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The real case against the Bain style of capitalism. If I’d had a bit more space, I would have gone into the ways the current tax code could be modified to discourage the short-term profit-taking that has characterized the financialization of the past 50 years. Obviously, the “carried interest” loophole that enables players like Romney to be taxed at capital gains rather than standard rates should be closed. But we also need to do more to discourage financial casino gambling. I’m in favor of a graduated transaction tax on financial derivatives; I’m also in favor of much lower tax rates for companies that produce actual goods and non-financial services. This is the Bain debate we need to have in this campaign–and, if the President chooses to make the high-road case, we may actually have it.
The Truth About Bain Capital
How Change Happens
By DAVID BROOKS NYT
Forty years ago, corporate America was bloated, sluggish and losing ground to competitors in Japan and beyond. But then something astonishing happened. Financiers, private equity firms and bare-knuckled corporate executives initiated a series of reforms and transformations. The process was brutal and involved streamlining and layoffs. But, at the end of it, American businesses emerged leaner, quicker and more efficient. Now we are apparently going to have a presidential election about whether this reform movement was a good thing.
Last week, the Obama administration unveiled an attack ad against Mitt Romney’s old private equity firm, Bain Capital, portraying it as a vampire that sucks the blood from American companies. Then Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. gave one of those cable-TV-type speeches, lambasting Wall Street and saying we had to be a country that makes things again. The Obama attack ad accused Bain Capital of looting a steel company called GST in the 1990s and then throwing its workers out on the street. The ad itself barely survived a minute of scrutiny. As Kimberly Strassel noted in The Wall Street Journal, the depiction is wildly misleading.
The company was in terminal decline before Bain entered the picture, seeing its work force fall from 4,500 to less than 1,000. It faced closure when Romney and Bain, for some reason, saw hope for it in 1993. Bain acquired it, induced banks to loan it money and poured $100 million into modernization, according to Strassel. Bain held onto the company for eight years, hardly the pattern of a looter. Finally, after all the effort, the company, like many other old-line steel companies, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001, two years after Romney had left Bain. This is the story of a failed rescue, not vampire capitalism. But the larger argument is about private equity itself, and about the changes private equity firms and other financiers have instigated across society.
Over the past several decades, these firms have scoured America looking for underperforming companies. Then they acquire them and try to force them to get better. As Reihan Salam noted in a fair-minded review of the literature in National Review, in any industry there is an astonishing difference in the productivity levels of leading companies and the lagging companies. Private equity firms like Bain acquire bad companies and often replace management, compel executives to own more stock in their own company and reform company operations. Most of the time they succeed. Research from around the world clearly confirms that companies that have been acquired by private equity firms are more productive than comparable firms. This process involves a great deal of churn and creative destruction. It does not, on net, lead to fewer jobs.
A giant study by economists from the University of Chicago, Harvard, the University of Maryland and the Census Bureau found that when private equity firms acquire a company, jobs are lost in old operations. Jobs are created in new, promising operations. The overall effect on employment is modest. Nor is it true that private equity firms generally pile up companies with debt, loot them and then send them to the graveyard. This does happen occasionally (the tax code encourages debt), but banks would not be lending money to private equity-owned companies, decade after decade, if those companies weren’t generally prosperous and creditworthy. Private equity firms are not lovable, but they forced a renaissance that revived American capitalism. The large questions today are: Will the U.S. continue this process of rigorous creative destruction? More immediately, will the nation take the transformation of the private sector and extend it to the public sector?
While American companies operate in radically different ways than they did 40 years ago, the sheltered, government-dominated sectors of the economy — especially education, health care and the welfare state — operate in astonishingly similar ways. The implicit argument of the Republican campaign is that Mitt Romney has the experience to extend this transformation into government.
The Obama campaign seems to be drifting willy-nilly into the opposite camp, arguing that the pressures brought to bear by the capital markets over the past few decades were not a good thing, offering no comparably sized agenda to reform the public sector. In a country that desperately wants change, I have no idea why a party would not compete to be the party of change and transformation. For a candidate like Obama, who successfully ran an unconventional campaign that embodied and promised change, I have no idea why he would want to run a campaign this time that regurgitates the exact same ads and repeats the exact same arguments as so many Democratic campaigns from the ancient past.
Excellent article by Mr. Brooks. Though many conservatives are suspious of Brooks, he is actually one of my favorite pundits.
As for Bain, it does what all companies are designed to do, that is to make money. It is not the business of companies to hire people. Employment is a by-product.
That is why both sides are full of malarky. Republicans have chided the president because of the high employment rate. However, it is not the job of the government to get companies to hire people. Companies are not there to hire people, but to make money. People are not out of work because of "excessive" regulation, but because it was easier for companies to innovate with fewer employees or to ship jobs overseas.
What Romney did at Bain was fine. However, none of that makes him especially qualified (or unqualified) to be president. Romney took advantage of the current tax code to make a quick buck. Good for him. However, those ideas are not what the country needs. The country needs long term solutions, not a quick fix. Equity companies trade equity for debt. We, as a country have been doing that for years, and it has lead to our current problems.
What we need to do is innovate. Obama has the right idea, but he is not using the proper tools. It is not the government's job to dictate innovation, but it is the government's job to encourage innovation over making the quick buck. We have a problem when our engineering graduates go to Wall Street to crunch numbers instead of building things. We need to change the tax code to encourage industry instead of awarding quick buck financial institutions.
Will Mitt Romney do what is needed to fix the tax code or will he continue business as usual. Obama has recognized the problem, he has just applied the wrong solution. My question is whether Mitt Romney has recognized the problem. I haven't seen anything yet to indicate he has, but you can correct me if I am wrong.
Hey, Mr. Cut and Paste - the problem for you is that no one cares what Brooks writes. Along with Halperin, he's one of the laughing stocks of the MSM pundit class.
Mitt Romney Rally
I attended a Mitt Romney Rally in Bowling Green Ohio yesterday afternoon.
The crowd was enormous.
What an impressive individual Mitt Romney is in Person.
He is definitely one of the most qualified individuals to ever run for President.
He is a man:
· Who attended both Harvard Law and Harvard Business Schools concurrently earning advanced degree in both Law and Business Management and graduating with honors MCL [3.8-3.9 GPA].
· He has been a very successful Chief Executive of several companies and organizations both private and public.
· He served as President of the Salt Lake City Olympics for 3 years and turned a probable failure into a very successful Olympics.
· He served as an Intern in Michigan Governor's office for 8 years gaining a good deal of experience in government operations.
· He served as Governor of Massachusetts for 4 years.
· As an Entrepreneur he started his own company Bain Capital and built it into one of the most successful Venture-Capitalist Investment firms in the USA.
As I was leaving Bowling Green and heading home I passed a very large relatively new Staples Office Supply Store. Staples was Romney's first major business deal. It involved investing in a start-up office supply company with one store located in Massachusetts. That Company today has over 2,000 stores and employs over 90,000 people.
There were of course many other companies that Bain invested in while Romney was CEO. According to the Wall Street Journal 78% of the companies that Bain invested in became successful. That’s a very high batting average for any investment company.
As I said before Romney is one of the most highly qualified individuals to ever run for President of the United States.
The election in 2012 is a real Paradox.
We have, Mitt Romney, one of the most highly qualified individuals to ever run for President running against Barack Obama, probably the least qualified individual to ever run for President in American history.
Hahaha, except "the least qualified individual" has three and a half years in the most powerful elected office in the world, and is due to have four more. Your guy won't make it there, but nice try. Americans (for better or worse, e.g. Reagan), generally elect people that they like on a personal level, and Willard, outside of his immediate family (who are robots like him), isn't liked by anyone.
" This is the Bain debate we need to have in this campaign–and, if the
President chooses to make the high-road case, we may actually have it."
Isn't that a wee bit Quixotic/naive? Post Citizens United, what are the chances that such a high minded debate would lead to actual results? Obama realizes that to influence the voter the Bain and related issues need to be presented as starkly as possible. That is not the low way - it is the only way that leads somewhere.
" This is the Bain debate we need to have in this campaign–and, if the
President chooses to make the high-road case, we may actually have it."Isn't that a wee bit Quixotic/naive? Post Citizens United, what are the chances that such a high minded debate is going to lead to actual results? I think Obama realizes that to appeal to the voter the Bain and related issues need to be presented as starkly and in as clear-cut a fashion as possible. That is not the low road, that is the only road that leads anywhere.
It's obvious you don't understand taxes, derivatives, or what Bain capital did. Stick to political gossip, which is your area of expertise.
So it's the PRESIDENT'S job to make the case for financial reform but NOT the challenger's who benefited from those rules??
More Pro Bono work for JK as part of the Obama campaign.
Joe you are so dishonest that you might as well work full tme for the Obama campaign until the election is over. Than you can climb back in you hole/bubble with the rest of the JournOlist fools and contemplate why the American people rejected both you and Obama.
Good luck changing this part of our tax code. You think you saw a fight when you watched the one taking place over healthcare. Just wait.
This is the Bain debate we need to have in this campaign–and, if the President chooses to make the high-road case, we may actually have it.
The *President* chooses?
Joe, Joe, Joe...
The President can make his case from the top of Mt Everest, but any criticism of the Sacred Cow of Free Enterprise Vulture Capitalism has and will be met with "Marxist, socialist, anti-colonialism" name calling and mud slinging from the right.
See, for example, John "I wish this President would learn how to be an American" Sununu - - - earlier this week!
Heck, just yesterday you asked Who built I-80 while the right was screaming that Obama "doesn't understand business".
Joe, please tell us that the recent spate of centrist columns you've written will be your last and embrace the wisdom of your serious colleagues: It's Even Worse Than it Looks
Sigh. If only there were one.
In the olden days we had occasional guest bloggers, like D!ck Armey, Mudcat Saunders, and others I have blocked from my memory. We kept saying how about someone like Digby or Glenn Greenwald (before he went with Salon), but we never got a real liberal. Finally stopped that - Mudcat got savaged because he said such outrageous non-fact based things, even though he is a pretend Democrat.
Actually the president did make his case on the "casiono gambling" Joe mentions above. It was called Dodd-Frank, and read the below to find out what happened to the legislation, and weep:
Romney's life has been motivated by love of money (amassing huge piles of it). Obama's life has been motivated by love of country (helping everyone have a piece of the American dream). If you know your Bible, you know which motivation is the root of all evil.
I think Obama has a little bit of self-love thrown in there too (who doesn't?), but I think Barack cares more about the rest of us than Mitt does.
In the end, that will be what turns this election - who understands my problems and cares more about the rest of us. Willard can't put a dent in that theme because it's humanly not possible for him. When you are an android the only card you can play is that I'm rich and I'm white.
Have you seen recent clips of Willard's campaign stops? They can't even find one Rent-A-Negro to put in the middle of the crowd.
BO didn't have to "rent" [insert race here] at his speech!
Even at the NAACP event, Romney had to bus in about 200 people so he could be sure some would cheer him.
Exactly. Willard's crowds look like a crowd you would have seen at one of Beaver Cleaver's school plays in 1958. The GOP knows that the country's changing demographics are against them. Hence, the systematic voter suppression we are seeing around the country. It's a rear guard action that is going against the tide.
filmnoia, what strikes me about the crowds that you see for Obama is that they look the way America really is. It's diverse. It's not a white crowd. It's not a black crowd. It's not a Hispanic crowd. It's just a crowd.
Too much of Romney's support is anti-Obama rather than pro-Romney. He doesn't stir the passion and has the likeability factor of ants at a picnic.
You're right about Romney's campaign events. It looks like varying shades of white with no color thrown in for flavor. He's not going to win with white people alone but any appeals to blacks or hispanics is going to give pause to the extreme right wing that is wary (at best) of him.
It isn't going to happen Joe. You, and I do not have the power to make it happen.
You for one work for an organization that happens to agree with the current tax code that benefits the wealthy and screws the rest of us. It seems that there are not enough reporters who will go against their boss, but then again there are a apparently many reporters who are in bed with those they report on.
There are too many of the public who are certain that they will get some kind of special dispensation from the wealthy if they support them, and have created, in them, some kind of god. Take a look at Romney and the support he has; this guy would run you over with a truck if you got in his way monetarily. All I can say to those who think Romney will look at them is do not turn your back.
Early Wynn pitched for the White Sox and Indians in the fifties and won 300 games. He cultivated the image of a mean SOB, and it was said that he would throw at the head of his own mother if she was batting against him. One day a particularly courageous reporter asked Wynn if the comment about brushing back his mother was true. Wynn's answer: Only if she's crowding the plate.
Would Mitt Romney take advantage of his own mother in a business deal? Only if she threatened to cut into his profits.
We'll see how this plays out.
Stay tuned for next week when Joe rebuts the rebuttals:
"Charles Krauthammer, whom I dearly love and truly respect, was slightly off the mark on Sunday when characterized my column as an anti-American, neo-communist, dystopian wet dream. To be fair, many financial regulations are unnecessary..." | <urn:uuid:a80954ab-8ed3-4bb4-ae40-be418dee24b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://swampland.time.com/2012/07/19/latest-column-93/?iid=sl-article-latest | 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 | 0.974947 | 3,604 | 1.539063 | 2 |
TED Talks have a drawback.
There's no opportunity for a group discussion after the speaker. That's where magic can happen. Theatre seating isn't designed for interaction and TED audiences are too big. Besides, there’s a schedule to follow. There’s time for discussions during the generous breaks but that’s not the same.
AllocationAs a presenter, let's say you have an hour for your session and a smaller audience where attendees can't easily hide. Let's also say they are attending voluntarily and can leave anytime.
Here's a proposed allocation of your time
- presentation: 12-14 min
- group discussion: 39-42 min
- conclusion: 1-2 min
I've used this allocation as my primary format since 2011. It works well but is scary because the bulk of each session is unscripted. I watched Seth Godin field diverse questions for three hours the afternoon of The Linchpin Session. I was amazed at how quickly (and sensibly) he answered. I felt the magic in the room. You can’t get that with a fully scripted presentation.
Awkward SilenceIf you don't get your audience engaged, they're prone to sit rather than participate. The solution isn't to revert to prepared hour-long presentations. Instead, add zing to your content and delivery.
You have help. If you're a guest speaker, your hosts want the session to succeed and will likely ask questions to spur others. If you're the organizer, you may have a helper in the group to get the discussions flowing.
If you talk to the early arriving audience members, you build rapport. Some may reciprocate by asking questions. You likely know what questions usually get asked and can ask yourself questions.
Sometimes I’ll show popular questions on the screen as a guide. I’ll also leave gaps in the prepared section to prompt questions.
If you don’t know the answer, audience members might. Invite them. This is effective even if you know the answer.
BoringRoutine presentations are boring for today's audiences. If your session doesn't require audience interaction apart from clapping, do us a favour. Record your talk. Upload to YouTube. Save our time and yours.
WarningPreparing a shorter presentation takes more skill since you'll need to edit ruthlessly. You can't include content just because you like it.
Group discussions rely on the audience for success. The uncertainty can be unnerving. To practice and get insightful feedback, join a Toastmasters club (as I finally did in Dec 2010).
RewardsA dynamic session benefits everyone. There's a reason to attend since the audience gets more than a canned presentation. There's a reason to attend more than once (depending on the topic) since each time is different. Like a Springsteen concert.
You also show your expertise. You're a pundit instead of a parrot. Isn’t that exactly want you want? Authority is the third universal principle of influence. You also have more fun ... once you're comfortable with interaction.
You learn what’s on your audience's mind. That's valuable. You may not be Springsteen (though if you are. leave a comment!), but you can make your presentations alive.
- TED Talks
- How TEDxToronto has changed: 2012 vs 2010 (new)
- Three lessons for speakers from TEDxToronto (Goodyear Toastmasters) (new)
- Comparing TEDxIBYork and TEDxToronto
- Five presentation tips from Bruce Springsteen
- Five presentation tips from Seth Godin
- Five presentation tips from Steve Jobs
- How presenters under-deliver (and what to do)
- Are you a pundit or a parrot? | <urn:uuid:76b6779d-2a46-45d1-8578-21f4750e4340> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marketingactuary.com/2012_02_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945945 | 781 | 1.507813 | 2 |
|Uploaded:||September 26, 2008|
|Updated:||May 15, 2010|
Well hello again DragoArt members and visitors. I have a special treat for all you dog lovers out there. This tutorial for the day is going to be on a pet that millions of people own. Today I will be showing you "how to draw a Chihuahua". These small bundles of joy (and sometimes terror) have become more and more popular with pop culture even though it happens to be an animal. They first started gaining their popularity when Taco Bell decided to use them as their advertising mascot. Over time the “Yo quiero Taco Bell” pup just seemed to grow on people, and I’m not just talking about with children and females either, men are known to own a Chihuahua or two as well. Now the Chihuahua is a small breed of dog that has sort of an apple shaped head, a stubby snout, big bold eyes, and large erect ears that are actually part of their distinctive trademark. If you think the description of his head and face sound weird wait till I tell you on how their body is shaped. For starters they have a stout body which happens to be loner than its tail, and the tail is a skinny pointed shaped piece of cartilage that curls back and sometimes the tip of the tail stays erect. The breed can be found with either short hair or long hair at which point they look similar to a Pomeranian. As you may know the Chihuahua is definitely classified as a pampered pet and because of this they are not recommended for children. Chihuahuas are known to have a “fresh” personality and because of that they are a very snappish and protective which means that this breed should not be trusted around kids and other people they do not know. To me they are ankle bitters because they can only rip at someone’s ankle or foot if they were to attack while standing. Even though these dogs only weight about two to six pounds and are only six to nine inches tall, they can certainly become a nuisance if they are not your pet. There is a new movie coming out by Disney that stars these small dogs called “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” due to be released October 3rd. This tutorial will show you how to draw a Chihuahua step by step. The instructions will help you draw this dog with ease and when you are done you can color him/her the way you want. I will be back with more drawing fun in a bit so stick around. | <urn:uuid:953cd0e8-83ab-4c6b-a10c-ae6f3e9d77b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/894/2/1/4056/how-to-draw-a-chihuahua-step-4.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970756 | 538 | 1.820313 | 2 |
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There’s an old saying that “more rifles are ruined by cleaning than are by shooting,” and it’s likely true. Cleaning rod wear, caused by the rod excessively contacting the rifling, is a common cause of barrel damage. This is particularly true when a cheap rod is used to clean from the muzzle. A soft aluminum rod picks up and embeds grit to become, in essence, a file that grinds away at the muzzle crown.
If it’s possible, always clean from the breech and use a rod guide. The best guides not only keep the rod aligned with the bore but also protect the action from dripping solvent and crud. Bore guides also make it much easier to start a patch.
Some rifles, such as semiautos, lever actions or pump actions, must be cleaned from the muzzle It’s important in that situation to use a rod guide to align the rod with the bore and to protect the crown from cleaning rod wear. Also, put a rag in the action to catch the crud you push out of the barrel; you must keep that gunk out of the action.
The Proper Procedure
It’s always best to hold the rifle in a cradle of some sort when cleaning it. For a workbench, it’s hard to beat the Decker Gun Vice. For fieldwork, such as at the range and also for the workbench, Midway offers a range box that serves for a multitude of chores in addition to carrying gear for the range. The box comes with a complete set of cleaning tools as well as a built-in cradle to hold the rifle. Those who have one of the ubiquitous MTM Shooter’s Boxes might consider the MTM Portable Rifle Maintenance Center that will fit on top of the box for field cleaning.
Start cleaning the bore with a general bore solvent, making several passes through with a wet patch. Use each patch for only one pass before replacing it with a new solvent-soaked patch. You might want to let the gun soak a few minutes between patches to allow the solvent to work.
Leaving the barrel wet with solvent, use a properly fitted brush soaked with solvent to make several passes. Bronze is the best; nylon doesn’t have the scrubbing ability, and stainless steel can gall and ruin the barrel very quickly. Keep the brush wet with solvent, reapplying after every couple of passes. Follow with one wet and several dry patches to remove all traces of solvent. After using the brush, always clean the solvent from it with a spray such as Outers Crud Cutter. This is to prevent abrasive debris from accumulating and also because some solvents will eat the bronze bristles.
Now scrub the bore with a patch soaked with a good copper solvent. Be sure to read the instructions on the label because these are harsh chemicals. Let the bore soak for a few minutes, then follow with another patch wet with copper solvent. When you have patches coming out white with no trace of green or blue (it might take a while if the fouling is extensive), dry the bore with several clean patches.
Scrub the bore again with the general solvent, again using patches and brushes. Then dry and repeat the copper solvent treatment. Sometimes metal fouling can be trapped under layers of baked-on powder fouling that you must remove to allow the copper solvent to get at the metal fouling. Keep repeating this process until you have no sign of blue or green on any patches.
Cleaning the bore is made easier by the Foul Out Electronic cleaner from Outers. This device uses an electric current to activate a reverse-plating process that removes the fouling from the bore and deposits it on a metal rod, speeding up the process a great deal. The system is not terribly expensive, and anybody with several guns and an interest in shooting should have one. Use it where you would use the copper solvent.
Finally, dry the bore with several clean patches and apply a rust protector such as Outers Metal Seal. Before shooting again, run a dry patch through the barrel to remove any residual rust preventive. Often the first shot might be off from the group—usually high—so a fouling shot is not a bad idea before hunting. | <urn:uuid:0345598b-d8ca-471a-ae60-3bf85573cb6a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.huntingclub.com/magazine/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/10180/cleaning-a-rifle | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948166 | 875 | 1.664063 | 2 |
DENVER — The 113th Congress is in session and the House and Senate are already discussing many legislative issues that directly affect cattlemen and women including the farm bill, disaster assistance programs, border security and immigration reform and environmental regulations. As the country’s oldest and largest organization representing the cattle industry, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has a strong presence in Washington, D.C. and a great opportunity to represent the forceful, unified voice of America’s beef producers.
According to NCBA Policy Division Chair Philip Ellis, a fifth-generation rancher from Chugwater, Wyo., NCBA is urging cattle producers to join in this fight. Ellis stated that NCBA’s strong membership base ensures the voices of cattle producers are heard loud and clear.
“This organization is producer-owned and member driven. It’s important that the policy priorities set by NCBA are geared toward sustaining this industry for future generations,” said Ellis. “Having our voices heard in Washington, D.C., on important issues such as border security and immigration, along with Clean Water Act legislation and the farm bill is crucial to the success of our industry.”
Ellis went on to add that now more than ever, the livestock industry is under fire from groups such as radical animal rights activists who are working to undermine advances in animal agriculture as they push their extremist agendas. He stated that even though NCBA already has a strong membership base and many legislative and regulatory victories under its belt, the organization can become even stronger by increasing its membership.
“NCBA achieves amazing success when we come together as a collective voice for our members and as an association representing thousands of cattlemen and women,” said Ellis. “I encourage participation of family farmers and ranchers in this process, both at the grassroots level and through affiliation with our organization in order to defend our industry against government regulations and policies which negatively affect producers and our nation’s agricultural economy.”
In an effort to foster productive relationships and further the priorities and goals of the cattle industry, NCBA is also partnering with its state affiliates to increase membership within state organizations at the grassroots level.
During this membership drive, NCBA is partnering with New Holland to reward states for their membership efforts. The state with the most new NCBA members before Mar. 31, 2013, will receive a one year lease on a New Holland baler or tractor. State affiliates that show an increase of NCBA membership by 15 percent or more will also be entered to win two additional one year leases. Winners will be announced at the 2013 NCBA Legislative Conference, Apr. 16-18 in Washington, D.C. For complete information on the campaign, member dues/benefits and recruitment incentives, visit www.beefusa.org or call 1-866-BEEF-USA. | <urn:uuid:e8989fba-08aa-487c-8bef-15cb2f0b41ab> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/association/ncba/NCBA-spring-membership-drive-off-to-a-strong-start-192104691.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956956 | 593 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Peace Corps Press Release:
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 8, 2004 – Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez announced today with deep sadness the death of Melissa Mosvick, a 24-year old Peace Corps volunteer serving in Morocco. Melissa died as a result of a public bus accident on Saturday, November 6, 2004, in the town of Ouarzazate in Morocco.
"The death of Melissa Mosvick is a terrible loss for the Peace Corps family," Director Gaddi Vasquez said. "Melissa went above and beyond to share her knowledge and skills with women’s groups, artisans and people in her community. Her hard work and leadership were admired by the people of Ouarzazate and will continue to thrive in the lives that she touched."
Melissa began her service in the Peace Corps on September 11, 2003. A U.S. resident of Apple Valley, Minn., and a graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, she was living in the southern Moroccan town of Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the Sahara. As a Small Business Development volunteer, she taught English and computer skills to the artisans at a training center.
But, Melissa went beyond her initial project and community assignment to assist others. This year, she expanded her small business work and began assisting an association for the handicapped in Ouarzazate. She taught glass painting to artisans, who then were able to sell their items for profit. Melissa’s work was recognized and very much appreciated in the Ouarzazate community, as her supervisor and counterpart heralded positive feedback about Melissa’s work to Peace Corps Program Manager Bouchra El Achkar.
Committed to the Peace Corps mission, Melissa recently helped 20 Small Business Trainees transition in Morocco, as she facilitated several cross-cultural training sessions about her experiences. Melissa’s leadership this summer in the village of Tazarine to train another women’s association group in the use of computers helped pave the way for the development of a work site for future Peace Corps Volunteers to make a difference.
Melissa is survived by her parents, a sister, and several other relatives. Peace Corps Morocco is planning a memorial service in her honor for volunteers and staff.
On Saturday, the Governor of Ouarzazate contacted the Peace Corps staff to offer his deepest condolences.
"The Peace Corps family is deeply saddened by Melissa’s death. She embodied the best traditions of Peace Corps Volunteers, and her life and work will be deeply missed by all who knew and worked with her," said Director Vasquez. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. In memory of Melissa Mosvick, the Peace Corps flag will be flown at half-staff on the day of her memorial service."
If you are a friend or family member of this volunteer and would like to contribute a picture, a story, or something different, please send an email to email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:853bc7f7-3004-4efc-a38f-6378f79a4ff6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fpcv.org/volunteers/melissa-mosvick/ | 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 | 0.975287 | 629 | 1.625 | 2 |
Nicole Murray Ramirez
Download this video (4.2 MB, MP4 format)
June 2, 2011 – KPBS celebrates cultural diversity in partnership with Union Bank by honoring Nicole Murray Ramirez during LGBT Pride Month 2011.
Related story: Nicole Murray Ramirez
Nicole Murray Ramirez LGBT Pride Month Local Hero Hello, I'm Pierre Habis of Union Bank. Diversity is one of our most closely held values. This is why we're proud to honor local heroes in celebration of LGBT Pride Month. I'm Nicole Murray Ramirez. I've been a Latino and Gay activist for over 45 years. I think I've been blessed to see the changes in both communities. The struggle for gay equality is definitely the civil rights movement of the 21st century. We are the last Americans not to have full equality and full rights. Harvey Milk was a visionary. He believed that America would embrace equality of all its citizens but he also believed that we had to work for it. I hope we'll be able to tell these stories and to share the struggles that we have so that people will understand, including my community, that they stand on the shoulders of many who aren't here to tell the story. This moment has been made possible by Union Bank in partnership with KPBS. | <urn:uuid:b279def8-dea8-46ab-8ca8-3e6fff7cb847> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kpbs.org/videos/2011/jun/02/5025/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968542 | 253 | 1.78125 | 2 |
"The program did a wonderful job of demystifying Shakespeare for my students…"
"Shakespeare is a challenge for kids—this made it a little easier—more tangible and important, cool even!"
"The timeline poster and DVD, these high quality resources are the best I have seen for teaching about Shakespeare…"
"It broke down the myth of Shakespeare to something more accessible…"
"I like the illustration of iambic pentameter, and the modernity of the clips…"
"Providing this free of charge is a wonderful service, I have shown it to several teachers who will use it next year…"
"The DVD had the students' interest from the second it came on…"
"Contemporary actors kept the interest of students."
"Quite cohesive—materials worked well together and blended with my own units associated with reading…"
"The video draws the students in with the movie scenes and the recitation contest is great!"
"Excellent quality! These materials were very helpful, I'm thankful to get them…"
"It is thoughtfully prepared to enhance a child's interest in Shakespeare…"
"The whole program is wonderful!"
"I was very impressed by the brilliant production, I certainly didn't expect anything on this magnitude!"
"It really drew my students in and helped them 'feel' and understand Shakespeare and his writings…"
"Everything was free!"
"The collateral material is awesome! We need more copies!"
"Students were given the opportunity to perform in a stress-free environment. We used the contest as a catalyst for creating a presentation…"
"All of the materials supported the focus wonderfully…"
"I loved the teaching materials that came with the DVD/video…"
"The entire kit is great!"
"It was so interesting and complete!" | <urn:uuid:e2b8227e-b360-4217-bed1-c91310b60841> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nea.gov/about/NEARTS/story.php?id=p07_shakespeare&issue=2005_v4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96387 | 369 | 1.640625 | 2 |
By JEFFREY COLLINS
GREER, S.C. (AP) - Two decades ago, then-South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell stood at the Greenville-Spartanburg airport and announced the BMW plant being built just up the road would be a benchmark in the state's history.
By most measures, the German automaker's plant near Greer has exceeded expectations.
On that day in June 1992, BMW officials said they expected the plant to have 2,000 workers and make 6,500 luxury vehicles a month. In November, the factory's 7,000 employees made more than 25,000 of BMW's crossover vehicles.
But some say the successful courtship of BMW has had an unfortunate domino effect. They say the often-cash-strapped state has provided millions more in taxpayer money to hundreds of other companies - most of it without much public oversight - making it nearly impossible to judge the quality of these public investments.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:56b1dd2d-80f2-43e5-85e1-3b1814ac5056> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.live5news.com/story/20413682/bmw-at-20-plant-exceeds-hopes-tax-debate-ongoing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948418 | 221 | 1.632813 | 2 |
The Need for Agile Project Management
Source: Control Chaos
One of the common misperceptions about agile processes is that there is no need for project management, and that agile projects run themselves. It is easy to see how an agile process' use of self-organizing teams, its rapid pace, and the decreased emphasis on detailed plans lead to this perception. In a recent egroup, a project manager at a company that was implementing agile had been moved to another area because, "Agile doesn't require management." However, agile processes still require project management. This paper looks at the reasons why and the types of management. | <urn:uuid:b0bb52f0-2cf8-4ec7-959d-a6f196390bc0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.techrepublic.com/whitepapers/the-need-for-agile-project-management/170260?scname=methodology | 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 | 0.963826 | 128 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Warning: The Secret Beyond Matter Is Not Wahdatul Wujood
The topic called “The Real Essence of Matter” has been criticized by some people. Having misunderstood the essence of the subject, these people claim that what is explained as the secret beyond matter is identical to the teaching of Wahdatul Wujood. Let us state, before all else, that the author of this book is a believer strictly abiding by the doctrine of Ahlus Sunnah and does not defend the view of Wahdatul Wujood.
However, it should also be remembered that Wahdatul Wujood was defended by some leading Islamic scholars including Muhyiddin Ibn al-‘Arabi. It is true that numerous significant Islamic scholars who described the concept of Wahdatul Wujood in the past did so by considering some subjects found in these books. Still, what is explained in these books is not the same as Wahdatul Wujood.
Some of those who defended the view of Wahdatul Wujood were engrossed by some erroneous opinions and made some claims contrary to the Qur’an and the doctrine of Ahlus Sunnah. They, for example, completely rejected the creation of Allah. When the subject of the secret beyond matter is told, however, there is definitely no such claim. This section explains that all beings are created by Allah, and that the originals of these beings are seen by Him whereas people merely see the images of these beings formed in their brains.
Mountains, plains, flowers, people, seas—briefly everything we see and everything that Allah informs us in the Qur’an that exists and that He created out of nothing is created and does indeed exist. However, people cannot see, feel or hear the real nature of these beings through their sense organs. What they see and feel are only the copies that appear in their brains. This is a scientific fact taught at all schools primarily in medicine. The same applies to the article you are reading now; you can not see nor touch the real nature of it. The light coming from the original article is converted by some cells in your eyes into electrical signals, which are then conveyed to the sight center in the back of your brain. This is where the view of this article is created. In other words, you are not reading an article which is before your eyes through your eyes; in fact, this article is created in the sight center in the back of your brain. The article you are reading right now is a “copy of the article” within your brain. The original article is seen by Allah.
In conclusion, the fact that the matter is an illusion formed in our brains does not “reject” the matter, but provides us information about the real nature of the matter: that no person can have connection with its original.
his fact is expressed in our book Idealism The Philosophy of the Matrix and the True Nature of Matter as follows:
There Is Matter Outside of Us, But We Cannot Reach It
… [S]aying that matter is an illusion does not mean it does not exist. Quiet the contrary: whether we perceive the physical world or not, it does exist. But we see it as a copy in our brain or, in other words, as an interpretation of our senses. For us, therefore, the physical world of matter is an illusion.
The matter outside is seen not just by us, but by other beings too. The angels Allah delegated to be watchers witness this world as well:
And the two recording angels are recording, sitting on the right and on the left. He does not utter a single word, without a watcher by him, pen in hand! (Surah Qaf: 17-18)
Most importantly, Allah sees everything. He created this world with all its details and sees it in all its states. As He informs us in the Qur'an:
… Heed Allah and know that Allah sees what you do. (Surat al-Baqara: 233)
Say: "Allah is a sufficient witness between me and you. He is certainly aware of and sees His servants." (Surat al-Isra’: 96)
It must not be forgotten that Allah keeps the records of everything in the book called Lawh Mahfuz (Preserved Tablet). Even if we don't see all things, they are in the Lawh Mahfuz. Allah reveals that He keeps everything's record in the "Mother of the Book" called Lawh Mahfuz with the following verses:
It is in the Source Book with Us, high-exalted, full of wisdom. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 4)
… We possess an all-preserving Book. (Surah Qaf: 4)
Certainly there is no hidden thing in either heaven or Earth which is not in a Clear Book. (Surat an-Naml: 75) | <urn:uuid:f340e79c-71b3-46db-94b5-4f120e670b81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://harunyahya.com/en/books/2543/The_Little_Man_In_The_Tower/chapter/13571 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962742 | 1,022 | 1.632813 | 2 |
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16 / 05 / 2008 - Prime Minister Gordon Brown Will Oppose Limits on Late-Term Abortions
When members of Parliament consider an amendment next week that would place more limits on late-term abortions, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not support the move. Some lawmakers hope to reduce the allowance from 24 weeks into pregnancy to 20 weeks.
Brown based his decision on some research showing little or no improvement in the survival rates for premature babies, even though abortions as late as 24 weeks are done on babies who are healthy.
"If the medical evidence is telling me there has been no improvement ... then I think the original position of the House of Commons on 24 weeks is, on a free vote that I will engage in, the one I want to uphold," Brown said, according to Reuters.
On the other side, Conservative Party leader David Cameron and many members of the shadow cabinet in the Tory party are supporting the effort to limit late-term abortions.
"This is a very difficult issue for any woman that faces a choice as to whether to ask for an abortion or not," Brown added.
"We have got to be very sensitive to the needs of those people while making sure that we do everything to protect life in this country," he claimed.
Brown also based his decision on figures showing most abortions take place earlier in pregnancy.
While Brown relied on one study showing no improvement, Nadine Dorries, the Tory MP leading the fight for late-term abortion limits, dismissed the study and said it doesn't mean healthy babies should be killed.
"I think this report insults the intelligence of the public and MPs alike. No improvement in neonatal care in 12 years? Really? So where has all the money that has been pumped into neonatal services gone then?"
She called the study "the most desperate piece of trash produced by the pro-choice lobby."
Dorries also told the BBC other studies show higher survival rates for premature babies than this recent one.
"Figures released by Professor Wyatt from University College London Hospital recently show very clearly that poorly premature babies born below 24 weeks have an excellent chance of survival if specialist neo-natal help is immediately at hand," she said.
Wyatt published research in February showing that the survival rate for babies born between 22 and 25 weeks of pregnancy has risen from 32 percent to 71 percent during the last two decades.
The House of Commons is embroiled in a heated debate about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that promotes human cloning and the creation of hybrids with human and animal DNA.
During the debate next week, MPs will vote on a number of amendments, including ones to expand or limit abortions.
Source : Steven Ertelt, Editor - LifeNews.com | <urn:uuid:3c44184e-0e68-4cbc-b320-d25efe4ffa3d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.preciouslife.com/?va=1&vc=156 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962712 | 591 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Skip Rock Shallows by Jan Watson, shares the story of Lilly Corbett- a newly graduated medical doctor, who has accepted an internship at a mining camp in Skip Rock, Kentucky in 1908. Upon arriving Lilly learns that she has many obstacles to overcome in her practice- she is a woman doctor, she will be the only doctor as the doctor she was supposed to help had passed away, and she is seen as a city outsider who doesn’t belong in the same circle as the miners.
Using her medical knowledge, compassion and the learned knowledge that there is a familial relationship with on of the miner families, Lilly is finally (mostly) accepted by the community, much to the chagrin of her fiancée. Interlaced in the story is a romance between Lilly and a miner, Joe Repp, who has his own share of secrets some of which involve Lilly’s past.
I believe that the story of Joe and Lilly is supposed to be the main plot in the story, however I felt that was actually the weak link in the story. I enjoyed and actually became engrossed into the formation of relationships between Lilly and the other characters in Skip Rock, but I was left wanting more in the relationship between Joe (Tern) and Lilly.
I felt the story flowed well with enough action to keep it moving and to keep the reader drawn in. I felt like I was right them in that 1908 coal mine cam because of the descriptive and eloquent language that Watson uses. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publishers, Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. | <urn:uuid:7696b2e6-366f-4e9b-b61a-64473aff2d24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://livingbetteronedayatatime.blogspot.com/2012/07/skip-rock-shallows-by-jan-watson-review.html | 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 | 0.987577 | 343 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Welcom to waterfall academy for....uh.... "gifted children"
This is a school for all children who are.....um....precocious. (look it up in the dictionary, dang it!)
In other words, these children have tendencies to make bombs, break the law, hit people in the heads with dictionaries, all that jazz.
so if your children are like that, but more advanced than normal kids, bring them here immediately. We don't want kids from public schools getting traumatized for life, you know.
Please do not eat more than one computer screen a day. It will kill you. Do not try to ake the characters real. They will kill you.waterfall academy is not for children under 0. If you think waterfall academy is right for you, please consult your dog first. He will say "arf". Side effects may include: bouncing around, having the urge to place some bombs, excessive head desks, and other things related to that stuff.
-USE GRAMMAR, DANG IT! Dnt tlk lk dis!!!
-the class in this roleplay is a combination of 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. ABSOLUTLY NO SWEARING OR ROMANCE!!!
-ignore this rule
Ill post the forms in another post.
~~Proud Warriors and Survivors fan~~ | <urn:uuid:56d9e519-8078-4379-a80a-756fbd634536> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kidzworld.com/forums/school/t/998679-waterfall-academy-for-gifted-children-open | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939784 | 284 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Hoshangabad (MP), Sep 12 (ANI): Floods situation continued to remain grim in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.
Incessant rains, which have lashed Madhya Pradesh for last few days, have led to water overflowing many dams, submerging low lying areas.
State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made an aerial survey of the flood-affected region on Friday.
“River Narmada is flowing above the danger level and due to this many villages have been inundated and water has entered many houses. Tributaries flowing in the catchments areas are also flowing above the danger level due to incessant rains and this has resulted in crop damage,” he added.
Air Force helicopters were pressed into rescue and army men took marooned people to safety.
State’s disaster management agencies and district collectors have been alerted. A relief and rescue plan has been worked out in case the situation worsens.
Monsoon has revived over northern India after deficit rainfall in July and August, bringing rains in the Indo-Gangetic plains and snow in the Himalayas.
Two days of rainy weather has caused floods as water level rose in rivers and reservoirs. (ANI) | <urn:uuid:2079553a-4320-43cc-8247-547aaf2bf230> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://silverscorpio.com/tag/danger-level/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977976 | 253 | 1.625 | 2 |
LOWELL -- U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar understands the power of education.
Growing up in rural Colorado on a ranch with no electricity or telephone, he and his seven brothers and sisters had little in material possessions. What they did have was something of greater value.
"Though we were poor, we were rich in spirit and rich in promise," Salazar told the 2,069 undergraduates of the UMass Lowell class of 2012 Saturday morning at the Tsongas Center, adding his parents would say their greatest legacy was providing their children with a solid education. "Nobody can ever take your education away from you."
Salazar urged graduates to work to transform the world in the spirit of Lowell's favorite son, the late U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas, who Salazar said embodied Robert F. Kennedy's favorite quote: "Some men see things as they are and ask why? I dream things that never were and ask why not."
Salazar said touring the city on Friday left a lasting impact, promising he would tell people wherever he is in the world they should visit Lowell and see what is happening in the revitalized Mill City.
"Lowell is a center for educational excellence, historic preservation and economic development creating jobs in America," said Salazar, who received a honorary doctorate at commencement. "I am now forever a Riverhawk, just like all of you."
Chancellor Marty Meehan, completing his fifth year on the job, urged graduates to become active citizens.
"This commonwealth, this country, this world needs you," he said, adding "better communities, better schools, better neighborhoods and better countries result from citizens being involved where they live."
Meehan pointed out this year's class, the largest in the university's history, includes members from 40 states and 70 countries, with 26 percent of the class hailing from an ethnic minority. Many of the graduates, like Meehan himself, are the first in their families to graduate from college.
Student speaker Bonie Rosario Jr., a computer engineering major from Brockton, echoed Meehan's sentiments, telling fellow graduates the diplomas they earned are only a beginning.
"We have the responsibility to do more. We must use the skills we learn to better serve the needs of humanity to help solve society's big problems by using our determination and creativity," Rosario said, adding members of the class are already well on their way, having made solar-powered cars, volunteered in middle-school literacy programs, delivered medical supplies to foreign lands and raised money to fight cancer. "We are Riverhawks -- work ready, life ready, world ready."
In addition to Salazar, honorary degrees were bestowed upon:
Ret. Rear Admiral Dr. Susan Blumenthal: the first deputy assistant secretary for women's health, she served as the assistant surgeon general of the United States and in a variety of federal health-advisory roles. Her work has focused on bringing attention to understudied health issues, advancing women's health, AIDS and disease prevention around the world.
