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I hope that I'm posting this in the right area..
So many assume that disobedience was the first sin, and representative of every bad choice that we might do thereafter.
Adam/Eve didn't know that to disobey was bad though, remember? They didn't make any knowing choice and by all standards were therefore unaccountable. (Okay okay, Adam knew that they would die and that what Eve believed was an illusion - he just didn't conclude that making that choice was bad 'til afterward)
After they ate the fruit, they lost love for themselves (evidenced by shame) and lost faith in God's unconditional love (evidenced by fear). They became aware of the commandment in a new light and concluded that they were bad. They couldn't love themselves through their mistake, so they didn't expect God to either. That doesn't make any of it true!
What it did make true, was that they were disconnected from God because they were disconnected from love. "God is love" (1 John 4:8). That means that they were dead! (Just like God warned - imagine that.)
God, who is represented as a loving father biblically, then is strolling through the garden and doesn't see his children anywhere. Concerned (NOT enraged imo), he inquires (NOT booms imo), "Where are you?" If your own children were hiding because they had just painted their rooms with ketchup, you would still wonder where they were. If you were accustomed to their little voices and laughter, you might grow concerned by their silence.
They were disabled and did not reveal their true selves to God, they did not stop believing the lies that they were telling themselves. They didn't truly come clean and open up.
Rather than shouting "What have you done!!", God will have immediately known the consequences for their actions. If our children drank poison, we wouldn't flare our nostrils and shout. We would sound concerned and plugged in, "Oh no! What have you done?!" Why wouldn't God who paints himself as a parent sound loving and soft in his concern as well?
Are the struggles found in our own childhood interfering with our hearing God in a functional way?
God then tells them what was going to happen because of what they had done. Always concerned for them, and knowing the fig leaves not to be such a great covering for his shame ridden and fear filled children, he dressed them in animal skins.
They will have passed their own dysfunctional thinking on to their children. In 1 John 3:11-14 the people were compelled by the author to love one another, and not to be as Cain, who killed his brother because his own works were evil. Hebrews 11:4-6 says that Abel's sacrifice was offered by faith.. BY faith. It was his faith that made his offering righteous. Cain lacked faith, and so his offering was a lesser sacrifice. In Jude 1:11, the "way of Cain" was to err in the likeness of Balaam for gain.
Remember Balaam? His "ass" spoke to him, after he beat it. He was willing to be hired to curse Israel, though through him God would declare otherwise. He would find himself reciting words that very closely resembled that which God said to Cain, "God is not a man that He should lie, or a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? And has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19).
("If you do well, is there not exaltation? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is toward you; but you should rule over it." Genesis 4:7)
Balaam was originally interested in lying for Balak's wages. God's will superceded his own, not allowing him to do so. Rather, Balaam knew that God was not a man that he would lie.
This lie about Israel's curse, will have had many more implications. Israel was enlisted as mediators (Priesthood) and rulers (Kingship) if they kept the covenant made with God.
One of the first reminders to Israel by Jesus was that the law could be summed up in loving God and (the one "like" it), loving your neighbor. How could humanity, having been disconnected from love ever have kept the law?
Cain, lacking in faith, would take the life of his brother similarly to Balaam's desire, so that he could have God for himself. Yet, what was this lacking in faith which drove the people of the bible to wish to obtain God for themselves? Is this not defined in the garden? Is this not the lack of faith in love itself?
There was a grave need for reconnection and the good news was that Jesus was going to do it. A universal resurrection was to take place - just as death entered the world through one man, life would enter through another (Romans 5:12). Just as "all died" in the work of Adam, so "all" would be given life through and by Jesus (1 Cor 15:22).
The world would not be disconnected from love eternally, a Savior had come. Death would be destroyed in that any validation that could be found in the law to believe the lie, was removed. Love actually fulfilled that law in demonstrating righteousness in contrast to it.
The law condemned. Humanity was bound to sin and death through it. The entire point of that law was to make sin known, so that love might be known in comparison to it. It served its' purpose, so we are freed from it, and even by it.
The law was understood as right living. It was the measuring stick for which humanity determined itself "good" or "bad". Love transcends "good" or "bad" in the very same way that we love our own children through their mistakes.
Did God not demonstrate the same?
The sin of believing the lie still abounds. The good news, is that since we were unable to go to God, God has come to us. We are unable to disconnect from God's warm embrace. If only for a fleeting moment, we might all feel that. | <urn:uuid:432e33ce-08c3-424d-ab4a-e3710163a1f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tentmaker.org/forum/discussions-on-universal-salvation/truth/?prev_next=prev | 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 | 0.993218 | 1,303 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Nov 3, 1998
Making a song and dance about physics
The Cernettes have been pulling in the crowds at CERN since 1990 with their unique blend of '60s pop and physics lyrics from the pen of computer scientist Silvano de Gennaro. Singersongwriter Lynda Williams is a relative newcomer, but ever since she hit the road in 1996 at the 44th Midwest Solid State Conference her feet have hardly touched the ground.
Les Horribles Cernettes are the original physics entertainers. Their name is a play on the title of CERN's next major particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider, and the song Collider was their first hit. It was an anthem to unrequited love in the time of coloured quarks, and it was also a plea from the heart.
Back in 1990 a CERN employee was dating a particle physicist but she hardly ever saw her Romeo because he was always too preoccupied with his experiment. In desperation she asked CERN's de-facto songwriter in residence, Silvano de Gennaro, to put her tragic tale to music.
Soon after, the Cernettes came together. Michelle Muller, the only original Cernette still in the band, teamed up with Catherine Decosse, Caroline Good and Ruth Rubio Marin. That summer they were on stage for the first time at the CERN Music Club's annual "Hardronic Festival". (Mix "hadron" with "hard rock" and that's what you get.) As they belted out for the first time Collider's unforgettable refrain, "You don't go out with other girls either, You only love your collider", there was more than one amorous physicist blushing with shame. Particle-physics partners the world over must have heaved a collective sigh of recognition at that sad story.
Since their first gig in 1990 the band has never looked back. Over the years Michelle has been joined by Angela Byrne, Angela Higney, Anne MacNabb, Patty McBride, Colette Reilly, Sue Swannel, Linda Timms, and Lynn Veronneau. The Cernettes played to thousands at the World Expo in Seville in 1992. They thrilled them to bits at the Computing in High Energy Physics conference, CHEP'92. They've recorded a CD, starred on the FrancoGerman TV channel ARTE, and they still top the bill at the CERN Hardronic Festival. But the final seal of their success came this year with a copy-cat band. All the top groups have them. The Beatles had the Monkeys, Oasis have No-Way-Sis, and at the latest Hardronic festival, the Cernettes had the Canettes ("large beers" in the Geneva dialect). Show me a CERN physicist, male or female, who hasn't felt their attraction (it's a strong interaction) and I'll show you a pig that can fly.
There are many bands out there claiming to be first on the Web, but that honour belongs to the Cernettes whose site includes pictures, sound clips, and even a fan club set up by some ardent admirers in Norway. True, the Cernettes had a head start, being based at the lab where the Web was invented, but they haven't rested on their cyber-laurels. With their latest number, Surfing on the Web, they've made another breakthrough with the world's first interactive pop video. You'll need to be equipped with a VRML (Virtual Reality Mark-up Language) browser to get the full benefit, but once you've got it you can sail off into cyberspace with your favourite Cernette (but only for as long as the song lasts).
- Page 1: Making a song and dance about physics
- Page 2: Making a song and dance about physics (page 2) | <urn:uuid:44182fd8-bb5a-49b3-a033-68076f1375d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cerncourier.com/cws/article/cern/27907 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961259 | 792 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Some earthquake-damaged buildings can't come down quick enough as "foolish'' graffiti artists are pushing the limits to spray their tags.
Vandals have scaled some of the city's biggest landmarks, including the dilapidated AMI Stadium, the old brick railway station on Moorhouse Ave, and the Canterbury Brewery building, to leave their mark.
They've scaled security fences and demolition machinery, and defied gravity to spray their distinctive signatures.
But police are concerned that the practice will end in tragedy and have urged them to stay away.
"They're putting themselves at risk, and more importantly, others who have to extract them if things go horribly wrong,'' says central tactical co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Glenn Nalder.
Graffiti vandalism costs city ratepayers more than $1m every year and the city council has teamed-up with police to try and stamp it out.
But now the local graffiti artist population have turned their attention from shop fronts and residential fences, to the quake-hit structures destined to be demolished.
Police say it's still an offence to vandalise a building which may not be round for much longer, saying it's still someone's property.
"It's just something else that this city doesn't need,'' Senior Sergeant Nalder says.
"These sites are being worked on, and demolished for a reason - they are unsafe.
"It's foolish and it needs to stop before it gets out of hand and someone has a fall.''
Graffiti is an offence punishable by up to three months in prison and a $2000 fine.
Dealing with graffiti
- If someone sees a tagger in the act phone the police on 111.
- If you discover tagging or graffiti on your property or see it on structures such as fences and playgrounds report it to the city council on 941 8999 or 0800VANDAL (0800 826 325).
- If you would like to become a graffiti removal volunteer please phone the council. | <urn:uuid:d1794a61-b7d4-406e-b7a8-2afc0a9a09db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.christchurchstar.co.nz/news/foolish-taggers-target-dangerous-buildings/1505473/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969356 | 409 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Online blood testing - get your private blood test online at MediChecks
If you need a blood test, get yours online from MediChecks. Blood tests can help you spot the early signs of bowel cancer, as well as STDs and allergies. It is important to get regular health checks, get yours today.
,,What is Mesothelioma? is a question many people have in their minds. Considering that this is a quite rare type of cancer, also the questions are many. The problem is that most people are finding out that they suffer of this disease much too late and their healing chances are smaller.
A pregnancy test is usually conducted to determine if a woman is pregnant or not. There are primarily two different types of pregnancy test. The first type is the urine pregnancy test and the second type is the blood pregnancy test. | <urn:uuid:2db74f60-9dfa-4ffb-b691-fa1385d597bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hotklix.com/content/Lifestyle/Wellness/Mesothelioma-Mesomark-Blood-Test_1 | 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 | 0.972727 | 173 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Kids and Emergency Food
We get a lot of questions about how kids like our emergency food and whether or not they’ll eat it in survival mode. It’s hard finding everyday food that your kids will like to eat, let alone food storage meals. With a lot of emergency food you get things like creamed wheat, mystery meat and powdered eggs. None of these things are appealing to children, or most adults, which is why none of these ingredients are what we use in our meals.
Our food is definitely kid-approved. We offer delicious meals that are familiar to your children, with entrees like cheesy macaroni, lasagna, and chilly mac. We also offer freeze dried fruits with yummy yogurts, sauces, and puddings that are sure to please your little picky eater. Our ready-made meals don’t contain any mystery meat either, we use only soy and vegetable protein to keep our food safe and long-lasting. We also offer freeze dried meats, consisting of only real chicken and and all of our ingredients are grown on farms across the United States and FDA approved, so you don’t have to worry about what your kids are eating.
Here are some tips on preparing your kids to eat emergency food:
- Taste test! Feel free to request a sample and see how the positive ratings stack up for your family. Keep in mind that it’s emergency food; we’re confident that you’ll be impressed by the quality of our meals.
- Incorporate the emergency food in dinner or lunch and see how they like it. This will help them get acquainted with the food without relating it to a frightening emergency or crisis.
- The meals are so easy to make, let your kids help prepare their own delicious meal, they’ll be excited how well it comes out after just adding hot water.
We’re sure your kids will enjoy our food like we do. And in an emergency, you want to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. Don’t sacrifice quality for a cheaper product, avoid mystery ingredients and gain peace of mind for your family with our great tasting 25 year shelf life meals. | <urn:uuid:8c98d2fe-7b36-4425-bb87-129d4a11263f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.myfoodstorage.com/mfs/kids-and-emergency-food/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946377 | 455 | 1.640625 | 2 |
A view of the world from Russia
Valuable insights from a non-American perspective (an expat living in Russia): “(Back) Under the Volcano” (1.3 MB PDF), Eric Kraus, Truth and Beauty, 24 May 2010 — Posted with permission. Excerpt:
The frankly self-serving free-market orthodoxy, still taken as axiomatic by many in the financial industry, and which has recently acquired a status close to Holy Doctrine in much of the Anglo-Saxon world, implies at least one quasi-theological assumption – shared, oddly enough, by believers in the Earth Goddess Gaia, as well as by the wilder exponents of the organic foods movement: the assumption is the child-like faith that whatever is “natural4” is by definition “good”.
This can be a dangerous misconception. Both tetrodotoxin and botulism toxins are entirely natural; ingestion of even the tiniest speck will reliably cause death. Similarly, entirely “natural” financial montages can develop structural faults which very naturally lead to economic and thus political catastrophes blighting the lives of generations.
In Praise of Passivity?
One of the most pernicious intellectual sleights of hand of the Neoliberal/Austrian schools of economics is their attempt to ban the very discussion of the purpose of financial systems – i.e. whether or not any particular aspect of the market-economy actually benefits the people living in a given society, asserting instead that markets are natural phenomena which must be left to evolve freely, without any attempt at shaping or channelling them in the interests of “the greatest good for the greatest number.” Their standard assertion is that all attempts at regulation simply introduce inefficiencies, leading to a relative impoverishment of all, a claim that flies in the face of the most obvious evidence: 20th century economic history has seen the greatest increase in wealth in human history, attained during a period characterized by the ever-increasing weight of government.
Markets, and especially, the politico-economic context in which they develop and function, are man‟s creations: from private property to the limited liability corporation; eminent domain to taxation; direct vs. representative government; the various definitions of democracy; war and related means of asserting economic dominance; the role of the individual viz his society; regulation and the role of the state as arbitrator/owner of productive assets; social decisions are made – consciously or otherwise – which condition the economic evolution of each society.
… Perhaps the most vital conclusion is that one size does not fit all. Highly socialized systems seem to work best in the Nordic countries, characterized by a high degree of social consensus and a rather Calvinistic view of society and the obligations of the individual; in the more individualistic/anarchic Latin and Slavic cultures, laws and regulations tend to be seen as hurdles – to be gotten over, under or around. The “ideal social model” is thus one corresponding to the era, culture and economic conditions of a given country. …
The Twilight of the Ideologues
… We find that the ideology accompanying the Reagan-Thatcher Revolution meets most of the criteria for Dogma: a unitary ideology proposing one simple solution (Free Market Magic) to every conceivable problem, oblivious to any empirical evidence to the contrary. In brief, said evidence would include the observation that aggressive deregulation has resulted in the relative impoverishment of the Western middle-classes, that the best human development indices are to be found in Nordic countries practicing a relatively statist form of capitalism, but especially, the fact that none of the Asian Tigers undergoing the spectacular transformation from agrarian backwater to industrial powerhouse did so on the basis of laissez-faire – all employed complex, pragmatic mixtures of free-market capitalism with very substantial state involvement. The sad fate of those post-Soviet states which adopted the most extreme forms of liberalism – the Baltics – contrasts with the relatively better outcomes in the more moderate Central European countries – e.g. Poland, Slovakia, etc.
A Covent of Whores: The Economist
As we had expected, the Western press has begun to tone down its anti-Russian rhetoric, at long last displaying some measure of balance in its reporting. The great exception – the Economist – now confronted with the defeat of virtually everything it had shilled for (The Orange Revolution, Saakasvilli, “the Baltic miracle”, NATO expansion up to Russia‟s borders, Russia‟s pro-Western opposition, Russia‟s “isolation” by the West – all now reduced to ashes…) is growing increasingly hysterical. Despite their oft-reiterated predictions of doom and gloom, of fratricidal political wars (which, in fact, never broke out), of riots and revolutions (existing only in the fevered brains of the authors), and of the inevitable failure of what proved to be Russia‟s first successful economic model in a century at least, Russia is beginning her new decade on a very positive note. Although the effects of the global credit crunch were amplified by Kudrin‟s excessive reliance upon the global financial system, the economy has recovered, and is once again growing well above consensus.
More to the point, on the diplomatic front, the EU has abandoned the insanely confrontational policy of the Bush administration and is actively courting Russia; even the British have become suddenly solicitous as they watch Germany walk away with all the best contracts (with France and Italy bagging the rest.) NATO has resumed discussions with Russia, and has gone dead silent regarding Abkhazia and So. Ossetia, the de facto independence of which has now been recognized by all but the most clueless of observers. Significantly, negotiations have resumed in Brussels aimed at defining the “New European Security Architecture” – met with such scorn when first suggested by President Medvedev a year ago.
… The absurd prediction put forward by The Economist and its ilk that President Medvedev would mark the beginning of a new wave of Russian reform by releasing one of the men who most contributed to the catastrophic failure of the first post-Soviet government now lies in a cold grave, along with virtually every prediction they have made.
Other posts about Russia
- Forecasts – Why wait? Read tomorrow’s news … today! (part I), 11 July 2006 – Rise of the petro-empires
- More news about Russia’s demographic collapse, 6 June 2008
- Perhaps *the* question about the Georgia – Russia conflict, 10 August 2008
- Keys to interpreting news about the Georgia – Russia fighting, 12 August 2008
- What did we learn from the Russia – Georgia conflict?, 13 August 2008
- Comments on the Georgia-Russia fighting: Buchanan is profound, McCain is nuts, 15 August 2008
- Best insight yet about America and the Georgia-Russia fighting, 15 August 2008
- Georgia = Grenada, an antidote to Cold War II, 16 August 2008
- “The Medvedev Doctrine and American Strategy”, by George Friedman, 4 September 2008
- Rumors of financial war: Russia vs. US, 22 September 2008
- Before we reignite the cold war, what happened in Georgia?, 12 December 2008
- Rumors of financial war: Russia vs. US, 22 December 2008
- More weekend reading; information you want to have!, 23 December 2008 — Russia as the last man standing in a region of demographic collapse.
- A free lesson from Russia: how to manage a banking crisis, 6 February 2009
- “The Russian Economy and Russian Power” by George Friedman of Stratfor, 2 August 2009
- For more about this website, see the About the FM website page.
- You can subscribe to receive posts by email; see the box on the upper right.
- Contact us (WordPress keeps your contact information confidential): | <urn:uuid:6dc5ee8b-1633-411a-85a2-078e86d0961c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fabiusmaximus.com/2010/05/30/053010russia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9359 | 1,642 | 1.546875 | 2 |
In case you haven’t had a chance to read the 1000+ page stimulus bill that was passed on Friday, Ron Lieber at the New York Times has highlighted some of the provisions that will directly affect the average American.
Here’s our summary of what Lieber has put together, supplemented with more details from the Associated Press:
- Tax credit of up to $400 for individuals, $800 for couples for 2009 and 2010. Figure your individual credit by taking 6.2% of your earned income. Note that your employer can adjust your withholdings so that the credit is returned to you over the year instead of all at once. The Associated Press says most people will see this in the form of a $13 bump in weekly paychecks starting in June, and dropping to about $7.70 a week for the duration of 2010.
- The $1000 child tax credit will be extended to more families, and if you’re a poor family with three or more kids, you’ll get an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit.
- No tax on the first $2400 of unemployment you receive in 2009.
- The government will subsidize up to 65% of your premium for Cobra coverage if you lost your job after Sep 1st, 2008. If you declined Cobra, you’ll have 60 days to reconsider.
- $87 billion is going to help states administer Medicaid, which the AP notes “could slow or reverse some of the steps states have taken to cut the program.”
- If you get food stamps, you’ll get more.
- If you’re drawing unemployment, expect to see $25 more per check, and the duration of the benefits has been extended.
- If you receive Social Security payments, you’ll see a one-time extra payment of $250.
- If you buy a new car, light truck, recreational vehicle or motorcycle in 2009, you’ll be able to deduct the state and local taxes you paid on it.
- If you add energy-efficient doodads to your home this year, you can get a tax credit to cover 30% of the costs, up to $1500.
- Pell Grants will increase slightly.
- The “Higher Education Tax Credit” will refund “up to $2,500 of the cost of college tuition and other related expenses in 2009 and 2010. You’ll need to spend at least $4,000 in a single year to get the full credit.”
- You can use withdrawals from a 529 college savings plan to cover computers and related technology and services for the first time in 2009 and 2010.
- First time home buyers who buy between January 1-December 1 2009 will receive a refundable tax credit of up to $8000, figured by taking 10% of the purchase price of your home. The credit doesn’t have to be repaid, but you do have to keep the home for at least 3 years.
- The amount of pre-tax income you can set aside through your employer for public transit will increase to $230 a month (equivalent to what you can set aside if you drive).
- The Alternative Minimum Tax has been set aside for another year.
- $3.7 billion will go to local police programs, mostly for hiring new officers.
Many of these tax credits fade out if you make over $75,000 annually, or $150,000 as a couple. | <urn:uuid:6fe4499b-c560-438a-90b2-cc867b9934b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://consumerist.com/2009/02/15/what-the-stimulus-bill-has-for-everyday-americans/comment-page-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948817 | 719 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Airline Mergers / Delta / NWA / → All Tags
Airline Mergers: Delta-Northwest Deal May Actually Happen
It's been a bit since we last heard from Delta and Northwest about their forthcoming tie-up. But today Delta announced that pilots for both airlines have agreed to a "joint contract" that will cover all 12,000 of them when the merger is completed "later this year."
According to the Associated Press, the pilots still haven't figured out a way to combine their seniority lists--which decide who flies where and how much they're paid--but will agree to binding arbitration if they can't make a deal.
Though European regulators have already approved the merger, antitrust G-men in the US still have to give it the OK, as do shareholders. That later group might be encouraged to give it a nod if they believe what one industry analyst said today: Delta could turn a profit in 2009 if oil stays at its current price of about $115 a barrel.
· Delta and Northwest Pilots Approve Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement [Official Site]
· Voting Deadline Looms for Delta, NWA Agreement [AP, via Google]
· UAL, Delta May Lead Carriers to Profit [Bloomberg]
· Airline Mergers coverage [Jaunted] | <urn:uuid:0f14e98c-e6ad-4649-9285-71bf7d2bbd9a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/11/17344/9726/travel/Airline+Mergers%3A+Delta-Northwest+Deal+May+Actually+Happen | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937637 | 268 | 1.507813 | 2 |
June 19, 2013 Sections
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
The Selinger government will take two more years than previously planned to balance the province's books.
Premier Greg Selinger and his financial lieutenant, Stan Struthers, told the Free Press on Monday their new target for getting Manitoba out of the red is the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Until last month, the government had stuck to a more than two-year-old pledge to balance the books by 2014-15. But in backing off that promise -- on the day of the throne speech -- the province had not set a new timetable.
Selinger will detail the government's thinking behind the new fiscal target when he presents his annual state of the province address at the Winnipeg Convention Centre today. The event is sponsored by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.
The premier said Monday the new timeline is based on continued global economic uncertainty.
"The reality is that we're seeing a global recovery which is fitful and uncertain and, on the evidence, seems to be slower than previous recessions," Selinger said, noting the federal government and virtually every other Canadian province is in the same boat.
A month ago, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty amended his timetable for putting the nation's finances back into the black. Instead of a balanced budget by 2015-16, Flaherty said it would take Ottawa another year to reach its goal.
Selinger will explain to the chamber today lower projected economic growth, growing health, corrections and family services costs and the effects of federal belt-tightening are behind the new timeline.
The government refuses to entertain deep budget cuts to balance the books. Instead, it will attempt to put the brakes on spending growth while focusing on skills training to prepare the economy for an impending mass retirement of baby boomers.
"Our plan is that every year we're going to reduce that gap between our revenues and our expenditures. We've been working on that; we're going to continue to work on that," Struthers said.
Manitoba ran a record $999-million deficit in 2011-12, in part because of the devastating 2011 Assiniboine River flood.
This spring, Struthers projected a $460-million deficit for the current fiscal year. Manitobans will get the opportunity to assess whether the government is on track to meet that target when the province releases its second-quarter financial report as early as next week.
The delay in wiping out the deficit could mean the NDP will face an election without balancing the books.
Under the province's fixed-date election rules, Manitobans will go to the polls on April 19, 2016. The date might be moved up to Oct. 6, 2015, if Ottawa abandons plans for a federal vote that same month. Manitoba passed legislation earlier this year to avoid the spectacle of both a federal and provincial vote within weeks of each other.
The Progressive Conservatives, under Hugh McFadyen, were pilloried during the last provincial election for suggesting Manitoba's books could not be balanced before 2018 without tax hikes or cuts to front-line services. The Tories also said at the time the NDP was underestimating the budgetary impact of the 2011 flood.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 11, 2012 A5 | <urn:uuid:aa79e3b4-54de-43ea-8aa2-38dd01357d63> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/bleeding-red-until-2017-182937761.html?device=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958559 | 672 | 1.625 | 2 |
Friday, November 10, 2006
Students like RLO !
We used the Captivate ‘Doing a Literature Search’ RLO in a lecture room, with 2nd year Business students this week. Despite being eerily quiet (as there isn’t any sound with this RLO), the RLO was really well received., students’ confidence improved and students appeared to be receptive to the idea of an RLO.
Student comments were particularly enlightening: most (33 out of 58) found out how to ‘find and use information' through trial and error. Second was ‘friends’ and joint third ‘lecturers’ and ‘self-guided materials’. Only 5 replies mentioned ‘a course’ and 1 a ‘library tour’, and nobody mentioned their friendly librarian! This suggests to me that we still have a lot to do in reaching out to students and supporting them in ways and at a time that are meaningful to them. Hopefully providing quality RLOs will help in this area, alongside providing more embedded information skills sessions, in context and at the point of need. | <urn:uuid:d3befe76-3d09-424d-b884-dcb8f0f04ced> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://brumproject.blogspot.jp/2006/11/students-like-rlo.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969882 | 236 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Your Vitamin Guide: What To Skip and What To Take
10/17/2012 - 19:00 | 0 Comments|
They say your health is your wealth; when in fact, your health is your digestive system. Your digestive tract is not only responsible for immune function, but also plays a part in regulating your mood as most of your serotonin can be found in your gut. (Ever get butterflies in your stomach when you’re nervous? This is why.) Because of this, keeping your digestive tract healthy is vital for optimum health. Probiotics fill your stomach with good bacteria that can help weed out the bad, so this supplement is definitely a keeper.
Quick Tip: If you are hesitant to take a probiotic supplement, start out with yogurt (like Activia) that also provides healthy bacteria, just not as much as a supplement would.
Like this post? Contribute to the Discussion | <urn:uuid:3aa76351-4e55-4ee7-a447-11def117e709> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/health/vitamin-supplement-guide?slide=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938929 | 183 | 1.75 | 2 |
More than 1,500 New Yorkers gathered today in Manhattan to mourn the death of a 32 year-old gay man, who was shot down on Friday just blocks away from the historic Stonewall Inn in an apparent act of anti-gay bias.
Ricky Martin Comes Out
Today, beloved singer and performer extraordinaire Ricky Martin issued a
very personal announcement
that he is gay.
“At this moment I'm feeling the same freedom I usually feel only on stage, without a doubt, I need to share...” says Martin on his website. “Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions...It fills me with strength and courage. This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day.”
Media outlets around the world are buzzing with the news. In fact, Martin’s site has been flooded, with multiple periods of downtime since he posted his comments.
In response to Martin’s coming out, GLAAD's President Jarrett Barrios, also a father of two, issued the following statement:
"When someone like Ricky Martin comes out, hundreds of millions of people now have a cultural connection with an artist, a celebrity and, perhaps most importantly, a father who happens to be gay. His decision to model this kind of openness and honesty can lead to greater acceptance for countless gay people in U.S., in Latin America and worldwide."
Martin, a pop icon, stated that his decision to come out was due to his young twin sons, and that remaining in the closet "would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids were born with." | <urn:uuid:2de0437d-a79c-42c1-9458-b528c0d5b423> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.glaad.org/2010/03/29/ricky-martin-comes-out | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977665 | 355 | 1.554688 | 2 |
|OD'd on catnip at Woodstock|
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Louis Wain's cat art
collectible children's books, I came a person unknown to me, British artist Louis Wain. He began drawing cats to amuse his sick wife, and then the floodgates opened. He eventually illustrated about ~100 children's books, and his work appeared widely in papers, journals, and magazines (including the Louis Wain Annual, from 1901 to 1915). As time went by, he began exhibiting signs of schizophrenia (possibly precipitated by toxoplasmosis), whereupon his art took on qualities prefiguring the psychedelia of the '60s. I sure would like to get a hold of his Cat Alphabet!
So now that I've whetted your appetite for something we don't have, here's something we do! | <urn:uuid:cc746e75-199a-4bf7-b185-1fa8a0450deb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailyglean.salebooks.com/2012/08/louis-wains-cat-art.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98596 | 175 | 1.554688 | 2 |
I am wanting to see another dr about a problem i have. My current gp isnt that bothered and i think its cos he is a man so doesnt understand why i think its important to check it out! All the other ...
i ussually smoke weed once in a while like twice a week. to me, the safest place to smoke is while driving on the highway at night. since i cannot smoke in my home, i just wanted to know if i smoke ...
Could I contract diseases by accidentally having toilet water splashed on you?
smarta$$es are welcomed 2, but will be ignored Additional Details i mean like on my private part.. in a bathroom where other people use it too..andi meant me at the end of the question
Uhh no, toilet bowl water is regular water until somebody uses it.
nope=] it is clean water
dont think so
lol you have never been or seen a 3rd world country have you.....
Your answer is no it is extremly hard to get any kind of disease by water just splashing on you. Even if something was in it.
unless its dirty water, no. toilet water is actually just as clean as tap water
:) Lucy (:
This doesn't make much sense.
It would help if you could actually stay within one speaking term.
Its either first person, or not.
it depends if the water is dirty or clean,if it has sh..in it you can get fecal bacteria or e-coli if it is infected ,so dirty waste water can contaminate if the toilet is clean then no
Actually there have been tests in some places the toilet water is cleaner than the tap water......
I don't think so, as long as the toilet water was fresh when you started. I believe that happeneds to everyone accidently, you should be okay. =)
Depends if there was anything in the toilet at the time and if the toilet is cleaned regularly. I suppose you could, but that could be said for just about anything. Also, it would depend on if any of the water got in your body through an opening or something.
Depends on the state of the toilet...
...but even germ laden water needs to get in to your body, your skin is a very good barrier. Any breaks in the skin where the water splashed would increase the risk.
Or being splashed on the lips or eyes...
FAT N SASSY
the water itself is clean but the toilet might not be. Hepatitis can live on a toilet seat for a week! Among other things
i don't think so because if there was disease bacteria in the water it would be difficult for it to get up into your system with just an accidental splash.
it depends on the toilet's cleanliness, the quality of the sewage, and the purity of the water. and, of course, wither you take a shower with soap afterward.
I've always wondered about this myself especially when it comes to public toilets.
I say yes. because the human body also uses the a hole to get rid of toxins in the body, thats how people in very poor areas like places in Africa they make poos and wees in the river then they use the same water to wash there clothes, and body's. now this is where they go wrong, then they take the water and drink it without boiling it. they get very sick. hopes this helps
If it is unflushed there may be a greater chance. yes you can even get disease from the very smallest particles in the air you breathe. But most people are healthy enough to fend off the oranisms so dont worry.
if it had pee or poop and went on your face or in your area i would say maybe.
If you mean water from the toilet bowl, then yes you can. It has bacteria in it from the poop and pee which has been in the toilet bowl. Doesn't matter if the bowl had been flushed, there is still some residue of it in the bowl.
BTW the pores on your face are bigger than those on the rest of your body, so if you get splashed in the face with it then you have a greater chanced of an infection. | <urn:uuid:c113e01e-7a6e-4596-b15d-f0551082b0f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.healthexpertadvice.org/forum/Other-Health/Could-I-contract-diseases-by-accidentally-having-toilet-water-splashed-on-you-181628.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96446 | 877 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Written by Memri.org
Egypt has lately intensified its criticism of Iran, as reflected in statements by Egyptian officials and articles in the government press warning about Iran's expanding influence and growing interference in the Arab world. In his speech at the opening of the parliament's winter session, President Hosni Mubarak said: "We warn against Iran's interference in Arab affairs. We will not hesitate to take a stance that opposes the attempts to destabilize [Egypt] and protects its national security, which is linked to that of the Gulf and the Red Sea region and to the security of the Middle East at large."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit called on Iran not to act in the Arab domain, because this is one of the reasons for the instability in the region. He said that Iran's expanding influence is apparent not only in Iraq, Lebano,n and Yemen, but also in the Arab countries of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
Following are excerpts from articles in the Egyptian press regarding this issue:
Roz Al-Yousef Editor: Iran Is Concentrating Efforts on the Red Sea Region
Roz Al-Yousef editor 'Abdallah Kamal wrote: "All eyes are turned towards Iran's ongoing support of the Houthi rebellion in Yemen, and towards the Iranian ships that unload weapons meant for the Houthis in international waters opposite the port of Assab in Eritrea... Iran wants to maintain a constant [state of] tension in the sea routes of our region, so as to impede trade and the transport of oil and place the Arab countries under a kind of siege. To that end, it instigates unrest and maybe even causes explosions in the Arab countries that oppose it...
"Iran is waging... [several] proxy wars simultaneously, all of them targeting the Arab national security... For many years now, it has been [expanding its sphere of influence] towards the Mediterranean by means of Hizbullah, trying to create what the media and many speakers have called a 'Shi'ite crescent.' It has done this not only through its ties with Hamas in Gaza, but by focusing ever-increasing efforts on the [region's] most volatile [shipping] route, the Red Sea..."
Kamal then listed several armed groups that operate under Iranian sponsorship, including not only the Houthis, Hizbullah, and Hamas but also Jaysh Al-Mahdi in Iraq and Al-Qaeda in Yemen. He adds that Iran also sponsors unarmed organizations like the Shi'ite movements in Bahrain, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and pilgrims in Mecca in order to "stab various Arab countries in the back, especially those whose policy is at odds with Iran's and forms an obstacle to its expanding influence in the region and its [attempts to] impose its agenda. [Iran's other goals are:] to weaken the Arab states so that they are forced [to deal with] internal tensions instead of fighting the Persian expansion...; to promote the comprehensive Shi'ite plan in the region - especially its political dimension - so that the Shi'ite crescent stretching from the Gulf to Lebanon becomes a ring encircling the Arabian Peninsula...; and to export its Iranian revolution to the region, thereby shattering the stability of the countries while causing the movements supporting Iran to prosper..."
Al-Ahram Editor: Iran Is Striving to Sabotage the Iraq Elections
Osama Saraya, editor of the government daily Al-Ahram, wrote: "Iran has violated the Sunni-Shi'ite agreement to avoid proselytizing in each others' [countries] and to refrain from exploiting hidden sectarian hostility. It has come to the point where Iran is inciting unrest throughout the region, instigating wars, and exhausting the region's countries and harming their residents by exploiting [the tensions] between various Arab sects and groups. Whoever disagrees should take a long look at the arena of operations that has recently emerged in Yemen... and at the [war of] attrition in Iraq, where there is actual fighting, and where Iranian militias are operating in various cities. Iran has the greatest role in the trouble that has beset the Iraqis since the [beginning of] the American occupation...
"Iran is not opposing Israel... It has no qualms about pushing the region to the verge of a limited or total war, because it knows that it is far away [from the danger]. Iran is [also] goading Israel into aggression against the Arabs. It is not interested in diplomatic or peaceful solutions in the region. [In fact], it is even helping Israel sabotage Obama's initiative for peace and for a Palestinian state, because it perceives [this initiative] as a threat to its interests and its future in the region, which it sees as [achievable] only via the death of Arabs and the collapse of their countries... [Its influence] has reached all the Arab states, not only the Gulf and the Red Sea [region], but even the Arab Maghreb...
