Board, post, p. 301 U. S. 142, which are known as the "Labor Board Cases," were disposed of in five separate opinions. The dissenting opinion, post, p. 301 U. S. 76, applies to Nos. 419, 420 and 421, and 422 and 423. The dissenting opinion, post, p. 301 U. S. 133, applies to No. 365. The opinion in No. 469 was unanimous.
Act of July 5, 1935, 49 Stat. 449, 29 U.S.C. 151.
This section is as follows:
"Section 1. The denial by employers of the right of employees to organize and the refusal by employers to accept the procedure of collective bargaining lead to strikes and other forms of industrial strife or unrest, which have the intent or the necessary effect of burdening or obstructing commerce by (a) impairing the efficiency, safety, or operation of the instrumentalities of commerce; (b) occurring in the current of commerce; (c) materially affecting, restraining, or controlling the flow of raw materials or manufactured or processed goods from or into the channels of commerce, or the prices of such materials or goods in commerce; or (d) causing diminution of employment and wages in such volume as substantially to impair or disrupt the market for goods flowing from or into the channels of commerce."
"The inequality of bargaining power between employees who do not possess full freedom of association or actual liberty of contract, and employers who are organized in the corporate or other forms of ownership association substantially burdens and affects the flow of commerce, and tends to aggravate recurrent business depressions, by depressing wage rates and the purchasing power of wage earners in industry and by preventing the stabilization of competitive wage rates and working conditions within and between industries."
"Experience has proved that protection by law of the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively safeguards commerce from injury, impairment, or interruption, and promotes the flow of commerce by removing certain recognized sources of industrial strife and unrest, by encouraging practices fundamental to the friendly adjustment of industrial disputes arising out of differences as to wages, hours, or other working conditions, and by restoring equality of bargaining power between employers and employees."
"It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to eliminate the causes of certain substantial obstructions to the free flow of commerce and to mitigate and eliminate these obstructions when they have occurred by encouraging the practice and procedure of collective bargaining and by protecting the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection."
See Note 2 supra, p. 23.
What is quoted above is followed by this proviso -- not here involved --
"Provided, That nothing in this Act, or in the National Industrial Recovery Act (U.S.C. Supp. VII, title 15, secs. 701-712), as amended from time to time, or in any code or agreement approved or prescribed thereunder, or in any other statute of the United States, shall preclude an employer from making an agreement with a labor organization (not established, maintained, or assisted by any action defined in this Act as an unfair labor practice) to require as a condition of employment membership therein, if such labor organization is the representative of the employees as provided in section 9(a), in the appropriate collective bargaining unit covered by such agreement when made."
42 Stat. 159.
42 Stat. 998.
§§ 416, 422, 41 Stat. 484, 488; Interstate Commerce Act, § 13(4).
See, for example, Final Report of the Industrial Commission (1902), vol.19, p. 844; Report of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission (1902), Sen.Doc. No. 6, 58th Cong., spec. sess.; Final Report of Commission on Industrial Relations (1916), Sen.Doc. No. 415, 64th Cong., 1st sess., vol. I; National War Labor Board, Principles and Rules of Procedure (1919), p. 4; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin No. 287 (1921), pp. 52-64; History of the Shipbuilding Labor Adjustment Board, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin No. 283.
See Investigating Strike in Steel Industries, Sen.Rep. No. 289, 66th Cong., 1st sess.
The provision is as follows:
"SEC. 9. (a) Representatives designated or selected for the purposes of collective bargaining by the majority of the employees in a unit appropriate for such purposes, shall be the exclusive representatives of all the employees in such unit for the purposes of collective bargaining in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment, or other conditions of employment: Provided, That any individual employee or a group of employees shall have the right at any time to present grievances to their employer."
See Virginian Railway Co. v. System Federation, No. 40, 300 U. S. 515.
See Note 11 | <urn:uuid:2da8a858-0fdc-4545-8e4e-7121c2d5f43a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/301/1/case.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9547 | 13,500 | 1.609375 | 2 |
I wrote yesterday about the completion of the 1911 census and the availability of the enumerator’s summary books, and how I hoped they might help me solve a problem with regard to exact location of my 2x great grandmother Mary Ann GASSON’s home.
Today I would like to share another example from my own family history, which illustrates the importance and value of these summary books. This concerns another set of 2x great grandparents Ebenezer and Annie TROWER at Sayers Common, Sussex (I have just written about them over at part three of my Sussex Day walk).
Although I was pretty certain that I knew where the family were living at the time of the census, the householder’s page only gave the postal address as “Sayers Common Hurstpoint” (it probably should have read Hurstpierpoint or just Hurst, but I will forgive Ebenezer that little slip).
The enumerator’s summary page actually gives a different address, that of “Vicarage Cottage”, which is just what I was expecting. If I hadn’t already known where they were living just viewing the householder’s page would probably have left me no further forward.
So make sure you check the enumerator’s summary page, you never know what else you might pick up, especially as it doesn’t cost any more if you have already viewed the householder’s page. | <urn:uuid:ee4d1c80-a716-4721-8293-f99097b68db7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wanderinggenealogist.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/1911-census-2/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=4e28c04ab9 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969012 | 305 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Ask any candidate to name the most pressing challenge facing Oregon, and the answer will be the same: Jobs. Given a one-item list of priorities, a candidate with a history of actually creating jobs, and with a record in government that offers a promise of effective leadership, rises to the top. For Republicans choosing among nine people seeking their party’s nomination for governor, that candidate is Allen Alley.
Alley, 56, came to Oregon in 1988 after stints as an engineer for Ford, Boeing and a Boston computer graphics company to work for InFocus, a maker of projection equipment. He shifted into the field of venture capital and co-founded Pixelworks, a maker of integrated circuits for flat-panel displays. Alley knows what it takes to start a company in Oregon and make it grow, because he’s done it himself.
In 2007 Gov. Ted Kulongoski appointed Alley as his deputy chief of staff, with duties in the areas of economic development, transportation, technology, workforce training and energy policy. Alley praises Kulongoski for his attention to children’s health and education. He says the current governor is more focused on Oregon’s economic well-being than was his predecessor, Gov. John Kitzhaber, who stands a good chance of being the GOP nominee’s opponent in the general election. But Alley adds that Kulongoski “errs on the side of government,” whereas he would err on the side of “giving people an opportunity to take care of themselves.”
Alley’s connection to true-blue Democrat Kulongoski makes him suspect in some Republicans circles. A willingness to put state before party, however, shows political maturity and pragmatism. Any Republican will need to win more than just Republican votes to be elected governor, and Alley has already shown promise in this area. In 2008 he was the Republican nominee for the office of state treasurer, and received more votes in Oregon than the party’s presidential candidate, John McCain.
Of all the GOP candidates for governor, Alley’s policy proposals are most detailed. He calls for eliminating capital gains taxes on job-creating investments in Oregon, allowing businesses to borrow against their tax liability for investment purposes, and directing a larger portion of state investments toward Oregon companies. He sees opportunities for growth in Oregon’s natural resources industries, including timber, and in the field of renewable energy. He believes that assisting existing Oregon companies, mainly by reducing their tax and regulatory burdens, will yield greater and more lasting results than recruiting out-of-state firms.
Alley approaches government with the eyes of an engineer, seeing it as a machine that can be tuned for greater efficiency and better results. The results, he says, are currently unacceptable, with chronic unemployment, hunger and homelessness. The key is to get the economy growing faster than the government, whose expansion can be slowed through zero-based budgeting, a budgetary reserve fed by the general fund and a reduction in pension liabilities. It’s a well-rounded package of proposals, and any GOP nominee would be well-advised to borrow chunks of it.
Alley’s most formidable challenger is Chris Dudley, 45, a graduate of Yale University who works as a financial planner. Dudley is a 16-year veteran of the National Basketball Association, including a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, which gives him the political benefits of celebrity. Dudley has never held or sought elective office, and hopes to turn his outsider status to his advantage. He argues that Oregon has had enough of professional politicians and needs someone who can “come in fresh.”
Dudley has charisma that Alley lacks — at 6 feet, 11 inches tall, he draws attention just by walking into a room. But in debate and in conversation, it becomes clear that his prescription for Oregon is a less detailed version of Alley’s. Dudley sees Oregon suffering from the same afflictions Alley has identified — economic anemia, governmental bloat, deteriorating social conditions and a hostile business climate. He offers many of the same solutions — zero-based budgeting, pension reform, and improved tax and regulatory system. The parallels between the two candidates’ positions make it plain that Alley has a superior grasp of detail, and a correspondingly better chance of successfully implementing his agenda.
A third candidate should not be overlooked: John Lim, 74, a former state representative and senator from the Gresham area. Of all the candidates, Lim is the only one with experience as an elected official. As a legislator Lim was reliably conservative but also showed a streak of independence — he supported, for instance, the state standard requiring utilities to obtain 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025, and includes Democrat Neil Goldschmidt on the list of former governors he admires most.
Like everyone else in the race, Lim speaks strongly about the need to improve the economy. But in his positions Lim is closer to the GOP mainstream than either Alley or Dudley, describing the former as a Democrat in Republican clothing and the latter as bringing nothing to the race but star power. Lim has courted the support of tea party activists, and claims that if Republicans want to nominate a conservative they will have to look to him. He is supported by Oregon Right to Life, and opposes both same-sex marriage and civil unions.
Lim has a compelling biography — a difficult childhood in wartime South Korea, arrival in the United States with little but hope, success in business and politics. He says that as the United States’ first east Asian governor, he could open international trade and tourism opportunities for Oregon. But Lim can’t match Alley for the breadth and coherence of his economic and budgetary proposals.
Rounding out the top tier of Republican candidates is Bill Sizemore, 59. As the author of a series of anti-tax initiative measures, Sizemore may have had a greater impact on Oregon government than any governor in the past 20 years. But as a politician, he’s a bust — as the Republican nominee for governor in 1998, he lost by a wider margin than any gubernatorial candidate in modern history. Sizemore has the further problem of being under indictment on state tax charges, and having been found guilty of racketeering in a civil suit.
That’s a lot of baggage. Sizemore may win votes because of name familiarity and from die-hard supporters who believe he’s the target of persecution, but the Republican Party doesn’t need him at the head of its ticket.
Five other candidates are on the ballot, only two of whom have statements in the Voters’ Pamphlet: research scientist William Curtright and real estate manager Rex Watkins. None has the stature, experience or statewide organization that would lead Oregon Republicans to look beyond their top four candidates.
Looking ahead to the general election, the Republican nominee will be making an argument for change after 24 years of Democratic leadership. At the same time, he’ll need to present himself as a competent manager and reformer of state government. In this crowded field, one Republican is best-prepared to send that dual message: Allen Alley. | <urn:uuid:fac680d0-ae3e-43a3-b041-bfe81a6a2fdc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.allenalley.com/news/116-gop-governor-alley-he-has-experience-in-government-job-creation.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965809 | 1,542 | 1.679688 | 2 |
We will ensure that every aspect of our activities is conducted in accordance with sound environmental practices.
We will achieve this by:
Minimising the consumption of natural resources and energy, whilst consuming material goods in moderation
Reducing the creation of waste by the adoption of improved operating practices and by the recycling of materials whenever practical
Ensuring all waste and effluent is disposed of in a safe and responsible manner
Investing in the development of new products and processes that have an improved performance regarding their impact on the environment
Complying with environmental legislation
Domino aims to foster among its staff, suppliers, customers, shareholders and communities local to its operations an understanding of environmental issues in the context of its business. Our collective task is to ensure that we continually improve the environmental impact of our total global activities.
By this policy Domino recognises its responsibility towards protection of the environment, and issues this statement as a commitment of both management and employees to minimising the environmental impact of its operations. | <urn:uuid:716a148f-884d-4762-ab24-fd1002174efa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.domino-printing.com/Global/en/AboutDomino/CorporateSocialResponsibility/EnvironmentalPolicy/EnvironmentalPolicy.aspx | 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 | 0.946883 | 202 | 1.585938 | 2 |
The Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD) program allows individuals with disabilities to continue receiving Medicaid while they go back to work. Enrollees who take advantage of MEPD are allowed to make up to 250% of the federal poverty level and may retain some assets. Nationally and locally, comparisons of costs for people with disabilities who work and those who do not work have indicated that working people have lower health care costs. These preliminary findings suggest that working increases productivity while decreasing costs.
This study is designed to determine whether participation in the MEPD reduces health care costs. It will deepen previous work completed by the Iowa Department of Human Services focusing not just on the costs of care but the utilization of care and the types of care utilization such as preventive, hospital and emergency care. As an interdisciplinary effort this study incorporates the areas of health services research, law, and public finance. | <urn:uuid:834e715e-327b-43c6-9890-89094f65b3c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ppc.uiowa.edu/news/2012/02/27/medicaid-employed-people-disabilities | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956907 | 180 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Tighter Lending Rules Needed: FDIC's Bair
Regulators should tighten lending rules for home mortgages in the US and the government is taking on a lot of risk by guaranteeing risky loans, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Shelia Bair warned.
"I think we should all be concerned about the type of exposure that the government is taking on through guaranteeing so many mortgages right now, and make sure that we do have some prudent underwriting standards, and especially documented ability to repay," Bair told CNBC Wednesday.
Bair called for a new set of "common sense" rules that would apply to both bank and nonbank mortgage sellers, ensuring the borrower has the capacity to repay a mortgage and makes a larger down payment than is currently required.
"Clearly there is a strong correlation between the amount of skin in the game a borrower puts in up front and how that loan performs," she said. "And it's only common sense. Do you put 20 percent down? You're committed to that house. You walk away from that house, you're going to lose a lot of the money that you put in up front."
Policymakers were trying to balance the need for prudent underwriting with a need to support what is still a very distressed housing market, she said.
"Going forward, the standard as we emerge from this crisis should be very robust income documentation, ability to repay standards, and some significant down payment," Bair said.
The housing market, which in 2009 suffered its worst downturn since the Great Depression, had stabilized somewhat and credit standards were improving, Bair said, but it was unclear what a double-dip recession might do to house prices.
The likelihood of a renewed economic slump had increased somewhat, Bair said, but FDIC economists were not forecasting a double-dip scenario.
“Banks are in a better position now because loan quality has improved considerably over the last few years, and so I think they're in a better position to withstand it if we have another downturn,” she said. | <urn:uuid:4fdc8bd2-b95b-4d20-a0df-e9b804a1c2ea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnbc.com/id/39074467 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985161 | 421 | 1.585938 | 2 |
‘Bye Bye Baghdad’
Paul Foot’s piece ‘Bye Bye Baghdad’ (LRB, 7 February) not only hits the targets it aims at but also selects the right ones. It is enjoyable journalism from a clear anti-war point of view, But it includes, sadly, a couple of own goals, as well as some factual inaccuracies. The former are more important than the latter.
Paul Foot asks what will be the result of an Allied victory over Saddam? He replies: ‘Will it really lead to more influence for the United Nations, a better world order, a bleaker prospect for dictators? Or will it simply mean that the most powerful state on earth becomes more powerful, and the dictatorships which it supports in its own commercial interests all over the world become more secure?’ It is obvious that he would like the first result but assumes that in practice it will be the second. We do not yet know the full outcome, but the most likely result is one Paul Foot apparently does not consider – that both options occur simultaneously. They are not inconsistent.
It would be a tragedy to spurn the present opportunity to achieve more influence for the United Nations, a better world order and a bleaker prospect for dictators. To ignore it would be to pass up an opportunity to make governments subject to the constraints of principle in a practical way. The fifty or so very small and weak members of the UN feel this acutely. Of course it will also be a victory for the Americans, but without them Saddam Hussein would have been the only victor.
Paul Foot’s argument is also disappointing to those who believe that the great international issues of the coming decade and beyond are human rights and Third World development. Those who take these objectives seriously do not suppose that they will be easily achieved. Victory in these fields will have to be won, if at all, piecemeal and by taking advantage of all favourable opportunities. The UN Charter is a crucial instrument of policy in bringing about improvement in both (connected) fields. The US and other great powers profess to accept the Charter, and never more so than at present. This surely is an important moment at which to try to turn professions into practical policies. Though it was not his intention, Saddam Hussein has created (and maintained) a situation in which there are possibilities of strengthening the UN, deterring dictators, upholding human rights and creating a better climate for Third World development free of the burden of arms purchases. We need to make use of the opportunity, and we will not do this by assuming that it does not exist because some fat cats in America will also profit.
Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway
In his article ‘Right Stuff’ (LRB, 7 February), Alexander Cockburn returns to themes relating to Amnesty International’s 19 December 1990 report on Iraqi atrocities in Kuwait –themes which he has previously raised in US publications and to which our US section has already replied. He continues to claim that reports of the large-scale killing of babies removed by or on the orders of Iraqi security forces are ‘entirely untrue’ and that Amnesty International ‘swallowed whole’ an account to this effect by one Red Crescent doctor.
Here are the facts. In our 19 December report we detailed the torture and extrajudicial execution of hundreds of thousands of victims and the imprisonment of several thousand prisoners. The report was based on medical evidence and in-depth interviews with more than a hundred people from about a dozen countries, including interviews by Amnesty International investigators who travelled to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to talk to victims of abuse, doctors who treated them, other medical personnel, relatives and eye-witnesses. As with all reports where Amnesty International is unable to enter the country concerned, it has been impossible to verify all details. Nevertheless, Amnesty International remains convinced that its report paints an accurate picture of horrifying violations inflicted on victims of many nationalities in Kuwait. Subsequent information has served only to confirm the wide range and intensity of violations we reported.
With regard to the deaths of the babies, Amnesty International believes there is compelling evidence of large-scale killing of incubator babies. Testimony to support this has come from a range of sources of different nationalities, including members of the Red Crescent, medical personnel working in hospitals where the incidents occurred; other medical personnel and people who handled bodies of the victims after their deaths and were involved in documenting these deaths; people who were involved in the burial of the bodies of scores of infants; and a few individuals who reported on specific incidents. All testimonies we received referred to large-scale killings of babies who had been removed from incubators. After our report appeared, conflicting reports emerged about the number of killings. We returned to the sources that were still available and went to others as well. Nothing in our subsequent inquiries gave grounds for revising our overall view about the large scale of the killings, although it is impossible to verify specific figures.
In keeping with Amnesty International’s working policies, we shall continue to collect information on these and other human rights violations by Iraqi forces in Kuwait. But it must be emphasised that this is only part of our human rights work, not only in this region but throughout the world.
Alexander Cockburn writes: In the 46 lines it gave to the charges of mass murder of over 350 premature babies, starting on page 57 of its 19 December report, Amnesty International relied on four testimonies, of which only one purported to be an eye-witness account of incubator theft leading to the death of 15 premature babies thus evicted. The most sensational account, that of a Red Crescent doctor on the payroll of Kuwait’s government-inexile, concerned 312 babies, supposedly murdered in the maternity hospital, but the doctor soon reduced the figure to 72, claiming to have buried this number in a graveyard. He did not claim to have been an eye-witness. The second-hand evidence of another volunteer gravedigger accounted for another 36 babies from another hospital ‘buried in one day alone in August’. A final allegation of incubator theft leading to the death of a set of quadruplets was similarly second-hand.
The imprimatur given by Amnesty International to the incubator stories was astonishingly laconic. Its report contained no evaluation or commentary. Mr Bull’s ‘range of sources’ mustered in his third paragraph remains hazy and appears to be different ways of describing the same small number of people. It was not necessary for Mr Bull to defend the full report, as he does in his second paragraph, since I never questioned anything in it beyond the incubator charges. He padlocks himself to his guns on these charges but soon may be calling for a key. Reports from Kuwait in the aftermath of the war are not supportive of Amnesty’s position. In its 1 March edition the Washington Post ran a dispatch from its correspondent William Claiborne, containing the following: ‘At the Kuwaiti Maternity Hospital, part of the al-Sabah medical complex, obstetrician Mohammed Mahfouz said the Iraqis periodically looted equipment that was in short supply in Iraq. But he said the hospital was able to function throughout the occupation. Mahfouz said the Iraqis did not steal any infant incubators as they were alleged to have done early in the war, but added they did take some advanced equipment for sonar scanning and for in vitro fertilisation.’ Similar démentis of the incubator story have appeared in the New York Times and, in the testimony of a Filipino nurse, on the BBC. Rather than stubbornly clinging to a position imprudently adopted, Mr Bull should perhaps be asking why it was that Amnesty International so blithely gave its support to allegations markedly similar to the atrocities laid on Germans by British propagandists during the First World War. I hope to help answer that question for him in these pages in the near future.
Kenneth Rose knows perfectly well the death of Lord Rothschild has nothing to do with Paul Foot’s comment about his pro-Russian past (Letters, 24 January). Plenty of people wrote about this while Lord Rothschild was alive, yet he never took any legal action to protect his reputation. Apart from Rothschild’s long association with Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, it has also been claimed that, while in MI5 during the war, Lord Rothschild argued strongly that Bletchley Park’s code-breaking secrets should be fully shared with the Russians. Long after the war, Rothschild continued his friendship with many left-wing members of the Labour Party who supported Russian views on foreign policy.
There is certainly nothing particularly sinister about any of this, since many wealthy people in pre-war years genuinely believed Communism preferable to Hitler and, during the war, felt Russia was doing more fighting than the British and Americans. But what makes Rothschild a particularly valid candidate for a pro-Russian past is his bizarre behaviour after Blunt was publicly exposed in 1979. The more one studies his plan of bringing Peter Wright and Chapman Pincher together (under totally false pretences) to peddle a ludicrous story about Hollis being a Russian spy, the more obvious it becomes that this was a deliberate ploy to distract attention away from himself. Why should Rothschild, a senior MI5 officer, have been so keen to see the Official Secrets Act broken, to make secret payments to Wright through offshore banks, to insist with Pincher that his name should not be mentioned in the resulting book and that the draft chapter about himself be deleted? The whole affair smells of panic. Why should Rothschild have panicked? He certainly had no fear of taking legal action, and later tried to scare Nigel West (and others) with writs. Plainly, he feared that if Wright was left alone to peddle his theories (and if other good investigative journalists got involved), they might unwittingly uncover the truth about his past. Perhaps, after all, Golits-in was right and the two Venona code-names David and Rosa were Rothschild and his wife. As Rothschild was perfectly happy to lend his name and wealth so that mud could be thrown at Hollis, Mr Rose should not be too surprised if some sticks to the subject of his forthcoming biography.
‘There is a tendency among people who have never lived in the metropolis to suspect that the “real” world exists somewhere far beyond their own pinched horizons,’ writes Anthony Quinn (LRB, 21 February), regretting the misconceptions endemic to ‘anyone who has lived in a province’. It’s nice to know that that good old phrase ‘the provinces’ still has a singular form – OED please note. Quinn may have difficulty finding ‘anyone who has lived in a province’ to confirm his thesis, though. For myself, I have lived in an outer South London suburb, a village in South Wales and Manchester. In ‘the provinces’ all, but only in the first does anyone suffer from ‘the thumping banality of their own experience’ and a sense of being outside ‘the “real” world’. A sense of being condemned to a provincial purgatory is a common reaction to living with your nose pressed to the glass of the ‘metropolis’; most of the country is free from this malady, however. When you actually look, ‘the provinces’ are remarkably difficult to locate.
Provincialism is rather easier to find. Asked to write about Britain, many writers will come up with a precise and vivid image of one city together with a vague and featureless periphery. Oddly enough, this cognitive failure generally passes for normality: after all, everybody knows London. Consider Margaret Drabble’s England. In the South there is London, picked out district by district; in the North there is, not Nottingham or Newcastle, but the entirely imaginary ‘Northam’. Only the metropolis could supply horizons as pinched as these.
Anthony Quinn’s remarks do, however, throw some light on the question of whether English literature is itself too provincial, too much oriented towards the place England rather than the language English. I would suggest that England itself has ceased to be an issue: the real division is not between Bradford and Glasgow or Manchester and Toronto, but between London and (as the pillar-box says) ‘All Other Places’.
You note that the review by Oleg Gordievsky (LRB, 7 February) was ‘translated by Tom Beattie’ from the Russian. The translation reads well. However, did the original Russian text by Mr Gordievsky assert that one book under review (Mr Vaksberg’s) ‘has been excellently translated’? How would Mr Gordievsky know that? Shouldn’t there have been a modest caveat such as ‘British friends have confirmed to me that …’?
John Greer Nicholson
How unfortunate that the striking advertisement for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (LRB, ) should misquote both the title and the text of one of the greatest anti-war poems in English. The title of Wilfred Owen’s sonnet is given as ‘Anthem of’ – instead of ‘for’ – ‘Doomed Youth’, and the sixth and seventh lines have been conflated. Never mind – all in a good cause.
