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The Pareto Principle was inspired by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. Pareto was one of the first to analyze economics using statistics. In the late 1800s, he observed that 80 percent of the land in Italy was owned by 20 percent of the population. Later, while gardening, he noted that 20 percent of the peapods [...]
Browsing articles tagged with " deadlifts" | <urn:uuid:fc25ad21-09dc-4c0e-b5e3-01dc2df0105a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kcstrength.com/tag/deadlifts/ | 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 | 0.977454 | 85 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Agnieszka Handzel & Pawel Kordaczka
Agnieszka Handzel was one of the winners of the German Paderborn Volksbank Young European Artist Award in 2001. She is a graduate of
University of Silesia Art Institute, where she studied painting and ceramics. Drawing as the means for her artistic expression is important to her. “I see drawing as neither an end in itself, nor as preliminary sketching leading up to a painting. My drawings form an integral part of my pictures, providing the counterpoint to the areas of paint. My eye hovers over our everyday life, concentrating on people and their emotional experiences. More often than not, I portray women caught up in various situations and connected to their environment by the means of an apparently trivial prop, a gesture or a glance. Occasionally, the woman is accompanied by another figure and subsequently, a story is born” says Agnieszka.
Pawel Kordaczka was among the winners of the 2001 German Paderborn Volksbank Young European Artist Award. In 2008 he received an award from the Polish weekly Nowy Czas After graduation from University of Silesia Art Institute he was invited for a year lectureship in its Fine Art Department. Currently based in London. “My main means of expression are oil painting and pencil drawing, while both the composition and the content are influenced by the ancient art of the Orthodox icon. I have aimed for many years to capture and to preserve that particular brand of spirituality, while veering more and more towards the abstract. My sacral series of paintings had its beginnings in the landscape of my native Bieszczady and the tiny Orthodox churches dotted all around it. Slowly but surely, I stepped inside those unprepossessing temples looking up towards the icon itself; the image at the very heart of the Orthodox tradition. Notwithstanding the fact that over the years my paintings have got deeper and deeper into the realm of abstraction and have moved from the sacred towards the mundane, a small grain of the original inspiration remains” says Pawel Kordaczka.
Be the the first leave an opinion | <urn:uuid:cdd31418-0fd0-4f07-8e96-847bd0bbe23a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.artrabbit.com/all/events/event/32981/agnieszka_handzel_pawel_kordaczka | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948509 | 444 | 1.546875 | 2 |
The bank said Wednesday Fitschen and Krause are being investigated because they signed off on the company's 2009 tax declaration. The bank says any errors in the declaration were corrected later in a timely way, adding that prosecutors say the changes were made too late.
Prosecutors said 500 police officers swooped Wednesday on Deutsche Bank AG offices and private properties in Frankfurt, Berlin and Duesseldorf.
Fitschen took over as co-CEO along with Anshu Jain earlier this year; in 2009, he was the head of the company's regional businesses.
The Frankfurt prosecutors' office says 25 employees of the bank are suspected of serious tax evasion, money laundering and attempted obstruction of justice. Arrest warrants have been issued against five, but those do not include Fitschen and Krause, a prosecutor's spokesman said.
Deutsche Bank said the investigation began in spring 2010 and focuses on "a limited number of individuals" under suspicion of fraud connected with value-added tax in the trading of carbon emission certificates.
It said it was cooperating with the investigation. The bank also faces lawsuits over alleged participation by former employees in rigging benchmark interest rates such as Libor along with
Carbon trading schemes cap the emissions of businesses and set limits for countries. Businesses must buy carbon permits if they exceed their limit, or can sell the right to emit carbon if their emissions are lower. The idea is to limit the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that are believed to cause global warming. | <urn:uuid:78f4f175-0d2b-4a0e-9d5c-17368e85c1b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marinij.com/business/ci_22175275/german-prosecutors-search-deutsche-bank-offices | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975753 | 303 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Dangerous Minds has a piece on Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke and 2001 that includes this excerpt from an interview Kubrick did for Playboy Magazine in 1968.
“The very meaninglessness of life forces man to create his own meaning. Children, of course, begin life with an untarnished sense of wonder, a capacity to experience total joy at something as simple as the greenness of a leaf; but as they grow older, the awareness of death and decay begins to impinge on their consciousness and subtly erode their joie de vivre, their idealism – and their assumption of immortality. As a child matures, he sees death and pain everywhere about him, and begins to lose faith in the ultimate goodness of man. But, if he’s reasonably strong – and lucky – he can emerge from this twilight of the soul into a rebirth of life’s elan. Both because of and in spite of his awareness of the meaninglessness of life, he can forge a fresh sense of purpose and affirmation. He may not recapture the same pure sense of wonder he was born with, but he can shape something far more enduring and sustaining. The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death – however mutable man may be able to make them – our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.”
Check out Dangerous Minds for more on 2001 as well as an embedded YouTube video, a documentary on the making of the film previously available only as an extra feature on the DVD and Blu-Ray.