"We must not forget that the war currently raging in Yemen and parts of Saudi Arabia against the Houthis is being waged with Iranian money and weapons, and that the Lebanese government was only formed with Syria's and Iran's consent, under the constant threat of an Iranian veto [enforced] by means of Hizbullah...
"We must redraw the relations between Iran and the Arabs, and the relations of the Arab and Iranian Shi'ites with the Arab and Iranian Sunnis, for there is need for sincere dialogue between the sides. We cannot possibly pin our hopes on the dialogue conducted by America and Europe with Iran... It is time the Arabs worked together to stop the Iranian interference in their countries and form joint plans to solve their problems..."
In another article, Saraya implied that Iran was behind the recent bombings in Baghdad, which, he said, were aimed at stopping the political process taking place there: "...It is specifically Iran that has an interest in sabotaging the political process in Iraq, in torpedoing America's plans for withdrawal from that country, and in keeping America [from implementing] its more extreme options [for dealing with] the Iranian nuclear crisis. Iran believes that delaying the elections in Iraq is a guaranteed way to delay the American withdrawal and cause the American forces to stay there longer - which would delay any American military move [against Iran]."
Al-Ahram also published this cartoon, which shows Iran lighting the fuse of the bombs in Iraq.
Al-Akhbar Editor: Iran Is the Source of the Palestinians' Problems
The editor of the government daily Al-Akhbar, Muhammad Barakat, pointed to Iranian involvement in all the problems of the Middle East, saying: "[Iran] does not hide its intentions and goals of [gaining] hegemony and control [over the region], now that the Persian state has grown in power, and its ambitions and greed have grown too...
"There has been a clear increase in the Iranian presence in Lebanon and Syria. Wedging its fingers firmly into Lebanon, Iran was able to [pull strings] overtly and in secret... causing civil wars and instigating unrest [in the country]... at the expense of the Lebanese and the other Arab peoples...
"The presence of Iran's fingers is also felt in the Palestinian territories. It is they who are behind the hostility and division that prevail there. These black fingers... are the main cause of all the catastrophes that have befallen the Palestinian people in the recent period. [Iran] was behind the blood-soaked coup in Gaza, in which Hamas overthrew the legitimate Palestinian Authority there, and behind the resulting loss of the Palestinians' rights and the harm to their cause... [Iran] is also the main reason for the delay and the failure of the Palestinians' attempts to reconcile and smooth over their differences..."
Al-Ahram: Iran's Extremism - An Attempt to Escape Its Internal Crisis
An Al-Ahram editorial pointed out that the conflict between Iran and the West could exacerbate the already volatile situation in the Middle East. In addition, it stated: "The countries of the region warn against a possible [military] conflict between Iran and the [Western] powers, and believe that continuing the negotiations is the way to distance the region from the dangers of [such] a conflict...
"The Iranian regime is stubbornly clinging to its extremism in an effort to be seen as a strong regime rather than a regime in the throes of a severe political crisis. Therefore, it is fair to assume that it will persist in its extremism and continue to refuse cooperating with the IAEA. This extremism is its way of prolonging its existence."
Al-Gumhouriyya (Egypt), November 22, 2009.
Al-Siyassa (Kuwait), November 2, 2009.
Roz Al-Yousef (Egypt), November 14, 2009.
Al-Ahram (Egypt), November 27, 2009.
Al-Ahram (Egypt), December 11, 2009.
Al-Ahram (Egypt), December 11, 2009.
Al-Akhbar (Egypt), November 27, 2009.
Al-Ahram (Egypt), December 1, 2009.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) explores the Middle East through the region's media. MEMRI bridges the language gap which exists between the West and the Middle East, providing timely translations of Arabic, Persian, Urdu-Pashtu, and Turkish media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends in the Middle East. Donate to Memri | <urn:uuid:310671d6-01ee-4d9f-8cda-89b3988b5532> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rightsidenews.com/2009122028198/world/geopolitical/egypt-warns-about-irans-growing-interference-in-arab-world.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958725 | 1,973 | 1.648438 | 2 |
There's an old saying in Washington: If you want a real friend in this city of political backstabbers, get a dog.
That may help explain why there's been so much attention focused on the first family's search for a new canine companion.
So far, says David Frei, director of communications for the Westminster Kennel Club in New York, the Obamas seem to be doing pretty much everything right.
"They're doing their homework. They're asking a lot of questions. They're considering all the things that are important to them, not the least of which is the question about allergies," says Frei, referring to the fact that Malia, the older Obama daughter, has a dog allergy.
For example, the Obamas have already said they won't be adding their new family member until they are actually settled into their new home, probably later this winter or early in the spring.
"As responsible pet owners, I don't think it would be good to get a dog in the midst of transition," Michelle Obama explained in a 60 Minutes interview last month. And the president-elect has suggested that the family would like to adopt a homeless dog from an animal shelter.
The Allergy Question
But most of the suggestions that have been flooding into the presidential transition office on the dog issue have more to do with the allergy issue than anything else. And that's a problem, says Frei, for two reasons.
First, because there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. There are dogs that shed less than other dogs, he says, and therefore would cause less of a problem for someone with allergy problems.
But breeders claiming that their labradoodles and goldendoodles are hypoallergenic breeds could run into trouble, he jokes. "If they're telling that to the president-elect, that's probably a violation of a federal law, to be lying to your president."
Personality Over Looks
But more important, say Frei and other dog experts, getting a dog is about much more than hair — it's about personality.
"Not every breed is for every family," says Gary Weitzman, executive director of the Washington Animal Rescue League, a private animal shelter in Washington, D.C. The shelter has already invited the Obamas to visit and adopt one of its animals after they move into the White House. "You should do your homework and know what kind of a dog you might find to be the best companion in your home," Weitzman says.
In the commentary he does for the Westminster and other nationally televised dog shows, Frei is often quick to point out certain breeds that may be less appropriate for the first-time dog owner. For many of those dogs, "you have to be strong enough to establish yourself as the alpha dog; you have to be in charge of the relationship," he says. "If you're not strong enough to do that, then don't get a dog that's bullheaded and stubborn and insists on being in charge."
Many herding breeds, for instance, including border collies, Australian shepherds, and corgis, are highly intelligent, but "they are so used to doing their thing, especially over vast expanses of pasture and herding land, that they're used to doing it without a lot of direction," and that can make them difficult for a novice dog owner to direct, Frei says.
Hounds, on the other hand, like Uno, the beagle who won Best in Show at this year's Westminster Dog Show, are affectionate and friendly family dogs. But off the leash, he says, if they get a scent, "they put their nose to the ground and you're getting the hindsight view of them quite often as they're running down the hallway or, worse, running down the street. That's I think the biggest consideration with a beagle, or a lot of hounds like that."
'Meet Your Match'
At the Washington Animal Rescue League, where roughly half the dogs up for adoption are purebreds, the staff uses a novel program called "meet your match" that ranks dogs by color to denote personality and activity level. They can range from purple "couch potatoes" that just want to get cozy to a green "life of the party" that wants to fetch a tennis ball nonstop for two hours a day.
Even if you're getting a mixed breed from a shelter, knowing the characteristics of the breeds that went into the mix can tell you something about that dog's likely personality.
Weitzman, the executive director of the league, says that no matter where you get your dog, the most important thing "is that you get one from people who can help you along that path and show you what's in that breed and what challenges you might be faced with and how best you can work that dog into your family."
For the first family, says Frei, there are a few more considerations. "As we've seen with dogs in the White House, they're part of the greeting program that goes on there when somebody comes to town." Because of that, he says, "You want to have a dog whose temperament and personality can put up with a lot of activity, with strange people hanging around, and be a part of the family in spite of all those things."
"After all," he says. "This is going to be America's dog for the next four or eight years." | <urn:uuid:ea371807-e7ca-4763-9bc0-13d7d527dcd0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/98689317/what-america-needs-in-its-new-first-dog | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979042 | 1,127 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Mon March 11, 2013
In Noma's Norovirus Episode, Ignored Emails Get Some Blame
Days after news spread that Danish restaurant Noma, three-time winner of Restaurant magazine's "World's Best Restaurant" title, was blamed for a norovirus outbreak in which dozens of diners fell ill, the restaurant has issued a public response and sought to clarify its handling of the situation.
And while noroviruses are "perhaps the perfect human pathogens," as The Journal of Infectious Diseases reports, it also seems that Noma could have spared some of its diners from the pathogens if its staff had read emails from health inspectors. Once it received the message that patrons were falling ill, the restaurant closed for two days to address the issue.
As we reported Friday, Denmark's food agency, Fødevarestyrelsen, says that a Noma staff member spread the illness, resulting in more than 60 patrons suffering from diarrhea and nausea.
While The Copenhagen Post reported that 67 people became ill, the restaurant and the Danish food safety agency agree the number is 63. Noma says it regrets the incident, and it has been "in direct contact" with customers who ate at the restaurant in the time in question, between Feb. 12 and Feb. 16.
According to the official inspection report, a Noma employee became nauseous on the night of Friday, Feb. 15, after work. The restaurant says the staff member "was a carrier and did not show any symptoms of the virus" — something we take to refer to the worker's time on the clock. The restaurant's management say they've long had a policy in place that requires sick employees to stay home.
A day earlier, on Thursday, Feb. 14, the agency had sent an email to Noma informing it that its diners were reporting serious health problems. But the restaurant acknowledges that it didn't read its mail that day.
Noting that members of its staff come from all over the world, Noma said that "unfortunately there was a slight delay as the email was picked up initially by a non-Danish speaking member of the team and wasn't responded to until Monday after the weekend service."
In its report, the food agency says that Noma has pledged to have an employee who speaks both English and Danish to read its mail. The restaurant has also posted the final report on its exterior, along with providing a prominent link on its website.
While the official report noted that there was no hot water for employees to wash their hands in the kitchen's prep area, Noma clarifies that it has four sinks on the two floors of its kitchen, and one of those — in the prep area — lacked hot water. We noted in our original post that the restaurant quickly had a plumber fix that sink.
But as alert readers of our original post noted, washing hands with hot water is in itself not sufficient to rid a kitchen of norovirus. The inspection report cited the restaurant's work to disinfect its kitchen with chlorine and to throw away all food that had been handled. Noma says it closed for two days so it could reset its kitchen.
"As a precaution the kitchen and restaurant have been deep cleaned several times following Health Inspection guidelines," chef Rene Redzepi wrote on Noma's website. "This has been done on top of the overall cleaning, which takes place several times a day."
Noma also says it has tested staff members for norovirus and has been in touch with its customers.
"When the first results came in, indicating norovirus, guests were informed and offered either to return as our guests or to be fully refunded," a statement from the restaurant reads. "We are delighted that many guests have already accepted the offer to return to noma."
The restaurant, which became a hit for its creative reimagining of Nordic cuisine, received a warning from the Danish food agency. A check of the restaurant's online reservations calendar finds that it is in its normal state: completely booked. | <urn:uuid:c256de17-67ad-48cc-9c16-138fe72ffdc5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wvxu.org/post/nomas-norovirus-episode-ignored-emails-get-some-blame | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986561 | 828 | 1.578125 | 2 |
In this post, Mark Heath, recognises the 4G leadership of TeliaSonera, which has just launched LTE services in Denmark. His analysis shows the importance of early deployment of LTE in the Nordic countries to support rapid increases in mobile broadband penetrations.
I would like to congratulate Nordic mobile network operator TeliaSonera for being one of the most forward-looking mobile network operators in Europe. TeliaSonera is demonstrating strong leadership in 4G (LTE) services, in terms of early deployment and, much more importantly, widespread 4G network deployment.
TeliaSonera was the first mobile network operator in the world to launch LTE services, launching LTE networks in Sweden and Norway in December 2009. TeliaSonera has just launched an LTE network in Denmark in December 2010 and plans to cover about 75% of the population during 2011. TeliaSonera now offers LTE services in four Nordic countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Historically, the Nordic area has been a ‘hot bed’ for mobile telephony, achieving very high mobile phone penetration well before the larger Western European countries and the USA. When it comes to 4G mobile broadband services, the Nordic countries and operators look set to maintain their status as ‘mobile leaders’.
Countries such as Finland, Sweden and Denmark are providing us with valuable insight into the future evolution of mobile broadband services. As shown in the chart below, these three countries have experienced substantial growth in mobile broadband penetration, well above the average for Europe. Mobile broadband penetration in Finland nearly doubled within 12 months.
Not surprisingly, fixed broadband services are being affected by the dramatic growth in mobile broadband penetration, as shown in the corresponding chart below. Finland, Sweden and Denmark all have fixed broadband penetration rates well in excess of the European average. However, the rate of increase in fixed broadband penetration rates for these countries has slowed dramatically, to less than the European average. Indeed, in Finland, fixed broadband penetration actually declined in the 12 month period to January 2010.
Mobile network operators will need to make substantial investment in LTE to support the rapid growth in mobile broadband penetration and to ensure that mobile broadband services can match the performance of fixed broadband services. However, as they do so, fixed network operators face challenging times as they suffer substitution from mobile broadband services. | <urn:uuid:141e9548-8bf3-4a57-a150-e35bc8384e83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unwiredinsight.com/2010/teliasonera-4g | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945029 | 472 | 1.695313 | 2 |
LONDON — Gerry Anderson, puppetry pioneer and British creator of the sci-fi hit “Thunderbirds” TV show, has died. He was 83.
Anderson’s son Jamie said his father died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday at a nursing home near Oxfordshire, England, after being diagnosed with mixed dementia two years ago.
Anderson’s television career launched in the 1950s. Once “Thunderbirds” aired in the 1960s, “Thunderbirds are go!” became a catchphrase for generations. It also introduced the use of “supermarionation” — a puppetry technique using thin wires to control marionettes — and made sci-fi mainstream, according to Jamie Anderson.
“He forever changed the direction of sci-fi entertainment,” Jamie told the Associated Press. “Lots of animation and films that have been made in the past 20 or 30 years have been inspired by the work that he did.”
He said the TV show was perhaps his father’s proudest achievement — along with the cross-generational appeal of his body of work, which also included TV shows “Stingray” and “Space: 1999,” among others.
“Most people know some aspect of one of his shows which is not something that many TV producers can say,” Jamie said. He noted that his father first broke ground with puppets in “Thunderbirds,” but was trying new techniques, like advanced computer-generated imagery, into his later years with projects such as 2005′s “New Captain Scarlet,” the re-imagining of his 1967 TV animation.
Anderson also worked as a consultant on a Hollywood remake of his 1969 series “UFO.”
“He was very much a perfectionist and was never happy with any of the end products although he may have been happy with the responses,” Jamie said, describing how his father would involve himself in every aspect of production. “He wasn’t just someone who sat in a chair barking orders, he managed to bring together great teams of great people and between them with a like mindset produced some real gems.”
Anderson was born in London, the younger son of Deborah and Joseph Abrahams. Joseph’s parents were Jews from eastern Europe, the Guardian noted Wednersday, and Deborah Leonoff’s background mixed Jewish and Cornish roots. Indeed, Anderson’s grandfather’s name, Bieloglovski, was changed to “Abrahams” by a British immigration official in 1895, and then to “Anderson” because his mother liked the sound of it.
In recent years, Anderson and his son had become active supporters of Britain’s Alzheimer’s Society.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of society, said Anderson tirelessly attended events to raise awareness and raise money for a cure.
“He was determined, despite his own recent diagnosis, to spend the last year of his life speaking out for others living with dementia to ensure their voices were heard and their lives improved,” Hughes said.
Anderson is survived by his wife, Mary, and four children.
|Like us on Facebook||Get our newsletter||Follow us on Twitter| | <urn:uuid:cc53cc7c-eb0b-4482-b6ad-0c04434ec79c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.timesofisrael.com/tv-puppetry-pioneer-gerry-anderson-dies/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987995 | 687 | 1.742188 | 2 |
To Students, Parents, and Family Members:
While speaking to a group of student leaders a few years ago, I commented that I do not believe we are disaster-prone necessarily, but that there certainly seems to be a price to be paid for this beautiful place in which we live and learn and work -- and that price seems to be the occasional challenge from nature. The mountains behind us and the ocean in front of us are the reason for our remarkable vistas; they are also geologic and natural reminders of the fragility of this environment. It occurs to me that students (especially our freshmen), parents, and families might like to have some basic information about University emergency planning. More specific information will be provided to students in convocation.
I suppose one of the advantages we have (although it feels like a row of battle ribbons sometimes) is experience. We know our campus well. We know the capabilities of our staff and how the physical plant will respond to extreme conditions. Our planning tends to focus on earthquakes, heavy rainfall, and fire. With the state of current world security issues, we also think about national and international emergencies, and so we have planned for those contingencies, as well. Our world has been changed by a number of tragic events including Virginia Tech, Hurricane Katrina, and the Tsunami in Asia. We study each situation carefully and determine how we should respond to better prepare for our own campuses and University community. I just want you to know that we think about these things and plan carefully.
Pepperdine University is not unlike a well-equipped, small city: we have firetrucks and trained first responders; we have capable electricians, plumbers, and carpenters on campus around-the-clock; we have emergency response personnel; we maintain a supply of food and water; we staff a health and counseling center; and we have a host of other resources upon which to call in the event of an emergency. We also have many faculty and staff living on campus who are present and active in assisting the University as it addresses challenges of any kind. In an emergency, the Malibu campus has always been a very safe place. The same is true at our international locations. A practiced and articulated protocol exists to evaluate risks and to make decisions in the best interests of the campus and its resident and commuting population.
In the middle of an emergency on one of our campuses there is a calm that news organizations often do not share with the public. In my view it is the difference between perception and reality. One of our greatest tasks is to transmit accurate information from and to and within the campus community. We hope to provide regular photos and information to parents and friends via the University’s home page on the Internet. Recent planning revisions, newly purchased equipment, and careful preparation place us in a state of readiness as we move into this new school year. We all will be happy if those same plans are merely dusted off after an uneventful year, but we must be ready. I believe we are.
Our first duty in an emergency is to care for students, personnel, and campus assets. At the same time our emergency response plans are put into action, our staff is trained to install phone banks, begin disseminating information on the Internet, open a message center, gather support personnel and, if necessary, open a previously planned relocation center. We have taken steps to be our own “first responders” until state and local agencies reach campus, and we are preparing to be self-reliant in the event that utilities and other infrastructure services are disrupted. Are there challenges we have not anticipated? Possibly. Are we better prepared than ever before? Absolutely.
Please know that we understand the need you have for accurate information and communication with your son or daughter, especially during emergencies. Do not hesitate to call the University and inquire. If the University‘s regular telephone service is disrupted, updated emergency information can be obtained from Pepperdine’s toll-free, out-of-area voice mail telephone number: (888) 286-5659. Additionally, emergency information is available online at the University’s Emergency Information Page http://emergency.pepperdine.edu. The only thing that will impair the communication plans we have in place will be those things for which we simply cannot plan, and over which we have no control. Throughout all of this, our every effort will be directed toward returning to safe and normal operations, including classes, as soon as possible.
I hope this information is helpful. We have begun a truly remarkable school year and look forward to completing it successfully, safely, and in a manner most beneficial to the student you have entrusted to us.
Andrew K. Benton | <urn:uuid:3b4231be-a84b-4f9f-8bcf-e1744d55b648> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/parents/emergency/ | 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 | 0.956473 | 967 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Corrected: In order to survive past May Day, the movement will have to fend off attempts at co-optation
Occupy Wall Street hopes for a national resurgence Tuesday with its plans for a May Day general strike. Equally important, however, to the movement’s future will be the result of a debate that’s been roiling the encampments for the past month. “Co-optation” is the word you hear activists whisper, whether you’re in New York, Atlanta or Albuquerque. Are unions and liberal groups like MoveOn valuable allies? Or do they pose a threat, seeing the Occupy movement as nothing more than a “brand” whose language can be slipped on and deployed to their own ends – namely, a Democratic triumph in November?
The source of these fears is the “99 Percent Spring” and similar campaigns, as Natasha Lennard recently explained in Salon. It sounds like something any Occupier could get behind: to train 100,000 people for “sustained nonviolent direct action” against targets like Verizon, Bank of America and Wal-Mart. However, it arose not in the encampments, but in high-level discussions among groups like MoveOn and Rebuild the Dream. AdBusters, the magazine that helped spark Occupy Wall Street, attacked the 99 Percent Spring as the product of “the same cabal of old world thinkers who have blunted the possibility of revolution for decades.”
“There is a real concern about what MoveOn is doing and if it is co-optation,” says Sayrah Namaste, an activist with (Un)Occupy Albuquerque. “People from (Un)Occupy see MoveOn as heavily part of Democratic Party politics and question what their motives are and how they operate.” Some of the 99 Percent Spring organizers are quick to dismiss Occupy’s critique: “Maybe Occupy is worried about its own viability,” said one core organizer who asked to remain anonymous.
This distrust stems in part from the campaign to end the Iraq War, which left-wing activists say MoveOn abandoned in 2007 after it became clear that newly elected Democrats wouldn’t fight to end it. There is also, however, a structural tension. “MoveOn is very top down,” says Leslie Cagan, co-founder and former national coordinator of United for Peace and Justice. “As best I can tell, they have never developed a democratic structure that allows the members to vote on who the leadership will be or how decisions are made, let alone have serious input into the positions that MoveOn takes.” What this top-down structure means, says Bill Dobbs, a member of the Occupy Wall Street press team and longtime antiwar activist, is that “Groups like MoveOn can walk into any Occupy movement and engage in the discussions, but we can’t participate in their strategy discussions.”
The 99 Percent Movement, which includes the 99 Percent Spring, appears to be a case of top-down decision making. To a large extent, MoveOn and other liberal organizations have simply used Occupy ideas and rhetoric to rebrand existing projects. “Occupy Wall Street happened and crystallized a lot of the frustration,” says Justin Ruben, the executive director of MoveOn. “It engaged millions more people and captured the imagination of the whole world. It had this 99 Percent frame that did something that nobody else had managed to do yet, which was to tell this whole story through characters and unify these twin problems of political and economic inequality. It was just an amazingly powerful frame. We said, OK, this is the name for it because people were walking around with signs saying ‘I am the 99 Percent.’”
In particular, the 99 Percent Movement builds on MoveOn and Rebuild the Dream’s American Dream campaign from last year. Some of the new campaigns are simply repackaged American Dream campaigns. “99% Candidates” were originally “American Dream candidates”; the 99% Voter Pledge “has been based in part on the Contract for the American Dream,” according to Ruben (though the 99% Voter Pledge was not actually written by MoveOn). He says some actions are new, but he acknowledges to Salon there’s a lot of old wine in a new bottle. “There is a bunch of groups that have been actively involved in putting the 99 Percent Spring together and these are the actions that they … have been planning since the summer before Occupy.”
While MoveOn and other organizations praise Occupy Wall Street for shifting the political terrain to the left, they are forging ahead with creating a movement that presents itself as Occupy’s successor. Writing in the Nation, Ilyse Hogue, who serves on the board of Rebuild the Dream and is the former Director of Political Advocacy and Communications for MoveOn, describes occupying public space as nothing more than a “tactic” that is now “dead.” Hogue wants to “make way for the new,” namely the 99 Percent Spring and the 99 Percent brand. Also writing in the Nation around the same time, Van Jones, the former Obama administration official who co-founded the Democratic Party-allied Rebuild the Dream, stated, “This spring 2012 will mark the long-awaited re-emergence of the 99 Percent movement.”
“The 99 Percent Movement is the broad wave of folks who’ve been coming together over the last 14 or 15 months in increasing numbers to fight for economic justice and against inequality,” Ruben adds. “Within that, Occupy is one powerful, amazing and important part of that movement, but it is not limited to Occupy.”
Ruben insists that the 99 Percent Movement is “not a rebranding strategy.” He also says, however, “No one organization controls the 99 Percent brand.” MoveOn has also been eager to sponsor all sorts of campaigns, helping to create a meta-brand known as the “99 Percent Movement” that encompasses a product line including 99% Power, 99% Candidates, 99% Uniting, a 99% Voter Pledge, and events like “All in for the 99%” and “99% Spring Bank Protests.” MoveOn also employs a P.R. firm, BerlinRosen, to help promote its campaigns. Like inside-the-Beltway power brokers who play both sides of the aisle, BerlinRosen’s client roster includes Brookfield Properties – the “owner” of Zuccotti Park.
This type of double dealing is what led to the Occupy Wall Street movement to begin with. And its effects can be seen in the 99 Percent Voter Pledge, which is so watered down from the original OWS Declaration (and even the Rebuild the Dream Contract) – “Make the wealthiest one percent pay their fair share”; “Create good jobs now”; “Stop cuts to vital services”; and “Represent people, not corporations” – that Obama could endorse them, which, again, is probably the point.
“We are the 800-pound gorilla, and we work very actively on elections, including supporting Barack Obama and other Democratic candidates,” Ruben says. “If you think that is a terrible idea and you’re worried about energy from the movement that you love going into elections then MoveOn is an obvious target.”
Ruben continues, “There are real elections happening where people are choosing between candidates who want to cut taxes for billionaires and candidates who want billionaires to pay their fair share. And that’s a real choice.” Many Occupiers beg to differ. Sure, plenty say they will hold their nose and vote for Obama, but few think it will make a real difference. Bill Dobbs says, “If Obama is fighting for the 99 Percent, I’m Greta Garbo. He’s running around the country selling the presidency to raise $700 million.”
The Occupy movement has created an opening in which millions of people in unions and organizations like MoveOn are receptive to the idea that only radical changes can solve America’s social and economic crisis. But Dobbs cautions, “We need a resistance movement, not more Democratic Party-aligned advocacy. This kind of relationship needs to be approached with healthy skepticism. There are benefits but also perils because … social movements often wind up in the Democratic Party junkyard. That’s where contemporary feminist organizing has ended up. That’s where civil rights struggles have ended up.” For the Occupy Movement, the question is where it ends up this November.
Arun Gupta, a New York writer and co-founder of Occupy the Wall Street Journal, covers the Occupy movement for Salon. More Arun Gupta.
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Lisa Montgomery embraces her nephew Thursday after a tornado tore apart her home in Cleburne, Texas. The twister killed six people and destroyed entire swaths of the North Texas town.
Credit: AP/LM Otero
Jack McMahon, the defense attorney for abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, speaks outside the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia Tuesday. His client was convicted of killing three babies in his clinic, and will serve multiple life sentences.
Credit: AP/Matt Rourke
A photo taken Monday captures Vice President Joe Biden's response to a Milwaukee second-grader's innovative proposal to end America's epidemic of gun violence. This guy!
Credit: AP/Jenny Aicher
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., flanked by a grouper-eyed Michele Bachmann, addresses the IRS' admission that it targeted Tea Party groups in advance of the 2012 election. In an op-ed for CNN Thursday, the Kentucky senator slammed the president for his faux outrage.
Credit: AP/Molly Riley
Ousted IRS chief Steven Miller is sworn in on Capitol Hill Friday. Miller testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on the extra scrutiny the agency gave conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.
Credit: AP/J. Scott Applewhite
Attorney General Eric Holder pauses as he testifies on Capitol Hill before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday. Holder is under fire, among other things, for the Justice Department's gathering of phone records at the Associated Press.
Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaster
O.J. Simpson sits during an evidentiary hearing at Clark County District Court in Las Vegas, Nev., Thursday. Simpson, who is currently serving a nine-to-33-year sentence in state prison for armed robbery and kidnapping, is using a writ of habeas corpus to seek a new trial.
Credit: AP/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Jeff Scheid
Major Tom to ground control: On Sunday astronaut Chris Hadfield recorded the first music video from space, a cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity."
Credit: AP/NASA/Chris Hadfield
When it rains it pours. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference Thursday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, inexplicably inspiring an #umbrellagate Twitter meme.
Credit: AP/Jacquelyn Martin
A smoke plume rises high above a road block at the intersection of County A and Ross Road east of Solon Springs, Wis., Tuesday. No injuries were reported, but the the wildfire caused evacuations across northwestern Wisconsin.
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Recent Slide Shows
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Reuben Burgess was the nephew of my GG-grandfather George Burgess, of Dixon County, Nebraska. Little is known about Reuben's father -- Reuben Burgess, Sr. and his wife Hannah Richmond, or who their parents were. The account here is taken from early Dixon County history. George and Reuben Burgess, Sr. were circuit riding ministers in Michigan, before coming to Nebraska.
REUBEN BURGESS, JR. was born March 15, 1840 in Richmond, Michigan, and died June 08, 1919 in Wakefield, Dixon County, Nebraska. He married SUSAN A. FRENCH Abt. 1866 in Mt. Clement, Michigan. She was born April 21, 1842 in Macon County, Michigan, and died June 17, 1907 in Wakefield, Dixon County, Nebraska.
Following the Civil War, Reuben BURGESS received his Soldier's Land Grant, so he left his home in Richmond, MI. to move with his friend, J. Foster HELIKER, to Dixon county in 1867. Reuben filed on 160 acres N.E. of what is now Allen. Each man built the required one room house, broke the required number of acres, then sent for his family. Reuben also had a tree claim. He and his oldest daughter, Edith, pulled hundreds of cottonwood trees from Crystal Lake and planted them in furrows. Pioneer times were harsh and tragic.
Ten children were born to Reuben and Susan FRENCH, only three -Edith, Manley and Mabel grew to adulthood. They also raised two foster children. In pioneer times, winter burial services were nearly impossible. In spring, Reuben would take little Edith, whom he had taught to play a chord organ, and they would drive all over N.E. NE, often going as far south as what is now Wayne, NE. Reuben would preach a little service, while Edith would play the little organ, and all would sing, bringing comfort to sorrowing families.
Susan was known for helping those in need, often taking in children in times of illness and helping with housework. The children all attended Springbank school. One winter when no teacher would come, Susan taught 80 pupils in the one room school house. She would give a lesson to the older students, who would each take several younger ones and teach them.
All attended Springbank Friends church with Reuben often leading the singing using his father's tuning fork. He was the first Sunday school superintendent. In later years, Reuben and Susan moved to Wakefield, where he and Tom RAWLINGS ran the lumber yard. Susan was an invalid for many years but continued to hold missionary meetings in her home. Susan died in 1907. Reuben and Edith moved to Lincoln where Edith taught college. Reuben died in 1919. | <urn:uuid:67f1cc75-9ece-4a8d-b4c9-d36bce46c9d3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.nebraska.counties.dixon/129/mb.ashx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989607 | 583 | 1.734375 | 2 |
When coaching the developing wrestler, strength & conditioning is vital to their success. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to see the strength and conditioning philosophy of one of the most storied wrestling programs in the entire country.
Lehigh has always been known for their exceptional strength and conditioning and in this video, Tom Koch walks through the fundamentals of athletic training and demonstrates a myriad of exercises to help enhance your athlete's speed, power and conditioning.
Coach Koch begins with an informative overview of the principals of athletic training and how it translates to training the developing wrestler. Koch then talks about the importance of the following concepts:
Plyometric TrainingKoch demonstrates several plyometric exercises designed to increase your wrestlers' functional power. He discusses common misconceptions with plyometrics that can hinder an athlete's performance improvement. There are more than 20 exercises demonstrated by Coach Koch in this section of the video, including different types of pushups, box exercises, plyometric jumps and core strength with the medicine ball.
These drills incorporate conditioning into their in strength building. This carries over perfectly to wrestling since many matches require both strength/power and strength endurance in order to be successful.
Coach Koch demonstrates, with young athletes, how these workout drills can be extremely challenging and fun at the same time. Often times athletes don't even know that they are being trained due to the change of pace and fun in completing these exercises. These are exercises that can be done by any age athlete that will push their sports development to new heights.
The use of non-traditional items within your gym will lend greatly to improving strength and body control. This video is a great tool for coaches, parents, and athletes who want to improve their strength and general body control!
This series of videos was produced by Championship Productions in association with AAU (The Amateur Athletic Union).
75 minutes. 2013.
This item also belongs to the following series!
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© 2013 Championship Productions, Inc. | <urn:uuid:ca3660ba-7cb7-4f18-881f-d85e93e90e09> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.championshipproductions.com/cgi-bin/champ/p/Wrestling/AAU-Coaching-Wrestling-Series-Strength-Training-for-Developing-Wrestlers_YWD-04220C.html?crm=c-557 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944242 | 445 | 1.671875 | 2 |
If you are thinking about working abroad, consider these important issues carefully...
To get the most out of your year abroad, think about the following:
Be realistic about the time it will take to find a job overseas. The process can take a long time and requires careful consideration and good organisation as well as determination.
Getting meaningful work experience for only a year may be difficult. Your year abroad may easily turn into two or three.
What will you do when you come back to the UK? Is this your intention? If you plan on using your experience abroad to help get a job once you return, think about how you will market it. Your initiative in getting a job overseas, as well as your motivation in following it through and making it a success, will impress employers. The ability to communicate and work as part of a team with people from a broad range of cultural backgrounds is also an invaluable skill.
Working abroad may ultimately not suit you. This could be the job itself, the country you're living in or being away from family and friends. It's useful to have a back-up plan should this happen.
Being a foreigner with English as a mother tongue can have its advantages, but be aware that many international firms may prefer to hire locals who speak the language. You should check how it will affect your employment chances if you're not competent in the country's language.
The type of work you are doing, your employer and the country you are in will all determine the level of language skills required. An IT job in a multinational organisation, for example, may be possible with more limited language skills.
Even if a high standard of the language is not required, you may want to demonstrate your cultural adaptability by learning it anyway. You will need to be prepared to devote time and effort to doing so. You may be able to take a course at your university, local college or in your destination country. Research your options as costs can vary widely.
If one of your aims is to improve your language skills, then consider the opportunities to practise the language if working as an au pair and living with a local family compared to teaching English and sharing a flat with other expats.
However much you may think you know about your destination country, be prepared to adjust to cultural norms and behaviour both socially and in the workplace. Expect to experience 'culture shock' for the first few weeks or months in a new country. Prepare yourself mentally by researching the aspects of the culture you might find unusual or difficult. Read as much as you can and speak to other people who have moved to that country to live and work.
Your living and working environments may be predetermined by the type of job you are doing. If not, it is something you need to consider. For example, would you prefer to be surrounded by expats, so that you feel more at home? Or would you rather be surrounded by the local community, so you get a real feel for the culture? Before you go, check that you will be happy with the living arrangements as well as the work setting.
If you are moving with family or a partner, consider how they will fit into the new environment and the implications working abroad may have for them, such as with their work or education. Even if friends and family are being left behind, your move will still have an impact on them as well.
This website is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with CSS enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets if you are able to do so. | <urn:uuid:6718daff-2c92-4ff0-b938-85ff4f52fa38> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prospects.ac.uk/working_abroad_before_you_make_decision.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968808 | 750 | 1.5625 | 2 |
According to Motoramic, silver is no longer the most popular color for new cars, it was overthrown this year, by white.
Sandy McGill - BMW Designworks’ lead designer in color, materials, and finish gives Steve Jobs and Apple credit for it.
Silver was the most popular exterior car color in America for nearly a decade. But while it remains beloved by automotive designers for best showing off a car’s styling, its unstinting argent reign was finally overthrown this year. By white. According to Sandy McGill, BMW Designworks’ lead designer in color, materials, and finish, this is Steve Jobs’ doing. “Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable.”
Steve Jobs influence on computing, media, retail and communications has been very well documented, but examples like this one reminds us that he influenced things beyond the tech world, whether intentional or not. | <urn:uuid:9deb2d18-6104-4a1f-9e23-f0d9b9595e1b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.iphonehacks.com/2012/08/steve-jobs-apple-influenced-popular-color-of-cars.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952525 | 202 | 1.507813 | 2 |
'In the great temple we walked through a perfect labyrinth of aisles between double rows of the five hundred Lohans, carved in wood ,gilded, and of life size. . .sitting there meditating in every imaginable attitude. Some looked serious and meditative, others smiling and ironic. . . ' (Jehol: city of emperors). The city of Jehol is now known as Chengde and in 1956, Jehol province became part of Hebei province. | <urn:uuid:4d21da74-0c55-46d1-9a01-7dfa9dd0b2d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/tibet/id/821/rec/72 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944418 | 100 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Officials pulled the huge mammal through heavy traffic down a busy road along the city's False Bay coastline.