Ian Pople’s poem ‘For Jon, Pam, Tom and Katie up in the air’ (LRB, 24 January) raised questions of perception and memory. In particular, we noticed an apparent inaccuracy in the name of a well-known street here in Bangkok, Soi Cowboy, which the poem called ‘Soi Carboy’. An accidental slip of the poet’s memory? A conscious transformation of the caballero appellation? Or perhaps it is a cleverly mimicked dysfunction of memory designed to capture the elusiveness of places visited for only a few days – a verisimilitude of forgetting. | <urn:uuid:2394a244-39a6-402b-a01c-c901609ba13c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lrb.co.uk/v13/n06/letters | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968224 | 2,912 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Thousands of Congressional Reports Now Available Online
February 10, 2009
By Brian Krebs (WashingtonPost.com)
Open government groups scored a small but potentially decisive victory this week in a long-running battle to win publication of thousands of secret reports that Congress uses to fashion new laws.
Each year, with the help of more than $100 million in funding from Congress, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) produces thousands of reports on legislative policy issues ranging from farm subsidies to weapons sales. While the reports are neither copyrighted nor classified, their release has been solely at the discretion of lawmakers.
But on Monday, Wikileaks.org, an online clearinghouse for leaked documents, published thousands of previously unreleased CRS reports. At the same time, the group says it is on track to receive a steady stream of new reports, which it plans to feed to open government groups and directly to consumers via its Web site.
Wikileaks spokesman Daniel Schmitt said the documents were obtained through the congressional intranet several weeks ago, and that the group plans to continue publishing the reports as long as their confidential source keeps providing them.
"These documents belong in the public domain because they represent an essential part of policymaking and they are produced with taxpayer dollars," Schmitt said. The Wikileaks Web site was temporarily unavailable for several hours on Monday as nearly five million visitors tried to download the massive 2 GB archive. Schmitt called the public response unprecedented, noting that the documents attracted more visitors than during Wikileak's last headline grabbing stunt: The publication of e-mails and images seized by a hacker who broke into the Yahoo! e-mail account of then-Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
CRS spokesperson Janine D'Addario said funding legislation from Congress specifically restricts CRS from making the reports directly available to the public.
"One of the concerns is that publication directly to the public has the potential to impair communications between members of Congress and their constituents," D'Addario said. "Because we work for Congress, we don't want to be placed in a situation where we're speaking directly to those constitutens."
Steven Aftergood, who maintains a blog about government secrecy related to intelligence and national security policy for the Federation of American Scientists, said the CRS has long maintained that its analysts work for members of Congress and should not be interacting with the general public.
"It's sort of a turf-based desire to keep CRS at the disposal of members of Congress, which is completely bogus," Aftergood said. "The CRS in what it does is very similar to the General Accountability Office. Both are congressional offices that work at the direction of Congress, and yet GAO manages to publish new reports on its site every day without any detrimental effect."
Aftergood said the reports range in quality from the banal to some of the best analysis available.
"While 90 percent of the reports are probably mediocre, at their best they are very good," Aftergood said. "One I published on our Web site today about technologies for detecting nuclear weapons is literally the best treatment of the subject I've seen."
Ari Schwartz, vice president of the Center for Democracy & Technology, said while the CRS reports are even-handed to a fault, CRS has nonetheless sought to distance itself from potentially divisive policy battles.
Often used by lobbyists and industry analysts as indicators of what's next on Capitol Hill, the CRS reports also can be politically explosive. Reports questioning the constitutionality of the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program have been seized upon by media outlets and lawmakers alike.
"In one sense, they're afraid of becoming a political agency, because the more public these reports get, the more politicized they may become," Schwartz said.
CDT maintains OpenCRS.com, to date the largest repository of CRS reports. Schwartz said the 6,780 reports released by Wikileaks should help to fill in most of the gaps in its archive of missing CRS reports going back several years.
Schwartz said Wikileaks has agreed to feed OpenCRS.com's document collection with all newly released CRS reports it receives.
In years past, several lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully to garner support for making the CRS reports directly available to citizens online. One such proponent, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), praised the action by Wikileaks, saying he hopes to work with the Senate Rules Committee "to create a comprehensive and officially-sanctions system for releasing CRS reports to the public."
"I have long argued that CRS reports should be made more widely available to the public, in part because they are produced at public expense and because broad dissemination supports the goal of greater government transparency," Lieberman said. "Wikileaks's recent action demonstrates the futility of any effort to limit distribution of those reports."
The secrecy of the reports has created a bootleg market for the documents. Gallery Watch, owned by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, has sold the CRS reports for years. Gallery Watch declined to comment for this story.
Gallery Watch receives its feed of CRS reports from Walt Seager, 70, a former trade magazine journalist based in Damascus, Md., who for 25 years has mined the Hill for them.
For his part, Seager is unconcerned about the mass publication of CRS documents and said he welcomes the challenge.
"I don't think it will be a complete archive, and I don't think they'll have the timeliness and value-added material that we can bring," Seager said. "Life is pretty boring without some competition."
First appeared in WashingtonPost.com. Thanks to Brian Krebs and WashingtonPost.com for covering this issue. Copyright remains with Washington Post. | <urn:uuid:37f0c2f7-8d67-4988-be37-5ea34269d2ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wikileaks.org/wiki/Thousands_of_Congressional_Reports_Now_Available_Online | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959379 | 1,172 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Hezbollah condemns U.S.-made film of Prophet Mohammad
BEIRUT, Sept 12 |
BEIRUT, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah condemned a U.S.-made film about the Prophet Mohammad on Wednesday, which triggered violent protests in Libya and Egypt, as an attack on religious belief which it said reflected Western policy.
In a statement which made no reference to the killing of U.S. diplomats in Libya in apparent response to the film, Hezbollah said the film was an "immoral act which represents the highest degree of aggression against the highest human right ... for respect of beliefs and sanctities".
The film aimed to stir tensions and hatred between Muslims and Copts in Egypt and reflected "the true position of the American-Zionist alliance towards Islam and Muslims", it said.
"In this context, the statements of official U.S. condemnation no longer fool anyone," Hezbollah said, referring to official U.S. criticism of the film.
Protesters in Egypt tore down an American flag and burned it during a demonstration on Tuesday against the film. In the Libyan city of Benghazi gunmen attacked and burned the U.S. consulate, killing one consular official.
The U.S. ambassador and embassy staff were killed in a rocket attack on their car as they were rushed from the consular building, a Libyan official said.
U.S. pastor Terry Jones, who inflamed Muslim anger in 2010 with plans to burn the Koran, said he had promoted the film "Innocence of Muslims", which U.S. media said was produced by an Israeli-American property developer. Clips of another film called "Mohammad, Prophet of Muslims", circulated for weeks before the protest.
That film portrayed Mohammad as a fool, a philanderer and a religious fake. In one clip posted on YouTube Mohammad was shown in a sexual act with a woman.
Many Muslims consider any depiction of the Prophet offensive and any depiction of him can cause outbursts of anger in the Islamic world and among Muslims in Europe.
Hezbollah's statement, which comes two days before Pope Benedict is due to visit Lebanon, also called for Christians and Muslims at the highest level to address the issue.
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I like to think I’m current on this blog, but sometimes I have these moments where I am left to go, how did that get past me at the time? There is but small comfort, in this case, in learning that UK archæological magazine Current Archaeology is also a bit behind the times. Anyway, it was news to me, and I promised a post to Michelle at Heavenfield after mistakenly correcting hers on the place, maybe it’s news to you: there was probably a royal residence at Tintagel somewhen in the fifth to seventh centuries that might make a plausible setting for some Arthurian Dark Age warlord’s court, and the archaeology justifying assertions like this was published in 2007. Now Current Archaeology are reporting on it in what appears to have been their last issue for 2008.1 The new issue is just catching up with that Orkney stack that yielded a King Edgar penny that I mentioned before, too. Anyway…
A while ago someone asked me about Arthur and Tintagel and the result was one of my pub history rants, because Arthur is a subject about which British early medievalists get asked only slightly less than the Vikings, in my experience at least. At that point I didn’t know much about Tintagel and was still working with what I’d been told about it as a major import centre, but not really a secular power centre.2 I should have wondered about that, because whereas Anglo-Saxon trading sites of that period tend to be associated with, but not at, secular power centres, British and sub-Roman ones are very often at castles, though there is an extent to which we know about them because we dig obvious, visible castles more than eroded beaches and riverside fields. Dinas Powys and its massive assemblage of Mediterranean pottery, to which the Leslie Alcock book I have written about here so much adds several northern parallels, should have warned me there was probably a power presence here too.3 Well, turns out that a team from Glasgow (Glasgow again! They do shedloads up there) has been working on expanding that since 1990, with help indeed from television, helicopters and submarines, and indeed cunning use of your FWSE of choice will find them explaining this to The Heroic Age, so I don’t really have an excuse for not knowing. It’s their work that Current Archaeology is expounding. The web version gives you only a preview, and the eight-page feature with a great many gorgeous photos is actually pretty in-depth cover for CA though the lack of detail about the dating evidence is still very frustrating.
So what do they say? In brief, they detected lots that the earlier excavations weren’t subtle enough to find, making the picture on the near-island a great deal busier, and divided it on the basis of radio-carbon dates (calibrated; I suppose if I want them uncalibrated I better read the report) into three phases, centering on 395X460 CE, 415X535 and 560X670. That is to say, after some probably late fifth-century disuse it was revived in the sixth century and at that stage it was pretty large, the fortress wall (previously thought to belong to the high medieval castle but now dated by `unequivocal’ evidence to the fifth-seventh centuries) being greater in length even than South Cadbury, which has been generally associated with Camelot in legend since the seventeenth century. Although he later regretted it, Leslie Alcock observed when reporting on Cadbury that so large a perimeter implied a warlord who could gather enough men to defend it all, as any part undefended would have made a defence of any kind pointless.4 Tintagel, in its extremely isolated position, would be a lot harder to assault, but for all that some similar argument can be made. So yes, it’s a power centre, presumably for the kingdom of Dumnonia. The excavators do stress that it may not have been fully occupied for most of the year, which is fine with me, but when it was, it apparently had to hold a lot of people and they bought and used Mediterranean pottery, implying Mediterranean food and drink imported, and generally acted like Romans more than a bit. Whether Arthur fits into that depends very much on when you consider him to have maybe existed: if I was going to I’d wonder about the second phase more, but really I don’t think this is a worthwhile exercise.
Now, speaking of things that aren’t worthwhile exercises, have a look at this. This is a further piece of the argument for a royal centre here. I don’t think they need it; Gildas would have called anyone able to fill this place a tyrannus which makes them what we can call a king without worrying too much. Saying which king might be a bit much, but this stone is supposed to tell us more along those lines. It came out of a drain where it had been recycled as a cover in some later phase of occupation. If you can see the inscriptions scratched into it, the smaller lower ones are supposed by epigraphers to be later, and list some Latinised Celtic-sounding names, Paternus, Coliauus, Artognou, Col… again. The upper part, the big wild letters over-running what is now the edge, have been read as H A V G, and that has been expanded by no less a figure than Charles Thomas as H[onorius] Aug[ustus], that is the name of the Emperor contemporary with the first phase of medieval occupation here, which also apparently fits the lettering style. From this we are asked to believe that some Roman authority was still operative here then, hanging on to the tin trade, and that the later names are kings associating themselves with that remnant of Imperial power and renown.5 Well, I’m not alone in being sceptical about this—heck, I’m famous for being sceptical, right? I don’t want to argue with Charles Thomas about the reading, even though that `V’ has tails that mean that I would, untrained, read it as an `X’, and others have suggested that it should really be read [M]AXE… and therefore refer to someone called Maxentius. That would not be an emperor unless the lettering is earlier than Thomas supposes, as Emperor Maxentius died in 312, but it might be someone wanting to sound like an emperor. I like that better, because this is clearly not official inscription, it’s all over the place; this is graffiti. If Thomas is right, which he probably is given who he is, I agree that it means that someone cared who was emperor and I also agree that the names on it were probably people who wanted to sign up with the Empire’s memory somehow, but I don’t think that the messy look of the stone means anything like as serious as CA seem to be suggesting.
Of course, for some people the real news was that `Artognou’ as a name is sort of like Arthur. I don’t buy it myself, and again as I say I am not alone. But since I first wrote anything about Tintagel in answer to the question of evidence associating him with the place, and this time the dating would fit better, I think I owe it to the person to whom I then tried to give chapter and verse to keep up to date here.
1. Rachel C. Barrowman, Colleen E. Batey & Christopher Morris, Excavations at Tintagel Castle, Cornwall, 1990-1999 (London 2007), reported on in eidem, “What is Tintagel?” in Current Archaeology no. 227 (London 2008), pp. 22-29. I’m not quite sure about the excavators being the authors of the CA article, however; they’re named as “source” which suggests that the actual presentation is down to the editor, Andrew Selkirk, or one of his team, which might explain some of the stranger things it says (see n. 5 below).
2. Charles Thomas, Tintagel, Arthur and Archaeology (London 1993). The CA article actually gives quite a good run-down on the earlier interpretation as a monastic trading centre, based on digs by C. A. Ralegh Radford in the 1950s.
3 Leslie Alcock, Dinas Powys (Cardiff 1963), rev. in idem, Economy, Society and Warfare among the Britons and Saxons (Cardiff 1987); see also idem, Kings & Warriors, Craftsmen & Priests in Northern Britain AD 550-850 (Edinburgh 2003), pp. 209-210.
4. Idem, “Excavations at Cadbury-Camelot” in Antiquity Vol. 46 (London 1972), pp. 29-38; see also idem, Arthur’s Britain (London 1971), pp. 219-224 & 347-349, disowned in idem, Kings & Warriors, p. 5. Cf. idem, “Cadbury-Camelot: a fifteen-year perspective” in Proceedings of the British Academy Vol. 58 (London 1982), pp. 355-388, repr. in idem, Economy, Society and Warfare.
5. Barrowman, Batey & Morris, “What is Tintagel?”, pp. 27-29. It’s not clear to me that this is genuinely Thomas’s reading: none of the other places I find discussing this stone have him as source for anything more than the later names and their dating, and I can’t find anyone else reading it as `H A V G’. The CA article says, “we can now offer a corrected and more comprehensive interpretation based on meticulous study by Charles Thomas”, but whether this is coming from the site report, Thomas’s actual reading or the various spinning processes that have apparently been interposed between Thomas and this article, I’m not sure. | <urn:uuid:4a9ea79a-c4ee-4337-bea6-696bcaa1a454> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tenthmedieval.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/tintagel-newly-arthurable/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970438 | 2,142 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Mulwala goes on project of concern list
- From: AAP
- December 12, 2012
A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR project to modernise a defence explosives and propellant plant is running late and in danger of running over budget.
The federal government on Wednesday announced the Mulwala plant upgrade would be placed on its projects-of-concern list.
A long-running project to equip troops with a new lightweight automatic grenade launcher will also join the problem list.
Off the list are the RAAF Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft and the navy's MU90 lightweight torpedo projects.
The list was launched in 2008 to keep a watch on defence projects running late or at risk of going over budget or delivering reduced capability.
Since then 21 projects have been listed and 15 removed - 13 remediated and two cancelled.
Sustaining the Collins class submarines continues to head the list.
The $345 million project to upgrade the World War II-era explosives and propellant plant at Mulwala, located on the NSW side of the Murray River, was approved in 2006.
Bovis Lend Lease was contracted to build new nitrocellulose, solvent and propellant production plants and other facilities.
Technical and equipment issues during the commissioning phase last year resulted in a significant delay.
A review in 2011 recommended the project not be included on the problem list, but since then it has fallen even further behind schedule.
"There is an increasing risk that the current budget will not be enough to complete the project," Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said in a statement on Wednesday.
The lightweight automatic grenade launcher project has joined the list after slipping almost five years behind schedule.
The $3.8 billion Wedgetail project was approved in 2000 and was placed on the list in January 2008 after it ran increasingly late with major concerns about whether the desired level of capability could be achieved.
The project came good, however, with the RAAF declaring initial operating capability in November.
MU90 torpedoes also reached initial operating capability last month.
They were intended to go aboard navy warships to replace the older Mark 46 torpedo but ran into problems with integration, delays and rising costs. | <urn:uuid:49475a7b-af8d-443c-b879-30d08cbf76e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/mulwala-goes-on-project-of-concern-list/story-e6frg13c-1226535377984 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959724 | 460 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Australia's live sheep export industry is on the verge of a crisis after the Federal Government delayed a string of shipping permits amid animal health concerns.
_The West Australian _ understands at least three big sheep exporters have been left waiting for live export permits as Canberra races to clarify trade agreements with importers in the Middle East.
It is believed almost 200,000 sheep are stranded on WA farms and in feed lots as exporters and Australian diplomats work to find a solution.
Farmers are warning that bureaucrats have only a few weeks to grant export licences, pleading they will soon run out of feed and need to clear the animals so they can free up land for cropping.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has delayed issuing export permits while it clarifies agreements that require Persian Gulf states to bring Australian animals ashore, even if there are fears some may be diseased.
Standing memorandums of understanding with the Gulf States were thrown into doubt this month after Bahrain refused to unload 22,000 WA sheep, complaining some had scabby mouth disease.
The sheep were moved to Pakistan but that country claims some of the animals were infected with salmonella.
The problems in Pakistan further complicated the issue because all exporters must be able to demonstrate they have a secondary market should the first importer block a shipment of animals.
"In light of recent experiences in Middle East countries DAFF has sought assurances from exporters about the measures they plan to take to reduce the risks of consignments being refused permission to unload," an Agriculture Department spokesman said.
The live sheep industry is worth about $226 million a year to WA.
WA Agriculture Minister Terry Redman spoke to Federal Minster Joe Ludwig yesterday about concerns the entire sheep export industry was in limbo.
"At this stage farmers have said they don't know how long they can keep the sheep because pasture is drying up," Mr Redmond said. "We've got sheep ready to go and no one able get those animals out."
Newdegate farmer Bob Iffla said he had been left stranded after exporter Emanuels told him it could not take his 2000 contracted sheep.
"I just hope we don't have to do what we had to do several years ago and start shooting them," he said.
"This is shocking. These 1987 sheep we have are valued at $100 a head."It's all our profit for the year just gone."
'The West Australian' is a trademark of West Australian Newspapers Limited 2013.
All rights reserved.
Select your state to see news for your area. | <urn:uuid:55048cf6-e927-4c4e-bcd7-59aa64d67edf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/14887932/live-sheep-trade-at-crisis-point/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968456 | 528 | 1.84375 | 2 |
N is for...News!
"It takes something new to produce a startling advance in the price of a stock," says William O'Neil in his best selling How to Make Money in Stocks. More specifically he mentions new products, new management and new highs. In other words - news, the third criterion of stock selection in his CANSLIM methodology.
I would go a step further than O'Neil and add new contracts, new deals, new partnerships, and new strategic alliances, all of which have driven stock prices higher.
The key word here is "startling". We're not talking steady incremental growth here. We're talking about leaps in stock price. Superb examples of this principle in action are price surges in a couple of stocks I followed in the late 90s.
InfoInterActive, a tiny firm operating out of Bedford, Nova Scotia with dynamic management and a superb patented product and a market cap of under $50 million doubled when Intel Corporation decided to license its technology and take a 10% stake in the company.
Another company, Infowave Software, which had already produced spectacular returns over the last year rising from $2 a share to $32 a share on the success of its imaging software, doubled again on the news of a major contract with the giant multi-national Nokia Corporation. It jumped from 16-bagger to 32-bagger in one week!
Sometimes news by itself, never mind revenue growth or earnings growth, can propel a stock price higher. This is particularly true in the mining exploration field. A new gold find or even a nickel find such as the one at Voisey's Bay in Newfoundland, can send an unknown stock flying.
O'Neil only mentions new products in passing and gives even shorter shrift to new management, these being fairly self-explanatory. But he focuses a lot of attention on one of the most misunderstood phenomena in investing - the tendency of stocks hitting new highs to keep going higher.
He said that in surveys of the thousands of people attending his investment conferences over three decades, 98% said they do not buy stocks that are making new highs. The vast majority of investors, he says, whether new or experienced, "feel delightful comfort in buying stocks that are down substantially from their peaks".
This has even been ingrained in one of the classic old saws of investment lore, the maxim "Buy low. Sell high!" But a far better piece of advice is to "Buy high. Sell higher!"
This reluctance, nay fear, of buying stocks hitting new highs is palpable. It affects me and I know better. I've been scared out of buying many stocks because I've thought, "Oh my God! It's gone so high already, it can't possibly go any higher". Or "Oops! Too late! Missed the boat on that one!" or other similar excuses. And I've made the most money when I fought my fears and bought stocks hitting new highs.
O'Neil says "The hard-to-accept great paradox in the stock market is that what seems too high and risky to the majority usually goes higher and what seems low and cheap usually goes lower". He studied the daily new highs and new lows for several up as well as down markets. The results were clear. Stocks on the new high list tended to go higher. Stocks on the new low list tended to go lower.
His conclusion - "a stock making the new high list the first time during a bull market and accompanied by a big increase in trading volume might be a red-hot prospect worth checking into".
A Word of Caution
Stock promoters are well aware that news drives up stock prices and some stocks, penny stocks in particular, are sometimes subject to hyping - the issuing of flurries of news releases in the hopes of driving up the stock price. Be particularly wary of hyping on message forums such as Silicon Investor, Raging Bull and Stockhouse.
In fact, it is rather amusing to browse through the message boards on such stocks. Many of the speculators involved work these boards feverishly, boosting the morale of fellow investors, disparaging bad news, playing up good news, finding excuses for price declines, and cursing anyone who dares throw a little sober reflection into the conversation.
And new highs are not a panacea. In fact, O'Neil says you should look for stocks that are breaking out or near to breaking out to new highs after undergoing a price correction and consolidation. And he cautions that you should "avoid buying once the stock is extended more than 5% or 10% from the exact buy point off the base".
Moreover, one should look for new price highs in conjunction with the other elements of the CANSLIM formula. And sometimes, you have to be nimble and sell a stock quickly after it surges from its break-out point.
I don't want to go into great detail on selling points, but of the 35 or so selling signals O'Neil mentions, there is one which I wish I had paid closer attention to as I've been burned a few times by failure to sell at a high point. The selling principle - "If after a stock's price is extended from a proper base, its price closes for a larger increase than on any previous up days, watch out! This move usually occurs at or very close to a stock's peak".
Copyright © Break Out Publishing | <urn:uuid:79e36216-e63d-4107-a775-71da0be50e06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://breakoutreport.com/BOR2012/articles/canslimn.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962087 | 1,107 | 1.53125 | 2 |
(CNN) -- Rescue workers searched Friday for four miners believed trapped in a collapsed mine in southern Ecuador, a government official said.
The miners have been trapped since about 3 a.m., said Jorge Espinosa, the under-secretary of mining development at Ecuador's Ministry of Nonrenewable Natural Resources. They are about 500 feet (150 meters) deep.
At least 50 rescuers were working Friday afternoon to try to free the four, Espinosa said. Authorities do not know the miners' condition because they have been unable to make contact with them, he said.
The gold mine, which officials say is owned by Minesadco, is near the town of Portovelo, near Ecuador's southern border with Peru.
"We are working on two plans to rescue them and we are expecting to reach them in 20 to 24 hours," said Espinosa. "We estimate that there are about 30 cubic meters of air so we believe the miners would be able to breath for five or six days. The problem is that we don't know if the area of the mine where they were working was also filled with mud."
The incident comes two days after crews in Chile rescued 33 miners who were trapped underground for 69 days in a stunning rescue operation, watched by the world. | <urn:uuid:f72f2521-4b44-49b5-94cb-d1a7ebae9717> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/15/ecuador.trapped.miners/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984172 | 265 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Hey, buddy, looking to sell some products abroad? Need to find the best new market for your pillow shams or maybe your shampoo? A new book, The $10 Trillion Prize: Captivating the Newly Affluent in China and India, purports to have the answer. Yet the hype about China, India and other big emerging economies glosses over the difficulties of doing business within their borders. Sure, size matters, but plenty of other factors should make companies look elsewhere, as well as make governments take a hard look at their policies.
Enormous populations make China and India obvious targets for business, but selling to their people is only half the battle. Once a multinational company has collected its revenue and paid its costs, it has to bring its profits home to shareholders. That’s not always easy in developing countries, where corruption, arcane tax and legal systems, changeable customs regimes, unscrupulous self-dealing and self-serving joint venture partners can eat away at the final take.