(I had the great pleasure of meeting Arthur C. Clarke once about 40 years ago (holy shit!) and he was so charming and so nice, it was one of those encounters you don’t forget. I never met Kubrick in person, only dealt with him on the phone a few times during pre-production and production of The Shining. It was neither here nor there but I’ve always taken enjoyment in the fact that he was a kid from The Bronx who got shitty grades in school and went on to do the films that he did.) | <urn:uuid:254cbeeb-e143-4b5a-a150-00826f6e9aed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hongkietown.com/2012/09/we-must-supply-our-own-light.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972245 | 471 | 1.617188 | 2 |
I conceived this method of printing so it could be shared with anyone who wants to print short, inexpensive runs on any substrate, without having to deal with the space and economic constraints of setting up a whole studio.
Most of the supplies for this project would usually end up in a landfill, and can be found completely for free.
Usually one can get 20 or more successful prints with this method, which seems to be sufficient for most small projects.
Step 1: Supplies
Recycling is key here. Most of the supplies required can be found as trash, including the ink. What isn't direct waste can be recycled from thrift stores or garage sales.
Staple Gun (almost any size will do)
X-acto Knife, or Utility knife (you could use a plain razor blade in a pinch)
Heat Gun or a Hair Dryer
Plastic Putty Knife
Small Container for mixing
Any old picture frame as long as it is bigger than your image. (ideally you can find this in the trash)
Water based paint or ink of any type (recycle! use old housepaint that would end up in the landfill/water table without you!
Some sort of ink retarder
-I used "Floetrol" which is sold in most hardware stores as a latex paint wetting agent. It is around 6$ for the bottle. You can also use straight glycerine, which is available at most drug stores for a dollar or two for a small bottle.
Adhesive Backed Sign Vinyl (any color)
-This is available from many arts and crafts stores, but sign shops generate so much scrap every day that if you ask them nicely, they will almost certainly just give you some. If you don't want to ask, check the dumpster, because thats where it will end up. This material is the garbage left behind by the modern printing industry. it is a shame that it doesn't get re-used more.
Screen Printing Fabric (a piece bigger than your old picture frame)
-This is available in various mesh counts from dickblick.com, again screenprinting shops can help you out if you ask nicely, and their dumpsters can be messy, but fruitful.
-If you are adventurous, you can experiment with different fabrics from the scrap bin at the fabric store and use that instead of genuine screen fabric.
Substrate (stuff to print on)
-Paper, Shirts, other textiles, bags, napkins, underpants, and just about anything else that is reasonably flat will work fine. | <urn:uuid:efe56964-2796-4680-8afd-1de606dff421> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.instructables.com/id/down-and-dirty-screenprinting-for-under-10/CBPTWHAGFMBY8KN | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947286 | 532 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Today is Surname Saturday. There are two ways in which you can join in the fun:
Participants must have a current and active Twitter account in order to participate. During the day on Saturday, participants “tweet” about the surnames they are researching. All posts should include the #surname hashtag.
Here is the current listing of Surname Saturday messages on Twitter.
If you have your own genealogy or family history related blog, you can participate in Surname Saturday. What is it?
Surname Saturday is a daily blogging theme used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.
To participate in Surname Saturday, simply create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research.
Here are the latest Surname Saturday posts from our member genealogy bloggers:
© 2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee | <urn:uuid:6ca98e88-7d89-4147-9a67-e9ecd88e2f9e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://geneabloggers.com/surname-saturday-july-17-2010/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94712 | 201 | 1.6875 | 2 |
The biggest question is what the messages amount to — an embarrassing revelation that scientists can be petty and defensive and even cheat around the edges, or a major scandal that undercuts the scientific premise for global warming. The former is a story. The latter is a huge story. And the answer is tied up in complex science that is difficult even for experts to understand, and in politics in which passionate sides have been taken, sometimes regardless of the facts....They just interview scientists and don't actually try to understand the science? Even when there is evidence of deceit, they don't pry themselves away from their dependence on interviews with scientists? Drastic, mindboggingly expensive policy changes are proposed based on this science, making this potentially the biggest fraud in history. Why isn't the NYT on fire trying to figure everything out and helping us readers see into the controversy? The best we can do is to give our readers a sense of what the prevailing scientific view is... Really? That's the best you can do? Just a "sense" of what "prevails" among scientists? Then the best you can do is to be part of the very problem you ought to be studying: The scientists' efforts to create an impression of consensus.
[Erica Goode, the NYT environment editor said]: “We here at The Times are not scientists. We don’t collect the data or analyze it, and so the best we can do is to give our readers a sense of what the prevailing scientific view is, based on interviews with scientists” and the expertise of reporters like [Andrew] Revkin.
December 6, 2009
Clark Hoyt, the NYT "public" editor, thinks the NYT has handled the Climategate story "appropriately."