A visionary in women's health issues, she founded the National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health programs and the National Women's Health Information Center and was instrumental in using imaging technology to improve the early detection of breast cancer.
Blumenthal is married to U.S. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.).
Robert S. Ward: Ward, who earned a degree in chemical engineering from Lowell Tech in 1971, has built a career in the development and manufacturing of medical devices and biomaterials, including components used in artificial hearts, vascular grafts, stents, pacemakers, orthopedic implants and contact lenses.
He and his wife, Gail, recently donated nearly $1 million to support UMass Lowell initiatives.
John Pulichino: A 1967 graduate of Lowell Technological Institute, he worked for Raytheon, Polaroid and American Tourister Inc. prior to serving as CEO of Group III International Ltd., a manufacturer of travel bags including those sold under the brands Swiss Army, BMW and Gottex, a company formed by him and his wife Joy Tong in 1984.
Pulichino and Tong recently donated $4 million to UMass Lowell for scholarships for students at the Manning School of Business. The university's new business school building will be named in their honor.
In addition to the 2,069 undergraduates who received degrees Saturday morning, another 833 earned graduate degrees in a separate ceremony Saturday afternoon. | <urn:uuid:af6dabb4-c605-4644-9494-28f071ddf15d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://Shannon_Hlebichuk@uml.edu/News/news-articles/2012/Commencement-Sun.aspx | 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 | 0.974641 | 928 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Ten reasons for Catholics to give thanks for Pope Benedict
The Catholic Herald – the only British Catholic newspaper that truly understood the mission of Benedict XVI – has published 10 reasons why Catholics should give thanks for the Pope's ministry. With the permission of the editor, Luke Coppen, I'm reproducing them here. I don't expect non-Catholics, or even all Catholics, to agree with the paper's verdict; but I hope it will help some readers understand why Benedict inspired such intense love and loyalty at a time when liberal commentators were determined to misrepresent him.
The pontificate of Benedict XVI was full of surprises and on Monday he sprang the greatest one of all. His abdication – the first for almost 600 years – caught even the Vatican unawares. As we struggle to absorb the news, here are 10 reasons to give thanks for his papacy.
His steadfastness: In his inaugural homily Pope Benedict said: “Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.” In 2010 there was a concerted media effort to force his resignation under the cover of the clerical abuse crisis. He held firm and it is only now, in a rare tranquil moment of his papacy, that he has chosen to resign.
His crystal-clear teaching: Even in his abdication Pope Benedict was teaching us. His lesson – that none of us should cling to power – was conveyed with characteristic force and clarity. He has left us with a rich body of teaching, contained not only within his homilies, encyclical and trilogy of books on Jesus, but also in his actions.
His reform of the liturgy: Pope Benedict’s decision to lift restrictions on the older form of the Mass was historic. As well as rescuing the Extraordinary Form from oblivion, he has renewed the celebration of the Ordinary Form of the Mass in our parishes through the new English translation.
His programme of purification: From the Legionaries of Christ to Vatican finances, Benedict XVI has attempted to purify the Church of corruption. This concerted effort has barely registered in the media, but the Church will benefit from it for years to come.
His outreach to Islam: Pope Benedict did not shrink when his Regensburg lecture was violently misunderstood in parts of the Islamic world. While apologising for unintended offence, he stood by his address, which called for an alliance between Catholics and Muslims in our secular age. As a result, Catholic-Islamic dialogue is arguably stronger today than it has ever been. This is a vital achievement on which his successor can build.
His bravery: When Benedict XVI visited Turkey, at a time of intense Islamic anger after the Regensburg address, he refused to wear a bulletproof vest. His abdication showed an equally courageous trust in Providence.
His love of Britain: Benedict XVI felt a special affection for Britain. That is why he visited us in 2010, when so many other nations were tugging at the papal sleeve. He defended conscience in Westminster Hall as eloquently as St Thomas More, broke his own rule to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman and strengthened our resolve to resist aggressive secularism.
His creation of the ordinariate: The ordinariate for groups of former Anglicans is one of Benedict XVI’s greatest legacies. It is remarkable that he was able to create this new structure, bringing thousands of souls into full communion, without irreparably harming relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.
His balance: Pope Benedict was, at first, caricatured as an “arch-conservative”. But it soon became clear that he had a daring and supple mind that confounded crude labels. In an age of unbalanced thinking, his thought stood out for its harmony and integrity. With his notion of “the hermeneutic of continuity” he reconciled fidelity to tradition with the creativity needed to meet the challenges of our time.
His humility: Even within the Church it is hard for men to renounce power and status. Pope Benedict has shown remarkable humility in sacrificing his own papal ministry for what he believes is the greater good of the Church. Let’s pray for him, and for his successor, as we have never prayed before.
Gay shoes and groovy bishops: no wonder young people are losing their faith
May 17th, 2013 21:23
Cardinal O'Brien plays the compassion card and loses
May 16th, 2013 11:48
Obama and the IRS: even The Guardian is worried
May 16th, 2013 10:45
Cafod's love-in with Ed Miliband
May 15th, 2013 10:43
Cameron splits the Eurosceptic Tories
May 14th, 2013 10:50 | <urn:uuid:fb4f0a40-06c6-4de3-9a7b-06f536cb2873> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100202565/ten-reasons-for-catholics-to-give-thanks-for-pope-benedict/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974445 | 982 | 1.820313 | 2 |
The author of one of the all-time Great Business Books (Good to Great) has done it again. Jim Collins has now looked at how and why even the best companies can crash and burn, and he provides some early warning signs. In 5 Stages of Decline.
Collins names the stages and warns that most victims don’t know they have The Decline Disease until Stage 4 – when it’s very late, and when the therapy is very scary!
As a quick “check up from the neck up”, here are Collins’ 5 Stages of Decline:
- Hubris: We’ve made it! (Symptoms: Arrogance, disconnect from values, denial of the role of luck, believing your own press. Cure: “Retaining a somewhat irrational fear that perhaps your success stems in large part from fortuitous circumstances, so as to stay focused on what got you here in the first place.”)
- Undisciplined Pursuit of More: We're so great, we can do anything! (Symptoms: Pursuit of more scale, more growth, more acclaim, more of whatever those in power see as "success." Straying into areas where you can’t be “world’s best at” and/or for which you have no burning passion. Cure: Stick to what you are passionate about AND can be world’s best at and don’t do anything else; renew your vows to your Values regularly and use them as a compass.)
- Denial of Risk and Peril: Titannicitis - We’re so big even God couldn’t sink us. (Symptoms: Explaining away negative or disturbing data by attributing it to outside forces or sources. Window dressing. Risk taking on a scale that could endanger the organisation. Cure: Paranoia about negative information and the automatic assumption that “it’s us; it’s what we’re doing”.
- Grasping for Salvation: We’re sinking! (Symptoms: Sharp visible declines in key performance indicators; reactive behaviour; grasping at straws; seeking saviours; radical transformation. Cure: Go back to what made you great in the first place – your key values – and translate them into the current context. Be rigorous about what not to do.)
- Capitulation to Irrelevance or Death: We’re going down for the third time! (Symptoms: Grasping for silver bullets; repeated false starts; market irrelevance; bankruptcy. Cure: Abandoning ‘survival’ as a strategy and accepting ‘rebirth’ as the only way out; retaining only your values and seeking new relevance to your market. Stoicism and preparedness to never give up.)
- Xerox, with $19 billion in debt and only $100 million in cash, came back from Stage 4.
- IBM rebuilt itself from Stage 4, as did Disney.
- Chrysler did the same under Iacocca the first time around, so it can be done but there is no guarantee of permanence – it’s a continuous process of maintenance and renewal.
For a fuller treatment of Collins’ book, see this link.
PS The relevance of this information is directly proportional to your success of the moment – it you feel you’ve “made it” then the information is truly vital for you right now!
PPS Chrysler makes an interesting study as I write this article. Having come back from the dead in the ‘80s, they promptly returned to making the types of cars they wanted to (the massive V10 Viper is almost the epitome of this fact), instead of making the types of cars their marketplace wanted, and that the world needed. Chrysler were facing bankruptcy as this went to press. | <urn:uuid:70588a0f-5db8-482c-a72c-385e1d8edc72> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.profitune.com/Business-Improvement-Articles/Business-Management/beware-the-5-stages-of-decline.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936456 | 809 | 1.632813 | 2 |
The Financial Aid Office is designed to help you reach your educational goals. Financial Aid Staff members can help you fulfill those dreams and walk you through the financial aid, scholarship and application processes.
Click here for Federal Student Aid Natural Disaster information, help is available for students, borrowers, and schools.
- Contact a Financial Aid Counselor
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- Changes To Federal Financial Aid for the 2013-2014 Award Year
- Helpful Tips
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- A-Z Scholarships Portal
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- Veterans Benefits
- Financial Aid Fact Sheet
- Code of Conduct
Scholarships are offered each year to new or returning students. For complete current scholarship listings and eligibility requirements, please visit our scholarships page.
Note: Goddard College reserves the right to amend or change policies as they relate to eligibility for, and disbursement of, its own funds.
Students are also encouraged to research outside scholarships available to them. Following are a selection of websites worth reviewing:
All student loans are processed through the Department of Education's Direct Loan program. All new borrowers must complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling.
Please go to www.StudentLoans.gov. To sign in you will need your PIN - the same PIN you used for your FAFSA submission - to complete your Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling. The Department will notify us once you have completed both items.
After January 1st of each year, you can apply or reapply for financial aid (must be completed every academic year). Once you have completed your Federal tax returns, please go to www.FAFSA.gov to complete your application for the upcoming year.
For the 2013-2014 Award Year (effective July 1st, 2013)
- When submitting the 2013-2014 FAFSA form, all students are encouraged to request the IRS retrieval option. By selecting the IRS retrieval option students will allow the IRS to populate the income sections of the FAFSA. This will save the filer time and reduce typing errors. Students who completed their FAFSA with estimated information will be asked to use the retrieval option once their 2012 Federal Income Tax Return is filed.
- Direct Loans will no longer have up-front rebates. Direct Loans will have a 1.051% origination fee charged during disbursement and Plus Loans will have a 4.204% origination fee charged during disbursement. For example, if you borrowed a $1000 Direct Loan only $989 will be disbursed to the school; for a $1000 Plus Loan only $957 will be disbursed to the school.
- Beginning in 2012, students can only receive 12 semesters of Pell Grant eligibility (a total of six years), down from 18 semesters previously (a total of nine years).
- There will no longer be an interest subsidy for the six-month grace period on Subsidized Stafford Loans. You do not have to make payments during the grace period (unless you choose to) but the interest will be added (capitalized) to the principal amount of your loan when the grace period ends. This provision does not eliminate the interest subsidy while the borrower is in school or during eligible periods of deferment.
- Subsidized loans for which the first disbursement is on or after July 1, 2013, will have a 6.8% fixed interest rate.
- New loan borrowers with no outstanding federal student loans as of July 1, 2013 will be limited to subsidized loan eligibility to 150% of program length. This means new students in a four-year program will be eligible for subsidized loans for the equivalent of 6 years.
- Effective July 1st, 2012 graduate level students will no longer be eligible for Subsidized Stafford Loans. Students WILL still be eligible for Unsubsidized Stafford Loans up to $10,250 a semester and for those needing additional funding Graduate Plus Loans are also still available.
For more information on these changes please go to http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/recentChangesSA.jsp
- Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for Financial Aid
- Financial Aid Fact Sheet- Financial Aid and student debt information at a glance.
- Veterans Benefits
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
Goddard College participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
• The program provides contributions to eligible individuals who apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program on a first-come first-served basis, regardless of the rate at which the individual is pursuing training in any given academic year;
• Provides contributions during the current academic year and all subsequent academic years in which the school is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program and the student maintains satisfactory progress, conduct, and attendance;
• Makes contributions toward the program on behalf of the individual in the form of a grant, scholarship, etc.;
• Five $500 yellow ribbon grants will be awarded each year
Q: I’m a prospective student who has never received Financial aid before, where do I begin?
A: The first step to receiving aid is to apply. This is done by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. There is no fee for submitting a FAFSA form. You will need Goddard’s Federal School Code to apply, which is 003686. In order to sign the FAFSA form you must apply for a PIN, this can be done at http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/appinstr.jsp. You will need your tax/financial information from the previous year to complete the form. The FAFSA form is the only application we require.
Q: Where do I get a FAFSA form?
A: You can go to the 'FAFSA' link and apply over the Internet (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). We strongly encourage students to apply online whenever possible. Online submission is quicker, easier, and may require less follow up Financial Aid paperwork be returned. When submitting the 2013-2014 FAFSA form, all students are encouraged to request the IRS retrieval option. By selecting the IRS retrieval option students will allow the IRS to populate the income sections of the FAFSA. This will save the filer time and reduce typing errors. Students who completed their FAFSA with estimated information will be asked to use the retrieval option once their 2012 Federal Income Tax Return is filed. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you cannot apply online we will submit your FAFSA form electronically for you. Remember, the FAFSA form is free and does not require a fee for filing.
Q: How do I apply for a loan?
A: DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM - Please note that Goddard participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Lending program with the Department of Education All new borrowers wishing to borrow a Federal Direct Stafford or Federal Direct PLUS loan need to complete a Direct Loan MPN (Master Promissory Note) and Entrance Interview online at www.studentloans.gov. Use your PIN (from your FAFSA) to sign in. We will not be able to process your loans until this step is completed.
Q: When should I apply for aid, is there a deadline?
A: We encourage students to apply for aid as soon as possible. A student can apply any time after January 1st for the upcoming academic year. We encourage students to wait until they have completed their income tax returns, but if a student is a late filer, estimated information can be used until the exact information can be submitted. If you are applying for a scholarship or state grant that requires a FAFSA form be submitted by a certain date make sure you submit the FAFSA well before the deadline, in case there are any errors that need to be corrected.
Q: Should I wait to be accepted before I apply for Financial Aid?
A: No, you should apply for Financial Aid as soon as possible. If a student has already submitted their FAFSA form before being accepted, sometimes their award letter arrives in the mail the same day they receive an acceptance letter from the Admissions Office!
Q: I forgot to file my FAFSA and the residency is right around the corner, is it too late to apply for Financial Aid?
A: No, we suggest that if the residency is less than two weeks away you complete the FAFSA and mail or fax a copy of the completed form to the Financial Aid Office. This will show us that you are applying for Financial Aid and we may be able to correct any errors made to the form in a more timely manner. If all of your paperwork is not complete by registration day, you will be required to pay a residency fee.
Q: I have submitted my FAFSA form and been accepted, what happens next?
A: You will receive an award letter in the mail, along with all necessary paperwork required to complete to receive your aid. The paperwork may consist of the following: an award letter, instructions on how to complete the online loan application called a Master Promissory Note, loan entrance counseling, , Parent Plus Loan application (for dependent students) all found at www.studentloans.gov website; and if requested, a verification form. You may also be expected to provide a signed copy of your previous year’s income tax transcript (and your parent’s income tax transcript if you are a dependent student) if you are selected for verification.
FAFSA forms need to be completed every Academic year.
Q: What if I’m not a US citizen?
A: You may still be eligible for Federal aid if you are an eligible non-citizen as defined on the FAFSA. The FAFSA says an eligible non-citizen is "If you are an eligible noncitizen, write in your 8 or 9 digit Alien Registration Number. Generally you are an eligible noncitizen if you are 1. a permanent resident with a permanent resident card (I-551); 2. a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or 3. the holder of an Arrival Departure Record (I-94) from the Dept. of Homeland Security showing any of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee, Victim of Human trafficking, T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or Cuban-Haitian Entrant."
International students receiving a scholarship from Goddard should be aware that a 30% tax must be sent to the IRS, which will reduce the amount disbursed to the student’s account.
Q: When do you start awarding aid?
A: For the Fall semester we start awarding aid near the end of March. Anytime after March we will award students as soon as they have been accepted and we have received their FAFSA form. For the Spring semester we will mail an award letter as soon as we have been notified of the student’s acceptance and the student’s valid FAFSA form has been received.
Q: What is the impact (if any) of multiple family members on financial aid?
A: The FAFSA uses the number of people in the student’s household and the number of students in that household that attend college along with income and asset information to calculate the EFC (Estimated Family Contribution). How it impacts the FAFSA is dependent on the other household member’s position—i.e. is this a dependent child, a spouse. A graduate student is only eligible for loan funds (no matter if they are single or married, with no dependents or with multiple dependents). For an undergraduate student, the more members in the household increases the eligibility for aid but income and assets are the major factor in determining aid eligibility.
Q: What types of aid am I eligible for and how much will I receive?
A: The types of aid and the amount of aid you receive depend on your financial situation and your grade level.
Aid Available for Undergraduate (BA or BFA) Programs:
- Federal Grants: The Federal Pell Grant, for students with a low Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) as determined on your FAFSA form. This grant can be up to $5645 a year. We also have a small amount of SEOG that is awarded in conjunction with a Pell Grant.
- State Grants: Most states require you to complete an additional application in order to qualify for a state grant. Check with your state’s Department of Higher Education to receive an application and deadline information. The amount of aid received varies by state.
- Goddard Scholarships: Please refer to the Goddard Scholarships page for a complete listing of the scholarships available to BA and BFA students.
Federal Loans: Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Perkins, and Parent Plus Loan.
- Direct Subsidized Loan amounts vary by financial eligibility and grade level. The maximum amount available for a Freshman (level 1 & level II) is $3,500 for the year ($1,750 in the Fall and $1,750 in the Spring). The maximum amount available for a Sophomore (level III & IV) is $4,500 for the year ($2,250 in the Fall and $2,250 in the Spring). The maximum amount available for a Junior (level V & VI) or Senior, (level VII & VIII) is $5,500 for the year ($2,750 in the Fall and $2,750 in the Spring.)
- Direct Unsubsidized Loan amounts for independent students as determined by the FAFSA form. The maximum amount available for a Freshman (level I & II) or Sophomore (level III & IV) is $6,000 for the year ($3,000 in the Fall and $3,000 in the Spring). The maximum amount available for a Junior (level V & VI) or Senior (level VII & VIII) is $7,000 for the year ($3,500 in the Fall and $3,500 in the Spring).
- Direct Unsubsidized Loan amounts for dependent students as determined by the FAFSA form. The maximum amount available for all dependent students regardless of grade level is $2,000 for the year ($1,000 in the Fall and $1,000 in the Spring).
- Parent Plus loans are loans borrowed by the parent of a dependent student to assist the student in paying for tuition. The amount of the Plus Loan varies depending on need.
- Perkins Loan funds are limited and are only granted to financially eligible students. Perkins Loans can only be used toward a student's direct costs--they cannot be used to create a refund. Perkins Loans will be reduced first if additional aid is received. The maximum amount available for eligible students is $2,000 per semester.
Aid Available for Graduate (MA and MFA) programs:
- Federal Grants: There are no Federal grants at the Graduate level.
- Goddard Scholarship: Please refer to the Goddard Scholarships page for a complete listing of scholarships available to MA and MFA students.
Federal Loans:, Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Graduate PLUS loan.
- The maximum amount available in Unsubsidized Direct Loan funds for graduate students is $20,500 for the year ($10,250 in the Fall and $10,250 in the Spring).
- Graduate PLUS loans are to supplement the Stafford Loans for educational expenses up to the cost of attendance.
- BA Psychology semester (pre-graduate preparation) and Education Licensure only students are eligible to borrow up to $6,250 in Direct Loan Funding
Q: What is the difference between a loan and a grant?
A: Loans are a type of aid that must be repaid with interest. Scholarships and grants are gift aid, that means it does not have to be repaid.
Q: Are there loan fees?
A: Federal Direct student Stafford loans have loan fees of 1.051% for 2013-2014.
Federal Direct PLUS (parent and graduate) loan fees are 4.204% for 2013–2014.
Q: I’m a Veteran. What might be available to me for benefits?
A: The first step is getting in touch with the VA to determine your eligibility at www.GIBILL.va.gov where you can determine your eligibility. Types and amounts of benefits are determined by your status and length of service and there are differing plans that you can select.
Q: Why am I able to receive more financial aid than the cost of tuition?
A: Some students decide to borrow the maximum amount of aid they are eligible for which creates an overage—we call this a refund. (Although not all students are eligible for a refund, which is based on their grade level and financial situation) A student can use the refund to pay for travel expenses for the next residency, to buy a computer, to buy books etc. The refund can be used toward any educational expenses. Refund checks are generated from the Student Accounts Office.
Q: When do I get my refund?
A: This will depend on when your paperwork is completed and the type(s) of funds you are receiving. For a “refund” check to be issued to eligible students, all necessary faculty approvals of the student’s study plan(s) must be noted in the Student Information System (SIS). Overpayment/refund checks will be mailed to the home address after the residency unless the student picks up the refund check in-person from the Student Accounts Office on the last day of the residency. Your refund will not be available if your paperwork isn't complete by registration or if Goddard has not received the funds. Funds that may not be received until after the residency include State Grants, outside scholarships or loans, tuition or VocRehab payments, or other late awards. Your refund will be mailed to you as soon as all paperwork and funds are received.
Q: What if I qualify for a refund but don’t want to borrow so much in loan funds?
A: We encourage students to borrow the smallest amount in loan funds they can afford while still having a successful semester. It’s better to live like a student now than to live like a student later. You may decline any or all of the aid you have been awarded, just make sure to contact the Financial Aid Office with any adjustments you want made. Students have 14 days after disbursement to change or decline their loan funds. Another way to reduce your loan payments after graduation is to make payments toward your Unsubsidized Loan while enrolled. Contact your Direct Loan Servicer if you would like to start paying down the interest on your unsubsidized loan.
Q: There is an enrollment deposit required by the Admissions Office, will Financial Aid cover this?
A: No, your Financial Aid award covers expenses incurred after you enroll, not before.
Q: I need money for travel expenses, I qualify for a refund, can I receive my refund check before I arrive?
A: No, funds do not get applied to your account until after you enroll.
Q: How much financial aid will you award me? Will I receive enough aid to cover all of my expenses?
A: We always award as much aid as possible to try and cover the direct costs. However, lower level independent students or students who are ineligible for Pell and SEOG grants may not receive enough aid to cover their direct costs. If you have a balance due on your account you may contact the Student Accounts Office to set up a payment plan. Or, for those of you with excellent credit, you may apply for a private loan. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you are planning on applying for a private loan and check www.finaid.org.
Q: Are there loan forgiveness programs available?
A: Loan forgiveness information can be found at www.studentloans.gov under the Managing Repayment Tab.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PSF.jsp
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness: http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/cancelstaff.jsp?tab=repaying/
- Income Based Repayment: http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/factsheets/IBRFactSheetv031612.pdf
- There are also loan forgiveness program with Americorp- http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/benefits_ed_award.asp
- Childcare Providers-http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/childcare.jsp?tab=repaying
- National Health Services Corp -http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/index.html
Please note: Goddard College complies with the following code of conduct
If a school participates in an FSA loan program, it must publish and enforce a code of conduct that includes bans on
- revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender,
- steering borrowers to particular lenders or delaying loan certifications, and
- offers of funds for private loans to students in exchange for providing concessions or promises to the lender for a specific number of FSA loans, a specified loan volume, or a preferred lender arrangement.
The code of conduct applies to the officers, employees, and agents of the school and must also prohibit employees of the financial aid office from receiving gifts from a lender, guaranty agency, or loan servicer. The code must also prohibit financial aid office staff (or other employees or agents with responsibilities with respect to education loans) from accepting compensation for
- any type of consulting arrangement or contract to provide services to or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans; and
- service on an advisory board, commission, or group established by lenders or guarantors, except for reimbursement for reasonable expenses. | <urn:uuid:bca6aa81-8d03-4f4b-8287-3f5a04d615c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://goddard.edu/admissions-financial-aid/financial-aid | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93558 | 4,594 | 1.539063 | 2 |
So, the first thing about CtP2 military tactics that’s different from Civ 3 is to never be overconfident because of the technological edge – always bring sufficient numbers of attackers. In Civ 3, the common way to move troops is the Stack of Doom – have a ton of units stacked in one tile, and move them towards cities methodically. In CtP2, the maximal number of units in a tile is 12. Therefore, you need to approach in a more spread-out manner, and you must make use of roads. Roads work for your troops just as well as the enemy, regardless of where the roads are, your land, enemy or neutral. So taking control of a road is crucial, denying your enemy quicker movement through that road without needing to confront your stack. Also, in Civ 3, you see every square having a road at some point, while that’s not the case in CtP2, because Public Works aren’t that abundant and need to be spent with care. So, you will see few roads, especially early on, that will normally be between cities. Moving across a road gives you big advantage in mobility.
Bombard units are more versatile in CtP2. Most good ranged units can bombard – and if an enemy stack of 12 includes 5 or 6 bombardment units, that should be no surprise, yet the stack is strong. In Civ 3, bombard units are weak in small numbers, but create a possible exploit or, rather, a pushover strategy for the human player. That would be to build masses and masses of bombard units (works best with Artillery due to bombard range of two squares), bring them to enemy city, bombard all units town to 1 HP, easily take it. Such an approach is for slow conquest, but basically assures low losses. In CtP2, you can also bombard enemy cities before attacking them, but beware of counterbombardment from within the city – or if you have a stack composed only of bombardment units, it will fall to a more balanced stack.
Similarily, navy is more useful in CtP2. In fact, the low usefulness of ships is a common complaint about Civ 3, where having a strong navy doesn’t indeed do much and little water combat takes place. In CtP, navies are important at least because they can pirate trade routes, but there’s also the important fact that there are water tile improvements, such as fisheries. When at war, enemy ships can pillage your water improvements – and if you don’t have a navy to defend them, then a few cheap ships can damage the growth or commerce of some of your cities significantly by just pillaging those improvements. So you need a navy to protect your tile improvements and possibly pillage those of the enemy. Of course, like all other CtP2 units, ships have different abilities. First there are only transport and combat ships, one of each type, but then two combat ships exist at some point – Ship of the Line, a good medieval ship, and the Ironclad – more powerful, but slower. After that, also Destroyers, Submarines, PT Boats and Battleships come into play. Destroyers are mobile with good firepower and ability to defend themselves against air units. Submarines are good for their stealth ability. PT Boats are very fast and detect submarines, while Battleships have the most impressive firepower, but lack any special abilities and are poor against air units.
Government types and social sliders: The government types in CtP2 are more numerous than in Civ 3, and much more different. Depending on your government, you may get access to special units (such as the powerful Fascist infantry, or the Theocracy Clerics), and your government has impact on how tolerant your people are towards war, what’s your maximal number of cities before people become unhappy, and many other things.
Also, your nation is defined by the sliders of workday, rations and wages. You have sliders for each of these parameters. Increase workday, and your production goes up, decrease rations and the growth is more speedy, decrease wages and you get more gold in treasury and towards science. Obviously, your people won’t be happy about that, so to make them happier you can make other changes – like make a really short workday, lowering production, but at the same time lowering rations, for high growth – and happiness should be balanced. Depending on your government, people will have different expectations. For instance, under Democracy your people expect an 8 hour workday and pretty high wages. Under other governments, though, your people may be content with a longer working day.
This system puts you in better control of your empire, and you can make ‘pumps’ when you need to. For instance, put workday at the highest value, and set the Public Works rate to 90% (100% will probably render you unable to maintain your troops), and you will have an enormous number of PW coming in.
Future technologies: This is another very highly debated aspect of CtP2. Simply put, the game doesn’t nearly stop at the modern age with Tanks and Bombers. In CtP2, there are two more ages after Modern, the Genetic and the Diamond age. In these ages you get more sophisticated units and technologies. For instance, the Fusion Tank is an upgrade of the Tank that can not only travel by land, but also by coastal waters. Or, you get the ability to build undersea cities, that are typically very good sources of income. At the end of the technology tree, you also have access to a very difficult technological victory, where you have to also cover a good part of the planet by certain tile improvements.
The future ages are actually quite fun. They allow you to see how will the civilization develop under your rule – it might become a machine-centric technocracy, or a happy ecotopia with minimal pollution. Of course, the additional weapons are also an important factor.
You also get the ability to transport units through space – which means that they can arrive to any part of the map very quickly. CtP1 also had a space layer above the earth, where you could build space cities and wage war, but in CtP2 it has been removed.
Unconventional Warfare: This is a feature that has been argued a lot about. Many CtP-bashers point this out as a pretty ridiculous part of the game, though us, the CtP fans, like it. You’ll have to decide for yourself.
The basic idea is that there are some unconventional units that can damage your enemy without you formally declaring war on them. The first such available unit is the Slaver, which can capture enemy citizens and send them to one of your cities as Slaves. Later, you get Clerics that convert the citizens of enemy to your religion and thus provide you income, Lawyers who can file injunctions to halt enemy production, the versatile Spies who can initiate revolts in enemy cities, steal technology and even plant nuclear devices, and more. Unconventional units have the stealth ability, which means that they are not seen by normal units – only by other stealth units, unless a regular unit tries to move into a square occupied by a foreign stealth unit, in which case it is revealed.
Civ 3 basically lacks the aspect of espionage, and whatever there is, is done through a special screen. Civ 2 had the spy unit, but the system in CtP2 is much more advanced. Personally, I am a big fan of stealth units. It’s great to load some Spies on a helicopter, drop them in the middle of landmass of an advanced enemy civilization, and get all their technology you lack in a single turn.
Trade: The CtP2 trade system is completely different from that of Civ 3 and Civ 2. You build caravans in CtP2, but those are “virtual” – you never see them, they just contribute to the total number of caravans you have. Now, the map is scattered with various trade goods. When a city has access to a trade good, it can create a trade route with another friendly city – the trade route will require a different number of caravans depending on how far the two cities are, also, foreign trade routes require more caravans. Having these trade routes generates gold for you. As it stands now, the trade system might be a little bit hard to understand, or you ay at times even find that it does not offer enough rewards, but this is for the most part fixed in CtP2 modifications.
The above points summarize the main parts where CtP2 differs in gameplay, though there are many smaller things you will notice. For instance, pollution is harder to deal with and is thus more of a concern, naval battles are of bigger importance, etc. Now to give Civ 3 a fair credit, here are some things that Civ 3 does better.
Where Civ 3 is better
Trade: I believe, personally, that the idea of strategic resources is excellent. It can surely be developed even more than it is in Civ 3, but its implementation is better than having none. Also, it makes it really important for you to have roads and other trade connections before your cities. Basically, trade in Civ 3 is crucial, like in real life, while in CtP2 it remains a booster to income, at the expense of production spent to build the Caravans.
Diplomacy: Civ 3 has the most sophisticated diplomacy system, as virtually any deal can be offered. CtP2 still has the model where one thing might be offered and one demanded in an exchange. So, you can ask for Gunpowder in exchange for 5000 gold – that’s good. In Civ 3, though, you can ask for Gunpowder in exchange for your map, 3000 gold and 40 gold per turn. While the Civ 3 AI sometimes might apparently have a strange idea of what’s a fair deal, the system certainly works. On the upside, though, CtP2 has interesting treaties such as an agreement to reduce nuclear or biological armament, for instance.
Of course, there’s still a lot to wish for in the diplomacy system for either game, like deals with multiple parties involved, for instance.
Culture: Well, this is something absent in CtP2. I’m not saying that this is a perfect part of Civ 3 – the whole deal about culture flipping cities seems a little bit strange, especially the fact that your forces completely vanish if your city joins an enemy empire. I do, however, appreciate the fact that culture adds another aspect to Civ 3, something else to build, and another peaceful victory. I do, though, believe that this concept can really use some redesigning.
Concept interaction: I would have to say that the various concepts in Civ 3 work together better than in CtP2, with the exception of Civ 3 espionage, which sort of falls out of the game. In CtP2, though, sometimes you end up playing without using some things the game has to offer, or you sometimes may get the feeling that some concepts are maybe a little bit too isolated from the others. This is, however, a pretty subtle thing, and you may actually feel differently on this issue.
OK, so far, so good. I know that many civ players, myself included, put very high value on how good the AI in a game is. And, this is a pretty big topic, both for Civ 3 and CtP2. I’ll try to give some insight for possible basis so that you could compare the two games.
I have to say, first and foremost, that the AI that CtP2 ships with is weak. It may not seem so to you during your first CtP2 game, as you still don’t know the CtP2 strategies, which are after all different to those in Civ 3. However, regrettably, once you learn the basic strategies about the game, you will probably find the AI, even at the highest level, not competitive. Yes, it will defend its lands with all the production bonuses it gets, but it will never mount a good offensive against you, and you will soon build a much superior civilization and push him over with general better economics and far better planning.
This is one of the main reasons to use mods for CtP2 – I’ll have another section on mods later in this post, though, for more detail on the issue. For now, I’ll say that the various mods improve CtP2 AI dramatically. At the very least, AI follows a rather intelligent pattern when building its empire, and can defend it lands properly, periodically striking you, and dealing some damage. Also, in the better mods, the AI can actually do intercontinental invasions properly, and sometimes it will certainly surprise you with a pretty massive appearance of forces at your borders. Note that CtP2’s stacked combat means that you can’t expect to see 20 enemy units on the border, send 20 defensive units there and be sure that you will win. If the enemy pops up, say, with two 12-sized stacks, you need at least two 12-sized stacks of your own that would have proper composition of forces.
The Civ 3 AI is fairly competent. It can beat you even when you know the basic and some of the more advanced strategy. The AI will strike you at your weak points, and probably the best thing about it is that it will use all the tools the game has to offer – that is, bombardment, naval invasions, Marines, air power, diplomatic isolation through getting other civs to sign an embargo against you, etc. Also, you may notice that the AI can achieve significant success in war, but this is mainly because of the extremely simplistic combat system of Civ 3. If you have a border city defended with 3 units (more simply isn’t practical, usually), and the AI shows up near that city with a dozen attacking units backed up by half a dozen bombardment units, it shouldn’t come as a great surprise when you see the city fall. True, the Civ 3 AI knows some tactics, like it can actually strike you from two directions, but again, much of the possible fun that could come from there is negated by the relative simplicity of Civ 3.
In CtP2, conquest is harder because of stacked combat, the need to place tile improvements strategically, using the unconventional units, etc. And the AI can actually be rather effective at that – I have been hampered seriously by the AI unconventional units at times. Yet, the AI manages to provide a good challenge when you fight it, and it will take your capital and raze it if it’s given the chance.
Of course, both AIs have some pretty stupid flaws. For instance, the CtP2 AI will very often take a city of yours, and on the very next turn move all the units out of the city, leaving it empty and thus easy for you to recapture. While the Civ 3 AI, for instance, places an extremely high value on Workers, and it will usually capture your Worker instead of attacking and killing your unit – which is often bad, as, for instance, very late in the game killing that single unit would mean more than capturing a single worker. Also, I’ve noticed the Civ 3 AI being pretty ineffective if I set up a strong defense line at my border, with bombarding all his approaching units, and having a unit fortified at every tile of my border. Then, the CtP2 AI sometimes misses good opportunities to strike in the field and eliminate an attacking stack.
That should show that neither AI is perfect, and given the higher complexity of CtP2 AI, it actually does some very good things. Again, install one of the mods, and you shouldn’t be disappointed by the AI performance.
I would like to take the chance and give credit to Soren Johnson of Firaxis, who created the Civ 3 AI, alone. It is, in my opinion, an amazing work, and I have been amazed by the Civ 3 AI many times, when it dropped a transport of troops behind my lines or did similar things. For a programmer to accomplish this alone, while also having to work on other parts of the game, this is a most remarkable achievement.
Now, this is one area where CtP2 is undeniably superior to any other civ-game. First, it has almost all of its data stored in text files, that can of course be edited. Second, it feautures SLIC, a fully developed language for writing event scripts, enhancing the AI and doing many other things. Through the use of SLIC, many great scripts have been created, that improve the AI, add new feautures to the game, and so on.
Also, approximately half a year ago, in October 2003, the source code for CtP2 has been released. This gives the community complete access to the game, and thus it’s now possible to modify absolutely anything about it – though, clearly, it would be a massive undertaking. Yet, many bugs are already fixed, and pretty significant improvements are made to the game.
Over the years, many great mods have been developed for CtP2. You can refer to this thread to see a comprehensive list of the most important mods. I’d like to point out that the Cradle mod improves the AI a lot – beating it on the highest difficulty level is a feat that not everyone can accomplish. Also, the Apoyton Pack leaves the game quite similar to its original state, but it improves the AI, fixes bugs and addresses some of the most obvious balance issues in the original game.
How does the moddability compare to Civ 3? Well, unlike Civ 3, every rule can be edited. In Conquests, yes, the rules editing ability of Civ 3 is good. In CtP2, you get all of that and more. For instance, you’ll never be able to create events for scenarios in Civ 3, or complex scripts that, for instance, award you additional gold if you have n units, or anything like that. In Civ 3, mods can provide balance and experience changes, in CtP2, they can add complete new feautures. Also, CtP2 has modifiable graphics, unlike Civ 3.
The people working on the CtP2 source have already done much to improve this game. You can go to the CtP2 Source Code forum to see the changes and download the latest build. Soon, there should be a better patch that would make it possible to play any of the released mods for CtP2 with all the improvements made to the source code as well.
Would *I* enjoy the game?
You have to decide for yourself. The above list of concepts and differences in CtP2 should give you a fairly good idea of whether you find these concepts attractive. However, if you enjoyed Civ 3, I have no doubt that you will like CtP2, and probably see also the parts of it where it shines. Just remember – this game is NOT civ 3. Don’t expect the same strategies to work. Yes, there currently may not be too many strategy threads about CtP2, certainly not as many as in Civ 3, but look around the forums, and you’ll find what you want.
CtP2 has full support for normal multiplayer games and PBEM. CtP2 is less active than Civ 3, so you have little chance of starting up the game and finding an online match at once, but if you post at the forums, you should be able to arrange for a game. Note that, to enable PBEM, you need to read this thread. CtP2 has been played online since it came out, and the players agree that the online experience is just as enjoyable as in any other civ game. Also, more enhancements are expected in the long run as the source code project develops.
If you’re considering to buy CtP2, there are some more good threads and links.
Guide to CtP2 by Locutus – it contains a lot of useful info for potential buyers
The CtP2 FAQ – addresses the most common complaints and questions
CtP2 Files – a section of the Apolyton directory where you can download mods and other files for the game.
Velocyrix’s strategy thread – here Vel gives some basic ideas on CtP2 strategy, and those are supplemented by input from the other players.
Cradle Differences – if you’re in doubt about Cradle, check this out for information about the mods. | <urn:uuid:5aa97bc5-f3b3-40e9-856a-33b5b391a1ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://apolyton.net/showthread.php/112597-CtP2-vs-Civ-3-a-guide | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961771 | 4,299 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Forecasters predict as many as four to eight hurricanes this year. University of Houston resources have expertise in a variety of topics related to storms – before, during and after.
UH Hosts Collaborative Leadership Seminar
Vermillion's presentation is the keynote address for the seminar, which takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 23 at the Rockwell Pavilion on the second floor of the M.D. Anderson Library.
These free, one-day seminars are designed for Houston- area high school students and are a joint effort between UH Air Force and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, C.T. Bauer College of Business, College of Technology and the College of Education. Seven additional seminars are planned in the next year.
Lesson topics include leadership fundamentals, characteristics of an effective leader, servant leadership, planning and execution, teamwork and "followership," and lifetime leadership learning. Two case studies are provided including a NASA teambuilding exercise and an event that applies military planning principles to organizing a high school prom.
These are the only leadership seminars in the nation given by ROTC units and their host university. These innovative events directly support the University of Houston's community outreach efforts and goal of attaining top-tier status, said Col. Phil Bossert, commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 003 and professor of Air Force studies at UH.
Vermillion is a 2008 graduate of UH, where he earned a bachelor of business administration degree in operations management with a minor in accounting. He was commissioned from the Rice University unit of Navy ROTC. Prior to attending college in Houston and ROTC, he was enlisted in the Navy for five years as a personnel specialist and capped his short enlisted career as special assistant to the commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.To attend this event, please RSVP by contacting Bossert at email@example.com or at 713-743-3707/4932.
|WHAT:||UH Collaborative Leadership Seminar hosts U.S. Navy Ensign Austin Vermillion|
|WHY:||11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23|
|WHEN:||University of Houston
Houston, TX 77004
|WHERE:||The Houston Corps of Cadets
3855 Holman St.
Houston, TX 77004 | <urn:uuid:83d229db-886e-44f7-bb0e-ce00d5af75ac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2009articles/january09/UH-Hosts-Collaborative-Leadership-Seminar.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948476 | 514 | 1.523438 | 2 |
If you're business isn't growing, it's probably dying. Inflation and costs increase whether we expand along with it. Customers, markets, and trends are changing whether we are changing along with them. Those who do not grow get left behind.
But what is growth? That's the tough question, isn't it?
Growth is making progress in narrowing the gap between your vision of the company's future and its present status. It doesn't necessarily mean getting larger, having more people, and more revenues, though it often does. Growth is making progress towards your vision and future as only you can define it.
We also know that your business has several "parts," or functions and departments that work together. They don't grow by themselves haphazardly or unintentionally. They have to grow together in an integrated, coordinated way-by choice!
So what ties it all together? The answer is "Growth Drivers." These are the three areas in which you can focus your growth efforts:
- Market Segments
- Lead Generation
Whichever of these on which you choose to focus, you have three "growth strategies" available to choose from:
This gives nine possible ways to grow, which I'll break down for you shortly.
But first, for growth to be successful and sustainable, it has to start with marketing knowledge. The right marketing knowledge and intelligence will tell you which available market segments can give you the best opportunities for growth, what products will attract and please your customers, and which lead generation channels and messages will bring them to you.
To acquire this intelligence, pay attention to your customers and collect feedback; conduct formal market research surveys, assess customer demographics, etc.
After you've conducted this research and it's time to grow, here are the nine ways to grow your company:
1. Market expansion - Increasing your target market to include more people or a larger geographical area. This is doing more of the same but to reach more people in more places.
2. Market Saturation - This means getting a bigger piece of the current pie. Whatever target market you are currently in, you would attract more customers from within it and make them "yours."
3. Market Diversification - This entails going after additional market segments. If you're selling donuts to walk-in customers, then you might start selling them in the grocery stores or directly to businesses as well (new segments of your market of donut buyers).
4. Product Expansion - Adding more variety to your existing product. An example of this would be Coca-Cola adding Diet Coke, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke, Cherry Coke, etc.