Just imagine you’ve arrived in a big emerging economy, and you’re hoping to sell to tens of millions of new consumers. If you work in, say, consumer products — toilet paper, soap and so on — your business might normally earn margins of 10 to 15 percent. But what if each of the problems above eats away a bit of your revenue, even just 1 or 2 percent? Pretty soon, your margins are down to zero — and that’s without considering other issues like exchange-rate fluctuations and capital controls.
All the BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India and China — suffer from a selection of these problems, and often to a much greater degree than some of their smaller neighbors. As a result, the consumers who are truly profitable for companies might be located in places with better economic institutions and friendlier business climates, such as Malaysia, Peru, South Africa and Turkey. These midsize countries are by no means perfect places to do business, but by several metrics they’re a lot better than the BRICs.
Of course, executives of multinationals are still under tremendous pressure from analysts and investors to come up with a “China strategy” and an “India strategy.” These markets’ size makes them hard to ignore, and they offer the potential to realize huge economies of scale. After all, you only have to pay the setup costs of entering the market once, and then you have access to almost unlimited consumers.
But companies have to balance the apparent savings — which may not be so large once you account for differences in regulations across 35 Indian states and territories and 32 Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions — with the costs of doing business in a difficult environment. For all but the biggest multinationals, serving several countries of 30 million, 50 million or 70 million people where doing business is relatively easy might be more profitable than fighting for a share of China’s market. Not every company should be in China, India and the other BRICs, just as not every company should be in the United States, or any other country for that matter.
The flip side of this conclusion is that China and India, even as their economies cool a bit, still offer fantastic opportunities to grow. The gradual opening of their economies over the past three decades has already lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. It’s hard to imagine that China and India could repeat this feat, yet they just might by removing some of the obstacles outlined above. By fighting corruption, making legal systems more transparent and instituting better protections for investors, these countries could see a second, perhaps even bigger boom. | <urn:uuid:6bf58c37-a44e-4901-8df0-d63767532807> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/11/3045764/china-india-arent-great-markets.html | 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 | 0.959219 | 746 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Riding Economic Whitewater
By Sheila Gibbons Hiebert
Communication Research Associates, Inc.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s new report ranking states on their economic progress shows Maryland in a strong position, ranked as the top all-around performer in innovation and entrepreneurship.
The report, “Enterprising States 2012“ says, “Maryland places first on the innovation list due to its high concentrations of high-tech activity and research. Maryland is the number-one state for academic research and development; and is the third-best state in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs and in the concentration of high-tech business locations.”
A partnership with education is key, the report says: “States that are able to get students involved in the STEM fields will be the most competitive.”
To a great degree, the Southern Maryland economy reflects – and contributes to – much of the state’s success. St. Mary’s Public Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano has championed STEM education with academies that enroll students in fourth through 12th grades at Lexington Park Elementary, Spring Ridge Middle and Great Mills High. Enrollment at the College of Southern Maryland increased 6 percent from 2010 to 2011. At the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, “Academic programs have been growing since the Center’s creation 17 years ago,” says Mel Powell, executive director, with a total of 93 academic programs for adult learners polishing their career credentials.
The unemployment rate is inching down. Through April, the St. Mary’s County’s 2012 unemployment rate averaged 5.7 percent – not yet back to the low average unemployment rate of 2.9 percent in 2007, but a definite improvement over the numbers calculated by the state’s Division of Labor, Licensing and Regulation for 2010 (6.5 percent) and 2011 (6.0 percent).
What’s not to like?
The question is to what extent the current positive environment can be sustained as the main driver of the local economy – federal dollars channeled through defense spending – transitions to a leaner budget.
For help reading the tea leaves, I talked to Glen Ives, group vice president of Sabre Systems, Inc., and former commanding officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, who offered his personal perspective: “From an economic and quality of life standpoint, St. Mary’s County in and of itself has been, and currently is, pretty good. I think there’s always an argument to be made that there are segments of our population that aren’t benefiting as much from our local economy as some other folks. Still, over the last 15-20 years you’ve seen quality of life and our economy continue to grow.”
The federal government’s investment in Pax River, he said, “has kept our community economically viable, even through the last few years of a recessionary time.” The big question, he says: “How are we postured for the future, particularly when we see things changing so quickly from global and national perspectives?
“Given that every part of the federal government is struggling with funding and resources, and that has had an impact on DoD, I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist or financial genius to figure out that there’s going to be an impact. We’re potentially talking a trillion over next 10 years.”
Ives said he’d like to see the state of Maryland, lauded in the Enterprising States 2012 report, step up efforts to re-envision the tremendous asset Pax River represents, utilizing its talent, knowledge base and state-of-the-art research facilities to develop areas of technology beyond its well-established defense capability. He also said the state should get behind efforts to develop for Southern Maryland a four-year institution with a strong STEM curriculum to give students from the region an opportunity to learn skills here that will qualify them for top jobs here. He had high praise for the work of the College of Southern Maryland (on whose foundation he serves) and St. Mary’s College (where he is a trustee), but asked, “Is that really enough when you think about the tech market?
“How come I don’t have a four-year institution down here that can actually help us leverage those resources and educate our young and older people in those key engineering and technology disciplines that can help further what we have here?” Ives asked. “We’re the fastest growing region in state, and we have so many good solid resources and good solid foundation, how do we get that momentum going? Can you imagine if the University of Maryland were to invest in a technology-based curriculum down here where our young people wouldn’t have to go out of the area to get the education they need and would want to stay here? We’d be a draw from other parts of the state or country to come to our four-year institution, not just for that, but for internships here, too. If we were to make it an institution centered around creating new technologies and supporting innovation, that would spin off opportunities for commercial applications for other small companies to want to be here. Then you’ve have a pretty nice mix for some pretty neat growth.”
Bottom line for operating in today’s local business environment: Diversifying your business’s portfolio, seeking new markets (including across borders) and retreating from a reliance on a single source of business.
“You have to be thinking very, very differently,” Ives says. “If you’re just starting to think differently, you’re probably already in trouble.”
Put another way, as legendary Redskins coach George Allen was fond of saying: The future is now. | <urn:uuid:3dd3e3b3-6629-4686-bea3-fbd4e42a0c49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lexleader.net/navigating-economic-whitewater-facing-reality-shrinking-federal-budget/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958422 | 1,225 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Domestic violence is rampant in celebrity culture these days – notably the incidents involving “Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen, actor/director Mel Gibson and musician Chris Brown. Yet despite the intense publicity surrounding their cases, some say these influential entertainers won't suffer much financially. And one of the most popular music videos is the controversial “Love the Way You Lie,” by rapper Eminem and pop star Rihanna - about a violent, passionate relationship.
Why would Rihanna, a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Brown, collaborate on such a video with a musician whose lyrics, critics say, are violent and offensive to women? "The message it sends, especially to young people that are largely going to be the audience, is this is normal," said Ayonna Johnson, Director of Legal Services for the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic violence in Decatur, Georgia. "It illustrated a sense of normalcy to a very abnormal dysfunction." Is domestic violence tolerated as the “new normal?”
Marjorie Gilberg, Executive Director of Break the Cycle, which works to end domestic violence among teens, also finds the video disturbing. "I hope that when kids see that video, that they are not interpreting it as a healthy type of relationship." Rihanna, who declined to speak to CNN, told Access Hollywood last month that she collaborated with Eminem on the song because they had both experienced "different ends of the table" of domestic violence. "He pretty much just broke down the cycle of domestic violence, and it's something that a lot of people don't have a lot of insight on...it's a really powerful song. And it touches a lot of people." Johnson worries about the mixed messages coming from popular culture about violence against women. She notes that in the video, "you've got if you leave me again, I'm going to kill you, then it shoots to the two parties peacefully lying in bed together as everything is okay. “ At the end, Eminem sings about tying the woman to the bed and setting the house on fire if she tries to leave. "It definitely has the ability to increase domestic violence...as well as the lethality piece." In the Gibson case, and even with Rihanna and Chris Brown, Johnson says, society still tends to blame the victim. "We're still not quite ready as a society to place responsibility and accountability where it lies - which is on the abuser." Gilberg agrees. "We have to make a decision as a society that we are not going to tolerate violence against women." Although she finds the "Love the Way You Lie" video troubling, Gilberg says it could be used as a teaching tool. "It has to be done where the adults that are around young people are willing to talk about the lyrics of the song and address what's going on and actually engage in a conversation about it."
When it comes to domestic violence, pop culture seems to be sending mixed messages. What do you think? | <urn:uuid:de73e11e-623b-4632-a566-ba014e10e9f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://am.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/13/is-domestic-violence-%E2%80%9Cthe-new-normal%E2%80%9D/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971485 | 610 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Most Active Stories
On Air Staff and WPM Interns
Mon December 31, 2012
How 'Deferred Action' Will Affect Classrooms
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE, from NPR News. Coming up: Why did the Oscar-winning filmmaker of "The Hobbit" devote his time, money and moviemaking skills to an entirely different project about a long-ago crime in Arkansas? We'll speak with Peter Jackson and one of the men featured in a new documentary "West of Memphis." That's in just a few minutes.
But first, we've been preoccupied with the country's fiscal issues, but now, as we look ahead to the New Year, we want to focus on what 2013 could mean for other important issues facing the country. Today we want to talk about education. Joining us for that is NPR's education correspondent Claudio Sanchez.
Happy New Year.
CLAUDIO SANCHEZ, BYLINE: Happy New Year, Michel. Good to be with you.
MARTIN: I understand that one of the biggest changes you see coming to American education is actually because of changes to immigration policy. You think that the president's deferred action plan - and that's aimed at helping undocumented immigrants stay in the country legally, that's children who were brought here as children are now adults - how do you see that affecting who goes to college?
SANCHEZ: This is going to be, I think, an incredible, important issue, not just for that population, but because of the demographics, for states all over the country. There are, after all, two million young people who could benefit from this. President Obama's signing the executive order that gives these people some respite. It means that these people are now flocking to immigration centers, to immigration attorneys to get that reprieve. And we're going to see in some states - California and Texas, Florida, certainly - a huge push to get some of these young people into college.
Now, there is also a big question as to whether the long-term - and what I mean by that, whether Congress will resolve this legally. I mean, what the president has done is essentially given these young people a little bit of time. But ultimately, the answer to this question is going to be resolved by the Congress and the Obama administration.
MARTIN: But your argument is that because these kids have the opportunity to normalize their status - at least get a reprieve - kids who did not previously see a reason to go to college probably now will.
SANCHEZ: Exactly. And that is, I think, the tip of the larger conversation about immigration reform, which I think is, again, the long-term.
MARTIN: Focusing on education, though, some 13 states - the latest being Maryland and Massachusetts - have now adopted policies that allow some undocumented students to get that financial aid that you were talking about, or in-state tuition rates at some public colleges and universities. Taking it a step further, the University of California, Berkeley has announced a $1 million scholarship fund for undocumented students. Are they the only people doing this? And what's been the reaction to this? Because you can see arguments on both sides.
SANCHEZ: I think in California, where this issue is very volatile, I think that what the UC Berkeley folks did is important. I don't see it happening anywhere else, though. We're not hearing other institutions talk about this. I mean, this is, after all, a time when institutions are very hard-pressed to raise any kind of money. And I think if they're perceived as helping this population in particular, they stand the risk of some backlash. I mean, there are many, many young people who can't afford to go to college these days. Costs and affordability and access is a big issue in higher education, and that's why think it's going to be a big issue over all.
MARTIN: Well, what was their argument for why they felt that this particular step was the right step at this particular time, if only for them?
SANCHEZ: I don't know why UC Berkeley did this. It was the only school in the UC system that did it, so it's unclear to me. But I've not heard any backlash yet to this. I just think that people are being very wary of opening the door too wide. And as far as states doing this, that really is another - the next shoe to drop. I mean, states that have waited for some kind of resolution are saying, well, we need to do this on our own. And whether that trumps federal policy at some point - it already is, because Maryland, Massachusetts and at least 11 other states are doing it already.
MARTIN: Talk a little bit, if you would, about Pell Grants. In the past four years, the Obama administration has been aggressive about promoting Pell Grants as a way to address the issue of opportunities that you were just talking about for people who are increasingly financially squeezed. So what about that?
SANCHEZ: Pell Grants are in trouble because the demand is so huge now. I mean, this program was created in 1972. It's the single-biggest federal financial aid program for low-income college students. The maximum award is about $5,500 a year, although the average is closer to $3,800. But it only covers about a third of the total cost at a public four-year school.
Still, it is really the only way some people can afford college, certainly poor students. Today, there's nearly 10 million undergraduates - that's out of about 16-and-a-half million - attending two and four-year schools with a Pell Grant. And the surprising thing is that most of these recipients - 60 percent of them - are not young people going to college after high school. They are considerably older students who've come back to school. They've been hit hard by the job losses, and they've come back to school for more training and education. So it's not young people. It's really people in their mid-20s, up to mid-30s, who really need this kind of help.
MARTIN: So you're saying that there's a possibility of a real drought, I guess, for college funds.
SANCHEZ: Well, here's what the Obama administration - and, in fact, during the presidential campaign, the big issue on this question of the Pell Grants was that these needed to be refocused, meaning that only the neediest students would be eligible. Right now, you're eligible for a Pell Grant if your total family income is no more than $50,000. Some people say that's too high. So what people are talking about now - and I'm assuming that the Obama administration is going to have to consider this - is bringing that number down and essentially cutting off a lot of people who need the money because, you know, there's only so much money for the growing demand on Pell Grants.
MARTIN: I have a related question. The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys is warning that a quote-unquote "student debt bomb" is going to hit the economy soon. Why are they saying that?
SANCHEZ: Because people are borrowing more and more to be able to pay for college. Remember that state cuts in higher education have been enormous, on average 25 to 30 percent in most states. And the fact that students have had to borrow more - not just from the government, but from private lenders - means that there is over a trillion dollars in student debt out there, and that's going to continue to go up. And so will the default rates. We're already seeing the default rates go up. This debt bomb that the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys is talking about is akin to what some consider the home mortgage crisis, and that's pretty scary.
In 2013, I think we're going to begin to see a greater and greater concern. How or if lawmakers can resolve this, I'm not sure, but clearly, this is a problem that is right around the corner.
MARTIN: We're looking ahead at what our guest believes will be the top education issues of 2013. We're talking with NPR education correspondent Claudio Sanchez.
Now, we've been spending a lot of time talking about higher education. Let's talk about K through 12. You are saying that the traditional vision of public schools is going away, and that that's going to be replaced by a hybrid system. What do you mean by that?
SANCHEZ: A hybrid system is already here. The hybrid school system that I think about is one where the traditional public school - the one right down the street or around the corner - has to offer students an alternative if that school is failing. And this is spearheaded, really, by the growth of charter schools, charter schools being the publicly funded, privately run, in many cases, often for-profit schools that have just blossomed just about everywhere. Forty-one states, two million students, over 60,000 charter schools are now up and running. And these are huge numbers for a movement that began 20 years ago.
And in cities like Washington, D.C. - where now, almost 40 percent of kids are attending charter schools - that's been an enormous thing. That's created a parallel school system, in many ways, that is directly competing with public schools. And public schools have been forced to rethink how they're doing things, because they've seen at least the successful charter schools attract a huge number of people, even though most of these successful schools have waiting lists. I mean, the dynamics of public education have changed forever.
MARTIN: What do we know about who will be taking leadership on education issues in a second Obama term? Is the secretary of education, Arne Duncan, has he said anything about his plans?
SANCHEZ: The Obama administration has been very low-key about what its plans are. There is no moon shot in 2013 on education. On the other hand, the federal government has established itself, certainly, as a powerbroker in creating better schools, attracting better people to teaching. So it's well-established. Its authority is there.
What I think has now shifted and will continue to shift is returning the power of education reform to the states - namely, to legislatures and to governors. And we're going to see that play out in 2013 - by that, I mean that, you know, the move to adopt the so-called common core standards, a national - who would've thought? I mean, 10 years ago, the discussion of national standards was just not something on the horizon, and yet here we are with governors and legislatures leading the way on creating the kind of standards that allow people to compare kids' performance from one end of the country to the other. And that is going to be an important move, and legislatures and governors are going to be very much in the middle of it.
MARTIN: And what about the role that parents are playing in education and are expected to play in the year ahead? You know, we hear wildly contradictory things about that. On the one hand, we keep hearing that parents are in charge, you know, and parents are really driving this train and their dissatisfaction with schools is driving this. On the other hand, sometimes it seems that parents really have very little to say about what goes on in schools. So what do you see in that area?
SANCHEZ: I see a huge story developing on the parent's front. Now there's something called the parent trigger, and it was a law that first came out of California. This is a law that exists in several versions in seven states, but at least 20 legislatures are likely to consider it in 2013 and beyond. What this law says is that if 50 percent of parents in a failing school are upset and want to see changes, dramatic changes - whether that means a takeover of the school, firing half or more of the staff, or simply turning a school into a charter school - these are options that are now on the table.
In California, that's been a nasty fight. It started in Compton, California. That didn't work because the effort to get these parents organized backfired. It was led by an organization - a million-dollar-run organization called Parent Revolution, run by a former Clinton administration adviser. And these are folks who are saying it's time for parents to have real power, to rethink and to re-create the kinds of schools that they would like to see.
The one place where it has succeeded - and we just did a story about this - was in Adelanto, California, where mostly immigrant parents, many of them undocumented, essentially took over their school. And in the fall this year, they're going to open a charter school. But it created such a bitter division, that the warning from skeptics about whether this is the answer or not in terms of getting parents involved is that the danger here is that you poison the environment so much that you can never reconcile parents in a community, those who are opposed to this idea or those who want to see dramatic changes. But it has created the possibility of parents having enormous power, much more clout, if they're organized.
MARTIN: Claudio Sanchez is NPR's education correspondent. He was kind enough to join us in our Washington, D.C. studios. Claudio, thank you for your contributions to our reporting so far. We look forward to more conversations in 2013. Thank you for joining us.
SANCHEZ: Great to be with you. Happy New Year. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | <urn:uuid:54cb2d02-eea6-4d24-b623-31d700c3d39a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wyomingpublicradio.net/post/how-deferred-action-will-affect-classrooms | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980788 | 2,860 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Moses Loses His Cool
Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.
Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink." So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him.
And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."
This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the LORD, and He was hallowed among them.
Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. "Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the hardship that has befallen us, how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers. When we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border.
Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King's Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.'"
Then Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword."
So the children of Israel said to him, "We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more."
Then he said, "You shall not pass through." So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.
Now the children of Israel, the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying: "Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the water of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; for Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there." So Moses did just as the LORD commanded, and they went up to Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. Now when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.
The king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. So Israel made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities." And the LORD listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called Hormah.
Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
Now the children of Israel moved on and camped in Oboth. And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
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When I got interested in beekeeping, I did the opposite of most beekeepers. I took a beekeeping class before I bought my hive. In fact, I think I was the only one in my class who did – I distinctly remember the other students laughing good-naturedly because it was such a novel idea. Evidently, most people inherit a hive, or they’ve worked with other beekeepers and know the drill or they decide to just, pardon the pun, wing it.
So if you’re in the “wing it” camp (or any of those others) and you just want to start beekeeping, what do you do?
A standard Langstroth hive, the white one everyone recognizes, consists of:
- several boxes (the big ones are called “hive bodies,” where the bees build brood, or baby bees; and the small ones are “honey supers” where they store the honey)
- a bottom board
- a lid
- an outer cover
You’ll need some frames to stick in the boxes, for the bees to build their comb on.
Most beekeepers outfit the frames with wax foundations so the bees have something to start on. You’ll also need a smoker, a feeder of some kind, an entrance guard and protective gear. For protective gear, you can buy a whole suit or just a shirt or jacket, or you can use your own. I’d also recommend gloves (mine come up to my shoulders) and a veil, either built into your suit, or separate.
I bought the Kentucky Special from the Walter T. Kelley Company because I liked having everything in a kit, from nails to foundation wax. (Kelley was recommended in my class; the name is just a happy coincidence!)
My kit came unassembled and unpainted, but you can buy ready-made kits, too. I don’t own a suit or jacket (I use a heavy cotton shirt) and my helmet and veil were gifts from another beekeeper.
Find a Location
The best location for a hive is facing east, near a water supply, preferably with afternoon shade. Mine sit in the backyard under a tree, and the only downside is that I have to mow around them. This fall I plan to make a patio and garden back there so I don’t have to irritate them (and me) with the mower.
Get Your Bees
The easiest way to get bees? Order them online. They come in a box, either by mail or FedEx.
You typically get 3 lbs of bees in a package (about 10,000 bees), and since you’re starting a hive from scratch, you should order a package with a queen. I ordered mine from kelleybees.com when I bought the hive.
You can also order from local beekeepers — find them through your local beekeepers’ association. If you know a beekeeper whose bees have swarmed, you may be able to charm them out of the swarm.
Register Your Bees
Find your local extension service by calling your county government or Googling. Then ask if you need to register your bees. Most states require that you register all hives, and that they be inspected once a year.
Join a Support Group
Just kidding. But it might not hurt to join your nearest beekeepers’ association. They’re a good place to find a mentor, buy local honey, purchase beekeeping supplies and get bees.
Subscribe to a Magazine (or Two)
I’m more a reader than a joiner, so while I never joined my local beekeepers’ group, I do go to the library to read: Bee Culture and the American Bee Journal. I also like these beekeeping sites: Melissa Bees, The Barefoot Beekeeper and Sweet Seattle Life. I also recently started tracking my hive on Hive Tracks, which is probably better-suited to people with more than one hive, but still a lot of fun. | <urn:uuid:cf3680c2-7771-4ddc-a185-7dbd4bba59cb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hgtvgardens.com/homesteading/bee-season-a-basic-hive-setup?soc=pinterest | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953994 | 840 | 1.53125 | 2 |
ALL FIRED UP
Fire ants are no laughing matter. So why am I laughing as I write this? Because my Internet search for interesting facts about fire ants revealed several Web sites that included jokes about them. My favorite: Why did the fire ant cross the road? To eat the chicken that didn't make it. If that one doesn't do it for you, try this one: Why is hating fire ants considered a genetic trait? Because they often run in people's jeans. O.K., that one isn't really funny. But it makes me laugh because it conjures up images I have of seeing the crazy “dance” moves of anyone who realized too late that they were standing on a fire ant mound — myself included. It's not funny. It's not. But it sure is hard not to laugh.
Being on the receiving end of an attacking fire ant will take the laugh right out of you in a hurry, though. They bite down on you to anchor themselves so that they can jab their stinger into you. And by the time you realize what is happening, they've already released an alarm pheromone that prompts every other fire ant on your body to do the same. About all you can do at that point is hop around and brush them off the best you can while yelling, “It's not funny!” at your husband. At least that's the way I handle it.
It's no wonder that fire ants have quickly become one of the most targeted insect pests in the United States — even though they are a regional problem. And while they don't damage turf in the same way as those pests we traditionally cover in Grounds Maintenance, they merit a spot in this issue of our magazine because grounds managers in at least 11 states (and counting) are forced to deal with them year-round. Viewed as a potentially life-threatening insect (a small percentage of people are allergic enough that fire ant bites can send them into anaphylactic shock), not ridding turf of them puts people at risk. As such, more chemical manufacturers are developing new ways to control fire ants. Some products aim to get rid of ants quickly while others tout keeping ants off property longer. To find the fire ant control best suited for your purposes, turn to “Who's in Control” on page 26.
If you're lucky enough not to have fire ants in your area of the country, there is, no doubt, at least one insect pest that challenges you. Take a look at our cover story (page 10) to see if it's among those designated by entomological experts to be one of the worst turf enemies in your region.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
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Exactly 20 years ago, Adobe Systems came out with Photoshop 1.0. It took them five days to fix the issues of version 1.0 and release 1.0.7. The rest is history. In order to celebrate the occasion, Adobe is organizing celebrations worldwide, with central place being the Photoshop 20th Anniversary event at the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. If you want to see the webcast, visit the official page of Photoshop's 20th Birthday Celebration
There aren't exactly many words you can use for application that changed the world of photography for good. Photoshop
enabled us all to take a regular photo and turn it into a professional-grade sellable product. A lot of industries today, especially fashion industry cannot imagine themselves without Photoshop, that crops the human body in ways unimaginable to mainstream audience, that really thinks models look like that.
Yet, when the product actually launched, the idea behind the project was completely different. 23 years ago, Thomas Knoll was studying at University of Michigan and in his free time, he developed a pixel imaging application called Display. The idea behind this program was just to show grayscale images on black-and-white CRT screens. His brother, John Knoll began adding features and soon enough, Display became ImagePro, an application able to process digital image files, adding simple operations on the images at hand. Less than a year later, Adobe offered licensing agreement and renamed the application as Photoshop.