I understand why the Times preferred to link to the database on somebody else's site instead of hosting it: They're afraid of being sued for copyright infringement (though I think if it were anti-war material they'd take the risk and argue fair use). But I can't accept the core of Hoyt's defense of his employer: | <urn:uuid:e020dfea-b0f0-43d9-bc2a-ef4e2f8d9dda> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://althouse.blogspot.com/2009/12/clark-hoyt-nyt-public-editor-thinks-nyt.html?showComment=1260138256077 | 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 | 0.96127 | 422 | 1.757813 | 2 |
We proudly announce Amritsar Rail Tour Package in Swarna Shatabdi (12029-12030) Express. Amritsar is a home to the religious building important to the Sikhs - Golden Temple . Formally known as the Harmandir Sahib, it is the most substantial and the oldest Gurudwara. Golden Temple is situated in the heart of Amritsar is visited by thousands of devotees everyday. The temple nestles in between a pool which is named Amrit sarovar. It is on the name of the pool that the name of the city is based. | <urn:uuid:4f461d7f-f221-4f71-9372-f6cf26f9d5e6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.railtourismindia.com/TourPackages/RailTour/New-Delhi-Amritsar-Golden-Temple-Tour.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960945 | 125 | 1.5625 | 2 |
NUSAJAYA, Thursday, September 2nd 2010: Fasting in Islam, is not just about refraining oneself from thirst and hunger but also from every kind of selfish desire and wrong-doing. It also teaches us to be more sympathetic, patient, tolerant and generous towards others.
For UEM Land Holdings Berhad, Ramadan is a month that unites all Muslims together to share the joy of the holy month and spread the culture of giving towards the less fortunate.
As an annual tradition during Ramadhan, UEM Land shares the joy with the local community by organising “Majlis Berbuka Puasa” in several villages in Nusajaya. This year, UEM Land brings cheers and joy to the villagers at Kampung Tiram Duku in Gelang Patah.
The “Majlis Berbuka Puasa” which was held at Kampung Tiram Duku’s mosque today was attended by villagers from the surrounding areas. Joining them during the breaking of fast was UEM Land’s General Manager, Township and Infrastructure Planning, Encik Rusli Zainal Abidin who later presented “Duit Raya” and Raya goodies to 60 less fortunate which consist of single mothers, orphans, handicapped and senior citizens to help them ease their burden during the coming Aidilfitri celebration.
“UEM Land has always cared for the local community’s welfare, regardless whether it is during Ramadhan or Aidilfitri. Our efforts in ensuring a better life for the local community will continue as it is part of our way of giving back to the people who have been supportive towards UEM Land thus far,” said Encik Rusli Zainal Abidin.
“Activities such as this are imperative to us as it brings us together and additionally help us to build a stronger bond with the community,” he added.
Following the ‘Buka Puasa’ and Maghrib prayers, the villagers were then treated to a sumptuous dinner. | <urn:uuid:4e60cd78-172d-4b35-8cb6-35c346c804f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uemland.com/mediacentre/20100902.htm | 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 | 0.955751 | 433 | 1.609375 | 2 |
PART 1 OF 3
Hannah Linderholm was a cheerleader and played sports in high school. She went to church every Sunday with her parents in New Prague and was excited about starting college.
"I had my life all together," Linderholm, 21, said wistfully last week.
But in college, she fell for a guy who was getting high illegally on oxycodone, a highly controlled painkiller sold under the brand name Oxycontin, and she thought it would be OK to try it. "Then it just snowballed," she said.
Within a year, she dropped out of college, had drained her savings account and was spending $180 a day to feed her body's growing demand for the drug dubbed "oxy" on the street.
"All I wanted to do was get high," she said. "I didn't care about anything."
Getting the pills was easy, Linderholm said, even though oxycodone can be obtained only with a doctor's prescription. Her boyfriend had found a network of people willing to sell their prescriptions for $1 per milligram.
One reason it was so easy to get the drugs: More opioid painkillers are being distributed legally in Minnesota than ever before, a joint Pioneer Press and Duluth News Tribune investigation has found.
Last year, enough of the two leading painkillers -- oxycodone and hydrocodone -- was distributed in the state to provide 18 pills for every man, woman and child. That's up from two pills per person in 1997.
Though Minnesota ranks low compared with the rest of the country in opioid prescriptions, the
As the use of those painkillers has gone up, so have rates of addiction, crime, arrests and overdose deaths.
Particularly alarming, experts say: Prescription pill addicts have been switching to heroin, and Mexican drug dealers have flooded the Twin Cities with some of the cheapest and purest heroin available in the U.S.
"Clearly, we have all the ingredients of a prescription opiate and heroin epidemic in the state of Minnesota,"
This is not just an urban problem, Falkowski and other experts said.
Painkiller opiates, once reserved for people who were dying, now are widely prescribed, and the leftover pills in medicine cabinets are too often becoming the starting point for addiction, experts say.