Salvage staff needed an industrial digger to move the 30 metre southern Right Whale, which became stranded on Sunday at Cape Town's Capricorn beach.
City emergency services spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes confirmed the beach had been closed amid fears deadly Great White sharks had entered shallow waters to feed on the carcase.
He said: "The whale was spotted on the beach on Sunday afternoon.
"It had become beached and was dead by the time officials could get to it.
"The animal had several bits of flesh taken out of it, and it appears it had been bitten by sharks."
He added: "We called in the city's specialist marine rescue team, who used diggers and a lorry to remove the whale.
"It was heaved onto the back of a truck and taken to a landfill site for disposal."
Mr Solomons-Johannes said experts would examine the dead animal to try to establish how it died.
He added: "Samples were taken from the whale and these will be analysed to try to work out what happened to it.
"We hope to get the results within the next couple of days, which may help to explain why it died."
City officials closed several beaches around Cape Town on Sunday after sharks were spotted in waters close to the beached whale.
Mr Solomons-Johannes on Tuesday confirmed some had reopened following the removal of the carcase but said Capricorn beach itself would remain closed until further notice.
He said: "Capricorn beach remains closed for the next few days until the whale blood and oil has dispersed sufficiently.
"The city is appealing to all water users to be vigilant at this time, obey the shark siren, and to take note of the Shark Spotters' flags and signage for regular updates on shark sightings.
"Beach users are advised that the general caution will remain in place until further notice."
Specialist teams of Shark Spotters were working on several of Cape Town's beaches to watch for any signs of the deadly animals.
The killer beasts are frequent visitors to the waters around the city and have been responsible for a string of attacks on humans.
British man Michael Cohen, 47, narrowly escaped with his life in September 2011 after he was bitten by a shark on a beach near Cape Town.
The keen swimmer lost his right leg and part of his left foot after being savaged in the False Bay water.
Zimbabwean tourist Lloyd Skinner was eaten alive by sharks in January 2010 as he swam near the town of Fish Hoek.
Shocked holiday-makers watched from the shore as he was pulled underwater, and rescuers later recovered only his goggles.
Southern Right whales are also regularly seen in the sea around Cape Town.
The massive mammals spend most of their time in the deep ocean but move
towards the Cape peninsula during winter and spring to mate. | <urn:uuid:a51ed29f-c9c1-45d5-831d-746e5ba43b4f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9596404/South-African-whale-driven-through-streets.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983755 | 628 | 1.757813 | 2 |
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Research Grants Awarded
Distress during the transition from treatment to survivorship and its impact on response to new symptoms
Improved methods of early detection and treatment of breast cancer have led to rising numbers of women surviving and living with the disease for longer periods of time. The special needs of this population have been the focus of considerable research, but little has been done to examine the transition from treatment to life as a survivor. Although the completion of treatment is a welcome milestone for patients, this transition may represent an especially challenging period. Crisis theory posits that the completion of treatment can shatter the tentative equilibrium that patients re-establish during treatment. This is because the completion of treatment entails a loss of the reassurance of monitoring for symptoms of recurrence by health care providers due to the reduced frequency of visits and the loss of the “safety net” of treatment fighting the cancer. Thus, the first goal of the proposed research is a detailed examination of patients’ experience and distress during the transition from treatment to survivorship. This examination will include a special focus on the most pressing concern of breast cancer survivors: fear of recurrence. According to the Self-Regulation Model, this fear during the transition phase, when patients assume responsibility for self-monitoring for symptoms, will make patients more likely to interpret new ambiguous symptoms (e.g., headache) as a recurrence and to utilize strategies to reduce the perceived threat (e.g., complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), screening tests). The second goal of the proposed research is to test these predictions of the Self-Regulation Model. Early stage breast cancer patients at multiple hospitals in the Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare system will complete an extensive survey during treatment, at the end of treatment and 3 and 6 months post-treatment to examine the time course, prevalence, severity and determinants of their distress. Monthly phone interviews will assess fear of recurrence, interpretation of new symptoms, new CAM use and health care utilization. The results of this research will determine whether psychological interventions are needed to aid patients during this transition period, the issues that ought to be targeted by such interventions, and will facilitate the identification of “at-risk” patients. These interventions can reduce the significant distress that patients experience and potentially their use of unnecessary and costly CAM and health care services as well.
With the increasing number of breast cancer survivors in the U.S., the need for efforts to understand and address the issues that they face has never been so great. The completion of treatment is a welcome milestone for patients, but preliminary evidence and anecdotes indicate that it also represents a very difficult period emotionally. This is because the completion of treatment entails a loss of the reassurance of monitoring for symptoms of recurrence by health care providers due to the reduced frequency of visits and the loss of the “safety net” of treatment fighting the cancer. However, the emotional challenge of this transition period and its potential consequences have been underappreciated by the medical community and understudied by researchers. Thus, the first goal of the proposed research is to conduct an in-depth examination of patients’ experience and distress during this transition period. This examination also requires a special focus on the greatest concern of breast cancer patients following treatment: fear of recurrence. Psychological theory indicates that this fear can lead patients – who are now responsible for self-monitoring for symptoms of recurrence – to interpret new, ambiguous symptoms (e.g., headache) as an indication of recurrence. If every new headache, period of fatigue or ache and pain is interpreted as a recurrence, patients may be experiencing frequent, significant distress and may utilize unnecessary, risky health care services (e.g., unnecessary biopsies, complementary and alternative therapies) for reassurance that their cancer has not returned or will not return. Therefore, the second goal of this research is to examine the impact of patients’ fear of recurrence during this transition period on their response to new, ambiguous symptoms. These goals will be explored in early stage breast cancer patients in the Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare system during their transition from treatment to survivorship. Patients will complete surveys and phone interviews from treatment until several months post-treatment. The results of this study will fill a critical gap in knowledge about breast cancer survivors and will inform the need for psychological interventions to assist patients during this time in the course of their disease. Such interventions would more directly and safely address patients’ distress than would their use of CAM therapies or health care services, which may which carry risks. | <urn:uuid:ff5656be-3e3c-4859-9631-e3200535f484> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ww5.komen.org/Abstracts.aspx?gn=POP0600544&cycle=2005-2006 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949728 | 944 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Software development isn't cheap, and it's particularly difficult if you happen to be a sole developer committed to supporting and enhancing a popular open source software project out of your own pocket.
For years Robert Oschler has contributed to the robot community in many ways, including freely sharing his knowledge and expertise, creating hilariously entertaining robot videos and unique new robot songs, in addition to developing the RoboDance project that enables users to control a wide range of robots from their PC or other devices. He's even gone to the extreme of adding voice recognition capability and Skype functionality to the open source system.
While his dedication and commitment to the project have brought him some level of recognition and fame, like being featured in the New York TImes, it hasn't attracted funding to underwrite the project. As a result, he's putting several very attractive internet domains on the auction block, including potentially strong SEO ranking properties like AndroidBlogs.com, AndroidJob.com, WomanBlogger.com, and WomanWorker.com.
It's a great chance for the right person to pickup a hot, highly relevant, domain at bargain pricing, while helping out the robot community in the process.
(Via RoboDance fundraiser.)
Ever wonder what the fastest robot might be? Can an i-SOBOT outrun a Robonova? Does a MANOI have the heels of Mercury? Can a Robo-Reptile out-sprint a Bioloid? What's your best guess? Who would you put your money on?
We won't spoil all the fun by revealing the robots name, or the competition here. You're going to have to watch the race in its hilarious entirety, including all the grins, giggles, energy and totally robotic chaos to enjoy it for yourself:
Robert Oschler has done a fantastic job of single-handedly developing the RoboDance application that allows users of almost every WowWee robot, and some other manufacturers robots like the popular Takara/TOMY iSOBOT, control their bots remotely using their computer, voice, WiiMote, and even mind control using the Emotiv EPOC EEG headset.
For four consecutive years Robert labored diligently to produce each annual feature packed new RoboDance release, funding everything out of his own pocket and contributing all the work to the open source community so that everyone would benefit. It's been a labor of love.
But, as wonderful and powerful as love is, we all still need food, warmth, and a roof over our heads. Even robots have to pay for electricity to recharge their batteries and oil to lubricate their joints. So, to help "keep the lights on" and continue RoboDance development, Robert has put out a call for support.
There are several ways supporters can help. Robert has a number of Internet domains up for sale, including one that should be extremely attractive to anyone in the Google Android community. It's a great chance to lock down a strong domain while supporting a very worthy cause. Or if you prefer just click on the donate link on the RoboDance Fundraiser page and send Robert as much as you feel comfortable giving. I'm sure he will welcome, and acknowledge, all contributions no matter how big or small.
Every robot designer loves their own creations, at least at the beginning, and they often find it difficult to understand why other people aren’t as enraptured with the beauty and wonder of the robot they gave birth to. Still, at the end of the day the bottom line is to create products that customers relate to enough that they feel compelled to open their wallets and give us their hard earned cash or plastic.
If we’re really lucky, and really creative, then we can repeat the process over and over again, using the profits from this product generation to build the next one. And, our customers will be so delighted with our products that they will automatically come back to buy more and more.
As much as we’re devoted to the larger humanoid robots, we have to admit that they’re a bit expensive. At the same time, we love the lower cost robots like the TOMY i-SOBOT and the WowWee Robosapien types. But their remote controls are frequently complex and difficult to use, and editing a robot program usually turns out to be an exercise in frustration.
The best way to get around the remote control/programability challenge has been the free RoboDance software application. It’s loaded with great functionality and is extremely easy to use, even for a pure novice. It’s only drawback has been that you have to purchase a special IR transmitter to send the software commands to your robot. Thankfully a new, low cost transmitter, appropriately named “Robo-IRT” has hit the market.
’Robo-IRT Makes Controlling the i-SOBOT a Breeze’ continues
What's going on today in my crazy robot world?
- 00:04 We've seen lots of hexapod robots, but it's rare to find one to ride (tinyurl.com/heavy-duty-hexapod-robot) plus build instructions.
- 00:30 Robot farmhands pamper cows - tinyurl.com/farm-robots
- 01:32 Wired magazine gets down and dirty with one of the Roomba robots: (tinyurl.com/wired-reviews-roomba)
- 08:02 Robots podcast has a toy episode featuring Mark Tilden of Robosapien, Femisapien, and Rovio fame tinyurl.com/robot-podcast-tilden
- 08:05 Thanks to Alex we're able to share the funny robot sign posted by Trossen (tinyurl.com/trossens-funny-robot-sign)
- 08:12 Jes1510 over at the Trossen forums shared a useful article on cutting polycarbonate plastic (tinyurl.com/polycarbonate-cutting) | <urn:uuid:38b25fcb-f70f-425a-be69-cd6a15fabfa7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.robots-dreams.com/roboraptor | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939471 | 1,254 | 1.648438 | 2 |
the idea of combining Mathematica with the new routines in the 3rd edition of Numerical Recipes (NR) is very interesting. In fact, there is a NR library to Matlab which works very well because not only it allows one to create NR code (in C++) and install it as a function in Matlab, but it also cleverly handles the input and output of data.
Does anyone know anything about this topic? I have asked the NR forum about this and received no answer.
I know MathLink can be used to link C code to Mathematica, but seeing the coding level of it's Matlab counterpart, I wouldn't even dare to try and do this myself.
In my view, the true power of scientific computing is in combining different libraries/platforms, efficiently exploiting their merits and deficits. | <urn:uuid:266afc2a-4e32-48fa-9633-f833a9447a99> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/8424/mathematica-numerical-recipes?answertab=oldest | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964105 | 170 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Back-scratching at a national level
There's a saying among journalists that news is anything someone doesn't want you to know. So let me tell you all about John Howard's immigration program. It's a key part of the Government's economic policy, but one it rarely talks about.
Why? Because Howard wants his Battlers to think he shares their dislike and distrust of foreigners, especially boat people. And it wouldn't help his image for people to know he's running the biggest immigration program we've ever had.
The fact is, however, that immigration is playing a big part in keeping the economy growing strongly, preventing shortages of skilled labour from causing a wages blowout, keeping inflation under control, limiting the rise in interest rates and keeping house prices rising rather than falling.
When Howard was elected in 1996 he cut the planned immigrant intake to 68,000, but by last financial year he'd more than doubled it. His planned intake for next financial year is almost 153,000 - plus 13,000 under the humanitarian program. To that you can add about 24,000 New Zealanders - who don't need visas and will be arriving to join the 470,000 of their fellow countrypersons who are here.
Last calendar year was the eighth straight year of net immigration (that is, net of permanent departures) in excess of 100,000.
Actually, thanks to a burst of high migration in the late 1980s, net immigration has exceeded 100,000 a year in 12 of the past 20 years, having exceeded 100,000 only 12 times in the previous two centuries. Another way to put it is that the program is running at a lot more than a million immigrants a decade.
It turns out that immigration now accounts for a bit more than half the overall growth in the population. In NSW and South Australia it accounts for about three-quarters of the population growth.
One in four Australian residents is foreign-born, which is pretty much the highest rate among the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and way above the OECD average of one person in 12.
All of that's before you take account of the Howard Government's guest worker program of issuing long-stay temporary business visas, where skilled workers nominated by a potential employer are permitted to stay up to four years.
Last financial year the Government issued 40,000 of these "457" visas, plus more than 30,000 to the spouses and children of these workers, who are themselves permitted to work.
But the program's growing so rapidly that the 457 intake next financial year will be a lot higher - maybe 100,000 all up. It seems some people are using the long-stay working visa as trial run for permanent immigration and, indeed, about one in five of these people ends up staying permanently.
The Howard Government has made several changes to make it easier for overseas students to stay on after they graduate. And then, of course, there are the 80,000 people in Australia on working holidays at any time.
It's important to understand the way the Government has changed the nature of immigration, reducing the role of family reunion and emphasising the possession of skills that are in short supply. Next financial year's planned intake involves almost 103,000 places in the skill stream compared with 50,000 in the family stream.
The skills possessed by these permanent migrants tend to be in the computing, medical and engineering fields, as well as a range of trades. So these people are a lot more highly trained than the average in our workforce.
Among those with temporary employment visas the emphasis tends to be on the trades, particularly construction trades such as welding. The top three countries these people come from are Britain, the United States and India.
The emphasis on skill means that permanent immigrants are a lot younger than the population they're joining. More than half are aged 15 to 34, compared with 28 per cent of our population. Only 2 per cent of permanent immigrants are 65 or older, compared with 13 per cent of our population.
So immigration is making a small contribution to slowing the ageing of our population. And the emphasis on skill also means that the net benefit to the economy is a lot more clear-cut.
Treasury noted in this year's budget papers that "with the economy at near full capacity and in the face of an ageing population, migration, with particular emphasis on skilled migration, continues to be a priority source of labour for Australia". And the Reserve Bank has observed that "in recent years, the annual flow of migrant arrivals into employment has been equivalent to around one third of the annual increase in aggregate employment".
The Battlers' eternal objection to immigrants - which I believe was a big part of the strong public support for our shameful treatment of people on the Tampa - is that "these people will take our jobs". This has always been misguided. It's true that immigrants add to the supply of labour. But it's equally true that, by consuming and bringing families who consume, they also add to the demand for labour - usually by more.
Historically, the rate of unemployment among recently arrived migrants is a lot higher than for the labour force generally, so that migrants do more to create jobs for locals than to take them away.
The recent emphasis on picking migrants with skills that are in short supply locally - and on favouring those who speak English - means that more of them go straight into jobs, thus reducing the force of that argument.
But with the economy booming, being able to fill vacancies for skilled workers makes the boom bigger and keeps it going longer - creating job opportunities for less-skilled locals - without adding to the wage and price inflation pressure that would prompt the Reserve Bank to use rises in interest rates to cool things off.
There are drawbacks, of course. One is that using immigration to let employers off the hook risks encouraging them to continue neglecting to invest in the training of locals.
The other is that immigrants need housing, so increased immigration keeps upward pressure on house prices - particularly in cities such as Sydney - to the detriment of first home buyers. | <urn:uuid:6851c194-c717-46c8-ad3e-3c644fb91105> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/backscratching-at-a-national-level/2007/06/12/1181414298095.html%7C?page=fullpage | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969706 | 1,242 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
February 11, 2010
Today’s Feast of Our Lady recalls the apparition of the Mother of God to Bernadette in the Grotto of Massabielle at Lourdes.
We know that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the faithful servant of God, the one who always did as God asked.
This fidelity, this response to God’s Holy Will is by no means something that is easy. It always involves a submission of my will to the Will of God.
It is an exercise in trust which enables me to say: whatever God wants, I want; whatever God does not want, I do not want.
As we approach the Holy Season of Lent, may we come to rely on the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes to be faithful to Christianity and the Gospel, now and always.
This year, the Feast of Our Lady comes a week before the Church begins her annual observance of the Holy Season of Lent.
With this in mind, we wish to reflect on an image of the Mother of God which comes to us through the pages of the Gospel. This image is of the Virgin of Nazareth who prays, who is obedient to God’s will and who places herself in service to those in need.
In Luke’s account of the Annunciation, Our Lady is a prayer when the Angel Gabriel comes to speak with her (Luke 1:26-27).
Because of her strong faith and her spirit of prayer, Mary speaks her “fiat”, her willingness to obey (Luke 1:38).
Prompted by Grace and in keeping with her profound humility, Our Lady sets out on her journey to care for her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45).
Later, in John’s Gospel (2:1-10), Our Lady again comes to the assistance of someone in need. This time it is a young married couple from Cana in Galilee.
May Our Lady’s example serve to encourage us, especially during this coming Lenten Season, to deepen our habit of daily prayer, to obey Christianity promptly in all that He asks of us in our state in life and may we always take the time to help others even when our doing so may be inconvenient.
Mary Most Holy, Mother of God, pray for us now and always. | <urn:uuid:875f452a-6d89-4201-afad-9795d08e4fff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thomasmorecollege.edu/blog/2010/02/11/feast-of-our-lady-of-lourdes/ | 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 | 0.945579 | 493 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Islam Channel TV
is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by advertising and donations. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 59% of Muslims watched the channel.
Islam channel was the original effort of Mohammed Sajid, Shaheen Akhtar, Salauddin Ali, Ibrahim Rashid, Faisal Nazir and Asif Malik. Since its launch, the channel has expanded its range of programming, including programmes regarding current affairs, education, Islamic values, Islamic doctrine, as well as domestic, financial and community related topics.
tags : islam channel live, watch islam channel online on web
Streaming source : Click here to access | <urn:uuid:ac2307c9-d7e8-404e-be92-0839f1ee7b5f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.playbolo.tv/islamchannellive.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951324 | 150 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Computers in the NLRC are dedicated to College of Nursing students. There are 32 computers in the two computers labs at UW-Milwaukee on the 3rd floor, along with a printer for student use via a print card. Print cards can be purchased from the machine in Room 395. There are 8 computers at UW-Parkside and a printer for student use.
The computers have standard campus software applications (Microsoft Office, D2L, internet access), speciality nursing software such as NCLEX preparation, course- specific software, and links to a variety of resources. There are times during the semester when the computer lab is closed because of testing or classes. The secondary computer lab remains open during these times (UWM only). Watch for signage at the entrance to the computer lab regarding closures. | <urn:uuid:04c96ecb-7c9a-4196-a06d-92b85f16c7cc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www4.uwm.edu/nursing/undergrad/nlrc/computer_lab.cfm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953398 | 163 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Uploaded: Wednesday, December 5, 2012, 3:07 PM
A new plan to avert burnout in academic medicine
Stanford doctors can pay in, draw out workload levels over span of career
|Worried about burnout of its top physicians and scientists, Stanford Medical School is trying a new weapon -- a kind of banking system that will let doctors "pay in" and "draw out" workload levels over the decades of their careers.
The new program, being tested this fall in five medical school departments, was the result of an "aha moment" about why earlier work-life balance programs for the medical school's 872 faculty members had failed to gain traction.
Professors were declining to take advantage of time-honored traditions like sabbaticals and newer policies like extension of the tenure clock, said Hannah Valantine, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and senior associate dean for diversity and leadership.
"People in some sense were afraid of being viewed as not serious about their careers," Valantine said.
They worried they would look less committed and also that they would place undue extra burdens on their colleagues if they took time away.
It dawned on planners that the medical school's policies to promote work-life balance -- however appealing and up-to-date -- conflicted with the deeply held values of faculty members.
"What we found is faculty members don't want flexibility if it comes at the price of success at the very highest levels," said Jennifer Raymond, an associate professor of neurobiology who got involved in the search for answers.
And yet, worries about losing top doctors and research scientists to burnout were only growing.
"We recognize that physician burnout is a huge problem, and it leads to poor patient care, turnover and poor quality in general," Valantine said.
"Our two, world-class hospitals right here aspire to be the best and want to deliver the highest possible quality of care, and the faculty are the engines by which this happens."
Raymond, who works with doctoral students, said: "We're hearing more and more of them say, 'I love science, but I don't want an academic career because it's not compatible with any outside interest.'
"We'd like to be able to compete for the best and the brightest, not just people who are willing to work 24/7," she said.
Studies have shown that young graduates are turning away from academic work because of perceptions that faculty careers are not conducive to work-life balance, Raymond said.
In 2010, a 35-member Stanford task force launched a renewed quest for solutions.
The group looked at part-time models used at Kaiser and Palo Alto Medical Foundation, but "We realized what our faculty was asking for was really not part-time, but something else," Valantine said.
"We couldn't figure out what that 'something else' ought to look like."
Valantine turned to Stanford colleague David Kelley, founder of the design firm IDEO, and author of "Design Thinking."
"We'd heard he'd come up with creative solutions based on human-centered design, and we wondered if he could help us," she said.
Kelley referred the medical professors to the San Mateo consulting firm Jump Associates, which delved into ethnographic research, probing the lives of faculty to draw out answers.
They held in-depth interviews and filmed eight professors -- from when they got up in the morning and transitioned from home to their homecomings at the end of the day -- and then analyzed the clips in search of themes.
"One of the things we saw the faculty doing were trying to bank favors with their colleagues," Raymond said. "A woman would do more hours of call than she'd ever done in her life right before her maternity leave."
The team's "aha moment" came after hearing a kidney specialist comment that after the birth of her first child she bought a minivan to ferry neighborhood children in hopes that their parents later would return the favor.
"We thought, 'If we could somehow formalize this' -- because the people who banked favors never seemed to feel comfortable calling those favors back in," Raymond said.
"A formalized trading system might help in a culture that makes you feel like you should never show any sign of needing help."
Hence this fall's pilot programs, in which faculty members can earn credits through extra work and later "buy back" time or services, such as housecleaning, meals or the use of a science writer to help write and edit grant proposals.
First, professors must participate in a long-term career planning session, laying out professional goals as well as opportunities for things like sabbaticals.
"It's more natural to leverage these policies if it's part of a planning process and not something that's done by special request on the side," said Caroline Simard, the medical school's senior associate dean for diversity and leadership.
Because of its work on the program, the medical school recently was named a winner in the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Faculty Career Flexibility.
"Without innovative new work models, we risk losing generations of promising young physicians and scientists from academic medicine," medical school Dean Phillip Pizzo said.
Valantine argues that sabbaticals actually can be career enhancers, not career drags.
"We think if you take these things you actually will be more productive, in terms of the standard, classical academic metrics of success," she said.
The traditional academic career path was designed for a different era, when families had a single breadwinner with a spouse at home to take care of everything else, Valantine said.
"Now most families have both adults working, and people want to have better relationships with their children. The workplace needs to change in its expectations and the way work is designed and done," she said.
"At the core of that is integration of life and work as opposed to 'balance.'"
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Be the first! | <urn:uuid:cee03f53-9ee3-4a28-bbde-2d29a3ba8de6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=27819 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976846 | 1,264 | 1.75 | 2 |
Looking for a fun new way to track your fitness efforts? The free Sofit app for Android is the latest fitness app to reward you for making strides in walking, running and biking. Simply track your activity each time you head outside or to the gym for some cardio and then earn Sofit points to redeem for rewards.
You can be truly philanthropic with this healthy Android app as well. How, you ask? Well, simply select to donate your points earned towards Walk A Mile, it’s as simple as that! Walk A Mile is a global effort by the U.S. State Department and the 2012 London Olympic Games to increase fitness levels. So by using the Sofit app, you’re helping to encourage folks everywhere to get in shape and lead a healthy lifestyle. If this charity isn’t up your alley, you also have the opportunity to use your points toward other products that might better suit your taste.
The more activity you track with the Sofit app, the more fitness points you earn. If you work out once a week you will earn a bronze medal, twice a week you get a silver medal, and three times in one week will earn you a gold medal. The better the medal, the higher the multiplier of points you will earn for that week of fitness.
You have to have continuous use of the GPS function on your phone, so get ready to have your battery drained. | <urn:uuid:1ccd63d4-c18a-43ea-a32d-180cca287cb2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.androidapps.com/shine/articles/12530-track-your-cardio-with-the-sofit-android-app-and-support-walk-a-mile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94756 | 289 | 1.53125 | 2 |
The Linux Journal provides a whirlwind introduction to arch for people already familiar with version control. "Arch is, at its heart, a distributed system. There is no special server process, and each developer's machine can serve as an arch repository. The result is that advanced use of arch can require more work on the client side."
(Log in to post comments) | <urn:uuid:615d9933-417f-4246-86c0-57e70ae4b906> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lwn.net/Articles/87648/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93066 | 73 | 1.59375 | 2 |
January 21, 2000
Volume XXXIII, No. 3
Dr. Nicolas E. Walsh, professor and chairman of rehabilitation medicine at the Health Science Center, joined U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and a dozen celebrities and physicians to announce the start of the international "Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010" Jan. 13 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The worldwide initiative seeks to increase awareness of musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain and osteoarthritis, and reduce their crippling effects. Dr. Walsh is one of two U.S. physicians on the Bone and Joint Decade International Steering Committee.
Drs. Walsh also is executive associate dean of the Health Science Center’s Medical School. His selection to this committee "is a sterling example of the prominence of San Antonio’s physician community in international circles," said Jim Reed, president of the San Antonio Medical Foundation.
Dr. Walsh and his wife, Wendy, attended a gala ball and Dr. Walsh participated in a World Health Organization (WHO) symposium in Geneva. He presided over one of the four sections of the WHO symposium and over the press conference at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva.
(From left) Members of the prestigious Bone and Joint Decade Steering Committee are: Dr. Nicolas E. Walsh of the Health Science Center; Dr. Bruce D. Browner, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington; Dr. Mieke Hazes, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands; Dr. Lars Lidgren, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden; and Anthony D. Woolf, Royal Cornwall Hospital, United Kingdom.
Patients telling their stories at the press conference included Ronaldo, famous soccer player suffering from a knee injury; Angela Columbo, the first plegic (or paralyzed) patient to walk after treatment by muscle transfer; and Frank Neubauer, famous German actor who has a condition called osteogenesis imperfecta.
"Rheumatoid arthritis … low back pain … osteoporosis … traumatic injuries from traffic accidents; we are embarking on a decade of awareness, treatment and research that hopefully will make a difference in the lives of people worldwide," Dr. Walsh said before departing from San Antonio on Jan. 11.
The U.N. appointed only five people to the Steering Committee, including Dr. Walsh, a highly decorated former Navy Seal who became a rehabilitation expert after experiencing a career-ending injury in Vietnam.
Bone and Joint Decade goals are to reduce the social and financial cost of musculoskeletal disorders to society; to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment for patients worldwide; to advance research on prevention and treatment; and to empower patients to make decisions about their care.
The United Nations wants 80 percent of the world’s countries to endorse and actively participate in the Bone and Joint Decade by 2002, and plans to establish public and patient education programs in all participating countries. Working with national research councils and funding bodies in each country, the U.N. seeks to triple existing musculoskeletal research funding during the decade.
Also as part of the effort, medical schools will be encouraged to include at least six months of training on musculoskeletal disorders with the aim of improving diagnostic skills and accuracy of patient referrals. Institutions will be encouraged to base diagnosis and treatment of these disorders on evidence-based guidelines, and to develop newer, more effective drugs and surgical procedures. By the end of the decade, officials hope to see 20 percent to 25 percent reduction of expected increases in osteoporotic fractures, joint destruction in joint diseases, severe injuries in road and other accidents, spinal disorders and genetically inherited diseases.
Worldwide, musculoskeletal conditions affect hundreds of millions of people and are the most common causes of severe long-term pain and physical disability. The cost to society is huge (an estimated $215 billion a year in this country alone).
Forty percent of all women over 50 years of age will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture, according to WHO literature. The number of hip fractures, which totaled
1.7 million just a decade ago, will rise to 6.3 million by 2050 unless aggressive preventive programs are started.
Another disorder, osteoarthritis, accounts for half of all chronic conditions in persons 65 or older. It is rated the highest cause of work loss in the United States, despite being a condition that causes most problems to post-retirement populations.
Low back pain is the most frequent case of limited activity in the young and middle aged, and is the most frequent occupational injury. It is the second leading cause of sick leave, according to WHO literature.
"There are effective ways to prevent or treat these disabling conditions, but we must act on them now," Secretary-General Annan said in a prepared statement before the Geneva announcement.
For more information, go to <www.bonejointdecade.org> on the World Wide Web.
A team of 23 volunteers from the Health Science Center climbed to the top of the Tower of the Americas building in San Antonio during the 14th Annual Tower Climb to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's San Antonio office sponsors the event each
year to raise support for research, treatment and diagnosis. This year the
Health Science Center staff and students received the foundation's plaque for
the most money raised by a team, with $1,400 going to fighting the disease. Last
year the climbers helped raise $1,200 and finished second.
Health Science Center staff and students participated in the 14th Annual Tower Climb, raising $1,400 for cystic fibrosis research.
Employees and students from the Dental School climbed 66 floors, a total of 950 steps and nearly 600 feet, to reach the top of the tower. As the last team member made it to the summit, the group held a miniature celebration. "We took a group picture. It was exciting to make it to the top as a team," said Samuel Reyes, custodial services, who organized Health Science Center participation. "It is our privilege to have been able to support the children and adults suffering from cystic fibrosis. It was a nice experience for the new climbers. I was very proud of the whole team, especially when we descended the stairs and learned that we had raised the most money."
A free trial of the Pharos UnipriNT print management system began in the Briscoe Library's second-floor computer center on Jan. 18. The School of Nursing computer lab, the School of Public Health computer lab, multidisciplinary (MD) labs, and other locations in the library will be starting Pharos UnipriNT trials soon.
The new system will manage laser printing in these locations in order to reduce waste, control printing and contain costs. A charge of 5.5 cents per page will be implemented at the conclusion of the trial, which is projected for mid-February.
To print from computers in the participating locations during the trial period, users may send print commands as usual, specifying an owner name, job name and password. The print requests will be routed through the Pharos UnipriNT file server to print release stations. Each request is considered to be a "print job."
Each user will go to a nearby print release station, select his or her job from the queue displayed and enter the password assigned to the job to release it for printing. A print job will not be released without the correct password. A display will list the number of pages in the print job and the charge.
There is no charge for printing during the trial period, but each user will see how much the print job will cost when charging is implemented. At this point the user has the option of either releasing the job to the printer or canceling it. Jobs will be automatically deleted if left in the queue for more than a specified number of hours (initially 24 hours).
Print release stations will not accept coins or bills, so copy cards must be used to pay for print jobs. Users may e-mail print jobs to other locations or download them to disks.
Staff members from the library, the School of Nursing, MD labs and the School of Public Health are working together to implement the Pharos UnipriNT service with minimal disruption to users. For more information, contact Melissa DeSantis, microcomputer services coordinator, at ext. 7-2400 or <firstname.lastname@example.org>.
Annual office products show scheduled for Jan. 24
General Services/General Stores will host the annual Boise Cascade Office Products Show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, in the Auditorium Foyer. Factory representatives will be on hand to display the latest office products and information processing supplies. The 2000 Supplemental Office Products catalog will be available. Bring the 1999 catalog for recycling. Free refreshments will be served.
Aging series continues Jan. 25
Dr. Charles Mouton, community geriatrician in the Department of Family Practice, will present the first session in the Successful Aging Series, "Issues in Older Women's Health," at noon Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the University Center for Community Health board room. The series is open to anyone interested in learning more about the aging process. Attendees are invited to bring their lunch. Call University Hospital's Learning Resources Department at 358-2355 for more information or to register.
Weight Watchers at Work begins Jan. 25
The next 16-week session of Weight Watchers at Work will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the University Hospital cafeteria Optimist Room. For more information, e-mail Beverly Luinstra at email@example.com.
Laser Vision Center holds brown bag luncheon
The Health Science Center's Laser Vision Center is holding a brown bag seminar on the latest in laser vision correction, known as LASIK. The seminar will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, in the Optimist Room in the University Hospital cafeteria.
Attendees may bring glasses or a written prescription to find out if they may be candidates for the procedure. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call ext. 7-4245.
Training dates set for United Way volunteers
The United Way is seeking volunteers to answer calls on the help line from individuals in need of assistance. The help line provides information, referrals, telephone counseling and crisis intervention services to the community.
Volunteers are needed, particularly during the daytime and weekend shifts; bilingual counselors are especially encouraged to sign up.
Volunteers will receive intensive classroom training provided by professional staff on Feb. 12, 16 and 19. In addition, 16 hours of on-the-job training will provide volunteers with instruction on handling crisis calls and how to link callers to appropriate services. For more information, call 352-7051.
A former Stanford University president and researcher in environmental science and practice will speak at the Health Science Center's annual Ewing Halsell Lecture.
Dr. Donald Kennedy, professor and president emeritus at Stanford University, will present "Listening to the Experts" at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, in room 3.102B in the Medical School.
Dr. Kennedy, editor-in-chief-elect of Science magazine and Bing Professor of Environmental Science, is the co-director of an interdisciplinary center at Stanford devoted to exploring how the social and natural sciences can contribute to improving environmental practices. The center works on issues such as economically driven changes in agricultural customs, global climate change, the development of regulatory policies and the appraisal of natural resources.
Dr. Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University, where he also received his graduate degree and Ph.D. in biology. During his tenure at Stanford he served as chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences and co-founded the interdisciplinary undergraduate Program in Human Biology. Dr. Kennedy also played an active role on several National Research Council committees, chairing a major study on chemical pest control alternatives in agriculture and later serving on the Executive Committee of the World Food and Nutrition Study.
He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the California Academy of Sciences, as well as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Kennedy holds honorary doctorate of science degrees from Columbia University, Williams College, the University of Michigan, the University of Rochester and the University of Arizona.
Dr. Kennedy is active in a number of organizations and serves on the board of trustees for the Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education for the National Academy of Sciences and the Health Effects Institute, among others. He has served on the editorial board for Science magazine, the Journal of Neurophysiology, the Journal of Comparative Physiology and the Journal of Experimental Zoology.
The Ewing Halsell Lecture Series was established in 1974 with a generous donation from the Ewing Halsell Foundation, and the first lecture was held in 1975. During the past 25 years, the lectureship has attracted Nobel Prize and National Medal of Science winners to the lectern.
The February lecture is open to the public. A reception will follow at 5 p.m. in the lecture hall foyer.
Dr. John P. Howe, III, president, presents Billy Barker, executive assistant to the vice president for administration and business affairs, with a commemorative plaque during Barker's December retirement party. Barker retired after serving 35 years at the Health Science Center.
Dr. Kenneth Olden, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institutes of Health, will present a lecture at the Health Science Center on "Improving Public Health Through Environmental Research." The lecture starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, in room 3.102B near the Briscoe Library.