Originally, Photoshop was Mac-only application but Adobe released Windows version in mid-1990s, and today Windows is the primary platform as far as development focus goes. Unfortunately, this anniversary won't be marked with the release of Photoshop CS5, which is scheduled to debut in April, available as standalone application or as a part of Creative Suite 5.
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WARWICK, RI and SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - February 05, 2013) - Biomedical Structures
(BMS), a developer of biomedical textiles for medical devices and other advanced clinical applications, and Modified Polymer Components
(MPC), which specializes in the design, rapid prototyping and manufacture of reliable, highly precise polymer components for medical device OEMs, today announced their merger. Jointly, the companies will better provide medical device customers with a full spectrum of value-added services across a wider range of applications. Ampersand Capital Partners will be the majority shareholder of the combined company.
Biomedical Structures specializes in the advanced design and manufacturing of medical textiles with expertise in knitting, braiding, weaving, and non-woven technology. The company utilizes a wide variety of implantable-grade absorbable and non-absorbable biomaterials in orthopedic, general surgery, tissue engineering, cardiovascular, bariatric, cosmetic surgery, and veterinary applications, including implantable devices and drug delivery technologies. Working with medical device developers from the ground up, BMS delivers purpose-built biomedical textile solutions from concept design through full-scale production and post-manufacturing. Its advanced textile engineering capabilities enable advanced medical device applications such as bifurcated stent grafts, tapered tendon and ligament repair structures, heart valve solutions, and more.
MPC focuses on the development and manufacture of reliable, highly precise polymer components for major medical device OEMs. Leveraging its proprietary heating system for molding and modifying plastics, MPC has established a market reputation for manufacturing extremely complex and precise medical device components. MPC's capabilities include tipping, flaring, hole drilling, marker band placement, reinforced tubing, printing, electrode assembly, and component level assemblies. MPC's production specialists excel at performing modifications of any complexity to custom and off-the-shelf plastic components including flaring, flanging, joining, tipping, coating, cutting, drilling, skiving and gluing. The company's engineers partner with medical device OEMs early in the design and prototype process, enabling the identification and resolution of potential design problems before production begins.
"We look forward to embracing our relationship with BMS and using our collective expertise to better serve medical device OEMs," said Mike Taylor, CEO of MPC. "With our joint capabilities, we will be a more robust organization that will bring greater value to customers with a wider variety of needs, both related to custom plastics components and medical textiles."
"MPC's unique bonding technologies are enabling exciting developments with custom plastic components for medical devices and other related industries, and we are pleased to be joining the companies to expand both our offerings and theirs," said Dean Tulumaris, CEO of BMS. "By merging BMS and MPC, both companies will benefit from a bicoastal presence and extensive combined resources, without affecting our existing commitments or the established level of superior quality and seamless operational efficiency our valued customers and employees have come to expect."
BMS and MPC plan to provide medical device OEMs with value-added design and contract manufacturing solutions supported by the polymer expertise of both teams of engineers. From plastics to innovative biomaterials, the joint BMS-MPC team delivers sophisticated technical expertise in purpose-built material solutions for medical device engineers, and now ensures a commitment to customer service from coast to coast. BMS and MPC will presently retain existing names and headquarters, while pursuing opportunities to collaborate on value offerings to the medical device market. Dean Tulumaris will lead the combined company and Mike Taylor will transition into his new role of chief technical officer, where he will focus on working with the company's engineers to develop new technologies and provide innovative solutions to their customers.
The companies will be exhibiting at the MD&M West event from February 12-14 in Anaheim, CA. BMS will be in booth 1451 and MPC will be in booth 2378.
About Biomedical Structures
Biomedical Structures LLC specializes in the advanced design, development and manufacturing of biomedical textiles for device manufacturers in the orthopedic, cardiovascular, general surgery, and tissue engineering and regenerative medicine markets. With specialized expertise in bio-polymer fabrication techniques, Biomedical Structures is enabling innovative implantable devices and other breakthrough medical applications. ISO 13485 registered, Biomedical Structures is a trusted outsourcing partner providing a full line of services from concept design to full-scale production, supply chain management, and post-manufacturing sterilization and packaging. For more information, visit www.bmsri.com.
MPC has been servicing the medical device market for more than 23 years, supporting OEMs, inventors and start-ups by manufacturing custom components and assemblies. The company leverages its proprietary RF heating process to provide manufacturing solutions typically thought impossible and its design and development capabilities are complimented by small and large-scale production. MPC is skilled in micro-molding, reinforced shafts, introducers, obturators, electrical assembly, and tube bending with all thermoplastics and many metals. Based in Sunnyvale, California, the company has a 49,600 square foot facility and is ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified. For more information: www.modifiedpolymer.com.
About Ampersand Capital Partners
Ampersand, based in Boston, is a leading private equity firm that focuses on middle market growth equity investments in the Healthcare sector. Ampersand leverages its unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand's portfolio has included more than fifteen years of successful investments in the medical device manufacturing industry. To learn more about Ampersand, please visit www.ampersandcapital.com. | <urn:uuid:b33b41d9-29cb-4aec-b4c2-bad605cf0a42> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?StoryID=286755 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936514 | 1,192 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Most people agree that face-to-face interaction is the best way for management to communicate with employees. Unfortunately, in today's world of global businesses and telecommuting, in-person contact can be difficult to achieve with any regularity. More often, communication from management is comprised of memos and emails. It's quick, but can be impersonal and not necessarily effective. The frustration expressed by both executives and employees with these less than personal communication methods can be summed up with this quote from the film Cool Hand Luke, "What we've got here is a failure to communicate."
In an effort to improve internal communication, businesses are turning to video. Video viewing for personal entertainment and educational purposes has skyrocketed in the past several years among adults ages 18 to 54, and many people are increasingly drawn to video over text when given the option.
In response, businesses are integrating video email into their internal communication action plans. Video mail is an emerging service that gives management a means of communicating with employees in a more personal way - just by recording a quick video from their computer (or phone), then emailing the video link to the desired employees.
Covideo, a leading provider of video mail, saw the potential for this product in 2004 during the initial development. "Millions of people work remotely, having limited contact with an executive team," says Jason Price, co-founder and president of Covideo. "Those employees can easily be dialed into a company's goals and strategies with video mail updates from management."
Video mail is just as effective when communicating to employees under a single roof. "One of our customers is an auto warranty company," Price says. "The CFO recently made a video at his desk explaining the company's new profit-sharing plan, emailing it to more than 200 employees. The whole thing took just a few minutes. His employees get tons of email daily, but they only got one video that day and you can bet they watched it."
An important capability of the Covideo system is tracking. The sender has several reporting options to determine who watched a video, how many times and for how long. Managers can use these analytics to determine the engagement level of employees or how well their message was received. For a more interactive experience, employees with webcams can reply to a video mail with a video of their own - if the option is selected by the sender.
Throughout a business from human resources to the top executives, the use of video mail will transform internal communications by delivering video messages to employees in the most personal way possible - when face-to-face isn't. | <urn:uuid:93445aca-cdd7-4346-95d4-757b5875c125> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.communitycommon.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Growing+number+of+companies+upgrade+internal+communications+with+video+email%20&id=19281766&instance=all | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962962 | 530 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Majors & Career Planning
- Your career choices will not be limited by the major you select. Match your interests and values and the journey will be fulfilling.
- Most students change their major at least once before graduation. During the first two years, many students are still learning about their interests and need more classes and experience before deciding.
- Studies have shown that students who declare a major by their sophomore year in college have an increased probability of graduation.
Deciding on a Major
Concordia University's Catalog
- Browse through the different majors, minors, and program descriptions
- Meet the professors that develop and deliver the courses
- Ask them what characteristics a successful student in that major typically demonstrates
What Do You Want To Do For A Living?
- Consider choosing a Major
What Can I Do with This Major?
- Keep in mind your interests, skills, and values as you consider each option
What Can I Do with a Liberal Arts Degree? | <urn:uuid:dc070dfa-545a-4db0-ab61-e04077415873> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cui.edu/StudentLife/Career-Services/index.aspx?id=19588 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942562 | 199 | 1.671875 | 2 |
|State Supreme Court:
Constitutional to withhold jurors' identities in some cases
Read the opinions
(AOC news release)
In a decision affirming the death sentence a Memphis man received for killing his girlfriend, the Tennessee Supreme Court has held for the first time that jurors' identities may be withheld if their safety could be jeopardized by disclosing their names to criminal defendants.
Writing for a 4-1 majority of the court, Justice E. Riley Anderson said issues raised by death row inmate David Ivy in his automatic appeal were not valid or did not affect the jury's decision to sentence him to death. Chief Justice William M. Barker and Justices Janice M. Holder and Cornelia A. Clark concurred in the ruling which upheld a Court of Criminal Appeals decision.
Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr., agreed with the majority that Ivy's conviction for premeditated first degree murder should stand. In a separate concurring and dissenting opinion, Birch said he disagreed "as to the sentence of death" based on the method used by the court to compare Ivy's case with similar cases to ensure that his sentence was not excessive or disproportionate.
Ivy was convicted and sentenced for the June 8, 2001, murder of LaKisha Thomas. The victim had sworn out a warrant for aggravated assault against Thomas, who was on parole at the time. He shot Thomas five times in front of witnesses as she sat in her car.
"On June 6, 2001, Ivy attacked Thomas and struck her in the head with a pistol," Anderson wrote in the opinion filed Tuesday. "Ivy followed Thomas as she drove to and from the Criminal Justice Center, and he threatened to kill her if 'she put the police in his business.' Two days later, Ivy approached Thomas as she sat helpless and unarmed in her car and he shot her five times at close range. Ivy's actions were intentional and premeditated. He acted without provocation or justification."
Ivy claimed in his automatic appeal that Criminal Court Judge Joseph B. Dailey violated his right to a fair and public trial by an impartial jury. The trial court judge granted a prosecution request to impanel an anonymous jury based on concern for jurors' safety. Members of the jury panel were not identified by name, although prosecuting and defense attorneys were allowed to question them at length during the selection process.
"The prosecution asserted that a witness had been shot at (and her baby injured) following Ivy's preliminary hearing and that a relative of Ivy's had been charged in that incident," Anderson wrote. "The prosecution also asserted that Ivy was a danger to jurors because he had previously escaped from custody."
Anderson said the issue of whether an anonymous jury may be impaneled in a criminal case "is an issue of first impression" for the Tennessee Supreme Court. He said he could find no state law or court rule "that either permits or proscribes the use of an anonymous jury."
In other jurisdictions in which the issue has been addressed, courts "have recognized that impaneling an anonymous jury implicates a number of competing interests," Anderson wrote. Courts must balance the rights of the defendant to maintain the presumption of innocence against the jury's safety.
"In achieving this balance, many courts have adopted a two-prong framework for determining when an anonymous jury is appropriate," Anderson wrote. "The first prong is whether there is a strong reason to believe that the jury needs protection * The second prong of the framework is whether reasonable precautions will minimize prejudice to the defendant and ensure that fundamental rights are protected."
Anderson said Dailey took reasonable steps to ensure the safety of jurors and their families while also protecting Ivy's rights as a defendant.
"* We believe that anonymous juries may be impaneled under Tennessee law," Anderson wrote. "* Given the responsibilities and burdens placed upon jurors in our judicial system, we agree that adopting the two-prong framework used in other jurisdictions allows the trial court to preserve the safety and sanctity of the jury as required in appropriate cases while at the same time preserving the individual rights of the accused."
In affirming Ivy's conviction and death sentence, the court set a June 28, 2006, execution date for Ivy, who has state and federal appeals remaining. | <urn:uuid:b22301f3-522c-4bbf-8add-ec766f7e10c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tba2.org/tbatoday/news/2006/aoc_jurors_022806.html | 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 | 0.97569 | 868 | 1.546875 | 2 |
But the afternoon’s discourse on access, affordability and attainment would have been advanced significantly by reviewing the practices already under way in a sector of higher education not engaged often enough by elected officials and think tanks in Washington.
The thousands of small to medium public and private comprehensive universities and community colleges that exist throughout the United States are where the rubber hits the road for the majority of collegiate students in our nation. And, out of necessity, the leaders of these institutions have the practice of doing more with fewer dollars down to a science.
At the White House Roundtable
For Inside Higher Ed's account
of what transpired at Monday's
event, please click here.
We represent a sector that educates the vast majority of our nation’s college students, yet only a handful of the invitees for today’s event reflect our open-access mission. Had the Administration wanted insight on reaching the ambitious 2020 graduation goal outlined by President Obama as quickly as possible or truly addressing concerns about student loan loads they would have asked for additional participation and input from our institutions. We deserved additional seats at the table.
As President of Frostburg State University, in the University System of Maryland, it is important to me to give voice to the work that we do so well. If one looks across the country we see countless examples of the colleges and universities that are truly the foundations of their communities -- without whom the economies and work forces of their region would surely collapse. And our institutions educate and graduate their students with amazingly low per-student costs.
We have no choice but to be affordable, because the resources don’t exist to be anything but lean operations. We continue to find solutions to issues such as diminishing funds and resources, the inability to raise tuition at the same rates as in-state peers, marginalization in our state capitals when compared with our states’ research flagships, and demoralization of our world class faculty for their choice to work at teaching institutions.
Regardless of these obstacles, we persist and provide a high-quality education to our students in support of our missions. We are focused on educating the best and brightest as well as those students who may not have graduated at the top of their class but understand the importance of a college degree and are working hard to earn theirs. Access isn’t just a catchphrase for our institutions, or a new focus -- it is at the heart of what we are all about.
We utilize best practices such as course redesign in our “gatekeeper” courses, and use online education and technology to engage students through many modalities. We understand how to stretch a dollar while protecting the classroom experience for our students, and our faculty are excellent at employing innovative approaches to retain students and encourage them to graduate.
Frostburg State focuses on experiential education and engaging our students both locally and internationally. We operate only 40 academic majors, unlike many other more expensive universities that have hundreds of majors, and our new majors must intertwine general education with the potential for a great career.
My peer institutions uniquely pave the path to that future by taking to heart our responsibility to educate students about the impact of student loan debt. Although our tuition is more affordable, it isn’t insignificant, especially when paid with compoundg interest.
We understand our role in helping students to be informed consumers should they need to borrow funds for their tuition. This is the only way our graduates can pursue and succeed in the careers and industries that will help our nation reclaim its competitiveness.
We aren’t seen as members of the education elite and our towers aren’t ivory or covered with ivy. Instead, we are where learning occurs and we are willing to share our best practices.
As President Obama and Secretary Duncan consider how to keep higher education affordable, I ask that they include more than a very small sampling of the institutions that are the backbone of their communities and for generations have been models for high quality education and affordability.
The realities of our nation’s economy and the discontent among a growing number of Americans demand it.
Jonathan Gibralter is the president of Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Md. | <urn:uuid:7826d88a-baee-4d8d-98a3-60dd3dd2c8b8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.insidehighered.com/taxonomy/term/195?page=7 | 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 | 0.958942 | 849 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Not all children are lucky enough to have everything they need to go back to school. But the volunteers of the Coral Gables Fire Benevolent Association and Amigos For Kids try to help as many as they can.
Members of the groups recently distributed 1,200 book bags filled with tools for school, and another 500 bags of food, to children in need throughout South Florida
This was the 18th year for the Amigos For Kids “Back to School” Drive and it was held at Jose Marti Park near downtown Miami. The program identifies less privileged children who would otherwise not have the basic supplies on their first day of school.
“The fire service is always prepared and ready for any situation,” said CGFBA President Jim Gossett in a release. “And just like the fire service, we believe the children in our community should be prepared and ready to begin the school year as best as possible.”
Amigos For Kids has responded every day for 20 years to the diverse needs of abused, abandoned, neglected and less-fortunate children, and their families, through the kindness of donors, staff and volunteers. The group has developed many programs for underprivileged children in the South Florida community and its abuse prevention message, “There’s NO Excuse For Child Abuse!” is now reaching national audiences. To help and to get involved, go to www.amigosforkids.org.
LAW STUDENTS HONORED
For its beyond-the-call achievements, especially in the Hispanic community, the Hispanic Law Student Association at Florida International University College of Law was selected to receive the Law Student Organization of the Year Award.
The Hispanic National Bar Association will present the award at its upcoming 37th annual convention in Seattle. The gathering is the HNBA’s flagship event with many planned activities for legal professionals and students.
In the award letter, HNBA President Benny Agosto Jr. wrote, “The Board of Governors of the HNBA is delighted to recognize the extraordinary achievements of HLSA-FIU and its contributions to the Hispanic legal community and Latinos generally.”
The Latina/o Bar Association of Washington will host this year’s convention and it is expected to be the largest gathering of Latino lawyers, judges, and law students in the United States. Lian de la Riva, current president of FIU-HLSA, said it is an honor to work with the group and attributes its success to the past presidents and executive board members.
“In my opinion, what makes our HLSA so unique is the dedication of its leaders, members, and HNBA liaisons,” de la Riva said. “Our mission is to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of law students of Hispanic descent and in achieving it we’ve evolved from a small law student organization into a family.”
AID FOR CASA VALENTINA
More than 120 guests enjoyed tea sandwiches and sweets at a gathering to help transitioning youth become independent after living in foster care. The fifth Ann’s Annual Tea Party was hosted by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Coco Plum Woman’s Club at their historic club house in Coral Gables.
Charleen Connor, an established harpist and the daughter of one of the club’s members, also entertained guests. The group raised over $2,500 at the tea and a check in that amount was sent to Casa Valentina. To learn more about this worthy group and to get involved visit www.casavalentina.org.
AUDITIONS FOR YOUNG SINGERS
Does your child love to sing? Now is the chance to help them develop their talent. All boys and girls, between the ages of seven to 16, are invited to audition for The Children’s Voice, a growing community-wide youth chorus.
Artistic Director Jamie Perez Sutta founded the new group in 2011. Sutta earned her bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education from the Florida State University and her master’s degree from the University of Miami. She said she is passionate about providing opportunities where children can be enriched through music education.
“In our program, children of all cultural and economic backgrounds come together as one to hone their musical and personal skills and to create beautiful music,” Sutta said.
Informal auditions are now underway at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, 14401 Old Cutler Rd. in Palmetto Bay. Weekly rehearsals are set to begin the first week of September. To book an appointment or for more information, visit www.childrensvoicechorus.org, send e-mail to email@example.com, or call 786-216-7003. | <urn:uuid:69f8a547-495d-4a47-8cbc-b21639eb6075> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/17/2956529/firefighters-help-with-more-than.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951861 | 996 | 1.695313 | 2 |
WASHINGTON -- The company behind the popular Path social networking service agreed to pay $800,000 to settle federal charges that it illegally collected personal information from cellphones without the knowledge or consent of its customers, the government said Friday.
Path Inc. of San Francisco collected names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and usernames for Facebook and Twitter accounts from its customers' cellphones without permission, the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission said.
These customers included roughly 3,000 children under 13 and occurred even in cases when a Path customer sought to block the service from collecting the information. The government said Path collected the information the first time a customer signed into the service and upon every subsequent sign-in.
"The user had no meaningful choice as to the collection and storage of personal information from the user's mobile device contacts, and the user interface options were illusory," according to the Justice Department's lawsuit against Path. The Justice Department filed the case against Path on Thursday in federal court in San Francisco at the FTC's request. Path acknowledged the legal settlement on Friday.
Path said in a statement that even before the FTC had contacted the company, it was made aware that its service was allowing children under 13 to register as customers. It said it has suspended all accounts for users under 13.
"There was a period of time where our system was not automatically rejecting people who indicated that they were under 13," the company said. "Before the FTC reached out to us, we discovered and fixed this sign-up process qualification, and took further action by suspending any underage accounts that had mistakenly been allowed to be created."
Path's statement on Friday did not respond to the government's charge that the company had violated privacy assurances that it made to adult customers whose personal information it collected without permission. But it had previously apologized, in February 2012, for what it described as the mistake of collecting that information from adults and said it had deleted its customers' uploaded contact information from its own computers.
Days earlier, the company's chief executive, Dave Morin, had defended the practice in a statement that said, "We believe this type of friend finding and matching is important to the industry and that it is important that users clearly understand it."
The Path fine comes as the FTC adopts new recommendations to make sure companies in the rapidly expanding mobile market are aware of privacy concerns and offer better information to consumers about data practices. The FTC wants app developers and operating system providers, including Apple and Google, to give consumers real-time disclosures and obtain their express consent before accessing sensitive content like geographic location, contact lists and photos.
"This settlement with Path shows that no matter what new technologies emerge, the agency will continue to safeguard the privacy of Americans," said outgoing FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, who on Friday formally announced plans to leave the agency.
Path, founded by Morin, an ex-Facebook employee, calls itself a "personal network." It lets users of Apple and Android cellphones create personal journals and share photos, videos and updates with a smaller group of friends than on Facebook. The app has been popular with children.
The fines assessed against Path were for violating the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits companies from accessing information from children under 13 without a parent's consent.
Leibowitz described rapid developments in cellphones as "a Wild West of sorts," presenting unique challenges for government watchdogs. Customers worldwide bought about 217 million smartphones in the last three months of 2012.
The FTC says consumers using smartphones have become more concerned about privacy. About 57 percent of all app users have either uninstalled an app or declined to install one over concerns about having to share personal information. Less than a third of Americans believe they are "in control" of personal data on their mobile devices, the FTC report found.
"All of this can leave us wondering whether and how our private interests are being protected," Leibowitz said.
The FTC recommended that operating system providers and app developers develop icons that show data being transmitted from cellphones. It also recommended a one-stop "dashboard" that would let consumers review the types of content that apps can access. | <urn:uuid:cf683c86-47a3-4bfe-a95f-c95a9209f332> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/technology_company_fined_over.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968711 | 847 | 1.804688 | 2 |
The grim economy grinds on.
Recently I noted that a very well publicized online job survey appeared to be painting an overly rosy picture about jobs for historians, philosophers, librarians and museum curators. Now today’s New York Times asks Is Law School a Losing Game? And they mean “game.” The article leaves little doubt that law schools work very hard to pump up the appearance that nearly all of their graduates are reaping the golden reward of a law degree. Even if they are waiting tables or stocking shelves.
Yet the issue is more complicated than just fudged statistics and doubtful rankings. The Times also gets to the issue of what can be called student self-deception: “nearly all of them, it seems, are convinced they’re going to win the ring toss at this carnival and bring home the bear.” The article tells the story of one fellow who has $250,000 in law school loans and survives on temp work. He supposedly has no regrets because he has a prestigious degree. “I’m an attorney.” he says. “All of my friends see me as a person they look up to.”
Slate, among others, has bashed the Times repeatedly for running bogus trend stories on subjects such as “winning souls for Christ with mixed martial arts” and “maintained that potbellies were now hip.” But this collusion between school and student strikes me as authentic. I have a child who was drawn into the sparkling promise of law school spell but, thankfully, the spell broke before she enrolled (or took out any loans).
The issue is not limited to law school. A host of articles have appeared recently about the perils of the PhD, particularly those in the humanities. The Economist was especially brutal last month in suggesting that advanced degree seekers grow dispirited over time. The disposable academic: Why doing a PhD is often a waste of time notes that only 57% of U.S. doctoral students overall get the degree within a decade. “In the humanities, where most students pay for their own PhDs, the figure is 49%. Worse still, whereas in other subject areas students tend to jump ship in the early years, in the humanities they cling like limpets before eventually falling off.” Bad job prospects are cited as a reason.
When it comes to careers, all of us face leaps of faith. Few choices come with certainly. But when it comes to making certain investments in an education it seems that more attention is needed on the leap with less reliance on the faith. | <urn:uuid:0f3ac046-48bf-4404-b9a1-a8bea07bb329> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://agogified.com/tag/phd | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979205 | 541 | 1.5 | 2 |
With no other product are people as price sensitive. Back before I knew I had a choice, I would fill my car with the cheapest gas I could find, or would choose a station that was a penny less than its neighbor. I doubt I ever saved more than a dollar on any one transaction, but that was important to me.
Nowadays, because the fuel I buy is cleaner burning, the price is much less important. To me, just being able to use cleaner burning makes paying more worth it. I drive a diesel Jetta TDI and use biodiesel (B20 BLEND for the winter, B99 BIODIESEL in the summer). (In case you are wondering, I pay the retail price for my fuel - the SeQuential employee discount is only valid at the Eugene biofuel station and I live in Portland).
Recently the price of biodiesel has been increasing and has prompted many email questions. For those of you who are wondering, here is a breakdown of the price increases from the SQ Newsletter January 2008:
Biodiesel Price IncreasesIt is important to note that SeQuential only owns one station, the solar-powered biofuel station in Eugene; SeQuential can not set prices at any other locations or with distributors. (See all locations and distributors).