5. Product Saturation - This means customizing products-tailoring custom-made goods for individual customers. If you go this route, make sure to raise your prices for the extra value (and work).
6. Product Diversification - This means introducing new product lines. The more you have that might appeal to the same group of people, the more likely it is that they'll buy one of them. You might sell items that complement your flagship product and enhance your customers' experience.
7. Expanded Lead Generation - This means advertising through the same channels you have been (magazines, signs, direct mail, etc.) but using more of them (ads in additional magazines, mail to new lists, etc.).
8. Concentrated Lead Generation - This means advertising more often through the channels you already are. You'll reach a higher percentage of the market more frequently to increase response and sales.
9. Diversified Lead Generation - Adding a greater variety of lead generation channels and messages that you're not currently using, to reach prospective customers in as many ways as you can.
If you are just starting your business or launching a new business model within it, do your best to plan and execute on a small scale.
Once you are farther along and/or are ready to really grow, choose one or more of these 9 growth strategies and focus on implementing them.
Suggested Resource: Would you like to know more ways to improve your business; and turn it into one worth $10 million or more? Then check out Growthink's 8 Figure Formula. This video explains more. | <urn:uuid:1e878036-6e24-42f3-8d9d-30916ba0c546> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.growthink.com/content/ways-grow-your-business-9-proven-strategies | 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 | 0.961804 | 868 | 1.8125 | 2 |
What makes a novel “good”? Tom Wolfe once gave this answer:
“To me, it’s a novel that pulls you inside the central nervous system of the characters … and makes you feel in your bones their motivations as affected by the society of which they are a part. It is folly to believe that you can bring the psychology of an individual to light without putting him very firmly in a social setting.”
Tom Wolfe, author of The Bonfire of the Vanities and other novels, in an interview with George Plimpton in Writers at Work: The Paris Review Interviews: Ninth Series (Viking 1992). Edited by George Plimpton. Introduction by William Styron. Reprinted from the Spring 1991 issue of the Paris Review. You can read more from this and other interviews in this acclaimed series at www.parisreview.com.
© 2007 Janice Harayda. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:38a30e85-02bd-4d65-a890-c6f039b8215e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/what-makes-a-novel-%E2%80%9Cgood%E2%80%9D-quote-of-the-day-tom-wolfe/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=ca8cc7cdd9 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943078 | 194 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Dying Teen Says Goodbye With A Song
Zach Sobiech, a seventeen-year-old boy suffering from terminal cancer, has recorded a song to say goodbye to his friends in family. The teen was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, and doctors have given him only months to live.
According to his “Caring Bridge” blog, Sobiech has been living with the terminal illness since November 2009 when he was 14 years old. Osteosarcoma is an aggressive form of bone cancer that presents in a period of rapid growth during the teen years. Most patients are diagnosed around the age of fifteen. The prognosis is grim but not necessarily terminal.
Zach has endured many surgeries, biopsies, and months of chemotherepy following his diagnosis. He and his family have been through hell in the last three years, even learning that he had been cancer free for as long as 9 months at one point, only to learn that it had returned once again.
According to the webpage for the “Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund,” by May of this year, the cancer had spread to his pelvis and lungs. At that point, there was no further known treatment available. The doctors gave the young man only months to live. Zach’s family created the fund to help further research toward treatment, if not a cure for the devastation disease.
Sobiech has not given up. Rather than letting the diagnosis defeat him, he has written and recorded a song as a farewell to his friends and family. Zach loves playing his guitar and is rarely seen without it. The song is haunting and will break your heart but is also a true inspiration and something that his loved ones will always have to hold on to. His talent and bright smile will endure. | <urn:uuid:95375b1e-9938-420e-8a33-f031b2424f2a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.inquisitr.com/438422/dying-teen-says-goodbye-with-a-song/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.991166 | 376 | 1.710938 | 2 |
World powers plan to make Iran a "serious" offer of economic incentives at talks next week on its nuclear program, Western officials tell CNN.
In exchange for easing of sanctions barring trade with Iran in gold and other precious metals, the so-called P5+1 diplomatic bloc of countries wants Iran to shut its underground enrichment facility at Fordo, near the holy city of Qom and ship out its stockpile of uranium enriched to 20% purity, the officials said.
The group, comprised of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, plans to deliver the offer at talks next Tuesday in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The offer presents a slightly revised package to the one presented to Iran last year during talks in Moscow, Baghdad and Istanbul, in which the group proposed fuel for a medical reactor and easing sanctions on aviation spare parts in exchange for Iran suspending its uranium enrichment and shipping its stockpiles out of the country.
"We couldn't come back with the same proposal," one official said. "But the idea is to test the waters and see where the Iranians are and if they are serious. We hope to get some insight into their thinking and see what they prioritize in their asks and offers."
Iran has defied international demands that it halt its production of enriched uranium, which it insists is to be used for civilian nuclear power and research reactors. But the United States and Israel have accused Iran of seeking the capability to produce nuclear weapons, and the International Atomic Energy Agency says it can no longer verify that Iran's nuclear program is strictly peaceful.
The new deal also takes into account the advances at the Fordo plant, asking Iran to permit wider IAEA inspections and to take steps that would make restarting Fordo a more difficult and time-consuming process.
"The logic of it, if the Iranians accept this, is that [the Iranians] have to erase the progress [they] made since the last talks," the official said.
Iran's refusal to shut down its uranium enrichment plants has led to tougher and tougher economic sanctions that have crippled its economy. An oil embargo and banking restrictions have crashed the Iranian currency, the rial. New U.S. sanctions imposed in January targeted a handful of companies and individuals that Washington says are providing materials and technology to Tehran's nuclear program.
Tehran has already rejected the new offer to be presented at next week's talks. But officials said they believe the deterioration of the Iranian economy may be causing the regime to consider making a deal.
Still, they acknowledged expectations of a major breakthrough are low for the Almaty talks, in large part due to skepticism that Iran's political leadership could make concessions ahead of the country's presidential elections in June.
Additionally, one Western diplomat said Iran may feel less pressure from the new Obama administration.
Both Secretary of State John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary, have both been strong supporters of negotiations with Iran and are wary of any military action against Tehran's nuclear sites.
Both Kerry and Hagel have publicly supported having direct talks between Washington and Tehran, an idea proposed earlier this month by Vice President Joe Biden.
"More important than what we see from Iran is what we project," the diplomat said. "Many in the regime may think they have gotten past the worst part in terms of pressure. The best we can hope for in the short run is that we impress Iran with our steadfastness, and also show them we are ready to talk." | <urn:uuid:a38d8fc8-9913-4e4b-ae04-07012010a8e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ksat.com/news/Sources-Iran-to-receive-serious-incentive/-/478452/19009284/-/14tgxy4z/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968116 | 710 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Gov't stepping up fight against health care fraud
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration is upping the ante in the fight against health care fraud, joining forces with private insurers and state investigators on a scale not previously seen in an attempt to stanch tens of billions of dollars in losses.
Announcing the new public-private partnership Thursday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said it "puts criminals on notice that we will find them and stop them."
Fraud is an endemic problem plaguing entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicare as well as private insurance companies. Sebelius said the new program will collate claims data from all those programs and mine it for signs of bogus billing.
"Lots of the fraudsters have used our fragmented health care system to their advantage," Sebelius told reporters during a White House meeting with insurance executives. "By sharing information across payers, we can bring this potentially fraudulent activity to light so it can be stopped."
The agreement is also unusual because it brings the Obama administration and longtime foes in the insurance industry together to tackle a common problem. While carrying out the requirements of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law, insurers are also lobbying to roll back some of its provisions, such as new taxes on the industry and cuts to private plans offered through Medicare. Obama continues to rail against industry "abuses."
But industry leaders stressed that combating fraud is in everyone's interests.
"It's just gotten a great deal harder to prey upon the public," said Karen Ignani, CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, one of a number of industry groups backing the partnership.
Attorney General Eric Holder, who took part in the announcement, said industry and government will "come together as never before to share information while protecting patient confidentiality."
Details of the collaboration remain to be worked out, but the possibilities include sharing information on new fraud schemes as they pop up, using claims data to catch scams such as payments billed to different insurers on the same day for care purportedly delivered to the same patient in different cities, and using computer analysis to spot emerging patterns of fraud.
An industry official familiar with the discussions said the partnership aims to produce tangible results within six months to a year, but that some issues -- including extensive sharing of claims data -- will take longer to work out. Initially, the collaboration will involve sharing of such information as billing codes associated with fraud for different insurers.
"This is about getting stuff done, not about holding meetings," said the official, who declined to be identified because the official was not authorized to discuss the subject in public and spoke on condition he not be named.
Fraud is estimated to cost Medicare about $60 billion a year, and the Obama administration has beefed up the government's efforts to stop it, bringing in record settlements with drug companies for marketing violations as well as using new powers in the health care law to pursue low-level fraudsters with greater zeal.
Yet, although Medicare is becoming a harder target, it's too early to say if the tide has turned.
Some antifraud efforts launched with great fanfare have yet to deliver convincing results. For example, a $77-million computer system unveiled last summer to stop Medicare fraud before it happens had prevented just one suspicious payment by Christmas.
Likewise, the new public-private collaboration could face problems. Privacy advocates may object to extensive scrutiny of claims data, and doctors have traditionally pushed back against routine computerized monitoring of their practice patterns.
A formal announcement of the campaign was scheduled Thursday afternoon at the White House, with top insurance industry officials participating. Supporting the partnership are America's Health Insurance Plans, the leading industry lobbying group, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and major companies including UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint, Inc. Formal working meetings are scheduled for September.
"The cost of fraud can far exceed what is paid for in falsified claims," said Karen Ignagni, the industry's top lobbyist. "It can cause real harm to patients who are intentionally exposed to radiation, invasive surgeries and medication they do not need, or suffer the consequences of receiving a fraudulent diagnosis."
The analysis of data from Medicare, Medicaid and private health plans will look for suspicious patterns and other evidence that might indicate fraud, White House officials said. A "trusted third party" would comb through the data and turn questionable billing over to insurers or federal investigators.
Officials said those who submit fraudulent claims often do so for both government programs and private insurance plans. Separately, such claims might not raise suspicions, but taken together they could raise a red flag, such as when a doctor bills for more than 24 hours in a day.
Law enforcement organizations taking part in the collaboration include the FBI, the Health and Human Services Inspector General's Office, the Justice Department, and state and private insurance fraud control units.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) | <urn:uuid:f11cb8fc-3e2e-435f-b2e9-ab2e30882724> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/politics/21008102310134/gov-t-stepping-up-fight-against-health-care-fraud/ | 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 | 0.953964 | 1,000 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Vanessa Marcano, an immigrant from Venezuela who lives in Des Moines, Iowa, speaks earlier this month at a legislative committee hearing about the state's policy prohibiting driver's licenses for certain young immigrants. The policy was reversed Wednesday. / Charlie Neibergall, AP
DES MOINES, Iowa - Almost 5,000 young immigrants allowed to stay and work in the United States under presidential order will be eligible to apply for an Iowa driver's license, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.
The agency had angered activists late last month by determining that state law prohibited it from issuing licenses to immigrants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Status program, which allows young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children to apply to live in this country and work temporarily without the threat of deportation.
But state Transportation Director Paul Trombino said Wednesday that new guidance from federal officials prompted him to reconsider.
Trombino cited a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services statement issued Friday saying those granted deferred action status are "authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to be present in the United States and considered to be lawfully present during their deferred action" period.
"Our role is to execute the law," Trombino said. "We have consistently done that. We have not changed. The federal government has changed."
President Barack Obama unveiled the program in June.
About 1.7 million "dreamers" younger than 30 nationwide are expected to meet the policy's age, education and clean criminal history conditions, according to data from the Washington-based American Immigration Council. An estimated 11 million immigrants illegally live in the United States.
Young immigrants and their allies said Iowa's reversal is particularly satisfying because they rallied in opposition to the initial determination. Immigrants said it will change their lives in countless ways, making it easier to commute to work and school and simplify even the most mundane daily activities where identification is necessary.
"I believe that these changes took place because there was a big movement of support behind it," said Sandra Sanchez, director of an immigrant advocacy program for the American Friends Service Committee here. "It was crucial to show the DOT and governor's office that it was an important issue to many, many Iowans."
Maria Alvarez, 23, who is one semester short of earning her degree from Marshalltown Community College, said immigrants like herself no longer have to be afraid of police when they drive or ride in a car. She called the state's decision a step forward for young immigrants everywhere.
"It's just fantastic," Alvarez said. "It's another door open for us."
Hector Salamanca, 19, of Des Moines said he learned of the decision while at the Des Moines Area Community College library in Ankeny, Iowa. Salamanca, who has had his license for a month, said he and his parents now can stop worrying about his future.
"I know this sounds silly, but for myself it allows me to go to the movie theaters without being worried about being asked for identification," Salamanca said.
Under Iowa law, a driver's license or state identification card can be issued only to a foreign national authorized to be present in the United States.
About 40 young immigrants participating in the deferred action program already had received Iowa driver's licenses or state identification cards before the state's initial finding last month.
"They have a valid driver's license. We never went through a cancellation process," Trombino said. He noted that immigrants still must pass a written exam and a behind-the-wheel test before receiving a driver's license, just like any other prospective motorist.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which had condemned the state's previous decision, praised the reversal.
"It not only shows leadership in making the state welcoming and competitive with its neighbors but also recognizes that these young talented 'dreamers' contribute to our society in a variety of ways to their communities, to school and to work," ACLU-Iowa lobbyist Rita Bettis said.
Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com
Read the original story: Iowa will let 'dreamers' drive after activists' pressure | <urn:uuid:89c348b2-b182-4ddf-aac2-d4c59868396f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thenews-messenger.com/usatoday/article/1861935 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967605 | 842 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Letter America Dear Doctor Guy, My friend recently stopped taking my calls because I’m dating her ex-boyfriend, but they broke up like over two years ago. I don’t know what to do.—Helpless Hottie ... More
A few weeks ago, Whole Foods' sign reading "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" was adjusted to be more honest, so "healthiest" became "wealthiest." As if to prove how poor it is, Whole Foods had the sign changed back—pauper style!
Apparently Whole Foods thinks faking the appearance that it can only afford a tiny, little "H" will make everyone ignore the company's high prices for distant fare—and that it forced one of its slaves, er, workers to complete this humiliating task. The Eyedropper, personally, liked the sign as it was (after the first vandalism) below. | <urn:uuid:d4cd82d1-be88-43af-99ac-27c6112a43ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-2517-eyedropper.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962986 | 185 | 1.539063 | 2 |
BEIRUT (AP) - Syria promised to stop fighting in time for Thursday's deadline for a cease-fire brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan but reserved the right to respond to any aggression, a hedge against any end in the fighting that has convulsed the nation for more than a year.
The statement came today as Annan was in Tehran to seek support for his faltering plan to stop the country's slide toward civil war. Iran is one of Syria's most powerful allies.
Many world leaders see Annan's plan - which called for Syria to pull its tanks back to barracks on Tuesday, followed by a full cease-fire by both sides by 6 a.m. Thursday - as the best hope to calm a year-old conflict that the U.N. estimates has killed 9,000 people.
International envoy Kofi Annan, left, speaks during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran, Iran, today. Annan, the U.N.-Arab League envoy, has appealed to Syria's key ally Iran to support his plan to end the violence wracking the Arab country, saying that 'any further militarization of the conflict would be disastrous.'
But the U.S. and others also are skeptical President Bashar Assad's regime will fully comply after several previous failures. Syria disregarded the Tuesday deadline, and was still attacking its opponents today with rockets and mortar fire.
In a statement carried on the state-run SANA news agency, a defense official said Syria's army successfully fought off "armed terrorist groups," which is the term Damascus uses to describe those behind the country's year-old uprising.
"A decision has been taken to stop these missions as of the morning of Thursday, April 12, 2012," the unnamed official said, adding: "Our armed forces are ready to repulse any aggression carried out by the armed terrorist groups against civilians or troops."
Annan spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem sent a letter with an identical pledge to the joint U.N.-Arab League envoy. Fawzi said Annan will work with the Syrian government on implementation of his six-point plan to end the bloodshed.
"The joint special envoy looks forward to the continue support of relevant countries in this regard," Fawzi said.
The U.N. has ruled out any military intervention of the type that helped bring down Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, and several rounds of sanctions and other attempts to isolate Assad have done little to stop the bloodshed.
The Syrian uprising, which began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests but has escalated into an armed conflict, is among the most explosive of the Arab Spring.
The presence of Syrian tanks, along with security forces and snipers, have largely succeeded in preventing protesters from recreating the fervor of Egypt's Tahrir Square, where hundreds of thousands of people camped out in a powerful show of dissent that ultimately drove longtime leader Hosni Mubarak from power.
It's not clear how Syria can fully abide by Annan's plan without risking an embarrassing - and potentially dangerous - Tahrir-style sit-in, or losing control over territory that government forces recently recovered from rebels.
And despite Syria's pledge, there was more violence today, underlining doubts about the regime's intentions.
The mounting death toll has prompted intense diplomatic efforts, including a last-minute plea by Annan to Tehran for help.
"Iran, given its special relations with Syria, can be part of the solution," Annan said during a news conference with Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran. "The geopolitical location of Syria is such that any miscalculation and error can have unimaginable consequences."
Iran has opposed any foreign intervention in the crisis and Salehi insisted that "change in Syria" should come under the leadership of Assad.
In recent weeks, the government has escalated military attacks on opposition strongholds, particularly after the cease-fire timeline was announced at the beginning of April, prompting accusations that Assad was using the peace plan as cover for more violence.
Today, Syrian troops took control of parts of villages and towns near the border with Turkey, in an apparent attempt to widen control as the truce draws close.
Activist Mohammed Abu Nasr said Syrian forces entered the border town of Azaz, about two miles (three kilometers) from the Turkish border and set homes of activists on fire.
The Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, said heavy army reinforcements of 30 vehicles, including tanks, took positions around Azaz without giving further details. The group said that in the province of Idlib, which also borders Turkey, Syrian troops chased people trying to flee the country into Turkey and opened fire killing two and detaining four.
The LCC also reported shelling of several rebel-held neighborhoods in the central city of Homs.
Homs activist Tarek Badrakhan said troops shelled the Rajoub Mall, one of the city's largest, late Tuesday. An amateur video posted online showed the six-story building gutted by fire while a major part of it collapsed. As the building was on fire, gunshots could be heard.
Badrakhan said the shopping center in the rebel-held neighborhood of Jouret el-Shayah had shops selling clothes, food products and electrical appliances. "They shelled it for a long time until it totally collapsed," Badrakhan said.
SANA, meanwhile, said gunmen shot and killed army Brig. Gen. Jamal Khaled in the Damascus suburb of Aqraba today morning. It added that Khaled's driver, a soldier, was also killed in the attack.
In other violence, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activist group reported clashes in the Barada Valley region on the outskirts of Damascus between troops and army defectors as government forces stormed the area. The Observatory said dozens of people were wounded.
The Observatory said "tens of army vehicles" were deploying in the southern town of Maaraba. The Observatory added that two people were killed in the eastern town of Qoriah during raids by regime force.
In neighboring Jordan, an interior ministry official said the country was now hosting 95,000 Syrian refugees who had fled the conflict. The official spoke today on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to make statements to the media.
Associated Press writers Ali Akbar Dareini in Tehran, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. | <urn:uuid:0c899b88-9a41-4c68-a6aa-1466b8e6c1e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/578039/News-at-2-p-m---Syria-says-it-will-stop-fighting-by-U-N--deadline.html?nav=5222 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969343 | 1,343 | 1.625 | 2 |
Help - what's wrong?!
Good morning I got a recipe from a baker from the Netherlands. It makes about 8 loaves. I started this exactly according to the recipe. 4000g wholemeal flour 400g white bread flour 2% salt = 88g 1.5% sugar = 66g 2% oil = 88g 3% yeast - 132g ( It seems an awful lot!) .4% maltflour (I left this out) 60% water = 2640g (This again seems far too little?) THe dough was very stiff - I could hardly knead it. Is it the recipe or the flour that we use in South Africa? Your comments will be much appreciated. Thanks Ilse My recipe takes much more water, but I never weigh it and use water more or less until the dough feels good. This is the 1st time I'm using the baker's percentages for a wholewheat bread. :-) | <urn:uuid:3ec056ff-3390-4c61-87b6-101f2cb69c9b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thefreshloaf.com/print/30621 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97098 | 189 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Howard Schultz, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks delivers his speech at the Starbucks Partner Family Forum in Beijing on April 18, 2012. (Getty Images)
As Starbucks continues its march of world domination world-wide expansion, it’s running into some cultural issues. Take China for example, where the Seattle-based company has more than 600 stores.
AdAge China has an interesting look at how consumers react to the Starbucks brand. Takeout business is trumped by in-cafe customers. And coffee itself has a curious reputation for being against the masculine tradition.
Forbes writer Peter Ubel raised an interesting question today in a column about the emotional intelligence of physicians: Are baristas at Starbucks better with people that most doctors?
It sounds strange at first, but just listen to his argument for why Starbucks employees are trained to handle all your irrational complaints:
As described in Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit, Starbucks employees undergo rigorous training in how to recognize and respond to customer needs. They learn about what the company calls the” Latte Method” of responding to unpleasant situations (and really, would you have them call it anything else?). The Latte Method involves:
“We Listen to the customer, Acknowledge their complaint, Take action by solving the problem, Thank them, and then Explain why the problem occurred”
The result? Baristas learn to recognize when their customers are exhibiting negative emotions and, more importantly, how to address these emotions in positive ways.
New Yorkers, caffeine-starved by Hurricane Sandy’s devastating hold on the city, are making a pilgrimage to a lone Midtown Starbucks that’s open. The New York Post and the Starbucks Gossip blog report the store’s continued opperation spread via social media — and people showed up in droves.
“Fans walked and took Town Cars to the Starbucks adjacent to the Marriott Marquis off Times Square, as word spread via social media that it was open,” the Post reported.
In Mumbai, they really like Starbucks. Following the opening of Starbucks’ first store in India, there’s a line around the block. Like for a nightclub, except folks are there to buy coffee instead of… well, whatever people buy at nightclubs.
There’s excitement among everyone,’ said Akhil Somani, a 27-year-old financial adviser told Business Insider. “We have our own coffee brands but this one has had a lot of hype.”
The news site reports entrance to the new store is on a strict one-in, one-out basis.
The lunch is valued at $10,000 — meaning that’s roughly what one hour of Schultz’s time is worth. Nothing like a five-figure hourly rate to speed a meal along.
So far, the top bid is $1,600, but there are still 21 days of bidding left.
Schultz will be available for lunch in Seattle or New York, and Charitybuzz promoters say he’ll “answer questions about his brand philosophy and impart a bit of the wisdom that has led him to become one of the most successful figures in business.”
And now for the fine print. In case you were wondering if you could show up and yell at him about selling the Sonics, the answer is “no.” That’s clearly in violation of this polite-manners agreement. | <urn:uuid:43a85a0b-a50d-4644-894f-e2df0a62fb97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/category/starbucks/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955522 | 720 | 1.710938 | 2 |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Eric and Ruth Brown believe nothing about daughter Pearl Joy's life is a mistake.
They say God gave Pearl her bright red hair and wide blue eyes, as well as the genetic disorder that created a cleft in her upper lip and caused her brain's development to stall in the first weeks in the womb.
"Things didn't go wrong," Eric Brown said. "God has designed Pearl the way he wanted, for his glory and our good."
That belief has sustained the Browns during the past six months, ever since a routine ultrasound revealed that the couple's third child has alobar holoprosencephaly, a rare genetic condition that's almost always fatal. A specialist told the Browns she would probably die in the womb and advised them to end the pregnancy early.
It's one thing to talk about God's will when life is good. It's another when a doctor is saying your baby won't live.
The Browns were forced to consider religious, medical and ethical issues most parents never will. And nobody could make their decision for them.
The Browns never considered abortion. They believe that Pearl is "fearfully and wonderfully made," as Psalm 139 puts it, and God alone should decide when she lives and when she dies.
Seeing Pearl's beating heart on the ultrasound also persuaded them to continue the pregnancy, even if the odds were stacked against her.
"If there is a chance, you say yes to that chance," Eric Brown said. "The only thing I know about parenting is that you say yes."
So far, Pearl has beaten the odds.
Few babies with Pearl's disorder make it to term, and of those who do, only 3 percent survive birth, according to the Dallas-based Carter Centers for Brain Research in Holoprosencephaly and Related Malformations. Pearl has a particularly severe form of the condition, which means her brain never divided into two hemispheres.
She turned 11 weeks old Oct. 12, a milestone that the Browns celebrated by lighting 11 candles and singing "Happy Birthday."
She'll likely never walk or read or speak. Doctors have given her a year. That doesn't matter to her parents.
"We didn't think she was going to be able to breathe," Eric Brown said. "We don't care about those things. She is here, and her brain is telling her how to live."
The living room of their tidy 700-square-foot cottage has been transformed into a nursery with Pearl's cradle wedged in the corner between a pair of couches.
Beside the cradle is an IV stand and pump that the Browns use to feed Pearl. She's not strong enough yet to nurse and uses a nasal gastric tube to eat. They also have an oxygen tank nearby, in case of emergency.
On the mantel across the room is a box packed with ultrasound photos of Pearl, along with letters and cards from neighbors and well-wishers from around the world who had read about Pearl on a blog run by a family friend.
For a while, the Browns thought these mementos would be all they would have of their daughter.
Eric Brown said they feared that she would be the "girl who was almost here" and that their other two children, Abbey, 3, and Brennan, 5, would never meet their sister face to face.
"This stuff is sweet, but now we have Pearl," her father said while thumbing through the box. "Even if she passes soon or she passes later, she is not going to disappear."
Still, the Browns know that they live in the shadow of Pearl's death. She has seizures on a daily basis, has a weakened immune system and has been back to the hospital at least five times in the past three months.
Something as simple as a common cold could end her life. But that day hasn't come yet, her mother said.
"She's fighting, and we're fighting with her," Ruth Brown said.
The Browns say their lives are nothing special. He's 31, she's 28. He works on the road crew for Christian musicians such as David Crowder, selling merchandise and shooting video. Ruth Brown is a stay-at-home mom.
They've had a lot of help along the way, from family and friends as well as members of The Village Chapel, a nondenominational church where the Browns have worshipped for the past year.
The Browns' support network has brought them meals and paid their bills when Eric Brown took several months off to help care for his wife and daughter.
Supporters also donated about $12,000 to buy a minivan for the Browns. Because of Pearl's condition, one of her parents always has to ride in the back with her, meaning the family couldn't all fit in their old car.
Eric Brown said he's grateful for the help, though it was hard to accept. He wants to be able to provide for his family. He's also grateful for the state's TennCare program, which is paying for Pearl's medical care. He estimates her care already has cost more than $1 million.
He knows that cost may anger some people, especially since the doctors advised his wife to end her pregnancy. "I don't have a good answer," he said. "The doctors told us not to (continue her care), and you should not have to pay. All I can say is thanks."
At first, not all their friends understood the decision the Browns made.
Kristina Guisler, a friend from the MOMS Club of East Nashville, met the Browns in 2009. When she first heard about Pearl's condition, she said she wasn't sure the Browns had made the right decision by continuing with the pregnancy. She wondered what kind of life Pearl would have.
But seeing the love that the Browns have for Pearl has changed her mind and strengthened her own faith.
"It's reaffirmed my faith in humanity and in the power of prayer," she said.
She's also been amazed at Pearl's personality and her ability to fight for life. "She's a little firecracker," Guisler said.
Nancy and David Guthrie of Nashville faced the ordeal twice: in 1998 and 2002.
The Guthries' son Gabriel and daughter Hope both died in infancy from a fatal genetic condition called Zellweger syndrome. In Gabriel's case, the Guthries learned he had Zellweger while he was still in the womb.
The couple recently brought a meal to the Browns and spent an evening visiting with them. Nancy Guthrie said that a fatal diagnosis can't overcome the love and joy that comes from being in the presence of a newborn who is loved.
"One of the things we learned is that great sorrow and great joy can coexist," she said. "Because life in the image of God is so precious, there is great joy in having this one you love with you, even while there is great sorrow in knowing that this child might not grow old with you."
Like the Browns, the Guthries believe strongly that nothing happens in their lives that is outside of God's control. They say it brings comfort to know the child will live exactly the number of days that God intends.
The Rev. Jim Thomas, pastor of The Village Chapel, said that believing in God's sovereignty doesn't mean that the Browns know why Pearl is sick, but it reminds them that they are not alone.
"You have two people with personal courage, a loving community and a sovereign God," he said. "That doesn't make it easier, but it does make it bearable."
Families such as the Browns have no easy answers, said Elizabeth Heitman, an associate professor in the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
They are faced with the inevitable, often imminent death of their child, with no hope at the chance for a healthy life. So they grieve both the loss of their child and the dreams for the life that child could have had.
"The diagnosis of a fatal disease in utero is a terrible test of faith for anyone," Heitman said. "There is no right answer."
Letting go will not be easy. But the Browns say their faith tells them that death is not the end of Pearl's life.
"When she is done here on Earth, she is not done for good," Ruth Brown said. "Heaven will be easier for her."
(Bob Smietana writes for The Tennessean in Nashville.)
KRE/AMB END SMIETANA | <urn:uuid:8752bd9b-c50d-47c2-9f04-35a81582fd5b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://archives.religionnews.com/ethics/death-and-dying/parents-accept-daughters-rare-illness-as-gods-will | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985084 | 1,776 | 1.75 | 2 |
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 3.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.05 million units in November. Sales also were revised upward for the three previous months.
The latest number is up from October’s 1.01 million units and well above the recent low of 979,000 units that was recorded in July.
“This is a very good report, and is consistent with the idea that the rather abrupt downward correction in home sales from the unsustainable highs of 2005 has reached its end. Furthermore, inventories of unsold units are gradually being drawn down from their mid-year highs,” said David Seiders, Chief Economist of the National Association of Home Builders.
“The data also confirm what our builder surveys have been telling us over the past several months – that buyer demand is firming up across many markets and that builders are looking forward to further improvements in sales activity in 2007.”
The inventory of new homes for sale fell for the fourth consecutive month in November to 545,000 units, which is equivalent to a 6.3-month supply at the current sales pace. This is the lowest inventory level since February and the lowest month’s supply since May.
Back to Breaking News | <urn:uuid:ad6ca468-0d62-41cc-bdd1-942aac6e9746> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.appliancemagazine.com/news_print.php?article=11215&zone=0&first=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97472 | 270 | 1.523438 | 2 |
BOCA RATON, FL – Due to the bad economy, many young adults are moving into nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
They don’t seem to fit in. Many of the other residents don’t have iPods or iPhones. Most don’t go out until four in the morning, listen to Eminem and watch MTV all day. But for twenty-somethings who can’t find work and can’t move back home, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are proving to be a viable lifestyle choice.
It’s no longer unusual to find a nursing home resident who is decades younger than his neighbor: About one in seven people now living in such facilities in the U.S. is a young adult in their early 20s. This growing phenomenon has presented a host of challenges for nursing homes, but they all seem to be adapting.
Many senior citizens welcome the “lively” young adults that are moving in. “We love their energy and enthusiasm,” said Jasper Winegar, “except when they start trying to hit on my gals, then I have a problem with them.”
The number of under-25 nursing home residents has risen about 72 percent in the past year to about 2,003,000, according to an analysis of statistics from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services .
The same generational tensions that exist outside nursing homes are inside them as well, and are sometimes exacerbated by the often close confines.
Older residents complain about loud music and visitors, younger residents complain about living with someone with dementia or being served creamed spinach. Many nursing homes try to house younger residents together, though in many cases their small numbers make that difficult.
At Bayshore Health Center in Duluth, Minn., 74 of the 160 residents are in their 20s, all living in private rooms in their own wing. The staff has found it to be a lot of “fun” to have the twenty-somethings in their care.
Instead of bingo night, there are poker games and raves. For someone who stays up late watching a movie, breakfast can be served at noon., rather than 7 a.m. Pizza is offered in place of lasagna; Mountain Dew and Coke are poured instead of coffee and tea.
The Obama Administration is funding nursing homes across the country to take care of twenty-somethings who can’t find work. “This is a great way to stimulate the economy and I’m all for it,” echoed Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House.
Here’s one of the new residents at the Manor Acres Living Facility in Bayonne, New Jersey: | <urn:uuid:0488f394-6192-417d-8373-27eef60e4bc5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/27445/young-adults-moving-into-nursing-homes/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=ea0388e61b | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962187 | 568 | 1.65625 | 2 |
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As it happened: Huge airstrike in Gaza Al Jazeera, Nov 19, 2012
Airstrikes have continued in Gaza overnight. Have a listen to what happened as our Al Jazeera news presenter was speaking to our correspondent Nicole Johnston in Gaza. Moments later Johnston confirmed that the Israeli airstrike hit a police station, some 400m away from Al Jazeera's offices. Drones and aircrafts are constantly circling the strip which has about 1,500,000 people living in it. | <urn:uuid:94788117-3b2f-441f-a265-249546c97a5f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://imeu.net/news/article0023250.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953497 | 169 | 1.53125 | 2 |
SANTA FE (AP) — Attorney General Gary King says the state is responsible for paying to furnish a new district courthouse in Santa Fe.
The state Board of Finance is to consider a request Thursday from the 1st Judicial District for a loan of nearly $827,000 for furnishings that court officials say is needed for judges to move into the $60 million courthouse in January.
Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed almost $1.4 million the Legislature approved for courthouse furnishings earlier this year. Martinez contends it's the county's responsibility to provide furniture and other equipment
In an advisory letter this week to Rep. Brian Egolf of Santa Fe, King's office said it's the state's obligation although the county can agree to share the costs.
A Martinez spokesman said Wednesday the governor disagreed with the attorney general.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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New Mexico is located in the southwestern region of the U.S. Inhabited by Native American populations for many centuries, New Mexico has also been part of Imperial Spain, part of Mexico, and a U.S. territory. | <urn:uuid:f0056660-244f-4af7-a6b3-93dec0be1b7d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newmexico.onpolitix.com/news/124479/board-to-consider-courthouse-furniture | 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 | 0.961255 | 261 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Designer creates clutter-free organizational hubs
Mallory Mathison / Flip Flop Photography
Mallory Mathison designed this office "corner" in a family kitchen.
Brian Patrick Flynn / Sarah Dorio
AFTER: Brian Patrick Flynn turned the room into a clean and colorful creative space.
Brian Patrick Flynn / Sarah Dorio
BEFORE: This catch-all room was a disorganized nightmare of clutter.
Increasingly, homeowners are carving out a physical space -- anything from a single kitchen cabinet to an entire spare room -- that can function as a family information center and workstation.
In an effort to battle clutter and keep track of schedules, designer Brian Patrick Flynn helps clients kick the habit of spreading out items around their homes.
"These days, it's pretty much a given that families use their kitchen islands, dining tables and/or coffee tables as prime real estate for laptops, school papers, iPhones and mail," said Flynn, founder and editor of decordemon.com.
"When I'm designing entire homes, especially ones for young families, the first thing I focus on is locating a seldom-used corner, section or nook somewhere easily accessible to create a creative and organizational hub.
"This usually follows my tirade of, 'No more using the dining table or breakfast nook as a clutter station!'"
Flynn and two interior designers offer these tips on creating the perfect headquarters to wrangle homework assignments, invitations, permission slips, calendars and more.
- A calendar (paper, digital or both) that the whole family can access.
- Accessible storage space for incoming mail, invitations and permission slips where things won't be forgotten.
- A message board (dry-erase white boards and/or corkboards are popular) where family members can post and share information.
- A labeled bin or section of corkboard space assigned to each family member.
- A power strip for charging electronic devices, with shelf or desk space to keep those items while charging.
Ideally, the space will include a work surface where kids can do homework and parents can handle tasks like filling out permission slips.
Many families include a laptop or desktop computer for homework or checking e-mail. If you have a computer handy, you're more likely to enter information digitally and eliminate paper clutter.
Where to put it
Flynn suggests using the "bonus room" that many newer homes have.
Atlanta designer Mallory Mathison has converted pantries or small closets into organizational hubs.
She removes the doors to open up the space, adds a deep shelf as a desktop. and puts shelves and a message board and calendar on the back wall.
HGTV designer Cortney Novogratz suggests families in smaller homes could choose one corner of the kitchen, since it's a room the entire family uses daily, and designate a single kitchen cabinet as the hub.
Line the cabinet door with the calendar and corkboard or dry-erase board and add small bins on the shelves for each family member.
A small laptop can be kept inside the cabinet and taken out for use at the kitchen table.
For additional storage, she suggests buying a rolling cart with labeled drawers where each child in the family can keep things like pending work or art supplies. This can be wheeled around the kitchen or other rooms as needed.
In lieu of custom built-ins, Flynn suggests buying two kitchen cabinets from a big-box home improvement store, and two prefab bookcases. Stack the bookcases on top of the base cabinets. Mount them to the wall and add some basic molding to the front edges, creating "the look of custom built-ins, but for only a few hundred bucks."
He also suggests plundering the rest of your home in search of old furniture. In one home, he placed two old dressers next to each other, using their surfaces as a place to collect mail and pending paperwork.
He outfitted the dresser drawers with a hanging file system, then brought in an old table and chairs from a child's playroom.
And paint goes a long way in coordinating the pieces.
For limited spaces Mathison suggests searching estate sales (or your own attic) for one large piece of furniture like a wooden secretary, which has a desktop and a mix of open and closed storage.
Refinish it with several coats of glossy paint and, if necessary, drill holes in the back for power cords.
Make it work
Even the best system won't work unless you use it. Flynn says beautiful, bright colors can help draw you to your organizational space.
Kids will be proud to have their projects and tests posted alongside their artwork for added inspiration.
Plan the space carefully based on your needs: Do older kids need extra space for doing homework? Are you juggling lots of appointments and need to make your calendar the centerpiece?
Novogratz suggests hanging a family calendar and business calendar together so you can mark things on both, and kids can see when you'll be busy with work commitments.
If scheduling is key, post pending items like permission slips and invitations in a prominent spot or keep them in an in-box that you'll check regularly. | <urn:uuid:0f442566-6ea0-4af8-be33-b952c49bbeb7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://heraldnet.com/article/20130122/LIVING/701229975/0/COMM0605 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930377 | 1,075 | 1.539063 | 2 |
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The caretakers of the Olympics may have inadvertently accomplished what has eluded diplomats: Galvanizing Iran and the U.S. on a common goal.
Wrestling officials from the arch foes appeared to be in bonding mode Tuesday on the sidelines of a Tehran tournament less than a week after the stunning decision by the International Olympic Committee that will force the ancient sport — as old as the Olympics themselves — to lobby for a spot at the 2020 Games.
Already, the fight to keep wrestling in the Olympics has brought the U.S. and Cuban federations into a possible alliance. But close cooperation between Iran and America would be an even more remarkable display of common cause with almost everything else driving them apart — led by an impasse over Tehran's nuclear program and Western sanctions that have upended the Iranian economy.
It's unlikely that any kind of wrestling detente would spill over into the wider issues, but it's certain to at least draw attention to the power of sports as a low-risk icebreaker going back to the historic 1971 "pingpong diplomacy" between China and the U.S.
U.S. freestyle coach Zeke Jones, speaking to The Associated Press by phone from Tehran, said that officials from 10 of the world's top wrestling nations will meet Wednesday in Iran. Delegations from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, the United States, Russia and Turkey will gather to discuss how to reverse the IOC's decision.
Jones said that those countries were chosen because they finished in the top 10 in the freestyle competition at the 2011 world championships, the last time team scores were held at a major international meet.
"We'll be standing arm-in-arm with Iran, and we'll be standing with Russia as we will with lots of other countries," said Mitch Hull, national teams director for USA Wrestling, in an interview in Tehran with AP Television News before the World Cup Tournament.
"Those (countries) really do make a difference because politically we're not always on the same page, or politically with Russia, but in wrestling, there's no doubt that we are all together in this effort and we consider Iran one of our strongest allies in the sport of wrestling," Hull said.
Hull described them as "sport rivals, but they are friends in sport, too." "We have great confidence that we can work with the Iranian wrestling federation, Iranian wrestlers and the Iranian people to show the world that, no matter what's happening politically, we have the same goal and the same belief and passion about the sport of wrestling," he said.
Jones said that the World Cup, which ranks below only the world championships in annual importance, has come at a "perfect time," given the IOC's recent move. Though Jones acknowledged that relations between international wrestling teams like the U.S. and Iran can be difficult, he said such competitions usually foster the kind of camaraderie and friendship the sport desperately needs.
"You'll have absolutely zero problem with the countries being unified on saving wrestling," Jones said. "The countries will do anything in working together to keep Olympic wrestling in the program." Hojatollah Khatib, the head of Iran's wrestling federation, said the tournament would offer "the best opportunity to confront the decision" to drop the sport from the Olympics.
"We should resist the decision, determinedly," Khatib was quoted by the semiofficial Mehr news agency as saying. "We should show our unity in the current event." On Monday, U.S. wrestling officials agreed to create a special committee charged with seeking to save Olympic wrestling, which will remain in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. But it must compete against seven other events — including squash, roller sports and wakeboarding — for one open slot in the 2020 Games, which have yet to be awarded to a host city.
Iran also has said it is looking to join wrestling's "big powers" to reverse the IOC decision. Last week, Iran's wrestling federation and its Olympic committee said they would send a protest letter to the IOC.
The independent Etemad newspaper ran a report that described the "axis" of wrestling — Iran, the United States and Russia — as joining forces to keep the sport in the Olympics. For Iran, it's a mission of serious importance. Wrestling is considered by many to be something of a national sport — not as popular as soccer or with the deep Persian roots of polo, but one that gives Iran a chance to shine in international competitions. Wrestling also is Iran's major medal sport at the Olympics.
Iran won three gold medals, its first in the Greco-Roman division, out of six overall in wrestling at the London Games, and the U.S. took two gold medals out of four overall. "Do we destroy our historical sites which are symbols of humanity? No. Then, why should we destroy wrestling?" Iranian gold medalist Ali Reza Dabir said shortly after the IOC decision on Feb. 13.
In the current 14-team World Cup tournament in Tehran, the U.S. is joined by other freestyle wrestling powers including Russia and many of the former Soviet republics. Last week, Alexander Mamiashvili, the head of the Russian wrestling federation, said President Vladimir Putin had ordered a committee be formed to contest the IOC decision.