The event is sponsored by the San Antonio Cancer Institute's (SACI) Office of Cancer Survivorship. SACI is a collaborative effort between the Health Science Center and the Cancer Therapy & Research Center.
Dr. Olden, a cell biologist and biochemist, will discuss environmental issues and how these issues impact public health, including the incidence of cancer.
Dr. Olden's research interests include the properties of cell surface molecules, their possible roles in cancer biology and work on the anti-cancer drug Swainsonine.
A former research biologist at the National Cancer Institute, Olden previously served as director of the Howard University Cancer Center and chairman of the university's Department of Oncology.
He was named by President George Bush to the National Cancer Advisory Board in 1991 and has authored and co-authored more than 110 publications.
The lecture is open to faculty members, cancer research investigators and the general public. The event is free and a continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. Reservations are not needed, but for directions and more information, contact the SACI Office of Cancer Survivorship at 616-5590.
Batten down the hatches, Texas: flu season has hit both coasts and now the Lone Star State. January and February are the heaviest months for influenza in San Antonio, say infectious disease specialists from the Health Science Center. The flu season typically ends in March.
Type A influenza is accounting for nearly all of the cases of flu being reported this winter. "Type A usually is the predominant type, but Type B can cause a significant number of infections," said Dr. Charles Leach, associate professor of pediatrics at the Health Science Center. "In 1992-93, for example, 86 percent of the influenza cases were caused by Type B. Last year, 21 percent of the cases were attributed to it. This year, the Centers for Disease Control is reporting 99.8 percent are caused by Type A."
The predominant strain of influenza currently is the A/Sydney H3N2 strain, said Dr. Jean Smith, associate professor of medicine, who sees many older flu patients. The A/Sydney strain is one of the strains included in the current flu vaccine, which is usually administered to patients at least two weeks prior to any anticipated influenza activity.
Influenza, a respiratory illness that may be spread by sneezing and coughing, may occur even in vaccinated individuals. "The vaccine is not 100 percent protective even in a healthy population and is less effective in the frail elderly or immune-compromised patients," Dr. Smith said. "In addition, only about two-thirds of people over the age of 65 have actually received the vaccine in past years."
Dr. Jan Patterson, professor of medicine and pathology at the Health Science Center and medical director of infection control at University Hospital, said the flu vaccine is 70 percent to 90 percent effective in most adults but only 30 percent to 70 percent effective in elderly patients in nursing homes. The vaccine cuts down on post-influenza complications such as bacterial pneumonia, she said.
About 700 people died from pneumonia and influenza in San Antonio in 1999, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 300 of those deaths occurred in January, February and March during last year's flu season.
Substantial attention is being paid to two new anti-influenza drugs, Relenza and Tamiflu, which are comparable in their ability to make patients feel better quicker, said Drs. Leach and Smith. Taken in time after flu effects are felt, these drugs may shorten the duration of the illness. "Major symptoms resolve 24 to 36 hours earlier," Dr. Leach said. "However, patients must start treatment in the first 48 hours of illness."
Relenza is given by inhalation; Tamiflu is an oral pill. "My clinical opinion is that there is little evidence for the superiority of one drug over the other," Dr. Smith said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drugs for use in adults, but testing on pediatric application is not complete. Tamiflu currently is not FDA approved for individuals under 18 and Relenza is not approved for children under 12.
In senior citizens, the drugs generally are well tolerated, but some patients with significant renal (kidney) dysfunction may need to take lower doses of Tamiflu.
Relenza and Tamiflu work by inhibiting neuraminidase, an enzyme on the surface of the influenza virus. Blocking this enzyme impairs the virus' ability to leave infected cells and to move along the respiratory tract to involve uninfected cells, Dr. Smith said.
The drugs are chemical compounds, unlike the annual flu vaccines, which are made from inactivated influenza viruses. "The vaccine is still the mainstay of prevention for the population at large," Dr. Smith said.
Older drugs were effective only against Type A influenza, but Relenza and Tamiflu are effective against Types A and B. "That may not be of major importance this year, since so few of the infections are Type B-related, but it could be critical in future years," Dr. Leach said.
When will flu season end? It varies from year to year, just like the start of flu season. "Last year the flu season in San Antonio was later than usual, not starting until February," Dr. Smith said. "December or January is more usual. Usually the season is over by the end of March."
Dr. Patterson said that from what she has heard, "this is a bad year for the flu."
Does influenza hit diabetics harder? What extra precautions should be taken?
"We know that diabetics are more susceptible to infections in general. For reasons we don't completely understand, this patient group is immune compromised," said Dr. Jan Patterson, professor of medicine and pathology at the Health Science Center. Dr. Patterson is a faculty member in the Division of Infectious Diseases and medical director of infection control at University Hospital.
Like other flu sufferers, diabetic patients start out with symptoms of sudden onset, high fever, muscle aches and malaise. But diabetics may be more likely to suffer post-influenza complications such as bacterial pneumonia, which is marked by persistent fever and development of productive cough, Dr. Patterson said.
Individuals ages 25 to 64 who have diabetes are four times more likely to die from influenza and pneumonia than individuals who do not have diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is coordinating a Diabetes and Flu/Pneumococcal Campaign. Unfortunately, about half of the diabetics in this group do not get an annual flu shot, the CDC literature states.
Diabetics and their families must be especially careful about maintaining proper glucose level during infections. "In general, when diabetics have infections, the glucose level may be harder to control," Dr. Patterson said.
Should persons with diabetes be overly concerned if someone in the family comes down with the flu? "Be concerned but not paranoid," Dr. Patterson said. "Take reasonable precautions such as washing hands and avoiding individuals who have influenza." In this situation, a person with diabetes may want to call a physician to ask about taking a flu medicine such as Relenza or Tamiflu. Flu vaccine takes one to two weeks to become effective, too late to help if flu symptoms are being felt.
Clinical teaching workshop scheduled for February
The Division of Educational Research and Development (ERD) will conduct its annual professional development course, "Effective Clinical Teaching," from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 24-25 in the School of Nursing auditorium.
Several hundred Health Science Center faculty members have completed this course and taken advantage of the opportunity to practice hands-on clinical teaching skills. The practice session includes small feedback groups for participants to critique videotaped examples of student and teacher interactions. Group participants will identify effective and ineffective educational strategies.
There is no cost for Health Science Center faculty. To register, contact Gloria Nuckols in ERD at ext. 7-2282 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org. Questions about the course should be referred to Bill Hendricson at ext. 7-2813 or by e-mail at email@example.com.
Environmental health research conference set for March
Planning is under way for a March scientific conference on border environmental health. Health Science Center faculty conducting research in this field are invited to contact Dr. Claudia Miller, director of the South Texas Environmental Education and Research program (STEER), to submit proposals for oral and poster presentations.
The conference will be held March 11-15 at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk Hotel.
Dr. Miller, associate professor of family practice, represents the Health Science Center on the International Consortium for the Environment (ICE), a group of Texas universities addressing international environmental research needs and public health concerns.
The focus for the upcoming meeting will be the South Texas/Border Region. The symposium will address border research needs related to air and water quality, environmental and health surveillance, public health, emerging diseases and susceptible populations, risk and exposure assessment, industrial growth, sustainable economic and agricultural development, environmental education, public policy and funding opportunities.
Sponsors for the event include the Health Science Center, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Environmental Protection Agency, Brooks Air Force Base, the City of San Antonio, the Texas Tech School of Medicine, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the ICE. More information on the event is available on the Web site at www.ice-borderhealth.com.
Hospital discharge data set for faculty physician's review
The Texas Health Care Information Council collects medical information statewide to facilitate accessibility of cost-effective, quality care.
Faculty physicians are encouraged to review their University Hospital discharge data between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. in the Planning and Grants Office on the first-floor of University Hospital beginning Jan. 31 and ending Feb. 11.
For more information, contact Patricia Ohmann, planning analyst, at ext. 8-1036.
The Office of Public Affairs is looking for story leads on clinical breakthroughs, research discoveries, human-interest items, community service, innovative teaching stories and other topics of interest for the Health Science Center's publications and for outside media coverage.
Story ideas and leads can be sent electronically through a new Web site. To submit article ideas, go to http://oerweb.UTHSCSA.EDU/webdev/bullseye/storylead.html .
Adults are getting braces on their teeth more often these days because they know the process doesn't hurt like it once did, said Dr. Larry White, director of the new orthodontics residency program at the Health Science Center. The purpose and design of braces haven't changed dramatically since they were invented late in the 19th century, but the methods and materials used in straightening teeth have changed significantly.
When Dr. White began practicing orthodontics in the '60s, he said, brackets and individual metal bands were made from scratch for each patient and placed around each tooth. Not only was this extremely labor intensive for the orthodontist, but it was also quite uncomfortable for the patient.
These days brackets are still used, but they are applied differently, Dr. White said. They are cemented directly to the teeth, and light-force titanium wires are fitted inside the brackets. The orthodontist then adjusts the wires as needed to correct the three-dimensional position of the teeth.
Dr. White expects computerization to further advance the field. Fairly soon, equipment will be available to scan a person's mouth in three dimensions, then make custom-fitted appliances based on that scan. "It will change orthodontics quite a bit," he said. "We will see customized wires bent by robots and entirely new bracket designs."
Lingual ("hidden") braces, which are placed on the inside of the teeth, will also be more prevalent in coming years, predicted Dr. White. About 10 years ago lingual braces were used somewhat in the United States, but they were introduced before the profession was technically prepared to apply and fit them properly, Dr. White said. They fell out of use shortly after they were introduced.
Now there has been a resurgence of interest in Europe and Asia, and Dr. White expects them to have a revival in the United States. "We'll be training our new residents in lingual braces, to make sure they're prepared for the public's desire to have a less conspicuous orthodontic appliance," Dr. White said.
Braces can be applied at virtually any age. Dr. White's youngest patient was a 2-day-old who needed a plate to compensate for a cleft palate. His oldest was an 83-year-old woman who had always wanted her teeth straightened.
Youngsters should be referred to an orthodontist by the time they have all their permanent incisors. "The orthodontist will not necessarily treat them vigorously at this age, but at least the child won't slip through the cracks," Dr. White said. If problems exist, such as cross-bites, finger-sucking habits or protruding teeth that are at risk in the event of a playground accident, orthodontic solutions can be prescribed before serious damage to the mouth occurs.
Growth modification procedures, such as making a palate wider or advancing a lower jaw, are better done before a child has finished growing. "There are some general rules of thumb for therapy, but every case needs to be considered individually," Dr. White said.
San Antonio students pose for a photograph at the fountain for a brochure promoting dental health and disease prevention. The brochure, published by a community group, is being translated into Spanish. Dental School students help elementary students in San Antonio with a fluoride rinse program.
7:00 a.m. Orthopaedic Teaching Conf. "Tibial Plateau Fractures" (MED: 309L)
7:30 a.m. Neurosurgery Grand Rounds "Cigarette Smoking & Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation," Dr. Fangyi Zhang (MED: 444B)
8:00 a.m. Rehab Medicine Lecture Series "Iontophoresis & Phonophoresis," Drs. Mark Fredrickson & Gary Campbell (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
6:30 a.m. Podiatry Case Conf. (LEC: 2.010)
8:00 a.m. Rehab Medicine Lecture Series "Transfers, Mobility & Disability: Patient Presentation," Richard Cherry & Denise Nance (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
Noon. TNT "Cytology: Diagnostic Pitfalls in Pulmonary Cytology," Dr. Claire Michael, University of Michigan (call ext. 2700 for information)
1:15 p.m. Psychiatry Grand Rounds "Eating Disorders: An Update," Dr. Joel Yager, University of New Mexico School of Medicine (MED: 409L)
1:30 p.m. TNT "Laboratory Technology: Blood Component Therapy," Lt. Felix Alfonso, Fort Sam Houston (call ext. 2700)
4:00 p.m. Molecular Medicine Seminar Series "Roles of bHLH Transcription Factor BETA2/NeuroD in Pancreatic & Neuronal Development," Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai, Baylor College of Medicine (IBT: 3.002)
6:30 a.m. Podiatry Grand Rounds "Case Presentations," Dr. Hadi (MED: 309L)
7:00 a.m. Vascular Surgery Grand Rounds, Dr. Mellick Sykes (MED: 209L)
8:00 a.m. Medical Grand Rounds, Third Annual O. Roger Hollan Lecture "Looking Back at Hypertension, with a Glimpse Forward," Dr. Stephen Miller, University of Tennessee (MED: 409L)
8:30 a.m. Training Office "Ways to Manage Conflict," Anita Glass (call ext. 2320 to register)
9:00 a.m. Surgery Trauma M&M Conf., Dr. Ronald Stewart (MED: 309L)
Noon. TNT "Women's Health Issues: Issues in Abnormal Pap," Dr. Melissa McKee, Albert Einstein College, The Bronx, N.Y. (call ext. 2700 for information)
Noon. Pharmacology Seminar Series "Novel Actions of Inverse Agonists at Serotonin2C Receptors," Dr. William Clarke (MED: 444B)
1:00 p.m. Training Office "Processing State & Local Vouchers," Donna Henckel (call ext. 2320 to register)
1:30 p.m. TNT "Health Care Commentaries: Riding the Waves of Change," The Rev. Richard Gilbert, The World Pastoral Care Center, Valparaiso, Ind. (call ext. 2700 for information)
7:30 a.m. Thoracic Surgery Resident Teaching Conf. (VA: 4th-floor CT Library A404)
7:30 a.m. Obstetrics & Gynecology Grand Rounds "CT in Lower Abdominal Pain," Dr. Shailendra Chopra (MED: 309L)
8:00 a.m. Neurology Grand Rounds "Stroke Prevention: Management of Carotid Stenosis," Dr. Oscar Benavente (MED: 444B)
Noon. Pulmonary, Thoracic & Oncology Conf. (MED: 309L)
Noon. Microbiology Seminar Series "Role of Innate Immunity, Host Genetics & Microbial Factors in Modulation of Pulmonary Immunity," Dr. Gary Huffnagle, University of Michigan Medical Center (MED: 444B)
12:30 p.m. TNT "Pain Management: Interdisciplinary Conf.: Chronic Pain Case Review," Alison Beck & Drs. John King, John Kuhn, Mary Heye, Clayton Gable and Barbara Woods (call ext. 2700 for information)
4:00 p.m. Surgery Tumor Conference, Dr. Anatolio Cruz (MED: 209L)
4:30 p.m. Citywide Thoracic Grand Rounds Conf. "Case Presentation," Dr. Claudio Guareschi (MED: 309L)
5:00 p.m. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Grand Rounds "M&M Conf.," Drs. Joseph Kold & Robert Lyons (MED: 409L)
7:30 a.m. Pediatric Grand Rounds "Contemporary Issues in Vaccine Safety," Dr. Joseph Bocchini, Louisiana State University Medical Center (MED: 409L)
8:00 a.m. Rehab Medicine Lecture Series "Ischemic Spinal Cord InjuryCase Report & Literature Review: A Review of Research," Drs. David LeMay & Maria Lomba (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
7:15 a.m. Surgical Physiology Conf., Dr. Kenneth Sirinek (MED: 209L)
9:00 a.m. General Surgery Grand Rounds, Dr. Wayne Schwesinger (MED: 209L)
THE NEWS is published Fridays by the Office of Public Affairs for faculty and staff of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Vice President for University Relations.....Judy Petty Wolf
Executive Director of Development & Public Affairs.....Dr. Charles Rodriguez
News & Information Services Manager ..... Will Sansom
Writers.....Myong Covert, Catherine Duncan, Jennifer Lorenzo
Photographers.....Jeff Anderson, Lee Bennack, Lester Rosebrock
Web Editor.....Joanne Shaw
Public Affairs, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900 | <urn:uuid:c78fdd99-cec4-4f82-8163-13580b4ce157> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uthscsa.edu/opa/issues/new33-3.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936836 | 7,073 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Photographer Nick Fancher tells us that he recently came up with an interesting way of customizing the catch light in subjects’ eyes. If, in your portraiture, you place white or black foam boards to control the amount and direction of bounce light, you can also use white and black gaffers tape to control what goes on in your subjects’ eyeballs!
Here’s a lighting diagram showing the setup Fancher has been using:
By applying white tape to black board and black tape to white board, Fancher is able to create some pretty interesting shapes in the eye lights of his portraits. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of the boards followed by the portraits they helped make:
Image credits: Photographs by Nick Fancher and used with permission | <urn:uuid:f0d2317b-d9d5-4534-a81b-00ecfd36ff00> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://petapixel.com/2013/03/19/use-gaffers-tape-to-customize-the-catch-lights-in-your-subjects-eyes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943847 | 165 | 1.554688 | 2 |
The Charles Rixey Bible
The following is an exact transcription of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of Virginia Historical Inventory
Researched by: Margaret Jeffries, Culpeper, Virginia
November 15, 1937
1. SUBJECT: The Charles Rixey Family Bible
2. LOCATION: At Rosedale which is about 8 miles north of Culpeper, Virginia, .7 mile west of Rixeyville, Virginia, on Route #640, thence north on private road about .1 mile to house.
3. DATE: 1846
4. OWNERS: Misses Fannie R. Lewis, Lula T. Lewis, and Mattie M. Lewis, Culpeper, Virginia
5. DESCRIPTION: This book is about fourteen inches long, eleven inches wide and four inches thick. It is bound with leather covered paste board backs. Inside there are several large illustrations, full page but not in colors. The Apocrypha is included in this book. The condition is very good there being only one or two loose pages.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This Bible is the family Bible of the Rixeys who have been written up in a story about "Mount Pleasant, "Rose Dale," and "Pleasant Hill." These stories give information about the Rixey Family.
James R. RIXEY and Martha F. RIXEY were married the 19th of December 1854 by the Rev. Wm. V. Lauck
Marshall LAKE and Amanda M. RIXEY were married December 21, 1854 by Eld. Robert C. Leachman
Richard LEWIS and Lucinda M. RIXEY were married December 21, 1865 by Rev. Wm. C. Lauck
James R. LEWIS and Rose T. ROBINSON were married June 2, 1896 by Bishop George W. Peterkin
Martha F. RIXEY, daughter of Charles RIXEY and Lucinda, his wife, was born the 16th July 1820
James R. RIXEY, son of Presley RIXEY and Margaret his wife, was born September 1, 1818
Lucinda M. RIXEY, daughter of James R. RIXEY and Martha F. RIXEY his wife, was born the 30th of October, 1845
Amanda M. RIXEY, daughter of Charles and Lucinda his wife, was born July 1, 1832
John RIXEY, son of Richard and Elizabeth RIXEY his wife, was born November 25, 1770
The last page of this report is missing from the microfilm copy.
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Return to VAGenWeb Culpeper County | <urn:uuid:8504f489-f3ec-404c-99a5-89a5ad98017e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~takelley/cbrixey.htm | 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 | 0.977589 | 579 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Outlook improves for N.C. growers
Good apple sites are also good view sites, which was a cause of conflict.
It took some land leveling to make a place for the Apple Wedge packing house.
The view from the high hill behind the packing shed at Apple Wedge Packing is worth climbing to see. Until two years ago, stunning views like that were one of the reasons owner Greg Nix wasn’t planting new apple orchards, and was, in fact, pushing out some old ones.
All around Hendersonville, North Carolina, hilltops were coveted for conversion to house sites. Nix’s Apple Hill Orchards near Edneyville could have become just another clever name for a suburb. Now, with the bloom off the housing market, this old apple-growing area is settling back a bit, and Greg, a fifth-generation apple grower, is putting in some new trees.
Greg packs about 200,000 boxes of apples a year, under the Apple Wedge brand name. About half the apples are from his production, and the other half comes from 15 to 20 smaller growers he packs for. Apple Wedge Packing and Cider is the largest fresh apple packer in North Carolina.
Apples have to move up and down the roads, as do tractors and sprayers. Residential development threatens not just the land but shapes the environment in which the farmers operate.
The apple growers around Hendersonville have their hands full already dealing with their natural environment; the hills and valleys are a difficult-to-manage asset.
The orchard plantings tend to follow the contours of the steep hillsides. And while the growers don’t build terraces, they flatten the alleys somewhat between rows after the trees are planted. Standing in an alley, one looks up at one row of trees and down at the next one.
Despite the terrain, Nix built his own self-leveling platform and uses it for pruning and other orchard operations, like stretching wire, even on the hillsides.
Space for the packing house and storage was literally carved out of a mountain. “A lot of buildings in Henderson County sit on Apple Hill soil,” Greg said about all the earth moving that went on.
The original packing plant was built in 1983, then rejuvenated in 1997 when Greg added a four-lane electronic sorter and sizer with capability to put apples into trays or bags. In 2009, the plant was expanded with the addition of 9,000 square feet of apple cold storage and a treatment area for application of MCP. Most North Carolina apples are sold by the end of the production season, but Nix carries packing into early winter.
Historically, North Carolina was a processing apple producing area forced by changing circumstances to shift to the fresh market. Greg grew up working on the farm while in high school in the 1970s. Then, it was owned by his grandfather, who worked it with Greg’s uncle. His own father, an electrician, was not part of the operation. In the early 1980s, Greg joined with the uncle, and, together, they expanded the apple operation and began the packing business.
Greg is now 51, and, since 1997, he and his wife, Lisa, have been sole owners. Greg and his uncle split the operation—in a friendly way, he said—and went their own ways. The Nixes have two young adult children, Katie and Christin, who work on the farm when not in college and high school, and they also employ a nephew Steven Godfrey, 26, as their orchard manager.
Greg concentrates on marketing. “I take care of all the sales myself,” he said. Steven manages the orchards, and another employee manages the packing house. The farm, which had about 2,000 apple trees on 30 acres when Greg began, now has about 45,000 trees on 150 acres.
The transition to fresh market entailed both a change in varieties and a change in the way lower quality fruit was handled. Greg developed markets with Walmart, Food Lion, and Ingles—important supermarket chains in the Southeast—and also with school systems and the military.
As local processors closed their doors and growers had to ship processing quality apples several hundred miles, Nix took a different tack. In 1995, he and his uncle formed Apple Wedge Cider, which now produces more than 100,000 gallons of cider every year. Greg sells the juice, made with a continuous-feed belt press and flash pasteurized, to his wholesale fresh apple customers, as well as to local markets. They press cider, using a three-variety blend, from August until mid-March.
The Nixes tried some direct marketing, but Greg much prefers the wholesale business. They have drawn away from marketing on the farm and from some of the entertainment ventures, like orchard and packing house tours, that they were trying.
They do sell some fruit at the farm, including peaches. They planted 10 acres and 11 varieties of white and yellow freestone varieties as a new venture, and they are available from about July 20 to Labor Day. Most peaches are also sold wholesale.
Different apple orchards reflect the farm’s evolution. Already in 1986, Nix was planting Golden Delicious on Mark rootstock at a 6- by 14-foot planting. Very productive still, that orchard has averaged more than a thousand bushels per acre over the last few years. More recent plantings include Autumn Rose Fuji on Malling 9, and Pink Lady on Budagovsky 9.
“Greg is a very progressive grower and is always looking to the future,” said Marvin Owings, the extension director in Henderson County. “This past winter, Greg and some of his employees attended the International Fruit Tree Association meeting in Washington. After seeing some of the impressive new planting and tree training systems, Greg and his employees decided to put in their own trial back home. He installed six different systems (spindle, V, and Y) using wire support. The variety selected was Ultimate Gala on Bud.9 rootstock with spacing that ranges from 2 by 12 to 6 by 12 [feet]. Greg is always striving to increase production and quality and at the same time cut cost.”
IFTA members visited the Nix operation in 2008. | <urn:uuid:fc7d2ea9-c7f3-4871-ac32-53daba1036d5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.goodfruit.com/Good-Fruit-Grower/January-15th-2012/Outlook-improves-for-NC-growers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973311 | 1,323 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Iran threatens again to halt all oil exports if sanctions tightened
Tehran (Platts)--5Nov2012/908 am EST/1408 GMT
Iranian oil minister Rostam Ghasemi renewed Monday a threat to halt all
oil exports if the West imposes more sanctions against Tehran, oil ministry
news service Shana reported.
"If the West increases sanction pressures, the Islamic republic, in
reaction, will revise the trend of its crude oil exports," Ghasemi was quoted
as saying. "Iran is not willing that such a thing happens in the world."
"Elimination of Iran's oil from the market will disturb the supply and
demand balance in the world's markets and under such conditions instability
and oil supply shortage in the world's markets will escalate," he added.
"The absence of Iran's oil from world markets will have an impact on
prices and people will suffer. But their governments will be responsible for
that," Ghasemi said.
But he said the country was taking measures to bypass the sanctions and
that its oil exports had improved in recent months.
Ghasemi first threatened to halt all oil exports by the OPEC member
state on the sidelines of the World Energy Forum in Dubai October 24 if the
US stepped up pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.
On Sunday, he was quoted by students' news agency ISNA as saying that
while he hoped the nuclear crisis would be resolved through dialog, Iran
would withhold oil exports to "part of the industrial world" if further
sanctions were imposed.
"Despite the latest pressures to impose sanctions on Iran's oil, we have
succeeded to pass through them by special measures," he said, adding that the
country's oil exports had been improving in recent months.
Ghasemi said in Dubai that oil production was running at 4 million b/d
but provided no figures for exports, saying much of the oil being produced was
used domestically as refining capacity had expanded.
Iranian officials have given widely differing figures for Iranian oil
production and exports since the latest round of EU and US sanctions came
fully into effect in July.
A prominent member of Iran's parliament was quoted Sunday as saying that
the country's oil exports had fallen to 1.03 million b/d compared with
predictions that Iranian exports would average 2.5 million b/d, the Donya-e
Eqtesad newspaper reported Sunday.
"Currently, the oil sale is 1.03 million barrels per day. Our prediction
was 2.5 million barrels," Gholamreza Mesbahi Moghaddam, head of the
parliament's planning and budget committee, was quoted as saying at a
provincial meeting on Thursday.
He predicted that Iran would post a $60.35 billion budget deficit in the
current Iranian year that started March 19 as a result of lower oil exports,
the country's economic lifeline.
The semi-official Fars news agency quoted an unnamed oil ministry source
as saying Sunday that Iran produced 3.1 million b/d of crude oil last month.
A Platts survey of OPEC's production for September estimated Iran's
output at 2.7 million b/d.
Secondary sources estimate that Iran's oil exports have fallen by 1
million-1.5 million b/d in recent months from an average 2.5 million b/d in
On October 2, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a press conference that
he was hopeful the country, which relies on crude oil sales for the majority
of its foreign revenues, would not face a cash shortage although he confirmed
that oil income had fallen as a result of the sanctions.
"We will continue with the current income and God willing we will move
forward without facing a budget deficit," Ahmadinejad said when asked whether
an OPEC basket price around $110/barrel would be enough to meet budgetary
However, Mesbahi Moghaddam provided figures showing a budget shortfall.
"The general budget of the country in the current year was 164,000
billion tomans [$133.76 billion]... our prediction is that under the current
situation 90,000 billion tomans [$73.4 billion] of the money will be
realized," Mesbahi Moghaddam said. Oil revenues so far this year have totaled
$30 billion, he added.
"The country's economic situation is not favorable and given the
decreased oil income, we face economic problems and we should adjust to
these conditions," he said, adding that the government was making light of
the impact of the sanctions.
The US and the European Union have piled on sanctions against Iran since
the start of the year in an effort to starve the Islamic Republic of revenues
that it believes are being used to fund a covert atomic weapons program.
Tehran has insisted that its nuclear program is peaceful and designed to
generate electricity and for medical use.
The EU imposed a ban on the import of Iranian oil from July 1 and
recently extended the ban to gas imports as well as a host of other sanctions
targeting the energy and financial sectors.
The US has adopted sanctions that effectively resulted in lower Iranian
oil exports by threatening to penalize any country or entity that deals with
Iran's Central Bank unless they cut their imports from Iran.
--Aresu Eqbali, firstname.lastname@example.org
--Edited by Kate Dourian, email@example.com | <urn:uuid:2ec74394-5391-4571-86e0-6242dfe59007> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Oil/8880842 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966213 | 1,159 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Am posting this as a response to crewsin.
I came up with an idea, & had planned to post, & it may have been posted b4, but I haven't seen it.
When the eggs are brought inside, always separate the eggs that are 2 or more on a single leaf, cutting carefully with sharp scissors, leaving as much leaf as you can safely for each cat, this will be their 1st mw meal. This will prevent them from eating their siblings or 'leaf-mate' if they were laid by different 'Mamas'
I have taken the bottom half of an egg carton, with the 12 little cups, the plastic carton, not the cardboard, as the cardboard breaks down when wet; placed moist paper toweling in each little cup; one paper towel may be sufficient,rotated for the most coverage; tucked down in cups w/ fingers, (but I always use the selct-a-size towels & have used 1 1/2) , & I made a sleeve to fit snugly over it with toile, or tulle, whichever spelling you prefer, here in the South is often tulle,) & place the eggs you have collected,into the individual cups, on the pieces of leaves, 1 egg per cup, on top of a clean damp fresh leaf for each egg, & slipped the bottom half of the egg carton into this sleeve. If the tulle doesn't fit snugly enough to cover securely each individual cup, a straight pin, thumb tac or push pin can be safely used to keep it down.
This I place on a tray on my kitchen bar, (my own personal way of doing things), this way I can monitor the progress of the eggs & the birthing of the cats. Then, as they are born, I decide when it is time to move them to a 'community container', again my personal way & term. Keep the leaves replenished as needed, then in a day or so, you can transfer the babies to another container of your choosing; each have their own personal preference of container type; plastic Glad ware containers, plastic shoe boxes, which I use sometimes, or covers from cheesecakes or such,(using the cover for the contaner) from local deli is my personal preference, lining the bottom with moist paper towels, which turn up at the sides for easy removal. I always make about 3-4 layers of moist paper towels, rotating the different layers so the corners are easier for me to find. (As I come to the last moist paper towel, I moisten 3-4 more & replenish, on this cleaning. (If there happens to be any 'staining' that has gone through to the one below, I toss that one also. This way, I can lift out the paper towel on top, holding the cata, frass & left-over leaf bits, sit it on my tray, & place fresh leaves on the waiting clean paper towel below.
Then I place fresh, rinsed, moist leaves around on the clean paper towel & place a baby on a new leaf, dispose of the waste (frass) & any uneaten leaf 'bits', & re-cover with the tulle, secured with a large rubber band, or the bottom of the container, now used as the top, with the center cut out & tulle, hot glued in, securely. Some prefer to pat the leaves dry, is personal pref, again. I love to see their little heads going back & forth getting the moisture. Again, your personal pref.
I always try to clean 'before any cats start wandering', so, the possibility of them wandering off while doing this process it isn't a problem. Just in case, I have netting picnic-plate covers to place over them while I get the dirty paper towel disposed of.
I have several of the 'bamboo & tulle fan-fold picnic plate protectors' that I use for community feeding also, using appropriate sized plastic plant saucers as a liner, or plastic plates & using same method of cleaning. You will find your own personal preference in containers, whatever works best for you, there are some very good suggestions & ideas in earlier posts. You will also find the number of cats you are comfortable with in each 'community feeding container' as you get further into the process, personally I decrease the number in a community feeder as they increase in size.
You will also find your own personal method of transferring or handling the cats, whatever is comfortable for you; some use brushes, bamboo skewers, q-tips & other methods. I have long, sturdy natural home-grown nails, & transfer & handle them that way, always washing thouroughly before & after. The cats 'scoop up' on my ring & middle finger, secured by my thumbnail, if needed. My nails are very long & always smooth, & I have handled thousands of cats a year, never damaging one. I also have disposable blue plastic latex-free gloves always handy, that I use when needed. I think all will agree that one of the most important things, besides keeping the cats safe, is keeping their enivronment clean, & frequent removal of the frass (waste from the cats, if you are not familiar with the term), is an important thing for their safety & vital for their health.
I personally refer to the waste as 'castings' since I use earthworms in my soil, for the aeration factor & their 'castings' are a great constant fertilizer. It is a local Southern thing I have always done, they are plentiful here, & a natural way to constantly fertilize. They can be gathered early mornings & late evenings, here in our area, moving about on the concrete driveways & walkways in our yards, (but as I grow in containers, they often find their way into my soil).
There are some that take cuttings of the mw, placed in water in different typed of containers, later in the instar stages & placing the cats on them, making a tent-roll-down-hill of paper towels or some other material, where the frass rolls down the 'hill', for easier cleaning. I ran very short of mw one year & had to resort to being conservative with leaves, so it depends on your personal 'supply & demand' on your method, later in the growth cycle.Leaves or stem cuttings, is up to you.
This is simply a suggestion, & somethings I, personally do, & not to be mistaken as a lesson or instructions of any kind. We each learn new things, it seems, each season, some good, some not so good. So when I visit the forums, it is like going grocery shopping; some things "I take off the shelf"
& make note of for later use, or use immediately, & some I 'just leave be."
Wishing you the very best with your new 'charges' & lots of fun & love. Each season has its tears for me, tears of sorrow & joy, but the good always outweigh the bad. Personally, I simply pray for guidance, wisdom & strength to care for my babies.
God Bless you in all that you do & whatever you encounter, Have a beautiful Butterfly Day...tarheel | <urn:uuid:b7b9cbad-eb9f-4afa-a3e4-9d61ecaca82a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://monarchwatch.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=7251 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949082 | 1,513 | 1.5 | 2 |
If not, you’re in good company.
From a newspaper? Television? The radio? From a digital source, like social media or a news site? Perhaps all of the above.
In 2012, 39% of respondents got news online or from a mobile device “yesterday,” (the day before they participated in the survey) up from 34% in 2010.
Though “traditional” media may be declining as a primary source for news, online news has been on an incline since 2006. A further breakdown shows that 19% of respondents got news from social media and 16% did so from e-mail, while 8% said they’d listened to a podcast.
More digital developments from the State of the News Media report: http://pewrsr.ch/114ozuY
via the Herald Tribune:
Mark Jurkowitz, the associate director of the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism who has spent two decades covering the news media, said during a phone interview Thursday that one of the reasons the real story likely fell through the cracks was because sports journalists are not by nature very good at investigative work.
“That’s not really where their expertise lies,” he said. “The fact that the steriods scandal went unreported by so many for so long” is an example of that, he said.
— Amy Mitchell, Deputy Director for the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, quoted in Folio Magazine piece from a panel discussion at Advertising Week.
— Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, in a Huffington Post piece “Watching the Show: Are Conventions Still Relevant?” | <urn:uuid:927fcb16-6db6-4864-9adf-5c48c650c47e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pewresearch.tumblr.com/tagged/Media | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937887 | 361 | 1.734375 | 2 |
After more than a month of speculation, scientific calculation and plain guesswork – not to mention thousands of visits to bookies – it has finally been confirmed that 2013's most eagerly anticipated arrival is due in July.
In a statement issued on Monday, St James's Palace announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby is set to be born in six months' time.
"Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July," said a palace spokesman.
The palace also said that the duchess, who is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum or severe morning sickness, is feeling better following her stay in hospital last month.
The news of her recovery will quell speculation over whether the duchess is carrying twins: hyperemesis gravidarum – which is most common in the first trimester – is more often suffered by women expecting more than one baby.
If the new prince or princess arrives early, he or she could share a birthday with William's mother, the late Diana, princess of Wales, who was born on 1 July.
The duchess was last seen in public on Friday when she visited the National Portrait Gallery in London with William for the unveiling of her first official portrait.
A spokesman for the couple said they were unlikely to undertake any engagements in the next few weeks as William would be concentrating on his flying with the RAF search and rescue force.
He added that Kate was likely to return to engagements "in the near future".
The bookmaker William Hill said confirmation of the approximate due date had proved costly.
July had been the even-money favourite with the firm and its odds now suggest that the baby could be born in the third or fourth week of that month – both offered at 9/4.