As many of you are aware the price for biodiesel at the pump has been increasing. We have been working diligently to keep costs down, however certain areas are out of our control. As a small local company that was built by our loyal customers, one of our goals is to be as transparent and open as possible. In an effort to keep everyone informed of the industry trends we would like to address some of the causes of this price increase.
1 – METHANOL: The cost of methanol has gone up over 300% since September 2007. Methanol is a key ingredient in biodiesel production and this increase affects not just the SeQuential-Pacific Biodiesel plant in Salem but also biodiesel producers throughout the country. Two of the world’s largest methanol plants experienced unplanned outages due to mechanical and technical production problems which caused this spike in prices. Global supply forecasts are expecting for prices to begin falling by early spring
2 – SOYBEANS - The most common feedstock for biodiesel in the United States is soybean oil and soybean oil prices have increased over $0.90 since September. The SeQuential-Pacific Biodiesel plant in Salem has a capacity of one million gallons per year and primarily uses used cooking oil or Oregon-grown canola. The demand for biodiesel well exceeds capacity and we are importing soy based biodiesel, which is affecting the price at the pump. The SeQuential-Pacific facility is currently under expansion to five million gallons per year.
We appreciate your commitment to locally sourced, cleaner-burning biofuels. We are doing everything we can to keep prices down and to continue offering you a choice in your fueling needs.
If you find the price of biodiesel is too high for you, you can mitigate this is by using biodiesel / petroleum diesel blends. Just fill up partly with petroleum diesel and then top off with biodiesel - the fuels will mix in your tank and it can save you some money. Also, driving less cuts down on fuel costs - try to combine errands into one trip, carpool and when able, take public transportation or ride your bike! | <urn:uuid:f8500895-abd3-451e-bfe1-792e15a7f0b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sqbiofuels.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967903 | 705 | 1.664063 | 2 |
April 14, 2009
As I packed my bags to leave Egypt today, many of my AERA teammates were still buried in work. It’s archaeology but it’s not in the dirt, which brings up a question I’m sometimes asked.
What does the team do with the excavation site once the season is over? They bury it (backfill) with clean sand. To leave the site open to the elements and foot traffic would be irresponsible, as we’d likely come back to much less archaeology than we left the previous season. The Giza dig site is now completely backfilled.
But the heavy lifting goes on. Digging is only one part of the process in archaeology. Excavation is pointless without written reports of the work. AERA’s archaeologists and specialists use reports written by previous excavators to understand features that are sometimes no longer in existence. Future generations of diggers will need to know what AERA has done at Giza. For the rest of April, some of the team members continue their work here in Cairo writing reports.
Word processors, databases, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are as important to modern archaeology as are trowels, brushes, and total stations. It’s a tremendous amount of work for already-tired people working in the non-air-conditioned dig house during Cairo’s soaring April heat.
The team size is slowly evaporating as people complete their work and leave for other jobs and other lives. At the end of the month, the dig house will be emptied and all equipment and records put into storage for next season. This is one of the reasons we’re thrilled about AERA’s new home in Cairo, which will hopefully be ready for next season. The team won’t have to disassemble and reassemble everything every year.
I’ll be getting on a plane early Wednesday morning for the States. It’s been my privilege to be with the team and report on their work from the ground this year. This is one of the best teams in archaeology and they’re tremendous fun to be with.
My thanks to Mark Lehner and the AERA publications team for their support of this blog.
Thanks to Ana Tavares, Mohsen Kamel, Mary Anne Murray, and Richard Redding for reviewing the posts when Mark was unavailable.
Thanks to the team members and students who put up with endless questions about their work and allowed me to use their pictures in the blog.
Finally, thanks for the interest of all the people reading the blog. The blog is really for you. | <urn:uuid:a25be80e-e449-48cf-94c8-340857c76bed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://aerablog.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/buried-again/ | 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 | 0.960149 | 550 | 1.625 | 2 |
Residential Offender Programs Report
September 1, 1991 - December 31, 1999
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Between July 1, 1993 and December 31, 1999, 720 offenders had been released from the work camp facility. About 89.4% (644) had successfully completed the program, 41 (5.6%) had failed to complete the program, and 35 (4.8%) were terminated for medical or administrative reasons.
Only 115 (15.9%) had been recommitted to state prison by December 31, 1999, while 262 (36.3%) had been returned to some form of community supervision, and 343 (47.6%) had no recommitment.
Among offenders who successfully completed the program, 48.7% have no recommitment, and 85.5% have no recommitment to state prison. After two years, nearly 48.7% have had no recommitment to prison or supervision.
Successful program completion varies somewhat with age. In particular, those age 19 or under are less successful (71.4%), compared with rates as high as 94.9% for older groups. Recommitments also vary some by age. Among those 19 years old or younger, 33.3% have been recommitted to state prison, compared to 13.5% of those age 30-34 and 10.3% of those age 35-39.
The work camp program has served 720 males, 388 white offenders, 327 black offenders, and 5 of other ethnic categories. The average time to successful program completion was 147 days, and the average time to program failure was 131 days.
The work camp is no longer serving community corrections. It was turned over to Juvenile Justice in March of 1997. | <urn:uuid:5da7aa8f-030b-44b4-a022-0972d8d550ec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/rop/rop99-12/workcamp61.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982702 | 361 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Dear Vincent and gang,
A couple of times you've mentioned pro-biotic bacteria foods. As an ignorant layman, I wonder if you know of any evidence that these work? If someone's intestine has been cleared by anti-biotics, do these foods successfully deliver the right species to a pioneer territory where they will thrive and breed and establish a new eco-system?
Your podcasts are a gift. Thank you for them. I'd recommend TWIP to anyone trying to diet.
in Twim #12 a nurse practitioner posted an interesting question about the human skin microbiome which received a trivia comment from Michael Schmidt, I believe. He mentioned that humans drop 2 million skin cells per hour. This is really amazing trivia information and I would like to read more about it and learn about the background of the study which estimated this number. Would you be able to provide a title and author for this research, so I could look it up?
TWIM 13 was outstanding; listened to it two times; saved it in my Best Podcasts folderIs there not some way to harness the public as is being done in astronomy, genomics, proteomics and some music projects? Millions of us use all sorts of supplements and while it's a sloppy process, if folks with the technical expertise can tell us intelligent lab rats what to do and how to evaluate what we use, or what to send in (ten million fecal samples comes to mind!), it might be an inexpensive post-doc project that some outfit like the American Dairy Association, or American Dairy Goat Association, would help fund. Despite my lay status, old age and lack of equipment it occurs to me that I am a large bioprocessing complex with multiple sensors, access to a wide variety of reagents and variable environmental conditions, and a computer connected to the internet. I'm not ready to shell out $500 to sequence my genome, but have no problem with $10 worth of drugstore items. Or, what if a million of us kicked in $10 each to fund such a project! If not now, perhaps shortly a microarray or cellphone attachment will make such a project more feasible. People have always been a biological resource, but equipment and boundaries are shifting so that great new ways of using all this should be occurring. Somebody somewhere must be starting the bio-equivalent of Radioshack! Perhaps you know of projects like this and if so, I would like to hear about them. Thanks.Keeping all that in mind I submit to you a link to a guy who made his own microscope incubator, with pictures, at : http://cheapassscience.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/the-diy-microscope-incubator-is-complete/ And that link has links to similar projects in the DIY area. Your topics, your collaborator backgrounds and expertise, your collaboration in the process are amazing to hear, incredibly instructive and powerful. Just because the Fox Network and Rush Limbaugh haven't recognized you is such a blessing, too, but I do hope you continue anyway! I'm some sort of geek cause I live for this stuff.Regards,JimSmithfield, VA | <urn:uuid:e035ae35-dc1e-4ee5-ab4a-06a93d602123> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.microbeworld.org/podcasts/this-week-in-microbiology/letters/1015-twim-15-letters | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949465 | 647 | 1.742188 | 2 |
A successful pilot program targeting non-compliant online sellers by the Australian Tax Office triggered the government body to launch a full blown investigation into the practice, it has been revealed.
The pilot was based on assessments of random eBay and Trading Post sellers over the past 18 months. Although the ATO's senior assistant commissioner Chris Barlow described it as a "small pilot", it gave enough cause for the Tax Office to expand it.
"We certainly haven't drawn any strong conclusions about the level of non-compliance" from the pilot, Barlow said.
As for the number of IT hardware and software cases the pilot may have discovered, Barlow said "there wasn't a large number", but he was unable to give a more detailed industry breakdown.
Under the Income Tax Assessment Act the ATO has the power to gather credit card information, ABN details, dates of birth and more. In this case neither eBay or the Trading Post volunteered to give up this information - they were compelled to, Barlow said.
"It's part of our broad strategy of data matching where we look for new sources of information that would help us identify areas of non-compliance," he said. "Last year we matched 500 million data items over a year [in other schemes]. It's a very substantial program."
The online sellers program targets individuals and businesses that sell $20,000 or more using eBay or the Trading Post. It avoids targeting "mums and dads that are selling the mower" and targets sellers that hide under the guise of multiple identities.
"We do believe that there is potential for people to use multiple registrations, so they register a number of times under different identities. They might be making significant sales. So obviously making $20,000 you'd have to set up multiple different identities to avoid being picked up in the data matching," he said.
The project will most likely take 18 months until it's finalised and reviewed.
"The message we'd like to get out there is that it's not too late for people to come forward and make a voluntary disclosure," Barlow said.
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Issue: 315 | May 2013
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No matter what skills or interests you possess – and regardless if you get paid for them or not – it's indeed possible to learn something new about any and all of them. For instance, though I make my living as a travel writer, I fully admit that my knowledge of travel writing will always be a work-in-progress. Even as I continually labor on guidebooks, magazine articles, and my American Nomad travel blog, I try to make time for learning new aspects of my field, whether that means attending professional development sessions through the Society of American Travel Writers , reading reference books like The Travel Writer's Handbook , escaping into travel memoirs like Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods , or perusing numerous travel websites, such as Chris Around the World .
So, back in September, when I spotted a post on the Tripbase blog entitled “Improve Your Travel Writing with These 10 Lessons,” I eagerly read every word. And despite having been a professional travel writer since the late 1990s, I fully appreciated the refresher course.
As the author, Jo Fitzsimons , states, “Travel writing is a dream job, and it's no longer preserved for the 'professionals.'” So, whether you're interested in writing guidebooks, building an audience for your personal travel blog, or just chronicling your adventures via emails or Facebook updates, Jo has offered the following 10 ways (albeit a bit abbreviated by me) to make your travel writing more successful:
ᴥ Make the First Sentence Count: With an increasing volume of travel content available for consumption, it is ever so important to make your first sentence count. You need to hook your readers and do it fast, or they'll be reading elsewhere.
ᴥ Keep Clear of Clichés: Develop your own voice rather than using once wonderful, now worn-out phrases to do the job for you.
ᴥ Have a Beginning, Middle, and End: Wandering freely is fine when you're traveling, but when you write, meandering can leave you with a piece that is nothing more than a flitting series of thoughts. You don't need to stifle creativity entirely, but before you set off on your writing journey, at least have a beginning, middle, and end in mind. Your readers will thank you for it.
ᴥ Be Relevant: It may be a place that is topical or newsworthy, an event that is about to have an anniversary, or even something you've recently done that your friends and family want to know about. Make your writing relevant and your readers are likely to find it interesting.
ᴥ Add Speech or Quotes: Quotes or speech can add texture to an article and is a particularly useful tool if you find yourself dealing with a lot of facts. Whether you're relaying a local's description of their city, recounting a short exchange during your trip, or including a famous quote, you'll be adding another layer of interest.
ᴥ Check, Check, and Check Your Facts Again: Some people love to capture details; others would rather gaze off into the distance and absorb the feeling of a place. Regardless of your writing style, your readers will expect to read facts, and ones that are 100 percent accurate.
ᴥ Use Your Usual Lingo: Spending hours constructing a complex sentence that blossoms off your tongue may seem appealing, but writing as you speak is easier for both you and your readers.
ᴥ Cut the Fat: An overfilled plate can be intimidating, and an excessively long article or blog can be equally off-putting. Set yourself a word limit relevant to your readership and stick to it. Test every word to see if it is necessary, and if it isn't, press the delete key.
ᴥ Know Your Target Audience: Giving your audience what they want is vital to the success of any travel article, blog, or even email back home. Your parents probably don't want to hear about your antics (uncensored) at a full-moon party, and the budget traveler doesn't want to hear about Michelin-star restaurants and $500-a-night rooms.
ᴥ Travel Wherever and Whenever You Can: It may be an obvious point but travel writing requires a constant influx of inspiration. That's not to say you need to spend thousands on exotic vacations. Traveling around your home town, visiting relatives, or going to a local concert will all provide fresh material for you to write about.
Of course, “even with these tips,” Jo advises, “the most important thing is to keep writing. The skill of writing is like a muscle – it needs to be exercised regularly to keep it strong.” Amen to that!
So, what kind of travel writing do you do – and do you have any additional tips to offer budding and veteran travel writers alike?
As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below, contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com, or connect with me on Facebook and Twitter .
Disclosure: While I occasionally accept free or discounted travel assistance when it coincides with my editorial goals, my opinion is never for sale, which means that everything written in my American Nomad blog and Moon travel guides is my unbiased reflection of the things that I see, do, and experience while traveling across the United States.
Photo of Tahquamenon Falls State Park © 2012 Daniel Martone / Text © 2012 Laura Martone | <urn:uuid:864d9d10-c170-4272-91ec-0b56b2c6643f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://moon.com/print/121631 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941636 | 1,173 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Front Page Titles (by Subject) CXCII.: Luther Martin's Reply to the Landholder. 1 - The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, vol. 3
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CXCII.: Luther Martin’s Reply to the Landholder. 1 - Max Farrand, The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, vol. 3
The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, ed. Max Farrand (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1911). Vol. 3.
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Luther Martin’s Reply to the Landholder.1
Baltimore, March 19, 1788.
In the recognition which the Landholder professes to make ‘of what occurred to my advantage,’ he equally deals in the arts of misrepresentation, as while he was ‘only the record of the bad,’ and I am equally obliged from a regard to truth to disclaim his pretended approbation as his avowed censure. He declares that I originated the clause which enacts that ‘this Constitution and the laws of the United States, which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land, and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or the laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.’ To place this matter in a proper point of view, it will be necessary to state, that as the propositions were reported by the committee of the whole house, a power was given to the general government to negative the laws passed by the state legislatures, a power which I considered as totally inadmissible; in substitution of this I proposed the following clause, which you will find very materially different from the clause adopted by the Constitution, ‘that the legislative acts of the United States, made by virtue and in pursuance of the articles of the union, and all treaties made and ratified under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the respective states, so far as those acts or treaties shall relate to the said states or their citizens, and that the judiciaries of the several states shall be bound thereby in their decisions, any thing in the respective laws of the individual states to the contrary notwithstanding.’ When this clause was introduced, it was not established that inferior continental courts should be appointed for trial of all questions arising on treaties and on the laws of the general government, and it was my wish and hope that every question of that kind would have been determined in the first instance in the courts of the respective states; had this been the case, the propriety and the necessity that treaties duly made and ratified, and the laws of the general government, should be binding on the state judiciaries which were to decide upon them, must be evident to every capacity, while at the same time, if such treaties or laws were inconsistent with our constitution and bill of rights, the judiciaries of this state would be bound to reject the first and abide by the last, since in the form I introduced the clause, notwithstanding treaties and the laws of the general government were intended to be superior to the laws of our state government, where they should be opposed to each other, yet that they were not proposed nor meant to be superior to our constitution and bill of rights. It was afterwards altered and amended (if it can be called an amendment) to the form in which it stands in the system now published, and as inferior continental, and not state courts, are originally to decide on those questions, it is now worse than useless, for being so altered as to render the treaties and laws made under the federal government superior to our constitution, if the system is adopted it will amount to a total and unconditional surrender to that government, by the citizens of this state, of every right and privilege secured to them by our constitution, and an express compact and stipulation with the general government that it may, at its discretion, make laws in direct violation of those rights. But on this subject I shall enlarge in a future number.
That I ‘voted an appeal should lay to the supreme judiciary of the United States, for the correction of all errors both in law and fact,’ in rendering judgment is most true, and it is equally true that if it had been so ordained by the Constitution, the supreme judiciary would only have had an appellate jurisdiction, of the same nature with that possessed by our high court of appeals, and could not in any respect intermeddle with any fact decided by a jury; but as the clause now stands, an appeal being given in general terms from the inferior courts, both as to law and fact, it not only doth, but is avowedly intended, to give a power very different from what our court of appeals, or any court of appeals in the United States or in England enjoys, a power of the most dangerous and alarming nature, that of setting at nought the verdict of a jury, and having the same facts which they had determined, without any regard or respect to their determination, examined and ultimately decided by the judges themselves, and that by judges immediately appointed by the government. But the Landholder also says that ‘I agreed to the clause that declares nine states to be sufficient to put the government in motion.’ I cannot take to myself the merit even of this without too great a sacrifice of truth. It was proposed that if seven states agreed that should be sufficient; by a rule of Convention in filling up blanks, if different numbers were mentioned, the question was always to be taken on the highest. It was my opinion, that to agree upon a ratification of the constitution by any less number than the whole thirteen states, is so directly repugnant to our present articles of confederation, and the mode therein prescribed for their alteration, and such a violation of the compact which the states, in the most solemn manner, have entered into with each other, that those who could advocate a contrary proposition, ought never to be confided in, and entrusted in public life. I availed myself of this rule, and had the question taken on thirteen, which was rejected. Twelve, eleven, ten and nine were proposed in succession; the last was adopted by a majority of the members. I voted successively for each of these members, to prevent a less number being agreed on. Had nine not been adopted, I should on the same principle have voted for eight. But so far was I from giving my approbation that the assent of a less number of states than thirteen should be sufficient to put the government in motion, that I most explicitly expressed my sentiments to the contrary, and always intended, had I been present when the ultimate vote was taken on the constitution, to have given it my decided negative, accompanied with a solemn protest against it, assigning this reason among others for my dissent. Thus, my fellow citizens, that candour with which I have conducted myself through the whole of this business obliges me, however reluctantly, and however ‘mortifying it may be to my vanity,’ to disavow all ‘those greater positive virtues’ which the Landholder has so obligingly attributed to me in Convention, and which he was so desirous of conferring upon me as to consider the guilt of misrepresentation and falsehood but a trifling sacrifice for that purpose, and to increase my mortification, you will find I am equally compelled to yield up every pretence even to those of a negative nature, which a regard to justice has, as he says, obliged him not to omit. These consist, as he tells us, in giving my entire approbation to the system as to those parts which are said to endanger a trial by jury, and as to its want of a bill of rights, and in having too much candour there to signify that I thought it deficient in either of these respects. But how, I pray, can the Landholder be certain that I deserve this encomium? Is it not possible, as I so frequently exhausted the politeness of the Convention, that some of those marks of fatigue and disgust, with which he intimates I was mortified as oft as I attempted to speak, might at that time have taken place, and have been of such a nature as to attract his attention; or, perhaps, as the Convention was prepared to slumber whenever I rose, the Landholder, among others, might have sunk into sleep, and at that very moment might have been feasting his imagination with the completion of his ambitious views, and dreams of future greatness. But supposing I never did declare in Convention that I thought the system defective in those essential points, will it amount to a positive proof that I approved the system in those respects, or that I culpably neglected an indispensable duty? Is it not possible, whatever might have been my insolence and assurance when I first took my seat, and however fond I might be at that time of obtruding my sentiments, that the many rebuffs with which I met, the repeated mortifications I experienced, the marks of fatigue and disgust with which my eyes were sure to be assailed wherever I turned them — one gaping here, another yawning there, a third slumbering in this place, and a fourth snoring in that — might so effectually have put to flight all my original arrogance, that, as we are apt to run into extremes, having at length become convinced of my comparative nothingness, in so august an assembly and one in which the science of government was so perfectly understood, I might sink into such a state of modesty and diffidence as not to be able to muster up resolution enough to break the seal of silence and open my lips even after the rays of light had begun to penetrate my understanding, and in some measure to chase away those clouds of error and ignorance in which it was enveloped on my first arrival? Perhaps had I been treated with a more forbearing indulgence while committing those memorable blunders, for a want of a sufficient knowledge in the science of government, I might, after the rays of light had illuminated my mind, have rendered my country much more important services, and not only assisted in raising some of the pillars, but have furnished the edifice with a new roof of my own construction, rather better calculated for the convenience and security of those who might wish to take shelter beneath it, than that which it at present enjoys. Or even admitting I was not mortified, as I certainly ought to have been, from the Landholder’s account of the matter, into a total loss of speech, was it in me, who considered the system, for a variety of reasons, absolutely inconsistent with your political welfare and happiness, a culpable neglect of duty in not endeavouring, and that against every chance of success, to remove one or two defects, when I had before ineffectually endeavoured to clear it of the others, which therefore, I knew must remain? But to be serious, as to what relates to the appellate jurisdiction in the extent given by the system proposed, I am positive there were objections made to it, and as far as my memory will serve me, I think I was in the number of those who actually objected; but I am sure that the objections met with my approbation. With respect to a bill of rights, had the government been formed upon principles truly federal, as I wished it, legislating over and acting upon the states only in their collective or political capacity, and not on individuals, there would have been no need of a bill of rights, as far as related to the rights of individuals, but only as to the rights of states. But the proposed constitution being intended and empowered to act not only on states, but also immediately on individuals, it renders a recognition and a stipulation in favour of the rights both of states and of men, not only proper, but in my opinion absolutely necessary. I endeavoured to obtain a restraint on the powers of the general government, as to standing armies, but it was rejected. It was my wish that the general government should not have the power of suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, as it appears to me altogether unnecessary, and that the power given to it may and will be used as a dangerous engine of oppression, but I could not succeed. An honorable member from South Carolina most anxiously sought to have a clause inserted securing the liberty of the Press, and repeatedly brought this subject before the Convention, but could not obtain it. I am almost positive he made the same attempt to have a stipulation in favour of liberty of conscience, but in vain. The more the system advanced the more was I impressed with the necessity of not merely attempting to secure a few rights, but of digesting and forming a complete bill of rights, including those of states and of individuals, which should be assented to, and prefixed to the Constitution, to serve as a barrier between the general government and the respective states and their citizens; because the more the system advanced the more clearly it appeared to me that the framers of it did not consider that either states or men had any rights at all, or that they meant to secure the enjoyment of any to either the one or the other; accordingly, I devoted a part of my time to the actually preparing and draughting such a bill of rights, and had it in readiness before I left the Convention, to have laid it before a committee. I conversed with several members on the subject; they agreed with me on the propriety of the measure, but at the same time expressed their sentiments that it would be impossible to procure its adoption if attempted. A very few days before I left the Convention, I shewed to an honorable member sitting by me a proposition, which I then had in my hand, couched in the following words; ‘Resolved that a committee be appointed to prepare and report a bill of rights, to be prefixed to the proposed Constitution,’ and I then would instantly have moved for the appointment of a committee for that purpose, if he would have agreed to second the motion, to do which he hesitated, not as I understand from any objection to the measure, but from a conviction in his own mind that the motion would be in vain.