Despite the shared dismay over wrestling's Olympic snub, Iran's state media had only limited reports on the arrival of the American wrestlers — perhaps linked to the official anger over the sanctions that have hit Iran's critical oil exports and blacklisted the country from international financial networks.
The cool reception is in distinct contrast to the almost celebrity welcome given in 1998 to the first U.S. wrestlers who competed in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that collapsed ties between the two countries. Washington cut relations after the U.S. Embassy was stormed, leading to 52 Americans being held hostage for 444 days.
U.S. sports team now make occasional appearances in Iran, but the two countries often compete together in international events. There also have been some false starts. In 2009, Iran invited the U.S. women's badminton team to compete in a tournament, then denied visas by saying there was not enough time to process the applications. In late 2011, Iran bowed out of an invitational table tennis exhibition tournament in Qatar that included the U.S., North Korea and Pakistan.
The U.S. has sent more than 30 athletes to Iran under a sports exchange program launched in 2007, and more than 75 Iranian athletes and coaches have visited the United States.
Murphy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP Sports Writer Luke Meredith in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:321a2c73-46c9-49fc-8725-40c6c3b19763> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1900454-us-iran-find-common-ground-olympic-wrestling.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967025 | 1,392 | 1.648438 | 2 |
1) Continuity - Doom 1, and Doom 2 came in a relatively short sequence, and were then followed by the Quake series (which was pretty much the same, let's admit it). Much easier to remember a series that affected a whole generation.
2) Doom (or at least Doom 2) had successful multiplayer. I spent most of my freshmen year in the old computer lab playing Doom 2 deathmatches against dorm-mates.
Wolf 3D was a fun game, but it wasn't really memorable as a franchise. The gameplay wasn't as good as some earlier in-the-nazi-castle 2D games, and the sequels were not particularly successful and came many years later. There were also a lot of copycats that were pretty much the same principle but different tiles.
I remember downloading the demo for doom and having my mind blown. Doom was the first major shooter to give a sense of verticality, even though if I'm not mistaken the map design really didn't let a player be at different heights at the same time. | <urn:uuid:b54e28fd-6222-438f-bcfe-86195dc82669> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/19766/why-doom-and-not-wolfenstein-3d | 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 | 0.990629 | 214 | 1.5 | 2 |
Town and Country Players, Buckingham, have some good potential directors for future shows as evidenced by the quality of the directing and performances at their annual One-act Play Festival this weekend. It is from this trio, the Board will decide who is ready to direct full length plays in the future.
As a result of these performances and others I have seen lately, I have a new appreciation for the writers, directors and actors of one-act plays. These three nuggets of cleverly crafted humor, were performed and directed well.
Sometimes audiences turn up their noses at seeing one-acts. Some people think they must see only well-known full-length plays or musicals. That is faulty thinking. Lots of playwrights hone their playwriting skills on short pieces of theatre before they go on to write award-winning scripts.
A full-length play could not sustain he humor of any of these three very funny comedy gems. An idea is developed quickly with fast exposition, quick conflict, and a slick denouement, all within about 15 or 20 minutes. Instead of a theme becoming tiresome, it develops quickly and ends appropriately leaving the audience laughing, satisfied, and wanting to see what is next.
Carol Burnett and other brilliant comedians knew that secret, and always kept the audience laughing with very short skits. Robert Anderson wrote a play comprised of four one-acts under one title: You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water is Running! There are many other writers who have followed suit.
Additionally, many actors and directors prefer doing one act plays in community theatre because they offer less strenuous time commitments.
The evening opened with Babel’s in Arms, directed by Jonathan Knapp. Joseph Perignat, as Gorph, and Gene Petrucci as Cannapflit were hysterically funny in the leading roles. They worked together with great exaggeration, having to deliver lines sometimes comprised of gibberish. Both actors show their extensive stage experience in their timing.
They are supported well by John Demeter, Victoria Schulthels and Valerie Sharp, all lending to the humor their very serious portrayals of very exaggerated characters.
Do Not Collect Two Hundred Dollars is directed creatively by Ken Weigert. Four well known names from various eras of history gather to play – of all things – a game of Monopoly: Adolf Hitler, (John Demeter), Vladymir Lenin, (Joseph Perignat), Napoleon Bonaparte, (Andy Kind-Rubin), and writer James Joyce, (Tom McFarland.) It’s outlandish and outrageous: Hitler does not understand why he must “buy” property on the Monopoly Board when he can just take it; Bonaparte talks with his wife, Josephine, on a cell phone; Lenin tries to make sense of a game that is too capitalistic, and Joyce leaves the game table inspired by the conversation, to think about something he must write. The play is cleverly silly and funny while unbelievable.
The final one-act is The Wedding Story, directed by Kristin Baldino. There’s a story teller, Valerie Sharper, a bride and groom, Michelle Lewicki and John Neuman. Reading to unseen children, the storyteller tries to paint a picture of a happy couple, but she is rudely interrupted frequently by the annoyed bride and groom wanting the real story to be told. Exasperated, the storyteller relents, but changes the story to shows the sordid side of the couple’s relationship. Therein lies the humor! Well-done cast and director!
Town and Country member Andy McPhee produced the one act festival. Fred Conover Jr. was a capable stage manager.
The story lines of all the plays were funny and entertaining.
ONE ACT FESTIVAL
June 10 & 11, 2011
Town and Country Players
4158 York Road
Buckingham, PA 18912
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- MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS at Actors’NET of Bucks County – March 4, 2013
- LOVE LETTERS at Kelsey Theatre – February 21, 2013 | <urn:uuid:0f01d14f-b486-4eb7-9d15-0b1d45c90adf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stagemagazine.org/2011/06/one-act-festival-is-an-evening-of-fun-at-tc-players/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959975 | 930 | 1.5 | 2 |
In the three weeks between President Barack Obama’s Jan. 20 announcement that there would be no expansion of the conscience exemptions regarding Department of Health and Human Services mandates for contraceptives and his Feb. 10 announcement of an “accommodation” that effectively does expand those exemptions, the U.S. bishops enjoyed a rare moment of public support from many progressive Catholics.
Groups like the Catholic social justice lobby NETWORK and the Catholic Health Association, as well as prominent liberal Catholics like E.J. Dionne and Chris Matthews, joined the bishops in calling for broader exemptions for Catholic colleges, charities and hospitals.
When the president announced his accommodation, it was clearly a win for the bishops. The president had set a one-year timetable to address religious concerns, but the firestorm he had ignited required him to address the issue more quickly than planned.
Instead of taking a victory lap, though, the bishops declared themselves unsatisfied with the accommodation and shifted the goalposts of the debate.
To be sure, there remain problems with Obama’s accommodation. It did not address religious institutions that self-insure. And it keeps in place a troublesome precedent, drawing a distinction between houses of worship and the universities, charities and hospitals that are, for Catholics at least, integral to what is meant by “church.”
As Dionne wrote, “For liberals who sided with the church in this controversy, the most vexing problem with the original exemption on contraception is that it defined ‘religious’ so narrowly that the reality that these organizations go out of their way to serve non-Catholics was held against them. Their Gospel-inspired work was defined as non-religious. This violated the very essence of Christian charity and the church’s social justice imperatives.”
The bishops could have worked with the president to address these concerns. Instead, however, the bishops’ conference highlighted a new argument into the debate, insisting that private, secular employers should also have the right to be exempt from the mandate. With that, the bishops are losing the support they earlier gained.
“People will go to the mat to protect the Catholic church and its institutions, but they will not go to the mat to protect Taco Bell and other businessmen if they want to deny contraceptives to their women employees,” said Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese of the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington. The “Taco Bell” reference comes from the bishops’ general counsel, Anthony Picarello, who said that private employers -- even owners of places like Taco Bell -- should be allowed a religious exemption from the Health and Human Services mandate.
Reese added, “As long as the fight over the HHS mandate was seen as a fight to protect religious institutions from government interference, there was wide support for the bishops. Once it became a fight over contraceptives, the bishops lost almost all their support.”
The real danger in the bishops’ shift from a defense of religious institutions to a defense of the conscience rights of individual employers and corporations, however, is one to which conservatives, and especially the bishops, should be highly attuned. It reinforces the idea that religion is essentially a private matter, between one’s conscience and God. There is no room for the magisterium in such a view and it aligns neatly with the views of some non-Catholic liberal scholars. “I am all for religious liberty,” Boston College’s Alan Wolfe said. “But in my view it is human beings that deserve liberty, not institutions. Indeed, when institutions gain liberty, people lose it.” Reinforcing the idea that conscience and religion are essentially individualistic things is surely not something the bishops want to reinforce in America’s highly anti-authoritarian and uber-individualistic culture.
The bishops have thrown their weight behind the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, introduced by Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., a year ago. This GOP-led effort would permit all employers to exempt themselves from the mandates of the Affordable Care Act. The bill is unlikely to get very far. The Democrats see it as an effort to undermine health care reform. The bishops are already in an odd position vis-à-vis health care reform: They opposed the bill in 2010 but have failed to join calls for its repeal.
The political influence of the bishops’ conference is difficult to gauge. On the one hand, it has been at the forefront of efforts to overturn legalized abortion since 1973, but abortion remains legal. In the early 1980s, the conference issued two provocative pastoral letters, one on war and peace and the other on the economy, and while the first did change the views of many Catholics on the morality of war, the economic pastoral changed few hearts or minds.
On the other hand, last year, working mostly under the radar, the conference almost single-handedly formed an interreligious group, the “Circle of Protection,” that has successfully advocated for programs that assist the poor. Amid the highly contentious partisan wrangling during last summer’s debt-ceiling debate, the bishops secured agreements from the GOP-led House and the Obama administration that any across-the-board budget cuts would not affect programs like food stamps and Medicaid.
“It seems to me that to get their mojo back, the bishops need to recalibrate their understanding of the place of religion, their religion, in the American public square,” said Mark Silk of Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. “In exchange for robust religious liberty protections, you’ve got to be prepared to accept that society’s norms are not yours. That’s hard for a lot of bishops these days, but secular types are a whole lot more willing to acquiesce in religious exception when they don’t feel like those who get the exceptions want to inflict them on everyone else. Same-sex marriage is the big case in point now.”
Indeed, the bishops’ positions do not fit neatly into either political party. “The ideological chasm in American public life puts Catholics in a tricky spot,” Stephen Schneck of The Catholic University of America in Washington. “On one hand, the left champions concern for the poor, for the immigrant, for universal access to health care, for protecting the environment, and has a more traditional understanding of the common good. The right, on the other hand, opposes access to abortion, opposes stem cell research and opposes same-sex marriage -- but leans toward a libertarian dismissal of social justice. As a result, it often seems to Catholics that we’re forced in one way or another to be only half-Catholic.”
This inability to fit into either political party is about to play out in spades in Maryland, where two contentious issues -- the DREAM Act, giving the children of undocumented workers in-state tuition costs at Maryland’s public colleges, and same-sex marriage -- are both headed for referendums in November. “In our minds,” said Mary Ellen Russell, executive director of Maryland’s Catholic Conference, “while it presents an extraordinary challenge to be involved in two ballot initiatives, it is also an opportunity for the church to shine. Our positions result from something deeper and richer than party platforms.”
The U.S. bishops, then, must tread carefully in the public square. Even though they got the president to modify his position on the conscience exemptions with great alacrity, they could easily overplay their hand. “People are sympathetic to the bishops when they are trying to protect religious institutions, but when they push their public policy agenda, whether it be against gay marriage or for immigration reform, they are treated as just another voice in the public square,” Reese said. “If people agree with their arguments, they follow them. If they don’t, they don’t.”
[Michael Sean Winters writes about religion and politics on his Distinctly Catholic blog on the NCR website, at NCRonline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic.] | <urn:uuid:38a874a0-6a66-436e-b497-16f4a4f7f7af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ncronline.org/print/news/politics/some-see-bishops-danger-overplaying-their-hand | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965203 | 1,685 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Meditation & buddhism classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace. Each class consists of two guided meditations and a teaching to help us solve our daily problems, let go of negative minds and find the lasting happiness we seek.
Each class begins with a simple guided breathing meditation followed by a teaching and a second guided meditation based on the teaching. There is also an opportunity to ask questions.
Simply meditate classes provide an opportunity to learn basic meditations. Each week a meditation is explained and you will be guided through the meditation. These classes are great for anyone who would like to introduce regular meditation to their life and experience the many benefits of having a peaceful mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a Buddhist to benefit from meditation?
No. Anyone can learn basic meditation and experience the benefits that come from having a peaceful mind. Buddhists respect all people and are happy to help anyone regardless of whether they subscribe to another faith, or to none.
Do I need to have experience in meditation or Buddhism to attend the classes?
No. All you need is the wish to improve yourself and the quality of your life.
What do I need to bring to class?
Nothing in particular, however if you wish to take notes bring a pen and notepad.
How should I dress for class?
No particular clothing is required.
What is the cost of the class?
$14 per class unless otherwise stated. As a non-profit organisation, all class and membership fees go towards supporting the centre and branch classes. | <urn:uuid:660e713e-eb0c-4520-af2d-2a17cf8d797d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://meditateinauckland.org/meditation-classes/what-to-expect-at-a-class/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943212 | 325 | 1.765625 | 2 |
The ANWAR Over Energy
James Hall - From the Left
"Conservation may be a sign of personal
virtue, but it is not a sufficient basis for a sound, comprehensive energy policy." -- Dick Cheney
"Dick Cheney is a dinosaur living in the
age of mammals." -- Ralph Nader
First Mr. Bush talked the economy down; now he warns of an energy crisis.
In each case, his cries of doom are self-serving. He wanted and got a tax cut and he wants a green light to drill and mine
oil and coal, build nuclear power plants, pipelines, refineries, and create an endless emphasis on consuming energy, regardless
of the problems associated with high energy prices, increased pollution and continued global warming.
The new Bush energy policy is simply a business plan for America's energy
corporations. It advocates building 1,300-1,900 new power plants with minimal environmental impact studies, creating new coal-fired
and nuclear power plants, drilling in the few remaining pristine areas of America, including the Alaska National Wildlife
Refuge, the Lewis and Clark Forest, the Rocky Mountains and Gulf Coast of Florida, and using imminent domain to take private
lands in order to build more pipelines and powergrids for the energy industry.
Just don't expect to find measures that significantly increase our conservation
of resources or that control the increased levels of pollution and other forms of environmental damage that will occur because
of this plan. Why would an administration that preaches timeworn virtues like honesty, family, and faith turn up its nose
at the rights of landowners and the values of thrift and frugality?
To find out follow the money--there's more cash in consumption than in conservation.
Keep consumption high and the price of oil can stay high--in this respect Bush, Big Oil, and OPEC are natural allies. This
suits the major energy corporations who bankrolled Bush and Cheney and out of whose ranks they came. This suits the major
automotive companies who paid Andrew Card, Bush's chief of staff, to represent them, and who were defended by former Michigan
Senator Spencer Abraham, now Bush's Secretary of Energy. If these companies can persuade Americans to consume more, they make
more money, period.
And there's little political pain involved in increasing consumption. Bush
doesn't have to tell Americans to turn in their gas-guzzing sport trucks and SUVs or turn up their thermostats. He doesn't
have to tell the automotive industry to design more fuel efficient automobiles. By the time we burn all the additional oil
and coal his policy would create and see the results of additional smog, acid rain, and shrinking coastlines, he'll be safely
out of office with his oil bucks in his wallet.
Energy conservation, on the other hand, is a young, emerging industry without
the extensive lobbyists and support the fossil fuel people have. And clean energy sources like solar and wind power are relatively
new technologies without a political base. They don't need major corporations to run them, and they make consumers independent,
not dependent on energy corporations for energy. That's why Bush has tied federal support for them to revenues derived from
drilling in the ANWR. It's another gun held to the heads of those who care about independent living and an environmentally
sound future for this country.
America does have energy problems, but not a crisis. Oil to gas production
is tight, with refineries working at nearly 100% capacity, and the northern and southern California suburbs have outgrown
their local powergrids. But California is already dealing with its power problem by building 13 new power plants, some of
which will be online this summer. And private industry, not government, is responsible for the dearth of new refineries. During
the gas glut of the 1990s, when prices were stabliized at low levels, the major energy companies simply stopped building them.
The increasing monopoly power of the energy corporations allows them to limit the number of refineries and the supply of gas
available to us, and not any lack of government planning.
Will moving forward to exhaust the remaining oil and gas in North America
really prevent us from being dependent on foreign oil? The recent cut of OPEC oil, something that Mr. Bush assured us wouldn't
happen during HIS administration, again serves notice that an economy dependent on fossil fuels is an economy at risk of the
global manipulation of oil prices. As long as we remain dependent on oil at all we are vulnerable to world energy prices.
We should be moving to wean ourselves from fossil fuels, which we could do by promoting renewable sources like solar, wind,
and water power for power generation, and by reducing dependancy on oil through mandating efficiency standards for automobiles
and electric appliances.
So what are the alternatives? Denmark leads the world in per capita generation
of wind power. Danes buy modern windmills, which are now as expensive to operate as coal-fired plants and are expected to
drop by 2002 in costs to oil-fired plants. Regulations that require the power company to buy back electricity generated by
windmills and incentives that encourage farmers and landowners to buy and set up windmills have encouraged the growth of this
industry in Denmark. Similar changes in American policy could greatly increase our investment in nonpolluting, renewable energy
owned by individual Americans, not the major corporations.
Prototypes using turbines that run on ocean currents are being developed in
Canada. Fuel cell technology promises to make the internal combustion engine obsolete in 20-25 years. This technology is actively
being pushed in Europe and Japan, but not in the United States, where research is held hostage to politics.
Fortunately a coalition of Republicans and Democrats isn't waiting on this
administration to promote conservation measures. A bill sponsored in the Senate would give tax credits to individuals and
businesses who buy the new hybrid gas electric automobiles and trucks which can get up to 60 miles a gallon. Another bipartisan
effort in the House has submitted a bill to apply the same fuel efficiency standards (CAFE standards) that now apply to sedans
to light trucks and SUVs. The Environmental Defense Fund estimates that each one mile per gallon increase in efficiency in
these automobiles saves the equivalent of one ANWR per year.
We can't expect innovation and thinking outside the box from the collection
of energy industry executives and lobbyists who inhabit the White House. Instead, we must block their efforts to water down
environmental regulations and curtail property rights for industry profits. Good conservation measures will lower gas prices,
reduce dependency on foreign oil, and reduce all forms of air pollution. It will reduce our need for drilling in environmentally
sensitive areas and let Americans pursue environmentally friendly ways to generate their own power and escape the greedy grasp
of the energy industry.
While I agree with James that an unholy alliance of government and the
five major energy corporations is a thing to be feared, I'm afraid James doesn't fear it enough, or he wouldn't be calling
for market solutions to energy problems. There can be no energy market solutions without breaking up the big energy monopolies
to restore legitimate competition. And so far as the power grid goes, the best solution may be to continue the tradition of
public utilities that established so much of America's electric grid. In California today, the only areas not subject to power
outages or outrageous price increases are those cities, like Los Angeles, who have public utility companies providing their
power instead of the large private corporations who spearheaded California's calamitous deregulation.
James is completely off-base with his assessment of ANWR. Biologists studying
the wildlife there say the necessity to keep the drilling site, a mile-long coastal plain between mountains, pristine, is
absolutely essential to their survival. Putting up the infrastructure needed to drill there will require 280 miles of roads,
hundreds of miles of pipelines, 50 million cubic yards of gravel, 25,000 workers, and large production facilities. Hardly
the "small footprint" that the administration argues will do no harm. Similar drilling platforms at nearby Prudhoe Bay have
been responsible for over 400 accidents involving oil spills. We don't need a 180 day supply of oil that badly.
Supporting nuclear technology is another mistake. We've yet to solve the
nuclear waste problem (all nuclear waste is currently stored onsite at these plants), or deal with the tremendous danger of
another nuclear accident like Three Mile Island, and plutonium remains the most dangerous substance on the planet. It's far
safer to give Americans tax incentives to produce their own energy with solar and wind power and to promote technologies which
reduce our dependence on what Alvin Toffler calls "smokestack industries," which are America's past, not its future.
James, form the Left
When the Rock turns Green, the
Every since the era of John D Rockefeller, the oil industry has been characterized as robber barons. No doubt
that his influence was unprecedented and it has been said extended indirectly to a quarter of the US economy at its peak.
But what is conveniently overlooked by 'Fiends of the Earth' (yes, spelling is correct), is the role that government played
in the creation of that devious monopoly. Looking to government to be the fair arbitrator and provider of solutions is akin
to accepting a silver dime from the grand old man himself. A basic lesson in economics is sorely needed to clean the air.
Those who comprehend the consistent theme in these essays, understand the vigorous defense of 'Civilization'.
Modern society can only exist upon the flow of energy and the sparks of electric. Let us be perfectly clear. AC power is good,
even though I would prefer Mr. Edison's DC. But this is one area where going either way is acceptable.
For students of business who view the world as a never ending bakery growing pies of ever larger dimensions,
it continually amazes how neophytes seek to divide up smaller slivers of pieces among more and more people. This mindset doesn't
even need to address the freedom of expectations, choices of the individual. Simply on the quality of life dimension, do we
need to rest our argument.
When the 'Chicken Little' claims it is a choice between conservation OR consumption, they fodder on chow meant
for beasts, not a cuisine suitable for intelligent creators of prosperity and abundance. Common sense dictates that health
and wealth is preferable to erroneous and suspect claims of imminent collapse of the environment. Sensible and responsible
citizens recognize prudent objectives. But has government intervention into market forces provided solutions? I submit it
has not. What it has accomplished is the reinforcement and expansion of a more dangerous predator, one of which they are a
The solution is to open real competition among the seven sisters, now reduced to five. Coal is the energy
that can restore energy independence for the US. Nuclear is not a four letter word, but one that needs to be trained when
it is appropriate to use. Technology is not always a blessing, but in this area it can offer more benefit to minimize the
short comings of each method of power generation. The answers will be found in creative advancement. But the policies of every
administration have fallen well short in that support.
Has everyone forgotten the Jimmy Carter shale and coal synthetic experiment or the great legacy of the Department
of Energy? If you want wind to contribute, why are utilities allowed to refuse to buy excessive generation by private systems?
Remember that the Gulf War only promised to keep cheap oil for a ten year period! The problems in energy are political, much
more so than technical. California is a disaster of public policy idiocy, and the dementia fantasy of its citizens who voted
for it. Businessmen invest only if there is the potential of a fair return. Those who favor central control and planning,
will always doom the many to the fiat of the few.
The Bush-Cheney approach is to increase the supply. Higher prices in their own will encourage industry to
produce more. Notions of price controls would only distort this process. Added regulations, seldom will reduce the price to
the consumer. Drilling in ANWR makes proper sense when the evidence is examined objectively. The environment is not in any
real danger of being trashed. Claims to that effect are manufactured hysteria by estranged crazies. But the benefit of this
increase supply is certainly not a total solution, nor should it be argued that CAFE standards are foolish objectives, either.
People desire choice in their purchases, as it is proper to provide. When they act in asinine ways and buy inefficient gas
wasting vehicles, the negative consequences of that decision is theirs. However, I doubt that few viewed their reasons at
the time of buying as stupid.
The real question is why there are so few varieties of low consumption, high fuel efficient, or alternative
power vehicles available in the market place? The answer should be obvious! The alliance between government regulation and
industrial production is acting from the same play book. It is completely silly to think that government wants to change this
illicit relationship. Quite the contrary, the bureaucracy grows and extends its realm of regulation when mandatory and enforceable
measures are forced upon the public with the tacit consent of the corporations that continue to pass on the added costs, in
rising retail prices.
The promise of fuel cells is exciting. But what will happen to this new alternative if the cabal extends its
reach over its development? Carburetors existed in the 1940's that would double the MPG of usage. What happened? This same
marriage of greed squelched its sale. So why would anyone expect the intervention of an enlightened public policy will break
this hideous cycle? Only the force of market innovation and increased supply will meet the needs that the population demands.
To impose a diminished horizon upon the economy in order to have a managed approach for dispensed availability is a 'TC' concept.
Whenever a Totalitarian Collectivist system is decreed, the achievements of society and civilization are limited. Only the
scheme of the profiteers benefit, while the reach of the planners amplify.
The personal virtue of conservation that Cheney speaks, is based upon personal choice by each individual.
Any attempts to save us from our own dreams is arrogance in the extreme. But why should this surprise, when the originators
of that excess are the preachers of limited expectation. The world they wish to preserve forget that the fossil fields were
created from the environment that dinosaur ruled. Mr. Nader may be clever and correct in his call for concern, but his approach
for solutions most surely will result in the next extinction, this time of the ultimate ruling mammal. Man will be reduced
to a beggar at the bowl of the dole.
The object is to break the cartel, develop and introduce practical alternatives to the marketplace, reduce
regulation that prevents entrepreneurs from entering the industry and allow the price to determine the consumption level that
people are willing to pay.
We need the likes of T. Boone Pickins and the Ewings brothers. Even JR is preferred to Jill Claybrook or the
successors to JD 'Rocky' himself. The regulators and tree huggers are as bad as the monopolists. Each has their own agenda
to enslave the consumer in a pool of dependency. For the first, only the perpetual motion machine will satisfy them, and for
the later only the forfeiture of your savings will keep them happy. To solely condemn Bush and Cheney as a tool of the energy
corporations without blaming the entire Corporate State alliance is short sighted. In this equation there is plenty of culpability
to be spread around. Until this fact is faced, the public will continue to be the biggest loser.
James Hall - aka SARTRE
You will not find a more fervent opponent to Corporate abuse, but I defer to pragmatic reality when irrational
emotionalism is proposed for others to be forced to suffer, destructive consequences. The oil oligarchy inordinately shapes
US foreign policy. Wars are fought to protect their interests. I will gladly support a dramatic reduction of their influence,
but your reliance that government will and would provide that impetuous, is akin to putting water in your tank and wondering
why your car won't run. When you get the American public to ride bicycles, the prospect for an anti trust breakup would improve.
But until then, only wildcat risk takers will provide the check upon the oil stranglers. Sell your reduced usage and limited
supply at higher costs to the BMW set! The social and economic disruptions will be severe, while you are waiting for all your
'Green' wishful alternatives. Develop them, but don't destroy the baby in the process. My Z3 gets great mileage . . .
Specious nuisance on Anwar is in the 180 day argument. Any practitioner of logic would know that figure represents
the entire usage of US consumption. Anwar production would be in addition to current supply and would eliminate the present
shortfall that is a major element for increased prices. So your biologists are experts? Let them solve the footprint damage
in Siberia, where the oil market will turn for additional production, without projects like Anwar. Clean Coal found from Utah
deposits is the short term solution for electric generation, but remember its banning in favor of Raidy's Lippo Group fields.
A world without the nuclear sword is best, but the genie is out of the bottle. Nuke plants work, safety concerns
are important and real waste disposal technology will be solved. Your approach will require the US to buy the technology from
the French, since YOUR government turns a blind eye to the issue. The Toffler's of this world are not visionaries, they are
'Malthusians'. If tree huggers were sincere, they would visit the Wizard of Menlo Park, and sit in his electric chair. Turn
on the switch, run that current and reduce the demand for the rest of us, by one. A noble use of energy that will save the
earth for those who drive Explorers and Tahoe's . . . Or maybe they can just blow on the blades of home windmills, they surely
have enough hot air for that generation.
James Hall - 'The Right' | <urn:uuid:d0d67a1c-b81a-4afe-8eba-9dc272a555e6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://batr.org/twins/id38.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945874 | 3,795 | 1.65625 | 2 |
(CNN) - For more than a year, Chris Bayer, a Canadian student, waited tables alongside Chinese migrant workers in a restaurant in Shanghai. While there he received an intimate glimpse of what work life is like for millions in mainland China.
"Nothing was ever really clear," said Bayer, who is now back in Canada. "In the West, people state their mind. In China, there was no sharing of ideas. When it came to new processes, no one ever offered any input. There was no teamwork. People were so afraid of doing something wrong."
Though Bayer's circumstance in China was rare - a foreigner working alongside migrant workers in local eateries is not common - his experience in a Chinese workplace is one that experts say is common.
Whether a restaurant or a massive company, businesses in China revolve around perplexing power structures, where innovative thinking is often stymied, partly by an education system that prioritizes rote memorization over creative thinking, and partly because employees are afraid of offering input that might insult the intelligence of their boss.
About Business 360
CNN International's business anchors and correspondents get to grips with the issues affecting world business, and they want your questions and feedback. | <urn:uuid:a8147a28-3757-4928-bd81-738a1d999554> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://business.blogs.cnn.com/tag/lara-farrar/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972673 | 247 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Skyrim features 18 distinct skills that are based around combat, stealth and magic. Individual skills can be improved in a variety of ways, including using the skill, paying trainers, and reading skill books. The most common way to improve a skill is simply to partake in actions related to the skill. For example, if the player wishes to enhance their one-handed level, they must successfully use one-handed weapons in combat. Not only does increasing the level of a skill make it more potent, it also allows players to gain access to perks. Each skill has a set of perks that can only be acquired by leveling that skill up.
This skill can be leveled up by successfully using one-handed weapons including swords, waraxes, maces, and daggers. There are two types of one-handed attacks, including standard ones and power attacks. Power attacks can be executed by holding down the attack button (doing so when the opposing force is blocking will cause the enemy to stagger and become vulnerable to attacks). Increasing the level of this skill will cause one-handed attacks to be more powerful.
- Armsman: There are five ranks to this perk, each one increasing the damage done by one-handed weapons by 20%. There are no requirements for the first rank of Armsman, though each subsequent one will require 20 additional levels to the one-handed skill and the previous rank of the perk. After acquiring every level to this perk, the player will deal twice as much damage than usual with every strike, making this one of the better, if not the best, one-handed perks in the game. The major drawback of Armsman is that the player must use up five perks if they wish to take complete advantage of it.
- Fighting Stance: This perk will reduce stamina taken using power attacks executed with one-handed weapons by 25%. If the player is aiming to use one-handed weapons regularly, then this is a recommended perk since power attacks are, as their name implies, substantially more powerful than a standard attack and is extremely good against enemies with shields.
- Bladesman: There are three ranks to Bladesman, each one increasing the chance of doing a critical attack by 5%. The default chance of performing a critical chance is 5%, so if the player wishes to take all three ranks, they will eventually have a 20% chance of doing a critical attack, but only with one-handed swords. This coupled with some of the other perks will make a warrior-centered character a powerhouse, especially if they are dual-wielding. However, take note that this skill only does 50% of a one-handed sword *base* unmodified damage. (Example: A sword that does 10 unmodified damage will inflict 5 damage. So even if your sword does 70 damage, the critical damage will remain 5.)
- Bone Breaker: There are three ranks to this perk, which should only be used if the player is planning on using maces. Basically with each rank the player will be able to ignore 25% of the armor of opposing forces when using maces. The major downside to this is that unarmored enemies, such as dragons and the like, will be unaffected by this particular perk since they do not have any armor. By rank 3 the player will be able to "ignore" 75% of the enemy's armor, though the player will be required to have Bone Breaker 1, which in turn requires Armsman 1 (which is recommended anyway for any player wishing to play as a warrior).
- Hack and Slash: Similar to the Bone Breaker perk, Hack and Slash only works with certain types of one-handed weapons, this time that weapon being war axes. When attacking with war axes, this perk will cause extra bleeding damage. There are three ranks to this perk, each one causing more and more bleeding damage when using war axes.
- Dual Flurry: Dual Flurry is only to be used if players are wishing to fight using two dual-handed weapons. There are two ranks to this perk, the first one making dual-wielding 20% faster and the second making it 35% faster. Linked with other one-handed perks such as Armsman, Bladesman and ESPECIALLY Dual Savagery (which increases the damage done by dual-wielding power attacks by 50%), Dual Flurry is definitely recommended.
- Critical Charge: Critical Charge will allow the player to deliver devestating attacks to their opponents, though actually executing it can be a challenge. While it doubles critical attacks, it ONLY works if a critical attack is performed, meaning that it is best when joined with Bladesman, which increases the chances of a critical attack. Critical Charge can also only be performed when sprinting, increasing the difficulty of actually executing it even moreso.
- Savage Strike: Savage Strike increases the damage done by power attacks by 25%, but only when standing, meaning this perk cannot be applied to attacks performed when sprinting (if this weren't the case, Critical Charge would be even more powerful). A bonus to this perk is that there is a slight chance that , when performing a standing power attack, the player will slice the head off of their opponent.
- Dual Savagery: This perk increases the damage done by dual-wielding power attacks by 50%. Note that this does not apply to standard dual-wielding power attacks.
- Paralyzing Strike: A challenging backwards power attack that has a 25% chance of paralyzing the opponent.
The following are trainers that can increase the one-handed skill of the player. Note that each time a player trains with one of these characters, it will cost them several coins, the amount increasing depending on the level of the player.
- Amren: A Journeyman Trainer (will level the player up to 50) found in Whiterun.
- Athis: An Expert Trainer (will level the player up to 75) found in Whiterun.
- Burguk: A Master Trainer (will level the player up to 90) found in The Reach.
The following are ways to boost combat skills for as long as a stone is active.
- The Warrior Stone: There are several standing stones scattered throughout Skyrim that, when activated, will increase the player's abilities. The Warrior Stone is the one recommended to players wishing to increase their one-handed skill, as it makes this skill (and other combat based ones) level up 20% faster than usual. | <urn:uuid:560e81c6-a7a2-4f98-a7d5-b2430e584c10> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gamefaqs.com/xbox360/615803-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/wiki/1-1-skills | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945753 | 1,314 | 1.757813 | 2 |
The “give a man a fish” proverb is well-known (and overused) in philanthropic circles. The idea starts off well – teaching skills produces more long-term benefits than handouts. That’s true, but the next generation of philanthropy is evolving even further.
Yesterday, I saw a blog post about the limits of foreign aid, both as directed by governments and by philanthropic organizations – GlobalGiving was cited as an example. The conclusion was that GlobalGiving (and others) provide too many fish and not enough fishermen. (more…) | <urn:uuid:e398e6ce-92f7-4dd1-97ce-a129839d558a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tools.blog.globalgiving.org/tag/philanthropy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969867 | 117 | 1.523438 | 2 |
“We are escortin’ Miss Shy Anna—who ain’t really very shy—to see all her friends of The Blended Rose and of The Burning Mountain, an’ as we hate airs an’ pride, we demands that each give her a kiss. Just make a way for Miss Meredith to come and give her the chaste salute,” he ordered of the throng.
“Thou wilt not insist on such a humiliation for my daughter,” appealed Mrs. Meredith.
“Insult!” cried the leader. “Who dares to say ’t ain’t an honour to kiss one dressed in such clothes? Give the miss a little help, boys, but gently. Don’t do her no harm.”
A dozen men were through the gate before the sentence was finished, but outcries and a surge of the mob at this point gave a new bent to the general attention. A horseman from the direction opposite to that from which the crowd had come was spurring, with little heed, through the mass, and the clamour and movement were due to the commotion he precipitated.
In twenty seconds the rider, who was well coated with dust, and whose horse was lathered with the sweat of fast riding, had come abreast of the cart, and Janice gave a cry of joy. “Oh, Colonel Brereton,” she called, “save us, I beg!”
“What are you about?” demanded the new-comer, sternly, of the crowd.
“We ‘re celebratin’ independence,” explained he in the cart, “and all we wants of this miss is that she buss her friend Miss Shy Anna. They both is British sympathisers.”
“Be off with you, every doodle and rag-tail of you!” ordered the officer, angrily.
“And who are you?” demanded one; and another, emboldened by distance, recommended, “Pull him off his horse.”
Twenty hands seized hold of Brereton; but as they did so, the aide, realising his mistake, retrieved it by a sudden change of manner. “I am an aide of General Washington,” he shouted, “and I bring news of a great battle.”
An uproar of questions broke out, drowning every other sound, till, by raising his hand, the aide procured silence.
“I must carry the despatches to Congress; but come with me, and I’ll give you the tale the moment they are safe delivered.”
With a rush the crowd followed him, as he moved forward, deserting the cart and its occupants, who hastily descended, and hurried after the throng. But Jack was not so forgetful, and turning in his saddle, he called back, “I’ll return as soon as I can.”
The patience of the two homeless women was heavily taxed before Brereton returned, but finally, after nearly two hours’ waiting, he came, almost running along the street.
“Neither the Congress nor the populace were to be put off,” he began to explain, ere he was within the gate, “and I have had to retail again and again the story of the fight, and tell ‘how our army swore in Flanders.’ But I dared not break away from them through fear they would follow me back and force me to play hare to their hounds once more. ’T is a great relief to know that you are safe,” Jack declared, as he shook their hands warmly. | <urn:uuid:a5d831b3-7a5e-4728-96da-ec1746f64e2c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/5719/250.html | 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 | 0.978967 | 792 | 1.726563 | 2 |
The Space Shuttle Discovery’s flight to its final resting place went right over South Capital Street Tuesday morning, but Teddy Roosevelt must have missed the spectacle, because when the presidents race began just before 8:00pm at Nationals Park, Roosevelt was still looking up.
As they promised they would from time to time, the Nationals reversed the direction of the fourth-inning race, and this time, Teddy got the memo, jumping out to an early lead along the left field warning track.
But Teddy stopped shortly after the race began to look up at the skies. It was only through the prompting of PA Announcer Jerome Hruska that Teddy got back to running, but by then it was too late. In a photo finish, Jefferson edged George Washington for the win.
Photo courtesy Cheryl Nichols/DistrictSportsPage
Video courtesy YouTube member lfahome | <urn:uuid:fdd32212-c498-4347-94fe-f80d8a977296> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.letteddywin.com/2012/04/18/presidents-race-space-shuttle-discovery/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=428bad2630 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968721 | 175 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Unbiased review needed before fracking begins
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly stated that fracking decisions will be based upon scientific review of fracking. Yet without complete review of the environmental impact study and without input about health issues, he has accepted the recently submitted fracking guidelines from the Department of Environmental Conservation for consideration.
This makes absolutely no sense. How can you put together a sound package of regulatory recommendations without the facts being available? Studies that look at health, environment and safety require time, expertise and patience. Effects are not instantaneously felt or apparent. Change must be gathered over time, compared with known data, assessed for variables and then interpreted without bias. The time allocated for the health review is an insult to the residents of New York.
I want to live in New York, but I don’t want to live in a state that disregards the health and safety of its residents or its natural environment. The arbitrary numbers in the proposed regulation are just that, arbitrary. There is no scientific data to support distances and amounts in the proposed regulations. Keeping wells 500 feet from a water supply; where did that number come from? What scientific undertaking has supported 500 feet rather than 200 or 1,000 feet? The proposed regulations are filled with these arbitrary recommendations. New Yorkers know that fracking will change forever the face of the state. The beauty, the Great Lakes water, the agricultural industry, dairy, recreation and the health of residents are all on the fracking sacrificial table. The gas and oil companies will make money, so will some selected land owners, so will campaign funds.
There is no legitimate reason to rush this decision, unless the data that are just now coming to light from states that have been fracking for several years are so damning or questionable that it’s a race to the finish line. | <urn:uuid:81796238-0378-43dc-9bad-3888b63c14b1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121226/OPINION/121229621/1032 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94172 | 364 | 1.835938 | 2 |
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is encouraging retail employers to take precautions to prevent worker injuries during Black Friday and other major sales events during the holiday season.
The agency sent major retail stores a letter with recommendations on how to keep shoppers and employees safe.
Employee injuries during the holiday season are not uncommon, and fatalities have been reported. OSHA cited Wal-Mart for inadequate crowd management following the Nov. 28, 2008, death of an employee at its Valley Stream, N.Y., store. The worker died of asphyxiation after he was knocked to the ground and trampled by a crowd of about 2,000 shoppers who surged into the store. Eleven were injured. The store was not using the type of crowd management measures recommended by OSHA, the agency said.
“Crowd control and proper planning are critical to preventing injuries and deaths,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health.
Michaels urged retailers to adopt a crowd management plan during the holiday shopping season that includes a few simple guidelines:
- Have trained security personnel or police officers onsite.
- Set up barricades or rope lines for pedestrians that do not start right in front of the store’s entrance.
- Implement crowd control measures well in advance of customers arriving at the store.
- Put emergency procedures in place to address potential dangers.
- Explain approach and entrance procedures to shoppers.
- Do not allow additional customers to enter the store when it reaches its maximum occupancy level.
- Do not block or lock exit doors.
OSHA released a fact sheet outlining these and other safety measures.
Roy Maurer is an online editor/manager for SHRM.
Keep Employees Safe on Black Friday, Safety & Security, November 2011
Keep It Safe on Black Friday, Safety & Security, November 2010
SHRM Online Safety & Security page
Keep up with the latest Safety & Security HR news. | <urn:uuid:f7678a71-cc42-453f-b25e-1f65f5efd1fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/safetysecurity/articles/Pages/OSHA-Protect-Workers-Black-Friday.aspx?homepage=latestnews | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939534 | 401 | 1.828125 | 2 |
The government is considering providing every poor person an option to choose between direct cash transfer or taking ration from fair price shops in the revamped Public Distribution System under the proposed National Food Security law.
The direct cash transfer will provide flexibility to a
person to buy food grains from any of the listed shops. In case of ration quota, the person will have to take food grains from a designated fair price shop.
There are over 11.5 crore families listed as below poverty line even though the Central government recognizes only 6.5 crore of them.
The new formulation worked out by Nandan Nilekani, chairperson of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Montek Singh Ahluwalia, planning commission deputy chairperson would be enforced when the proposed national food security bill is implemented.
“The idea is to make PDS a flexible system,” said a senior plan panel official.
The revamped fair price shops will offer much more than just the subsidized food grains, which the government proposed to provide at highly subsidized rates. The model proposed for fair price shops says that they should sell any other food item like a neighbourhood grocery store to improve their financial viability.
Nilekani, in his report Information Technology support for PDS, had favoured this “flexi- approach” and said the fair price shops should provide mix of commodities and allow a person to take home his or her monthly quota in as many installments as possible in a month.
The government also wants that a poor person should be able to use unique identification (UID) or Aadhaar number enabled below poverty line card anywhere unlike the existing system where the BPL card can be used only in a designated fair price shop.
“The Aadhaar number could enable this,” the official said.