"The royal baby is starting to cost us a small fortune; we have already paid out on the year and now the month that the baby will be born," said a spokesman.
"We can only hope that they don't have a baby with ginger hair as that would break the bank."
William Hill is also taking bets on the name William and Kate will give their child.
Among the favourites are George, Victoria and Diana, all 10-1, followed by Elizabeth at 12-1, and Charles, John and Phillip, all 14-1.
Babies born in July – whose ranks include Nelson Mandela, Tom Cruise and Sir Richard Branson – tend to fare less well in their educational careers than those born in September.
Claire Crawford, a programme director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the English academic year, which runs from September to August, favoured those born before the summer.
"It means that the July- and August-born babies are the youngest in their year and they tend to take the exams when they are slightly younger than those born earlier in the year," she said.
"Because of the way the education system is set up in England they are the youngest in their year and what we've shown is that puts them at a disadvantage on average compared with the children who are born at the start of the year."
Crawford said the results gap between July-born children and their September-born peers was wide to begin with, but narrowed as time went on. She said July-born children were about 33% less likely to reach the government's expected level in reading, writing and maths at key stage 1 (around the age of seven), about 10% less likely to achieve 5 A*-C grades at GCSE, and around 5% less likely to go to university at the age of 18 or 19. | <urn:uuid:35f74f8b-7932-4381-b617-7c61b09a131b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/14/royal-baby-due-in-july | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986048 | 750 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Dead looking grass: mow before watering?greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread
We have a bunch of dead grass that we would like to turn into hay.
We have two months of growing season left and we're debating on how to go about it. We're going to irrigate, but should we cut the existing stuff before we start irrigating?
I think that the existing stuff will green back up. If we leave it, we will have more to cut sooner.
My wife thinks that when we start to water, new stuff will grow and that the existing stuff (all this years growth) is dead and will just shade the new stuff and lower the quality of the overall end harvest.
We're a bit new at this and full of guesses. Can anybody set us straight on this?
-- Paul Wheaton (firstname.lastname@example.org), July 28, 2001
Paul, what are you feeding??? The year that we had big drought we went into "survival" mode with our live stock and baled some pretty bad stuff for bulk, then supplimented with grains. Sometimes you just have to feed what you got and usually most animals will do ok on it unless it is moldy. I would not mow first if it were me doing it and I understand your situation there right.
-- diane (email@example.com), July 28, 2001.
Cows and goats. We were thinking of getting some pigs once we could pen them in.
-- Paul Wheaton (firstname.lastname@example.org), July 28, 2001.
I'm not an expert, but I think your wife is right, if not your dead grass(which is probably long and lying down; inedible for the livestock and only straw if baled), then the weeds(which are close to seeding if not already). I had posted a few months ago about our fields which are very lumpy (from previous owner's plowing)and covered in milkweed and other weeds. The suggestions were from burning (locals) to re-plowing and seeding with guidence from government agricultural agents for fertilizer, etc. We fenced it in, let the horses eat what they would, then moved the fencing to another area so we could mow what they left. A week after mowing, the field had such nice green grass that the horses were breaking through their electric fences to get to it. I noticed that their trampling the field lessoned the bumps quite a bit as well. By mowing before the weeds seed, the grass has a chance to grow and the weeds do not reproduce. The horses will not eat what is lying down. The cows may be different, so, please take that into consideration. Our fields are becoming nice, flat pasture with this rotation process. We are in central Maine, therefore a shorter growing season, if that is a consideration. I haven't a clue what hogs would eat, but I know what our picky horses eat. This is in very rocky soil, btw. I mean VERY rocky, like a rock wall with a bit of dirt sprinkled on top.
-- Epona (email@example.com), July 28, 2001.
The grass we have now is standing, but looking dead-ish.
I'm thinking that with some water and fertilizer, that grass will come back to life.
-- Paul Wheaton (firstname.lastname@example.org), July 29, 2001.
Paul, the grass that is standing now and "deadish" will not green up again. When it rains or you irrigate it will start new growth from the base. There's really no problem with leaving it there, it will just fill out your bales more when you finally do cut, and lower the quality of the hay, some. Which is no problem, just feed more of it and let them pick out what they want. I doubt they'll waste too much of it. If things are that dry and you really need the hay, I'd find some way to feed it, at any rate. You can always supplement grain, as Diane said, but finding hay on a bad hay year can be a problem.
-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (email@example.com), July 29, 2001.
We have done hay for many years and the dead stuff needs to be cut and removed before you irrigate and try to grow a fresh batch of new hay. The more you cut grasses, the better quality you get! Don't let grasses go much beyond the "boot" stage, which is just when they start to set seedheads, you see seedheads, it's time to cut it, no matter how short or thin!
Be aware that it will take A LOT of water to grow a field of hay, and it will need an inch a week to make it worth your while to grow and harvest. If you have quite a bit of clover (red or white), you won't have to fertilize the fields, but have the soil checked by your local ag extension sevice (costs 8 dollars a sample here) to see if you need lime, most ground does. Liming is fairly cheap and long lasting, should be enough to have it applied every 8 years or so if you apply enough, the soil test will tell you ( the ag guy will tell you the rate of application needed) how much you need. Here we applied 4-5 tons per acre and the fields are doing great! We hay organically and don't use fertilizer, we planted enough red clover to act as natural fertilizer, legumes return nitrogen to the soil. You can rent a no-till seeder to do this too from your extension service, as we did last year, we planted timothy and red clover into the early spring existing hayfields when the new growth was very short, in March.
Basically, you got to keep your fields cut to discourage weed growth and encourage desirable grass growth, grasses spread by rhizome, not seed, so the more you cut it, the thicker it gets, just like your yard! Twice a year is the minimum required.
-- Annie Miller in SE OH (firstname.lastname@example.org), July 29, 2001.
I,too, had pastures that had been let go and the neighbors would graze their horses on it. I wasn't too concerned when I first moved here about the quality of the pastures because I didn't have livestock but as I have gotten closer to the time when I will be getting sheep, I have been paying closer attention to the quality of the pasture. I started mowing it in the late fall to get rid of the tall stuff and again in the spring after things start turning green. This has really improved the pasture because it gives the grass a fighting chance against the weeds. The only thing I have to be careful about is that I only have a garden lawn mower not a tractor so I can't do too big an area at a time or it will be too hard on my mower. So I do it in sections over the course of several weeks. All that it costs is the gasoline and your time and it really does make the pasture have nicer grass. Good luck.
-- Colleen (email@example.com), July 30, 2001. | <urn:uuid:84de709d-bc82-469e-86f8-e9566dc16c67> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=005uW5 | 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 | 0.974369 | 1,538 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Making Money Hunting Alligators
If you have watched the Swamp people in the latest period, you are surely aware about their alligator hunting businesses. The Cajun people are always talking about their preys, and they are proud about the biggest alligators hunted. While the adventure and the thrilling can’t be contested, let’s see some facts about making money from alligator hunting.
Even if this is their main source of income, the Cajun people have other several sources. They are practically using everything from the alligators: the meat is consumed in different ways, and part of it is going to New Orleans for the exclusive restaurants. The beginner Swamp people hunters are selling the skin of the alligators immediately after hunting the animals, but the most advanced hunters also have their own small manufacturing businesses, so they are selling the skins from alligator hunting as fine leather.
However, finding the best places to hunt is not that easy, and the Cajun people have their own maps left from father to son. The Swamp people cherish those maps, and they are the most important gifts that can be given by the swamp people one to another.
A huge problem about alligator hunting is the volatility of the market. It is not only about the alligators that are changing their habitats often, making it hard for the hunters to find them. It is also about the prices, as they are changing often. It might be a curiosity, but the life of the Cajun people is strictly connected with the catwalks of Milan and Paris. While the anti-leather currents from the latest years affected the incomes of the Swamp people, it seems like the “green current” of people disappeared, and they realized that exclusivity can’t be obtained with vinyl. This is why at least for this year and the years to come, alligator hunting will be a profitable initiative.
While the price for alligator skin was 6-9 dollars/square foot in the 80’s, now they can sell it with more than 13 dollars/square feet. However, this is not the best period for the Cajun hunters, as the prices were 40 dollars/unit in the early 90’s.
Bottom line, the Swamp people sell one alligator with 400 dollars. However, an old alligator that was involved in lots of fights has scars, making it less profitable. The hunters must also go for the huge exemplars, as the small ones would not even cover the costs of the alligator hunting. Moreover, the local authorities protect the small alligators.
Other incomes are coming from the increasing number of tourists. The locals are guides for the group of curious tourists, and they are more and more every year. The locals are also organizing alligator hunts for rich people that can afford 1000-1200 dollars for a hunt. The tourist goes home with the prey, and this initiative is far more profitable than the common alligator hunting. On the other hand, it is also dangerous, as the tourists might get hurt and the guide is responsible in this case.
To learn more about Swamp People on the History Channel click here. | <urn:uuid:7b2272d3-807a-4961-983e-96bca1ab64ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://swamppeople.com/alligator-hunts/catching-gators/making-money-hunting-alligators/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968438 | 645 | 1.648438 | 2 |
|PRISON PLANET.com Copyright © 2002-2006 Alex Jones All rights reserved.|
Bush Third Term Article A Hoax
Several talk shows and blogs are mistakenly citing a Register article in which the website claims it has obtained a secret memo outlining plans to enable President Bush to run for a third term in office.
The article was released on April 1st and clearly states 'April Fool' in its introduction.
We wanted to make our readers aware that this was a hoax to prevent any confusion.
However, a move really is afoot to abolish the 22nd Amendment and allow for a dictator to monopolize the reigns of power for life, in the form of a House bill introduced last June.
The bill would repeal limitations on a President holding office for a maximum of two terms.
An even darker scenario, Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected as President in 2008 and shortly after the 22nd amendment is abolished, making the Hitler admirer our permanent Fuehrer.
This is the modern day version of the Enabling Act, which allowed Hitler to officially declare himself dictator.
Click here to hear President Bush's thoughts on the subject.
The bill can be found at the Library of Congress website here.
In February, Bush was presented with a life-size marble pedestal of his own head and shoulders by the National Guard. The inscription read 2001 - BLANK - leading many to suspect it was an inside joke on the fact that Bush could hold office past 2008 if a manufactured crisis is in play.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of our $39.95 yearly special, we are bringing it back for Spring! This is your chance to receive over 5 months of access completely free compared to the standard price. Click here to subscribe! | <urn:uuid:f1dee413-da72-48c9-9969-4b20491346fb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/april2006/060406articlehoax.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963269 | 356 | 1.546875 | 2 |
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 15, 2002
Statement by the President
I welcome yesterday's strong statement by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) on the need for North Korea to eliminate its nuclear weapons program and its decision to suspend further shipment of fuel oil to North Korea beginning in December. We are working closely with our partners in KEDO and our friends around the world to address this shared challenge.
North Korea has acknowledged that it is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons program based on enriched uranium. This program undermines regional and international security and the international nonproliferation regime. North Korea is also in direct violation of the North's commitments under the Agreed Framework, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), its International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement, and the Joint North-South Declaration on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea's clear violation of its international commitments will not be ignored.
The United States hopes for a different future with North Korea. As I made clear during my visit to South Korea in February, the United States has no intention of invading North Korea. This remains the case today. The United States seeks friendship with the people of North Korea.
In June 2001, we offered to pursue a comprehensive dialogue with North Korea. We developed a bold approach under which, if the North addressed our long-standing concerns, the United States was prepared to take important steps that would have significantly improved the lives of the North Korean people. Now that North Korea's covert nuclear weapons program has come to light, we are unable to pursue this approach.
North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a challenge to all responsible nations. The leaders of the Asia-Pacific region made clear in a unanimous statement in October that North Korea's potential to benefit from participation in the international community rests upon the prompt and visible dismantlement of this program. We are united in our desire for a peaceful resolution of this situation. We are also united in our resolve that the only option for addressing this situation is for North Korea to completely and visibly eliminate its nuclear weapons program.
# # # | <urn:uuid:f5b1614c-552f-456b-b004-dc2fe26d0f2a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/11/print/20021115-8.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950346 | 432 | 1.65625 | 2 |
|elevators=3 |transferrequired=yes |platforms=Centre platform, streetcar loop |wheelchair=yes |washrooms=yes }}
Union Station is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina line of the Toronto, Ontario, Canada subway. It is placed at the bottom of the ‘loop’ formed by that line, between the Yonge and University sections, at its southernmost point, and is located at 55 Front Street West between Bay Street and York Street, below Front Street and immediately north of Union Station railway station. The station opened as the southern terminus of the original Yonge subway line on March 30, 1954, for the University section of the Yonge-University-Spadina line on February 28, 1963, and on June 22, 1990 for the former Harbourfront LRT. This station serves approximately 72,240 people a day.
Union connects the subway with GO Transit trains and buses, VIA Rail, Ontario Northland Railway, and Amtrak. Nearby landmarks include Union Station, the Royal York Hotel, the Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the CN Tower, the Royal Bank Plaza, BCE Place, and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Union’s status as a transport hub has resulted in overcrowding on its narrow centre platform. A plan is in place to add a new platform for Yonge-bound trains, outside the tracks; the current platform will then only need to serve University-bound trains. Construction on that expansion is set to begin in 2006, which will also see the entire upper mezzanine become a fare-paid area
Leaving the station eastbound, the Yonge leg of the line runs briefly under Front Street and turns 90 degrees north to run under Yonge Street; leaving westbound, the University leg also runs under Front Street, and eventually turns 90 degrees north to run under University Avenue.
The station is also noted as being one of only two stations on the TTC where a signal light is publicly accessible. The signal is located on the east end of the platform. It is an Interlocking Signal that guards the crossover to the northbound Yonge Line and is only used during service disruptions that require trains be turned at Union.
A Presto card reader can be seen at Union station. It is the only one on the entire transit system so far. | <urn:uuid:8ace7334-77bd-47ff-8283-e7d50d8b4856> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Union_(TTC) | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96161 | 487 | 1.796875 | 2 |
It is not every day that instead of basking in new-found freedom, a prisoner chooses to go back to prison. But that is what ex-convict Saddam Mugamba has been handed over to the executive director of Mission after Custody, Morris Kizito.
Mission after Custody is an NGO responsible for taking care of homeless ex-convicts.
Mugamba was discharged from prison after Court lost interest in his case.
"When I went back home, I was rejected by my brother and the community, claiming that l was likely to rob them," he recounts.
"Much as the organisation is responsible for taking care of the ex-offenders, it lacks requisite funding yet they require extra assistance since many of them are unemployed," Kizito says. Currently Mission after Custody accommodates over 500 ex-offenders.
He expresses worry that in circumstances of death, there is nowhere to bury them and calls on the Government to allocate land for construction of a resettlement centre.
Kizito adds that income generating activities should be considered in the project to ensure that ex-offenders gain skills that will help them acquire employment.
Mugamba has been sleeping on the streets, but that life was too hard. In desperation, he went back to Luzira Maximum Prison, even suggesting that one of the other prisoners be set free so that he could take his place.
"In prison, I never missed a meal neither did I fail to have a shower. But upon discharge I hardly access water to bathe or get food to eat. Out there, I have been forced to pick leftovers from the dustbin," Mugamba narrates.
Mugamba had been remanded to Luzira on charges of theft. He, however, insists that he took advantage of a colleague who was resting to ride his bike.
Unfortunately, he claims, he knocked a pedestrian, leading to his arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Godfrey Komakech, the officer in charge of barracks and security at Luzira Maximum Security Prison, said Mugamba's peculiar request stunned authorities.
According to the custodial rules and regulations, prison authorities are mandated to discharge a detainee upon completion of the sentence. Further detention after the sentence amounts to misimprisonment, implying that an ex-prisoner has a right to sue prison authorities in such a case.
Mugamba, in fact, committed an offence by going back to the detention facility, Frank Baine, the prison's publicist said.
Baine stressed: "The prison department is mandated to take custody of prisoners who are in possession of commitment warrants from court and restricted from accommodating ex-prisoners unless they happen to commit another crime." | <urn:uuid:50b74189-ccab-49f0-a467-69afa30ce828> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://allafrica.com/stories/201207091181.html | 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 | 0.977335 | 555 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Healthy College Foods
It’s really tough for most college students to eat healthy food while pursuing their higher education because many of them don’t have much discretionary income. Most of their eating decisions are made with the ideal of trying to stretch any money allocated for food as far as it will go. One of my friends swears that he ate spam sandwiches for the first two years of college until he started to work a part-time job. I don’t know about you but the ideal of having to eat Span everyday makes me a little queasy.
Recently I ran across a great article at The Wannabe Chef, 3 Healthy Foods For College Cooking. The blog is written by Evan, a college student in New England. Evan tries to maximize a couple of things while cooking, using cheaper ingredients that have a higher nutritional value. The 3 items that Evan suggest college students try to incorporate more of into their daily meal plan are eggs, whole grains and nuts.
He likes the eggs for a few reasons. They are high in protein, low in saturated fats and they’re quite inexpensive. Did I forget to mention that he’s also a vegetarian. The second item that he recommends to his fellow college students are whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal. These food items fit well into a college students budget and the way they are prepared goes well with the type of kitchen space that is available to many students living in dorm rooms.
The last item, one that I particular like, is trail mix/nuts which make the ideal snack. These are items that anyone can easily grab to curb those hunger pains while still maintaining a healthy eating lifestlye.
I suggest you travel over to The Wannabe Chef and check out some other great articles that Evan has written. | <urn:uuid:56db5502-900b-48b4-a790-9eecd261dc5a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.copycatcooking.com/healthy-college-foods/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976291 | 367 | 1.804688 | 2 |
House Speaker John A. Boehner’s lofty pledges to break with precedent and run Congress in a more inclusive, transparent manner ended up a mixed bag over the past two years, as he fulfilled many of his vows, but had others fall to political pressure or circumstances.
The Ohio Republican oversaw the end of spending earmarks, but occasionally fell short of his pledge to give lawmakers the promised three days to read bills before they were scheduled to vote on them.
His chief vow, though, was to open the legislative process to amendments. He wanted to reverse a trend under the previous Democratic majority that offered limited opportunities for individual lawmakers to propose their own measures on the House floor.
“H.R. 1 was really quite remarkable,” said Sarah A. Binder, a specialist on Congress and legislative politics at the Brookings Institution. “They did let the process open up. It’s rare that parties have that leisure, and it’s rare they want to give up that kind of control.”
Ms. Binder, however, also described that first piece of legislation as an “aberration” and that other measures of the 112th Congress — such as the deal in the summer of 2011 to raise the federal debt ceiling — did not receive the kind of freewheeling debate of decades ago.
“The Republican majority did not pull us back to that period,” she said.
Mr. Boehner, who was re-elected as speaker on Thursday, called on members to devote themselves to service for the sake of the public. He avoided grand pledges about how he would run the chamber for the next two years.
His first address after taking the gavel two years ago focused heavily on the kinds of parliamentary changes that he said were necessary to free the chamber.
“Legislators and the public will have three days to read a bill before it comes to a vote,” he vowed. “Legislation will be more focused, properly scrutinized and constitutionally sound. Committees, once bloated, will be smaller with a renewed mission, including oversight. Old rules that have made it easy to increase spending will be replaced by new rules that make it easier to cut spending. And we will start by cutting Congress‘ own budget.”
The speaker lived up to many of those goals. The chamber’s rules do make it easier to cut spending, and every bill introduced in the House now must include a statement pointing to the specific constitutional authority that backs it up — though many lawmakers still don’t take the requirement seriously.
The three-day rule has fallen victim to circumstance. On Friday, the House leadership will push through a $9 billion package of aid for victims of Superstorm Sandy on the second day of the 113th Congress. Also, the final text of the “fiscal cliff” deal that Mr. Boehner pushed through the House on Tuesday was written less than 24 hours earlier.
The 2011 deal to raise the debt ceiling also was made available to lawmakers less than a day before it was put to a vote.
Staffers said the three-day pledge didn’t apply to back-and-forth amendments between the House and Senate.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland wasn’t buying it.View Entire Story
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
David Sherfinski covers politics for The Washington Times. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.
'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
A mother of three and a passionate conservative, Shirley Husar changes the game.
Political satirist and Christian apologist Bob Siegel discusses religion and politics.
Columns from Voices around the World talking about the events, people, politics and social issues that concern us wherever, and whoever, we are.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall | <urn:uuid:06cd77f4-5531-4c99-a249-0dd641c4f91d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/3/boehner-has-mixed-house-rules-record/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965672 | 836 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Ten steps that will help you keep New Year's resolutions
The end of a year is a powerful time to assess what we have achieved and make resolutions on what we want for our lives. New years are like fresh sheets with nothing written on them: we have the chance to imagine what we want and make plans toward achieving what we dream of. However, it is easier to make resolutions than to stick to them.
But in 2013 you could be one of the individuals who actually sticks to his resolution and ends the year feeling enthusiastic about how much you achieved. How? By using one or more of these 10, time-tested secrets for making good intentions stick.
1. Keep things real. If your goals are not grounded in reality, they are just wishes. For example, if you are not used to exercise, your chances of winning a marathon within the next year are slim to none. But if your resolution is to finish a marathon, the probability is much higher. Stretch yourself, but don't untie your goal from reality.
2. Own it. Make sure that achieving your resolutions depends only on you. You can get as much help as you need along the way from coaches and buddies, but, in the end, you are responsible for your own success.
3. Motivate yourself every day. Keep a list of your resolutions in a visible place. Write your top goals at the top of every to-do list.
4. Break your big goal down into smaller milestones. If you plan to achieve something by the end of the year, think of milestones that will help you keep tabs on your success. Outline monthly goals or even weekly targets, so you know exactly where you are.
5. Track your progress. Keeping a journal is a fantastic way to assess what you achieve and to help you get organized. It also helps when you need to change your strategy.
6. Enlist supporters. Get a "resolution buddy" or two and encourage each other to stick to your resolutions. Talk about what you have already achieved and what you still need and listen to other points of view about your experience. In our experience, when people feel accountable to another person, they will usually jump through hoops to ensure they follow through on time.
7. Carve out time in your schedule. Organize your day in a detailed, daily schedule that will help you figure out how to make time for yourself. Get your free printable daily schedule tool at GetButtonedUp.com/Tools.
8. Reward yourself. Each time you complete a milestone, reward yourself. It may be as simple as a piece of chocolate or a manicure, but rewards are a marvelous way to incentivize yourself to stay the course.
9. Get help. Most people who achieve their goals are quick to point to others who helped them along the way. If possible, hire people who are experts in what you don't know instead of thinking you will be able to do it all.
10. Get rest. Really! Tired people are not productive. If you want to do so much that you never have time to rest, your chances of achieving your goals are significantly reduced, and if you are constantly worn out, it will seem easier to forget about your resolutions.
Finally, when the end of the year approaches, be sure to assess what you achieved and enjoy your success before making new plans.
The writers are co-founders of Buttoned Up, a company dedicated to helping stressed women get organized. Send ideas and questions to firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:bb7373e6-9209-4c4c-972e-341ea2ae3b09> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.herald-dispatch.com/features/x2070308211/Ten-steps-that-will-help-you-keep-New-Years-resolutions | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961103 | 730 | 1.84375 | 2 |
The flag sitting on top of Capitol Records is flying at half staff today in memory of Les Paul. He died Thursday in New York of complications of pneumonia. He was 94.
Paul developed an early solid body electric guitar and was the originator of multi-track music recording. Paul was also instrumental in the development of the Capitol label and its studios. Paul first signed with Capitol in 1948.
Recording engineer Al Schmitt knew Les Paul for decades and considered him an “uncle.” KPCC's Alex Cohen reached Schmitt at his home in the San Fernando Valley and asked him about the first time he met Les Paul. | <urn:uuid:35fb67f5-df37-4844-b42c-9a961a466673> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scpr.org/news/2009/08/13/4506/legendary-guitarist-recording-innovator-les-paul-d/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981113 | 129 | 1.648438 | 2 |
In a publicity release sent out on January 17 2012, Americans Elect declared the GOP presidential nomination race to be sadly all wrapped up after Iowa and New Hampshire. Americans in other states wanting to express their presidential choice would have to look to (and donate money to) Americans Elect:
Actually, two different GOP presidential candidates won the Iowa and New Hampshire contests, and events proved Americans Elect wrong just four days later when a third GOP candidate won the South Carolina primary, tossing the GOP race up for grabs.
That didn’t stop Americans Elect from trying the same line again. In a news release dated February 2, just two days after Mitt Romney won his second primary victory, Americans Elect seemed to be eager to declare him the GOP winner already so it could recast itself as the democratic alternative:
Only four states have had a chance to vote in the GOP primaries, but experts are saying the process is over. Are voters happy?
But actual democracy soon intervened again to counter the Americans Elect narrative. On February 7, voters in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri handed election victories to Rick Santorum, not Mitt Romney. Now Mitt Romney has won the majority of delegates, Rick Santorum has won the majority of states, while Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich are continuing to campaign through the Super Tuesday primaries of March 6. By the end of that night Republican voters in 21 states will have cast their votes. In short, the GOP nomination looks to be an actual election involving large numbers of voters.
Whatever number of people have voted in the Republican presidential nomination process, it seems to not be enough to meet Americans Elect’s standards. Back in January, Americans Elect complained about “Only 369,448 Votes” in Iowa and New Hampshire. But with the addition of South Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, there have now been 3,022,769 votes cast.
In contrast, Americans Elect has had its own online presidential nomination ballot qualification vote going on around the clock for nine full days now. How many cumulative votes has it attracted over those 9 days, and what has the cumulative vote count in the Republican race been? Results as of this morning:
Only 6,429 votes had been cast in the Americans Elect process, just two-tenths of one percent of the participation in the Republican process. If 369,448 votes are meager, what does that make 6,429 votes? The disparity is cast in starker terms when one realizes that in the Americans Elect process, one person can vote many times. The actual number of people participating in the Americans Elect process, despite media coverage in every major TV network and newspaper, is even smaller than the number of votes.
The vote totals for particular Americans Elect contenders tell an even bleaker picture: unless Americans Elect changes its voting procedure in the middle of the voting — a highly irregular move — it doesn’t look as though anyone will qualify for the Americans Elect ballot at all. According to the rules published during the first day of the ballot qualification vote, political insiders will have to obtain 10,000 votes of support and political outsiders will have to obtain 50,000 votes of support by May 15. By that standard, with 9 days gone and 96 days left to go, only Ron Paul (with 1,372 votes of support as of this morning) is on pace to obtain 10,000 votes by May 15.
But wait, there’s more. Even Ron Paul isn’t actually on pace to get on the Americans Elect ballot, because there’s a second standard he has to meet. For reasons that aren’t immediately clear, only the first thousand votes for a candidate in a state will be counted toward the 10,000 vote total, and only the ten states with the most votes will count have their votes counted toward that 10,000 vote total. The 10,000 votes have to consist of 1,000 votes in each of 10 and only 10 states. As of now, these are the top ten states from which Ron Paul has received support in the Americans Elect vote:
California: 144 votes
Texas: 107 votes
Florida: 97 votes
New York: 73 votes
Virginia: 58 votes
Pennsylvania: 54 votes
Ohio: 48 votes
Michigan: 44 votes
Washington: 43 votes
Illinois: 42 votes
Did you notice that these are the most populous states of the United States? That’s not a coincidence; for all its talk of democracy, the Americans Elect process effectively disenfranchises small states, which with smaller populations are unlikely to scrape together 1,000 votes for anybody. It’s the big states that will either qualify or not qualify a candidate for the Americans Elect nomination. At this rate, with 9 days gone and 96 left to go, Ron Paul will only get 1,000 votes in California, Texas and Florida by May 15.
And the other Americans Elect draft candidates? Insider or outsider, they aren’t on pace to get 1,000 votes of support in any state at all.
The bottom line is that while Americans Elect corporate leaders complain about lack of participation in the Republican nomination, the Americans Elect vote is far, far less popular. To deal with its lack of support, Americans Elect will have to mount a huge publicity campaign very soon, or it will have to change the rules of its voting in the middle of its vote, or it will have to benefit from a well-funded candidate who decides to invest significant funds, or it will have to leave its ballot empty in 2012. | <urn:uuid:6cb96324-9f38-4376-8995-9580d387b0b0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/tag/nomination/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960996 | 1,126 | 1.578125 | 2 |
I was talking to somebody who said that he feels women are too easily impressed by chivalry. After screaming herself hoarse about the equality of men and women (he said), the same woman swoons over a chivalrous man. He accused women of double standards.
A bit of thinking led me to the conclusion, that yes, we do like chivalry. In fact, everybody does. But not in the sense of men holding doors open and offering their chairs to women. Everybody appreciates courtesy, good manners, and concern towards fellow human beings, regardless of the sex of the courteous person, or of the person at whom the concern is targeted.
Maybe I can explain better with examples.
Situation: A group of us are passing through a self-closing door.
I don't expect - Anybody to hold the door open for me.
I expect - The person who has already passed through, to pause and hold the door for that one second longer to prevent it from swinging back, so that it does not bang into my face, and I can pass through it elegantly and safely, and in turn, hold the door for that one second longer to facilitate the person behind me to pass through unhurt.
Situation: I enter a conference room for a meeting, and see that there is one chair short.
I don't expect: Anybody to get up and go out of the room, and get me a chair.
I expect: That when I go out and get a chair for myself, and am struggling to get the bulky swivel chair into the room through the self-closing door, my colleagues should not stare at me blankly, chewing their pen caps, but get up and hold the door open so that I can get my chair inside.
Situation: Getting on to the bus.
I don't expect: Anybody to stand aside and allow me to climb into the bus first.
I expect: That s/he should not shove me aside to get into the bus first.
Situation: Waiting (like at the doctor’s), where there are a number of chairs, all occupied.
I don't expect: Anybody to get up and offer their chair to me.
I expect: Somebody to get up and offer their chair to the pregnant lady/the lady carrying a baby/old people/the person with a crepe bandage around his ankle.
Actually these are very small things. It is common sense, and basic courtesy, which should be followed by everybody without a second thought. But an unbelievably small number actually practices it.
So naturally, when someone, be it male or female, displays such little gestures of thoughtfulness, it is very natural to be drawn to him/her. And the insensitive ones, who don't understand what is happening, accuse women of falling for chivalry. All I can say is, wake up, and smell the coffee. | <urn:uuid:934f0db2-6866-4a60-bc31-b4bec55c9989> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nychthemeron.blogspot.com/2006/09/chivalry-and-courtesy.html?showComment=1158065040000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966206 | 605 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Owing to hundreds, if not thousands, of years of political and cultural divisions, Europe has been left with several small countries. Many have carved out a place in recent years as tax havens, casino resorts, or, in the case of the island nation of Malta, as a sunny wintertime escape. The year-round sun and turquoise waters of the Mediterranean are enough of a draw, but Malta's history has left it with some stunning architecture as well. This 17th-century palazzo in the hilltop town of Żebbuġ has recently been renovated, with an updated kitchen and new windows, but its the 400-year-old features that really make this $2.4M mansion. Double-height round arches make a dramatic statement in the living and dining rooms and the rear courtyard, defined by ancient walls and dotted with trees, boasts a plunge pool, although it appears to be in need of some 21st-century upgrades.
↑ Monaco's status as one of the world's most famous tax shelters—along with its social cachet and Med weather—has grossly inflated the prices of homes in this tiny principality. Need proof? This rather pedestrian looking three-bedroom flat overlooking the harbor is listed for an eye-popping $23.2M. The 2,700-square-foot apartment comes with two parking spaces, storage in the basement, a communal swimming pool, and a 24-hour concierge, but the tax savings will have to be ample to justify the near $8,600-per-square-foot asking price.
↑ Nestled in the Pyrenees mountain range, between France and Spain, Andorra might not have Monaco's prestige or Malta's reliable weather, but it does boast plenty of ski slopes and some surprisingly well-priced real estate. This chalet, with covered garage and a whopping 10 bedrooms, is listed for $2.07M. The steep driveway might be a pain to negotiate in the winter, but once inside, the 3,800-square-foot house impresses with stonework and Swiss-style woodworking.
↑ At just under 1,000 square miles, Luxembourg is larger than many of the countries on this list, but it still has the culture of a small European nation: it's ruled by a grand duke and is famous as a tax shelter. As in Monaco, the savings on taxes have brought high property prices. This former farmhouse has been reworked as a luxury residence, with six bedrooms, two bathrooms, an indoor pool, and a $4.46M asking price.
↑ The tiny principality of Liechtenstein, sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, is very protective of its citizenship and has made an effort to keep foreign speculators out of the real estate market. That means that buying property as a foreigner is difficult, but the financiers drawn to the country's robust banking sector need somewhere to rest their head, so luxe rentals are standard in this country of 36,300. Located in Schaan, the country's largest city, this 1,400-square-foot modern apartment is available for $4,130 per month. Walls of glass open to the bucolic countryside, while a wrap-around balcony provides private outdoor space. | <urn:uuid:1c51521f-23fc-4b44-b5a0-2ee2d4f7dd89> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://homes.yahoo.com/news/luxurious-mansions-europes-many-microstates-220000409.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963033 | 674 | 1.523438 | 2 |
President Clinton today denounced "promoters of paranoia" for spreading hate on the public airwaves and promptly found himself in a confrontation with conservative radio talk show hosts, whom he had not named but who interpreted his remarks as attacks on themselves.
After days of measured statements of grief and outrage over the Oklahoma City bombing, Mr. Clinton edged today into a new discussion of the civic and political climate that might have encouraged it. As soon as he finished speaking, senior White House aides became concerned that his remarks would be interpreted as an attack on radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh and rushed to insist that the President had only been urging Americans to protect free speech by speaking out against hatred.
"We hear so many loud and angry voices in America today whose sole goal seems to be to try to keep some people as paranoid as possible and the rest of us all torn up and upset with each other," Mr. Clinton said in a speech to the American Association of Community Colleges in Minneapolis before flying to Iowa for a conference on rural America. "They spread hate. They leave the impression that, by their very words, that violence is acceptable.
"You ought to see," Mr. Clinton continued, "I'm sure you are now seeing the reports of some things that are regularly said over the airwaves in America today. Well, people like that who want to share our freedoms must know that their bitter words can have consequences, and that freedom has endured in this country for more than two centuries because it was coupled with an enormous sense of responsibility."
But Mr. Limbaugh said on his radio show today that it would be "irresponsible and vacuous" to suggest that debate heard on the radio contributed to the events in Oklahoma City.
He asserted that liberals intended to use the bombing "for their own gain," and added, "The insinuations being made are irresponsible and are going to have a chilling effect on legitimate discussion."
Mr. Clinton did not mention Mr. Limbaugh or other political opponents by name, but he has sharply criticized him in the past. After initial news service reports characterized the President's remarks as a reference to conservative talk show hosts, the top aides traveling with him -- the deputy White House chief of staff, Harold M. Ickes, and the communications director, Mark D. Gearan -- sought out reporters to insist that was not so.
Mr. Gearan said the President might have been thinking of news reports that groups with ties to suspects in the bombing had used shortwave radio to broadcast anti-Government messages, and Mr. Ickes said Mr. Clinton was speaking more broadly.
"He is not pointing his finger at any particular person or any particular program," Mr. Ickes said. "But he is very concerned that words do have consequences."
White House aides also distributed copies of the State of the Union Message, in which the President called for a new civic discourse, in an effort to show that Mr. Clinton had been sounding similar themes for months.
But talk show hosts seized on the President's oratory as an attack on them and responded accordingly. In an interview broadcast tonight on ABC News, G. Gordon Liddy, whose talk show is syndicated, said that he had no obligation to temper his tone.
"If a listener responds inappropriately it is beyond my control and not my fault," he declared.