This ease of access and a perception that prescription drugs are legal and "clean" has made the drugs particularly attractive to teens and young adults. Last year, 24 out of every 10,000 Minnesotans between ages 18 and 24 sought opiate addiction treatment. That's up 179 percent from four years earlier.
"The misconception is that 'it'll never happen in their family,' " said Rich Clark, commander of the Ramsey County Violent Crime Enforcement Team. "I think the public doesn't understand it's a lot more prevalent than you think it is, and it's happening to good people, good, solid families. Kids raised well. Loving parents. (But) in the blink of an eye, they're a heroin addict."
EXPERT: TOO MANY OPIATES PRESCRIBED
This "epidemic," Falkowski and others said, has been growing steadily since about 2000, in line with an increase in the number of prescriptions for opioids.
Opioids include opiates, which are derived directly from the opium poppy, and synthetic drugs that work like opiates. These drugs, tightly controlled by federal law, include narcotic painkillers such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone and hydrocodone as well as stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall, used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. They also include methadone and another drug, buprenorphine, used to treat opiate addiction.
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration data tracking the legal distribution of these drugs by three-digit ZIP code show that some parts of Minnesota have higher per-capita rates, but that rates have been rising everywhere.
The legal distribution of all opioids increased statewide by 72 percent from 2005 to 2011. The largest increases, though, were in Ramsey County and the northwestern corner of the state.
Falkowski said opiate abuse is particularly problematic on some of Minnesota's American Indian reservations. In the past two years, three reservations -- the Red Lake, White Earth and Leech Lake Ojibwe nations -- have declared public health emergencies. The Leech Lake Band reported that about 80 percent of substance-abuse problems on its reservation stemmed from opiate addiction.
Some of the overall increase in opioids comes from a rise in the use of methadone and buprenorphine to treat opiate addiction, but these account for less than 3 percent of all opioids.
The distribution of painkiller opiates has increased 43 percent statewide since 2005, but this is tempered by the fact that use of older drugs -- such as Demerol and codeine -- has declined, while use of the new, more powerful drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone has spiked.
The largest increases in oxycodone distribution were in Ramsey County (124 percent), the western Twin Cities suburbs (102 percent) and the northwestern edge of the state (91 percent).
Last year, Duluth had the highest rate of all opiate painkiller distribution in the state at more than 5,000 grams per 10,000 people. St. Louis County and Minneapolis were close behind. The southwestern corner of the state had the lowest rate at 1,600 grams per 10,000 people.
"Supply is a key ingredient in any drug epidemic," Falkowski said. "You have to have an adequate supply in order to propel it into epidemic proportions."
Dr. David Schultz, founder and medical director of Minneapolis-based MAPS Medical Pain Clinics, said the state has reached a point where too many opiate-based drugs are being prescribed.
Drug companies are pushing new products, and it's "easy" for a doctor to write a prescription, Schultz said.
"Patients are happy when they get a prescription, and doctors' satisfaction ratings go up. ... If they say no to a patient, then they'll give them a bad rating," Schultz said. "There's a lot of perverse incentives to write a prescription, and that's an unfortunate situation."
FROM TREATING CHRONIC PAIN TO TREATING ANY PAIN
When he was going through medical school in the 1970s, Dr. Faris Keeling of Duluth, who specializes in chronic pain for Essentia Health, said it was considered negligence to give opioid painkillers to any patient "not going to die soon."
"The belief was that everyone who took them for very long would become addicted," he said.
But over the next decade, a better understanding of addiction developed -- while opioids would make users physically dependent on them, they wouldn't become addicted to them.
"Addiction is craving the drug and using it compulsively, and using it despite harmful consequences, and losing control of its use," Keeling said.
Doctors began prescribing opioids for cancer patients and found most could use them without getting addicted.
"As time went on, we asked: Why are we withholding this from people who have chronic pain due to other things? What about people who have severe medical conditions causing chronic pain?" he said. "We started using it some for them."
Pharmaceutical companies began to make powerful narcotics such as Oxycontin and pushed them not only to pain experts, but also to primary-care doctors, said Dr. Marvin Seppala, chief medical officer at the Hazelden treatment center.
The medical community recognized that it seemed to help with chronic pain, which until that point had no other sufficient remedies, Seppala said.
Seppala said doctors started "over-treating" all kinds of pain. "Almost anyone could go to their doctor and get some Vicodin or oxycodone or something, and I've seen that over and over."
What has resulted is sobering:
At the same time, law enforcement has noticed an increase in the amount of heroin being sold, the number of inmates who were high on opiates before being arrested, opiate overdose patients in emergency rooms and reports from schools about the drugs, said Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek.
"All the indicators came together and painted one big broad picture that heroin abuse was on the rise in the Twin Cities and the resulting heroin overdoses and deaths were also rising," said Stanek, who organized a joint news conference with the Ramsey and Anoka county sheriffs in April to highlight the problem. "All of which, from a law enforcement perspective, are preventable and shouldn't be happening."