The new regime being proposed will also offer a wide range of PDS solutions for the state governments as it would accept physical coupons, smartcards, electronic coupons and even facilitate direct cash transfer.
In the new system, the government is looking at setting up dedicated call centers in each state for grievance redress and accessing your PDS account through a mobile. The PDS account will tell the beneficiary the amount of ration availed and the balance.
According to government officials, the new approach would be finalized at the meeting of Empowered Group of Ministers headed by finance minister Pranab Mukerjee, which is also examining the proposed food law.
© Copyright © 2013 HT Media Limited. All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:7c228cf2-bc86-4c07-88b3-adb3595d09c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/764951.aspx | 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 | 0.960747 | 506 | 1.625 | 2 |
Recent statistics reveal near-explosive growth for Twitter in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. The social network might just get too big to ignore anymore.
Twitter has long been described as “small, but elite” – a networking tool for the chattering classes consisting mainly of journalists, politicians, and business professionals. Not so anymore:
- More than half of Sweden’s near 300.000 Twitter accounts have been created during the past year, according to the Swedish Twitter census released by Intellecta Corporate today. The number of accounts has tripled since the last census a year ago, and more than half of the accounts have tweeted in the last month.
- Twitter in Norway has doubled in size over the past two years, and now counts 11 percent of the population among the users. 410.000 Norwegians logged on weekly in the first quarter of 2012, according to stats from analytics agency TNS Gallup released last week.
- In Denmark, the number of Twitter accounts is almost doubled from late 2010 to the end of 2011, according to this beautiful infographic by Atcore and Overskrift.dk.
Kids lead the way
The statistics say little about possible reasons for Twitter’s growth over the past year. I can really only speak for the Norwegian Twitterverse, but my impression is that Twitter has gone mainstream. Younger users (under 30 y.o.) account for the majority of new users.
One contributing factor may be local celebrities’ use of the social network. National broadcasters NRK and TV2 have also embraced Twitter, particularly in their sports coverage. And national and international media have brought stories of Twitter as the arena for following international stars from various arenas – music, movies, sports, or politics.
Whatever the reasons for the recent growth spurt, Twitter is obviously a network worth keeping an eye on in the Nordics. I’ll keep my eye out for new data from Finland and Iceland as well.
In the meantime, enjoy this really interesting and fun graph from the Swedish Twitter census, where you can search for different Twitter users and see their place in the national Twitter hierarchy. Enjoy!
(Thanks to the wonderful Hanne Klintøe for sending me the Danish infographic!)
Congratulations are in order! Sweden’s crown princess Victoria gave birth to a tiny princess this morning. The newborn princess is second in line to the Swedish throne.
Unsurprisingly, social media in Sweden – and the rest of the Nordics – have been abuzz with royal news all day. But perhaps more surprisingly, the picture everyone has been waiting for was first released on Facebook, not to the press.
The Swedish court posted a low-key picture of the small family on their Facebook page just before the princess Victoria, prince Daniel and their daughter (whose name has not been announced yet) left the hospital and returned to their home at Haga castle.
By nightfall, the post has received more than 5,000 comments, 23,000 likes and has been shared 3500 times.
Congratulations to the Swedish people, whose princess has certainly been born into a social media savvy royal family!
Last weekend, the Norwegian crown princess Mette-Marit’s Twitter debut got a mention here on Socialmedianordic.com.
In the days following her Twitter debut, the crown princess’ social media use has met some serious discussion in Norway. First, a lot of Norway’s established Twitter users couldn’t agree on whether the royal Twitter profile was real or fake.
When national news giant VG wrote an article on the royal Twitter debut, however, that debate was more or less silenced. But then, national PR experts got involved in a debate on whether or not the princess is elitist on Twitter in the same newspaper (in Norwegian).
And finally, the Twitter-sceptics’ prophecy appears to have fulfilled itself: Now a fake Twitter profile for the crown princess, @clownprincessmm, has seen the light of day. I doubt that anyone will doubt the authenticity of this fake profile (doubting its fakeness seems… unlikely), and I suppose getting an online copy is the final welcome and inclusion into Norwegian Twitter elite?
So, Twitter sceptics: I guess you should be careful what you wish for. It apparently can – and will – come true. | <urn:uuid:6bc50c82-c4df-4b45-9cc9-8430764f2165> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://socialmedianordic.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95686 | 895 | 1.734375 | 2 |
PITTSFIELD -- Goats and sheep have been grooming Bousquet Mountain during skiing’s off-season.
"If you go up the mountain, you can actually see the spots near the tree lines where they’ve been grazing," said Sherry Roberts, business manager of Bousquet Ski Area on Dan Fox Drive in Pittsfield.
"We’ve got seven goats of different varieties, five sheep and a Wally," she said.
Wally, as it turns out, is a young male mule whose job it is to keep watch for predators and protect the flock.
Roberts said "employing" the animals to help maintain the mountainside was the pet project of George Jervas, her companion of nearly 20 years and the late owner of Bousquet. Inside the ski area’s lodge, a memorial display of photos includes a picture of Jervas bottle-feeding a baby goat named Junior, his favorite.
Jervas died on Aug. 20, and Roberts is continuing to operate the ski area in his honor, farm animals, snow enthusiasts and all.
"George did a lot of research on the animals. It turns out that other ski areas and even utility companies are using herds instead of machines to help trim around power lines and maintain grounds," Roberts said.
The idea of prescribed grazing has been around for centuries.
More recently, in 1998, Public Service of New Hampshire, a Northeast Utilities Company, piloted the "Grazing Power Project," which tested the use of a thousand sheep to maintain vegetation
In 2005, a flock of 19 sheep from the Great Barrington-based New England Heritage Breeds Conservancy were used in a pilot study of grazing as a tool in land management on Nantucket Island.
Back in the spring, Roberts and Jervas tapped into the local farm community to purchase and learn how to keep the animals.
The sheep, for example, come from farmer Lila Berle’s flock in Great Barrington. Wally came to Bousquet with the help of 4-H Club leader Lisa Dachinger-Petricca of Pittsfield. The goats came from various auctions like the Berkshire Farm Center tailgate sale.
The animals moved to the mountain, most as babies, between March and April. They began near the top of the mountain and have since grazed their way toward the base.
Roberts said the public is welcome to view but not touch the animals because their enclosure is electrified.
"We found that we’d need a lot more animals to groom the whole mountain, but they did help. Now it’s more like a hobby," she said.
The animals will be on view through the fall and will be boarded at local farms for the winter.
To reach Jenn Smith:
or (413) 496-6239
On Twitter: @JennSmith_Ink | <urn:uuid:40f5aa5a-862d-463b-b876-d81f40ac9c98> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_21540098/goats-sheep-trim-bousquet-ski-areas-slopes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959929 | 600 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Blog for Moms
Now that we have been introduced to menopause in last month's article, we need to answer the question of how to manage the symptoms.
There are different methods of treatment that can be used. Here is a short list that I have come up with:
Whether you've had your period for years or you've just learned to "ride the crimson wave," I bet you thought you knew all there was to know about your monthly visitor. Think again! Here are five period facts that will surprise you.
Today the Softcup team all watched an inspring video, and we can't wait to see the documentary in full.
I really appreciated that the women in the video talk not just about how harmful the media is in raising today's girls, but how to fix the problem. Because clearly, we can't simply stop our girls from watching TV and using Facebook. In particular, they brought up the importance of mentoring.
My first encounter with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) was as a 2nd year resident. I was on call that night and was called by the ER about an admission. It was a 17 year-old girl who was being admitted to the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of TSS.She fit the classic picture of menstrual TSS. Her history was as follows: She was a previously healthy girl who was on her period and was a tampon user. The day prior to her admission she started to feel ill, and then her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Thanks to those who joined our Tweet Chat on 5/23, with guest host For The Love of The Run. If you were unable to join us, you can check out the chat transcript by clicking on the attachment below. Hope you can join us next time!
Thank you for giving us life.
Thank you for loving us unconditionally.
Thank you for sheltering, clothing and feeding us.
Thank you for teaching us to be kind and strong.
Thank you for always being a support system and sounding board.
My first encounter with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) was as a 2nd year resident. I was on call that night and was called by the ER about an admission. It was a 17 year-old girl who was being admitted to the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of TSS.
You can initiate positive change in a girl's life. Here are some tips, created by Girls Inc., that will help you be a positive role model for the young girls you know. | <urn:uuid:ccf97c87-adcf-4db4-99bb-f14d48e68014> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.softcup.com/blog-moms?page=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982147 | 513 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Obama Sets Goal to Cut One-Third of Oil Imports
March 30, 2011 – President Barack Obama announced a goal of cutting a third of oil imports by 2020 in a speech at Georgetown on energy security March 30.
“Today, I want to announce a new goal – one that is reasonable, one that is achievable, and one that was necessary,” Obama told an audience of more than 1,000 students, faculty and distinguished guests.
“When I was elected to this office, America imported 11 million barrels of oil a day. By a little more than a decade from now, we will have cut that by one-third.”
He said meeting the new goal depends on producing more oil domestically as well as replacing oil dependence with “cleaner alternative fuels and greater efficiency.”
“The United States of America cannot afford to bet our long-term prosperity, our long-time security, on a resource that will eventually run out,” he said. “Not anymore.”
He also said that despite the tragedy in Japan, nuclear power could not be taken “off the table” and that he has requested a safety review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure existing nuclear facilities are safe.
“We’ll incorporate those conclusions and lessons from Japan in designing and building the next generation of plants,” Obama said.
Winning the Future
He said other countries are exporting the technology America pioneered “because they know that the countries that lead the 21st century clean energy economy will be the countries that lead the 21st century global economy.”
“I want America to be that nation,” the president said to applause. “I want America to win the future.
He also talked about renewable biofuels such as ethanol, switch grass, wood chips and biomass.
Speed of Sound
“If anyone doubts the potential of these fuels, consider Brazil,” he said. “…Half of Brazil’s vehicles can run on biofuels … Just last week our Air Force used an advanced biofuel blend to fly an F-22 Raptor faster than the speed of sound.”
“Think about that,” he said to the mostly student audience. “If an F-22 raptor can fly faster than the speed of sound, the old beater that you’re driving around can probably do so too.”
Touch the Moon
Obama appealed to Georgetown students to pave the way for appropriate energy policy.
“We need you to dream big,” he said. “We need you to summon that same spirit of unbridled optimism, and that bold willingness to tackle tough challenges and see those challenges through that led previous generations to rise to greatness – to save the democracy, to touch the moon, to connect the world with our own science and our own imagination.”
Future of America
“To be encouraging such a drastic change over the next decade is incredible,” said Clare Carluccio (C’13). “This is the future of America.”
Georgetown Public Policy Dean Edward Montgomery, who served on Obama’s Auto Task Force and as executive director of White House Council for Auto Communities and Workers, also attended the speech.
“The president has reminded us that this is a long-term problem that has been coming, and it is a result of inaction,” Montgomery said. “We need to put together a comprehensive agenda to address it.”
He said the challenge Obama gave to the students “to be engaged in crafting our future is a powerful note to end on.”
This was Obama’s third visit to Georgetown. He spoke at the university while still a senator from Illinois in September 2006 on energy independence and returned as president in April 2009 to talk about economic policy. | <urn:uuid:8052a7ad-2215-44ae-9a82-b315fe1ca108> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.georgetown.edu/news/story/obamageorgetown.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962014 | 810 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Hey. I'm trying to use previous results to make life easier, but when I solve a polynomial and get multiple answers, that doesn't tend to work out. I use % to refer back to the solution, and it plugs all the possible answers in and returns with an expression that doesn't yield and answer. I'm still pretty new and want to learn how to use this! Thanks. | <urn:uuid:66da1268-3574-4b8f-b4fa-a585a266d0cb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.wolfram.com/student-support/topics/27606 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965082 | 81 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Do you know what your doctor gets paid by Medicare for seeing you? You might say, “why should I care as long as she keeps seeing me?”
I would argue that we should care.
Have you noticed that as we are aging and retiring, so are our doctors? Given the low reimbursement rates to the doctors most essential to us, getting new doctors willing to accept us as patients is going to be a problem.
For many of us, our primary care doctor is usually an internist or a geriatrician. We see them on a regular basis and it is their expertise that detects the early warning signs that often prevent more serious consequences from developing. When necessary, they refer us to specialists for tests or specific procedures. Despite their importance in our lives, you may be as surprised as I was to learn that internal medicine and geriatrics are among the lowest reimbursed of the medical professions.
If you were planning to become a doctor today and knew it would take you years to pay off your medical school debts, would you choose a specialty that is not going to earn you as much money as other specialties?
I asked Dr. Sharon Brangman, professor of medicine and division chief of geriatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University, what she sees happening in her field. Brangman, a geriatrician, is a rare bird in our community. Because she is one of only few practicing geriatricians in Central New York (there is another one at Upstate and one full time and one part time at the VA) she is the type of endangered species we need to be worried about.
Brangman is in the business of training new doctors as well as treating patients. In her role as treasurer of the American Geriatrics Society, she is working at the national level to get the message across that not enough medical students are choosing to go into primary care or geriatrics. And at a time when the demand of the Baby Boomer generation for medical care is growing, this crisis of available care will impact us personally.
Let’s look at some facts—Medicare currently offers higher rates of reimbursement to doctors who perform procedures like arthroscopy, colonoscopy, reading MRI’s, doing sleep studies, doing cardiac catheterizations and so on.
But consider the day of an internist or a geriatrician. If an older person who is depressed or has dementia comes into the office, there are no special procedures that are used to make these diagnoses.
Time needs to be spent doing an evaluation, talking to the patient and their family and then deciding how to treat the patient. Older patients are also more complex to care for since they usually have several medical problems and are taking many different medications.
Once a diagnosis and decision has been made, even more time needs to be spent discussing the challenging social issues that the patient and family will be facing, explaining all the medicines and how they are to be taken and what to watch for if problems arise. The doctor often has to help coordinate care across various specialists and services in the community such as home care agencies, visiting nurses, meals on wheels and so on. Usually the time spent in these activities is not reimbursed at all; but that coordination is very important in the care of the patient.
What Medicare is saying by reimbursing primary care doctors and geriatricians at low rates, is that the time the doctor spends talking to the patient and family, which is absolutely essential to them, is not considered as important as doing a procedure.
“We do not have enough geriatricians in our country to meet current or future needs as the population ages,” says Brangman. “It takes approximately 12 years to train a high school senior to become a geriatrician. Many medical students are graduating with debt that rivals that of a new mortgage, leading them to choose a career in one of the more lucrative, procedure-based specialties of medicine.”
What can be done? —Brangman has some ideas. “Medical schools must adjust their curriculum to train all medical students in geriatrics. Geriatrics should be integrated into all residency training so that every physician has basic geriatric skills. New York state ought to consider loan forgiveness and other financial incentives to new physicians who choose a career in geriatrics and promise to work in our state. There are other solutions to increase the number of geriatricians which will require partnerships between medical schools, government and consumers.”
What can we do? Now that you understand the issue, when you have the opportunity, spread the word. You can also contact your Congressional representatives and talk to them about this situation. | <urn:uuid:f352ca84-10ca-4ee4-b12e-05cf82fca9ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cny55.com/issues/tag/doctors/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977281 | 957 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Search in Bible [American Standard Version] for Keyword [highly], total found time(s).
|LUK:1:28||And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee. |
|ACT:12:20||Now he was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: and they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king`s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king`s country. |
|ROM:12:3||For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. |
|PHL:2:9||Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; |
|1TS:5:13||and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work`s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. | | <urn:uuid:3b9b8db8-b39e-493d-88e2-7ec1ed38b478> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biblicalproportions.com/bible/search/kw/highly/4 | 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 | 0.986116 | 247 | 1.53125 | 2 |
When 33-year-old Ashoo Mongia visits the supermarket it's rarely for stocking up his fridge for the week. As head of a cow protection enforcement team, he regularly scours Delhi grocery stores and outdoor markets for food products containing cow beef.
For the last 15 years, Mongia and his team of 120 Delhi-based volunteers have thrown themselves in a battle that pits India's billon-dollar meat industry and growing underground beef trade against Hindu traditionalists keen on preserving the holy status of cows.
Eatocracy recently ran a comment-inducing post entitled "Please don't eat in the bathroom." Devna Shukla, an Associate Producer for CNN's AC360°, shares her own tale of stall dining, how it helped her embrace her Indian heritage, and how she'll never do it again.
Growing up in a small town in Ohio, I had no concept of the true meaning of “diversity.” I was the only girl of color in my small private school and among the sea of blonde hair and blue eyes, my ethnic features always stood out.
My first generation interpretation of diversity was that we all had two competing identities: one inside of school (where I was American) and one at home (where I was Indian). I was just as eager to dress up as a Spice Girl for talent shows as I was to wear the traditional salwar kameez to Indian parties.
A small tray of vegetable samosas costs $35 at the Mughal Express restaurant. But one particular tray, sold to strict Hindu vegetarians, might end up costing the Edison, New Jersey, restaurant a whole lot more.
The Hindu customers said the restaurant served them meat samosas, harming them emotionally and spirituality. A state appellate court ruled Wednesday that they can sue for the cost of travel to India to purify their souls.
Read the full story: "Hindu diners sue Indian restaurant for selling meat samosas"
5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.
The United States is often described as a "melting pot" because of our multicultural society - and the American melting pot extends to the kitchen too.
Tex-Mex, Pan-Asian, Cajun, Italian-American. Worlds collide at the table - just ask Suvir Saran.
New Delhi-born Saran is the executive chef of Dévi restaurant in New York City, where his authentic Indian flavors earned one Michelin star in 2007 and 2008, as well as two stars from The New York Times and three stars from New York Magazine.
He is also the author of Indian Home Cooking: A Fresh Introduction to Indian Food, with More Than 150 Recipes and American Masala: 125 New Classics From My Home Kitchen. Not embarking into a professional culinary career until he arrived in the United States, Saran's latter book focuses on combining the best of both Indian and American cooking. His fried chicken is spiced with garam masala, his coleslaw has a hint of toasted cumin and his meatloaf is tamarind-glazed. It's classic American fare, with a twist.
Five American Classics to Add an Indian Twist To: Suvir Saran
CNN staffers took on a double-dog dare to finish a dish made with bhut jolokia - a pepper so hot it's been weaponized. Sara Sidner, a Delhi-based correspondent, share her first-hand account.
I don't do eating stunts; it's just not my thing. I don't like watching people shovel huge amounts of doughnuts or pies or whatever else down their gullets to win a prize. It's part guilt - knowing there are hungry people in the world - and part disgust, because it makes me gag to watch.
Turns out I am a hypocrite. While in New York City, I did as some of the locals do and took a food challenge. It's called the "Phaal Curry Challenge," an idea thought up by Brick Lane Curry House in New York's East Village. Basically, the owners dare patrons to eat an entire bowl of their spiciest curry - Phaal Curry. It has a total of ten different types of chili and peppers in it. | <urn:uuid:d4788aa2-fe6c-4ca8-ac00-2cead62f22e2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://eatocracy.cnn.com/category/bite/cuisines/indian/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967802 | 894 | 1.75 | 2 |
I posted several years ago - believing that the connection to the Regional Transportation Center would be the push that OnTrack needed to get moving again. I also called for any Destiny USA expansion to be required to include an expanded mass transit program. Bragman fails to mention any link between OnTrack and Destiny USA in his op-ed. I believe that this is an omission of a large piece of the puzzle. No self proclaimed "green" hotel or mall should be given LEED certification, in my eyes, if the primary access to the site is by automobile.
From my post:
The connection to the transportation center is a key step that must go forward to improve ridership on OnTrack. Hotels in the downtown area would benefit, as those taking Amtrak or the bus into Syracuse would have a direct, and cheap way to get to their hotel. Next, if you could get the train to extend to the airport, we would really encourage a larger ridership and a much more accessible city. As an aside, no DestinyUSA plan should be drawn up that doesn't include using public transportation using light rail, and given the proximity of the R&D park to both the Airport and Transportation Center, this seems like a great time to start talking about the expansion of OnTrack.Congel would be crazy not to push for an expansion of OnTrack to Hancock International. What an easy way to fill rooms at the proposed hotel? For example, a sustainability or green building conference could be held at the hotel, with participants flying in to Hancock, taking OnTrack to Destiny USA and the hotel. Or regional attendees could come into town via Amtrak and catch the commuter rail to their final destination. During their free time, they could use Centro or OnTrack to venture down to have dinner and drinks in Armory and downtown, or catch an SU game up on the hill. Better yet, a regional transportation pass could allow them to jump on the Connective Corridor and attend a play at Syracuse Stage, an art exhibit at the Everson Museum, or a Crunch game at the War Memorial.
Destiny USA could sponsor the train, and power it with biodiesel, keeping the project fossil fuel free. New York, Susquehanna, & Western Railroad could get the tax breaks, to keep the trains running on time and to upgrade and maintain station integrity.
Bragman goes on to dream of a Montreal Line via the CSX rails up through the northern burbs, Oneida Lake, the Salmon River and points northward. I think that this is a wonderful idea. Though, the opinions I've heard are that CSX is stingy with its freight lines, and tends to hold up commuter and long distance trains for its freight trains. Boston appears to be grappling with this very issue now.
What I dream of is more local. What about a resurrected trolley line running north and south along Salina Street? One end could reach the Destiny USA project, then come down Solar Street past the inner harbor, before making a turn towards Salina and making it's way past Clinton Square and into the Centro Station downtown. Future expansions could extend the rail line further south along Salina St. allowing for a quicker trip into the city from the South Side as well as boost to revitalization efforts in the South Side neighborhood. The line would help connect the Little Italy section of North Salina to downtown, a transition that has been lacking, and slowing the regrowth of the North Side.
The same could be said for the lack of connection between the North Salina St. area and Hanover Square. The two are separated only by a few blocks. There happens to be a large highway interchange that presents somewhat of a physical barrier, as you must pass underneath the elevated highways to get from one neighborhood to the other. I believe that the barrier is more a mental one than a physical one. That stretch of sidewalk at first glance is a long, lonely and empty one. Just foreboding enough to compute as a distance that should be driven when in fact it is less than 1/2 a mile.A streetcar line that runs along this route would be an attraction in itself. Who in Syracuse has ridden a streetcar, besides those who are old enough to remember the last gasps of the early 1900's lines prior to the dismantling to make room for the automobile, or those that have traveled to places like San Francisco?
I think that it is time for us to ask more of Robert Congel than a sparkly new "green" hotel and more shopping options. Congel has a great opportunity to show that Destiny USA can be a part of our county, our city, and our community. I hope that he'll consider linking the mall expansion and hotel with Hancock International, the Regional Transporation Center, downtown and the SU Hill, and sit down with the newly elected Mahoney administration and become part of the OnTrack discussion. | <urn:uuid:ad3054fe-35da-44e8-937e-382589ae4843> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://baloghblog.blogspot.jp/2007_11_01_archive.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 | 0.962727 | 997 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Abby Sunderland: Would you let your 16-year-old sail solo around the world?
I don’t typically interfere with parental decisions, but the recent situation where 16-year-old Abby Sunderland was sailing solo around the world and issued a distress signal made me a wee bit angry. At one point, she was thought to be lost at sea, and there has been no shortage of criticism from seasoned sailors.
Fortunately, she was located, and as her parents declared on her blog: Abby is fine! A story in the Los Angeles Times, Sailor Abby Sunderland is alive and seems unharmed, appeared in the sports section.
As the mother of a now adult son, I can’t imagine this type of trip for my kid. Oh, he did fly off to Europe by himself in high school; I think it was between his junior and senior years. But he was staying with family friends in Switzerland, not trying to sail around the world.
I made my first solo backpack trip to Europe when I was 18, flying Icelandic Airlines from JFK to Luxembourg via Reykjavik, Iceland. It was the early ’70s, and I was squished in next to a very large hippie from Holland sporting John Lennon glasses. I recall seeing the volcano spouting off; being stuck at the Reykjavik Airport for way too many hours (not ash related, some other reason); and watching reruns of Leave It To Beaver on a very small black and white TV in a very small airport lounge.
Abby said it had been her dream since she was 13 to sail solo around the world. Would you let your son or daughter go?
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- Missing teen sailor found safe (cbc.ca)
- Abby Sunderland’s big adventure | Dea Birkett (guardian.co.uk) | <urn:uuid:e6256580-06b3-4c33-bb68-76c99e223767> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://trueslant.com/suefrause/2010/06/11/would-you-let-your-16-year-old-sail-solo-around-the-world/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981049 | 385 | 1.617188 | 2 |
The Arab Winter as U.S. Doctrine
Sep 1, 2011 at 6:35 PM
Emboldened by their victory in Libya, the U.S. and its NATO allies have shifted their attention away from Muammar Gaddafi to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. Not content with regime changes in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. has decided to co-opt the Arab Spring to pursue a policy of military intervention in the Middle East starting with Libya, then Syria, and beyond.
Victory in Libya is the inevitable post-Gaddafi chaos
Gaddafi might be an evil man to his own people (and he was a longtime sponsor of international terrorism), but in the past decade he has shown an effort to normalize relations with the U.S. by ending his sponsorship of terrorism and disarming Libya. Relationship has improved so much so that the normally hawkish Sen. John McCain is revealed by newly released diplomatic cables to have been pushing the U.S. government to sell weapons to Libya. How does the U.S. and NATO reward Gaddafi? They oust him.
I say victory in Libya, because while Glenn Greenwald has argued that claiming victory or success in Libya is unwarranted, there are obvious reports that the deposal of Gaddafi is the be-all and end-all of the Libyan intervention. As pointed out by John Glaser, the reasons for the Libya War changed “almost immediately” from protecting civilians to regime change even after Barack Obama insisted that his administration’s goals for Libya is not regime change (of course, no one ever asks what the Libyan rebels’ goals are, which in this case certainly seems to be the establishment of an Islamist government based on Sharia law). If one were to keep to that definition of victory, the intervention in Libya was indeed a success, but I will offer a modification: success in Libya is the inevitable post-Gaddafi chaos.
What happens after this regime change is not a main concern for the U.S. or NATO; neither the establishment of a democracy nor peace. The vacuum of power left by the ouster of Gaddafi and the prolonged bloodbath that is sure to follow are self-justifying reasons for continued intervention there. Indeed, the complete collapse of order in Libya would be most beneficial to NATO; it gives them yet another “humanitarian” cause, this time for the pacification and administration of Libya. If Gaddafi’s fall was the goal, then the chaos that will ensue is the perk with Libya’s oil wealth the reward (and a weakened Libya would readily yield to the exploitation of its resources).
Syria is next
While the U.S.’s response to the situation in Syria is altogether too familiar, the outcome might be much different. Unlike Libya, Syria is surrounded by countries in the throes of their own upheavals: Jordan has its persistent protests, Israel recently experienced its largest protest movement in history, and in the case of Iraq, an increase in violence fueled by its eight-year old insurgency. Even Lebanon, which seemed to be left dry by the Arab Spring, cannot expect to escape the chaos if its larger neighbor falls. Syria’s collapse could prove to be the tipping point that would throw fuel into Jordan’s floundering protests, ignite Lebanon’s own protest movement, and increase violence in Iraq which would provide Defense Secretary Leon Panetta the iron-clad justification he needs to extend U.S. presence there. This is in contrast to Libya’s neighbors Egypt and Tunisia with their post-uprising transition already well underway.
Syria also hosts Lebanon’s Hezbollah, many Palestinian terror groups (Hamas and Islamic Jihad), as well as sheltering Baathist elements from Iraq and Al Qaeda. Because of this willingness to work closely with anti-Israel terror groups, Syria is seen by the Arab world as Israel’s principal threat. Say what you will of Gaddafi, but the only group with a past history of terror operating in Libya prior to the unrest there was Gaddafi himself after he expelled many terrorist organizations from Libya (on the other hand,NATO was fighting alongside Al Qaeda to depose Gaddafi).
The fall of Assad’s regime could be seen as an attempt by the West to rid Israel of its enemies. As pointed out by Justin Raimondo, Israel does stand to gain plenty from a defanged Syria. A regime change in Syria also weakens Iran as it loses its most closest ally in the Middle East; further provoking an already nervous Iran. Simply put, a regime change in Syria will have greater consequences in the region that any other unrest in the Middle East thus far, but these consequences would be horrifically amplified if the U.S. and NATO embark in a military campaign there.
But is there going to be a military intervention? All signs point to the likelihood of an intervention in Syria happening.
A greater bloodbath in a post-Assad Syria
The reports coming out from Syria has been nothing short of horror with many observers calling it a bloodbath. And it is that bloodbath that is being used by the U.S. and its Western allies, all former and current colonial powers, to justify yet another regime change in the Middle East. Not content with ademand for Assad to resign, the U.S. is already calling for sanctions. As seen in the past with Iraq and recently in Libya, sanctions along with “no-fly zones” are the steps necessary in the build-up to war. Conveniently, protestors in Hama are now demanding that the U.N. impose a “no-fly zone” over Syrian cities as well.
The corporate media, ever hungry for war carnage in its news coverage (except, of course, the wars raging for years in Iraq and Afghanistan), have earnestly started to “educate” the American public with the regime’s crimes. It is interesting that the five protestors killed recently in Syria is garnering more news coverage, including in outlets not normally devoted to covering casualties like the Daily Beast, than the dozen and more killed today in Iraq. Just as the corporate media willfully ignored or glossed over the Libyan rebels’ systematic massacre of Gaddafi loyalists and the civilian death toll from NATO’s bombs while amplifying Gaddafi’s crimes, so too will the corporate media ignore the armed insurrection fueling the violence in Syria and the inevitable NATO-caused deaths there.
When military intervention does occur in Syria, the question is not whether Assad’s regime will fall (it will fall when faced with the combined military might of the U.S. and NATO), but just how much bloodier the aftermath would be. Not only would the various terror groups take advantage of the void in power, but also help themselves to the deposed regime’s supply of conventional weapons, or worse its suspected cache of weapons of mass destruction. The sudden availability of these weapons will fuel an insurgency that would put Iraq’s to shame.
With a war still raging in Syria’s neighbor Iraq, we might soon be talking less about the eight-year Iraq War but a new label for the wars that would spill beyond both country’s borders. There is also that additional “perk” of opening the possibility of NATO’s involvement in Iraq if that were ever to happen.
The Arab Winter as U.S. doctrine
Here we are with an increasing number of Middle Eastern countries falling under the sway of the American Empire and no end in sight for any of the existing wars the U.S. is actively engaged in. In U.S. foreign policy, under the Bush-Obama presidency, the fundamental definition of victory and success has changed. No longer would unconditional surrender of an enemy be sufficient. A surrender, after all, leads to cessation of hostilities and eventually peace.
The foreign policy of the last decade (or if you believe Ron Paul or Chalmers Johnson, the last half century) has been the fomentation of violence and hatred towards us to justify further violence and Islamophobia towards the Muslim world. This perpetual war not only ensures future and continued business for the military-industrial complex, but also fuels the relentless growth of the State. There is not an “exit strategy,” but a strategy of “no exit.”
Barack Obama’s “success” in Libya is not a new era of foreign policy, but merely a more honest one (in a cruel redefinition of that term). It was never a Global War on Terror; it has always been just Global War. It has been a foreign policy of intentional invitation of blowback. No longer is George W. Bush’s doctrine of “preemptive strike” against imagined threats in force, but Obama’s fully and honestly articulated doctrine of perpetual Arab Winter; not just for the Middle East, but for the world. | <urn:uuid:3ff196f9-f272-4c9f-978a-4b5c61fac80f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.yaliberty.org/posts/the-arab-winter-as-us-doctrine | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960572 | 1,841 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Greater availability of natural gas in New Zealand is behind the restart and expansion of methanol plants in New Zealand, said Methanex Corp., Vancouver, BC.
Methanex plans to increase operating capacity at its New Zealand operations to 2.2 million tonnes/year, a gain of 700,000 tpy, by the end of 2013. The company secured a new natural gas supply that will enable the restart of the methanol plant at its Waitara Valley site by late in the third quarter, adding 500,000 tpy of production.
In addition, Methanex will add capacity at the Motunui site by increasing distillation to add another 200,000 tpy. Capital cost of the two projects is a combined $65 million.
As a result of the improved natural gas supply position that continues to develop in the country, Methanex has “arrangements in place to underpin production at our three-plant operation in New Zealand for years to come.” | <urn:uuid:01b81224-3878-4fdb-a5a2-2df0dd9614e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ogj.com/articles/2013/03/rising-gas-supply-aids-new-zealand-methanol-outlook.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934283 | 205 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Juvenile Tracking System
The Juvenile Tracking System (JTS) is a collaboration between the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC) and JNET. The JTS was developed to provide authorized users with access to court files and records on juvenile offenders and to provide arrest notifications to Juvenile Probation Departments. The goal of the JCJC is to have JTS implemented in the Commonwealth's 67 counties, and be the primary means through which Juvenile History Record Information is reported. PCCD, via OCJSI, has provided grant funding, architectural and design guidance throughout the life of this project. | <urn:uuid:7f52b37c-199c-4d61-a439-5a954dab94be> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=5368&PageID=493669&level=4&css=L4&mode=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944397 | 126 | 1.664063 | 2 |
This is the third installment in the best selling tradition of Then Sings My Soul.
All creation, through all the ages, is designed to sing God's praises. In providing even more historical context behind many favorites from a 2,000 year repertoire of music, Robert Morgan again sets out to keep the stories and the songs of our Christian hymnody alive for the next generation. You'll find yourself worshipping your way through this hymnal from ancient to modern times.
The last in the Then Sings My Soul trilogy, Book 3 offers an overarching look across the centuries of Christian song by dividing the story of western hymnody into several major segments:
- Biblical Hymns
- Ancient Hymns
- Midieval Hymns
- German Hymns
- English Hymns
- Gospel Songs
- Contemporary Praise
In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of church history and learning more than fifty devotional-style stories about hymns through the ages, Book 3 also includes six more in-depth hymn stories that Robert Morgan loves to tell. Whether learning the real story behind "It Is Well with My Soul" or how the Warner sisters became beloved figures in the history of West Point Military Academy, your soul will be soothed and you'll be inspired to share these stories with those you love. By knowing the heritage of our past, we'll leave a legacy for our future. | <urn:uuid:717a26cf-7c51-4131-b569-1f41f78f8430> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.robertjmorgan.com/bookstore/new-releases/then-sings-my-soul-book-3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932656 | 291 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Early in the year, a math coach from the district came to my school and observed each of us. Her attitude towards Teach For America was very negative and offered feedback that I found very difficult to conceive of implementing in my classroom (no remediation? EOCT rigor all the time? I’d lose even more than I already have…). Though her unprofessionalism unsettled me, I did not take it personally, especially since it seemed that others had worse encounters with her in which she challenged their ability and credentials.
She returned twice more, never observing my classroom, though writing a positive review of a weekly assignment board I had put up in my classroom. With each visit, though, she seemed to have choice words for the teacher(s) she observed.
I guess today was my lucky day. She came during my first algebra class, which, management-wise, is definitely my worst class. I was embarrassed at their behavior and my lack of ability to control it. But what made me even madder was what she said to me after the observation while the students were at lunch.
Me: Do you have any feedback for me?
Math coach: No.
Me: (stunned and baffled silence)
What kind of coach doesn’t even try to make her players better? She told me that because I had not listened to her advice at the beginning of the year (yes, I was remediating fractions for the first half of the lesson today because, as you observed, many of my students are still very rusty; no, I am not following the district’s instructional map, but I assure you I am covering all the standards this year), she had nothing to say to me. No tips for classroom management, no tips for upping investment. 26 years of teaching and all you have to say to me is that if I’d followed the instructional map, my students would be on “remote control”? As if the silver bullet is teaching the content in a specific order and never wavering from it. Good lord, if that were the key to the achievement gap, why am I even here?
Problem solved, America! Follow a grade-appropriate instructional map and students who are grade levels behind will magically catch up because they will take you and your structure seriously. Students who once slept through your class will definitely stay awake because you’re teaching Chapter 10 when you’re supposed to. Students who never take notes will become regular Anais Nins. Turns out they were just rebelling because Chapter 9 wasn’t the right chapter on the instructional map.
Give me a break. Despite the sarcasm, I’m trying to “operate with a sense of respect and humility,” and I know there is a lot I could be doing better in my classroom. Maybe if I had followed the textbook closer, my students would feel more motivated to use it and study more. But I am doing the best that I can 2.5 quarters into the year, and I am asking for help, and all I am hearing is, “I’ve given up on you.” She told me that “the school year is almost over,” and there’s “nothing I can do for you now [that you have ignored my advice from the beginning of the year].” When I told her I was concerned some students will not pass the EOCT and that I really do want to be a better teacher, she told me to “hang in there” and “hope they pass the EOCT.” Where’s the coaching I’m supposed to be getting? A [good] coach doesn’t tell her players what to do once, leave them to it, and then give up on them when they’ve done it wrong. Doesn’t the word coach imply that she should be guiding us, following up, and reflecting with us? Her disdain for Teach For America is misplaced, at least in that she could be learning a lot from the co-investigation process. Why can’t we sit down and discuss my progress? Why can’t we sit down and discuss how to get my students ready so that they don’t have to take this class again next year?
Can you imagine if a teacher said to a student something like, “Well, it’s too late in the year for you to catch up. You’ve continuously refused to take notes, and I’ve given up on you. So just do your best, but I’m not helping you anymore”? Not only would it be wholly counterproductive, but it would also be inappropriate. I would never say that to a student, and if I did say it, I might not have a job next year. Meanwhile, this math coach says it to me like her instructional map says “Eff It” at the 22 week mark when it comes to her teachers. Live up to your job description and coach me!
I’m still telling my failing students that I believe in them and that they can improve their grades. And it’s true: they can pass if they do the work that is expected and do it well. I believe in second chances for them. Why can’t my math coach offer me the same kind of faith? | <urn:uuid:244f48ba-23ff-4895-842e-5d3049dac899> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://aqtfa.teachforus.org/2011/02/08/the-math-coach/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982073 | 1,122 | 1.695313 | 2 |
ADDED: I received email from a man whose 18-year-old son died in an accident:
Because he graduated from high school in June, most of his friends are also college freshmen, and in September were newly scattered to the four winds, nowhere near their closest friends and not yet having developed close friendships in their new schools.... [They] posted hundreds of messages to his wall in the weeks following his death, and they continue to post there. These comments have brought, and bring, considerable solace to them, and to my wife, our daughter, and me.
And it was through Facebook that we were able to arrange with [his] friends all over North America to offer a tribute to him when they were home for Thanksgiving. We used Facebook to put out a call for ideas, and his friends used it to get together over long distances and decide how to pay tribute....
So now I have a use for Facebook, and I have more respect for its role in life and society than I ever thought I might. It can be a useful thing, and can bring comfort. To my surprise, it can bring people together and sustain them though emotional turbulence. From our family's vantage point at least, the benefits of Facebook outweigh whatever deleterious side-effects it might have. | <urn:uuid:6ce55730-8611-48f1-b098-d3690dc243ce> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.althouse.blogspot.com/2010/12/when-life-or-death-is-status.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987826 | 262 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The NRA learned of a problem in Oklahoma several years ago when some co-workers had planned to go do some target shooting one day after work. When their boss learned they had guns in their cars, they were fired, due to workplace rules against weapons on company property. In another Oklahoma case, 12 workers were fired when the company found they had firearms stored in their locked vehicles parked on company property. It’s a conflict between the property rights of the business owners and the Constitutional rights of their employees.
Almost every state has a provision for citizens to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons and keep them in their vehicles.
The state of Oklahoma eventually passed laws protecting employees’ rights and protecting their employers from liability.
A state law was needed because the federal government does not typically act to defend citizens’ Second Amendment rights.
Other states have passed similar laws forbidding employers from interfering with the legal possession of a firearm in their employees’ locked vehicles, but Tennessee’s GOP leaders decided to do the bidding of the employers instead.
Employers maintain their responsibility to provide a safe work place, and that their rights as owners of the workplace property are more important than their employees’ rights.
In Tennessee this year, the Republican-controlled legislature sided with business owners, and the NRA is responding by contributing to a challenger to the number three Republican in the state House.
But Tennessee isn’t alone. The NRA also ran into Republican roadblocks in Georgia, Alabama, Idaho and North Carolina this year.
In Alabama, a similar parking lot bill introduced by a Republican member got out of committee but failed to pass the chamber. A bill introduced in the House by a Democrat was killed in committee.
Why did the bills fail? It could have something to do with the Business Council of Alabama.
In the BCA’s 2012 State Legislative Agenda, the group stated, among other things, that it would actively oppose any legislation restricting the employers’ right to restrict firearm possession on company property. The BCA was apparently successful in that effort in this year’s legislative session.
Part of the Republican Party’s success with working class voters has been its positions on social issues, including opposition to gun control, but critics paint the GOP as the party that looks out for the rich.
It’ll be interesting to see what Alabama’s Republicans do with this issue before the 2014 elections. | <urn:uuid:5ff4a495-bf1a-4bc5-bc53-b58e163850aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailyhome.com/view/full_story/19344538/article-Whose-rights-matter--NRA-targets-GOP-legislators?instance=home_news_right | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980322 | 496 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Then click this link for our main Veggies Climate Change Campaigns archive
Cutting carbon in the most delicious way
Veggies, and thousands of others, shared the joys of vegan chocolate cake on 10th October, the 10:10:10 Global Day of Doing!
Across the world on on Sunday 10th October 2010, thousands of people will take simple steps to reduce their emissions, cutting carbon and sending a powerful message to world leaders that people everywhere are ready to tackle climate change. You can join this 10:10:10 Global Day of Doing.
Contact 10:10 via their entry on Veggies Networking Directory
Notts Not Stupid : Our 10:10 Pledges
Following the Nottingham premiere of The Age of Stupid, the first Indie Screening in Nottingham was held at Nottingham’s Sumac Centre, joining with dozens of other independent venues across the UK in an groundbreaking new model of film distribution – the Indie Screenings – licensed directly between the film’s producers and local venues.
To mark the Nottingham screenings, a Nottingham Not Stupid Festival had been held in Broadway’s Mezzanine cafe/bar on Friday 24th April, with representatives of many of Nottingham’s grass roots climate campaigns. The film’s Producer, Lizzie Gillett attended, introducing the screenings and leading a lively and well attended studio discussion. The audience throughout the week of Broadway Cinema Screenings left enthusiastically clutching their Action Packs and Copenhagen ‘deal or no deal’ newspapers (2.75MB pdf file).