Also tonight, Mr. Limbaugh issued a statement in which he sardonically agreed with the President's remarks but turned Mr. Clinton's past attacks on Republican budget cuts back on him. | <urn:uuid:22c3e824-3959-421e-ae81-91668a6f71bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/25/us/terror-oklahoma-president-shifting-debate-political-climate-clinton-condemns.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983958 | 715 | 1.75 | 2 |
Kids 'Shop With a Cop'
Christmas came a bit early for twenty kids Saturday thanks to local law enforcement.
"This is the type of event that can reassure them that there is good in people out there," Sergeant Robert Pickowitz of the La Quinta Police Department said.
For the second annual Shop With a Cop, officers from the La Quinta Police Department took 20 kids shopping for toys at the Super Walmart in La Quinta.
Local educators among other people chose children they felt would really benefit from the event.
Ida Martinez got emotional watching her granddaughter shop.
"She lost her mom about nine months ago, but she's doing pretty good, her and her brother, but they miss their mom," Martinez said.
Martinez's granddaughter Alyiha spent the morning picking out gifts she might not have been able to get without Shop With a Cop.
"It's helped us a lot. She had a lot on her list, and she got everything she wanted today," Martinez said.
Walmart donated $75 for each child. As toys piled up, so did prices, but the deputies happily paid the difference out of their own pocket.
"I'm very fortunate to be here with these kids. I enjoy every second of it. It's what I like to do every year," Deputy Karen Enos said.
Local police are working to make sure that is a world kids know.
"Law enforcement is out there, and we are looking out for their best interest," Pickowitz said.
"There is good in the world, there is, you just need to be positive. Not all people are bad," Martinez said. | <urn:uuid:39a2bf65-c5c6-43a6-82be-3bac8a759585> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kesq.com/news/Kids-Shop-With-a-Cop/-/233092/17791526/-/view/print/-/nbmyprz/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984606 | 339 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Houston Schwartz cooed as he watched TV from a baby chair in the living room where his family temporarily lives.
The 1-year-old -- with three teeth, chubby cheeks, big blue eyes and dirty blonde hair -- reached for his toes, waved his arms and smacked together his lips.
Last spring and summer, Houston clung to life. He lived in hospitals. The malnourished baby mostly slept and barely moved. Three open-heart surgeries and multiple interventions delayed his development but kept him alive.
His family didn't think he'd make it this far.
Houston turned 1 in November, a feat achieved by only 50 percent of babies with pulmonary vein stenosis -- a narrowing of the veins that
Now, Houston weighs 15 pounds. He can sit and roll over on his own. He says "mom," "dad" and "bye." His dad, Matt Schwartz, thinks he soon might crawl.
Schwartz still feeds him through a feeding tube, and the baby still needs oxygen tanks to help him breathe. Every two or three months, his doctors perform balloon catheterizations to open his two remaining pulmonary veins. Otherwise, Houston would die.
He has a nurse from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but Schwartz takes Houston to appointments every other week and to the hospital for emergencies.
Dr. Vincent P.R. Aluquin of Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital referred him for a lung transplant consultation at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Aluquin said if the hospital feels Houston needs a transplant, he probably won't be at the top of the list because his condition is stable.
He said that although the balloon catheterizations mitigate the narrowing, pulmonary hypertension -- abnormally high blood pressure -- could cause his right ventricle to fail.
If that happens, Aluquin said, Houston would need a heart transplant, too.
There was a time when Schwartz believed Houston's
Eight months ago, he was determined to take Houston to Children's Hospital Boston, which specializes in pulmonary vein stenosis.
Schwartz didn't have a job or a reliable car. He couldn't afford to fill his gas tank. He lived in his mother's Springettsbury Township basement with his three kids from a previous marriage and Houston's mother.
Through help from volunteers, Schwartz and Houston made it to Boston in May. Schwartz and his three other children lived in a hotel for a month. But doctors had no cure.
After returning from Boston, Schwartz believed a home near Hershey would enable him to care for his kids and find a job, while being near the hospital for Houston.
Amy Logston, 42,
Handfuls of people, organizations and businesses in York County and beyond held fundraisers for Houston and his family. Many people donated money, clothing, furniture, food and toys.
Schwartz still doesn't have a job. He sells some things from catalogs on eBay, and Houston's mom works part time at Walmart.
In August, Schwartz's ex-wife sued him for custody over Lexy, Austin and Kyle. In December, the case was transferred to Lebanon County.
He needs to find a new place for his family to live or a way to pay rent by Jan. 10. He needs to make a wage that can complement the $700 a month he receives in food stamps. He needs a job that can accommodate his unexpected trips to the hospital.
"Nobody is going to work around that," Schwartz said.
On Dec. 6, he said he wasn't looking for an apartment because he didn't have an income. He swore he wouldn't go back to his mother's basement. He said there's not enough space and there's mold where they used to stay.
As Schwartz dealt with day-to-day tasks, his mom, Gail Schwartz, and several volunteers -- "Houston's Angels" -- looked for somewhere for the family to live and money to help pay for it.
Logston said she's willing to let them rent the townhouse, but she can't afford to donate it. She
"We're kind of scrambling," she said.
Lyndi Ilyes, 29, of Dallastown helped organize a fundraiser for the family in July at the White Rose Bar & Grill in York. She held several other smaller fundraisers.
She said there were a lot of people helping the family months ago, but that it's hard to keep people's interest.
"You keep hitting the same group of people," Ilyes said. "People don't have the money to keep giving."
She stays in touch with Schwartz and lets him vent. She tells him things will get better.
Ilyes said Schwartz does the best with what he has.
"Houston is 24/7," she said. "I don't know how he could ever have a job or make any progress in his life other than dedicating it to his children."
Thomas Daly, 50, of Westfield, Mass., started helping the family after reading a story published June 17 in the York Daily Record/Sunday News while he visited York County. He has a son a few months younger than Houston.
Daly contacted the York Revolution, Springettsbury Township Police Department and local churches about holding a fundraiser.
He has reached out to government agencies in search of assistance.
"This is a family who is in crisis and needs support," Daly said.
He communicates with Schwartz and follows Houston's Facebook page, which has garnered more than 1,500 followers. Photos of the baby receive hundreds of "likes" and comments of inspiration.
Daly said supporters love Houston and have grown connected to him.
"Houston's our hero," he said. "Every baby deserves a right to life."
Schwartz said it has gotten harder to deal with Houston's illness while trying to care for his kids. He has a harder time thinking about letting him go.
He still worries about how his kids will take it if Houston dies, now that Houston has become more a part of the family. Lexy changes his diaper and helps mix his formula.
"It's going to be 1,000 times more devastating to those kids," Schwartz said.
He said certain moments make his family's struggle worthwhile. On a recent Thursday, Schwartz walked to the bus stop to meet Lexy and Austin after school. Earlier that day, he had driven Houston to his cardiologist appointment in Lancaster County.
When they got home, he told the kids to take off their coats and go say "hi" to Houston.
Lexy, 7, ran up to him and knelt next to his seat on the living room floor. She spoke in a baby voice and tried to get his attention and a reaction.
Schwartz said she does that every day.
After a few seconds, Houston stared at her.
"He's not happy," she said.
Then he laughed, and she smiled.
About pulmonary vein stenosis
After Houston Schwartz had open-heart surgery in November 2011 to correct his congenital heart defect, he developed a complication from surgery.
The rare condition is called pulmonary vein stenosis, which causes an obstruction in the blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood from the lungs back to the heart. It can be isolated to a single pulmonary vein, but most often occurs in multiple veins at the same time.
The stenosis occurs because of abnormal cell growth, making the veins' walls thicken and narrow.
The condition frequently gets worse. As a result, the person can lose partial or total flow to vessels.
To treat the disease, doctors can widen the veins in an open-heart surgery, attempt to stretch the vessels by cardiac catheterization with balloon dilation or do a transplant to replace the lungs and the pulmonary veins.
Response to surgery or catheterization is usually short-lived. Typically, within three to four weeks, the obstruction recurs, and repeating surgery provides only a temporary fix.
In some cases, a lung transplant might be an option, but it comes with risks, including rejection of the transplanted lung and serious infection.
Patients also must take immunosuppressant drugs for the remainder of their lives to help reduce the chance of the body rejecting the new lungs.
Many children with the most severe form of pulmonary vein stenosis do not survive past early childhood.
Houston Schwartz, 1, of Lebanon County, has pulmonary vein stenosis, which is often progressive and fatal.
Donations for his medical care and the family's needs can be made to the Houston Schwartz and Family Benefit Fund at any M&T Bank branch or mailed to M&T Bank, 1000 Haines Road, York, PA 17401. | <urn:uuid:31687065-2ca2-4f15-88be-108b2ac2b42c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_22193466/live.ydr.com | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981056 | 1,803 | 1.664063 | 2 |
So now comes Teledyne Continental jumping on the diesel/Jet A bandwagon. It took my e-mail inbox about 10 minutes to load up with comments. What's Continental thinking? Have they made a terrible mistake? Why aren't they pursuing a simpler two-cycle design like the Deltahawk?
All legitimate questions, of course and all unanswerable. One thing that is knowable because Continental says as much is that the company senses an inflection point on the disappearance of 100LL and believes the decision on a new fuel needs to be made sooner rather than later. Make no mistake: This represents a major realignment in Continental's business plan.
The diesel is just part of a range of solutions Continental has in mind. It simply wants to be ready, and that's just smart business. Rather than developing its own engine, Continental simply bought technology fully formed from SMA, which has been flogging away at diesel for longer than anyone else.
Setting aside why SMA doesn't want Continental to say where the technology came from not sure why this is, but the French have their own way of doing things does this decision make a lick of sense?
Yeah, it does. Despite its long time in grade, the SMA SR305 is the Rodney Dangerfield of aerodiesels. From what I can tell, users who have installed it are happy with both its performance and its reliability. I did an in-depth report on the engine in this video. There are some shortcomings, however, which Continental will have to address.
One, there just aren't enough of these engines out there to form an opinion based on large fleet usage. There are some conversions flying, and Maule has been selling them for a few years to a handful of owners. (Maule is mad at us and won't speak to us, so following up with them is a lost cause.) Well under 100 of the SR305s have been fielded. That's not much experience.
Second, the engine doesn't like cold weather. It seems to start okay, but it has issues with low power settings in flight and in-flight restarts. Cirrus tried the SMA engine a few years ago and shelved it as a result. Continental's Johnny Doo told us the company thinks it can solve this problem or it wouldn't have bought the technology. I'm no diesel expert, but this ought to be solvable. I mean, c'mon, this is 2010.
The deal has a couple of sweet spots. Most important, it's not a sales or co-branding arrangement, but licensed, turn-key technology. That means TCM can pick up the diesel ball at the 40-yard line, not back against its own goal. This is a big deal because with a proven foundation in place, Continental can concentrate limited R&D funds on improvements and on leveraging the four-cylinder into a more powerful six-cylinder diesel, which the market desperately needs. And remember, TCM sees time as a driver here and they don't think they have enough of it to re-invent the SMA wheel. They think rightly that the industry is dragging its butt on the 100LL conversion, and if others get caught short, Continental doesn't want to be one of them.
I can see a benefit for SMA, too, in that getting what could be a high-juice market push from TCM toward the OEM sector, SMA will get some cred. Why they don't want to ride that wave by keeping their name off the street on this deal is baffling, but it's consistent with what buyers have told us about SMA. They haven't really pushed sales of this engine. On the downside, they are also getting a very able competitor in the OEM market. Continental probably won't concentrate on conversions, so SMA may still have a market there.
Technically, the engine has some pros and cons. It's oil- and air-cooled, so there's no cooling radiator to fuss with, but the intercooling and oil plumbing is still complex. It's essentially single-lever and has power density that's comparable to Continental's gasoline engines and better than the Centurion and Austro designs. It's also smooth, and, being direct drive, there's no heavy and failure-prone gearbox. I've flown it several times, and it's a nice ride.
What I don't like as much is the old-school mechanical fuel distribution system. Yeah, it's electronically scheduled, but it doesn't have the pulsed common rail injectors of state-of-the-art diesel. Although the SMA approach may have a reliability advantage, the diesel world long ago evolved into pulsed electronic fuel injectors driven fully by FADECs. I don't know if TCM will get there with its engine, but I'd like to see them try. For market purposes, it may not matter. No one really knows.
The fuel specifics are good, at .36 BSFC. Continental's very best gas engines can run at .38 or .39, and although that doesn't sound like much of a Delta, over the life of the engine it adds up to very big savings. That's attractive for U.S. buyers on fuel prices alone. For some foreign buyers in countries where avgas isn't available, it's a deal sealer.
The fuzzy warm part of this development is that a major engine company has finally chased the diesel train out of the station and gotten on board. That will help convince the diesel Luddites once and for all that resistance is futile.
Bottom line: This is a perfectly rational business decision with some strong pros, a few cons and moderate risk. It meets TCM's design brief for time to market.
Continental has in place an entirely new management team. These guys don't have any choice but to reinvent the company and now we get to sit back and see if they can do it.
To that, I say "bravo." | <urn:uuid:f4d6820f-1b46-4090-91c7-4f0a7a7d5214> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/AVWebInsider_DieselTCM_202542-1.html?type=pf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978242 | 1,241 | 1.601563 | 2 |
The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) has learned that Stark County Engineer Michael Rehfus is about to hire a part-time (no benefits) Project Compliance Officer which is a job designed to investigate whether or not contractors hired by Stark County are complying with Ohio's prevailing wage law.
Stark County has a Prevailing Wage Coordinator; namely, Marilyn Hoover who works in the commissioners' office. But she does not do field visits. She only checks the paperwork. That's where the need for a Project Compliance Officer comes in. He will be the field work aspect of enforcing Ohio's prevailing wage law.
What are prevailing wages, anyway?
The website of the Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Labor & Worker Safety defines "prevailing wages" this way in a broad sort of definition:
Ohio’s prevailing wage law applies to construction projects undertaken by public authorities and requires that the public authorities pay the locally prevailing rate of wages to workers on the project.is hiring a "project compliance officer" a good thing for Stark County?
Yes, according the local tradesmen.
And the STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) agrees.
What is the rub then?
From The Report's perspective, it is the fact the person being hired is a relative of recently elected Stark County commissioner Doctor Peter Ferguson.
As far as The Report is concerned there are too many relatives, political supporters and the like of elected officials that somehow end up with public jobs and the general public never had a chance to apply.
Yes, public jobs.
That is what they are.
But somehow the public never learns about these jobs.
How did all this hiring stuff of the Ferguson relative come about?
The Report did contact Mike Rehfus for an explanation.
Rehfus told The Report that this hiring (the position, not the specific person) has been under discussion for a year or more. He said that Stark County ironworkers among other tradesmen have pushed the county to hire an investigator to better equip the county in its efforts to effectuate prevailing wage compliance.
According to Rehfus, in discussions among county commissioners including commissioner-elect Ferguson, a decision was made to hire a Project Compliance Officer. And it was decided that the hire would come out of the Stark County Engineering Department budget.
Rehfus further says that within a week of the discussion and concomitant decision taking place, Commissioner-elect Ferguson contacted him to tell him about a relative who was interested in the job; a person that Ferguson - again, according to Rehfus - recommended.
Paraphrasing Rehfus: "It was nice to have Ferguson's relative fall right into my lap." Not because the person is Feguson's relative. But just to have someone readily available to plug into the position.
Rehfus said he does not advertise for part-time workers. Moreover, he says that he probably gets six applications a week from truck drivers who want part-time work and so he doesn't need to advertise.
Asked by The Report if he had any concerns that the public might see this hire as a political hiring. Rehfus said he had not given the public's possible perception any thought.
Lastly, Rehfus indicated that the trade unions are on board with the planned employment action.
The hiring is to take place in about two weeks.
Recently The Report was down to Engineer Rehfus' office and did an "on camera" interview with him. One of the topics that came up in the interview is what role, if any, politics plays in the operation of the engineer's office.
Watch Refus' response below, then comment on whether or not you are okay with the hiring process.
More specifically, is it appropriate - in your judgment - for Commission-elect Ferguson to weigh-in on behalf of a relative? Shouldn't the position be advertised to the public-at-large? Is the fact it is part-time position, a distinguishing factor?
The Report thinks not. What do you think?
View the following Rehfus video and then make a comment. | <urn:uuid:e7420af9-fc6d-42cb-a362-33412bf4433e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://starkpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2009/01/discusson-should-county-part-time-jobs.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 | 0.959647 | 860 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Chicken Circus by Studio H via Jetson Green.
Coop Moderne. Urban agriculture is all the rage lately, and with the backyard gardens come the chickens. Jetson Green offers a few examples of high-design chicken coops made of reclaimed materials by Studio H, a design-build program for high-school students in North Carolina.
Aid. Architecture for Humanity is working on plans to provide relief to victims of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami. The post-disaster reconstruction group is asking for donations now to they can build later. If you would like to support Japan more immediately, the Japanese Red Cross Society is also a good choice.
Al Fresco Forward. As the weather begins to warm, the New York DOT has announced that it’s pop-up cafe program is moving forward. Modeled after pop-up sidewalk cafes in San Francisco and other cities, New York tried out its first model in the Financial District last year. The planter-lined sidewalk extensions project six feet into the street and are paid for by sponsoring businesses. The Post has the list of DOT-approved restaurants in Soho, the Village, and elsewhere.
Rooftop Remix. Web Urbanist put together a collection modern rooftop additions from around the world by the likes of MVRDV, Coop Himmelb(l)au, and others. As Web Urbanist points out, the juxtapositions of the additions against their host structures is quite striking. (Via Planetizen.) | <urn:uuid:36deb9b1-be3d-4900-8216-afbf6a4d5266> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/tag/pop-up-cafe | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947059 | 305 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Once upon a time there was a rich and mighty indian shah. Nevertheless he had whole harem of fine maidens for quenching his lust he got stuck to the only one loving her to death.
Posts tagged: India
Nakrathundi is now in the form of a beautiful girl. She approaches Jayantha. She asks him plainly to marry her. Jayantha tries to escape from her. She gets angry and assumes her real form.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama today arrived in Sarnath, Varanasi, where he is scheduled to give a week-long teachings from tomorrow on “Kamalashila’s The Middling Stages of Meditation (gomrim barpa) and Shantideva’s A Guide To the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (chodjug)”.
There is some natural affinity being developed between India and Israel and Jewish people. Because both these countries and people have been affected by this kind of terror — killing of civilians, something despicable that is happening year after year.
Buddhism will have to evolve rites and rituals to become more socially relevant in Asian nations, including India, where people identify religion with prayer rites, feels Buddhist scholar Lokesh Chandra. | <urn:uuid:235383a2-e96b-4ad9-9979-0ef01861f500> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tibet-incense.com/blog/tag/india/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959862 | 263 | 1.78125 | 2 |
The body of a missing First Nation teen has been found in Thunder Bay. The area’s MPP is now calling for action from the province.
The Mother Earth Water Walk is in full swing, and one community in Ontario held a water walk of its own in support of the larger walk.
Water is also the focal point for a group of First Nation citizens in Ontario, who recently met to discuss water issues, and how they can care for the water at home and in their communities.
Inuit youth are researching their roots and will re-tell their history from their perspective in the Nanisinik Arviat History Project.
A study has found First Nations youth off-reserve are more likely to smoke than their mainstream counter-parts.
Women of Wabano – Wildflower Ê(CANCON)
Wayne Lavalle – Pow wow honey (CANCON)
Wab Kinew – Last word (CANCON) | <urn:uuid:5d07dfa2-6fc2-4494-9adb-fad553dd76b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/bamosedamountain/2011/05/14/bamoseda-may-14th/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951186 | 194 | 1.8125 | 2 |
January 4, 2008
January 4, 2007 - The national retail meat and poultry scanner data is coming back. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) will resume the collection and reporting of retail scanner prices for cuts of lamb, both domestic and imported.
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) expressed its appreciation to ERS for making national retail prices a priority and for updating the series with the back data that has not been collected since the summer of 2005. The absence of this data is due to the lapse in Mandatory Price Reporting (MPR).
"Retail data on lamb, both imported and domestic, is severely lacking," stated Burdell Johnson, ASI president, in his letter to ERS. "The retail data your agency makes available has enormous wealth to us and other affiliated organizations, both as tools to help measure the comparative performance of our product and for researching and benchmarking the value of the lamb industry."
The database contains monthly average retail price data for selected cuts of red meat and poultry, based on electronic supermarket scanner data. The raw data underlying the database are from supermarkets across the United States that account for approximately 20 percent of U.S. supermarket sales.
The congressional re-authorization of MPR for livestock, as approved more than a year ago, directed the agency to resume retail price reporting. This is the first piece to be implemented as the USDA has yet to resume full wholesale price reporting of domestic and imported lamb.
According to Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMCI) updates are planned for the 20th of each month and have a two-month reporting lag. ASI appreciates the ongoing work of LMIC to help make livestock prices and marketing information available to the industry. Staff contact: Paul Rodgers, 303-771-3500 | <urn:uuid:503a20fd-2cf7-4d19-a5b5-e2c8fea093dc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sheepusa.org/Sheep_Industry_News_Detail/newsID/3179 | 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 | 0.941542 | 374 | 1.515625 | 2 |
GRAYSON COUNTY, TX -- With the fiscal cliff averted, what does it really mean for the average person?
Nicolette Schleisman went out and talked with a local financial advisor on how the deal may affect you.
The Income Tax portion of the Fiscal Deal that was approved Tuesday night only affects about 2% of America, but the payroll tax cut that was not renewed effects everyone.
It means over 6% of your paycheck will be taken out for the Social Security Tax, instead of just over 4%.
For people earning $30,000 a year, $600 more will come out of your pocket in 2013. A portion of which may start with your next paycheck.
"The Payroll tax holiday was always going to be temporary cause that's social security and its you're gonna have to pay it. I mean I don't like it," said Jonathan Jackson.
Another change is to the Alternative Minimum Tax which has been adjusted for inflation. So that many middle and upper income households will not have to pay the AMT.
Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Linda Rea, says she supports the AMT change.
"That will be a little less money that will go into the economy. A little less money that's going to be spent throughout the year, but the effects should be great for the average tax payer," said Rea.
Rea says there are ways for you to adjust to these tax changes. And it's important to establish and maintain a solid, diversified investment portfolio.
"It's important to look to the future. Look to the long term because there's always going to be another crisis coming up," said Rea.
Once the President signs the law, the changes will go into effect immediately. | <urn:uuid:248a98f1-85e7-4996-96c5-e6e379949199> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kxii.com/fox/home/headlines/The-Fiscal-Deal-and-you-185485572.html?site=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975616 | 359 | 1.6875 | 2 |
CANTON Students who live within the village limits would lose bus transportation under a cost-saving measure being explored by the Canton Central School District Board of Education.
Faced with a $2.4 million budget deficit next school year, officials are examining ways to trim expenses without hurting academic programs.
The busing measure is under consideration because the districts policy exceeds state mandates and is far more liberal than those at other large districts in St. Lawrence County.
Superintendent William A. Gregory told board members that eliminating bus service for students who live in the village of Canton would eliminate three bus driver positions and save roughly $70,000 a year.
The cost savings doesnt include future retirement benefits for the three bus driver positions.
If we get to drastic cuts, this may be something we look at, Mr. Gregory said.
Other districts, including Potsdam and Massena central schools and the Ogdensburg City School District, already restrict bus service, based on students grade levels and how far they live from their school buildings.
For several years, Canton Central has been exceeding state requirements by providing bus service to all students, regardless of how close they live to the school building complex at 99 State St.
Essentially, weve been providing door-to-door busing, Mr. Gregory said.
At neighboring Potsdam Central, busing is provided for all students through fourth grade. However, bus rides are not provided for fifth- and sixth-graders who live within 1¼ miles of their campus. Those in grades seven through 12 who reside within 1½ miles of their building also must find their own way to school.
According to Section 35.18 of state Education Law, a district may require children in kindergarten through eighth grade to get their own rides or walk up to 2 miles to school; for students in grades nine to 12, the distance is up to 3 miles.
Mr. Gregory said that for safety reasons, hes not in favor of eliminating transportation within those distances because that would affect students who live on busy highways without sidewalks, such as routes 11 and 68.
I dont want kids walking on those roads, he said. Even though the law allows it, it doesnt make sense.
In contrast, the village speed limit is 30 mph and sidewalks are available, making walking to school safer for those students.
Many students from the village already find other ways to get to school, according to district statistics.
Of 302 village students in kindergarten through eighth grade, 184 ride the school bus. In grades nine through 12, there are 104 students who live in the village, with about 25 of them riding the bus.
In paperwork provided to the board, Mr. Gregory listed sample walking distances from the farthest village corners.
The distance from Clark Street near St. Lawrence Universitys Appleton Arena is 1.75 miles; from Craig Street at the edge of Martin track, 1.6 miles; from Gouverneur Street near rail crossing, 1.5 miles; from Riverside Drive at village limit, 1.5 miles; from East Main Street, Mountain Mart, 1.2 miles; and from Judson Street at the village limit, 1.1 miles.
On days when its extremely cold, Mr. Gregory said, the district could consider using a van to pick up students who may be walking.
In the Ogdensburg City School District, busing is not provided to students who live within the city limits unless the child has special needs or there is a hardship.
At Massena Central, busing is not provided to elementary students who live within three-fourths of a mile of school. For grades seven through 12, students who live within 1½ miles of school must get their own ride or walk to school. | <urn:uuid:c5b308c8-6d3a-4403-bd7a-2d5afbc6b5ea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ogd.com/article/20130212/NEWS05/702129823/1044 | 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 | 0.963792 | 774 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Garfield's Pet Force
by Tony Abbott
Illustrated by Gary Barber
Reviewed by Hasan K (age 8)
Hasan K is a student in Mrs. Smith's 3rd Grade Class
This story is about when the Lethal Lizards were born on Reptuneis and they were trying to destroy Emperor Jon, who is on Polyester. Emperor Jon went to Funlandia and his friend Binky is watching after his palace. The Lethal Lizards went to Funlandia and found Emperor Jon. At the same time, Binky called the Pet Force, and the Pet Force beat the Lethal Lizards.
I thought the book was a good book because it had a lot of action and it was a "Garfield" book and I like "Garfield" books. Garfield is funny and clever. My brother brought some other "Garfield" books home that I also liked.
I recommend this book because there is a lot of fighting and it is funny. | <urn:uuid:420debab-2d0e-4f0c-be7f-1446103761f4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://spaghettibookclub.org/review.php?review_id=3227 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989444 | 199 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Listening to Learn | Daniel A. Kelin, II
I cannot say that I always agree with the notion that a teaching artist needs to be an artist first, but this summer certainly gave me more to ponder on this point. Artistically I enjoyed a triple play of experiences—playwright, director and actor—in two vastly different settings on opposing sides of the globe. While engaged in the second one, I realized something I had gained from the first experience that continued into the second. Listening.
NYU’s New Plays for Young Audiences selected my work for a play development process. Rarely do I spend such time benefiting from the hard work of others. And rarely do I spend such time not in the seat of control. Honestly, I felt frustrated at times as my play moved into the hands of other artists. I wanted my play to work in certain ways, which wasn’t always happening, although I fully admit this was partially due to the limitations of that draft of the play. But some of the play’s moments felt so obvious to me, yet the other artists didn’t seem to understand them as I expected they should.
During the early part of the week-long process, I struggled with what I should or should not say. Then I realized, ‘I’m not listening. I’m expecting.’ I backed off a little. I let myself listen to what I liked and what I didn’t. I began to hear some things I hadn’t expected, now that I wasn’t clogged with getting what I wanted. I learned things about my play that I didn’t know were there, which paid off in daily writing sessions that flowed much easier than previously. This renewed approach allowed me to enjoy the feedback of the audience, too, regardless of their opinion.
Two weeks later I stood in the rehearsal hall of Rangapeeth theatre company in West Bengal, India, communicating the storyline of a play that we would develop together. Since most of the actors do not speak English (and my Bengali is non-existent), regular translation was a necessity. However, this became a boon. As small groups of actors inhabited various parts of the hall to construct pieces of the play, I could tune out the cacophony of voices and focus on listening to tenor of the group work. I could see the accomplishments and challenges in faces and bodies, listen to the overall mood of a group, note when disconnection was happening within a group and hear the confidence of discovered ideas.
I started to enjoy the glorious freedom of not having to attend to every spoken word, but hear intention and watch meaning come through the choices made by the actors. When we sat to discuss the developing dialog, they became the arbiters, not just translating my suggestions, but digging deeper into the characters’ worlds. I couldn’t tell them what to say, which gave them more control; I learned instead to challenge them in the areas of timing, physicality, tonality and balance—a multi-leveled listening adventure.
I think of this listening in light of my work as a Teaching Artist. How often do I control the learning experiences of my students, knowing full well what I hope for them to do and accomplish, but not inviting them in as regular collaborators? Although I realize this may be difficult with, for example, very little children, conversely that is the test, much as the rehearsals conducted in differing languages. The challenge is: How do I place the focus on listening and responding in preference to telling and doing? How can I construct situations that encourage collaborative journeys that benefit from significant contributions of all participants, encouraging all of the ‘artists,’ be they children or not, to be teachers in some fashion? How do I become less the ‘Teaching’ Artist and more the ‘Listening’ Artist who fashions learning experiences for each and every one of us involved?
An ardent teaching artist, Daniel A. Kelin II is Honolulu Theatre for Youth Director of Drama Education and President of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE). He is on the Teaching Artist roster of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and was Director of Theatre Training for both Crossroads Theatre for Youth in American Samoa and a Marshall Islands youth organization. A 2009 Fulbright-Nehru Scholar in India, he has also had fellowships with Montalvo Arts Center, TYA/USA and the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America. Dan is co-authoring The Reflective Teaching Artist: Collected Wisdom from the Drama/Theatre Field for Intellect Books. More at www.DanielAKelin.com
Also Daniel A. Kelin, II in ALT/space:
Postcard: Shantipur, West Bengal, India | <urn:uuid:1b5fa35c-8168-4806-9f74-3b557503c8b0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tajaltspace.com/post/29490890577/listening-to-learn | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973446 | 997 | 1.539063 | 2 |
PEOPLE ON A ROPE
Eleven people were hanging on a rope, under a helicopter. 10 men all Democrats, Senator BARACK OBAMA , Senator Biden, Harry Reed, Senator Edwards, Senator Kennedy, Senator Kerry, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Murtha and Michael Moore and 1 woman, Sarah Palin.
The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one had to leave, because otherwise they were all going to fall. They weren't able to choose that person, until the woman, Sarah, gave a
very touching speech. She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because, as a woman, she was used to
giving up everything for her husband and kids or for the community in general, and was used to always making sacrifices with little in return.
As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping........
Colonel Jimbo From the Land of the Wurts in Northeast Kentucky
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | <urn:uuid:a5ae1f83-b9e7-4602-925c-5c45032e7401> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gunco.net/forums/f226/people-rope-40837/?= | 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 | 0.976031 | 225 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Photo Friday with Caleb Charland
Caleb Charland’s work is the quintessential pairing of photography and science. The Maine artist is inspired by the mysteries of day to day life, and presents his drop-jawed viewers with stunning art and physics lessons. Many of the experiments exhibited in his photographs may be familiar to us from elementary school, a time where we were perhaps less equipped to appreciate the beauty of nature’s order. Through his work, Charland reminds us of science’s wonders, and surprises us with images that are even sometimes difficult to discern.
In his artistic statement, he notes that he is interested in how we measure and understand our place in the world. Simultaneously, I think Charland reminds us of the beauty of things in which humans have no part, other than playing spectator.
On his site, he includes an Einstein quote that can help us better understand the motivations behind his work, and the fascination we all have with the intersection of art and science:
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”
You can find Caleb Charland’s work here. | <urn:uuid:487f8ae9-f0f6-4e8c-880c-f8a3e63c2068> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.artandsciencejournal.com/tagged/caleb-charland | 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 | 0.97743 | 279 | 1.65625 | 2 |
As the owner of Seattle’s iconic Totem House restaurant, Dianne decided to involve her patrons in the effort and created Haiti Mondays to raise money for earthquake victims. One day each week Dianne donates 100% of her profits to World Concern’s work in Haiti. Although typically the slowest day of the week, “This year we have had more customers on Mondays than any other year,” she said. “It’s got to be the grace of God.”
Dianne was already connected with World Concern through our Global Gift Guide. Every year she purchases gifts such as goats, chickens and school uniforms for poor children around the world—one gift in honor of each of her 16 grandchildren. So it was easy for her to choose World Concern to benefit from her weekly fundraisers.
She keeps customers informed with information about Haiti and World Concern on a bulletin board in the lobby. “It’s important to me to share about Haiti with others. The bulletin board is not only to help Haiti, but to raise people’s awareness about it,” she said. “Every week people leave donations of $2, $5, or even $20.”
Dianne has continued Haiti Mondays every week since January, knowing that, “It’s going to take years and years for them to get back on their feet.” | <urn:uuid:327b671a-93a0-4580-92b7-9decca380a0e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.worldconcern.org/updates/totem-house.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974582 | 289 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule and sharing some of your thoughts with the Bright Futures readers Commissioner! So let’s get started. Here’s our first question.
CT-What did you see and hear on your listening tour that you think all Maine middle schools should pay attention to?
SB-What I’ve seen so far is that Middle Schools are really taking the lead on the kind of student-centered learning we want to see at all levels. At Massabesic Middle School, for instance, they have implemented a true outcome-based learning model that allows students to move ahead based on mastery of standards rather than seat time. Because of the student-centered focus that middle schools tend to have philosophically, I see them really taking the lead in moving us in this new direction.
CT-I’m sure middle level folks are pleased that you see how important it is to keep students in the center of everything we do in our schools. So on to our next question.
CT-Maine is the world leader in the implementation of 1:1 learning with technology. What do you see happening with MLTI in the next four years?
SB-The world of digital learning is moving so fast that it is hard to say where we’ll be in four years. It is pretty clear, though, that digital learning has become much more central to content delivery and instruction than it has been, and we will need to do a lot of thinking and planning to make sure we’re adapting to this new reality in a thoughtful way.
CT-Very true. We will need to change to keep up and stay ahead of the ball that, in many ways, Maine’s middle grades started rolling a decade ago!
CT-How do you see the department supporting middle level leaders as they implement the tenets and core recommendations of Bright Futures?
SB-Part of the work we propose to do around a comprehensive state strategic plan for education will be to answer that very question – What is the proper role for the state in supporting the work of Maine’s educators? The state has to deal with the same resource issues that local districts have to deal with, which means we’ll have to work to strike a balance between what we’d like to be able to do and what we have the resources to do. Finding that balance will take a lot of thinking and discussion and planning, and that is what we plan to do over the next few months.
CT-We wish you and the department well on that! It will be a challenge. I’m sure I speak for the Bright Futures Partnership and many other middle level folks in saying we are willing to help in any way we can. Just let us know!
CT-How can the department encourage and support effective Middle level teaching in Maine’s schools?
SB-On the listening tour, I’ve talked with educators about strengthening the Department’s role as a clearinghouse for best practices in curriculum development, instruction, assessment, etc. We need to build out the Department’s capacity to allow educators to share back and forth across districts those things that are working for them. Fostering better communication is a way that we can help teachers learn from each other, and I think that is a great role for the Department to play.
CT-For sure. Communication and building networks is so important. Thanks for focusing on ways the field and the department can share what’s working around the state.
CT-You have a daughter in middle school. As a parent of a middle school student what do you think is important about the education your daughter receives at this time in her life?
SB-The key piece for me is the exploratory nature of middle level education – the way that the middle level provides students with exposure to a rich curriculum that has academic rigor, but also fosters curiosity and maintains a focus on the complete child. This is a time for students to move from simply learning how to learn to really building a passion for learning. It is a very exciting time for them!
CT-Yes, the whole child, and a passion for learning in every Maine middle level student, no matter where they go to school!
CT-What message would you like to send to all of Maine’s middle level educators?