Although the number of people treated for alcohol and marijuana abuse far exceeds those treated for opiate addiction, chemical dependency programs say they are particularly concerned right now about opiates.
"Pills are sneaking up because the perception of them is that they're clean and safe and that they're legal to some extent," said Patricia McConeghey, communications manager for Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. "It's considered less taboo."
GATEWAY TO CHEAP, STRONG HEROIN
Experts say prescription pills have become another gateway -- like tobacco, alcohol and marijuana -- to other drugs, particularly heroin.
As the popularity of opiate painkillers rose on the illegal market, so did the price. Pharmaceutical companies also changed the pills so they couldn't easily be crushed for injecting or snorting.
McConeghey said she applauds the pharmaceutical companies for taking action against illegal use of their drugs. But she said that making the pills difficult to crush might also have pushed some people to heroin.
Police say part of the problem is the increasing supply and high quality of heroin at incredibly cheap prices. The Mexican heroin in Minneapolis was among the purest in the country and sold at the lowest price, according to data cited in a June report about drug abuse trends in the Twin Cities.
"The suppliers of heroin are finding a better market and they're working that market. They're pricing it in such a way that they're going to gain market share," said Randy Gustafson, spokesman for the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office. "The disadvantage of the illegal drug trade is that these people also tend to be very violent. There are a lot more guns."
Stanek said the heroin on the street today is much different from what was available 20 years ago. Back then, it could only be injected. Now, suppliers have made it "simpler to use" through smoking or ingesting through the nose.
The higher purity means it's easier to become addicted and to overdose, and calls to police about overdoses aren't coming just from the major cities.
"We're getting those calls in the suburban areas of the county almost equal to the St. Paul area," Gustafson said. "It's a widespread problem."
In the past three years, four young adults from Hastings died from heroin overdoses after they became addicted to opiates by abusing prescription painkillers.
Last year, 36 people died from opiate overdoses in Ramsey County. That eclipses deaths from cocaine and methamphetamines combined and is twice the number who died in 2002.
Twelve of those deaths last year were from heroin, according to the Ramsey County medical examiner's office. So far this year, 13 people have died from heroin overdoses.
Clark, who heads the drug task force in Ramsey County, said they also are seeing a rise in crimes by addicts looking for ways to fund their addictions.
Heroin use in particular has led to more property crime, such as burglaries, because the withdrawal period for heroin comes quicker than for other drugs such as crack, methamphetamines or marijuana, so addicts need to use it every day, Clark said. He said they also are seeing more forgeries and credit card fraud.
Falkowski said this connection between drug abuse and crime is a key reason everyone should care.
"Addiction is not just a public health problem," she said. "It's a public safety problem."
'I WANTED MY LIFE BACK'
Linderholm never thought she'd become an addict. She thought it would be OK to take one or two pills at a weekend party and go on with her life.
But then she started to take them every day, as her body demanded more and more.
"I knew it was strong and it was deadly," Linderholm said. "I didn't use much until my body needed it. Then, I needed it just to function."
She quit taking care of herself, dropped to 95 pounds and got a job only when her savings account ran dry and she needed money to buy drugs.
Linderholm and her then-boyfriend switched to heroin a couple of years ago when the oxycodone pills became too difficult to crush.
Nearly three years after she first tried drugs, Linderholm was arrested in mid-August and is facing two felony charges for possessing heroin and selling to an undercover police officer. After what she describes as a "horrible" 38 days suffering withdrawal symptoms in jail, she begged a judge to send her to treatment.
"I was sick of feeling like crap. I wanted my life back," said Linderholm, who is about halfway through her yearlong treatment at the Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge program in Minneapolis. "I saw how torn up my family was and how much they still loved me. ... It made me realize I'm screwing up bad and I better stop before it gets worse." | <urn:uuid:a09fc720-953f-4cbe-973f-4a5b6b04bd69> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_22195739/hooked-opiates-more-legal-use-leads-more-addiction | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97605 | 2,804 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Harvard Homeless Weather Sandy
Merlin waited out the wind and rains of Hurricane Sandy in an alleyway in Harvard Square, hunkering with other homeless people in an attempt to stay dry.
“There was no one out. No places were open, so there was no access to food,” he said. “Those two days were rough.... Some people had stocked up on food, but the worst part was not having any blankets to stay warm.”
For Merlin, who only gave his first name, and many others who had to brave the elements, the storm on Monday and Tuesday meant an added challenge on top of the daily struggles of homelessness.
Patrick, a 26-year-old who also declined to give his last name, stayed with a couple who regularly opens up their home to those in need during storms. Initially unprepared for the hurricane, he said he and his dog were lucky to find a place to stay.
“I didn’t know about it until a couple of days before, and thought, ‘Oh, God, I need to get inside,’” he said. The couple with whom he stayed were vegetarians who did not have alcohol or drugs in the house, and he said it was “good to be sober for a couple of days.”