Franny Armstrong, the director of Age Of Stupid asked “How did Stupid Change Your Life?”
Pat at Veggies replied:
Despite actively campaigning for vegan solutions to climate change for over 20 years, the Age of Stupid gave a hook to redouble the efforts of our volunteer-led vegan catering campaign, Veggies in Nottingham.
Having known Franny since the heady days of McLibel I was determined that The Age of Stupid would rock Nottingham. There was sadly no People’s Premiere in Nottingham (format issues?), but a bike ride through Leicester got me to the People’s Premiere there.
On leaving the Leicester Premiere I realised that we only had a few short years until 2015 to slow climate change before tipping us over the brink. Worse still we only had those few short months until December to get the global agreement without which the rest would seem a lost cause.
However I have never been willing to put any trust in the political process – whoever you vote for it always seems to to be politicians that get in, always working hand in hand with their corporate paymasters. I realised that the future was up to us not them. There seemed to be three things a catering campaign like ours could consider:
1. Reduce our default radius of operation by (say) 10% year on year, aiming to be running with bike & trailer kitchens by the middle of the next decade!
2. Phase out the use of (French-grown) soya in our key product, Veggies Burgers, in favour of (potentially) UK-grown hemp.
3. Encourage our retail & wholesale customers to forgo the perceived advantage of buying our ready-made frozen vegan burgers and sosages, by offering ambient dry mixes instead (hand made by vegans at our vegan social centre).
Later in the year two more challenges came to mind:
1. Persuade Nottingham City Council to adopt a weekly veggie day: See our dedicated Nottingham Veggie Day website.
2. persuade ‘environmental’ campaign groups, notably Greenpeace, to come out of the closet and acknowledge the vital need to give equal consideration to diet as to other actions to fight climate change. See discussion at Indymedia.
For further details of the Nottingham Not Stupid Screenings, to view the trailer and to Get Active with local campaigns against Climate Change, see Veggies Not Stupid webpage.
Whether you want to help tackle climate change or just get your bills down to size, we all know that cutting our carbon footprint makes sense. Even so, it can be hard to know where to start, and to know how one person can make a real difference. What’s needed is something straightforward, immediate and meaningful: we think we’ve found it.
Veggies has joined thousands of people and organisations across the country in adopting a simple goal: cutting our carbon by 10% in 2010. It’s called 10:10, and we want you to be a part of it. Cutting 10% in one year is a bold target, but for most of us it’s an achievable one, and is in line with what scientists say we need right now.
By signing up to 10:10 we’re not just working to reduce our own emissions – we’re joining a national drive to make this happen across every sector of society. It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by combining our individual efforts under one banner, 10:10 enables all of us to make a meaningful difference. Let’s find out what’s possible when we work together. You can sign up and get help cutting your carbon at 1010uk.org | <urn:uuid:1d5de273-a449-485c-8b54-d3b8651df9fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.veggies.org.uk/campaigns/tenten/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942672 | 1,083 | 1.742188 | 2 |
AFB CareerConnect's Job Seeker's Toolkit: Preparing & Finding Employment
AFB CareerConnect's Job Seeker's Toolkit is a series of free self-paced courses that contain information related to finding and maintaining employment as a person who is blind or visually impaired. Secondary audiences include vocational rehabilitation counselors and teachers and family members.
The course covers self-awareness, career exploration tools, the preliminary employment process, the interview, and maintaining employment. The Job Seeker's Toolkit also allows professionals or family members to follow their students' progress and provide feedback. | <urn:uuid:56ad6d1e-4121-492f-a5c3-5d8a18d6a57f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?FolderID=3&SectionID=44&TopicID=473&DocumentID=5654 | 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 | 0.932256 | 116 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Magic workshops for schoolsTo see magic is thrilling for children. To learn magic they can perform is so exciting it may be wise to take the children for a wee break before telling them.
The day kick starts with a mind boggling school magic show which involves some of the very tricks the children will learn throughout the day.
TEL: 0771 584 7691
When you book a magic workshop with Blooming Circus you are not just hiring a hobbyist.
You are getting an experienced, professional magician regularly performing at high profile events to astonish the children and literally bring magic to your school.
Our magicians have been teaching magic in schools for many years along side real life performances for corporate events, weddings, celebrity and private parties.
This enables the magician to share the real secrets of magic which lie in the application of magic to a real audience; showmanship, misdirection, patter and tips on practice are all part of our magic workshop.
Through years of experience in teaching magic in schools we have gained understanding of the varying abilities and levels of concentration between and within age groups, our workshops are designed with every child in mind.
What do our customers think?
"The magic workshop day was a triumph"
Beggars Theatre School (Cumbria)
"The children and adults were mesmerized. It was worth every penny"
Eldwick Primary School
"It was perfect, we look forward to having you back"
Reigate Parish School
"The staff and the young ones really enjoyed the day, we will have you back"
Littleton Youth Group
(C) Copyright, Joel Dickinson Entertainment, 2012. | <urn:uuid:f732aa81-2a07-49a2-a927-130a0f349a4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bloomingcircus.com/magic-in-schools.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948699 | 339 | 1.523438 | 2 |
AMERICAN GRADUATE -- February 1, 2012 at 3:33 PM EDT
Join a Live Chat Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET on Dropouts and Delinquents
This week, the NewsHour's American Graduate team takes a look at juvenile justice and gang violence as it relates to the dropout crisis, with reports starting Wednesday on our broadcast and website.
Join us for a live chat with two people featured in our series -- Victor Rios, a former gang member and high school dropout turned sociology professor, and Richard Ross, a photographer who documents what life is like for young people in prison.
To participate in our live chat, join us here this Friday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET. You can also leave your questions in the comments section below or tweet them to @NewsHourAmGrad using the hashtag #AmGrad.
The participants scheduled to join the chat (subject to change) include:
- Victor Rios, is a former gang member who grew up in Oakland, Calif. He is now a sociology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara studying juvenile criminal justice and gang life for young people. He is also the author of "Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys."
- Richard Ross is a photographer and professor at UC Santa Barbara. For the past five years, he has documented and interviewed juvenile delinquents as part of his"Juvenile In Justice" project. The NewsHour report featuring Ross is scheduled to air on Thursday's NewsHour broadcast.
* This post has been updated to reflect a time change in the live chat.
American Graduate is a public media initiative focused on the high school dropout problem.
Share your story: do you have a story about dropping out of high school? If so, take a moment to fill out this brief questionnaire. | <urn:uuid:b7c9ef24-ab8a-45de-a331-331bfad41ba5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/02/live-chat-friday-at-1-pm-et-delinquents-and-dropouts.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938648 | 385 | 1.53125 | 2 |
India's wholesale price index (WPI) rose a higher-than-expected 7.55 percent in August from a year earlier, mainly driven by higher food prices due to deficient monsoon, government data showed on Friday.
The data comes ahead of a policy meeting at the Reserve Bank of India on Monday where the bank is expected to leave interest rates on hold as it grapples with inflation.
However, a move by the government late on Thursday to raise subsidised diesel prices for the first time in 15 months was seen as increasing the odds for the first rate cut since April.
Analysts on average had expected an annual WPI rise of 6.95 percent, a Reuters poll showed.
Three analysts estimated core inflation rose to 5.56 percent in August from a year earlier, just about in line with market expectations for an advance of around 5.5 percent. The core wholesale price index was estimated to have risen 5.44 percent in July.
LEIF ESKESEN, CHIEF ECONOMIST FOR INDIA AND ASEAN, HSBC, SINGAPORE
"Before the Reserve Bank of India begins to consider a rate cut it will need to see some inflation risks beginning to abate and more tangible progress from the government on cutting subsidy expenditure and introducing policy reforms.
"Today's data shows underlying inflation pressure remains firm. Importantly, the core inflation has picked up which will remain a concern for the RBI.
"Yesterday's fuel price increase is a positive step in the right direction and holds promise of but does not guarantee more reforms.
"Independently, it won't sway the RBI because although it will limit the slippage in the subsidy bill, the fiscal deficit will remain significantly above the target in the absence of further measures. The RBI will have to factor that in."
GAURAV KAPUR, ECONOMIST, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, MUMBAI
"By and large, I think any rate action will get delayed now. So if the inflation number would have been a little benign this time around we could have seen something in October, but I think now the chances of that have gone down.
"From a policy perspective I think going forward they (the RBI) will look for the government continuing on consolidation of the fiscal side. Yesterday's moves are actually fairly limited in nature.
"The impact of QE3 on crude oil prices and subsequently on inflation in India is something we will also be watching out for very closely, because on the growth side things seem to be bottoming out."
ABHEEK BARUA, CHIEF ECONOMIST, HDFC BANK, DELHI
"We have changed our rate cut expectations after the diesel price and LPG move and we still think RBI will cut rates in its September policy notwithstanding the high inflation number because the diesel price and LPG decisions are far more significant moves in the direction of fiscal consolidation.
"Given that RBI is committed to reciprocate to steps on fiscal consolidation, and that they held back on rates for so long, I think they might cut rates by 25 basis points on Monday."
D K JOSHI, CHIEF ECONOMIST, CRISIL, MUMBAI
"The diesel price increase and LPG move do create room for rate cut, but I don't that will happen on Monday. The headline inflation has gone up but due to the diesel price increase, inflation expectations will be tamed as suppressed component in inflation will come down. We maintain our expectation of 50 basis point rate cut by March for which we have factored in a 10 percent increase in diesel prices."
DARIUSZ KOWALCZYK, SENIOR STRATEGIST, CREDIT AGRICOLE, HONG KONG
"On balance, we expect no cut (on Monday), with 50 bps in easing only in the December quarter. However, the odds of a reduction (in September) are about 35 percent so the market can move on the decision. The WPI data itself is negative for the INR, bonds and equities, and will limit their gains for the day. The INR OIS curve should rise."
RADHIKA RAO, ECONOMIST, FORECAST PTE, SINGAPORE
"Upside surprise in August WPI is likely to put rate-cut calls to rest in the near-term, especially in wake of yesterday's diesel price hike and likelihood of rebound in commodity prices in light of US stimulus measures."
"RBI needs to balance between indications that the government is stepping up its fiscal consolidation efforts against immediate risks to price stability. Hearteningly improved risk-sentiments have eased depreciation pressures on the currency. We maintain our no-change call on rates for Monday."
RAHUL BAJORIA, REGIONAL ECONOMIST, BARCLAYS CAPITAL, SINGAPORE
"The September policy decision remains a tricky call for RBI after the high WPI number. But since the government has at least taken the first step to cut subsidy, the ball is now in the RBI's court. I think there will be some pressure from the finance ministry on the RBI to cut rates. We also expect another 25 basis points rate cut in the next quarter as the pace of core inflation rise should not create a discomfort to RBI."
MADAN SABNAVIS, CHIEF ECONOMIST, CARE RATINGS, MUMBAI
"The fundamentals don't justify a rate cut at this point of time because the inflationary expectations are still quite high. The quantitative easing in the U.S. is also likely to push up global commodity prices and add to inflation.
"I don't expect a rate cut on Monday as the RBI has repeatedly said inflation is its main goal post. But I won't be surprised if there is one after the diesel price hike yesterday, which is a very positive step taken by the government."
RUPA REGE NITSURE, CHIEF ECONOMIST, BANK OF BARODA, MUMBAI
"Inflation has increased sharply in August on significant increase in the prices of certain fuel items whose prices are market determined and a large increase in the prices of minerals and manufacturing products due to the lagged impact of rupee depreciation and relatively firm demand. Even core inflation has further increased to 5.56 percent. Given this, the RBI is unlikely to lower the policy rates on September 17."
A PRASANNA, ECONOMIST, ICICI SECURITIES PRIMARY DEALERSHIP, MUMBAI
"After this inflation number I don't expect RBI to cut rates before January. If demand had been slow, then how are food, manufacturing, and non-food manufacturing prices rising? So there is very less spare capacity in the economy. With this inflation number, I think even the March inflation projection of 7 percent is under threat and so I don't think RBI should cut rates now. In July, RBI had expected the inflation trajectory to ease, which I don't think will happen soon."
SURESH KUMAR RAMANATHAN, HEAD OF REGIONAL RATES AND FX STRATEGY, CIMB, KUALA
"Price pressures above consensus and in line with expectations that the RBI stays pat on rates. I see the risk of markets starting to pay on the swaps. With commodity prices still on the upside, it diminishes the hope for any easing stance by the RBI in the near term.
"In our view RBI may also not be inclined to cut rates anytime soon as the diesel price hike will keep the inflation trajectory on the upside in the short term."
SHAKTI SATAPATHY, FIXED INCOME STRATEGIST, AK CAPITAL, MUMBAI
"The higher August provisional headline is primarily a factor of significant jump in fuel index and core manufacturing. Further the revised June figure indicates persistent upside risk. The domestic price hike along with rising global crude are considered to be the near-term threats and would keep the inflation levels higher in the coming months.
"The diesel price hike (on Thursday) is a good start in the right direction, but the RBI is expected to remain unmoved (on Monday) with an anticipated softer tone for the October policy meet. With almost all the negatives factored in, significant upside risk across the yield curve seems limited."
The Indian rupee held onto its gains, trading at 54.69/70 per dollar as of 0636 GMT, in line with levels before the data and stronger than its 55.43/44 close on Thursday.
The 10-year bond yield was trading at 8.17 percent, flat on the day but up from a session low of 8.10 percent.
The benchmark BSE stocks index was up 2.1 percent, holding onto its gains.
- India raised the price of heavily subsidised diesel on Thursday to rein in its fiscal deficit and counter the threat of becoming the first of the big emerging economies to be downgraded to junk, but the move would pile upward pressure on inflation.
- Industrial production barely grew in July, hurt by weak investment that has become the beleaguered government's primary concern as it scrambles to revive a flagging economy with little help likely from the central bank in the short-term.
- The Reserve Bank of India has cited high inflation for its hawkish stance despite a sharp slowdown in economic activity. The central bank is expected to keep rates steady at its scheduled policy review on Monday.
- Economic growth languished near its slowest in three years in the quarter that ended in June but was slightly better than expected, signaling the worst may be over for Asia's third largest economy and dashing investor hopes of an early rate cut.
- Drought conditions have abated with a late revival in monsoon rains narrowing the shortfall from averages to just 8 percent in the season so far, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday. | <urn:uuid:83393818-205b-4b7a-8c23-4717aee9e638> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sify.com/finance/expert-views-aug-inflation-at-7-55-pct-above-forecast-news-economy-mjomuCbaijb.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959086 | 2,074 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Summer Fayre to celebrate new community kitchen and growing project
Twickenham Primary School in Kingstanding is holding a Summer Fayre with a difference next Monday.
The Diggin’ Generations local food project will be launching their new community kitchen in the school with a big celebration event on the school field. The new purpose built stainless steel kitchen will be used for cooking workshops for the local community and school pupils. Workshops will teach good basic home cooking skills, focussing on healthy, delicious, affordable and easy to prepare meals for all the family.
Local residents and pupils have already been growing plenty of vegetables in the Diggin’ Generations community garden at the school and this fresh produce will be used in the cooking workshops. This approach means that local residents are learning how to grow and cook their own healthy food from fork to plate. The Summer Fayre will include tours of the community kitchen, shop and garden.
Jade Fellows-Smith, Diggin’ Generations community cook said “To have such a high specification kitchen in a school is such a privilege, we have had so much interest from local people in the cooking workshops, it will be great to be able to show off the kitchen and to get Kingstanding cooking!”
The school field will be transformed into a farmers market selling fresh and local produce including fruit and vegetables, local juice, preserves and fresh handmade bread.
There will be the chance to see traditional craft demonstrations including blacksmithing and wood turning on a pole lathe. Visitors will also be able to make their own mini-scarecrow with a local artist. Twickenham school parents will have their own handmade crafts area with a wide variety of craft items for sale- all made in Kingstanding!
Herbs and vegetable seedlings will be on sale along with our knowledgeable gardening team to offer advice on growing your own at home. Even the smallest of spaces such as a window-box, yard or balcony can be utilised for growing edibles.
Year 5 children have been involved in setting up a new local food social enterprise, creating their own businesses selling fresh fruit, vegetables and dried and baked goods to the local community. Year 5 pupils will be selling their popular ‘5 a day fruit bags’ containing five fresh fruits for only £1. The children run all aspects of their business from designing logos to selling to the public and even keeping the accounts. They will be helping to run the stalls at the Summer Fayre.
To get involved in the project or for more information call the Diggin’ Generations team on: 07759 0143485 or see the website for details. | <urn:uuid:8678086b-fbcc-42a9-bc5f-411bee7a8437> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thebirminghampress.com/2012/06/22/summer-fayre-to-celebrate-new-community-kitchen-and-growing-project/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94515 | 537 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Putting cold food on a hotplate on Shabbos
Daf Yomi just started פרק כירה which discusses these issues.
The first mishna there has a gezera that you are not allowed to put food even on a covered fire on shabbos (even where there is no problem of bishul). The Rishonim offer 2 reasons why:
1. שמא יחתה בגחלים - maybe you will stoke the coals
2. מחזי כמבשל - it looks like you are cooking
Based on this a number of poskim (R' Moshe, R' Eider, R' Willig) hold that the issur doesn't apply to a non-adjustable hotplate because there is no שמא יחתה בגחלים because you cannot change the temperature, and it is not מחזי כמבשל because no one cooks on such a hotplate. Therefore they hold that you can heat up solid cooked foods on shabbos on a hotplate. The Shmiras Shabbos disagrees. Note, it is not so simple to just be machmir, because you are taking away from your oneg shabbos, it is clearly more oneg shabbos to have hot food.
R' Moshe has another interesting chidush (not למעשה). He says that our stove tops should never need a blech. He explains that the whole reason for a blech is to prevent שמא יחתה בגחלים, with out stove tops that is impossible, there are no coals to stoke. What about turning up the gas? That is adding fuel which the gemara was never gozer on.
Interestingly enough, R' Aharon Kotler also dealt with this point albeit differently. He said that since today the worry is that a person will turn up the gas, the blech needs to cover the knobs (maybe it doesn't even need to cover the fire) so that the person will have a reminder not to turn up the gas.
Lastly, the Chazon Ish holds that the idea of grufa uktuma in the Mishna is that it lowered the heat significantly and therefore he holds that what we call a blech is no good as it doesn't lower the heat. According to him you need a blech like an upside down pot which does lower the heat. | <urn:uuid:b8acf2bc-43f3-4b31-b856-c708e2d6c275> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jewishworker.blogspot.com/2005/06/putting-cold-food-on-hotplate-on.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950175 | 550 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Go to learn not to change. Don't judge.
We loved everything about this trip, but the run with the bushmen was incredible and the visits to the Maasai village were great. The interaction with the people really added to the safari. The stop at the town where they were putting the art co-op together and shelter for the refugees was very interesting. We met the artists and purchased their works. They seemed thrilled that we asked each to sign and then pose with their work when we purchased it. Our Wildland guide, Stanley Omange, was the best and added so much to our experience. Throughout our safari he talked about how he grew up, his family, and his aspirations. Our friendship with Stanley turned out to be to the biggest factor in enjoyment of the trip.
Based on our personal experience on this Wildland Adventure, I recommend everyone take it as it comes and participate in everything you can. I climbed on the top of a Maasai roof to learn how to thatch even though I am terrified of heights, I ground corn between rocks, and ran with the bushmen as they hunted. None of these would I have done anywhere else but I'm very glad I did it here!
We are not at "home" where life is so different in other countries. Go to learn not to change. Accept that you will see what we consider poverty and know that it is everyday life for someone else. Don't judge. | <urn:uuid:519f1e8a-ed5e-4efa-85b0-177fc8530723> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wildland.com/destinations/africa/tanzania/reviews/judy-marr%2C-kenya.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 | 0.990081 | 297 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Find Disability Insurance Coverage
North Dakota Disability Insurance
ND Disability insurance is an insurance product designed to provide you with 40 - 60% of your gross income in the event you become sick or develop an illness that affects your ability to earn an income. The difference in policies are great, having a basic knowledge of the terms, types and payment methods are very important aspects you should understand and consider when selecting North Dakota disability insurance. Because of the enormous differences between policies and companies it is important that your selection of coverage not be based solely on price. Instead you should develop an idea of your needs based on your life style and measure those needs against the options and benefits of each insurance provider.
One of the first things you should review and understand when selecting a ND disability insurance policy is the insurer's definition of disability. This is important because it varies between insurers and products and is one of the most important things to understand. The definition tells you in what situations the insurer will pay the benefit, and to whom it will be paid in the event you become disabled. The following will list some types of disability insurance in ND and also provides some of the key phrases used for various types of policies.
Own-Occupation Disability Insurance
Own-Occupation disability policies offer the most comprehensive definition of total disability. In this type of policy total disability is generally defined as "The inability to perform the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation, the insurance company will consider your occupation to be the occupation you are engaged in at the time you become disabled, they will pay the claim even if you are working in some other capacity." In other words, an Own-Occupation policy provides you with a disability benefit even if you go back to work after your event, provided the work you will do is not the same work you did when you received the policy. Here is an example, if you are found to be disabled and you where an engineer, you are not able to go back and work as an engineer. However, go to work and doing something else, such as a dispatcher at the local fire station and your disability insurance carrier would pay the benefit. If you returned to work as an engineer your policy would most likely not pay you the benefit going forward.
Income Replacement Insurance
The income replacement insurance policy is currently one of the most popular offered by insurers. Income replacement insurance has more or less replaced the Own-Occupation type policy. The first part of the disability definition is very similar to the Own-Occupation disability definition however the last part is where the real difference lies. A typical definition for disability in income replacement insurance might read like this: "Because of sickness or injury you are unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation, and are not engaged in any other occupation". This type of policy will penalize you for going back to work even if the work you go back to is different than the work you did prior to the disability event. Some companies that offer an income replacement insurance product will allow the insured to return to some kind of work and adjust the benefit according to the income of the new position.
Gainful Occupation Coverage
These types of policies are the most common with employer sponsored group long term disability products. It is important that you understand all aspects of these types of policies as the definition of disability is essentially left to the insurance company for interpretation. A typical definition of disability in gainful occupation coverage might read "Because of sickness or injury you are unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your occupation, or any occupation for which you are deemed reasonably qualified by education, training or experience". Now think of this, could the insurance company insist that you go to a job at the local gas station and pump gas? The likelihood is that you might not have to if you decided to litigate this in court. Did you not purchase disability insurance so that you would not have to worry about your income? What would you think if your benefits were cut and you were told to go apply for a job that you simply did not want to do? This single type of policy is why shopping on price is not a prudent thing to do when evaluating disability insurance. The cost of gainful occupation policies tends to be low in comparison to income replacement and own-occupation policies. The choice is yours! As with any other important purchase, getting all the information you can about the products you are considering is very important. Pick an insurance agent that you can trust and one that is knowledgeable in this type of insurance product. Not all insurance agents are knowledgeable in disability products. Make sure the one you are dealing with has the expertise you need and want! | <urn:uuid:c34be9e1-d3e6-435b-9862-98b55c2d438a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/insurance/disability_insurance/north_dakota/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970941 | 938 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Po Box 2468
Evergreen, CO 80437-2468
"Montessori School of Evergreen provides a nurturing environment in which children and adolescents can explore, learn, and flourish. We promote academic excellence and encourage students to follow their interests and passions, to develop a love of learning; to respect themselves, others and their environment; and to achieve their potential.
Our school community fosters the self-worth, self-reliance and self-discipline our students need to thrive individually and collectively, in order to contribute their unique gifts to the world. In this endeavor, we recognize and value the strength and commitment of our students, parents and faculty.
Children at all levels gain from their education at Montessori School of Evergreen a love of learning and positive attitude toward school and work, strong academic and life skills, self-confidence, independence, creativity, self-discipline, respect for themselves, others and the environment, and the ability to work together, cooperate and share a community spirit. From an early age, caring for others is emphasized and children at the school take part in activities to help their local and global communities through service and fundraising projects.
Excerpted from the preschool's website | <urn:uuid:c962c4e8-caf0-4c1b-b064-ec3f1bf3b9ec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.savvysource.com/preschools/co/evergreen/montessori-school-of-evergreen | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949036 | 249 | 1.632813 | 2 |
If the whole book is open, you will just be the day and no night, just the summer and no winter. Then where will you rest and where will you center yourself and where will you take refuge? Where will you move when the world is too much with you? Where will you go to pray and meditate? No, half and half is perfect. Let half of your book be open – open to everybody, available to everybody. Let the other half of your book be so secret that only rare guests are allowed there. Only rarely is somebody allowed to move within your temple. It should be so. If the crowd is coming in and going out, then the temple is no longer a temple. It may be a waiting room in an airport, but it cannot be a temple. Only rarely, very rarely, do you allow somebody to enter your self. That is what love is.
The second question:
Sometimes I wonder what I am doing here, sitting before you. And then suddenly you are too much for me, too much light and love. Yet I want to leave you. Can you explain this to me?
Yes. The question is bound to happen to everybody some day or other. What are you doing here? The question arises because my emphasis is not on doing; I am teaching you nondoing. The question is relevant. If I was teaching you something to do, the question wouldn’t arise because you would be occupied. If you go to somebody else – there are a thousand and one ashrams in the world where they will teach you to do something. They will not leave you unoccupied at all because they think that an unoccupied mind is the devil’s workshop. My understanding is totally, diametrically opposite. When you are absolutely empty, God fills you; when you are unoccupied, only then you are. While you are doing something, it is just on the periphery. All acts are on the periphery – good and bad, all. Be a sinner – you are on the periphery; be a saint – you are on the periphery. To do bad you have to come out of yourself; to do good you also have to come out of yourself.
Doing is outside, nondoing is inside. Nondoing is your private self, doing is your public self. I am not teaching you to become saints, otherwise it would have been very easy: don’t do this, do that; just change the periphery, change your acts. I am trying a totally different thing, a mutation – not a change from one part of the periphery to another part of the periphery, but a transmutation from the periphery to the center. The center is empty, it is absolutely void. There, you are. There, is being, not doing.
It is bound to happen to you sometimes: sitting before me you will wonder what you are doing here. Nothing – you are not doing anything here. You are learning how to just be, not to do – how not to do anything: no action, no movement…as if everything stops, time stops. And in that nonmoving moment you are in tune with the present, you are in tune with God. | <urn:uuid:40f26295-0d46-4e5f-8d69-156b56c7de1e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://osho.com/library/online-library-nondoing-periphery-transmutation-9e86f7d0-545.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967513 | 657 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc.
Liberty Wildlife has been part of my curriculum for over 15 years. The volunteers are always ready and willing to come to what ever event I have planned. They are truly educational bringing their mission in all that they do. There message of Conservation and Preservation is evident at all times. Liberty shows the upmost respect for the birds and their needs while educating people of all ages.
My students remember the conservation message that Liberty delivers. I often hear the students discussing what was said days later.
Liberty Wildlife is a fantastic organization dealing with Conservation, Education and Rehabilitation.
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Coming to my school to do presentations
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Get them more money so they can continue to do great things | <urn:uuid:df18b857-faef-4f53-8d4a-006a33d4ca9d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/liberty-wildlife-rehabilitation-foundation-inc/role:2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963561 | 180 | 1.546875 | 2 |
April 24, 2012 - 10:00am
Concluding my look at some of the local pioneers of football I take a closer look at the roster of the former NFL team, the Louisville Brecks
I now continue my look at some of the historical athletes to play in a very young National Football League from the city of Louisville.
April 17, 2012 - 10:00am
When football was in its infancy the city of Louisville had a large impact on the game. Here I look at some of those early local icons who were a part of the infant National Football League.
In the early days of American football the men who played it didn’t make millions of dollars. More often than not they all had day jobs- and these were professionals. The athletes of the National Football League, back when football was just a past time born out of Canton, Ohio,...
December 5, 2011 - 12:55pm
To this day football is a thriving aspect of the sports landscape in the city of Louisville. Here I take a look at the plethora of pro and semi-pro teams to come through the Derby City.
Go to any Sports bar on any given Sunday in the city and people in there will be yelling about one thing and one thing alone: football.Well, in general, I mean if you drop a chair on somebody’s foot I would assume that they would yell about that, but at that point were really just dealing...
September 7, 2011 - 10:00am
Considering the historical sports landmarks of the city, I'm left in search for the Louisville Brecks landmarks.
The Louisville Breckenridges were a professional football team playing out of the Derby City throughout the 1920’s.
February 18, 2011 - 11:28am
As men across the city openly weap about the conclusion of the football season, it's now a time to look back upon an untold history- that of a Louisville team in the NFL. You read that right.
Previously I took it upon myself to prove my hypothesis that the largest city in Kentucky did in fact have a somewhat storied tradition with professional sports that is often overlooked. Prior to this, I filibustered to prove the tradition of baseball in the city. | <urn:uuid:e7951847-a725-4593-86b6-bd6af07bb05c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.louisville.com/tags/brecks | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977447 | 458 | 1.625 | 2 |
One more thing...
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and the guiding mind behind iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, iTunes, and an astounding amount of other modern technological marvels, passed away yesterday at the age of 56.
Statements and stories have flooded in from around the world and all over the internet. Below, the staff of TiPb and the Mobile Nations network share their thoughts, memories, and respect for the man who shaped the modern consumer electronic world.
If there is anything that we can learn from the death of Steve Jobs it's that we need to make sure we live for the moment and do as much as we can with the time we are given. Though Steve is no longer with us, his legacy will carry on. I did not expect to be as affected by his passing as I have been. There is something that made me feel secure with having Steve at Apple, and his spirit can not be replaced.
We're here to put a dent in the universe.
You did, Steve. You did.
There isn't much I could say about Steve's influence on the world that hasn't been said better already. I wasn't expecting to be as impacted by his passing as I found myself last night and again this morning. But I was, and I started to think about why I felt the way I did. I came to the conclusion that everything I do today - from the actual work I do on a daily basis, to the way I think about the quality of what we create, to the places I want us to go as a company - has in some perceivable way been shaped by Steve. A child of the 80s, I loved Macs, and when I was old enough to afford my own, it was around the same time he came back to Apple and began to reshape the face of the company. Since that point, I've watched as his vision brought new life not only to Apple, but to the entire technology industry. My formative young adult years were spent in awe of the places he was taking us, and with each release, we inched closer toward a better way of doing things. There were hiccups along the way, stops and starts, but the vision always persevered in spite of everything. Now, with the mobile landscape looking the way it does, thinking back to those early machines and the original Macintosh's goal of bringing computing to everyone, it's clear that he succeeded in that intention. Every single day, the good things he wanted us to feel as we use our technology touch my life in quietly profound ways. And every single day forward, I will pause and think about how compromise was not a part of that plan. Steve's guiding principle was to do great things, and while we don't always succeed at that, neither did he - and it's the journey (and the willingness to keep pushing forward) that really matters anyway. I will genuinely miss him, and I thank him for everything he did in the name of the user.
Ally Kazmucha, TiPb.com
I've immersed myself in technology ever since I can remember. I was always fascinated by the way things work and how things could be better. Steve Jobs understood that things can "always" be better. He was a visionary and his own worst critic. I always admired that in him. Back in my college days I remember seeing the Stanford Commencement speech on the internet. One quote stuck with me from then until now -
"Everyday when I wake up, I look into the mirror and ask myself, "If I was going to die tomorrow, would I still want to do what I'm going to do today?", and if the answer is no too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."
It's a quote I've tried to live up to. Since then, I've almost completely turned a hobby and a passion into a career, I'd say that quote has impacted my life in ways I'm not even capable of explaining. So I'll continue doing what I love to do as that's the best way I know to honor one of most creative minds of this century. He may be gone but so many of the ideas and innovations he brought to life will continue to inspire generations to come. You will be sorely missed by all.
George Lim, TiPb.com
Leanna Lofte, TiPb.com
In a job interview I had a couple years ago, I was asked that if I could meet one celebrity, who would it be? Without even giving it much thought, I promptly replied 'Steve Jobs'. The job-search committee was slightly taken aback by my response because he wasn't a celebrity in the conventional meaning of the term. Well, in my eyes, Steve is the greatest and most influential celebrity of my time. Unlike other celebrities, Steve actually had and will continue to have a great impact on my life.
I miss you, Steve. Thank you for not only being an incredible innovator, but for being an inspiration and example of perseverance and following your dreams.
As much as we like to poke at Apple whenever we get the chance on CrackBerry, Steve Jobs was an amazing visionary and inspiring leader who made a significant impact upon the world in which we live. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones.
Say what you will about Steve Jobs... whether you loved him or hated him, it is undeniable of the impact he had on our modern society. His return to Apple marked a new era of design and functionality the rest of the industry wished they could capture and often tried to replicate. Sure he was known to fanboys as the savior and to the haters as the devil but his business savvy and cutthroat business decisions created an empire. You will always see his true friends speak dearly of him and that is what strikes me most. He was a guy who was doing a job that was fueled on his dreams and imagination; they might have been absurd to conventional thinking and against every fabric of sound business models, yet, he still prevailed on top of it all. I offer his family and friends my condolences during this hard time. Having lost my mother at 47 from cancer, the thing that helped me through it all was remembering her during the strongest periods of her life and always keeping that in my heart. Steve, thank you for your innovations that keep pushing our world closer together through technology.
Explaining to my 5-year-old daughter what I was watching on TV (and, Jesus H. Christ is CNN horrible), Mia, who uses an old iPhone 3G as an iPod, asks me:
"Daddy, since he died, will my iPhone not work anymore?"
No, Mia, it most certainly will.
Chris Oldroyd, TiPb.com
Steve Jobs quite simply changed my life! His vision and astounding ability to give us what we needed even before we actually knew what we needed was amazing. The world has lost a gifted individual and is a much worse place today because of that. I will never forget the first time I heard him say "The iPhone". Little did I know what it would lead to. Thank you Steve.
Between last night and today, I have heard so many people state what Steve Jobs meant to them and their lives and it has truly been amazing. I've always recognized that we all live and we all die but I never realized the passing of Steve Jobs would have this much affect on myself. I work on a MacBook Pro all day long, I write about iPhones and iPads often and much of my livelihood as I know it -- is because of the products him and the folks at Apple have created. Steve Jobs was simply put.. amazing. I encourage you all to donate to your local Cancer society.
Andrew Wray, TiPb.com
It's difficult to find the right words to describe some of the emotions that I've been overwhelmed with since learning of Steve Job's passing. Feelings of sadness, nostalgia, deep inspiration and happiness all come to the surface when watching some of Steve's greatest moments on stage. He had such a way about him. That all-too-magical reality distortion field. I don't believe we will have another opportunity to see a man as great as Steve Jobs emerge within our lifetimes.
For all of this, I am truly grateful that I was able to be on this earth to watch Steve work his magic with Apple, NeXT and Pixar, bringing amazing products to the world and truly revolutionizing the tech industry. And more than once. His legacy will live on forever through Apple and I'm sure we'll all think of Steve every time we use one of his products. We'll miss you, Steve. Thanks for giving us the world.
Rene Ritchie, TiPb.com
My first computer was an Apple II. My first website was created on the classic Mac OS. Day in and day out, my work, my play, and my life is enabled by Macs and iPhones and iPads and the apps they make possible. Steve Jobs inspired and informed all of that. He is indelibly and inexorably at the heart of modern technology.
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
A master story teller, he methodically crafted a legend not of words or epics but of consumer electronics and software. He is why Apple is the brand and passion it is today, why industrial design matters, and why software is increasingly accessible to the mainstream.
He stood at the crossroads of technology and liberal arts, of glass and aluminum, of bits and bytes, and by sheer act of will forged them into something greater than any of their parts -- tools that work for us rather than requiring us to work for them.
Relentless visionary, consummate showman, genius businessman. His loss hurts but his life will inspire, always.
The end of act two came far too soon, and act three suddenly, brutally sooner still. Part of me wonders what another 30 years could have brought us, but the other part knows what Jobs himself elucidated so well:
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
We'll never get another "One more thing..." from you, Steve, but you've left us the only thing that really matters. Your legacy. Thank you for that. For everything. | <urn:uuid:5cd47864-f658-4b00-a761-49ce240bede5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.imore.com/comment/239108 | 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 | 0.979634 | 2,393 | 1.703125 | 2 |
For Muslims, Military Service Sometimes Met With Hostility
MICHEL MARTIN, host:
I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News.
Coming up, just in time for Monday night football, we'll meet the man who represents NFL players, DeMaurice Smith. He's the new executive director of the NFL Players Association. We'll have a newsmakers conversation with him later in the program.
But first, we return to last week's tragedy at Fort Hood. By now, we have a pretty clear picture of how the tragic events unfolded last Thursday. The alleged shooter, Army Major Nidal Hasan, opened fire killing 12 soldiers and one civilian. What investigators are now trying to figure out is why the 39-year-old psychiatrist executed what's believed to be the worst mass shooting ever on a U.S. military facility.
It seems clear that Hasan was a very troubled man. But some are also wondering if his troubles had anything to do with the stress of being Muslim in the U.S. military, which is currently engaged in fighting wars in two Muslim countries. It isn't exactly clear how many Muslims serve in the military. Official figures say under 4,000 out of 1.4 million service members. But some 80,000 service members choose not to claim or disclose a religious affiliation.
We decided to call two men who shared the experience of serving in the military while observing their Muslim faith. Bashir Ahmad is a former medic in the National Guard where he served until April 2008. Also joining us is Haytham Faraj. He's a former Marine, and he eventually retired as senior defense counsel at Camp Pendleton in California. He's currently a criminal defense attorney who focuses on military law. They're both here with me in our Washington, D.C. studio. Welcome to you both, thank you for coming.
Mr. BASHIR AHMAD: Thank you.
Mr. HAYTHAM FARAJ (Criminal Defense Lawyer): Thank you.
MARTIN: I just wanted to start by asking each of you about your experience of being Muslim in the military. Was it ever commented upon, Bashir? Was it ever something that was issue for you?
Mr. AHMAD: It was definitely something that was commented on, and it was definitely my characterization of, you know, who I was. It definitely played a large part of me being Muslim as opposed to just being a soldier.
MARTIN: How did that play out and when did you join by the way?
Mr. AHMAD: I joined in 2002. And a lot of it was just through soldiers, just ignorance of the Islamic belief. And I think before September 11, and that was very, very common. You know, I think very few Americans really knew what Islam was about and what a Muslim was, et cetera. And so at that time, it was - a lot of it just who are you because it's still a large mystery. Now�
MARTIN: So you felt it more as curiosity. You didn't feel there was hostility or was there some hostility there?
Mr. AHMAD: I think there was some hostility. I would characterize it more as like mistrust. And as like more of a feeling out process, it's who are you? You know, what do you really think about what's going on right now, you know? Where do your loyalties, like, really lie? So, I don't know if it's a hostility, more as a suspicion. You know, I never had any sort of experience where anyone would directly harass me or make me feel that I was directly threatened, you know, in any sort of way.
MARTIN: Haytham, you joined well before the events of September 11th. As I recall, you joined in 1986.
Mr. FARAJ: That's right.
MARTIN: What was your experience then and did it change over time?
Mr. FARAJ: It only did change over time. I was one of those that decided not to disclose faith. My views on faith have changed over time. But certainly early on, there was a strong identification with the Muslim faith. However, unlike Bashir's experience, I did not face any outright hostility. There were some, some individualized hostility towards me but it wasn't institutional and it certainly wasn't widespread.
Over time, it became a thing of curiosity. So, people would seek me out to discuss things, especially after September 11. By that point, I was an officer, I was a commander, so I was sought out. That's in contrast to what some of the junior military members were going through. And I became someone that frequently was sought out to mentor kids that were coming in and were facing some hostility.
MARTIN: Can I just ask you about that? Because, forgive me, I've never served in the military, all of the men in my family have but I never have. So, I wonder is there a certain amount of hazing because of who you are common to everybody, I mean, because everybody go through that�
Mr. FARAJ: Yeah, of course.
MARTIN: �based on whatever you are.
Mr. FARAJ: I don't want to call it hazing. There's a certain amount of - there's a process that you go through to join this club of macho elite group, and they're going to pick on whatever you have that's different. It may be the way you dress, it may be the way you comb your hair. There are certain soldiers that come from the south or southwest that were kind of cowboy like may have been picked on because of the way they dress, it's just a common thing. There wasn't so much hostility as a process.
MARTIN: But did it change after September 11? Did you feel - and I take your point that you were an officer at that time, so a certain level of deference was due you anyway. But did you feel after September 11th that there was some questioning about your loyalty in a way that you had not experienced before?
Mr. FARAJ: I never experienced that. In fact, some of the senior commanders that knew me or knew of me made sure to call and let me know that they were available or to make sure that I was okay. I did have some Marines seek me out because they were facing hostility. But keep in mind that the more junior you are, the more ignorant you are perhaps about the world and diversity and so on and so. It's almost common at the more junior levels, and a lot less common the more senior you get.
MARTIN: If you are joining us, this is TEL ME MORE from NPR News. We're talking about the experience of being Muslim in the U.S. Military. We're speaking with Haytham Faraj. He's a former Marine. He retired as senior defense counsel at Camp Pendleton in California. We're also with Bashir Ahmad. He is a former medic in the National Guard.
Is there anyway in which being A Muslim in an asset in the military?
Mr. AHMAD: Absolutely.
Mr. AHMAD: In my experience in Iraq and even before going in pre-deployment, the leadership would often ask me to maybe do like a talk to, you know, the rest of our battalion and about what it means to be a Muslim just to kind of give a personal point of view. You know, to have - to bridge that misunderstanding, bridge that gap. And in country - in Iraq, there are a lot of situations that because of my background, I was sort of the kind of bridge between, you know, the American forces and the Iraqi people who, they would see my name or I would speak a little bit Arabic and they could tell, you know, that I was a Muslim and they would immediately kind of like tone down the tensions that'd be going on, you know?
I would often, like, the leadership would always bring me up to the front whenever they're dealing with the Iraqi population just to, you know, cool down, you know, the initial tension that always, you know, happens when you're dealing with, you know, American leadership or American forces and the Iraqi public.
MARTIN: And this was appreciated.
Mr. AHMAD: Oh, yeah.
MARTIN: It is understood that your role was appreciated.
Mr. AHMAD: Most definitely.
MARTIN: Did you ever have that experience?