Thus my fellow citizens, you see that so far from having no objections to the system on this account, while I was at Convention, I not only then thought a bill of rights necessary, but I took some pains to have the subject brought forward, which would have been done, had it not been for the difficulties I have stated. At the same time I declare that when I drew up the motion, and was about to have proposed it to the Convention, I had not the most distant hope it would meet with success. The rejection of the clauses attempted in favour of particular rights, and to check and restrain the dangerous and exorbitant powers of the general government from being abused, had sufficiently taught me what to expect. And from the best judgment I could form while in Convention, I then was, and yet remained, decidedly of the opinion that ambition and interest had so far blinded the understanding of some of the principal framers of the Constitution, that while they were labouring to erect a fabrick by which they themselves might be exalted and benefited, they were rendered insensible to the sacrifice of the freedom and happiness of the states and their citizens, which must, inevitably be the consequence. I most sacredly believe their object is the total abolition and destruction of all state governments, and the erection on their ruins of one great and extensive empire, calculated to aggrandize and elevate its rulers and chief officers far above the common herd of mankind, to enrich them with wealth, and to encircle them with honours and glory, and which according to my judgment on the maturest reflection, must inevitably be attended with the most humiliating and abject slavery of their fellow citizens, by the sweat of whose brows, and by the toil of whose bodies, it can only be effected. And so anxious were its zealous promoters to hasten to a birth this misshapened heterogenous monster of ambition and interest, that, for some time before the Convention rose, upon the least attempt to alter its form, or modify its powers, the most fretful impatience was shown, such as would not have done much honour to a State Assembly, had they been sitting as long a time, and their treasury empty; while it was repeatedly urged on the contrary, but urged in vain, that in so momentous an undertaking, in forming a system for such an extensive continent, on which the political happiness of so many millions, even to the latest ages, may depend, no time could be too long — no thoughts and reflections too great — and that if by continuing six months, or even as many years, we could free the system from all its errors and defects, it would be the best use to which we could possibly devote our time. Thus my fellow citizens am I under necessity of resigning again into the hands of the Landholder, all those virtues both of a positive and negative kind, which from an excess of goodness he bestowed upon me, and give him my full permission to dispose of them hereafter in favour of some other person, who may be more deserving, and to whom they will be more acceptable: at the same time, I must frankly acknowledge, however it may operate as a proof of my dullness and stupidity, that the “ignorance in the science of government” under which I laboured at first was not removed by more than two months close application under those august and enlightened masters of the science with which the Convention abounded, nor was I able to discover during that time, either by my own researches, or by any light borrowed from those luminaries, anything in the history of mankind or in the sentiments of those who have favoured the world with their ideas on government, to warrant or countenance the motley mixture of a system proposed: a system which is an innovation in government of the most extraordinary kind; a system neither wholly federal, nor wholly national — but a strange hotch-potch of both — just so much federal in appearance as to give its advocates in some measure, an opportunity of passing it as such upon the unsuspecting multitude, before they had time and opportunity to examine it, and yet so predominantly national as to put it in the power of its movers, whenever the machine shall be set agoing, to strike out every part that has the appearance of being federal, and to render it wholly and entirely a national government: And if the framing and approving the Constitution now offered to our acceptance, is a proof of knowledge in the science of government, I not only admit, but I glory in my ignorance; and if my rising to speak had such a somnific influence on the Convention as the Landholder represents, I have no doubt the time will come, should this system be adopted, when my countrymen will ardently wish I had never left the Convention, but remained there to the last, daily administering to my associates the salutary opiate. Happy, thrice happy, would it have been for my country, if the whole of that time had been devoted to sleep, or been a blank in our lives, rather than employed in forging its chains. As I fully intended to have returned to the Convention before the completion of its business, my colleagues very probably might, and were certainly well warranted to, give that information the Landholder mentions; but whether the Convention was led to conclude that I ‘would have honoured the Constitution with my signature had not indispensable business called me away,’ may be easily determined after stating a few facts. The Landholder admits I was at first against the system — when the compromise took place on the subject of representation, I in the most explicit manner declared in Convention, that though I had concurred in the report, so far as to consent to proceed upon it that we might see what kind of a system might be formed, yet I disclaimed every idea of being bound to give it my assent, but reserved to myself the full liberty of finally giving it my negative, if it appeared to me inconsistent with the happiness of my country. In a desultory conversation which long after took place in Convention, one morning before our honourable president took the chair, he was observing how unhappy it would be should there be such a diversity of sentiment as to cause any of the members to oppose the system when they returned to their states; on that occasion I replied that I was confident no state in the union would more readily accede to a proper system of government than Maryland, but that the system under consideration was of such a nature, that I never could recommend it for acceptance; that I thought the state never ought to adopt it, and expressed my firm belief that it never would.
An honourable member from Pennsylvania objected against that part of the sixth article which requires an oath to be taken by the persons there mentioned, in support of the constitution, observing (as he justly might from the conduct the convention was then pursuing) how little such oaths were regarded. I immediately joined in the objection, but declared my reason to be, that I thought it such a constitution as no friend of his country ought to bind himself to support. And not more than two days before I left Philadelphia, another honourable member from the same state urged most strenuously that the Convention ought to hasten their deliberations to a conclusion, assigning as a reason that the Assembly of Pennsylvania was just then about to meet, and that it would be of the greatest importance to bring the system before that session of the legislature, in order that a Convention of the State might be immediately called to ratify it, before the enemies of the system should have an opportunity of making the people acquainted with their objections, at the same time declaring that if the matter should be delayed and the people have time to hear the variety of objections which would be made to it by its opposers, he thought it doubtful whether that state or any other state in the union would adopt it. As soon as the honourable member took his seat, I rose and observed, that I was precisely of the same opinion, that the people of America never would, nor did I think they ought to, adopt the system, if they had time to consider and understand it; whereas a proneness for novelty and change — a conviction that some alteration was necessary, and a confidence in the members who composed the Convention — might possibly procure its adoption, if brought hastily before them, but that these sentiments induced me to wish that a very different line of conduct should be pursued from that recommended by the honourable member. I wished the people to have every opportunity of information, as I thought it much preferable that a bad system should be rejected at first, than hastily adopted and afterwards be unavailingly repented of. If these were instances of my “high approbation,” I gave them in abundance as all the Convention can testify, and continued so to do till I left them. That I expressed great regret at being obliged to leave Philadelphia, and a fixed determination to return if possible before the Convention rose, is certain. That I might declare that I had rather lose an hundred guineas than not to be there at the close of the business is very probable — and it is possible that some who heard me say this, not knowing my reasons, which could not be expressed without a breach of that secrecy to which we were enjoined, might erroneously have concluded that my motive was the gratification of vanity, in having my name enrolled with those of a Franklin and a Washington. As to the first, I cordially join in the tribute of praise so justly paid to the enlightened philosopher and statesman, while the polite, friendly and affectionate treatment myself and family received from that venerable sage and the worthy family in which he is embosomed, will ever endear him to my heart. The name of Washington is far above my praise. I would to Heaven that on this occasion one more wreath had been added to the number of those which are twined around his amiable brow — that those with which it is already surrounded may flourish with immortal verdure, nor wither or fade till time shall be no more, is my fervent prayer, and may that glory which encircles his head ever shine with undiminished rays. To find myself under the necessity of opposing such illustrious characters, whom I venerated and loved, filled me with regret; but viewing the system in the light I then did, and yet do view it, to have hesitated would have been criminal; complaisance would have been guilt. If it was the idea of my state that whatever a Washington or Franklin approved, was to be blindly adopted, she ought to have spared herself the expence of sending any members to the Convention, or to have instructed them implicitly to follow where they led the way. It was not to have my ‘name enrolled with the other labourers,’ that I wished to return to Philadelphia — that sacrifice which I must have made of my principles by putting my name to the Constitution, could not have been effaced by any derivative lustre it could possibly receive from the bright constellation with which it would have been surrounded. My object was in truth the very reverse; as I had uniformly opposed the system in its progress, I wished to have been present at the conclusion, to have then given it my solemn negative, which I certainly should have done, even had I stood single and alone, being perfectly willing to leave it to the cool and impartial investigation both of the present and of future ages to decide who best understood the science of government — who best knew the rights of men and of states, who best consulted the true interest of America, and who most faithfully discharged the trust reposed in them, those who agreed to or those who opposed the new Constitution — and so fully have I made up my own mind on this subject, that as long as the history of mankind shall record the appointment of the late Convention, and the system which has been proposed by them, it is my highest ambition that my name may also be recorded as one who considered the system injurious to my country, and as such opposed it.
[1 ]P. L. Ford, Essays on the Constitution, 360-371; first printed in the Maryland Journal, March 21, 1788. For the origin of this controversy see above CLVII, CLXII, CLXXV, CLXXXIX-CXCI, see also CXCIX. | <urn:uuid:4fbc4564-7b7d-43c0-b646-3271d673d1cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=1787&chapter=96644&layout=html&Itemid=27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982343 | 5,577 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Jessica Lange Decries Bush Era of Torture, Prison Camps, and War
Actress Jessica Lange launched another assault on the Iraq War and the Bush administration on Friday as a speaker at her daughter Hannah Shepard’s commencement from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. "We are living in an America that, in the last seven and a half years, has waged an unnecessary war, established prison camps, condoned torture, employed corporate armies, eliminated the right of habeas corpus, practiced extraordinary rendition, and believe me, this is only a partial list," Lange said, before she launched into more personal observations about the joy of eating sun-warmed strawberries.
Lange has repeatedly launched public attacks on President Bush as a man who "has no heart," who runs a "regime of deceit, hypocrisy, and belligerence," and his tenure has been "an embarrassing time to be an American."
First, here is a larger chunk of Lange’s remarks at Sarah Lawrence, as transcribed and posted by the college:
I look out at your faces and guess most of you graduates are about 22 years old. I think of the world I was living in at that age. Very different from yours and yet, ominously similar.
At 22, for me, the Vietnam war was in its seventh year. Nixon was employing round-the-clock bombing. We were destroying the infrastructure, the people, and the countryside of Vietnam to save it from the Communists.
History repeats itself.
Today, for you at 22, the Iraq war is in the sixth year. Thousands of American soldiers killed. Tens of thousands wounded. Hundreds of thousands Iraqis dead. The infrastructure and land destroyed to save it from (and this is a movable feast) first, tyranny, and then, terrorists.
Now, some of you may feel this is not the proper occasion to make mention of this. However, I would be remiss in addressing a group of young adults if I were to deliberately ignore the political realities that they are faced with.
We are all citizens of a troubled world, yet it is your generation that carries the weight of the future on your shoulders. We are living in an America that in the last seven and a half years has waged an unnecessary war, established prison camps, condoned torture, employed corporate armies, eliminated the right of habeas corpus, practiced extraordinary rendition, and believe me, this is only a partial list—I had to keep myself in check.
I don't wish to dwell on the misery caused by this administration, but that legacy is being passed down to you. It is a heavy burden to inherit and will require tremendous dedication and hard work to put it right again. You must determine if we are going to measure ourselves on the basis of military might and economic power or if there is perhaps something deeper—more essential in our national character—that needs to be awakened.
We must commit ourselves, wholeheartedly, to the pursuit of peace, equality and justice. This should be the realm of your dreams, the altruistic motivation you go forward with as you are moving towards a world unknown.
I believe you've come of age in a complex and confusing time. The commercial forces surrounding you, the absence of meaningful culture, the constant assault by media, fashion, and entertainment. We have become a society that is placated by gadgets, soothed by consumerism and the empty rewards of upward mobility, the celebration of mediocrity and false celebrity, the obscurations of modern life. We need a sea change.
Lange ended her speech with one more political thought:
I hope that you will commit yourselves to the pursuit of peace—to the practice of tolerance and compassion. And be good stewards to our precious Earth. I wish you all the courage to have an adventurer's heart and a life lived in the moment.
Lange has unloaded a regular series of outraged remarks about the Bush team:
-- At a September 24, 2005 anti-war rally in Washington D.C. shown live on C-SPAN: "All their reasons for waging war on Iraq have been proven to be manipulation of facts, untruths, and lies, lies and more lies....Not one military funeral has been attended by George Bush or his Cabinet. [boos from audience] This disregard for human life only reinforces the knowledge that this man has no heart."
-- At a July 8, 2004 Kerry-Edwards fundraiser at New York's Radio City Music Hall, as reported by the New York Times: "Are we going to continue to follow a self-serving regime of deceit, hypocrisy and belligerence? Or are we, after four disastrous years, going to take a step toward our true responsibility as leader of the free world?"-- At a September 25, 2002 press conference at a film festival in Spain, shown on the October 4 celebrity show Inside Edition: "I despise him [President Bush]. I despise his administration and everything they stand for....To my mind the election was stolen by George Bush and we have been suffering ever since under this man’s leadership....And I think this latest thing with Iraq is absolute madness and I’m stunned that there is not opposition on a much more global scale to what he’s talking about....There has to be a movement now to really oppose what he is proposing because it’s unconstitutional, it’s immoral and basically illegal....It is an embarrassing time to be an American. It really is. It’s humiliating." [Streaming Real video] | <urn:uuid:b65d2c32-e129-46e3-8d24-96e662df0f51> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/05/26/jessica-lange-decries-bush-era-torture-prison-camps-war | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963446 | 1,138 | 1.710938 | 2 |
I just came across this article
I think that now really is the time that people need to get informed about who is controlling the world's food supplies. As they say in Food, Inc.
, you get to vote three times a day, make those votes count. Show the corporations that you want better food, safer food, more sustainable food, not sterile food that needs to be manufactured in a lab every year. What's going to happen when Monsanto owns 90% of ALL of our food rather than 90% of "just" the soy, corn and canola (and now they're pushing for alfalfa as well!
)? What power will one corporation have when they have control over the world's food supplies?
If you haven't heard of Monsanto or would like more information, this
is a good starting point. It does't matter whether you are in Australia, America or anywhere else in the world, Monsanto is controlling a lot of your food and every day, they are bullying farmers into submission. As consumers, we have the power of demand, so use it.
Be informed. Make conscious choices everytime you put something into your shopping trolley. | <urn:uuid:ce365ea3-7998-4626-979c-979234d18913> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://reactoss.livejournal.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968919 | 239 | 1.546875 | 2 |
This morning I went hunting for a the correct publisher for a FTP Command Line application for windows. According to the collected record the publisher was http://www.software-download.name/windows-command-line-ftp/ – so I started out by looking up the website. Of course, no publisher record was immediately available on the website, but then I took a closer look at a screenshot of the application, and there I found the missing information.
Software Download is a website promoting applications from programmers all over the world, the programmer is Donalod Tu.
Why make it so difficult to find the correct copyright holder for a program? | <urn:uuid:745bae62-7437-4b41-b9f2-12b3f8202a18> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.evenjahr.com/softwareassetmanagement-phase3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940273 | 131 | 1.554688 | 2 |
View Full Version : Program to show slides on TV from a CD
29th of October 2001 (Mon), 05:49
I want to create a slide program (can be interactive or self running) that can be burned to a CD and then played on a DVD player for viewing on a television. Is there a program that does this or what steps are necessary to accomplish it.
I have hundreds of family slides that I want to copy and share via this method.
29th of October 2001 (Mon), 19:22
For those of you who have viewed my question, I have answered it myself. I went looking for the program I described and found an excellent choice. Pinnacle Express is a program designed to capture, edit, and setup up videos and stills for viewing on television. The program is self contained, right down to the transfer to CD or DVD. It has an interactive menu that allows some "chapter" jumping. I found the program to be intuitive and easy to use. I now have a vehicle to present my slides on television. It works.
3rd of November 2001 (Sat), 06:40
Just a note to anyone who may want to buy Pinnacle Express. I have run into to a programming bug that has made Express pretty much useless. It has a compiler mode that locks up when the files get fairly large. The Program can record in VCD, S-VCD (MPEG2) and DVD mode. My trouble is in the VCD or regular record mode. The other two modes do not appear to be affected by the bug. I hope Pinnacle can remedy this glitch, because the program is just right for producing a "DVD" on a CD.
I will keep you posted.
vBulletin® v3.6.12, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. | <urn:uuid:2831ffc5-03ba-4206-b550-d331d1c28f75> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://photography-on-the.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-1108.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949854 | 380 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Thomas Mannion, of New Boston, New Hampshire, balances his love for bass fishing and his love for his family in a way that makes everybody happy — he combines them.
“I’m a still water bass fisherman,” Tom told us. He sought a boat that would get him where he wanted to be; in the shallow, still waters where the lily pads grow the big bass lurk. “What really drew me to the Sea Eagle FoldCat was it draws only four inches.”
Try Tom’s stealth bass fishing secrets
“One of the best fishing spots I’ve found is in a pond near home. I fish the still water between the shore and a natural berm formed by blueberry bushes. Behind the berm, it’s all still water about a foot deep, filled with lily pads. The fish like that because they feel hidden and safe.”
Tom says there are a lot of smallmouth bass in New Hampshire waters but when you hook a largemouth bass it tends to be a big one: they know how to hide from fishermen. “One of the biggest fish I’ve caught was a 5-1/2 lb. largemouth bass. In New Hampshire, that’s a big fish.”
“I drift along and the fish don’t realize I’m there,” says Tom. “The lily pads separate right around the pontoons as I glide by.” Tom says they’ll spook when the pads move but he keeps it down to barely a crawl — just inches at a time — and the fish don’t seem to notice. “The FoldCat gives good shadow cover, too,” he says. The floor between the pontoons creates a good shadow and, “You can actually see the bass swimming around and under the boat,” because the boat’s shadow cuts the reflection.
An engineer’s a careful shopper
Tom’s an internet engineer who specializes in wireless connectivity. “As an engineer, I look at things from a very analytical point of view,” he says. “I started looking for boats a few years ago and when I saw the FoldCat 375 I knew it was the boat for me.” He says he thought, planned, and asked a lot of questions. “I’ve spent a lot more money with a lot fewer questions on things like cars,” he told us.
When we asked Tom what his boat-shopping criteria were, he reeled them off. “The FoldCat 375 fit my needs exactly. First, it’s perfect for a still water fisherman like me. And the inflatable FoldCat packs small so I don’t have to worry about a trailer, lights, or connections. And with no trailer, you burn less gasoline. A canoe weighs over 100 lbs. and takes two to put on a car top carrier. The FoldCat just goes in the trunk or back of my pickup. That’s priceless. Try doing that with a 12’ aluminum outboard! At the water, I just unload, unroll and inflate it. I got the two-stage pump so inflation is simple.”
But then something unexpected happened. “When Sea Eagle came out with the 440 FoldCat, I had to rethink everything.” He observed, “The 375 is clearly a 2-man craft. The 440 is the same boat but bigger, and can be set up for one to four passengers just by changing a few wing nuts.”
That’s when the family man in him kicked in. “We’re a very close family,” he says, “and we do everything together. The 440 is the perfect boat for that.” Tom says getting a boat the whole family could use and enjoy together was the 440 advantage that tipped the scales. “Frankly, I thought it would be selfish of me to spend time with just one family member when, for a little extra, we could all go out on the water together.”
As a parent…
“My son, Patrick, will be 10 in March,” Tom told us. “He loves to be with me and loves to be on the boat. As a parent, every moment with a child is a teaching moment and I take the opportunity to teach him about boating, fishing, and safety.”
Tom’s happy, Patrick’s happy, and his wife, Colleen is, too. “My hearty thanks to Sea Eagle for a phenomenal product. As a consumer and boater, I couldn’t be happier. If I had it to do over again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
“One more thing,” Tom added. “Anybody want to buy my old aluminum rowboat?”
— Do you have Sea Eagle photos and stories to share? E-mail us! | <urn:uuid:f70929cf-5bec-48bb-b731-313dc6915a0b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.seaeagle.com/2011/02/23/%E2%80%9Canybody-want-to-buy-my-old-almuminum-rowboat%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%94-engineer-bass-fisherman-family-man-finds-the-foldcat-440-fits-his-needs-exactly/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=39eb77acf0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971972 | 1,066 | 1.5 | 2 |
Welcome to Second Grade!!
Sensational Second Grade Reminders
★ Required Forms
o Make sure that you complete all forms and pay all fees.
★ Breakfast/Lunch Money
o Please send your child’s lunch money for the week on Monday morning this makes the process easier for students. (Breakfast $1.50 and Lunch $2.50)
o We will have snack time each day at 10:00. Please send a snack for your child each day. Let’s aim to send healthy snacks and NO CANDY OR SODAS.
★ School Dress Code
o Students are required to comply with the school dress code from our student handbook. Fridays are school “Spirit Days.” Students are encouraged to wear their Titan t-shirts with blue jeans. Please send your child to school in closed toe shoes everyday-no sandals!
★ Behavior System
o In our second grade class, we have behavior lights. (purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red) If your child is on red we will receive a broken rule notice. Once your child receives three broken rule notices, he/she will be sent to the principal’s office. We will also send home a behavior folder every Thursday. This is our way of communicating and keeping you informed about your child’s progress. Please remember to look for your child’s behavior folder every Thursday beginning next week. (Remember to sign and return) Your child should only bring school supplies to school each day!
o Second graders will be given homework Monday-Thursday. Homework is simply a reinforcement of the objectives taught that day in class. Your child will have homework on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. Homework will be due each day. Homework assignments will be listed on the back of our newsletter each week. We will also have a weekly assessment in Reading, Language Arts, and Math.
“REMEMBER TO SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR CHILD” | <urn:uuid:d3b8bf8a-23b9-462a-9a62-4224c20fc08d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://madison-schools.com/Page/362 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939579 | 415 | 1.78125 | 2 |
MONTEBELLO - The California Highway Patrol says traffic is light during the morning commuter rush on the Los Angeles area freeway where a big-rig gasoline tanker torched an overpass.
State Route 60, the Pomona Freeway east of downtown, was shut down for three days after Wednesday's inferno because part of the fire-damaged Paramount Boulevard bridge in Montebello had to be demolished. No one was hurt.
The freeway reopened on Saturday.
Just before dawn Monday, the first workday since the reopening, CHP Officer Jennifer Connolly says Pomona Freeway traffic is flowing at posted speeds.
Elsewhere, she says traffic is generally light on many Southern California freeways six days before Christmas.
Still, California Department of Transportation maps show Interstate 10 is loading up with a brake-tapping ride into downtown Los Angeles. | <urn:uuid:e302a7f5-900b-424d-8ce9-5dcbffd68ae2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.whittierdailynews.com/crime/ci_19577989 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939884 | 174 | 1.53125 | 2 |
The business of selling food that is halal, or acceptable to Muslims, is set to grow rapidly in Europe in coming years as more supermarket chains target the sector, a Nestle executive said on Tuesday.
Frits van Dijk, executive vice president at the world's biggest food group, told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Halal Forum in The Hague he expected the halal food business in Europe to grow by 20 to 25 percent within the next decade.
The total European halal food market is currently valued at about $66 billion, including meat, fresh food and packed food, while the global market is worth about $634 billion.
"We are starting to see that these products are not just in specialty shops but are also starting to get into the mainstream of modern retailers," said Van Dijk, pointing to Britain's Tesco and France's Carrefour, which stock halal goods.
The halal industry is based on a belief that Muslims should eat food and use goods such as cosmetics that are "halalan toyibban", which means permissible and wholesome.
Milk powder, cooking aids, seasoning and sauces are among the most popular halal products in Europe at the moment, while Nestle has recently started selling a range of meat-based and frozen food halal products in France, Van Dijk said.
Nestle is the world's leading manufacturer of halal food, selling about 5.3 billion Swiss francs ($5.23 billion) worth of halal food in 2008, about 5 percent of its annual revenue.
Its established halal food markets include Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and Middle Eastern countries, while France, Britain and Germany are emerging as its key halal markets in Europe.
"Twenty percent of the world's population is going to be Muslim one day and they have expectations, they have needs," said Van Dijk.
"If they want to be confident that what they eat and drink is in line with their beliefs, then a company likes ours has to make an extra effort to try and meet those needs."
About 85 of Nestle's 456 factories globally are now halal-certified but Van Dijk said different interpretations of halal standards around the world were a challenge for the industry.
Muslim jurists do not always agree on what is halal. Islam prohibits the consumption of pork and prescribes how animals must be slaughtered, but there has been debate on the acceptability of non-alcoholic beer, collagen and vinegar.
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is working on a single standard to be applied in its 57 member countries, a move that would boost the industry, although politics and varied interpretations may complicate the task.
Van Dijk said the industry needed more transparency and clearer labeling on products would help consumers make up their own minds about whether standards met their expectations. | <urn:uuid:3973a0aa-954d-4bba-979a-1fe0258117ab> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/11/17/91612.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969888 | 587 | 1.601563 | 2 |
General Surgery, Department of Surgery
General Surgery at Danbury Hospital offers a complete range of surgical services for gastrointestinal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, breast, endocrine, and skin and soft tissue disorders including inguinal and abdominal wall hernia.
Our general surgeons make available some of the most state-of-the-art techniques and technology to provide better, safer care for our patients. Many of our doctors also have advanced training in specialties like surgical oncology, colorectal and minimally invasive surgery.
General surgeons at Danbury Hospital are recognized for their excellence in bariatric (weight loss) surgery. We are designated as a Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and we maintain this designation with a proven track record of excellent outcomes and low complication rates.
Danbury Hospital also maintains a Level II trauma center, with general surgeons available to provide 24-hour emergency surgical care. We have the expertise and training to treat any problem or bodily injury, from minor injuries to severe trauma.
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We also invite you to visit patient and visitor information section to learn more. For more information about General Surgery, talk to your doctor about Danbury Hospital. | <urn:uuid:b6aa50aa-6664-46d6-ae62-718207426129> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.danburyhospital.org/en/Our-Services/Surgery/Programs-and-Services/General-Surgery/About-Us | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93383 | 332 | 1.5 | 2 |
Khezran “Jews” (not ancient Hebrews) " Aryan supremacy" and "master-race casteism"
The thread “Jewish blood line or not ? Zionist and anitisemitism....”
was very detailed and systematic review of the present-days Jews /Zionists origin concluding that number of modern Jews are not ancient Hebrews of Semitic origin but genetically very heterogenous population of Khezr/Khezran orgin.