SB-Keep up the good work! I look forward to working with you as we undertake an effort to really transform our schools.
CT-We’ll continue to do our best, improve where we can, and change when we must!
CT-I understand that you are familiar with the Middle Level Institute being held from August 1-4 at Thomas College. Would you be willing to share your thoughts about MLEI for those considering attending this summer?
SB-In my time at the Middle School in Camden, I attended two MLEI sessions and found them to be a great opportunity to do what educators seldom have time to do, which is to reflect on our instructional practice and to really do the kind of thinking and planning we all need to do to be effective. It was always a great experience and one I hope to get back to one day!
CT-Yes, MLEI is all about middle level teachers taking time in the summer to be more effective with students in the fall and beyond. I’m sure you’ll have the opportunity to visit MLEI in the near future! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for all you are doing and planning to do with Maine’s educators on behalf of Maine’s students Commissioner. We wish you well, keep in touch, and let us know how we can help! | <urn:uuid:645cc044-612e-4ccc-80cf-5804438cc2f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://brightfutures4me.wordpress.com/tag/leadership/ | 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 | 0.963059 | 1,178 | 1.625 | 2 |
How to Keep Smart People from Killing Each Other
This phrase is powerful in so many ways. Smart people can often be prima donnas – I’ve born those accusations myself … the first part, of course, not the second (and typically disguised in less elegant terms) … but the brilliance of some people is often more blinding than enlightening.
Fortune magazine recently asked Dr. Mehmet Oz about the best leadership advice he had ever received.
As a Chief Resident associated with Columbia University, Dr. Oz’ mentor told him that the hardest part of being a leader was “keeping smart people from killing each other.” He told him that he tried hard to find something in which each of his leaders could excel, so each could be the best at “something” … a much better strategy than having everyone trying to do the same thing “because it breeds discontent.”
You’ve probably seen many occasions when the “bright folks” are competing for attention … interrupting, talking louder, bored when others speak, listening to it all but hearing nothing … the symptoms aren’t all that subtle. Yet, finding something in which each can excel, with a dash of a “divide and conquer” strategy, you may be able to optimize the value and contributions of each of them.
[Author Note: Fortune is one of the worst sources for sharing information - and I have petitioned them time and again to make it easy to share their content, which one might think would encourage subscribers ... but, alas, NOT. Even if you register online at CNN/Money, no links are available.]
This is another edition of “The Best Advice I Ever Got”. You’ll find these “gemlets”, drawn from many sources including my own, published here from time to time.
Some turn out to be a**holes, too. That’s why I also like Robert Sutton’s recent post that included a simple diagram that his students created to illustrate the right course of action to take when encountered by such folks.
This decision tree can be used in many ways to sort out more than just the a**holes that have burrowed into your organization. Substituting “Prima Donna” for “Certified Jerk” also works, assuming there’s any difference between the two. “Lone Wolf”, “Pain in the A**” and “BallBuster” are also legitimate substitutes.
I have referred to mollycoddling in leader/employee relationships in the past, and really need to devote an entire article to it. It is often at the heart of a leader/employee relationship that is not working … and not uncommon when a Certified Jerk is still hanging around. Often, it continues ad nauseum because the leader won’t face the difficult decision to make the obvious and necessary change.
These situations invariably result when a leader has a very muddled view of his or her priorities and goals. The leader tap dances around the cultural damage his mollycoddling brings, or the message it sends to even the most casual observers who’ve seen this misfit relationship fester over the years.
Invariably, the leader is unclear about what’s really important in his organization, and fails to recognize that he may be the last one to realize it. He compromises the value and culture of the organization by not being accountable for the dysfunction of the Certified Jerk relationship. Instead, the leader is paralyzed by questions … ”who’s going to replace them?” … “they do a lot of things very well” … “are we sure we can get along without them?” … all while the organization is suffering from the tribulations of the Certified Jerk.
In some ways, mollycoddling is the worst possible situation. You have an employee that is dragging down the entire ship, poisoning the well along the way … and a culture that is eviscerated because everyone else sees it, too, and wonders about the capability of the leader who can’t make a decision that everyone else sees as long overdue.
Mollycoddling is an injustice to both parties … extending a relationship far longer than warranted. It’s a recipe, leavened with a chicken stock of genuine cowardice, that’s created by ignoring, avoiding and overlooking a dysfunctional relationship that should have been terminated a long time ago.
Follow the simple diagram and stick to your guns. The temporal pain will be far exceeded by the cultural gain and the unshackled enthusiasm of everyone else in your organization. | <urn:uuid:72b8fee7-d2fd-44cf-bdae-ce4508ba0e9c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.exkalibur.com/leadership-how-to-keep-smart-people-from-killing-each-other/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963249 | 981 | 1.765625 | 2 |
By Salvatore Salamone
May 12, 2005 | As venture capital funding returns to pre-crash levels, the life science industry seems to be taking the Mad Magazine character Alfred E. Neuman’s attitude of “What, me worry?” assuming everything is back to normal. But a closer look at investment patterns reveals a funding gap that is making it harder for academic and early stage research efforts to attract needed capital.
Last year, U.S. biotech companies received about $3.98 billion in venture funding — the most since 2000 when $4.17 billion was invested. The 2004 total was about $500 million more than in 2003 and $800 million more than in 2002. All of these numbers come from the MoneyTree Survey conducted annually by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Venture Economics, and the National Venture Capital Association.
The number of deals also climbed back to 2000 levels (325 deals in 2004 vs. 326 in 2000) and the amount invested per deal has recovered much lost ground ($12.3 million last year versus $12.8 million in 2000).
What the numbers don’t show, however, is that VCs aren’t as eager to fund basic research or early stage development, the kind of work that primarily done in young, academic spin-off companies. When money was flowing in the dotcom boom days, these fledgling companies had a far easier time getting cash.
“Today, [investors] are looking for later stage technology,” said Matthew McCooe, director, new ventures, Columbia University Science and Technology Ventures, speaking at the New York Biotechnology Association annual meeting in Manhattan last month.). Investors are also seeking that technology from more established biotech companies than was the case in the past.
Others agree with McCooe. “Public funds are going to discovery work, and venture capital companies are funding validated [research] that makes it into early stage clinical trials,” says Peter Leonardi, director, business development and technology transfer, at The New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Burnt in the past, but flush with new money to invest, VC’s now demand quicker returns on an investment, often in the 2-to-3 year timeframe — something unlikely to happen with basic research in the life sciences.
When very early stage work does win funding, the amounts invested are generally less. “[But] it costs the same to do the due diligence for every deal,” says David Solomon, medical director, Carrot Capital Healthcare Ventures. To offset pre-deal costs and to ensure investments are recouped in an appropriate time frame, VCs predictably favor the larger dollar-value deals of later stage technology.
Bridging the Funding Gap
To some extent, pharmaceutical companies and even universities are helping bridge the gap by taking a more active role in supporting early stage commercializations and research and development.
For example, McCooe’s work at Columbia goes beyond the traditional work a university would do to license technology. His group helps promising research get a better chance of being funded by using what it calls a proof of concept approach. Essentially, Columbia University is performing tasks a VC would normally do after it invested in a company.
McCooe’s group reviews promising basic research and evaluate what needs to be done to commercialize it. It also provides enterprising researchers who want to launch a company with help putting together a management team and a board of directors.
Pfizer is also trying to bridge the gap by going directly to the universities and their spin-off companies. “We play in the gap,” says Jim McLoughlin, director, strategic alliances, Global R&D — Worldwide Safety Sciences, at Pfizer. “We see an opportunity where VC funding is not flowing in.”
McLoughlin notes that his staff, which includes more than 50 people, handles about 2,000 college licensing and development deals a year. And the relationship is more hands-on than a traditional technology licensing arrangement. “We stay engaged with [the university partner] and help move the technology forward,” says McLoughlin.
Industry experts believe such different approaches will increasingly been needed to continue to get basic research incorporated into drug development. l | <urn:uuid:ce665a7f-eea4-4216-a15c-fd0969e76c55> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bio-itworld.com/BioIT_Article.aspx?id=47882 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951101 | 881 | 1.523438 | 2 |
From the Director
Library news and happenings.
If you are familiar with the KPL website, you probably know we have a variety of blogs written by our staff. There are links from our homepage. The blogs – books, movies, music, @ your library (news and events), parenting & kids, tweens, teens, and technology – are an opportunity for our staff to share with patrons what they are reading, viewing, and listening to and what is going on at the library in various areas. We welcome patron comments on all of them.
In addition we have some blogs with helpful information that are not quite as visible to a patron who might be browsing our website.
Our three tech interns each have a blog: Alex has recently written about the internet, Cheryl about creating a strong password, and Ryan about protecting your computer. I always learn something from the blogs of these young tech savvy staff interns.
Local History staff share interesting information about southwest Michigan. A recent post is on historic schoolhouses. They also blog about genealogy, most recently about Canadian genealogy research.
The Friends of KPL share the bookstore specials of the week on their blog; the ONEplace@kpl blog offers news and advice for nonprofits, and a Reading Together blog provides highlights of that program.
See all the latest posts on our Blogs, News & Reviews page and bookmark the blogs of interest to you, or just scroll through our site from time to time AND please do comment….we welcome and appreciate your feedback.
Blogs, News & Reviews
March has several designations that relate to libraries – March into Literacy Month and Women’s History Month in particular. We promote and celebrate literacy year round of course; our support for Women’s History Month is not quite as obvious.
National Women’s History Month traces its origins to March 1857 when a group of female New York City factory workers staged a protest over their working conditions. It wasn’t until 1981 that Congress designated the second week in March as National Women’s History Week. In 1987 it was expanded to the entire month.
Each year a Presidential Proclamation is issued in recognition of the month. This year it also commemorates the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the “economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future.” It is to remind us that although progress has been made, there is still much work to be done before women achieve true parity with men.
In keeping with this 100th anniversary and as an emphasis of the current administration, the first federal report since 1963 on the welfare of women in America has recently been issued.
We have many materials in our collection that provide historical background and perspective. Most are in the subject headings of Women history and Women’s rights – history.
Come visit soon for materials on this topic or most any other!
Caroline Bartlett Crane, a KPL Women’s History essay
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the funding threats to public libraries in the governor’s proposed 2011-2012 budget: the potential reduction in state aid by 40%; threats to other funding streams, particularly personal property tax and renaissance zone reimbursements; and matching funds for Michigan eLibrary.
Michigan eLibrary which includes MeL databases and the popular MeLCat interlibrary loan service, are both threatened. Michigan is not meeting its “maintenance of effort” requirement to receive the federal funds which partially fund MeL. We have received two waivers, a third is not guaranteed. In addition, because of the magnitude of potential funding cuts to public libraries, many may need to pull out of MelCat, even if it is continued. Some of us will just not have the money to continue to offer MeLCat service.
Those who support public libraries and the continuation of services, are urged to contact their state representative and state senator. Ask them to hold state aid to libraries harmless at last year’s level; reimburse libraries for renaissance zone tax credits; and do not eliminate the personal property tax without a revenue neutral replacement.
The Michigan Library Association (MLA) is launching a campaign to protect Michigan libraries; information is on their website. photo: Lawrence Technological University Library
Michigan Libraries for the Future
The Friends of KPL will hold a booksale at Oshtemo Branch on Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12. Many of the books will be discards from the library; like all libraries, we buy many copies of a popular title, then discard some to the Friends when demand has dropped. There are children’s as well as adult books in the sale.
These are great books at bargain prices - 50¢ each or 3 for $1.00!
Periodic booksales and the bookstore on the lower level of Central are the primary revenue sources for our very good Friends. They give the library $50,000+ each year to support our programs and services. Just think how many books pass through the hands of their many dedicated volunteers to generate that level of funding - most books they sell for 50¢ to $2.00. That’s a lot of books handled and sold to generate $50,000+ each year!
Build your home library, support the Friends of KPL as they in turn support the library.
Friends Oshtemo Book Sale | <urn:uuid:cff0092b-1a10-4640-b84f-42a5dd5b0586> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kpl.gov/director/blog/Default.aspx?blogmonth=3&blogyear=2011&blogid=2264 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948939 | 1,109 | 1.820313 | 2 |
About The Trust
Since its formation in 1963 as the Association for the Restoration of the Lancaster Canal, the Trust’s main objective has been to restore, and reopen to navigation, the length of the canal from Tewitfield, just north of Carnforth, to Kendal. In addition, the Trust aims to increase awareness and promote interest amongst all users of this historic and beautiful waterway, be they boaters, walkers, cyclists, or anglers.
As well as working towards full restoration, the Trust is committed to the ongoing maintenance of our existing heritage. As a result of the efforts of the Trust many of the original structures have been protected, further losses of cruising waterway have been successfully resisted, notably in Preston, and improvements have been made to the towpath by erecting interpretative panels at various sites along the canal.
|Lancaster Canal Trail signage. The Trail was officially opened in 2008.|
A number of studies have been carried out recently as part of the process to apply for funding for the restoration of the Northern Reaches. This process is still going on, and we hope that the current proposals for a three-phase restoration scheme will be successful.
The Trust pursues a participative and collaborative approach, and works in conjunction with various bodies including; local authorities, county councils, British Waterways and representatives from canal users, (many of whom are affiliated to the Trust). The Trust is a registered charity affiliated to the Inland Waterways Association.
Funding for our own projects is raised from donations, grants and from our sales stand, which we take to both local and national events.
New members are always welcome as help is needed in various ways so that we can achieve the goal of reopening the canal to Kendal.
|Hincaster horse path tunnel restoration completed in 2009| | <urn:uuid:ff3158a0-a31b-4fb2-b3d5-72554e466553> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lctrust.co.uk/pages/the-trust.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960394 | 375 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Check out the thousands of Cover the Night photos sent in from around the world at ctn.kony2012.com.
*This page will be updated frequently in the coming weeks to offer more specific action steps for certain countries.
Every country can do more support international efforts to stop LRA violence. Ask your leaders to go on the record committing new resources to the effort — whether through public statements, social media, or whatever.
In the short time since KONY 2012 was released, the United Nations and African Union announced that they will launch an ambitious new strategy to stop LRA atrocities and help the communities in central Africa most affected by the violence. This plan embodies a truly comprehensive approach to addressing the conflict, something activists have consistently advocated for. It includes strengthened regional efforts to locate and arrest Kony, protect vulnerable communities, and prevent abuses by military forces themselves. It aims to help people abducted by Kony’s forces to escape and return to their homes and families. And it seeks to address the underlying factors that have allowed this violence to continue for so long by ensuring that governments in affected countries cooperate to solve this problem and by helping communities in LRA-affected areas to rebuild and heal from years of conflict.
But the reality is that without serious commitments from world leaders, this plan won’t have the resources it needs to succeed where past efforts have fallen short. That’s where Cover the Night – and you – come in.
Participants will engage directly with political leaders and demand that they dedicate increased resources to help bring Kony to justice and restore communities being torn apart by LRA violence. Through social media, letters, phone calls, and other actions, activists will seek commitments from world leaders to support the new international strategy to address the crisis. In particular, activists are asking world leaders to provide increased resources to fund this plan, especially for a few of the most important – and concrete – components:
- Supporting civilian protection measures that protect communities from LRA attack by building mobile phone towers and early warning networks in the remote areas where the LRA operates so that communities can be prepared when the LRA threatens to attack.
- Increase the capacity of regional efforts by providing helicopters and logistical support to help the African Union operation succeed in arresting Kony and senior LRA commanders and protecting the communities most vulnerable to LRA attacks and abductions.
- Encourage peaceful defection by expanding local FM radio coverage “come-home” and programs that encourage LRA fighters and abductees in the bush to escape and encourage local communities to receive them peacefully.
Already, KONY 2012 is having an impact. By making Joseph Kony famous, political leaders have a new incentive to do something to stop him and bring to justice one of our world’s worst war criminals. In addition to the African Union and United Nations announcing a new plan to address the issue, 92 Members of the U.S. Congress have already sponsored a resolution calling for President Obama to increase U.S. efforts. Members of Congress have also committed to expand funding for civilians programs in LRA-affected areas and to pass new U.S. legislation that would authorize a financial reward for information that leads to Kony’s capture. | <urn:uuid:3baf70ed-baab-4780-b6c7-161a5ab56114> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.invisiblechildren.com/2012/04/04/cover-the-night-international-advocacy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946473 | 659 | 1.789063 | 2 |
An Army supervisor watches it all unfold on a computer screen at a Fort Bliss command center. The real mission, however, comes next: a thorough, high-tech review of the soldiers' tactics.
The exercise is part of a new Army virtual program that records every aspect of training missions so soldiers can use video game-like replay to study how effectively the ground and air forces interacted. The
The Integrated Training Environment is designed to cut costs, sharpen soldiers' ability to interact with various units and allow the military to more quickly train the growing ranks of troops returning from deployment. However, it's not intended to do away with live training altogether but rather, to better prepare soldiers for real-life training exercises.
"(Training gives soldiers) muscle memory through repetition ... so when we are in Iran, Syria, Africa, it's going to kick in," said Sgt. 1st Class Donald Jones, who operated a tank simulator during
Officials say the push for more practical training operations comes at a critical time. The Pentagon's budget faced cuts as high as 13 percent in some of its accounts after Congress couldn't reach a deal to avert automatic, across-the-board spending cuts.
Mike Casey, spokesman for the Army's Combined Arms Center-Training program, said it wasn't immediately clear what impact the across-the-board cuts that took effect Friday would have on the program.
Inside the command center, dozens of computers run the simulations that can replay the entire exercise on a giant screen. The live, virtual and computer-generated forces come together seamlessly, much like the replays from video games that allow the user to rotate the images to view the mission from any angle.
By the time the drill is over, the infantry team had fired hundreds of rounds, cleared several buildings and called for artillery support, all of it recorded by ITE. Commanders can see in the replay how ground troops battled through computer-generated artillery fire while tanks battled each other a few miles away.
Some soldiers complimented the new equipment required for the system, including the lighter laser-sensors on their helmets.
"The older models were like having a TV screen in the back of my head," said Pfc. Victor Colon while his unit was debriefed by their sergeant after the drill.
Jones and his three-person crew inspected the tank simulators the day before the recent training mission, shutting the doors to the beige van-sized boxes and finding a realistic interior. Monitors show digital images of other tanks, helicopters and computer-generated enemies participating in the exercise.
A couple of miles away, helicopter pilots tested their simulators inside two trailers parked side by side. The cockpits replicate every aspect of normal helicopter controls and, for the first time, give pilots a chance to interact with tanks that aren't pre-programmed.
Each simulator is tuned into the infantry unit of 15 soldiers trying to take over the compound in Oro Grande, N.M. These soldiers wear laser-tag vests and laser-equipped rifles to keep track of who killed who and GPS-like devices that show their location to helicopter pilots and the officers directing the exercise.
The system, which currently is employed at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss, Texas, will be expanded by 2017 to 18 locations, including one in South Korea sometime this year. Eventually, the Army expects to be able to link units halfway across the world.
Some Army posts have attempted to create interactive training systems but they were not fully developed and one-time-only exercises, said Lt. Col. Shane Cipolla, who is in charge of deploying the virtual platform. Many commanders stressed the need to develop a better system for ground and air forces to train together, he said.
"This is a good tool for it," said Cipolla, standing a short distance from the troops storming the compound.
Cipolla acknowledged the spending cuts were considered as the Army pushed for an upgraded training platform that could handle more soldiers at a fraction of the cost needed to train with real helicopters and tanks. The program costs about $8 million per year in research and development, but it presents significant savings each time the Army opts for simulated missions.
While the Army pays about $6,400 a day to run a center with 28 tank simulators that can be linked to the new system, the cost of operating 28 Abrams tanks would be $196,000 a day. In 2011 the Army paid about $19 million for 14,000 hours of simulated helicopter and weapons training—a price the Army estimates would have been $281 million if done with live equipment.
Jones says he understands the cost savings and acknowledges some virtual interaction with a helicopter could have helped during his deployment to Afghanistan. Still, he prefers the real thing.
"There are two things I love," he said with a chuckle. "One is my wife, the other is a tank." | <urn:uuid:752e767e-0142-4570-b029-098a06e47c56> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ydr.com/nation-world/ci_22709162/tanks-aircraft-interact-virtual-army-training | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968126 | 1,000 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Her father - the man sitting - is Rudolph Graber who came to this country from Switzerland in 1877 as a young man of 23. He came with very little and ended up a successful farmer with a large and happy family. His wife, Emma Zaugg was born in Ohio to a family that had come from Switzerland sometime prior to her birth in 1860.
I have the original picture hanging in my genealogy room to remind me what the "Face of Genealogy" looks like.
PS - to see what this is all about, stop over at Geneablogger and find more posts about The Faces of Genealogy | <urn:uuid:c1642b1b-2574-453b-b79c-4fefdac2db12> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://randomrelatives.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html?showComment=1307330361657 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987034 | 134 | 1.65625 | 2 |
LSU Museum of Art to Host Programs During Jesús Moroles Exhibit
BATON ROUGE – In conjunction with the “Tearing Granite: Jesús Moroles” exhibit, the LSU Museum of Art, located on the fifth floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, will host several programs in February and March.
“Tearing Granite: Jesús Moroles” will be on display until April 29. The exhibition features more than 35 free-standing and wall-mounted granite sculptures, as well as maquettes made in paper and paper pulp, by the internationally acclaimed, Texas-based artist Jesús Moroles.
Moroles employs untraditional carving techniques. He uses a diamond saw almost like a chisel, to painstakingly cut through the dense stone. Pushing the saw up and out repeatedly creates slices through the layers of granite. He then lets the stone break on its own, creating a contrast between rough and smooth surfaces.
Unlike traditional exhibitions, visitors to the “Tearing Granite: Jesús Moroles” are encouraged to touch, explore and even sit on some of the works. A giant chessboard set made entirely of granite, for example, commands the space of one gallery floor, inviting patrons to play a game.
This exhibition is supported by a grant from the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, The Turner Industries Fund, Visit Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.
Insider’s View of Tearing Granite
Feb. 5 – 2 p.m. – LSU Museum of Art, Fifth Floor
Free admission. Any exhibition has its challenges, but an exhibition involving granite sculptures weighing more than 1,000 pounds can be extremely challenging. Discover “Tearing Granite,” as the curator reveals the insider’s view of exhibition planning.
Museum After Dark: The Game of Chess
Feb. 16 – Time: TBA – LSU Museum of Art, Fifth Floor
Jesús Moroles’ stunning, large-scale granite chessboard is a featured work in the exhibition “Tearing Granite.” Chess has inspired artists from different times and cultures to create beautiful works of art. Join the LSU Chess Club for a game commonly associated with strategy and now with art.
Gallery Talk: Carved Stone
March 4 – 2 p.m. – LSU Museum of Art, Fifth Floor
Free admission. The LSU Museum of Art has stone sculptures in both granite and jade in the galleries. The process of carving those stones is very challenging. See these sculptures and learn about the tools that artists have used to create these incredible subtractive pieces.
Museum After Dark: The Sounds of Stone
March 15 – 6 p.m. – LSU Museum of Art, Fifth Floor
Combine the multifaceted granite sculpture of Jesús Moroles with improvisational percussion by Hamiruge (Hammer-Rouge) – the LSU Percussion Group, to get this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The ensemble, under the direction of Brett William Dietz, associate professor of percussion with the LSU School of Music, has been at the forefront of commissioning, performing and premiering new works for percussion. Don't miss this unique artistic collaboration. | <urn:uuid:76364cce-4dc2-4aa1-ba25-34285706b4cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lsu.edu/ur/ocur/lsunews/MediaCenter/News/2012/01/item42390.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943548 | 692 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Questions about embedding website into another website
Hi, I've been developing asp.net webpages for a while now mainly using c#, but Im still not confident on how to proceed with my current project so I thought Id ask around first since my extensive googling has fallen short.
What Im trying to accomplish on my website is a sort of mockup of a smartphone displaying a live website inside its limited window (320x480 pixels). For this I was thinking of using either <embed> or <iframe>.
However, I havent been able to meet the following requirements:
Q1. Is it possible to zoom out the webpage loaded within the iframe/embed so that it fills up the limited screen without having to scroll sideways? Keep in mind that I will not be able to manipulate the website that is loaded, and that the width of them can differ.
Q2: Is there a command that lets you navigate back that you can have a button of your own design implement?
Q3: Can you turn off only the horisontal scrollbar? Seems to be that it's both or none...
If none of this is possible using embed or iframe, what other options are there? Could this be done using silverlight, perhaps? I havent found any support to load a webpage into a silverlight application, however. | <urn:uuid:767da8d6-911e-452f-8437-cf8e202c972f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?264409-Questions-about-embedding-website-into-another-website&mode=hybrid | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945602 | 279 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Housing for Homeless Veterans
In 1988, Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans Corporation purchased four town houses on Cypress Street, Moon Township in Allegheny County. The concept is simple — provide a safe,clean, stable environment for the participant while he/she completes schooling, job training and becomes adequately self sufficient to seek permanent housing in the surrounding community.
The Cypress Street Project quickly received national attention and has served as a basis for many similar projects in the Pittsburgh area and throughout the country.
Since its humble beginnings with the Cypress Street Project, the Pennsylvania American Legion’s Housing for Homeless Veterans Program has continued to grow and expand throughout the state.
In 1995, the Corporation expanded its operation to the Philadelphia area. Then there was the addition of the home in Ephrata, Lancaster County. Purchased in 1998, the home provides stable transitional housing for five veterans in central Pennsylvania. Finally in 2012, we added a new home in the Harrisburg area.
Each participant is responsible to take part in cleaning of the house, cooking and maintaining the jointly used facilities. Each is also responsible for keeping his/her assigned area clean and doing their own laundry.
Our program is designed to enhance the quality of life for the veteran. The goal is to become productive tax paying citizens by securing a good decent job. Over the years, we have had over 400 veterans go through our program with an 85% success rate. The remodeling and upkeep of these homes is the responsibility of the Corporation.
Click Here to download a copy of the ticket request | <urn:uuid:05b5f0a0-c851-4625-96a9-2f0e55da6e95> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pa-legion.com/programs/other-programs/housing-for-homeless-veterans/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962321 | 317 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Cryptographers have cracked software used to verify that images taken with Canon cameras haven't been altered. Russian password-cracking company ElcomSoft said on Tuesday that it's able to extract the original signing key from the Canon Original Data Security Kit and use it to validate fake photos. Canon has billed the service …
NIH syndrome strikes again
So the requirements say that a method to asymmetrically authenticate a message is needed. There are several digital signature algorithms available, many within reach of a Google search. What do we do? We'll ignore decades of crypto research and invent our own signing algorithm, of course.
method to asymmetrically authenticate a message
AIUI, the private key has to be accessible during signing, right? So it's in the camera.
Oh come on.....
A cracking/hacking/security outfit with a sense of humour?
That's got to be a first, and loudly applauded!
they did it for the lulz
Ooh, I can think of one other one:
What about Goatse security? (Gaping Holes Exposed)
Wouldn't like to have just spent £1000 or whatever they fleece people for to buy the program that authenticates photos.
Canon's meerkating people should put a positive spin on this by releasing new firmware updates for its cameras that removes the feature but only claims in the changelogs to have 'streamlined file format options to lengthen battery life'.
"The Russian company mocked the system by posting doctored photos authenticated by the system purporting to show Russian cosmonauts landing on the moon ahead of US astronauts and Joseph Stalin brandishing an iPhone."
Gotta love them.
As you may remember, one of Elcomsoft's own was jailed for a while in the US because Adobe's DRM got broken and they used the DMCA to jail the guy:
So, rubbing faces in it isn't so inappropriate, really.
pics on the link
Excellent fun mockups, but for me the statue of liberty with a sickel is purest win. Great to see such humour!
It can't work no matter how much crypto they use, can it ?
Even if they get the crypo right and the camera is tamper proof so that the signing key can't be extracted and the camera can't be fooled as to the time or its location, what's to stop me displaying a doctored ufo pic on a big screen in the back of my van, traveling to the correct location and there taking a picture of the screen ?
So long as the screen has much better pixel count and colour depth than the camera, it should be possible to transform the displayed image so as to totally control each pixel on the image that the camera takes, not so ?
As that Famous Saying Goes...
"The camera never lies..."
"...only the photographer"
(the last half is often forgotten)
"So long as the screen has much better pixel count and colour depth than the camera"
And where are you going to find a screen that meets those criteria then?
Re: It can't work no matter how much crypto they use, can it ?
Probably in that case the metadata is going to show a focus distance of a few feet ahead of the camera, not infinity as you would expect for a UFO in the sky, which may be a giveaway.
This is even if you could make your high resolution/color depth screen projection beat the camera's ability to detect, which seems unlikely in practice even though you might think it possible in theory.
It may be expensive, but it is certainly doable.
Essentially that's how many of the effects for B5 were done, except they found the trick of putting a mirror between the image to be captured and the camera. Apparently the defects inherent in the mirror introduce sufficient change from the sharp lines of a computer so the images look more realistic. I think I read in a Reg article comment somewhere that that was actually an old spy trick.
Photographers have been doing this for a really long time.
OK, if the focus mechanism uses a sensor which doesn't look through the lens, life gets complicated, but all you need to do is hold a magnifying glass in front of the camera lens.
Strictly speaking ...
I believe they are cryptanalysts. Cryptographers do the encrypting.
Sorry. Coat. Get
Another great win for security by obscurity
Or perhaps not.
well and truly taken to the cleaners
I'm not sure which is the best picture - the iPhone or the Statue of Liberty
(icon needed for 'laughed my tits off')
This is not a problem
Breaking crypto is against the law.
So no one should do it.
Every employee at ElcomSoft involved should now be in the gulag.
What do you mean "That's not how the world works"?
Tell that to the MAFIAA and their DMCA fanatics
previous work in this area
70% of the information is already there :
see end of section 2.4.2 in http://lclevy.free.fr/cr2/
- Geek's Guide to Britain INSIDE GCHQ: Welcome to Cheltenham's cottage industry
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- 'Catastrophic failure' of 3D-printed gun in Oz Police test
- VIDEO Herschel Space Observatory spots galaxies merging | <urn:uuid:7a2357b1-03fc-49d1-9e2c-cee4e92143c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2010/11/30/canon_verification_cracked/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946022 | 1,144 | 1.820313 | 2 |
James Cameron to celebrate his birthday underwater
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) – James Cameron is going from outer space to under water. The writer and director of “Avatar” says he’ll celebrate his 56th birthday Monday deep beneath Russia’s Lake Baikal. Cameron will be in a submersible about 5,200 feet (1,600 meters) from the surface of the world’s oldest and largest lake – “unless it’s bad weather, in which case I’ll be getting drunk with the Russian crew in the port.” A longtime ocean enthusiast, Cameron has other underwater projects in the works. He says he is building a submarine in Australia that will take him 36,000 feet underwater – twice as deep as anyone has gone before. He is also developing an upgraded 3-D underwater camera and has plans for an underwater feature film that he said he might make before taking on an “Avatar” sequel. | <urn:uuid:7e4e5eac-e924-499b-a530-490d9bcaca92> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://enriquesantos.com/james-cameron-to-celebrate-his-birthday-underwater | 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 | 0.969594 | 205 | 1.59375 | 2 |
David Cameron has called on Britons to "pull together" to get the country's economy back on track, promising that within a few years the sacrifices they make will deliver financial rewards.
And he urged all citizens to get involved in action to improve their communities and build a "Big Society", telling them: "Your country needs you."
In his first speech to a Conservative conference as Prime Minister, Mr Cameron acknowledged that there was "anxiety" over the massive public spending cuts due to be imposed in George Osborne's spending review on October 20 and recognised that it was not easy for families to cope with the loss of Child Benefit announced this week.
But he dismissed Labour's argument that the UK's record £109 billion deficit should be paid off more slowly in order to protect jobs, telling the gathering: "There is no other responsible way."
Mr Cameron vowed that the cuts would be "fair" and that the Government would protect the sick, vulnerable and elderly as it sought to eliminate the structural deficit within five years.
And he said: "I promise you that if we pull together to deal with these debts today, then just a few years down the line the rewards will be felt by everyone in our country.
"More money in your pocket. More investment in our businesses. Growing industries, better jobs, stronger prospects for our young people. And the thing you can't measure but you just know it when you see it - the sense that our great country is moving ahead once more."
Senior party sources played down suggestions that Mr Cameron was hinting at tax cuts to come before the 2015 general election, once the programme of economic retrenchment has taken effect. They insisted he was referring to the financial benefits to be reaped from renewed growth, enterprise and the creation of new businesses.
Mr Cameron's speech rounded off a conference in Birmingham which has been dominated by Mr Osborne's announcement on Monday that Child Benefit was to be abolished for higher-rate taxpayers. The PM was forced into a TV apology for failing to be upfront with voters about the need for the cut, which will cost three-child families with a parent earning over £44,000 around £2,500 a year from 2013.
But he mentioned the furore only in passing, telling activists: "As we work to balance the budget, fairness includes asking those on higher incomes to shoulder more of the burden than those on lower incomes. | <urn:uuid:784c63da-448c-4770-9365-f2ebc6dc56ee> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/pm-calls-for-solidarity-over-cuts-28563200.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976583 | 489 | 1.617188 | 2 |
A Greeting from the Farm & Food Project Director
Food and farming have always been central to our existence, but it’s only been in the last few decades that we mistakenly decided to pretend that we could leave it all up to someone else.
The GMC Farm & Food Project is all about reclaiming what matters about nature, nurture, and nutrition – by way of learning why it matters. How we as individuals relate to food is usually a pretty good indicator of how we relate to the environment, our society, other cultures, and other animals. How we relate to food and agriculture as a community is indicative of the interests and priorities of that community.
GMC takes farming and food issues seriously. I’m proud to work in a college that has a working farm as a centerpiece of campus life and that doesn’t shy away from the complexity of issues surrounding how we sustain ourselves, our environment, and our culture. “Sustainability” is a word our culture struggles with, but when you get to the root of it all – sustenance – then it becomes much less abstract and academic... and as a result, much more serious.
The GMC Farm & Food Project is our way of ensuring that the centrality of food permeates virtually every aspect of our campus. The college farm makes it all real and gives everyone a chance to experience the challenges of farming. The sustainable purchasing initiatives in our dining hall challenge all of us to find ways to build a more sustainable campus food system. Our Sustainable Agriculture & Food Production major enables students to tackle the complexities of what happens on the college farm and in the dining hall with a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach—providing students with the skills and understanding they need to practice the craft of farming while also ensuring that they have the tools to comprehend the ecological, economic, and policy arenas in which any given farm exists. And our esteemed Family Farm Forum speaker series brings in several well-known experts on food and farming each semester, attracting a diverse audience of students, farmers, academics, and consumers – guaranteeing a dynamic evening of conversation, often kicked off by a special meal in the dining hall.
We're serious about what we're doing here, but we know how to have fun doing it, too. If you want to talk more about it, come on down to college farm or come visit me while I'm doing chores on my own farm at home. There's still plenty for all of us to learn!
Director of GMC Farm & Food Project
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
A Greeting from the Farm Manager
I think you would be hard pressed to find another liberal arts college at which students are learning how to drive oxen, organically grow thirty different kinds of fruits and vegetables, raise heritage breeds of livestock and poultry, harvest hay without tractors or diesel fuel, manage an off-the-grid greenhouse, butcher sheep, pigs and chickens, build high-tensile fencing, shear sheep, and produce their own honey, apple cider, pickles, eggs and (soon) milk. At GMC, we are not just discussing statistics about soil erosion, global hunger and malnutrition, agricultural pollutants in our drinking water, or climate change – all linked to the most essential of human activities, farming. Rather, we are developing, teaching, and – most importantly – practicing the solutions to these problems.