Mr. FARAJ: I certainly think it is asset. It was an asset throughout my career, more being an Arab than an Arab speaking Marine. I want to distinguish, we're talking about hostility to Muslims. I think the hostility is, probably if it exists, is hostility to Arabs. And, of course, there are many Arabs that are Christian and serve in the military. And I'm aware of some Arabs that served in the Marine Corps that felt a little a bit of hostility because of their names.
There is a misconception that every Arab is Muslim, and that's not, of course, it's not true. But to the question you're asking, it's certainly an asset and the military has gone out of its way and going out of its way to recruit more Arab-Americans, more Muslim Arab-Americans, because they do become a bridge to the misunderstanding gap that exists between us and the people in the Middle East.
MARTIN: Do you worry that this terrible situation at Fort Hood will somehow reflect poorly on Muslims, on the whole, in the service? However, whether you wish you felt that way or not, and is there anything you think can be done about that?
Mr. FARAJ: I think commanders - I think the people in charge will not change. I think they will continue to seek out Muslims and Arabs to serve. I think they recognize that they're an asset and not a liability. And I don't believe Major Hasan's faith had anything to do with this, maybe that's a topic for another day. But my personal belief is that it had nothing to do with this. It may have been a final trigger to a lot of built-up anger for personal reasons, but I don't think his faith has anything to do with it.
Mr. AHMAD: Yeah, I agree. I don't think this is going to faze military leadership, because the assets that Muslim soldiers can play. But I do think it's going to have a negative impact amongst the enlisted soldiers, you know, the lower ranks. So�
MARTIN: Did anybody say that - something like that to you? Gee, I'm uncomfortable serving with you now.
Mr. AHMAD: No.
MARTIN: How would your react to that?
Mr. AHMAD: If someone said that to me�
Mr. AHMAD: I mean, just with me, with my personality, you know, all I can say is that I would feel hurt that, you know, that was the situation. And I really don't know what I could say to that, you know. I really don't know. You have all these images in the media. And what can I say when 95 percent of the information that, you know, soldiers are getting has, you know, you can say has negative connotations. And so, what can I say? I'm going to feel saddened about it and I can try to do the best that I can to be a good role model, to be a good soldier, serve as a good example, but what can I do?
MARTIN: President Obama in his weekly radio address, addressed this issue, well, I don't know if I want to say tangential. Let me just play it and get your reaction to it.
Mr. AHMAD: Okay.
President BARACK OBAMA: There are Americans of every race, faith and station. There are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers. They are descendants of immigrants and immigrants themselves. They reflect the diversity that makes this America. What they share is a patriotism like no other. What they share is a commitment to a country that has been tested and proved worthy. What they share is the same unflinching courage, unblinking compassion and uncommon camaraderie that soldiers and civilians of Fort Hood showed America and showed the world.
MARTIN: So I want to ask each of you in the few minutes that we have left. Is this kind of statement helpful? And is there anything else that you think the civilian or military leadership should do going forward.
Mr. FARAJ: It is helpful. Look, the military is not a monolith. It is broken up into tiny little units called platoons and companies and battalions. And within those companies, tribes form and the tribe members know each other and they love each other. And sometimes, you get a tribe member that has a personality disorder or a problem that has nothing to do with their beliefs, because at essence, essentially, all these guys have one thing in common and that is love for one another. Soldiers go overseas to fight to protect their brothers.
Flag and country are great. Faith is great. But in the end, they share fighting holes and they protect each other for the love they feel for one another. So these members of the tribe - they're Muslims, they're Jews, they're Christians, whatever they are, are a part of it and will remain a part of it. And those soldiers know that. It's what you don't know that becomes problematic. You know, they see someone outside and we begin to believe that that person is different.
Well, military commanders are, I think, are going to handle this well. They're going to continue to make sure that there is unit cohesion, that they're dispelling the fears. And it's a process we're going to go through. It happens every time with every race.
MARTIN: Bashir, final thought?
Mr. AHMAD: I just have to agree. I know, with myself, I mean, being in the military is one of the proudest things that, you know, I've ever done. And going overseas and serving, it's really, like we were saying, you know, country is great. But in the end, it's like on the most basic level, it's about, you know, the guy next to you. And that's where things like religion and race don't matter at all.
MARTIN: Well, as Veterans' Day approaches, let me thank you both for your service.
Mr. FARAJ: Thank you.
MARTIN: Let me thank you both for coming in.
Mr. AHMAD: Thank you.
MARTIN: Bashir Ahmad is former National Guard medic who served in Iraq. He served in the military until April 2008. Haytham Faraj is a retired senior defense counsel at Camp Pendleton in California, a former Marine. Currently, he's a criminal defense attorney who focuses on military law. And as I mentioned, they were both here in our Washington, D.C. studio. Gentlemen, thank you.
Mr. FARAJ: Thank you.
(Soundbite of music)
MARTIN: Just ahead, another perspective from James Yee. He's the former Muslim chaplain at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center.
Mr. JAMES YEE (Former Muslim Chaplain, U.S. Army): I never met a Muslim service member who didn't, at some time or another, experience some sort of harassment for being a Muslim-American.
MARTIN: That conversation is coming up next on TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm Michel Martin.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio. | <urn:uuid:79e04ca1-13a8-4de4-a23b-d6654a2e433e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120238951 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985406 | 3,372 | 1.703125 | 2 |
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The remains of Castello di San Vigilio can be visited. Some of the sidewalls at the hillside are still there, as well as the lower parts of the round towers. The stairs of the South-East tower can still be used. The caste itself no longer is there. From the former groundfloor at 500 meters above sea level you have a grand view over the surroundings.
The history of the castle goes back to the sixth century when the hill was fortified for the first time.
Written Jan 22, 2013
Restoration of La Chiesa Sant'Agata nel Carmine in Bergamo Citta Alta is underway and visitors are invited to donate
Bergamo born Pope John XXIII provides a big draw with a new portrait by the Shanghai-born painter Yan Pei Ming who is now based in France and has painted portraits of subjects as diverse as Bruce Lee and Barack Obama. The two coloured red and white is typical of his work.
Updated Jan 6, 2013
Address: Via Colleoni
The Torre Civica is one of the oldest towers of the upper city of Bergamo. It was constructed in the 11th and 12th century as part of the first Celeri family castle built. The tower was reconstructed in the following centuries.
The tower can be climbed or ascended by elevator.
Entrance fee: Euro 3,00 (Adult and elevator use).
Wintertime: Mo: Closed; Tu-Fr: 9:30AM - 1PM; 2:30PM - 6PM; Sa-Su: 9:30 - 6PM
Summertime: Mo: Closed; Tu-Fr: 9:30AM - 6PM; Sa-Su: 9:30 - 8PM
Written Dec 31, 2012
Address: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele - Bergamo
The Church of Santa Lucia is located at the busy XX Settembre shopping street at the corner where a small street market is held.
Santa Lucia's day is December 13 when stalls selling sweets and toys are put in the center, visited by children who leave a letter with their wish list of gifts at the church.
Updated Dec 28, 2012
Address: Via XX Settembre - 24122 Bergamo
"They call me Harlequin, I'm a little mischievious and cunning
Near Bergamo I was born, throughout the world I am known"
More than one continent. let alone more than one are or country makes claims of being the origin of the Arlequino. BErgamo stakes its claim with the legend above, in English Italian and Berghem dialect, at the off beat sculpture unveiled outside the toursit office 26 November 2011
The first Harlequin may have been Alberto Naselli, from Bergamo, in 1572. Jury is out, but have a look !.
Written Nov 29, 2012
Address: at Urban Center, Piazzale Marconi,
The Rocca (Castle) has a history that goes back hundreds of years and is most likely the site of Bergamo's Roman Capitol.
Bergamo provided Garibaldi with a large contingent of men to fight in the Wars of Independence which led to the subsequent Unification of Italy. No doubt this is one of the reasons why the castle houses the 19th cent. section of the Historical Museum which covers this period.
I was too late to visit the castle and museum but the reason that I've included it as a tip is because the park surrounding it is worth a visit in its own right. It's a lovely spot to chill out and take in the views over the Citta Alta, Citta Bassa and beyond both to the Lombardy Plain and the foothills of The Alps.
There's a charge to visit the museum inside the castle but the parkland is free.
Updated Oct 26, 2012
Located in Citti Alta, the Palazzo Moroni is a preserved home that is now a museum and also serves as a venue for events. Finely decored inside, courtyards and extensive grounds. Located at via Porta Dipinta 14 (via of the painted doors), the Palace was built in the 17th century by Francesco Moroni. The grounds contain a tower built in the 14th century. The ceiling, with it 3D effect was impressive.
Updated Sep 23, 2012
Located in Piazza Matteotti is The Death of a Partisan sculpture by Manzu. It was gifted to the City by locally born artist Giacomo Manzu in 1977 to honor those Italians who fought against both the Nazi's and Mussolini's forces in World War II. It is not a large munument by an means but is quite striking. More information about Giacomo Manzu can be found at the website below.
Written Sep 22, 2012
Climbing up the tower ( a guide is available to explain some history) is interesting enough, but the views over the City of Bergamo are outstanding. From the medieval buildings below you to the hills that form the base of the Alps.
Written Sep 17, 2012
Located with easy walking distance of the upper funicular station of the Citta Alta-San Vigilio funicular, this park offers great views over Bergamo's surrounding countryside.
There is also the ruins of a castle within the park.
Public conveniences can be found at the entrance to the park.
OPENING HOURS :
April to September : 09:00 - 20:00
October and March : 10:00 - 18:00
November to February : 10:00 - 16:00
Closed : 1 January, Easter, 25 December
Updated Sep 15, 2012
Address: San Vigilio, Bergamo Province, Italy
11 Reviews and 157 Opinions The Best Western in Bergamo's lower town is located at the main crossing. You have easy access to...
Mercure Bergamo Palazzo Dolci Bergamo
6 Reviews and 245 Opinions Check-in and check-out were smooth. I obtained valuable information from the hotel staff. The...
Hotel Piemontese Bergamo
5 Reviews and 99 Opinions I was very happy with my stay at the hotel Piemontese. The location was excellent for me because I... | <urn:uuid:95d5c2ef-139c-4e28-9813-b301c46fa38f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Bergamo-155701/Things_To_Do-Bergamo-MISC-BR-1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957206 | 1,311 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Public planning requires the ability to think on a big, bold scale. It also requires the savvy to push plans through to completion — to woo backers, find funding, assemble volunteers, and manage not to alienate communities and neighborhoods that have their own aesthetic sensibilities. In short, it’s as much about being a politician as being gardener-in-chief. In New York City, the Restoration Project brought in much-admired John Lauren, of Tiffany & Co., to sit down with the 14th Street block club for a consult on its garden. “He’s designed jewelry for the richest people in the world,” Becher recalls, “and someone from the block club says, ‘I don’t like that!’” No problem — the plans were changed. Similarly, the point of Philly’s new Plant One Million Trees initiative is as much the symbolism as the greenery. Such projects, Becher says, “really resonate with corporate and private funders.”
And with the city strapped for cash, Becher’s big plans are going to require backers of every sort. In New York, he grew the Restoration Project’s budget from $5 million to $13.2 million; PHS’s annual budget is $21 million a year, $1 million of it raised via the Flower Show. (PHS won’t say what Becher is being paid, but in New York he made just shy of $200,000 annually.) In September, PHS announced that Fairmount Park Conservancy executive director Kate Wilhelm was joining PHS as senior vice president of business development. In horticultural circles, that’s like acquiring Cliff Lee. In the depths of the recession, Wilhelm raised $8.1 million to restore the South Garden and Cliffside Paths at the Water Works.
Pots of petunias — even really eye-popping- petunias — may seem petty in a city where thousands of people are jobless and homeless and hopeless. What Becher understands intuitively — what accounts for his thin aesthetic skin — is the symbiotic link between appearance and reality. When a neighborhood looks like hell, it is hell. That makes petunias a damned good start. One of PHS’s most visible branches is Philadelphia Green, a nonprofit that contracts with the city to transform pockets of vacant land that have become trash dumps into “clean and green” spaces — not gardens, necessarily, but neatly fenced-in areas planted with lawns and trees. Philadelphia Green works near schools — so kids can see the improvements — and business districts in need of redevelopment. “Cleaning up a neighborhood makes a difference,” Becher says, pointing to three — Kensington, Northern Liberties and an area near Temple — that have profited from small-scale cleaning and greening: “They’re what’s hot. They’re the neighborhoods of choice now.” Good gardening is good governing.
IN NEW YORK, one Becher-backed park — the Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson Community Garden in Queens — has as its centerpiece half a dozen 10-foot-tall rainwater collectors shaped like martini glasses. This is not your grandma’s community garden. And yet Becher’s first gardening memories are of his grandparents’ house, in Kettering, Ohio. “They’d moved there from their farm,” he explains. “My grandmother let my brother and me play with our Tonka trucks in her garden.” Grandma was a bit of a renegade herself: The front yard of her house was meticulous, but the back was funkier, with tomato hoops made from coat hangers. | <urn:uuid:24783a7a-8622-45eb-acac-478991fa1c10> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.phillymag.com/articles/can-the-flower-show-be-to-philly-what-fashion-week-is-to-new-york/4/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961473 | 785 | 1.6875 | 2 |
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Before you buy a camera, camcorder, spy camera, photo projector, tripod or anything related to cameras and photography, it's important to do your homework. By taking a little time to prepare before you buy, you'll increase your chances of ending up with a camera or camera accessories such as photo printers, flashes, lenses, that meet your every need. It is recommended that beginners choose point-and-shoot cameras such as the Canon PowerShot or the Sony Cybershot. Those who have honed their photography skills can choose advanced cameras such as a Nikon DSLR or a Canon EOS.
Junglee offers a great experience, by helping you look at offers from various retailers, compare prices and find the best buy among digital cameras available online, from the comfort of your office or home. At Junglee, you can choose digital cameras, spy pens and other accessories from a number of top-rated sites including Croma Retail, Shetala Cameras, Ezone, Flipkart, Amazon.com and many more. | <urn:uuid:f945e124-3aa6-4091-b3e8-4c77954a6dec> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.junglee.com/Camera-Photo/b/802718031 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940465 | 501 | 1.84375 | 2 |
PC is Wrong for the Digital Home
- PC is Wrong for the Digital Home
- How well did they work?
Let me begin by putting my cards, or prejudices, on the table. I don't really adhere to the solar-system view of home media championed by Microsoft, which puts a media-centric PC in the role of the sun, with an array of relatively dumb devices orbiting the PC like planets. The solar model, in fact, looks suspiciously like IBM's old mainframe modelwith the various media-adapter devices acting as dumb terminals and the PC masquerading as a mainframe. Instead of a monolithic server and lots of dumb clients, I see a world of single-function peers. Each does a great job at one thing and connects wirelessly in a kind of media mesh, making content available anywhere in the house, whenever and wherever you want it. Intelligence is pushed out to the edge, to the devices, rather than being concentrated at the centerlike the sun.
But you can't really debunk the opposing approach if you don't give it a good chance. So, recently, I decided to unwrap a few media adapters to see how well they performed, and to see ifindeedthe solar-system model had any legs. I gathered up four media adapters and put them to the test: a Gateway Connected DVD player, Pinnacle Show Center, Roku SoundBridge Network Music Player and ADS Tech Media-Link. The Gateway and Pinnacle were older units, each upgraded to the latest version of its firmware. The Roku and ADS unit each shipped within the last month or so.
I attempted to connect each device to my home 802.11g wireless network, and then to the beefy 64-bit PC I built recently (which I chronicled in my "When I'm 64" story). That's where I ran into my first bit of trouble. Although the industry espouses this vision of myriad dissimilar devices all connecting up transparently, it just ain't so. Here's what really happened:
Connected DVD Player:
I never did get the Gateway Connected DVD player to hook up with its software, even after upgrading everything. Even after specifying the access-point SSID and channel, DHCP was totally hopeless. The player kept defaulting to some random IP address. Even when I manually entered an IP addresssomething no standard consumer should ever have to doit didn't help. After about 2 hours, I gave up in disgust. As a DVD player, the Gateway is not bad, but it's terrible as a media adapter. Perhaps that's why Gateway has deep-sixed the product line.
In the "happy, happy, joy, joy" world espoused by solar-system devotees, all these media satellites should be able to talk to one server application, but that's not the case. The Pinnacle's Show Center uses different server software than the Gateway device, which meant loading up yet another server to stay resident on my home PC. This pattern would repeat itself throughout the test, as each device needed its own separate server program. Happily, by the time I installed the Roku SoundBridge, I saw light at the end of the tunnel, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
Pinnacle's Show Center was as balky as the Gateway, even after I dug up one of the limited number of supported wireless cards. DHCP and auto configuration also failed, but at least I did get it to work wirelessly, by manually configuring SSID, channel, and static IP address. This was harder than it might sound, because the stupid configuration software inside the unit relied on the numeric keypad on the remote for selecting letters and numbers, rather than popping up a soft keyboard on screen. And since remote sensitivity was poor, I found myself frequently cycling past the letter or number I wanted. Again, this is much too frustrating for the typical user to suffer through.
Despite the fact that both the Pinnacle and the ADS boxes use the same OEM software, the ADS experience was even worse. It required its own server software (of course), and the device configuration screens were even more hopeless. Again, I had to key in the access-point name and IP address manually. This was even more painful than with the ShowCenter, if such a thing could be possible. The data entry area for the IP address, for example, wasn't big enough to display the entire addresswhich made entering it in a leap of faith. The remote control also depicts alpha characters under their associated number key, which meant I repeatedly hit the wrong key during data entry. (Note to remote-control designers: the letters either go on the key, or above. Thank you.) Again, there was no soft keyboard, and amazingly no way to specify the wireless channel either.
Like the Pinnacle, I did get it connected eventually, but with far too much work for the average bear.
Roku's SoundBridge, comparably, was a breath of fresh air. The unit doesn't ship with software at all. It works with either Apple's iTunes or open-source software downloaded from the Roku site. It also works with new server software from Microsoftpart of Windows Media Player 10which promises real media-adapter/server independence. The software was easy to download and install, and once it was running, the SoundBridge automatically configured itself and recognized the software. All I had to do was approve its connection, and the two were working together swimmingly.
Alas, none of the other media adapters I tried would connect to Microsoft's software. So that meant if I wanted all four to be live (assuming I'd ever get the Gateway DVD player to connect), I'd need to run four different server applications on my system. I'd have to ask an astronomer, but it seems to me that a four-sun solar system would be highly unstable, just as I'd expect it to be on my PC.
blog comments powered by Disqus | <urn:uuid:56e462f1-83e0-41e9-8471-c80bda4ecaad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1753761,00.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969433 | 1,224 | 1.679688 | 2 |
There is an abundance of new software that is catered to a company's sales department that comes out every year. While some of this technology is useful, certain times it is necessary to avoid the specific products that are not worth the investment, both in time to train employees and the initial cost.
A sales management team may want to use the latest software to help their representatives get ahead of the game, as an efficient salesperson will be able to utilize effective software in order to focus more of their time on selling.
Implementing these tools can be a challenge for a manager, as employees may not be quick to incorporate even the most effective software. One way you get a sales team to implement sales tools, processes, systems or technologies is to make it part of the culture, according to Barrett Riddleberger, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Resolution Systems, Inc., a sales training and consulting firm.
"The way you make it part of the culture is through reinforcement consistently through leadership, noted the executive. "Leadership makes the decision, this is the way that we're going to go to market, this is the process we're going to use and these are the systems and tools we're going to use."
Reinforcement can come in several forms, but it is important for managers to realize that they are not implementing new software into a computer, as salespeople need time to adjust.
"If it's a half-hearted, knee-jerk reaction that they don't believe in and they're just ram-rodding it down the sales team's throats, it's not going to happen," according to Riddleberger.
While a management team may have the final say, it is important that the sales force agrees with the implementation of the technology. These are the people that will be using the software and they are the most important people when it comes to buying into the revised system, noted the executive.
The representatives need to be able to know it, live it, learn it and be able to teach it to other members of their team and newer employees. These individuals have to demonstrate that the tools and systems are the path of least resistance to the greatest level of success, Riddleberger explained.
Implementing this technology may be difficult to sell initially, but reinforcement can work to convince even the most stubborn representatives.
"In short, the sales manager is like the coach and the sales rep is like the player," the executive noted. "The coach has to have the player run the play over and over and over again until it becomes second nature."
While it is important for a sales management team to be able to convince their reps that using technology may help reduce their workload and ease several processes, deciding on which software can be difficult, according to Riddleberger.
"In terms of technology, less is more and simpler is better, as managers need to be careful and thoughtful before implementing a technology," noted the executive. "It may sound good on paper, but if it causes a disruption to the prospecting, sales or account management process it won't work."
Software that is easy to use and can perform a variety of tasks can be the most effective tool, as the management team will get the most for their money and will be able to consolidate several things into one technology, Inc.com reported.
A manager needs to listen to their representatives, as even the most simple software, if not effective, can lead to unneccesary problems. Honest evaluation of a product from the representatives can save everyone involved time and money, according to Riddleberger. | <urn:uuid:b35e24ab-d927-489f-98c0-97ae722a8ca3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.resolutionsystemsinc.com/sales-management/how-to-implement-the-latest-sales-tools/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973797 | 733 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation is reporting that Fiji will stay out of trade of talks on the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations, also known as PACER Plus, despite efforts by the Pacific Islands Forum to re-engage them in trade negotiations.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama however says he will discuss the issue further with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials when he returns from China.
“The reason why they’re saying Fiji should be now included in the PACER-Plus talks is because trade talks in the Pacific would be meaningless without Fiji…we had decided earlier on that we will refrain from any talks on PACER-Plus. We will see how things go, when I return I will be talking to our Foreign Affairs officials and see how things go. But we had decided to stay away from PACER Plus discussions."
On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola welcomed NZ Prime Minister John Key’s call to re-engage Fiji in PACER talks.
However Ratu Inoke says PACER is no longer a promising instrument for development as it has been corrupted by regional politics.
He says Fiji had been illegally excluded from talks, and its entry back to PACER would be on its own terms.
The Minister further clarified that PACER Plus was not an immediate priority for Fiji as it is now concentrating on building its trade and economic ties with Asia and with the countries of the Non-Allied Movement.- By Stanley Simpson; Radio Tarana | <urn:uuid:9998783d-f085-4c2a-a4e7-591215168b42> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.coupfourandahalf.com/2010/08/fiji-to-stay-out-of-pacer-talks.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972224 | 308 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Exhibits in Olin Library & Whispers Café
The primary purpose of exhibiting in Olin Library and the Whispers Café is to provide a creative forum to promote and communicate information about the Libraries' collections, services, and operations. Students and other university staff can also mount exhibits promoting their organizations and activities. Olin Library is an ideal location for exhibits of university and community interest.
Criteria for Exhibits
Exhibits should satisfy the following criteria:
- Relate to the mission of the library and/or the university,
- Be aesthetically pleasing,
- Display material relevant to the theme of the exhibit,
- Promote the collections, services, and functions of the library.
- Should not commercialize or editorialize personal or partisan opinions or viewpoints, but should inform and educate the public
Olin Library takes reasonable precautions to protect displays and exhibits. However, the Library does not provide insurance coverage for exhibit items. Exhibitors are responsible for providing insurance coverage of items exhibited, or they exhibit at their own risk. The Libraries are not responsible for any damage, loss, or theft of exhibited items. Any damage incurred to Library property from exhibit items is the responsibility of the exhibitor.
If you have questions concerning mounting an exhibit please contact:
Cheryl Holland, Exhibit Committee | <urn:uuid:e300409e-0e1b-440f-91bb-81acd73a450e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://library.wustl.edu/events/exhibits/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931552 | 269 | 1.75 | 2 |
By now, many of you have read recent headlines reporting that 6.5 million LinkedIn hashed passwords were stolen and published on an unauthorized website. We take this criminal activity very seriously so we are working closely with the FBI as they aggressively pursue the perpetrators of this crime. As you may have heard, there have been reports of other websites that have suffered similar thefts. We want to be as transparent as possible while at the same time preserving the security of our members without jeopardizing the ongoing investigation. In this post, we want to address questions we’ve been receiving and share what we’ve learned so far about the incident, how we’ve responded, and what we’re doing to protect our members going forward.
First, it’s important to know that compromised passwords were not published with corresponding email logins. At the time they were initially published, the vast majority of those passwords remained hashed, i.e. encoded, but unfortunately a subset of the passwords was decoded. Again, we are not aware of any member information being published at any time in connection with the list of stolen passwords. The only information published was the passwords themselves.
Here are the most common questions we are being asked by our members:
1. Am I at risk of having my account breached?
Thus far, we have no reports of member accounts being breached as a result of the stolen passwords. Based on our investigation, all member passwords that we believe to be at risk have been disabled.
2. News of the theft broke on Wednesday. Why didn’t I immediately receive notification that my password was disabled?
As soon as we learned of the theft, we launched an investigation to confirm that the passwords were LinkedIn member passwords. Once confirmed, we immediately began to address the risk to our members, prioritized as follows:
Based on our investigation, those members whom we believed were at risk, and whose decoded passwords already had been published, had their passwords quickly disabled and were sent an email by the Customer Service team.
By the end of Thursday, all passwords on the published list that we believed created risk for our members, based on our investigation, had been disabled. This is true, regardless of whether or not the passwords were decoded. After we disabled the passwords, we contacted members with instructions on how to reset their passwords.
3. What is LinkedIn doing to protect its members?
We have built a world-class security team here at LinkedIn including experts such as Ganesh Krishnan, formerly vice president and chief information security officer at Yahoo!, who joined us in 2010. This team reports directly to LinkedIn’s senior vice president of operations, David Henke.
Under this team’s leadership, one of our major initiatives was the transition from a password database system that hashed passwords, i.e. provided one layer of encoding, to a system that both hashed and salted the passwords, i.e. provided an extra layer of protection that is a widely recognized best practice within the industry. That transition was completed prior to news of the password theft breaking on Wednesday. We continue to execute on our security roadmap, and we’ll be releasing additional enhancements to better protect our members.
4. My password has not been disabled, what should I do now?
If your password has not been disabled, based on our investigation, we do not believe your account is at risk.
However, it is good practice to change your passwords on any website you log into every few months. For that reason, we have provided information to all of our members via the LinkedIn Blog, as well as a banner on our homepage instructing members on how to change their passwords.
Once again, we truly apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you, our members. | <urn:uuid:8b422d58-0a5d-41dd-ac0d-4c3929daa1e9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://christinehueber.com/2012/linkedin-passwords-leak-update/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982089 | 776 | 1.539063 | 2 |
China bans lawyer from leaving
Ah well. I had an interesting interview lined up for tomorrow, but it was not to be. The Chinese authorities, in their wisdom, have prevented Mo Shaoping – the lawyer for Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident who won the Nobel Peace Prize – from leaving China.
He and his colleague Professor He Weifang, who was also stopped at the airport, were supposed to attend a meeting in London of the International Bar Association. The police who detained them said their leaving could be “a threat to China’s national security”.
The meeting was about how difficult it is for lawyers in China to be independent of the Communist Party. Judges are chosen by party leaders, and there is no separation of powers.
“Only a small minority of lawyers in China have become involved with civil and political rights or broader public interest cases, and they are increasingly the targets of intimidation and abuse,” says the IBA.
“The need for judicial reform is another factor affecting both the legal profession and access to justice for the Chinese population.”
Mo Shaoping represents – or tries to represent – many of China’s leading dissidents when they appear in court. When I have interviewed him in the past, at his office near Tiananmen Square, he has carefully stuck to legal matters, explaining how the supremacy of the Communist Party is an obstacle to the rule of law.
He said today he believes they were barred from leaving because the Chinese authorities suspected that instead of going straight home from London, they would go on to Oslo to attend the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony on December 10th. Liu Xiaobo can’t pick up the prize himself because he is in prison. His wife, Liu Xia, was put under house arrest after the announcement, so she has issued an invitation to 140 friends and supporters to go in their place. So far, only one – the environmentalist Dai Qing – is out of China and able to attend.
Why are the Chinese drawing more attention to their poor human rights record just as the British Prime Minister flies to Beijing? There are a couple of explanations. First, the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing – the decision to stop Mo and He at the airport was taken at a low level. I doubt that. More likely, the Chinese government has calculated that it can stand the international heat. Yes, Mr Cameron will ritually refer to the “UK China human rights dialogue.” Yes, the western media will pounce on the story.
But Britain and America need the buoyancy of the Chinese economy if they’re to recover from recession, so the Chinese feel they can assert themselves without few worries about international opinion | <urn:uuid:14924a58-fe81-4366-baf6-22f5c742da2f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/china-bans-lawyer-from-leaving/14414 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982258 | 562 | 1.601563 | 2 |
In Singapore, like in many other countries it is a regular occurrence for whole families to get together on a special occasion and take a formal picture. Birthdays, weddings, a child’s graduation, celebrating a job promotion or whatever, these formal pictures mean a great deal to many families and will end up being put in a snazzy picture frame and receiving pride of place on the wall or mantelpiece.
However the increase in the number of younger family members who take jobs abroad has meant that many of the more recent family portraits are missing a relative or two.
Singaporean photographer John Clang, who is based in New York, decided to do something about this and devised a way of using video-calling on Skype to include everyone in that all important family picture!
Clang’s idea involved getting those in Singapore to stand in front of their webcam-enabled computers and call their relatives in faraway lands on Skype. Clang then projected the Skype image onto a wall and photographed all the callers together – the flesh and blood next to the holographic. Got to admit it is a kinda cool way of getting everyone together for a happy snap!
Clang first attempted this idea with his own family and then searched for other families who were geographically separated and wanted to try his new technique via the internet and the embassies.
Clang said: ‘‘It bridges the gap between the two families that are apart.’’ An exhibition of Clang’s innovative Skype portraits will take place at the National Museum of Singapore in 2013.
Read more: Futuristic Family Reunions (Via New York Times) | <urn:uuid:463c30e8-aacf-45e0-8265-1e367d445d87> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.buzzpatrol.com/the-skype-family-portrait/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953527 | 337 | 1.710938 | 2 |
The Sierra Club's Beyond Oil campaign collected 296,000 written comments on Keystone XL, and submitted them by email to Cardno Entrix, the TransCanada-affiliated firm that evaluated the pipeline. When a bunch of the comments ended up "lost," they resubmitted them to the State Department. But, says Inside Climate News, the State Department didn't want 'em.
From April through June, [campaign director Kate Colarulli's] organization worked with seven other anti-pipeline groups to collect 269,000 written comments from their members. They submitted them electronically to a Cardno Entrix email address set up for that purpose.
But in July, when the Sierra Club checked the website that Carno Entrix maintains for the State Department, Colarulli said her office found that the company's count came up short by 94,000 comments. About 25,000 of the missing comments were written by Sierra Club members, she said.
"So we reached out to [State Department official] Alex Yuan, just saying there's a discrepancy, this is pretty weird," Colarulli said. "Mr. Yuan was pretty concerned."
Yuan told the Sierra Club to load the missing comments onto CDs and mail them to the State Department, Colarulli said. Two days later, Yuan "wrote us back and said never mind … we're not willing to take these comments."
These aren't the only comments that have fallen into a black hole. The agency was unable to explain to Inside Climate News exactly who would listen to and evaluate public testimony from hearings on the pipeline, or how and when that would happen.
Comments from the last round of Keystone XL hearings were published, as required by law, in a giant appendix to the environmental impact report. But these hearings are covered under a different law, which doesn't require the State Department to respond to public comments. | <urn:uuid:4f8c0a08-4035-43f7-bc9c-bdfa08381cd4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://grist.org/list/2011-11-01-state-department-rejects-94000-public-comments-on-keystone-xl/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97657 | 386 | 1.585938 | 2 |
There can be but one final test as to what shall be accepted and what shall be rejected, and that must be made by the individual alone before God (Rom. 14:22). In connection with any such question we may ask, “Is the real work of redemption hindered, or its true basis rejected? Is this a direct denial of the truth, by which souls will be hindered, or is it a counterfeit which may decoy them away from their only hope in the priceless blood of the Cross?” Beyond this, a child of God may safely be “all things to all men that he may save some.”
The Christian can see more of beauty in the world, make larger use of its learning, and more fully appreciate its good, than can the children of this age: yet he must now, above all things else, be content with his limited commission, and be jealous of the interests of his Lord and King. Much of his present perplexity would be relieved if he could but realize that he is temporarily tenting where an enemy rules, and where he is the object of that enemy’s fiery darts, yet hedged about by the omnipotence of God; called to bear the one message of redemption by the Cross, in the capacity and hidden dignity of an ambassador from the throne of the Most High; even now possessing a glory which shall soon be unveiled in the presence of his Lord; waiting that morning when his Lord shall come again and receive him unto Himself.
The Believer’s Present Victory.
An exalted position is usually accompanied with great responsibility. This is certainly true, according to Scripture, in the case of the believer in his heavenly position. For when he is seen as a citizen of heaven, and a partaker of those associations, he is also required, both by Scripture and by reason, to “walk worthy of the calling wherewith he is called.” The statement of these heavenly demands upon the child of God forms a distinct body of truth, and there are at least three such bodies of truth in Scripture, each appearing as a rule of conduct for some special people in some particular time. The Mosaic Law was given primarily to God’s ancient people through Moses; but it has a message still, as it reflects the holiness of God and prepares for the salvation which is in Christ. So the “Sermon on the Mount,” with the injunctions of John Baptist, and the early teachings of Christ were given with the coming kingdom age in view and, therefore, form an important revelation in regard to that time when “all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest.” Though there are some common principles running through all these separate teachings, that Scripture which applies directly to the people of this parenthetical age of the Church will be found only in portions of the Gospels and in the Epistles of the New Testament. | <urn:uuid:4bf2b570-5452-4e80-b974-5428c40e13f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/12586/76.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973735 | 597 | 1.679688 | 2 |
20 May 2013
As one of the leading car manufacturers in Japan, Mazda has a built a reputation for producing outstanding and reliable motor vehicles. The name Mazda is allegedly taken from the anglicised version of its founderís name Ė Jujiro Matsuda. However, when Mazda began life in 1920 it was known as the Tokyo Cork Kogyo Co. Ltd, a manufacturer of machine tools. The Mazda name was first adopted on the companyís first car Ė the Mazda-Go in 1931. Today, Mazda is partially owned by the Ford Motor Company which took a 33.4% controlling interest in the company in March, 1999. There has been a cross-promotion of certain Ford and Mazda models ever since.
2.2 SKYACTIV-D 150PS SE-L Nav - The new generation Mazda6 is the second model to benefit from the Japanese carmakerís wide-ranging, weight-saving, fuel-sipping SKYACTIV technology following the 2012 launch of the CX-5 crossover. Thereís much more at stake for Mazda this time around however with the 6 a bedrock of the range, so swi [...]
2012 facelift - Always a sharp looker, the Mazda 3 has been lightly refreshed and now comes with improved aerodynamics to give lower fuel consumption and emissions. In keeping with Mazdaís philosophy of finessing existing technologies, the Mazda 3ís latest changes keep it in the hunt as a sound choice for small hat [...]
Sport SKYACTIV-D - The Mazda CX-5 is the vanguard to a new generation of models from the Japanese manufacturer. Developed using the companyís award-winning SKYACTIV technology the idea behind the next generation of Mazda models is to improve fuel efficiency without increasing the complexity of the powertrain. This in [...]
2.2 Sport Tech Diesel - While the compact SUV market is a competitive sector, Mazdaís effort is a stellar one; even if its approach is a one-engine, one-trim attempt to capture the market. Handling and performance are standout, while equipment levels are pretty impressive too. It may be the only model, but donít overlook i [...]
2011 - Itís mid-life refresh time for the Mazda2, which now comes with a subtly restyled front bumper to incorporate revised foglights. There are also new alloy wheels and some poshed-up trim inside, but the most important change is one you cannot see: revised suspension. New settings and an even stiffer b [...]
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The latest Mazda driver reviews and road test reports. The views expressed in these consumer reviews do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of ReallyGoodDomains.com
I’m waiting for dealer to return car for the 5th time in 13mths. Continual failure of battery to hold charge. Dealers appear to be at a loss, they just change something different each time. I have received various advice regarding ’turning off’ the boot interior light, the glovebox light, drive it more often. They really don’t have a clue what the problem is caused by. If it isn’t fixed this time, I’m off to court, ’Sale of Goods Act’, unfit for purpose and not as described.
Bought new 2010, Takuya petrol. No problems to date. Current mileage 12000. Decent MPH Comfortable on long journeys and around built up areas. Responsive engine and steering. Undecided on going for the new model when 3 years old, or keeping it another 3 years and taking out a warranty with warranty Direct or similar. Concerned the new one might not have same pulling power due to emissions reduction as I found in the 59 Model Toyota Avensis.
Bought this car when I retired in Feb 2007 after having 3 Mazda company cars and have not regretted it at all. With all the recent talk about DPF problems I was concerned, so I contacted Mazda. I gave them my engine no. and was very pleased to find out that it was built just before they were fitted. Other than that it’s just needed regular services and new tyres. I have had no problems except the alloys, which were new when I bought the car at 25,000 miles and now at 65,000 miles are a pitted disgrace. This model has no trip computer, but I always fill up and check the mileage and I average 52 mpg in both urban and motorway use. The problem is now, what do I buy next?
I had four years of virtually trouble free driving out of my 53 plate Mazda 6 diesel, which I’d bought second hand. The fuel pump went almost as soon as I bought it, but it was fixed under warranty. I sold it at 150k miles to buy a diesel Passat that was fine for 2 years and has then cost me a fortune. First the electronic parking brakes stuck on- fixed under extended warrant (would have been £700) and then the turbo bearing went, which cost £1200. I am now worried because I’ve just put a deposit on an 11 plate Mazda 6 and have read all these reviews about DPFs and clutch failures. I’ve never had a clutch fail in 25 years of motoring and I usually keep my cars until over 100k miles.
I actually owned two RX8s. A 2004 230 and a 2007 PZ (Prodrive/OZ edition, unique to the UK) and both were absolutely fantastic, especially the PZ, which is the pick of all the RX8s in my opinion. Superb handling, decent speed, amazing sound and rev range, decent ride quality and unique styling. It was also far more practical than most people realise, with a boot no smaller than my current Evo X. Despite the internet horror stories, between two cars over 6 years I had one faulty catalyst and a paint flaw and that was it. Make sure you read up on looking after the engines and join an owners club and you’ll love it. Despite an STI and an Evo X since then, I actually miss the RX8. Neither rally rep is anywhere near as fun. Come on Mazda, make the RX9 now, I’ll buy one!
Owned my MK 3 for 4 years now and it still feels as tight as the day I bought it. Routine servicing has been the only expense so far. I didn’t realize how bad my old Celica was to drive (sorry celica owners) until I tried the Mazda. Everybody says it, but it’s true, you feel a connection with the road. It makes every journey an enjoyable event. Definitely a car for those who enjoy their driving. I could really do with two more seats but can’t even contemplate driving a souless eurobox which are so easy and dull to drive. These are obviously produced for the A to B brigade who don’t actually enjoy their driving. The fact that the mx5 is a soft top is an added bonus, roll on summer!
Owned for 3 years. The only faults I’ve had are the airbag light (warranty claim) and abs circuit board, which is a known fault. Good to drive 49mpg, but poorish ground clearance.
Bought new in September 2008. Now four years on with 25000 miles on the clock there are no faults to report except a squeaking noise from the passenger side seat belt buckle slot once in a while, but it rarely shows itself, so not a real problem. The car goes very well for a 1.3 and on our yearly holiday copes well with three people plus luggage and maintains 70/80 and 85mph without being strained. The ride quality seem better when the car is loaded up for some reason and this is the area which could be improved on. I also feel the seat covering could be of better quality and a little more sound proofing around the door seals. We have a 2006 Mini cooper in the family and have to say the Mazda2 handles just as well and find the what seems like an unusaul location for the gear stick is actual better. The gear change is better than the Mini’s too with a nice short throw. A good feature of the Mazda2 is standard fit folding mirrors, which is an optional extra on most of the Ford Fiesta range. All in all very impressed with the car and if the small "finishing touches" were addressed it would be a 5 star car and not a 4. The dealer Skipton Mazda have been great from point of sale (not pushy, ask for John Barrons) and I have found the service costs to be reasonable compared with what I’ve heard from other make dealers (eg Peugeot and Renault). Recommended.
If you must have a new sports car, there’s not too much competition for the money. However, the gearbox is poor; having to push the pedal to the floor is irritating, and dictates your driving position before you even start. The gearbox is notchy, and the engine when manoeuvering to say park would rather stall than go. On the first MOT at 2500 miles the wipers failed (not covered by the warranty, of course) and cost £47.50 for replacements. So much for famous ’bulletproof’ build quality! The heater when you need it in frosty conditions works when it feels like it and doesn’t clear the screen. If you can find any roads these days the driving experience can be rewarding. My Mazda dealer (Tordoff’s, Leeds) offer nothing in customer care, in fact you’re lucky to get a cup of coffee, and come nowhere near my experiences with Polar Ford dealerships. All in all although I’ve had two new MX5s I will go for something more sensible next time, either a Jazz, which was great, a Fiesta, also great, or a Golf.
We bought our Mazda 6 2009 2.2 turbo diesel 163hp 2 years ago on 9000 miles. The car ran like a dream ’til now! The turbo has blown, which has destroyed the engine and filled the exhaust with engine oil. The Mazda main dealers in Cardiff are as much good as a chocolate fire place! Our car was within warranty, but they refused to carry out repairs, blaming the services that we had carried out by other vat registered garages. Also said wrong grade of synthetic oil, too much oil, but oil has never been topped up between services! I never had an idea that there may have been an issue with the car as no light for the pdf came on, no smell, nothing! The estimated cost for repair could be £5000! I still owe a fortune on finance fo the car! Whatever you do do not buy a Mazda 6!