Evidently some of the modern Jews are offsprings of the idolater Aryan Khezran who appearently turned toward Judaism ( better to say some aspects of false Judaism such as Cabbala and Beth Din) for some reasons.
Like Arthur Koestler, professor of Jewish Medieval History, A. Poliak, in his book Khezriya (published in Hebrew in 1944) claimed that Jews , who lived between Volga river and Caucasus (like Uyghoors,Hoons etc) and inhabitated the ancient Aryan theritory, have been Khezri .
Inhabitants of this theritory lived and promoted hereditary Casts system.
I apsolutelly agree with those that argue we have to make distinction between ancient Hebrews faith (Judaism), that is God’s revealed religion (based on Torah- Scriptures) and “Judaism” that is ethnoreligious phenomenon ( based on Talmud, Beth Din, and, Cabbala) with racial-casteism elements (based on Khezri /Aryan master-race casteism ).
Therefore, this “modern” (false) “Judaism”, unlike original Jewish faith professed by Moses, is neither religion (because most of them are gnostics or atheist) nor nation,
but “cast”, Aryan master-race cast.
You can not become member of the Aryan rulling-cast , as you could not become a Jew.
In my opinion modern “Jewish “ and Zionistic racism and “tale of chosen people” does not stemm from Torah tradition (Old Testamony genuine implications ) but from the Aryan -supremacy ideology of Khezri and their system of Casteism.
Of course some of the Khezri “Jews” (those that became Jews under the Khezran rule, not ancient Hebrew Jews) were rulling cast in this system.
So it is not strange that NWO Cabbalists- Aryan/Khezri “Jewish” elite (that is not biologically or antropologically similar to the ancient Hebrews, at all) consider themselves predestined to rule the world according to the their Aryan origin and belonging to the master –race cast.
But they do not say that it openly or elaborate this issue ,at all (Koestler subtly implied this).
As we see, many people misunderstand the claims of Cabbalistic Jewish elite how they belonge to the “chosen people”, thinking that “Jewish” elite, in this way , allude on their special status in Torah as a “chosen people”.
But this is not true, in my opinion.
Modern Jewish Cabbalistic elite when claim that they are “chosen” acctually imply that they are “Aryan” master-cast.
Khezrian /Aryan pagan and polytheistic religion and mysticism , along with Babylonian religion,astrology, and occultism, Persian Zoroastrianism, dualism and Hellenism (neoplatonism), was stream of so called Ancient Wisdom that had nourished Cabbalistic “Jewish” and European occultism through the illuminati, alchemists and Freemasons of the Middle Ages.
Just one example for discussion –
in my opinion the father of the false “German Aryan race theory” Professor Max Muller just adopted and stupidly adepted (“Germanized”) “Jewish” Khezran- Aryan master-race (rasistic) theory. So the Germans sudenly “became” Aryans although Germans never lived in the craddle of the Aryans
Although the German Nazis, gathered in the occultistic Thul and Vril society and their “military” offsprings Hitler and Himler , indoctrinated by the Khezran , Aryan ,“Jewish” kabbalistic theosophists ( Madame Helena Blavatsky , etc) and other Freemasonic illuminati, openly confronted true faith of ancient Hebrew Jews (based on Divine Scripture -Torah) they tried to revive pagan , Khezran (in part “Jewish”) Aryan culture, symbolism, and mythology that was according to them Primaeval religion of the Aryan race.
Of course Nazis commited genocide only over those Jews , they ,as well as their Cabbalistc mentors regarded “ low-caste” Jews.
Acctually, in my opinion , Nazis, carried out the pernicous plan of their mentors - Cabbalistic, Aryan/Khezran “master-cast” “Jews” to exterminate those Jews that continued to follow only their Divine Scriptures (Torah) and ancient Hebrew tradition ( “low-cast” Jews).
For example, General Karl Haushofer, the director of the Munich Institute of Geopolitics and founder of the Vril Society, who was Hitler's esoteric mentor favored the idea of Dr. Friedrich Krohn to use the "swavastika" as the flag of Nazi Germany. The Swastika is the Sanskrit symbol of solar fire stolen by Prometheus bound to a magical Caucasian rock located in the craddle of Khezran Aryans. The Swastika Sun symbol is a powerful magical device still used in Occult Masonic teachings today.
In conclusion I would say while global Zionists promote political legend – the idea of the
“ Jewish semitic race” and tale of “chosen people” and “hystorical right to Palestine” , their hidden creators, anti-semitists, Cabbalistic Freemasons and “Jewish” Illuminati secretly promote Khezran /Aryan ” Jewish” master-race casteism and consequently their Aryan cast -and -race supremacy.
After all, it is possible that I am totally wrong and my conclusions unreasonable and hystorically unfounded ?!
But this is just my opinion.And I need your feedback. | <urn:uuid:4f9790b2-f16d-4c7d-9fcb-f9e70ef90eaf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.clubconspiracy.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1098&postcount=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931161 | 1,392 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Killing the chill in listed family home PHOTOGRAPHS BY EDWARD WOODMAN
Swan House is a Grade II-listed Arts & Crafts style house just off Chelsea's King's Road. The house was built, in around 1915, by Williams & Cox Architects, an architectural practice responsible for much of Chelsea's Edwardian architecture and, according to Julian Williams of Shonfield Williams Architects, 'absolutely in touch with the technical innovations of the day'. The construction is 'brilliant, but really odd . . . we found two-inch breeze blocks and really peculiar concrete ...
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For less than the cost of a pint you can have the magazine, iPad edition, full access to TheAJ.co.uk and the amazing AJBuildingsLibrary.co.uk. Subscribe now and experience architecture from a British perspective. The AJ - it's your journal. | <urn:uuid:3f9c8f6c-c94b-4bf2-81a5-33ec02a94c0b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/killing-the-chill-in-listed-family-home-photographs-by-edward-woodman/781083.article | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937918 | 189 | 1.5 | 2 |
- The Enterprise
- The Recorder
A never-used water tower that sits at Myrtle Point Park could be moved to Charlotte Hall, and a massive water tower in California is scheduled for replacement by a larger one.
The water tower currently behind the Hickory Hills shopping center holds 650,000 gallons of water, at a height of 125 feet, Dave Masteller, assistant engineer for the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission, told the county planning commission Monday night. The commission approved both towers.
To serve a growing community in California, Great Mills and Lexington Park, the new water tower will hold 2 million gallons at a height of 147 feet.
“The water towers will be side by side until the existing one is removed,” said Dave Berry, planner with the St. Mary’s County Department of Land Use and Growth Management.
The existing tower at Hickory Hills is steel and sits on several legs. The replacement tower is a composite of a steel bowl on a concrete base. “It will be fatter” than the existing tower, Masteller said.
The Charlotte Hall water tower is to be placed off Golden Beach Road, next to the state’s Charlotte Hall Park and Ride lot, now under construction.
The water tower will hold between 300,000 and 400,000 gallons and stand about 130 feet tall, Masteller said.
The tower will serve the Charlotte Hall town center and provide improved fire protection, MetCom’s budget states. “Currently, the only available water for public fire protection is owned by the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. This tower is at the extreme southern end of our service area with the majority of growth occurring at the northern end of the town center,” according to MetCom.
There are several ground storage tanks for water in the area, Masteller said, and one of them was damaged during an earthquake last year.
With concept site plan approval for the towers, MetCom will bid out the work next year. The Charlotte Hall tower bids should go out in the spring, said David Elberti, MetCom’s chief engineer.
The contractor will have the option of using the old water tower at Myrtle Point Park if it is economically feasible. “Recreation and parks has agreed that can be used,” Elberti said. “It is structurally sound.”
The tower at the Patuxent River waterfront park, visible from the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge, would have to be taken down, sandblasted and repainted and then relocated to Charlotte Hall.
The Myrtle Point water tower has a capacity of 300,000 gallons and was never used. It was erected in preparation for a waterfront complex of homes and a golf course. That development never started after the developer, John McNamara, pleaded guilty in 1992 to defrauding General Motors of $6 billion. His assets were seized by the federal government, which in turn gave St. Mary’s County government the option to buy 192 acres at Myrtle Point. The county bought the land for $1.75 million in 1997. The water tower sat there all the while.
MetCom’s budget for the Hickory Hills water tower is about $4.8 million and the bids should go out later in 2013, Elberti said. The budget for the Charlotte Hall tower is $1.1 million. There is another MetCom project to erect a water tower in Hollywood, but that will come under a planning commission review later. | <urn:uuid:777b9699-cbb0-438c-bdcd-bce24e25df47> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gazette.net/article/20121128/NEWS/711289537/1056/new-water-towers-going-up-in-st-mary-s&template=southernMaryland | 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 | 0.946922 | 729 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Building a community around your startup can be one of the cheapest ways to create momentum for your product. A community is much more than a one-time marketing campaign, and can help you throughout your company’s life cycle if you take the time to grow it right.
Here are 10 tips for getting started.
1. Look Before You Leap
First, take stock of who is already talking about your product or industry and where they’re doing it. Mike Handy, a community consultant, suggests you seek out “pockets of users who are excited about your product or service.” If users are already talking about your product on Twitter, for instance, that’s a good place to start building.
Sumaya Kazi, CEO of Sumazi, recommends “It's best to focus on one to two communities to begin with, and really focus your efforts to grow a community one at a time.” Take stock of where your efforts will be most useful and narrow in on those areas.
2. Get to Know Your Users
Kazi recommends you “use Twitter search to see who is posting about your company, competitor or about a topic that is relevant to your company. You can use that to follow people, start a conversation and engage with them.” This way you can start to build a relevant following from the ground up.
David Spinks, director of community for Zaarly, adds “Startups are always in a rush to build a community as big as possible, as quickly as possible. Slow down. Get to know all of your users one at a time.” This will give you the foundation you need to eventually scale and grow your community.
3. Leverage Any and All Connections at Your Disposal
Kazi emphasizes the value of your own friends and connections to start the community. Ask them to be a part of your community and to help you grow it. Jason Keath, CEO of Social Fresh points out that email lists are often overlooked as a chance to ask your existing community to follow you elsewhere. Social Fresh found early success by building partnerships with conferences and leveraging their audiences, so definitely think about any partners or deals you can make to help build your base.
4. Build Social Into Your Product
If you want people to share, make it really easy on them. When they sign up, give them a checkbox to sign up for your newsletter. Ask them to follow you on Twitter and like you on Facebook as part of your onboarding process. Suggest opportunities for them to tweet or share with their friends. You’ll be amazed how many people will take the step to follow or share just because you took the time to ask.
5. Think in Terms of Advocates, Not Just Numbers
Getting fifty more followers (or even 5,000) doesn’t mean much in itself. Think about building a quality follower and fan base that is engaging with and sharing your content. According to a 2009 Nielsen study, 90% of consumers trust peer recommendations, while only 33% trust online ads. Your goal should be to turn your user base into advocates who help spread the word about your startup in a way you could never do on your own.
6. Expect It to Take Time
Real community doesn’t happen overnight. Spinks advises “Every community will go through an ‘awkward phase’ where conversations feel a little forced and people aren't initiating conversations on their own. It will pass. Keep building your community one person at a time, and it will eventually begin to flow naturally.” The returns on your effort increase exponentially as you grow a real community. Don’t give up when your account doesn’t “go viral” immediately, because unless you’re the Old Spice guy, it’s probably not going to happen.
7. Connect and Help Your Community Members
Having Twitter followers or likes doesn’t mean you have a community. Spinks emphasizes this point: “It's good to engage your users personally, but that's not scalable. That's why it's so important to connect them with each other.”
By focusing on building a place where community members talk to each other, not just you, you’re on the way to building a scalable community that can sustain itself. Make sure your community finds value from their involvement — focus on building that value and your community will not only stick around, but become a huge supporter of your company.
8. Take Chances and Experiment
In some ways, a small community can be a blessing. It gives you the ability to try new things with very little fear of failure or of pissing a lot of people off. Handy suggests you “risk while the risk is low. If no one follows you, there is no where to go but up.” I firmly believe you should always be trying new things, but there’s no better time for your off-the-wall ideas than when you don’t have much to lose.
9. Have a Personality
Think about some of your favorite brands online. Are they boring and dry, or do they have a distinct personality or brand voice?
Now is the time to build your own brand voice and have fun with it. Kazi showcased her brand’s personality on its landing page for beta sign ups. It included quirky messages like "Sumazi can bake 30 minute brownies in 20 minutes flat.” At the end of the signup process, users even got serenaded. They quickly exceeded the number of signups they were hoping to get because people were excited to share and be a part of what they were building.
10. Track Everything
Put numbers behind what you’re doing and track them back to your company’s goals. Note which of your efforts get the best response and try to do more like them. As Handy points out, your “data is telling stories” so make sure you’re listening.
A vibrant community helps you attract new users, keep current users engaged, and provide valuable feedback to help improve your product. At the beginning, getting any retweet or share will be a victory. If done right, however, you’ll find yourself quickly and exponentially growing past those initial milestones. | <urn:uuid:f1cef908-cdc4-408b-beca-ab4a0c04fcb1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mashable.com/2012/01/25/startup-community-building/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962033 | 1,306 | 1.523438 | 2 |
At least eight people killed as winter blizzard snarls US Christmas travel
- From: AFP
- December 22, 2012
A DEADLY winter storm blanketed a huge swath of the US, grounding flights, turning highways into ice rinks and knocking out power to tens of thousands preparing for the Christmas holiday.
At least eight people in five states were killed by the dangerous road conditions since the storm formed near the Rocky Mountains and moved slowly eastward.
The powerful system dumped as much as 60 centimetres of snow in some areas and knocked down trees and power lines with winds gusting as high as 100 kilometres per hour.
Emergency shelters were opened to help those who lost power stay warm as utility crews struggled to reach downed lines on icy and snow-covered roads. Schools and government offices were closed, as were scores of businesses.
"Strong winds will cause blowing and drifting, causing near blizzard conditions and very dangerous driving conditions," the National Weather service warned.
"Only travel in an emergency."
Thankfully, on Friday, the busiest travel day of the year, skies were clear in Chicago - where an estimated 266,000 people will pass through the major aviation hub.
More than 600 flights were cancelled on Thursday at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports as the storm dumped freezing rain and a dusting of snow on runways and whipped up dangerously strong winds.
Hundreds more were cancelled at smaller airports like Detroit, Minneapolis, and Kansas City, according to tracking service FlightAware.
"This storm is not as large as some winter storms we've seen in the past that can result in thousands of cancellations in a day, but the impact is significant due to the number of holiday travelers," FlightAware chief Daniel Baker said.
More than 30,000 people remained without power in Wisconsin, where the governor declared a state of emergency and called up the National Guard to help rescue people stranded on snow-covered roads.
Two people were killed when their car slid into the path of a semi-trailer on a highway in Wisconsin's rural Rock County on Thursday, Channel 3000 news reported.
And an ambulance transporting a woman in labor got stuck on a Wisconsin highway at about 12:30am local time on Friday, the state's emergency management center said. A second ambulance sent to help also got stuck, so a snowplow was sent to drive in front of a third ambulance and get her safely to hospital.
In Iowa, two more people were killed and seven injured in a 25-vehicle pileup after conditions got so bad on a major highway that people couldn't see the cars and big trucks that had slowed down or stopped ahead of them, the State Patrol there said.
Dozens of people were also trapped in their cars, many for hours. One pileup was so bad emergency crews brought food and water to the stranded motorists while they waited for snow blowers and tow trucks to arrive.
Further west in Utah, one woman died of exposure after her car got stuck on an isolated road on Tuesday and she tried to walk out for help, KSL news reported.
A man who was with her in the car was able to walk farther and reach shelter, but by the time rescue crews on snowmobiles found the woman she was dead.
And in Nebraska, two people were killed in separate crashes, KETV news reported. One man died after his car was struck by a big rig when blizzard conditions smothered a Kansas highway, the Dodge City Daily Globe reported. | <urn:uuid:2946b73b-40a3-4789-a99b-29b647a341af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/at-least-eight-people-killed-as-winter-blizzard-snarls-us-christmas-travel/story-fnek2nxs-1226542199191 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982432 | 719 | 1.585938 | 2 |
In 2009, the Cleveland Indians introduced a new Community Outreach initiative called "Fill the House for Charity". During each home baseball season, thirteen different local non-profit service agencies enjoy the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for its particular cause. Each non-profit organization generates revenue through the sale of discounted Indians tickets for a specific Wednesday game and utilizes Progressive Field to share its goodwill message. The Indians donate $5 per every ticket sold by the agency, as well as an additional $1 for every ticket sold to each designated game.
The Indians also provide charities with in-kind items such as a suite, autographed merchandise, a Batting Practice Experience and media exposure.
The Indians teamed up with The Cleveland Foodbank and Tyson Foods to donate 30,000 pounds of Tyson protein to restock Feeding America affiliate food banks in Greater Cleveland. The Cleveland Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, will help distribute the 30,000 pounds of donated protein to over 30 member agencies throughout the Cleveland area.
The Indians help fight pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer through a new initiative called Indians Kick It: a simple concept - raise money for cancer research by playing kickball. Each group that raises $2,500 or more gets to play a kickball game on Progressive Field.
To make it even easier for communities, schools, recreation centers, businesses, colleges, sports teams or just anyone to hold a kickball game; Kick It Kits which include all the basic materials needed to play kickball are sold in Indians Team Shops and online!
"Indians in the Community" is an employee volunteer program that assists area neighborhoods and charitable partners. The Cleveland Indians have completed several major done-in-a-day projects including Rebuilding Together Cleveland and Cleveland Indians Take Over the Cleveland Foodbank.
As a civic leader in the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Indians provide assistance to non-profit organizations to help raise funds necessary to support its missions. In responding to these requests, the department provides in-kind (autographed jerseys, bats, balls, etc) and monetary donations. On an annual basis, the organization donates more than $300,000 and 12,000 items to non-profit organizations.
Tribe players and wives spent thed ay shopping with children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland on August 11 at Macy's Great Northern Shopping Center. Kids ages 7-15 received $100 gift cards for back-to school shopping. Tribe players were on hand to help the kids make the most of their gift card by purchasing clothes, shoes and many other needed items. Each young shopper was given lunch, gift bags and a keepsake photo of them on the Macy's in-store red carpet with their paired Indians player and wives.
On May 3, Cleveland Indians front office associates and members of the Indians Wives Association battled the Cleveland Browns front office during this exciting rivalry, "The Cleveland Sports Bowl", with funds supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland. Over the 10-year partnership, nearly $50,000 has been raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland.
Susan G. Komen For The Cure and Prostate Cancer Foundation: Each year the Cleveland Indians participate in a Mother's Day initiative dedicated to increase awareness for Susan G. Komen For The Cure and raise funds to support breast cancer research. MLB provides pink wristbands and decals to each club and pink bats are used and then collected for auction. Similarly, each year the Indians participate in a Father's Day initiative dedicated to generate awareness and raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Each club participates in a special 6th Inning Stretch to symbolically recognize that 1 in every 6 men will develop prostate Cancer.
Participating organizations include: 4♦ALS Awareness; All-Stars Among Us; Aquafina MLB Pitch, Hit & Run; Commissioner's Initiative for Kids; Jackie Robinson Foundation; MLB Player's Give Back; Prostate Cancer Foundation; Roberto Clemente Award; September 11th Remembrance; Stand Up to Cancer; Susan G. Komen For The Cure; Welcome Back Veterans. | <urn:uuid:a77f24ab-8875-4d3c-add8-5a48bf033f4b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/cle/community/programs_humanitarian.jsp | 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 | 0.932763 | 836 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Apparently, for a large number of readers, the choice whether they select to read a paper or not is often strongly influenced by the title.
I was wondering if the MO-users would be willing to share their wisdom with me on what makes the title of a paper memorable for them; or perhaps just cite an example of title they find memorable?
This advice would be very helpful in helping me (and perhaps others) in designing better, more informative titles (not only for papers, but also for example, for MO questions).
One title that I find memorable is:
Nineteen dubious ways to compute the exponential of a matrix by C. B. Moler and C. F. van Loan.
EDIT: The response to this question has been quite huge. So, what have I learned from it? A few things at least. Here is my summary of the obvious stuff: Amongst the various "memorable" titles reported, it seems that the following statements are true:
- A title can be memorable, attractive, or even both (to oversimplify a bit);
- A title becomes truly memorable if the accompanying paper had memorable substance
- A title can be attractive even without having memorable material
- To reach the broadest audience, attractive titles are good, though mathematicians might sometimes feel irritated by needlessly cute titles
- Titles that are bold, are usually short, have an element of surprise, but do not depart too much from the truth seems to be more attractive in general. 5.101 Mathematical succinctness might appeal to some people---but is perhaps not that memorable for me---so perhaps such titles are attractive, but maybe not memorable
- If you are a bigshot, you can get away with pretty much any title!
If something more precise comes to mind, I will edit the above list. | <urn:uuid:9cbbf34f-109d-483d-9a70-3c79b67b2ce0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mathoverflow.net/questions/44326?sort=votes&page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970826 | 376 | 1.664063 | 2 |
There so many here in the heart of Chicago city, even after the turn of Printers Row neighborhood, Millennium Park and Grant Park at their own chapter, enjoy it all in the loop, even in a week, can be a challenge to n ‘ What is important visitor.
First, is the problem of actually Defining The Loop. For the purpose of this discussion, we’ll call it all in the “L” (elevated train) loop trail that many neighborhoods, benefit a couple of blocks north, south and west.
Let us get to the essentials.
Walk along Dearborn Street from Jackson to Washington Street and enjoy Calder “Flamingo” flank government building designed by My Van Der Rohe, Chagall “The Four Seasons,” near the base of Chase Tower, and the Chicago Picasso – - call it as you will – in the Daley Center. Joan Miro’s sculpture, “Moon, Sun, and one star (Kick failed Chicago),” is a place on Washington west of Dearborn, right through the Picasso.
The Theatre District
First, there are the great old movie palace on Randolph Street, restored to their original brilliance – the Cadillac Palace and Oriental (aka the Ford Center for the Arts Run). In Dearborn, the Goodman Theatre in retaining the facade of the Selwyn and Harris Theater. Finally, there is the drama queen, Chicago (1921), with its marquee idol, its exterior designed to resemble Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and the thing inside her dream traveling. If you can not not take a show there, take a tour. | <urn:uuid:f7261c9a-0a18-4808-b11f-8142c87d6bc5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.duhmiseryindex.info/the-loop-heart-of-downtown-chicago/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933251 | 340 | 1.570313 | 2 |
A Good Turn
The article in the July issue of the Conservationist concerning the Boy Scout program [page 27] was nothing short of top notch.
Having grown up in Scouting (Eagle Scout) and now a troop and district leader in the program, I can attest to the conservation-minded practices that so enrich the Scouting program.
Having been the camp director for two Cub Scout Adventure Camps in the recent past, I was very pleased with the Department of Conservation and the support they offered.
The number of young people that are learning the joys of fishing and hunting seems to be down. The number of boys in the Scouting program is also down. These facts are so distressing considering that we are living in a time when the Scouting program can be such a benefit to our youth.
Maybe with the continued efforts of the Scouting program along with the assistance of MDC we can increase the numbers of young men that will become true outdoorsmen.
Greg Rudroff, Farmington
My father, Mark Vogt, worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation as a towerman for over 35 years. As children, we were taught the importance of respect for wildlife and the laws of conservation. Though my father has since passed, my husband, Steve, continues with these same beliefs.
An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he keeps a watchful eye out for wildlife. With the assistance of a program called Raptor Rehab, he has helped to save and release three injured owls back into their natural environment.
Recently, on a trip through Buffalo, he came upon an owl [caught in a barbwire fence]. It took Steve about 45 minutes to free it because of its wounds. We turned the owl over to the very capable hands of the Raptor Rehab team, where after examination, it will be returned to the wild.
I am grateful that there is a program like this available, and I’m proud of my husband for the respect and love he shares for the outdoors and all the wonder it holds.
M. Kay Hickman, Barnett
Editor’s note: To learn more about the Raptor Rehabilitation Project at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, or to report an injured raptor, call the College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital at (573) 882-7821. You can also visit their Web site.
Back to the Future
Sour Water, the 1957 article featured in the July Time Capsule (page 33), was actually based on Cedar Creek, rather than Dodge Creek as written. The name was intentionally changed in the article to avoid difficulties with the local coal company.
For 50 years, Cedar Creek was drastically impaired. It took over $5 million dollars and the hard work of many people to restore ecological value to Cedar Creek, which thousands of local residents, including visitors to U.S. Forest Service lands, can now enjoy. It is considered a great example of what mine reclamation projects can accomplish.
The Department of Natural Resources did most of the work using federal funds, but MDC has been deeply involved from the beginning.