Another man, who gave his name as ‘Chaser,’ said that he and two other squatters spent two hours walking to Oak Square in Boston, where they took refuge in a friend’s single-bedroom apartment. They ate deep-fried chicken and seasoned rice, purchased with a friend’s food stamps.
Now that the skies have cleared up, he is back sleeping on the streets. “I don’t like to be a hindrance to people or ask for help unless it’s a real emergency,” he said, tightening the sweater wrapped around his dog.
Merlin, Patrick, and Chaser all said they did not consider staying in a homeless shelter. While the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter does not open for the winter until Nov. 15, the Salvation Army shelter in Central Square housed about 10 people over its normal quota of 49.
Patrick said he avoids shelters because “most of the time they’re filled up all the way.”
For Chaser, a 29-year-old ex-drug addict, it “infuriates” him to stay in shelters with people who are not sober. He has weathered a few New England winters, typically hopping on freight trains during the colder months. This year, he said, he has no choice but to stay in the area. He was arrested for squatting in an abandoned theater, consequently losing his job of 4.5 years at a Cambridge restaurant and club. While he awaits his next court date, he must stay in Massachusetts. Furthermore, he said, he wants to “be a dad” for his 9-year-old son, who lives with his grandmother in Southern Massachusetts.
In the aftermath of the storm, Merlin sat on Mass. Ave. with a cardboard sign reading “Seeking Human Kindness.” Through dirt-caked eyelashes and a toothless grin, he reflected on the hurricane, “On behalf of everyone out here, I just give thanks for people coming out and helping us.”
—Staff writer Anneli L. Tostar can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:dd17e7f4-b9e7-4222-a4fd-45a695d7bf43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/11/1/hurricane-sandy-affects-homeless/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985784 | 726 | 1.6875 | 2 |
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- All Balkan Countries
Instead of nationalistic weeping, the Serbian nation should be presented with a more pragmatic question: Do they want Kosovo as a province, when it is evident that they cannot rule it with the oppression imposed on Albanians for nearly two decades?
As you awoke this morning, September 28, you were no doubt blissfully unaware of the enormity of the day ahead. This 24-hour stretch has been “International Right to Know Day” since 2003.
There is a phenomenon that is readily associated with swathes of Kosovo’s post war politicians. In diplomatic terms it is known as “corruption”. For me and many of my fellow citizens it is nothing short of robbery.
So when she threw my five dinar coin back at me, she wanted to tell me that the National Bank of Serbia has withdrawn that coin from circulation and that, while they probably informed the public about it, it seems I did not see the announcement.
Ever heard of the expression “selling snow to Eskimos”?
It is hard work NOT to sell something people want.
There’s a feral frisson to the idea of foraging – it brings to mind leathery-skinned wise old men of the hills with eyes that glint like juniper berries and the knowledge of how to make acorn coffee.
As I investigated the condition of children without parental care in Bosnia, I realized that I could only get so far without filling in the bigger picture.
The wildfire on Mount Vitosha broke out just as the fire of the protest movement, down in dusty Sofia, was slowly dying.
I asked my friend Sanja to wait in the car while I conducted the interview. “He doesn’t want to speak on the record,” I told her. “I can’t see why I would stay for more than 30 minutes.”
Long before the global economy was brought to its knees, good jobs have been scarce in my part of the world.
Great players are not the only legends honoured at Glasgow’s Ibrox stadium, home to the Rangers football club.
Outside London’s central mosque, I approached a young woman who was distributing leaflets urging assistance for children caught up in Syria’s war.
In the beginning, this story seemed to have many of the ingredients of a classic investigation: Corruption allegations, tycoons, politicians, puzzles and reams of paperwork.
When officials openly insult the poor, or say corruption is their normal state of mind, I can't wait to see the reaction the next day – when, of course, nothing happens!
The Hague Tribunal has been successful in bringing wartime commanders to justice but hasn’t met expectations on reconciliation, chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz told BIRN. | <urn:uuid:45d7a5e0-b8c0-4095-8eb4-160a739c1f32> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/page/blogs-home/blogs-home-latest/6 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960847 | 591 | 1.726563 | 2 |
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 45 percent of dogs are overweight or obese in this country. Cats clock in at about 58 percent, and humans at 68 percent. Clearly, we could all learn something from the dogs.
Do This With Your Pet
“I don’t miss Lancelot now because in essence, he is same dog.”
Kristen Schooley, 24, is a graphic designer who sells handmade dog tags in her online store, What the Pup.
With just a little stitching, an old umbrella can be made into a designer-worthy water resistant dog coat, as Phildelphia artist Taryn Zychal shows.
Your favorite umbrella kept you dry until it went inside out. But wait! There’s still life in it!
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m starting a column for ReadyMade.com. It’s called Do This With Your Pet. | <urn:uuid:eb33642e-2cf1-4a67-acbe-336f886452f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thedo.gs/category/do-this-with-your-pet-2/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93704 | 198 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Syrian forces kill 2 as tens of thousands protest
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian security forces killed at least two people as tens of thousands of anti-government protesters flooded the streets on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, a time that many activists hoped would become a turning point in the uprising.