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Hi, I have got a Mazda 6 2.0 Turbo diesel and my engine blew up after 69000 miles. At the time I took it back to Mazda in Newport S Wales and they said to me that all the Mazda 6 are designed to burn oil after 800 miles to 1 litre of oil. I had the same problem of the oil seals on the turbo and suck all the oil out. Again another Mazda design fault they basically wiped there hands off me and told me that because the waraaty had run out; they told me on my bike, it’s now my problem. I have been told that the RF diesel engine is still being used and they know there is a fault but they do not know how to fix it. Even the Mazda 3; the new model has it in them even up to the present day. All in all I had the engine replaced with another one and I dip the oil every day now - once bitten twice shy. My Mazda 6 is on an 2003 and the service bill and parts including the engine and the gearbox; feel out because the gearbox mountings are made from a cheap steel that is in sufficient the final bill so far is HOPE YOU’RE SAT DOWN? Just under five grand. The car has been re-built; the cost of a re-conditioned engine. The rear and front wheel bearings have been replaced, the four brake calipers have been replaced, turbo inter cooler has been replaced, the cooling fans caught on fire and was replaced. The rear wheel arches are rusty and again Mazda called it for a re-call and they looked at the chassis number and turned me away because my chassis number did not match there recall memo. My Mazda is on a loan and you can see from all my problems yours is mild but bad enough though I will keep the car now until it dies so all the best with yours; if I can help any further I will. Regards - Kevin Harkus from Cardiff
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This car has really put a smile on my face. I owned a 2010 VW Passat 2.0 TDI Highline previously. This was a beautiful car, but had no soul, or reliability for that matter. It got to the stage where enough was enough, and it had to go. I went to look at the Mazda 3, and two days later drove out the showroom model. The Mazda 3 is wonderful to drive and look at. The equipment levels are superb too. I am hoping that the economy picks up. At the moment I am averaging 46/gallon, some way off the official figures. I have only covered 1,100 miles however. This car stops people in the street. It really is that good!
I’ve had this van for 5 years, its done 137,000 miles. I’ve spent nothing on it apart from the odd repair i.e. new rear light and new timing belt. I have had all types of vans but this one is great, starts every time and I go every where in it. I had it serviced a year ago, and last week I noticed it was using a lot of oil, so I decided to do it up and sell it, but I just found that the oil fitter was loose. I tightened it up and took it off the market - Christ that was close call! Mind you, it looks good now so I will run it in to the ground, if i live that long!
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I have to agree with the review. I have a 1988 Mazda e2200 camper and love it, I can’t however, find out the axle weights so can’t pass it’s NCT (Irish MOT). I believe it should have a plate with the axle weights on but it doesn’t. Does anyone know these weights or where they could be found? Thanks - Peter Forrest from Ireland
Great car, I’ve had two of these now, one being my first car and the other being my daily driver now, have no issues and planning to do a few mods, that’s the only downfall, not very many possible modifications! Great car overall!
I have a 3 TS2 Activematic. What a fantastic car it is. I bought it brand new in January 2006. The car is in Sunlight Silver and still looks as good as the day it came off the showroom forecourt. It is an extremely comfortable ride and due to the strong chassis it corners very well. I am fortunate in my life to have had driver training and I have never been in a better car on the quiet ’A’ roads, rolling into bends, accelerating out of bends, the handling, it is a lovely car to drive. The gearbox has a four gear set up and the change is faultless. The only issue I can mention is that the 1.6 petrol is slightly sluggish on a bang, but if you see one coming simply select manual gearbox drop down to the gear you need and sorted!! I have seen some bad reviews of this car, but I am honestly baffled by them. I have only ever changed front brake pads in during service intervals once in all my time owning this car (six years). A good buy, a great car and no plans to get rid for a good while yet. If you own a car and it looks after you, especially in these times of austerity. Keep it!
These are wonderful cars. Bolted together like a German car but with Japanese reliability. Corners on rails in the dry and fun to drive in the wet, because the back end will go easily enough if you let it. Comfortable too - my wife and I drive to Cornwall in it and prefer it to much bigger saloon cars we’ve owned. My only slight criticism would be to ensure you get yourself one with 6 gears as you’ll really want to change up when you get to 70 mph. However, you won’t regret buying one. If you buy an old one you can run it for 10 years and probably get what you paid for it.
Bought my Vehicle from new, I got the revised 2008 version because the dealership had told me the problems with heavy tyre wear on the edges had been resolved. Not true, I am on my 3rd set as 25,000 miles. Run them now at 46psi and this at least gives them twice the mileage of the 1st set. I had to have the rear shocks replaced at about 15,000, this was done under warranty. I reported a problem with power steering being heavy at low speeds before warranty ran out and was told there was no problem found and to use a higher tyre pressure, which of course I did. Now I’m told I need to replace the steering pump and of course the car is now out of warranty and the cost of repair is £1500+. I have complained to Mazda about both the type wear issue and now the steering pump issue, both known issues and in the US fixed under recall and warranty. Why do the dealers here deny there is a problem? I no longer trust Mazda as a brand, I will never use their dealers again and will sell this vehicle as soon as possible. I cannot even get an MOT on it!
I have to give my Mazda 3 a perfect score. I have nearly 120,000 miles on the odometer with little to complain about. The parts replaced were due to wear, fortunately no faulty workmanship. I have had to replace the front and rear struts as well as shocks. However, I have lowered the car with shorter springs. I have 18" wheels and I am on my 4th set, yet I average 22-26,000 miles on low profile tires. A rear light bulb had to be replaced. Front rotors had to be replaced due to warping. The car has needed to be re-aligned 4-5 times, but I have stiff springs. Headlights had to be replaced to the oem headlights. Gear shift knob is loose and worn. Driver seat is worn and beginning to split on the lower side of the seat closest to the driver door. The carpet is worn and has a hole in it, it needs replaced. My aluminum rims had to be resurfaced, currently the front rim is cracked and needs to be fixed. The air conditioner light cuts on and off, but the cabin cools. This is the worst I can say about the car. I had a aem cold air intake that broke and was replaced for free under the lifetime warranty. The AEM was installed before 1000 miles on the odometer, the same for the magnaflow cat-back exhaust. No problem from either. I run castrol or penzoil synthetic change the oil every 5000 miles. I had a pipe punch a hole through my fog light assembly on the free way. Take it for what it’s worth. I see no need to get rid of it. The car has zero rust and it runs strong. On a tank of gas in the city I average 285-300 miles. On the highway I have gotten as much as 383 miles with the use of cruise control and the fuel light on. It winds up being a very good car that I drive everyday and put 300 plus miles on it a week. I recommend the Mazda 3 because I have not had to contend with any failures due to manufacturing, no need to build a working relationship with a Mazda dealer. Insurance is dirt cheap, the car runs reliably and the workmanship is on par with what I expect. The car is pushing 8 years old and 120,000 miles, hard to complain, hard to beat.
I have had every problem mentioned in other reviews; tyres, electric windows, dpf,sensor. To date I have spent £1800 on the car in various garages and it’s still not fixed. The Mazda dealership offered a new turbo at the cost of £1800+ vat. I took it to another garage and put in a reconditioned turbo, a new sensor and all the usual oil filters etc, however, the dpf light was still on and there was smoke billowing from the exhaust. I took it to another garage who are experts in electrics and the light is now off, but has cost me another £500. No one knows where the smoke is coming from. I did expect some after the turbo was replaced, but not to this extent. I now hear words like "pistons" and "catalytic converter". When is it going to end? I cannot trade it in and cannot afford to not fix it further. This car cost £15000 and now 5 years later at 65000 miles it is going to end up worth £150 as scrap. I am very cross to say the least.
I have had this 161bhp Mazda 6 diesel for 8 months now and am thoroughly enjoying it. It drives well with plenty of practical space, returns high 40s mpg(I have measured it properly many times over long distances and computer is around 3-4mpg optimistic) and has huge safe overtaking power. The only negatives I think you could pick out (all don’t bother me really) are, hardish ride at low speeds for some, vision could be better i.e. looking past the door frames and mirrors you have to do it properly and not a quick flick and go. Also the controls on the dash could be a little easier to get at quickly, however once you get used to them after a few weeks its ok. Just waiting to see if the reliabiliy is as good, only time will tell!
My Mazda Tribute’s right rear wheel well rusted completely off, leaving my strut hanging. I had it welded at a friends shop at a cost of $1100 to fix it. Two months later he informed me he had had another with the same problem, which also had a sunroof.
I bought my BT50 new in May 2007. The discount was massive and compared to the price of Nissan’s, Toyota’s and Mitsubishi’s the choice was easy as the drive is exellent. The only faults have been service items, battery, front shock and EGR valve clean. With all the money saved I got new 17 inch alloy wheels and tyres, a spray on bedliner (brilliant product), truck top and tinted windows. I’ve now done 57000 miles and need to replace my rear tyres; General Grabber’s last forever. This has been the best vehicle I’ve owned, great in the winter and so much storage available in the summer (camping etc.). In 2007 it was very easy for people to pay twice as much as I did for other pick-ups. Well chuffed.
I have owned this truck from new (4 years) and I cannot think of anything to grumble about with it, I have had no problems whatsoever. The original Bridgestone Dueller tyres were terrible and made the truck skittish at roundabouts etc. Once changed to Vredesteins the truck is now very sure footed. I have driven all other popular trucks and can honestly say I wouldn’t have any of them over my Mazda. I have used it daily doing anything from heavy towing, round town and long distance high speed driving and nothing is a problem. Great motor!!
We chose the Mazda as a family car as I spent just over a year selling them from a main dealer back in 2006. I know they are reliable, as we did not get one recovered in while I worked there. You also get a lot of car for your money. It’s spacious, comfortable to drive and very economical, even when driving around town. Maintenance costs are very reasonable, as I know from working at the dealership. One down side is German cars have a little better finesse in the finish, but that does not bother me one bit! Highly recommended!
The car is superb. Quick, responsive and handles very well. You can really power through corners like roundabouts with confidence as the electronic trickery keeps you on the road and increases friction. Of course, tyres are the place where all of this is dependent and (inside or outside wear due to model/year aside) the more you thrash the corners the more tyres you will need more quickly. The fact that you can drive this car so confidently and assuredly should be applauded. I am on 22k with one front change of tyres and can’t speak highly enough of how good the drive, sliding doors, engine, control and interior have been. Love it!
I had a Mazda 626 for 11 years from second hand. It was so reliable, I was sad to finally let it go. I decided to go with Mazda again and bought a second hand Mazda 3 Sport 2.0 from a main dealer, but have to say the petrol consumption is noticeably higher compared to the old 2.0 626 model. Shortly after purchasing it the accelerator pedal got stuck on at high speed.....very frightening! I was told nothing was wrong and it was the mats. I stuck to my guns and after over 3 weeks a cable was found to be faulty and it was replaced. Two and a half months later the same fault reoccurred! The outcome is not yet known. Be warned!
I’ve just bought my second E2200 and only realised how good these vans were after getting rid of my first. I’ve driven allsorts in-between and always found myself missing my Mazda. They just work well and are really comfy to drive; you’re right on top of the engine and you can really see where you’re putting it. With its cartoon campervan shape (sulking bottom lip front bumper ) these vans are a true classic of the future. My latest one is a K reg (1993), which has only done 43000miles. I’m going look after this one, I feel like I’ve got an old pal back.
I have had our Mazda 5 1.8 TS2 for 3.5 years and have done 24000 miles. We have it on a lease with all maintenance covered. After two years, at around 13000 miles the power steering pump cut out twice after performing a number of turns at low speeds. This was replaced under warranty and the dealer advised us it was a known issue to do with overheating. Our car then failed on its first MOT at three years and 19000 miles. Both the rear shocks shocks needed replacing (dealer advised this was normal for my vehicle and I see why reading all your comments) and because we lease this was done at no cost, but we were left without our car for a week and offered no courtesy car, which was just great as that week my wife needed to go in to hospital for a scheduled op and we needed to drop our niece and nephew back to Colchester from Norfolk. So although our car has had issues that do seem to be caused by design flaws I’m happy because I’ve not paid to put it right. If, however, I was expected to pay for repairs due to clearly flawed design I would have been very angry by now. A note on tyre wear: As with everyone elses mine have worn unevenly, but lasted 12000 miles on the first set and I thought this was reasonable. The problem seemed to improve by running slightly higher tyre pressures.
For any of you out there who are having problems with the electric windows there is a reset for them if your passenger windows are not working from the drivers side controls: 1). Switch on ignition 2). Jump in the passenger seat and push down electric window button hold for 5 seconds. 3). Pull up the button and hold for a further 5 seconds. You should now be able to operate the windows from the drivers controls panel. I had this problem and a friend of mine told me this is a reset for them. The only other thing I have had go wrong with the car is the tyre issue, but I changed them to budget tyres at only £30 each and I have done over 20k on them.
We bought this car second hand, with a full service history, in 2006 with 33K miles on the clock. So far I have replaced the tyres (fair enough), shocks, there has been a DPF fault and now it suddenly goes into limp mode if on the motorway! I took it to Mazda who said air filter was blocked. I then had an air flow sensor changed and the problem is still there. Mazda said if the sensor didn’t fix the problem then it would be the computer, which would be mega expensive to fix. This car is 6 years old and has only done 59,500 miles, yet it appears to be a right off. On a positive note the sliding doors are ace and I highly reccommend them. So in summary: A brilliant car if you only own it when it’s under full warranty, as soon as the warranty expires get rid!
Responses to this review
Just part-ex’ed my ’07 Mazda 5 sport with 85k on the clock - DPF filter fault caused a near desth incident on motorway at Xmas. Mazda said the DPF filter, exhaust valve and sensor have gone, quoted £5-6k! Got it done for £2.4k and have got rid for a meagre £4.5k - don’t go near an old model diesel! - Fezzer Fez from Oxfordshire
I have had a 2000 premacy for 9 years. No problems apart from dealers inventing failures. I had problem with exhaust valve. Dealer wanted £700 to check fuel pump. Local Bosch diesel fitter fixed it for £60. Blanked off sensor so valve didn’t operate. Fantastic car otherwise as long as you steer clear of British dealers - B C from England
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Yacht Charter Glossary - A handy guide to industry lingo
What does "bareboat" mean? Many people are a little fuzzy when it comes to terminology used by yacht charter professionals. The following is not a list of sailing terms, (although, should you like to see several excellent sailing glossaries, go to The Glossarist) ... but rather a glossary of terms pertaining to "bare boat" or "bareboat" yacht charter holidays which often serve to confuse those unfamiliar with industry definitions.
Utter *bareboat* and some folks become giddy envisioning a bunch of naked people frolicking on board a yacht, sailing through paradise. Aaaaah, no! Public "bare" - ness is illegal in the BVI.
A bare boat yacht or more correctly, a "bareboat" is a sailboat or powerboat for hire without crew. Similar to, "car rental" versus "limousine service".
When bareboat charters began, "bare boat" simply meant "no extras". That is not appropriate today, as several modern bare boats have every extra one could imagine, including, microwave ovens, TV's, VCR's, DVD's, air conditioning, ice makers, blenders, etc. In addition, you may hire a captain, cook or both, effectively turning a bare boat into a "captain only" or "crewed yacht".
Bare Boat with crew OR crewed yacht - What's the difference?
A bimini is a weather resistant fabric stretched over a stainless steel frame, fastened above the cockpit of a sailboat or flybridge of a power yacht which serves as a rain or sun shade. Bimini's are an absolute necessity for Caribbean sailing ... unless you have no concerns about sunburn or melanoma!
Note: Bimini is also a Bahamian island!
A captain only charter is exactly that. No cook, stewardess or deck hand, just a captain. Captain only charters are available on bare boat yachts only.
Note: If you want to drive yourself (bare boat) but hate cooking and cleaning, you may also book a "cook only" charter.
A catamaran has twin hulls running parallel to one another connected by a central section which is most often designed with a living and dining area and in most, a galley.
I realize this may be insulting for some, but many people inquire about "bare boat rentals", which we really don't offer. "Chartering" refers to "weekly" sailing or power boating holidays.
Boat rentals pertains to "daily" charters for smaller boats such as hobie cats or day sailors or a small power boat with outboard. Bare boat charter companies and brokers sell *term charters* which are a week or two in duration. You live aboard a bare boat. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and I can think of at least one BVI yacht charter company which offers daily bare boat rentals.
A cockpit on a sailboat is where your helm (steering wheel or tiller) is situated. This is a sunken well with seating, recessed into the main deck. A powerboat cockpit is usually an enclosure located aft (rear) part of the boat used for lounging, dining or fishing.
"Fully crewed" means there is a full time captain and cook (who are often but not always the owners) on board and sometimes a stewardess or deck hand. It depends on the yacht if a stewardess, deck hand or additional crew are supplied. Do not confuse a crewed boat for a bareboat with crew. They are not the same thing!
Davits are a wonderful feature available on many catamarans and some power boats. Davits are a pair of small cranes affixed to the transom (upright part of the back end of your boat) which are used to lift your dinghy and suspend it over the water while underway (moving). By lifting your dinghy rather than towing it, you are creating less drag and will get better performance from your boat.
Caution: Crew will rapidly become spoiled if you charter a catamaran or powerboat with davits as they will not be required to worry about hauling in your dinghy every time you want to anchor, moor or dock. The good news is, if you charter a yacht with davits, you may not need to bring all those lazy crew members with you!
Most modern yachts have furling genoas but some also offer in-mast furling mains. This makes furling your main sail effortless but it cannot be fully battened. As a result, some sail performance is lost. Lazy jacks are a terrific solution to both problems!
Your toilet or latrine. In days of yore, all available space on a sailing ship was used for cargo space or as crew quarters. The bows of a boat (pointy end) must be shaped to easily cut through water and weight must be distributed amidships (middle section) or slightly aft (rear). As a result, crew quarters were spread throughout the bows of a ship or aftermost part of the ship.
But what to do with that v-shaped space at the bows? That space wasn't much good for anything other than storing anchor line and ground tackle (chain and anchor). Now there's a convenient place for a latrine! As it was almost always located forward or *ahead* ... the potty became known as "the head".
I have no idea if this is true or false as I picked it out of the nether regions of my head (the one on top of my shoulders), but it sounded good to me!
In simple terms, a monohull is any conventional sailboat or powerboat with just one hull.
The term "multihull" is a catamaran or trimaran. It is a classification for yachts having more than one hull which is extensively used by charter industry professionals.
Your yacht charter broker or bareboat company may offer an "option" or "hold" on whichever bare boat you are interested in chartering. This is a tentative booking which is placed in your name pending receipt of your contract, sailing resume and deposit payment. An option is usually in effect for 5 to 10 days (depending upon the company) and provided payment and documents are received within time allowed. After receipt, your boating holiday will then be confirmed.
Usually a single bed (berth) which is located within easy access to the helm in either the main saloon or a companionway (corridor). A pilot berth was originally intended for the captain or his second in command, who took the midnight watch and needed to be close to the helm.
Food and beverages or grocery provisions for your sailing holiday. There are several companies located in various places and close to marinas which will do your provisioning for you and deliver to your charter base. See BVI Yacht Provisioning for more information.
You will see this reference in many equipment lists. It stands for *Rigid Inflatable Boat*. How can it be rigid and inflatable at the same time? The hull is rigid (which helps the boat track through the water) while inflatable pontoons are mounted to the sides of the dinghy and provide a nice soft cushion for one's posterior. R.I.B.s are much preferred to the standard rigid dinghies of days past, which tended to be responsible for innumerable and sometimes very painful boat bites* after a night out!
Note: A "Boat Bite" is any bruise or minor injury received aboard a yacht, which is usually self inflicted through clumsiness, inebriation, being in the wrong place at the right time or taking part in sailing regattas. Racing sailors (at least those who actually work) are often covered in boat bites after a lively race!
You may arrive in the BVI late in the afternoon or evening, when it is no longer possible to get underway for your charter holiday. Most bareboat companies offer what is called a "sleep aboard" the night before your bare boat sailing vacation begins. This means you may hire your yacht (at a reduced rate) to sleep aboard while still docked on company premises.
A sleep aboard does not mean you may leave any earlier than the time stated in your charter contract, which is usually noon. Several companies reserve the right to board your boat (with you aboard) prior to noon in order to complete last minute preparations and maintenance.
Arrange your sleep aboard (SAB) when you make your reservation. In high season, there may be times when the yacht you've chartered isn't available for a sleep aboard. In this case, ask your broker or charter company to arrange nearby hotel accommodations for you.
No, not the kind you bounce up and down on! A trampoline is a stretchy, lightweight fabric or woven netting stretched between between two hulls of a catamaran (or three hulls of a trimaran) at the bow (pointy end) of the yacht which acts as a safety net for sailors when on the forward hulls. Although initially designed as a safety feature to prevent sailors from falling overboard, a trampoline also offers a great deal of additional lounging space and is probably the most popular feature on any catamaran and one which children are automatically drawn to.
When I first designed this web site, I included "trampoline" in our equipment list on all catamaran pages. That reference was quickly removed when clients began requesting catamarans with the biggest trampoline! Apparently, they thought this would be great fun for their kids to use to dive off their boat! Errrmm, nope.
A trimaran has three hulls which run parallel to one another with the middle hull often being shorter than the two outer hulls. There are very few trimarans available for charter. However, the largest trimaran in the world, (Cuan Law), is located in the British Virgin Islands and is available for scuba diving or larger parties of up to 20 guests. If interested in chartering Cuan Law ... call us!
A bed, aboard anything afloat, is properly referred to as a "berth" . The "V-berth" is situated at the bow and follows the contour of the boat into an inverted V shape.
A windlass is probably the most wonderful invention since the light bulb and can make your sailing holiday a real dream. It is a device which will lift your anchor for you. If you have ever had to struggle to lift a 45 lb. anchor, you will certainly appreciate this handy gizmo!
Treat theses little gems as if they were your best friend in the world! Don't ask a windlass to do what it was not designed to do. It is not intended to be used as a come along, so don't try to reel your boat up to the anchor using your windlass. Proper procedure is to drive up over the anchor (so it is positioned just below your bow) ... and THEN step on the wndlass' *UP* button to lift your anchor off the sea bed. A good windlass costs thousands of dollars, so don't go burning out its motor because you didn't understand how to use one!
No you don't put your anchor on a scale to see how much it weighs! To weigh anchor means to take up or lift the anchor off the sea bed when getting underway or "under weigh".
There are bareboat and crewed yacht charter companies and yacht charter brokers who sell for them. Simply put, charter brokers sell term charter holidays aboard any number of privately owned yachts supplied through various charter companies or private owners. For more information, see Charter Yacht Broker.
Don't confuse a yacht broker with a charter broker. Yacht brokers sell yachts. Charter brokers sell sailing or power boating holidays!
If there are any nautical terms you would like to see listed in our glossary ... let us know!
For more information about BVI powerboat or sailing charters?
Contact our bareboat holiday specialist!
Phone: (284) 495-4168 Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Copyright © 2001-2010 BVI Vacations - Bareboats BVI . All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:c5c132b1-9441-4b4a-8208-2a9faba15181> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/yacht_charter_glossary.html | 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 | 0.959084 | 2,574 | 1.65625 | 2 |
NEW YORK (AP) — Natural gas futures continued their rise off 10-year lows Thursday on hopes that demand is picking up and plans by drillers to cut production in response to low prices.
Natural gas rose to $2.13 per thousand cubic feet, a gain of 3 percent, in morning trading. Forecasters are predicting a cool spring in the Northeast, which could increase demand for the fuel. Also, utilities are taking advantage of low natural gas prices by using more of the fuel to generate electricity.
Prices are so low that drilling has become unprofitable in most locations, so drillers are starting to cut back exploring for new natural gas.
Prices have fallen to their lowest levels since 2002 because a historically warm winter and increased domestic production have boosted the amount of natural gas in storage well beyond its 5-year average.
The U.S. government reported Thursday that natural gas in storage rose by 47 billion cubic feet to 2.548 trillion cubic feet for the week ended April 20. That's 56 percent above the five-year average.
The report was in line with what analysts expected, however, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill. And storage levels have declined slightly from earlier this month, which has led some to believe the market is beginning to rebalance.
But Phil Flynn, an analyst at PFG Best, says whatever increase in demand that comes from cool May weather will not be enough to alleviate the country's natural gas glut. Also, he says drillers will have a hard time cutting back because natural gas is produced along with oil, and new drilling for oil is booming.
"The market is still broken," he says. "The only way to fix this market is a major sell-off."
At current consumption and production rates, the nation's natural gas storage facilities are on track to be full by October, before the annual supply draw-down for winter heating begins.
Oil prices rose slightly to $104.70, a gain of 0.6 percent on hopes that the U.S. economy will continue to grow modestly and that the European debt crisis would not spread further.
Retail gasoline fell to a national average of $3.83 per gallon, the tenth straight day of declines.
In other energy trading, Brent Crude rose to $119.96, a gain of 0.7 percent. Heating oil rose 4 cents to $3.21 per gallon and wholesale gasoline futures rose 2 cents to $3.14 per gallon. | <urn:uuid:ed940e63-92de-41ca-8332-06a2c626e24e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.yahoo.com/natural-gas-prices-rise-oil-steady-104-145346089--finance.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958273 | 521 | 1.78125 | 2 |
"Augusto Pinochet, 91, Dictator Who Ruled by Terror in Chile, Dies" reads the headline to Jonathan Kandell's front-page obituary for the Chilean ruler in the New York Times Monday. A related editorial calls Pinochet "The Dextrous Dictator" (perhaps a play on words, as the Latin root of dextrous is dexter, meaning "on the right side," hardy har har).
Here's the lead of Kandell's obituary for Pinochet today:
"Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, the brutal dictator who repressed and reshaped Chile for nearly two decades and became a notorious symbol of human rights abuse and corruption, died yesterday at the Military Hospital of Santiago."
Slim pickings indeed. Perhaps we need to start looking for inanimate objects (e.g., 1982 - The Computer; 1988 - Endangered Earth), symbolic people (1950 - American Fighting Man; 1956 - Hungarian Freedom Fighter; 2003 - The American Soldier), or groups of people (1960 - US Scientists; 1966 - 25 and Under; 1969 - The Middle Americans; 1975 - American Women; 1993 - The Peacemakers; 2002 - The Whistleblowers). The list of all previous winners is here.
Perhaps YouTube, online forums, blogs, vlogs, podcasts, and online media should be the Thing of the Year: The Shadow Media. Of course, Time would be writing about its own likely eventual demise, but it would fit.
At 9pm EST/PST (8pm CST/MST) on Friday night (Dec. 8), ABC will air a special edition of Primetime, “North Korea: Inside the Shadows” which will feature Diane Sawyer recounting what she found in that communist nation during a trip there back in October. If her hour-long program matches what aired in October, be prepared for a lot of North Korea officials bashing President Bush and for Sawyer to trumpet “happy” kids.
On the October 19 World News, Sawyer proved little more than a conveyor belt for the repressive communist regime's propaganda. Talking to a North Korean Army General, she relayed how “he said to us, 'make it clear to everyone in the United States, if there is another nuclear test, the person responsible is George Bush,' because he said, 'the Bush administration is backing North Korea into a corner with its pressures and its sanctions.'" In a second segment, Sawyer was taken to a school which she favorably described as “a world away from the unruly individualism of any American school." She gushed: “Ask them about their country, and they can't say enough." A teenage girl declared, in English: “We are the happiest children in the world.” Sawyer ended her piece with video of her and the class singing "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound of Music. Far from being embarrassed by Sawyer's obsequious approach, anchor Charles Gibson proposed: "A fascinating glimpse of North Korea."
The midterm elections are approaching and some members of the media are revving up their bias. MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann recently suggested that President Bush might be as big a threat as the terrorists. This was only a day after referring to conservative talk show hosts who visited the White House as the "Legion of Doom." CNN’s Jack Cafferty wondered if Karl Rove is planning an "October surprise" to salvage the Republicans’ chances in the midterm elections.
The print media have also offered unrestrained attacks from the left. A "Washington Post" report described House Speaker Dennis Hastert appearance as "a cross between Wildford Brimley and Jabba the Hutt." Nothing quite like objectivity, huh? A former "New York Times" bureau chief recently characterized the Christian right as "fascist." Perhaps he’d been chatting with "Newsweek" columnist Jonathan Alter. Alter told Don Imus he hoped the country has seen the last of "values voters."
The "Today" show fawned over Barack Obama, describing him as "electrifying" and a "rock star." This was on the same day that they giddily predicted a "perfect storm" to wipe out the Republicans in the midterms. Another early AM program, CNN’s "American Morning"encouraged author David Kuo to call for Christians to boycott the upcoming election.
On Thursday's World News on ABC, Diane Sawyer checked in from North Korea, but she proved little more than a conveyor belt for the repressive communist regime's propaganda. Talking to a North Korean Army General, she relayed how “he said to us, 'make it clear to everyone in the United States, if there is another nuclear test, the person responsible is George Bush,' because he said, 'the Bush administration is backing North Korea into a corner with its pressures and its sanctions.'" Sawyer helpfully added that “the General said to us, he does want peace. And he also said, again, reiterated, North Korea will not be the first to use a nuclear weapon.” How reassuring.
In a second segment, Sawyer was taken to a school which she favorably described as “a world away from the unruly individualism of any American school." She gushed: “Ask them about their country, and they can't say enough." A teenage girl declared, in English: “We are the happiest children in the world.” Sawyer ended her piece with video of her and the class singing "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound of Music. Far from being embarrassed by Sawyer's obsequious approach, anchor Charles Gibson proposed: "A fascinating glimpse of North Korea."
On his show yesterday, MSNBC's Tucker Carlson congratulated Diane Sawyer of ABC for leaving the comforts of home to report from North Korea. Judging by her report this morning, you'd have to say the rigors have been worth it. Sawyer has been on a week-long stay in Dear-Leader Land, and this morning she scored an important story. A top N. Korean general flatly told her that his country has the means to deliver a nuclear weapon.
Sawyer: "We asked him what the words of North Korea meant when they said there would be a 'merciless blow' in response to any sanctions? He said he couldn't say specifically but pointed out they have short- and long-range missiles. He said 'President Bush wants us to kneel down. We cannot agree on that. If it continues, I think it will be natural to have war.'"
As I mentioned last week, CBS was pushing the notion that the Bush administration ought to kowtow to North Korean demands and agree to bilateral talks. This theme was again highlighted on Wednesday’s "Early Show" by co-host Harry Smith. Smith had the opportunity to speak with Wendy Sherman, President Clinton’s former North Korea adviser, and while he noted that people like former Democratic Senator Sam Nunn, whom Smith describes as "a very wise guy about this stuff," think we should talk directly with the North Korean regime, he omitted any questions about Ms. Sherman’s role in the Clinton administration and its failed polices regarding North Korea. At the end of the 7:00 half hour, Smith inquired:
Monday's morning shows displayed the Democratic diplomacy that may take over the House and Senate next year. Newsweek's Jonathan Alter was openly dismayed that President Bush refers to North Korea's murderous communist tyrant, Kim Jong Il, as "'The Pygmy'...Not every helpful, actually." On NBC's Today, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman lamented that it's too late for Bush to salvage peace: "North Korea has concluded that this administration wants their, their head on a wall, basically, and therefore there's probably nothing the United States can do now, to really reassure the North to give up their nukes, which is really their life insurance policy." This came just a minute or so after Friedman described Kim as the "Tony Soprano of Pyongyang."
At the end of Sunday's 60 Minutes, Andy Rooney expressed bafflement over why anyone would worry about a nuclear weapon in the hands of a communist tyrant: “I don't understand why we think it's okay for us to have a nuclear weapon, but it isn't okay for some other countries to have any.” And he went on to assert a very naive and dangerous view: “I don't think any country should have nuclear weapons. And that includes ours.” Noting how many “are in a tizzy” over North Korea's nuclear weapon test, Rooney rued that “we're a little late getting exercised about this. North Korea has always been more of a threat to world peace than Iraq ever was and if we were going to attack someone three years ago to make the world safer, we should have attacked North Korea, not Iraq.”
He then rationalized how “it's not hard to understand why North Korea wants the bomb. If we Americans lived in North Korea instead of here, do you think we'd be in favor of our little country having it? You're darn right we would.” Rooney acknowledged that the UN has “been an ineffectual organization,” but contended that's why “we've got to give it more power and the way to give it more power is to give it more responsibility,” so though a minute earlier he suggested the U.S. should have attacked North Korea instead of Iraq, he argued “the UN should take the bomb away from North Korea; we should not.”
On this weekend's Fox News Watch on FNC, liberal panelist Neal Gabler, rejecting the Media Research Center's contention of liberal bias in coverage of North Korea's nuclear test, damned the MRC with faint praise in ridiculing the MRC's mission: "MRC can find a needle in a hay stack. We ought to sic them to find Osama bin Laden because they always find what they're looking for, and liberal bias is what they're looking for." Host Eric Burns had set up the lead segment: “The Media Research Center, a conservative watchdog group, charges that some American news organizations are, to an extent, defending the action [atomic test] because North Korea is worried about an attack from the United States and hopes the bomb tests will be a deterrent.” Conservative panelist Cal Thomas pointed out how “ABC's Mark Litke made this point on World News Tonight.” Indeed, an October 10 MRC CyberAlert article, posted the night before as a NewsBusters item, “ABC: North Korea Has Rational 'Historic Fear' of U.S. Worsened by Bush's 'Axis of Evil,'” detailed Litke's October 9 story.
On Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer today, Howard Dean said that he had been watching UN ambassador "Josh Bolton" on all the morning shows talking tough about the UN resolution on North Korea that the Chinese have already said they're not going to fully enforce and he said it shows that the Bush administration is "toothless" when it comes to national security. When it came time for Blitzer to follow-up, he corrected Dean on what Bolton's first name really is but Blitzer failed to ask Dean the obvious question: how would he or other Democrats have gotten anything better out of the UN?
It is quite doubtful that HBO’s Bill Maher knew what he was in for when he scheduled Danielle Pletka of the American Enterprise Institute to be on his "Real Time" panel Friday night. After all, with CNN’s Lou Dobbs and liberal actor Ben Affleck surrounding her, it seemed highly unlikely the lone conservative in the discussion would survive the scrum, let alone win the debate. However, not only did Pletka hold her own, but she also ended up schooling Maher and Affleck on a virtual plethora of geopolitical issues making this one of the more enjoyable Friday Night Fights in recent memory (video link to follow).
The first lesson came when Affleck had the gall to suggest that Iran and North Korea “became more evil after” President Bush made his Axis of Evil speech during the 2002 State of the Union address (emphasis mine):
As previously reported by NewsBusters editor Matt Sheffield and others, FNC’s Special Report with Brit Hume on Thursday evening noted how YouTube users had ganged up to flag as “inappropriate” a humorous 90-second video by director David Zucker that mocks the Democrats for their approach to international bad guys like Osama bin Laden and Kim Jong-Il.
Zucker’s video begins with a shot of an actress playing Secretary of State Madeleine Albright meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il. The announcer gravely intoned: “In the year 2000, in an effort to stop the North Koreans from building nuclear weapons, President Clinton's Secretary of State Madeleine Albright gave North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il a basketball signed by Michael Jordan.” After “Albright” hands “Kim” a basketball, the two share a champagne toast. An on-screen graphic informs: "We're Not Making This Up."
Many pundits suspect that any event that makes the world look like a dangerous place might help the hawkish Bush team at election time. NBC was not going to allow that impression to sink in, if you were watching Thursday morning's edition of Today.
David Gregory insisted that despite "partisan finger-pointing," it would be a Republican liability, another growing question mark:
Gregory: "North Korea's apparent test of a nuclear weapon has led to partisan finger-pointing. Did the President, distracted by Iraq and bent on regime change in North Korea, fail to prevent its nuclear rise?"
Sen. Jack Reed: "I think they've been tied up in intramural debate between the regime change advocates and those who want to engage."
Friday's broadcast network evening newscasts (6:30pm EDT feeds for ABC and CBS, 7pm for NBC) delivered contradictory reports on whether U.S. officials believe North Korea conducted a nuclear test last weekend. On the CBS Evening News, Jim Axelrod reported from the White House lawn: “The first tests on air samples from near North Korea have been completed and U.S. intelligence agencies now appear ready to confirm this was indeed a nuclear test.” NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams similarly relayed: “American officials say the very first tests of air samples from the skies above do show some indication of increased radiation, but they say it will be more days now before all the tests are completed.”
On ABC's World News, however, anchor Charles Gibson asserted: “There is still a question tonight as to whether North Korea did or did not conduct a nuclear test. Monitoring of the air over North Korea by the U.S., by the Chinese and by the Japanese has come up negative.” Over a matching graphic, Gibson reported: “No radioactive particles have been found.” Jonathan Karl suggested “that it may have been a failure and they have not ruled out the possibility that it could be a fake. There will be more tests coming, Charlie, it may be several days before we have anything definitive.” (Reid v Foley below)
With North Korea testing nuclear weapons and Democrats demanding that the Bush administration engage in bilateral talks with them, it should come as no surprise that the "Early Show" once again turned to Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution for analysis. O’Hanlon, made his 17th appearance of the year on Thursday’s "Early Show" where he was sure to plug his book. "Early Show" co-host Hannah Storm conducted the interview and pondered why, if the Democrats and Kofi Annan and the North Koreans want the Bush administration to engage the North Koreans directly, why wouldn’t President Bush simply acquiesce:
"But first President Bush said Wednesday that negotiating directly with North Korea would not have stopped that country's nuclear tests, and he added there would be no one-on-one talks now, that's something that Democrats are calling for...Also, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for direct talks. The North Koreans has asked for it. Why does the president say no?"
Thirteen months before North Korea exploded a nuclear bomb, CNN founder Ted Turner predicted that such an event would never happen. “I think we can put the North Korea and East Asia problems behind us,” Turner confidently proclaimed in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer back on September 19, 2005.
Referring to the North Korean regime’s claim they were “committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs,” Turner, having just returned from a trip to North Korea, found those promises to be 100% credible.
“I am absolutely convinced that the North Koreans are absolutely sincere,” he told an incredulous Blitzer.
Tuesday's Washington Post carries one of those editorials disguised as a "news analysis" headlined "Bush's 'Axis of Evil' Comes Back to Haunt United States." The writers displayed their liberal stripes by quoting only Democrats and Clinton staffers. Reporters Glenn Kessler and Peter Baker began:
Nearly five years after President Bush introduced the concept of an "axis of evil" comprising Iraq, Iran and North Korea, the administration has reached a crisis point with each nation: North Korea has claimed it conducted its first nuclear test, Iran refuses to halt its uranium-enrichment program, and Iraq appears to be tipping into a civil war 3 1/2 years after the U.S.-led invasion.
ABC's Mark Litke, checking in from Seoul on Monday's World News, seemed to rationalize North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il's pursuit of a nuclear weapon as he treated as credible the contention the regime has had, for decades, a reasonable fear of U.S. invasion, a fear exacerbated by President George W. Bush. Litke proposed: “It's difficult to imagine Kim Jong Il as a clever and calculating leader who knows exactly what he wants, but, in fact, he may be much smarter than most people realize." Litke soon outlined, leading into a soundbite from Clinton administration UN Ambassador Bill Richardson, how “Kim has justified his missile tests and nuclear program as a deterrent to what he sees as an eventual U.S. invasion. It's a longstanding fear dating back to the Korean War when Kim's father, Kim Il Sung, feared the U.S. would use nuclear weapons against his country. That historic fear was reinforced 50 years later when the U.S. labeled North Korea part of an 'Axis of Evil' with Iran and Iraq. Kim Jong Il feared he would always be next after Iraq." (Transcript follows)
As they padded for time waiting for a live statement on the North Korean nuclear test from President Bush in the 9 am hour of Today on Monday, NBC's Andrea Mitchell scolded that Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright were building reconciliation between North and South Korea, but Bush came in and ruined it, overruling his Secretary of State, Colin Powell, "cutting him off at the knees." Typically, Today co-host Matt Lauer insisted the North Korean nuclear test was just the latest in a string of bad news for Bush, from Iraq and Iran to the Mark Foley page scandal.
Matt Lauer led into the Clinton-praising section: "Andrea, I have to say as David [Gregory] mentioned a second ago, when I was there a few years ago it was surprising to me that there is starting to be this communication and actual physical contact between South and North Korea. This, there's a super highway being built that really connects the two."
First, Katie Couric wondered who made America the "boss" of the world, now ABC’s Diane Sawyer wants to know if "the U.S. can tell other countries whether they can have nuclear weapons or not...." Sawyer asked the question on the October 9 edition of "Good Morning America." The GMA anchor talked with Donald Gregg, former ambassador to South Korea under the first President Bush, about North Korea’s apparent test of a nuclear weapon. Ms. Sawyer composed the following query to Gregg about whether America has the right to criticize such testing:
At the conclusion of CNN’s "Your World Today," which features an international take on the news of the day, anchors Stephen Frazier and Rosemary Church read a variety of e-mails on North Korea’s testing of nuclear weapons. Only in the morally relativistic world of CNN, where all opinions are equal, could a letter like this repeated aloud:
Church: "And a completely different view. Soh, from Singapore writes: ‘The North Koreans have done the right thing. Since the end of the Korean War, they have been subjected to hostilities from the United States. and other western powers. This bomb is a source of tremendous pride for the Korean people, north and south. The world should congratulate the North Korean people for this achievement."
One can imagine a 1930s CNN reading German e-mails congratulating Hitler on his triumphant liberation of Poland.
On Friday night’s edition of Inside Washington, a program which airs on the Washington DC area PBS station WETA, and re-airs on Sunday mornings on the DC ABC affiliate, WJLA, and consists of a round table of political pundits, one of the topics discussed was North Korea. As was widely discussed last week, North Korea test fired a long range missile that could potentially hit the United States called the Taepodong 2 missile. Panelist Mark Shields attempted to make a joke out of the name:
"Does anybody else think Taepodong sounds like a male enhancement device available on cable?"
However, the rest of his exchange with fellow panelist Charles Krauthammer was not so light hearted. Shields used the subject of North Korea to segue into an attack on the administration’s Iraq policy, suggesting that an attack on North Korea would have been a better strategic move than the war in Iraq. Charles Krauthammer disputed this, noting the differences between Iraq and North Korea.
Give the Ragin' Cajun credit: the man works fast. In a Today show appearance lasting only six minutes, and shared with former Bush administration official Dan Senor, Carville managed to work variations on the word 'failure' into his comments no fewer than six times.
At the same time, I defy anyone to read the transcript or watch a replay of Carville's comments on Pres. Bush''s foreign policy and find one solitary instance in which he proposes an alternative or even offers constructive criticism. His rap was utterly bereft of any notion of what the Democrats would do, and do better, if they regained power. | <urn:uuid:62c5b5f1-04bb-4bab-8919-47832471bd38> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newsbusters.org/issues/foreign-policy/north-korea?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963927 | 4,752 | 1.6875 | 2 |
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