The author, Robert Hartmann, is very pleased that the creek has been restored and is again populated with fish.
Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and may be edited for length and clarity. | <urn:uuid:b9070f61-31a4-4470-81b4-4de7110b17d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2007/09/letters | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967722 | 676 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Fuerteventura used to be the least-developed of the Canary Islands, however over the past decade or so its stretches of golden sand, sparkling seas (perfect for windsurfing, kiteboarding, surfing and diving as well as just basking) and near-guaranteed sun has put it firmly on the tourist radar.
However, this island is trying hard to preserve its natural environment as it welcomes greater numbers of sun-starved tourists on Fuerteventura flights. Unesco announced in 2009 that Fuerteventura was to be made a Biosphere Reserve, a designation that will protect the west coast, interior and some of the Jandia peninsula in the south.
Morro Jable, a resort town in the south, is home to the Sodabe Turtle Reserve, which is working to reintroduce loggerhead turtles to the island. The Mediterranean monk seal is also in the process of being reintroduced to Los Lobos, a small island nearby.
Twenty-something visitors, water sports enthusiasts and families can enjoy their getaways secure in the knowledge that this is no artificial resort island.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Fuerteventura | <urn:uuid:2ed00a58-3ba1-441a-b507-f7632d7e00f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Fuerteventura/ | 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 | 0.952753 | 243 | 1.8125 | 2 |
As far as I could see in my travels, unfortunately, only 4 days, Kuala Lumpur is a modern city, efficient, with numerous skyscrapers, trains, metro, and a huge number of taxis and buses.
Everything is new, shiny, this for sure, and only the heath of the tropics and Muslims around remind you of being in Asia.
To get from Kuala Lumpur airport to the hotel I spent over an hour but not for traffic jam but for the enormous distance, the taxi driver sped at over a hundred kilometers an hour.
Compare hotel rates through websites such as Expedia will save time and money.
The cost of living low, and the fact that over 80% is Muslim did not create any special problems.
The city does not offer much, or something special, it really is too global and similar to Singapore but on a larger scale. After two days in Kuala Lumpur did not know what to do, what to visit or what to photograph. While I was bored and wandered I entered the old Chinese market in Petaling Street where I had the opportunity to make some really beautiful photos with people busy at their trades.
The best images and photos always come out when you’re alone with yourself and have plenty of time to act calmly.
Apart from this parenthesis of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this first taste of intrigued me a lot and I want to visit the beautiful nature in the future, cities in the area, especially the large natural parks.
Kuala Lumpur remains the economic and commercial center of the country. Kuala Lumpur is the center of finance, insurance, construction, media and the arts in Malaysia.
Infrastructure development in surrounding areas such as Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, the creation of the Multimedia Super Corridor and the expansion of Port Klang has further strengthened the economic importance of the city.
Kuala Lumpur has its origins in A.D. 1850, when the Malay Chief of Klang, Raja Abdullah, hired some Chinese workers to open new tin mines.
These groups landed at the confluence of Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang (Klang River) to open important tin mines.
Kuala Lumpur literally means ‘muddy confluence’. These mines created in fact an important trading post, a border city with many problems including the Civil War of Selangor. Kuala Lumpur was also plagued by diseases fires and floods. In 1881, a flood swept through the city and later a fire destroyed what was not previously swallowed.
These events were often linked to poor city structures made of wood and straw. In response, Frank Swettenham, the British Resident of Selangor, required that the buildings were constructed of brick and tiles.
In 1896, Kuala Lumpur was chosen as the capital of the newly formed Federation of Malay States.
During World War II, Kuala Lumpur was captured by the Japanese army in January 11, 1942.
Japanese stayed until surrender Aug. 15, 1945, when the commander in chief surrendered to the British administration after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- the images have been realized starting from original prints using a scanner HP, wait to load completely the page before click on the photos, be aware that it can take several seconds -
- Kuala Lumpur pictures / Malaysia – portfolio © www.artphotoasia.net - | <urn:uuid:edbd2191-f3d5-4fc6-9a1e-177793841354> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.artphotoasia.net/en/photography/southeast-asia/singapore-malaysia-2007/kuala-lumpur-photos/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952066 | 686 | 1.773438 | 2 |
A special sister city bond between Nelson Mandela Bay and the City of Jacksonville in the United States resulted in great joy for the community of Ward 41, who are now benefiting from the donation of a state-of-the-art mobile clinic.
A delegation from the City of Jacksonville paid a visit to Nelson Mandela Bay in April and donated the mobile clinic to the community of Chatty in Booysens Park.
This humble gesture by the City of Jacksonville was greatly appreciated by the community who before had to a travel far distance to neighbouring areas to access a clinic.
The City of Jacksonville delegation showed another act of human solidarity by pledging the money left over from the purchase of the mobile clinic to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Education Task Team. The amount of R1 600 will be used in the uniform collection drive to buy school shoes for those learners in need.
The sister city relationship between Nelson Mandela Bay and the City of Jacksonville dates back 12 years ago when the two Municipality’s first agreed to cooperate and assist each other in various identified areas of priority.
Jacksonville sister cities secretary, Tina Daniels, said the mobile clinic was bought from a grant of two million dollars from the Gate Foundation under the African Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme.
"We were chosen out of 27 American cities to receive money from the grant, and we identified different areas within Nelson Mandela Bay, with Booysen Park and public health as our priority. We are pleased to be lending a hand and this is not the end. Working with the Department of Education and the Municipality we will be focusing on sanitation programmes and renovations to schools," said Daniels.
Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr Nancy Sihlwayi, said the mobile clinic was a much needed facility in the Chatty community.
"We are extremely grateful to the Jacksonville sister city delegation for the donation, knowing the good that this facility will do in the community of Ward 41,” said Cllr Sihlwayi.
"The 12 year partnership with Jacksonville has brought many positive spin-offs for our city. We have already benefited in capacity building and knowledge exchange over a broad spectrum of areas, such as business, legal services, parks, recreation, customer care and social investment. We value this partnership,” said Cllr Sihlwayi.
A Chatty community member, Sindiswa Nothwana, was equally excited about the mobile clinic.
"I can’t express my gratitude in words, I am very happy. Thanks to the health facility coming to our doorstep, I will not have to walk long distances with my child for check-ups," said Nothwana.
She called on the NMBM to form more partnerships of this sort to benefit the people.
"It goes to show that when our senior political leadership and management in the Municipality visit overseas, they are there to work and we appreciate the effort and its outcomes,” said Nothwana.
The sister city agreement between the Municipality’s of Nelson Mandela Bay and the City of Jacksonville is bearing many rewards, and a donation of a mobile clinic to the community of Chatty is just one of the many ways that the Bay is benefiting from the partnership.
One of the very first patients at the new mobile clinic in Chatty was little Sinomtha Nothwana (2) with her mother, Sindiswa Nothwana and nurse, Letitia Kritzinger. | <urn:uuid:3df24414-6662-43be-a68a-d0b51f82defe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/News.aspx?objID=4&cmd=view&id=1601 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957739 | 714 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Ethiopian Strongman Zenawi Dies
Posted on Aug 21, 2012
Meles Zenawi, iron-fisted prime minister of Ethiopia for 21 years and a key ally in the U.S. war on terror, died Monday of an undisclosed illness. He was 57.
Zenawi was accused of suppressing journalists and political opponents and of bearing responsibility for tens of thousands of deaths in a war with neighboring Eritrea in the late 1990s. He became president in 1991 after helping oust Mengistu Haile Mariam’s Communist military junta, and prime minister controlling the federal government and armed forces in 1995.
A full obituary on Zenawi can be read here.
—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
During Meles’s election win in 2005, when it appeared the opposition was likely to make gains, Meles tightened security across the country, and on the night of the election he declared a state of emergency, outlawing any public gathering as his ruling party claimed a majority win. Opposition members accused Meles of rigging the election, and demonstrations broke out. Security forces moved in, killing hundreds of people and jailing thousands. Almost the entire leadership of an opposition group that won an unprecedented number of seats in parliament was jailed for life for treason.
In 2009, an anti-terror law was enacted, under which more than 100 opposition figures have since been arrested. The government insists it is tackling rebel groups that have links with al-Qaida and Eritrea.
More than 10 journalists have also been charged under the law, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The group says Ethiopia is close to replacing Eritrea as the African country with the highest number of journalists behind bars. Two Swedish journalists were jailed for 11 years on charges of entering the country illegally and aiding a rebel group.
World Economic Forum (CC BY-SA 2.0) | <urn:uuid:cb4631bb-fd1d-4cf6-a40c-38c289e2e009> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/print/ethiopian_strongman_dies_of_undisclosed_illness_20120821/ | 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 | 0.969069 | 383 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Under generally applicable Michigan law, every person is responsible for their own negligence, and if found liable are required to pay damages only in an amount equal to their degree of fault. This principle is known as “comparative” fault. In the construction industry, parties with greater bargaining power have historically sought, by contract, to shift risk to other parties with lesser bargaining power. In response, the Legislature has provided certain limited protections from unfair indemnification clauses in construction contracts.
Under existing Michigan law, MCL 691.991 prohibits agreements in connection with construction projects from requiring one party (the “indemnitor”) to indemnify another party (the “indemnitee”) for damages arising out of bodily injury to persons or damage to property, where those damages are caused by or resulting from the sole negligence of the indemnitee. These types of clauses are declared void as against public policy.
Despite these protections, the existing law still allows many unfair and overreaching indemnification provisions to be included in design and construction contracts.
The new law clarifies that Sec. 691.991 applies to design contracts, and that the protection includes contracts in connection with all manner of private and public construction. Importantly, the new law will require that design and construction contracts with “Public Entities,” (including cities, villages, townships, counties, school districts, intermediate school districts, authorities, and community and junior colleges), must not violate comparative fault principles. In addition, such contracts can no longer require that contractors, and Michigan-licensed architects, engineers, landscape architects, surveyors defend the public entity from negligence claims. However, state universities are exempted from the requirements of the new law. | <urn:uuid:a6a7efb4-a1b1-41a4-a9ca-2d325aafb172> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.michiganconstructionlaw.blogspot.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951056 | 355 | 1.6875 | 2 |
RWANDA DAY UK 2013
Rwanda Day brings together Rwandans and friends of Rwanda living around the world to reaffirm their core national value of Agaciro celebrate the country’s progress and discuss ways of being part of Rwanda’s social-economic transformation. It is an opportunity for Rwandans to meet, interact and exchange views on their country and how they can contribute to the vision of a modern, unified and prosperous nation.
Rwanda’s success depends on Rwandans living at home and abroad working together as well as partnering with friends of Rwanda to achieve set goals. Past events held in Boston, Chicago, Paris and Brussels were a resounding success and attracted many thousands of Rwandans who are committed to their country’s development.
Rwanda Day in London is expected to draw Rwandans and friends of Rwanda from the UK, Europe as well as African communities in Europe.
Rwanda Day in London comes only days after Rwanda’s successful issuance of the Eurobond – just one aspect of a national development strategy grounded in the understanding that business and investment is key to sustaining the economic progress needed for Rwandans to reach prosperity and fully realise their Agaciro (dignity).
An interactive panel with young professionals and entrepreneurs from Rwanda and abroad will discuss the country’s development goals, business environment and opportunities available for those wanting to be part of a country on the move.
An exhibition featuring Rwandan banks and real estate businesses will provide the chance for Rwandans living abroad to learn about financial services, including sending back remittances, and investing in the property market. A selection of companies showcasing Rwandan products will also attend.
His Excellency, President Paul Kagame, will give the keynote address at the event and will participate in an interactive question and answer session with attendees.
The objectives of Rwanda Day include:
Rwanda’s debut Eurobond of US$400 millio...
Kigali- Thursday, February 7, at the Umu...
Bank of Kigali (BK) has today been appro... | <urn:uuid:b91f8f3c-66fa-4fc4-9aab-8d402969118a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rwandahc.org?ccm_paging_p_b902=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93281 | 440 | 1.617188 | 2 |
U.S. Court Reporting Delegation to China
When I received my invitation to be a member of
the first People to People Court Reporters' Delegation to China, I wondered what I could possibly learn about court reporting
and the legal system in a Communist country. To an observer, the Chinese court reporter's method of machine shorthand utilized
in making a written record of the spoken word is very similar to our CAT (Computer Aided Transcription) method.
Denise McCauley from Charleston, S.C. and I were two of 45 court reporters and 12 guests from across the country
who participated in this excursion in June of 2007. We had panel discussions in various locations with Chinese court reporters,
attorneys, and court reporting educators in Beijing in Northern China and in Guangzhou in Southern China. We visited the Beijing
Stenography Association, the Beijing National Culture & Art Vocational School, and the Weisu Stenographic Service Company.
All of our meetings were with translators and I definitely had a sense of some "lost in translation"
moments. First, we were a group of 43 women and two men, all in our 40's, plus. Students attending stenography schools in
China are very, very young. Only a small percent become court reporters, but instead procure jobs with the government, TV
stations, publishing houses, etc.
The students who progress on to become court reporters
only work for about five years after which they attend studies at universities such as the National Judge College or the National
Prosecutor College and become judges and prosecutors. So our counterparts couldn't figure out why we were all so "senior".
Why had we been court reporters for 25 to 40 years? Surely, something must be wrong with the American system.
Another "lost in translation" subject for us was: Do the Chinese
reporters take down every word that is spoken? We are still not sure, but we don't think so. Their written language utilizes
40,000 pictographic square characters of which 10,000 are in current use and only 3,000 of those are in very common use. Their
transcripts are instantly signed off on and made a part of the record. In our litigious society, court reporters go through
the transcript in its entirety before certifying it.
on the subject of our culinary experiences, our group found the food to be very ... interesting. We were served Chinese food
twice a day for two weeks. Breakfast buffets were also comprised of Chinese food with some American entrees such as omelets.
Firsts for us were the garnish of the rooster head, deep fried, on a platter of chicken. The cooked scorpions of which a few
reporters actually consumed. The pig head and feet used to garnish a pork dish. Snake soup which resembled cut-up jelly fish
in a sauce.
Lasting friendships were formed and experiences shared that can't be replicated.
I really, really love my job! | <urn:uuid:8503f898-78ae-4190-a999-76ab2de18313> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lindakjackson.com/id3.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 | 0.974244 | 628 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Book Description: How did the horrendous situation in Afghanistan, with all its implications for recent events and the present time, come to pass? What was the role of the CIA and Pakistani intelligence in the creation of what became the Taliban? What are the implications for the future and lessons from the past for American forces today?This highly controversial book reveals one of the greatest military, political and financial secrets of recent times. It is nothing less than the true, if fantastic, account of how Pakistan and the USA covertly controlled the largest guerrilla war of the 20th Century, dealing to the Soviet Russian presence in Afghanistan a military defeat that has come to be called 'Russia's Vietnam'.This compelling book, put together with great skill by the military author, Mark Adkin, is essential reading for anyone interested in the truth behind the Soviets' Vietnam, and the reasons why, to this day, the war in Afghanistan still drags on despite the victory that the Mujahideen were denied when the Soviets withdrew. ? | <urn:uuid:e81bba1c-3a50-4da8-8795-580042aad532> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.campusbooks.com/books/nonfiction/politics/international/9780971170926_Mohammed-Mohammed-Yousaf-Yousaf_Afghanistan-The-Bear-Trap-The-Defeat-of-a.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963355 | 202 | 1.804688 | 2 |
By MALUM NALU
The death of leading Papua New Guinea ornithologist (bird scientist) Paul Igag –internationally renowned for his work in the Crater Mountain area of Eastern Highlands province – has left a huge vacuum and big shoes to fill within the PNG scientific community.
|Paul Igag…a lifetime passion for birds|
Igag, 46, from Krangket village in Madang province, died suddenly last Friday in Goroka after suffering pains in his chest.
The scientific community in both PNG and overseas is mourning the death of Igag, PNG’s first national expert on birds from PNG, who held a PhD
He was one of the first scientific staff at the young Research and Conservation Foundation of PNG, became one of the first scientific staff at the Wildlife Conservation Society PNG Programme, and then became a founder of the PNG Institute of Biological Research.
Igag, who was born on Feb 24, 1964, was a leader in PNG's movement toward greater scientific autonomy.
Dozens of students and his co-workers affectionately called him "Uncle Paul”.
Close friends and scientific colleagues have created an online memorial in memory of Igag, which they hope will create a good profile of his life and a last record and tribute of all of his accomplishments.
The memorial, needless to say, has been overflowing, which just goes to show the respect Igag commanded both in PNG and overseas.
“Paul (Igag) was PNG's first home-grown ornithologist,” said longtime colleague Dr Andrew Mack.
“He bridged the world of village PNG and Western academia.
“In the field Paul worked well with local assistants and he always trained up a good team of young men and women to help with his various field projects.
“Back in town, Paul collaborated with top ornithologists worldwide.
“Paul's research covered many topics, but his real passion was large parrots.
“He made important discoveries about palm cockatoos and vulturine parrots that have and will continue to help guide conservation of these threatened species.
“We all grieve, but we should also celebrate how lucky we were to have been in the presence of such a wonderful man.”
Igag had worked on the conservation biology of various species at Crater Mountain since 1999 with the support of the Wildlife Conservation Society (New York).
With generous support from the Pacific Biological Foundation, he came to the Australian National University in 2001 to study for a Masters degree under the supervision of Rob Heinsohn and Sarah Legge.
The aim of Igag’s research was to outline the breeding biology and likely causes of threat to three species of large parrot found in the New Guinea rainforest.
Palm cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) and Pesquet’s parrots (Psittrichus fulgidus) are threatened by over-exploitation for food and the thriving trade in their feathers, and along with Eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus) are threatened by loss of habitat.
In January this year, the work of Igag and PNGIBR colleague Miriam Supuma, was featured on a high-acclaimed BBC documentary by international environmental icon Sir David Attenborough on the increasingly-rare birds of paradise.
The documentary followed Igag and Supuma as they went about researching how killing birds of paradise for feathers for ceremonial headdress was endangering rare species.
Supuma described him as “a dear friend who will be missed”.
“I especially admired his humbleness, generosity, enthusiasm and energy for work and was in awe of his knowledge of birds when I spent some time with him and the BBC crew filming the Bird of Paradise Documentary back in Aug 2008,” she said.
“I am lucky to have worked with ‘Uncle’ Paul.
“Like most scientists, there is this thirst for knowledge, inquisitiveness about various things in life that intrigues one.
“Apart from biology, I found ‘Uncle’ Paul to be someone who read broadly especially on religion, spiritualism, astrology, and history.”
Supuma remembers Igag once telling her about a supernatural experience along the wartime Bulldog Trail between Wau in Morobe province and Gulf province.
“I once heard Uncle Paul talk about unusual or sinister encounters in the field,” she says.
“He once told us a story of an experience along Bulldog Trail, Lakekamu Basin.
“He was checking mist nests early dusk, in the mid -1990s, and mentioned of this truck in the middle of nowhere honking its horn and chasing him through the dense foliage!
“He later went on to give another example of himself and Michael Kigl doing field work in Manus and experiencing something similar.
“He wanted to understand why this phenomenon occurred - whether it was the mind playing games after a long exhausting day, or the fact that there really existed a spiritual realm.
“He read the Bible and other literature to try to understand this phenomenon.”
The National journalist Thomas Hukahu, who went to school with Igag at Aiyura National High School in Eastern Highlands and later University of PNG, has fond memories of the man.
“In reminiscing, I can understand that Igag, when getting himself into something would be completely passionate about it,” Hukahu remembers.
“He was a person who loved the outdoors and practical life; thus he chose biology - the life science - to study at UPNG.
“Igag did not come the easy way in life to get to where he was before passing away last Friday.
“I know from his stories that he was a school leaver doing College of Distance Education (CODE) studies in Lae, part-timing with doing ‘bicycle kicks’ at the soccer fields, and was accepted to continue to do grade 11 at Aiyura in 1986.
“I first met Igag a year later as his junior at Aiyura, which waste best national high school in the country at that time.
“To many of us, his juniors at Aiyura and UPNG, Igag was ‘Polex’, the jovial soccer star and big brother.
“We rarely saw him exhibiting a bad temper.
“And he had heaps of jokes and fun to put your dark days away.
“In 1989 we joined Igag again at UPNG.
“His enthusiasm for life, clean fun and soccer had him, Boga Figa from Madang and Emunare Embe from Morobe - all ex-Aiyurans - organising us, mainly ex-Aiyurans and a few ex-Kerevats, to form No Gat Nem (NGN), a soccer team participating in the campus competition.
“The competition was run by Eric Kwa, now UPNG’s associate professor in law and a peer of Igag, and his Morobe boys.
“With the leadership of the big boys, who were also playing for University in Port Moresby soccer competition, NGN scooped up three awards in the competition in its first year: best and fairest team, best midfielder and top goal scorer.
“The top goal scorer went to our striker Leonard Boaz from Solomon Islands.
“In the second year Samuel Koyama from East Sepik same on board as the coach/player of NGN and we continued the fun with Igag and others.”
“The natural science academia will certainly miss Igag, the passionate researcher and academic but we, his many friends, school mates and small boys will certainly miss him, the amiable big brother.”
Igag is survived by seven children from two wives.
“Paul (Igag) was a longtime friend and schoolmate,” PNGIBR colleague, forest ecologist Banak Gamui, said.
“He was a passionate man and never had any enemies.
“He always was an icrebreaker in people’s darkest moments.
“His death is a great loss to his friends and family, as well as the scientific community.”
Igag’s body will be flown from Goroka to Madang today and will be at Krangket village until Sunday when a service will be held at 9am.
His body will be laid to rest at 2pm on Sunday.
For more details contact Banak on 72738242 or Francis Igag on 72742102 at Krangket village. | <urn:uuid:48107b34-7b5f-4124-bf81-7bb1ea5910fe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2010/11/tribute-to-bird-man-of-crater-mountain.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966768 | 1,844 | 1.828125 | 2 |
By now, you've probably had your first cold of the season (a couple of nasty bugs have already gone around!). And if you're like us, you probably asked yourself this question: "Do I push myself to go to the gym, or do I stay home until I feel better?"
We asked American Council on Exercise Spokesman Bobby Morrow, who is also a personal trainer in Lexington, N.C., for the final word on whether it's better to pump iron when you're sick or stay home and watch old movies. And the verdict is ....
Stay home! At least most of the time.
"It kind of depends on what level your cold is. If you just have some sniffles and a runny nose, it's probably OK to follow through on your regular workout. If you have a lot of congestion, a headache and you're feverish, I'd recommend staying away for a few days, allowing that energy to be used by the body to heal itself," Morrow suggests. Bonus: How to Stay Sick-Free
If you have the flu, you definitely have no business at the gym (and you probably have no desire to go, anyway!)
"The flu is very hard on the body, and you don't want to pass it around. Even with the common cold, use precautions at the gym to protect yourself and other folks. Even if you don't have a cold, wipe down your equipment and wash your hands. Most gyms have disinfectant spray and towels."
So how do you know when you're ready to go back?
"I tell folks to use their energy levels as a gauge," Morrow says. "When your energy is starting to come back, I would start with getting back to moderate cardio. If you were doing an hour before, do a half hour for the time being. Monitor how you feel until you get back on track."
But if you want to prevent yourself from getting sick in the first place, regular workouts can help.
"Exercise boosts the immune system -- it really makes you stronger from the inside out," Morrow says.
MORE FROM SELF: 38 Antiaging Foods
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From cave paintings to Kim Kardashian, a review of the bright side and the dark side of the backside.
Could you boycott beauty for a year? This author did.
Return to the Mobile Site | <urn:uuid:342c77bd-7c40-4b18-9341-07f9b8f2fd7a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.youbeauty.com/body-fitness/working-out-with-a-cold | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96672 | 538 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Wales targets farting in cars
A campaign to stop people farting in cars when carrying children is being launched today. Wales’ chief medical officer explained that breathing in farts in enclosed spaces was particularly harmful to children. ‘Green-faced children can often be seen with their eyes watering, gagging as they breathe in the noxious fumes,’ he said.
The Welsh Institution for Freedom to Flatulate (WIFF) claims that farting is a perfectly natural and harmless activity. It is about to launch its own ‘Better Out Than In’ campaign with a short film, ‘Live And Let Fly’, which warns that buttock-clenching to hold in anal acoustics while driving has, in extreme cases, led to loss of control of the vehicle.
‘Silent But Deadly, indeed,’ explained a spokesperson for WIFF. ‘Where would you rather have skid marks – the road or your undercrackers?’ The AA, meanwhile, has advised that trumping while driving is perfectly safe ‘so long as you open a window, keep both hands on the wheel and don’t ask passengers to pull your finger’.
Posted: Feb 1st, 2012 by Guest
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