But more than five months into the revolt against President Bashar Assad, the conflict has descended into a bloody stalemate with both sides showing no sign of giving in. Activists chose "patience and determination" as the theme of Friday's protests across the country of 22 million.
"We are here to tell the regime that nothing is finished, nothing will finish and we will not stay at home like you want us to," a protester told The Associated Press by telephone from the central city of Homs, where he said thousands poured into the streets.
He asked that his name not be published for fear of government reprisals.
The regime got a boost Friday from its ally in neighboring Lebanon, the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. The group's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, echoed the regime's claims that the unrest in Syria was being driven by a foreign conspiracy seeking to destabilize the regime because of its support for anti-Israel resistance groups.
"Those who are pushing toward sectarian strife in Syria want to destroy the country," Nasrallah said in a nationally televised speech to mark the last Friday of Ramadan.
Assad's backers portray him as the only man who can guarantee peace in a country with a potentially volatile mix of religious groups. The opposition, however, says the protest movement is free of sectarian overtones and is simply demanding freedom and democracy.
Human rights groups say Assad's forces have killed more than 2,000 people since the uprising erupted in March, touched off by the wave of revolutions sweeping the Arab world. Friday has become the main day for protests, despite the near-certainty that tanks and snipers will respond with deadly force.
The government crackdown escalated dramatically at the start of Ramadan, a time of introspection and piety characterized by a dawn-to-dusk fast. Muslims typically gather in mosques during the month for special nightly prayers after breaking the fast, and the Assad government used deadly force to prevent such large gatherings from turning into more anti-government protests.
The protesters still took to the streets, although generally in smaller numbers.
The regime has banned most foreign journalists and placed tight restrictions on local coverage.
Najib al-Ghadban, a U.S.-based Syrian activist and political science professor at University of Arkansas, said the sweeping arrest campaign, military crackdown and heavy security presence across Syrian cities managed to keep a large number of protesters off the streets.
"This affected the protest movement but did not stop it," he told the AP. "This proves that for protesters, there is no going back."
The swiftly crumbling regime in Libya also has buoyed the Syrian protesters, who have taunted Assad with chants of, "You're next, Bashar!"
Many protesters also expressed solidarity with Ali Ferzat, 60, a renowned political cartoonist who was grabbed after he left his studio early Thursday and beaten by masked gunmen who broke his hands and dumped him on a road outside Damascus. He was recovering Friday.
In Hama, Ferzat's hometown, a banner read: "Ali Ferzat, we are with you 'til death."
Ferzat earned international recognition and the respect of many Arabs with stinging caricatures that infuriated dictators including Iraq's Saddam Hussein, Libya's Moammar Gadhafi and, particularly in recent months, Syria's autocratic Assad family.
State-run news agency SANA reported the attack against Ferzat Friday, and said authorities were investigating the circumstances of the incident and searching for the perpetrators.
Although the crackdown has led to broad condemnation and sanctions, Assad is in no immediate danger of falling. Economic sanctions will chip away at the regime, although a new U.S. ban on Syrian oil is not a significant blow on its own as the U.S. has few business dealing with Syria. A possible oil embargo by the European Union's 27 member states could significantly slash the Damascus government's revenues, however.
Assad has promises a series of reforms, but the opposition has rejected the overtures while his forces fire on peaceful protesters.
The Local Coordination Committees, an activist group that helps organize the protests, said at least two people were killed Friday in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour. Other activists confirmed the toll.
Protests also were reported in Idlib province near Turkey and the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, along with the flash point cities of Homs and Hama.
About 7,000 people were peacefully protesting in the Damascus suburb of Douma, but security forces opened fire, wounding five, when the crowd reached the central security building, activists said.
Sweeping arrests also were reported.
SANA said masked gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on a checkpoint, wounding three policemen. It said police fired back, killing two of the gunmen. In Douma, the agency said gunmen attacked the central security building, wounding two of its security guards.
Zeina Karam can be reached on http://twitter.com/zkaram | <urn:uuid:21a8a34a-8461-4ad5-9a28-f44ec1044f45> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cnsnews.com/news/article/syrian-forces-kill-2-tens-thousands-protest | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969665 | 1,077 | 1.523438 | 2 |
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- Star Trek Generations
The U.S.S. Voyager and its crew are on display in a Kyrian museum 700 years in the future, and they are being blamed for a horrible civil war that nearly wiped out the Kyrian race. Through inaccurate simulations, the crew is shown as violent people who did not hesitate to destroy anything or anyone standing in their way of getting home. Approached by the Vaskan Ambassador for help in his fight against the Kyrian, Janeway supposedly slaughtered millions of innocent people in exchange for wormhole travel to the Alpha Quadrant.