The production of food is the most fundamental way in which we relate to the environment. While it may be hard to imagine surviving without ipods, cars, and air conditioning, it has been done before and could happen again. But humankind must produce food, and the ways in which we produce food can either exacerbate problems such as global warming, water scarcity and energy shortages or it can become part of the solution. Cerridwen Farm is a place where students can take an active role in the current food revolution that is transforming farming and how we view food.
Students are involved in every aspect of Cerridwen farm: they hold down sheep while other students trim hooves; they open beehives and check on honey production; they shut the chickens in at dusk and gather eggs; they plant, cultivate and harvest; they decide which animals stay and which are to be eaten; they butcher chickens and clean them for serving in the dining hall; they sell produce at the farmers market; and they drive oxen as they mow, rake and load hay. In the process, students gain real knowledge and skills that empower them to produce vegetables, meat and eggs – either for themselves or for their communities – while actually sequestering carbon, conserving and producing topsoil, and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
Above all, the farm is a great place to be. Hard work builds muscles and friendships. Well-deserved appetites are rewarded with the freshest and best-tasting food. And dirty hands and calluses are proudly displayed as signs that we are doing our part to grow a better world! I hope you can come join us – for an hour, a day, or even a few years!
Manager, Cerridwen Farm | <urn:uuid:f4465719-6156-4c13-8309-12cd74c427c6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.greenmtn.edu/farm_food/greetings.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951531 | 1,048 | 1.765625 | 2 |
|"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
The subject of this article is a real-life person, company, product, or creative work that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really exists), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.
On the London Underground train that Harry Potter and Rubeus Hagrid rode on 31 July, 1991, there was an advertisement for Hampton Court Palace, which featured the slogan "Discover six acres of beauty. Then step outside." This was presumably intended to indicate that the palace's interior can be considered as spacious and majestic as its grounds.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Mentioned on a poster) | <urn:uuid:07285f2c-c8f4-428a-a742-2d641f21c978> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hampton_Court_Palace | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952621 | 183 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Watching television isn't an activity most would associate with building a sound future for kids, but doing so has turned into an effort to feed hundreds of Windsor families for one local teen.
Thirteen-year-old Windsor High freshman Connor Bailey has run a penny drive since being inspired by PBS's Zoom as a kindergartner, raising more than $12,000 in the fight against local hunger.
Just this past weekend, Bailey added to his total, raising $120 and 150 pounds of food for Windsor families in need at Brown's Harvest's Movie Night with Spookley the Square Pumpkin.
"I wanted to start locally because I found out in kindergarten that 180 families use the Windsor Food bank. With families of three and families of four, that number adds up to be a lot of people," said Bailey, whose Change for Good Drive has flourished from humble yet heartfelt beginnings.
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At the outset, Bailey's efforts consisted of making a trip to Stop & Shop and donating what he could to curb local hunger. Now, with change jars at business cash registers across town, Bailey devotes three to four months each year to making sure local money benefits the Windsor Food Bank.
"I know we're making a difference," said Bailey, who concentrates his fundraising efforts during the food bank's most-needy time. "In the summer months kids can't take part in school lunch programs and there aren't as many donations as there are during the holidays."
Since Bailey began his change drive, the number of families utilizing the local food bank's services has grown to about 450, according to Social Services Coordinator Kristen Formanek. It's that growth, and consistent need that fuels his passion for the cause.
"With the growing number of families using the food bank each year, it's really scary," said Bailey.
Accordingly, the high school freshman has set his sights high.
Not only does he look to eradicate hunger on the local level, but he looks to one day expand his foundation beyond the borders of Connecticut's first town and take it global, even.
Change for Good accepts cash donations in addition to canned food. All proceeds benefit the Windsor Food Bank. | <urn:uuid:cd1b8f07-441f-406e-964c-3d700f353a26> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://windsor.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/windsor-teen-works-to-end-local-hunger | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969972 | 478 | 1.75 | 2 |
(LIN) — What does Michelle Obama have in common with Guy Fieri and Lance Armstrong?
According to a recent year-in-review list, they just really aren’t all that important.
GQ magazine released the 25 Least Influential People of 2012 list and have dubbed it “a collection of people so uninspiring that we should round them all up and stick them on an iceberg.”
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the publication notes that the 25 on the list are listed in no particular order “because all zeros are created equal.”
Obama’s description reads:
"t was a game effort by the first lady to get Americans to eat healthier. She founded the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign to get our children to contemplate forward locomotion. She even wrote a book about growing her own vegetables, which many people bought as a passive-aggressive way of telling someone they’re fat ... You tried, Mrs. Obama. You really did. Sorry we're such poor listeners."
Her description isn’t as pointed and harsh as others ( Amanda Bynes’ entry was pretty curt ), but it brings up an interesting talking point: Just how much does the first lady have to do to be considered influential?
Rosalynn Carter brought national awareness to the performing arts and took strong interest in mental health.
Nancy Reagan launched the “Just Say No” campaign. This became her primary initiative as first lady and worked hand-in-hand with her husband’s declaration of the War on Drugs.
Barbara Bush founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, encouraging reading at a young age to build stronger, more responsible adults for America’s future.
Hillary Clinton, now Secretary of State Clinton, spent her time reaching out to the foster care community, leading the effort on the Foster Care Independence Act to help older unadopted children transition to adulthood.
Laura Bush was a strong supporter of President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act. Through that program, she was an advocate for Reading First, the country’s largest early-reading initiative.
No matter how far back you go, women of the White House do quite a bit of influential work to not only support their husband’s agenda, but to further their own projects for the good of American people.
Michelle Obama has no reason to feel ineffectual and unimportant, or even close to the same level of insignificance as Hulk Hogan. To bring about positive change, no matter how great or small, is something to be noted and appreciated.
Maybe it’s too soon to tell if childhood obesity rates are dropping, or if her initiatives have had an effect on the overall health Americans, but she has brought great awareness to health concerns and promoting healthy eating choices over all – a feat that is influential in and of itself.
Should she find herself still feeling low about making the list, she should be happy she at least didn’t appear first on the list where ranking doesn’t matter.
That spot is reserved for her husband’s 2012 campaign rival, Mitt Romney.
Ladies First is a biweekly feature centered around the first lady of the United States. Jessica O. Swink is a contributing editor to onPolitix . Join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . | <urn:uuid:433a682c-da34-4883-9c46-8b9138bfae2f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www3.wdtn.com/dpps/news/politics/whitehouse/ladies-first-michelle-obama-not-that-influential-nd12-jos_5067377 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957153 | 702 | 1.609375 | 2 |
UPDATE: Check out our new water investment primer on Energy and Capital.
With Earth Day this week, the green drive is a bit more pressing than usual.
Major networks are hosting green-themed weeks, celebrities are out in force, and seemingly hundreds of dot-orgs are blasting the airwaves promoting their campaigns.
And while we'll hear the annual calls for cleaner air and planting more trees, a new theme is gaining prominence this year.
Yes, it seems water is everywhere except where we need it to be, these days. It's generating headlines, causing conflicts, and making savvy investors hefty returns along the way.
But don't take my word for it. Check out the performance of several water ETFs over the last three months.
Granted, this group has been roughed up by the recession like most others. But economic easing and renewed interest in the topic has led to a 33% run in the last few weeks.
I thought we'd take today to digest some recent water news and look at a few possible investment angles.
Water News I Already Told You
Recent water news is often old stories happening in new places or with new twists. I've been telling you for some time that serious water problems were looming, so evidence of major shortages now should be no surprise — where they happen and how to profit might be.
Consider my words back in August 2007:
We are at the crux of disaster — a crisis so big that it already affects well over one billion people and will soon affect everyone on earth.
The calamity we face is a serious lack of fresh water.
In that article, subtitled "A Steady Stream of Water Profits," I used then-recent water headlines to illustrate my point:
Las Vegas Growth Depends on Dwindling Water Supply
Seawater Could Help Solve Florida Water Woes
Iraq Calls for Water Treaty to Avert Crisis
El Paso's 15-year Wait for Desalination Plant Is Over
It's been a full 18 months since then. . .
Las Vegas is still dependent on water for growth.
Florida (and a large part of the Southeast) is still facing drought conditions.
There are abundant water problems in the Middle East.
And desalination is increasingly being looked to as a major solution.
Now, take a look at water headlines from the past few weeks:
California's drought raises rural-urban tensions over water
Florida Drought Watch: Water levels dropping
Palestinians face dire water shortage: World Bank
A Rising Tide for New Desalinated Water Technologies
You should see a striking resemblance in the contents of the news, even though much time has passed.
And that's my point: coverage of the water issue is cyclical, but the problem is constant. . .
So are the profits you can make.
How to Profit from Water
Like energy, water is becoming more valuable because of scarcity. Also like energy, hundreds of billions are being spent to combat looming supply shortfalls.
And that's what is driving investor profits.
Investing in water is even being looked to as a tool to combat recession. The recently passed stimulus had a $6 billion water portion.
It's only a drop in the bucket, but much larger international commitments will undoubtedly follow.
That's the beautiful thing about investing in water — the market has completely different fundamentals than other industries because demand constantly rises while supply remains relatively constant.
Improving the management of existing resources is one way to tackle the problem and turn a profit at the same time. This falls mainly in the category of investing in water infrastructure.
Knowing the ins and outs of the industry has already netted readers of the Alternative Energy Speculator four double-digit winners in the sector.
And an entire section of our portfolio is dedicated only to water stocks. As of this morning, four of the six stocks in that section were up, two of them in double digits.
Is it any surprise? Unlike with oil, demand for water does not decline during a recession.
So, despite credit tightening elsewhere, Reuters recently reported that "operating budgets for municipal utilities, which make up 85 percent of the water utility market, have remained intact. That means water treatment companies such as Nalco Holding Co and filtration companies like Calgon Carbon Corp should have a steady stream of orders for chemicals and components needed to keep water clean and plants functioning."
Reuters was a bit late on the Calgon (NYSE: CCC) coverage. Alternative Energy Speculator readers closed that stock for a 16% gain over a week ago.
Of course, we've played several other water infrastructure companies for profit. . . and we'll continue to.
But as water shortages become particularly acute — and they will — the big money is going to made in companies that can alter the supply picture, rather than merely manage it.
What I'm talking about is actually being able to increase freshwater supply. And the only way to do that is through desalination, what Reuters called "the Holy Grail in the quest to replace dwindling freshwater drinking supplies."
This is where the most lucrative water profits will be made.
In fact, I told new readers of Alternative Energy Speculator about my favorite desalination play just the other day. Look how it's performed since then:
Those that followed my water investment advice have gone on a 25% two-day adventure. But this stock's run is just getting started. I think it could easily triple as water issues start coming to a head.
Call it like you see it,
P.S. You can now follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nickchodge, where I'll be providing real-time market updates and my thoughts on the ever-changing landscape of alternative energy markets. | <urn:uuid:7b48b078-e504-40f6-a0f7-d4a87a806fcb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/water-investments-stocks/387 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955068 | 1,197 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Anil Ananthaswamy has won the inaugural Physics Journalism Prize -- a prize designed to inspire the next generation of physicists by encouraging journalists to grapple with often complex topics and help spread excitement about the subject.
Anil has won the prize for his article "Hip Hip Array," which focuses on the Square Kilometre Array, an international project to design and build the largest radio telescope ever conceived.
The prize is sponsored by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Anil, a consultant at New Scientist Magazine and author of "The Edge of Physics," will be congratulated today, Thursday 28 February 2013, at an IOP reception this evening in Central London, which follows this year's Newton Lecture by the Astronomer Royal, Lord Martin Rees of Ludlow, entitled "From Mars to the Multiverse."
Professor Sir Peter Knight, President of IOP, said, "Anil Ananthaswamy is being awarded the prize for writing a feature which brings one of the world's most exciting astronomical endeavors to life -- the Square Kilometre Array.
"I'm delighted that we're able to honor his writing on this occasion, shortly after we hear from one of the UK's leading astronomical luminaries."
The Physics Journalism Award offers the prize of an expenses paid trip to Japan, to visit world-leading facilities carrying out research at the frontiers of physics.
On winning, Anil commented, "Writing about physics, especially about the work being done in remote, difficult and sometimes hostile environments, is a special pleasure. Winning an award for doing what I love to do is just icing on the cake. I truly appreciate the recognition."
With Anil the overall winner, judges were impressed by the range of entries made to the Award.
Zeeya Merali, a freelance science journalist based in Canterbury, has been given a special mention and a #250 prize for her Discover article, "Gravity Off the Grid," an article about Julian Barbour, a British physicist who has spent his life arguing against Einstein's view of gravity, space and time.
The judges -- who were the Association of British Science Writers' (ABSW) Martin Ince, the Wellcome Trust's Mark Henderson, STEMNET's Kirsten Bodley and the Science Media Center's Ed Sykes -- commended both of the journalists for style, their ability to inspire and for bringing the physics that they write about to life.
ABSW director Martin Ince said, "The judges awarded the first prize and the commendation to two very different, but equally compelling, pieces of writing about physics. Both will have inspired and intrigued readers in the UK and around the world. The entries we received show that British science journalists can take on some of the most complex subjects in the universe and bring them to a wide audience."
Mark Henderson, Head of Communications at the Wellcome Trust and former Science Editor at The Times, said, "This was a strong field, but the winning and commended entries stood out both for style and substance. Zeeya Merali crafts great metaphors that help to make complicated science comprehensible for non-specialist audiences, while Anil Ananthaswamy has an eye for illustrative detail of which the best travel writers would be proud."
Kirsten Bodley, Chief Executive of STEMNET, said, "The winning article on the competition for the Square Kilometre Array will be particularly inspirational to young people, offering them an opportunity to see how fascinating contemporary physics research can be. This is close to STEMNET's heart -- it's important to make science accessible and interesting for young people, to inspire the next generation of great British scientists and engineers."
Commenting on the winner's choice of topic, Terry O'Connor, Head of Communications at STFC, added, "The Square Kilometre Array will be one of the world's largest and most complex science experiments, requiring physics input across the disciplines and at every stage of its design, construction and operation. It will open new avenues of research, and delve further back into the formation of the universe.
"With the SKA Project Office located in the UK at Jodrell Bank, and UK researchers and government heavily involved at every stage, we're delighted that the winning article highlighted this fascinating and ambitious project."
Anil's article can be read on newscientist.com, free of charge but after a short registration, at http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328576.800-outback-to-outer-space-the-worlds-largest-telescope.html
Zeeya's article can be read on discovermagazine.com, free of charge, at http://discovermagazine.com/2012/mar/09-is-einsteins-greatest-work-wrong-didnt-go-far
IOP Head of Media
+44 (0) 20 7470 4815, cell: +44 (0) 7946 321473
Terms and Conditions of the IOP-STFC Physics Journalism Award:
The Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics (IOP, http://www.iop.org) is a leading scientific society. We are a charitable organization with a worldwide membership of more than 45,000, working together to advance physics education, research and application. We engage with policymakers and the general public to develop awareness and understanding of the value of physics and, through IOP Publishing, we are world leaders in professional scientific communications.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC, http://www.stfc.ac.uk) is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and global security. The Council has a broad science portfolio and works with the academic and industrial communities to share its expertise in materials science, space and ground-based astronomy technologies, laser science, microelectronics, wafer scale manufacturing, particle and nuclear physics, alternative energy production, radio communications and radar. STFC is one of seven publicly-funded research councils. It is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Association of British Science Writers
Founded in 1947, the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW, http://www.absw.org.uk) is the professional organization for science writers in the UK. Its 800 members write everything from news stories to books and TV programs. It runs the UK's science journalism awards, holds the UK Conference of Science Journalists, and helps entrants to the profession to expand their skills. It is a leading member of the World Federation of Science Journalists and is involved in promoting science journalism in the developing world. | <urn:uuid:fdd5d96b-542c-48cf-be63-6e4c2393690a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=40212 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937123 | 1,421 | 1.804688 | 2 |
DDS recognizes that employment is essential for the long term prosperity of individuals with disabilities. Please find links and resources below.
Benefits to Work Calculator
NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development Homepage
For various employment positions available with the Department of Human Services, please click here.
Social Security Work Incentives Page
Social Security Redbook 2010
DDS Partners with National Ad Campaign to Increase Employer Awareness of Workers with Disabilities...TRENTON, NJ - January 25, 2010 -- The Division of Disability Services (DDS) has used part of its Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to join the national “Think Beyond the Label” promotional campaign to increase employer awareness of workers with disabilities.
The Think Beyond the Label campaign was formally launched this week and will include television advertising and print ads in major newspapers throughout the country. This New York Times article explains the ad campaign's strategy for attracting attention: Using Humor in a Campaign Supporting Disabled People.
The MIG program stems from Section 203 of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) of 1999, to support State efforts to enhance employment options for people with disabilities. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the MIG program, which supports people with disabilities in securing and sustaining competitive employment in an integrated setting.
||Print ads from the new campaign using comical labels, intended to encourage employers to ignore labels when hiring people with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the results of its Tools for America's Job Seekers Challenge. Recommendations have been tallied, and the top-rated sites in categories including general job boards, niche tools, career tools, career exploration tools and Web 2.0 (social networking) are now available.
Visit Disability.gov's Jobs & Career Planning section for additional employment resources.
These "Webinar" training events provide learning opportunities about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other disability-related subjects. Some of these Webinars sound like they would be good for employers, employees, and/or job applicants.
Topics include reasonable accommodations; assistive technology; ensuring access for customers with disabilities; accommodation ideas for employees with traumatic brain injuries (TBI); creating accessible videos and many other subjects covering transportation, employment, education and other areas that affect the lives and independence of people with disabilities. The ongoing URL for this Webinar Calendar is: http://www.adacourse.org/events.php#content
Workforce3 One has released a new disability and employment resource page to make employment-related information and promising practices available to the workforce system. This new disability and employment community of practice will help promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities and expand the capacity of the One-Stop Career Center system to serve customers with disabilities. The new resource also has information to help the business community understand disability employment-related topics such as tax incentives and recruiting and accommodating employees with disabilities.
Posted: 10/06/09 to Employment
President Obama and Secretary Duncan both recognize the critical role that education plays in empowering the next generation of Americans with disabilities with a strong foundation and expectation of academic achievement, employment and the ability to give back to others and their communities. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding represents an unprecedented investment in students with disabilities and the administration's commitment to helping young people with disabilities achieve success in school and work.Posted: 10/06/09 to Education
President Obama has announced that his Administration is taking several steps to ensure that there is fair and equal access to employment for all Americans, particularly the 54 million people in this country living with disabilities. These actions include collaboration between the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) to sponsor a day long Federal Government-wide job fair for people with disabilities.
Posted: 10/05/09 to Employment | <urn:uuid:d0c1f4b0-40c4-4f03-9bc4-f12e0f649d5d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nj.gov/humanservices/dds/hottopics/employment/index.html | 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 | 0.938343 | 802 | 1.75 | 2 |
A La Carte (2/17)
Romance Novels - Speaking of novels, I found this an interesting article on romance novels (Note: there’s one part that goes a bit awry when the author describes the ugly plot line of an old novel). “Men must be transformed by love and enter into the woman’s realm in order to emerge as fully-realized human beings: this is the core message of romance fiction, Dixon argues. We need one another; embrace this idea, and everything will magically work out.”
The Community of Disability - Greg Lucas has some interesting thoughts about lessons he has learned from being a part of the community of disability. “The tragedy of disability is not disability itself, but the isolation it often creates. This was one of the most important lessons our family had to learn. Sadly, we learned it the hard way. But hard lessons often lead to great insights and over the past few years we have had the wonderful opportunity to gain great wisdom from several families in many different communities.”
The Books of the Bible - I love the look of this product. “The Books of the Bible Block Set is a unique and beautifully designed collection of wood blocks that represent all 66 books of the Bible.”
The MacArthur Study Bible NIV - Some have been wondering why John MacArthur would have his Study Bible printed in the NIV 2011. Phil Johnson writes about that here.
The Contraception Mandate - Joe Carter has a helpful FAQ about the contraception mandate that is all the buzz these days.
Prayer does change things, all kinds of things. But the most important thing it changes is us. —R.C. Sproul | <urn:uuid:b40e82ef-4df1-445a-9cc3-1c9130eff54c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.challies.com/a-la-carte/a-la-carte-217-1?quicktabs_1=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95663 | 353 | 1.5625 | 2 |
After last week's "State of the Union" speech (during which President B. Hussein Obama attacked the Supreme Court), Hugh Hewitt and Mark Steyn discussed Obama's attack in the context of today's politics and future decisions of the Court:
BHO: With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations to spend without limit in our elections.
HH: Now Mark Steyn, that is not accurate. The Austin decision is 20 years old, it had never been directly challenged. This was explained in the Chief Justice’s concurrence. But putting that aside, he attacked the Court which is non-partisan, and is supposed to represent the rule of law. It’s really unprecedented.
MS: Yes, and it’s very interesting. I would be interested to know what Nancy Pelosi thinks of that, because Nancy Pelosi’s comment, best known comment on Supreme Court decisions is that oh well, they’re sort of like God. In other words, once the Court has ruled, that’s it. It’s chiseled in tablets of stone, brought down from the mountain, and delivered in this case by Justice Kennedy. I mean, what I find so odd about this is that Justice Kennedy is the new Sandra Day O’Connor on that Court. He’s the swinger. He’s the swing vote. And I think, I don’t think it’s strictly in naked political interest, it’s sensible for Obama to actually publically sneer at Justice Kennedy when he’s sitting a few feet away from him. It just seems to me a very odd thing to do, and yet another example of how isolated and detached from the facts on the ground this Oval Office is.
Steyn's point is that Obama made a political mistake by attacking a swing voter on the Supreme Court, which attack will adversely affect future Court decisions.
What Steyn does not mention is that Obama (and the left) does not care so much about a few decisions of the Court. He cares about destroying the institution and its ability to check and balance the other branches of government. By attacking the Court publicly in this fashion, he has helped diminish the Court in the eyes of the 40% of the poll respondents that will follow Obama no matter how badly he performs in office.
Obama has promised to transform America. He means it. He has taken many steps designed to bankrupt this country. He has taken over industries. These are transformative steps. Destroying what is left of the rule of law is another such step. Diminishing the Supreme Court is necessary to the destruction of the rule of law.
Obama and the leftist utopians envision a world where the President can give any order without worrying about a pesky court getting in the way. The left can not get to that promised land without constant attacks on the Court. Obama's 40% must be mobilized against the very institutions that stand in the way of the progressive, populist dictatorship. (Whether Obama is the ultimate beneficiary of this dictatorship is irrelevant to the "progressive" masses. There will be a dictator someday - the name of the puppet that dances on the end of the strings is irrelevant.)
Did Robert Mugabe worry about the attitude of the swing voters on the Zimbabwean Supreme Court as he was seizing farms and turning the currency into confetti? Obama and his allies have a broader agenda than bean counting votes on the Supreme Court.
Labels: Supreme Court, Tyranny | <urn:uuid:5a426b1c-2317-4763-9b09-0511756bdd91> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cassandra2004.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962465 | 744 | 1.546875 | 2 |
1931 Botulism Poisoning Tragedy Near Grafton a Cautionary TaleAs another canning season approaches, it might be worth taking a moment to remember the story of Edward and Delphine Hein. The couple threw a dinner party 80 years ago at their farmstead two miles northeast of Grafton, N.D.
By: Dave Olson, Forum Communications
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – As another canning season approaches, it might be worth taking a moment to remember the story of Edward and Delphine Hein. The couple threw a dinner party 80 years ago at their farmstead two miles northeast of Grafton, N.D.
Delphine served a salad sprinkled with peas she had canned herself.
Within days, 12 people and later a 13th would fall ill and die, including the Heins and three of their six children.
Authorities determined the peas were to blame. They were contaminated by toxins produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria, which causes botulism poisoning.
Three Hein children, Richard (Dick), Marvin (Bud) and Wilfred (Bill), were too young to attend the party and spent the evening in their rooms.
“That was a lucky break for us,” said Dick Hein, who is now 94 and lives in Detroit Lakes.
His brother, Bud, is 84 and lives in Grand Forks.
Bill Hein, who was 12 years old when the three brothers missed the party that fateful night, died about five years ago, Bud Hein said.
Kith and kin
After the tragedy, the three boys found separate homes with aunts and uncles, though Dick Hein said he soon became restless and moved out to work as a laborer for farmers in the area.
He said life on the family farm in 1931 was basic and full of hard work.
Water had to be carried indoors for cooking, and wood supplied the fuel for meals and heating.
Hein, who has three sons of his own, said the parents he lost all those years ago are always near his thoughts, as are two sisters, a brother and a cousin who died from eating the salad.
Bud Hein, who raised four daughters, one of whom died about a year ago, was so young when his parents died that he remembers little of those years.
“I often think about them and wonder how things would have been if they had lived,” he said of his folks.
The two surviving Hein brothers say they had to grow up quickly following their parents’ deaths.
Bud Hein expressed gratitude for the home an aunt and uncle provided him, but he said when he turned 18, “I was kind of on my own.”
A front-page story in the Walsh County Record from Feb. 5, 1931, described the 13 deaths as the worst tragedy in North Dakota’s history.
A back-page story quoted a then 14-year-old Dick Hein as asking: “Please, will you see that our mother’s wedding ring is saved so that we will have something to remember her by?”
“If only one of our sisters had lived,” the boy added, “then we could have continued to operate the farm as our father has in the past.”
The sad episode wasn’t an isolated incident, said Julie Garden-Robinson, a food and nutrition specialist with the Extension Service at North Dakota State University.
She said a similar thing happened in South Dakota around the same time.
In that case, she said, four people died of botulism after eating green beans, which like peas are low in acid.
Low-acid foods like vegetables and meats should be canned using a pressure canner, which can achieve temperatures needed to kill dangerous spores, Garden-Robinson said.
She said boiling water will suffice for canning fruits and other foods high in acid, because acid serves to limit bacterial growth.
While botulism is rare, the danger remains, Garden-Robinson said.
“With the increased interest in gardening, we could see this happen again, especially if people dig back in their canning recipes and use very old recipes,” she said.
“As long as people are using the current recommendations, there shouldn’t be a huge concern,” said Garden-Robinson, who tells the story of the Grafton tragedy in lectures she gives.
But she doesn’t place blame.
Food preservation research didn’t really develop until World War II, and the field continues to evolve, she said.
“I don’t want to scare people, but it (botulism poisoning) definitely is something that could happen,” she said.
“It happens even with commercial canned goods. They will periodically do massive recalls if they find out food hasn’t been processed long enough,” she said.
With the home-canning season right around the corner, it is important to keep food safety in mind, said Julie Garden-Robinson, a nutrition specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.
Under the right conditions, spores of the clostridium botulinum bacteria germinate into cells that quickly grow and die, producing the deadly neurotoxin that causes botulism.
Symptoms usually appear within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. They include blurred, double vision and difficulty swallowing and speaking.
Without treatment, death may occur within three to seven days.
Here are some of Garden-Robinson’s guidelines for preventing botulism:
- Clean foods well before cooking or processing. It reduces but does not remove all bacteria.
- Use home-canning methods that are based on current research and recommendations that are properly adjusted for altitude.
- Process all home-canned meats and vegetables – with the possible exception of tomatoes – in a pressure canner at 240 degrees F for the time recommended in a current USDA research-based publication.
- Inspect food and containers before eating home-canned food. Bulging lids or leaking jars are signs of spoilage and may indicate the presence of the botulism toxin. | <urn:uuid:03f9a501-4ec0-471d-a135-739f93e0a99a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/10060/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970392 | 1,297 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Here’s a little story about the kind of casual racism sometimes, er, "shared" between friends, or, probably less appropriately, between chefs and the cooks trying to learn from them. “Wait, what do you mean you don’t know how to make noodles?” Chef asked me. “You’re Chinese! Your people invented noodles! My family’s Italian. If I couldn’t make pasta, I’d be ashamed.”
I suddenly became very self conscious of two things: my Asianness, and my inability to cook rice. I mean, he was going to ask me to do it at some point. Would I really have to cop to being a race traitor twice over? I always thought the traditional way to cook rice in Asian families was to plug in a rice cooker. On the rare occasions I’d tried to do it on the stove it would come out…well, the phrase “you have brought shame upon your family” comes to mind. Sometimes it’d be one shiny, congealed mass; other times, wet and mushy at the bottom while undercooked up top. How is that even possible? And how is it that the staple food of like half the world’s population is so hard to cook?
Well, before I would face humiliation and abandonment by the spirits of my ancestors, I had to figure out something quick. And so I did what all morally flexible people do under pressure: I stole. I stole the method for cooking my plain white rice from pilaf, which is brilliant. (The method is brilliant, not my stealing of it.)
When making pilaf, you start by sautéing aromatics and spices in hot oil, then you toast the rice in the infused fat. The heat gels the starch on the outside of the rice grains, which means it helps to prevent it from turning into glue. Then you quickly bring the liquid to a boil and pop the pot into an oven to make sure the heat comes at it gently from all sides. (Having too much heat underneath the pot is how you can have mush on bottom and undercooked rice up top, it turns out.) What comes out is exactly what you want in rice: evenly cooked, a tender but insistent chew, and just enough stickiness to remind you that you’re not eating Uncle Ben’s.
It is, I swear, perfect every time, with an added bonus of a subtle toasty flavor in the rice itself. So what if my grandmother didn’t teach me to do it this way?
This method gives you perfectly cooked rice every time, but there are variables. Some varieties of rice may want more water, or some people like their rice a little softer. The ratio of 1½ parts water to 1 part rice here is, to my mind, perfect for tender-but-chewy long grained rice. If you like your rice softer, add more water. Also, since this method is cribbed from pilaf anyway, feel free to add some aromatics or spices to the hot oil before toasting the rice, or use stock or broth instead of water and some salt to bring out the flavor.
1 tablespoon oil
2 cups jasmine or other long-grain white rice
3 cups water
1. Preheat oven to 350⁰F. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. When it starts to shimmer, add the rice and stir. Cook it, stirring, for a few minutes. Notice when it starts to feel kind of “sandy” in the pot, resisting your spoon a little bit, and hear it squeak. That’s the starch changing in the heat.
2. Keep toasting, stirring, past the point when all the grains have turned translucent. The rice should smell wonderfully like popcorn (especially with jasmine rice). A minute or two later, and some grains should have turned back opaque. When it looks like about ¼ of the grains have turned back to white, carefully add the water. It will probably boil immediately; if not, stir the rice once and let it come to a boil. Shut off the heat, put the lid on, and drop it in the oven. Take it out 13 minutes later.
3. Right away, uncover the pot – be careful, the handle is hot! – and gently dig into it to see all the way to the bottom. On the off chance there’s still sitting water there, cover the rice back up and put it back in the oven for a couple minutes. (This NEVER HAPPENS. But don’t freak if it does.) If it looks good, gently fluff the rice with a fork or serving spoon. Start with the top layers first, and then dig a little deeper until you’re flipping all the rice; the point is to expose the rice so the moisture can steam off. Once all the grains look dry, serve, with great pride.
Make it a meal with: | <urn:uuid:819821fc-c845-4044-9977-e2c82e5ab18b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gilttaste.com/stories/5017-how-to-make-perfect-rice-every-time | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94046 | 1,055 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Gangster Enrico De Pedis was buried in a Catholic basilica in Rome
Explore This Story
ROME—One of Italy’s most notorious gangsters, Enrico De Pedis, is buried in a Roman Catholic basilica near Piazza Navona.
Why the Vatican allowed a top mobster to be buried in Sant’Apollinare has been a source of furious speculation since 1997, when the resting place of De Pedis — gunned down seven years earlier — was first revealed.
The answer taking shape looks like something bestselling author Dan (The Da Vinci Code) Brown would have had trouble dreaming up.
The story goes back to the 1980s and includes money-laundering allegations against the Vatican’s bank, the attempted assassination of the late Pope John Paul II, the murder-suicide of two Vatican Swiss guards, and the widely publicized kidnapping of a teenage girl.
The shocking tale’s many threads began meshing in the mid 2000s. They were revived this week by the latest in a series of leaks that have rocked the Vatican — leaks observers believe are the result of an internal power struggle, one that has fuelled speculation about jostling to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.
This time, a January letter from Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican’s spokesperson, has made its way to the media.
The three-page letter, revealed by a program on the state-owned Rai Tre channel, focuses on the kidnapping of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old Vatican City resident who disappeared in 1983. She was last seen leaving her regular piano lesson outside the Vatican City walls. Her father was a clerk in the office organizing papal events.
Last summer, a former member of De Pedis’ infamous Magliana gang, Antonio Mancini, was interviewed by La Stampa newspaper after spending years in jail. He said De Pedis had loaned the Vatican a huge sum of money. There is speculation it was to help fund Solidarity, the 1980 democracy movement in Poland, John Paul’s homeland.
Mancini said Orlandi was kidnapped to pressure the Vatican when some of the money wasn’t returned. De Pedis’ girlfriend had said similar things a few years earlier.
At the time, the Vatican was the main shareholder of Banco Ambrosiano, which had gone bankrupt. Roberto Calvi, Ambrosiano’s head, was found hanging from a London bridge in 1982.
Mancini said part of De Pedis’ peace deal with the Vatican included burial in Sant’Apollinare, a church built in the 18th century and now run by the ultra-conservative Opus Dei movement. Church officials say De Pedis was buried there because he helped the poor. They’ve had less to say about the ruthless, Rome-based gang he headed.
In January, Orlandi’s brother led a demonstration in front of the church, demanding the tomb be opened. Since an anonymous call to Rai Tre in 2005, there has been talk of it perhaps containing evidence of Orlandi’s disappearance. The Orlandi family wants to know if the body in the tomb is indeed De Pedis’.
In his letter, Lombardi alludes to the rumours, according to excerpts released by Rai Tre. He also notes the cardinal in charge of the basilica has said he’s willing to have the tomb opened.
“I don’t understand why this hasn’t happened yet,” Lombardi writes.
Lombardi then discusses the Vatican’s refusal to help Italian police on some aspects of the Orlandi kidnap investigation. He wonders “if the non-collaboration with the Italian authorities . . . was a normal and justifiable affirmation of Vatican sovereignty, or if in fact circumstances were withheld that might have helped clear something up.”
Reached by the Star, Lombardi laughed when asked about the letter.
“You don’t have anything more important to write about?” he said. “I’ve had enough of this story. It seems like such a secondary thing to me that I have no comment to make.”
Earlier leaks of Vatican documents included recent private letters to the Pope complaining of corruption and cronyism in the awarding of contracts. Other documents emerged reigniting allegations of money-laundering at the Vatican’s bank. Finally, a bizarre confidential letter from a Vatican official described a presumed plot to kill Benedict and discussed his potential successor.
The day before Lombardi’s letter became public, another TV channel broadcast an interview with a man claiming to be a Vatican employee who leaked one of the documents. He looked like the Mafia turncoats Italians are used to seeing on TV — much of his face was covered by sunglasses, hat and scarf, and his voice was disguised.
He complained about the failure to investigate the Orlandi kidnapping and alluded to the death of two Vatican Swiss guards in 1998. In that incident, Alois Estermann, commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican, was killed, along with his wife, by Cedric Tornay, a young Swiss guard who then shot himself.
That murder-suicide has spawned books filled with theories as to what really happened. One widely quoted scenario comes from Ferdinando Imposimato, a former magistrate who officially investigated some of the biggest criminal cases in Italy, including the shooting of Pope John Paul in 1981, and cases involving De Pedis’ gang.
Imposimato is convinced secret police services in the former Soviet Union were involved in the plot to kill John Paul. He says Estermann was a spy for East Germany’s Stasi secret police, and was involved in Orlandi’s kidnapping. She was targeted because her father was the first to suspect Estermann as a spy, and told Imposimato so in 1981. Estermann was eventually killed, Imposimato says, because he knew too much.
Imposimato is now working with the Orlandi family. Both are pushing for a full investigation — and the opening of De Pedis’ tomb.
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