The museum curator, Quarren, works within the engineering simulation to access a data storage device recently uncovered at one of the Kyrian ruins. When he realizes it is a hologram, he activates the Doctor's program and explains what has happened. The Doctor is distraught and refuses to believe that 700 years have passed, but he soon sees the Voyager artifacts in the museum and knows it must be true.
Appalled by the depiction of Janeway and the crew as cold, heartless thugs, the Doctor tries desperately to describe Voyager's side of the story. Although he explains that Janeway had just negotiated a trade agreement with the Vaskan Ambassador when they were attacked by the Kyrian, Quarren balks at the idea that his people were the aggressors. When the Doctor describes how Janeway and the crew only wanted to extricate themselves from the war, his program is silenced.
After some time to think about what the Doctor has said, Quarren allows him to create a simulation of his own. It shows that the Kyrian leader, Tedran, invaded Voyager. Janeway explained that they were trading with the Vaskans and nothing more, but Tedran wouldn't stand down. It was the Vaskan Ambassador who killed him, and the last thing the Doctor remembers is Kyrian ships attacking Voyager. As he works to reactivate his medical tricorder and offer proof of his re-creation, a group of angered Vaskans breaks into the museum and begins destroying it.
When war between the two groups threatens to erupt again, the Doctor believes it would be best if his program is decompiled. Although he wanted to clear Voyager's name in history, it's not worth causing more fighting. Years into the future, watching another simulation, people see Quarren talk the Doctor into giving his testimony of events. Because of that, the great war was finally portrayed accurately, and harmony was restored. After setting the record straight, the Doctor eventually boarded a shuttle for the Alpha Quadrant to trace Voyager's path home. | <urn:uuid:fe43227d-291d-40c3-b7ca-728b7a828341> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.startrek.com/database_article/living-witness | 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 | 0.973441 | 591 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Initial results from California's Renewable Auction Mechanism, also known as RAM, have started coming in, and they're impressive. If you still don't think solar is cost-competitive, you may want to sit down for this.
The weighted average cost of the bids accepted by PG&E (NYSE: PCG ) , San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison is 8.923 cents per kilowatt hour. That's far below the average cost of California's residential electricity, which is 15.29 cents/kWhr, and is lower than the 11.52 cents/kWhr national average cost of residential electricity. This isn't an all-in cost, which would include transmission connection, but even after transmission costs the projects should be less than retail costs.
There were 92 offers received for SCE's contracts, of which seven bids won, totaling 67 megawatts. PG&E had 122 offers from 52 counterparties and gave four contracts totaling 63 MW.
Blowing away grid parity
We've been hearing about grid parity for some time, but it's usually some sort of hypothetical calculation. SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR ) and First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR ) don't release cost or power purchase agreement prices for their solar projects, so we only know that margins have been increasing on project developments as costs have fallen.
There was also the rush to install solar power in Germany to point to, even though FIT rates in Germany have fallen below retail electricity prices. All of this is great, but it rarely gives a single number we can point to and say, "See? Solar is less expensive than power from the grid."
This may be one of the first big milestones that changes the solar narrative nationally.
And the winners are ...
SunPower stayed out of the bidding directly, but it may still gain some business from bid winners. First Solar put in seven offers to SCE and PG&E, although none of them won. Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL ) was also in the game, putting in four total bids, again not winning.
It's unknown which manufacturers will win module contracts for the 107 MW in solar that won bids this time around, but low-cost Chinese manufacturers should be first on the list. Suntech Power (NYSE: STP ) , the largest module maker in the world, is growing its U.S. presence and may be able to capture this business with low-cost modules. Trina Solar and Yingli Green Energy are also players we should watch for.
Interested in reading more about solar? Add these solar stocks to My Watchlist, and My Watchlist will find all of our Foolish analysis on your favorite stocks.
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that details every must know side of this stock. To get started, just click here now | <urn:uuid:69174377-9ce1-408b-8762-a8e762803095> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/04/03/california-solar-auction-crushes-grid-parity.aspx | 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 | 0.968952 | 659 | 1.65625 | 2 |
I suppose it is time to stop mulling over this book and write something of a review. I’ve been prolonging it because, quite frankly, I didn’t want to confuse my response to the content and style with any feelings I have about the format in which I purchased and read his book.
The Narnia Code: C.S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens by Michael Ward supposes that author C.S. Lewis based his work, The Chronicles of Narnia, on a pre-Copernican view of the planets (and so, if nothing else, we may say that Ward has aptly titled his work).
In regards to style, I am about to offer Ward perhaps the greatest compliment I own: His style feels comfortable, familiar, and easy—much like Lewis. When I read Lewis, I feel as if we’re sitting in his office and he is talking with me. Ward has a more concise manner of speaking with his audience (unlike Lewis, who sometimes wrote around and around and around in circles to finally come to a point), but it feels influenced by Lewis in this manner. I am very fond of it (in both cases).
When picking up a book of this nature, I often have a moment of hesitation: Will the academia of the content and the writing be so far over my head that I will have to literally suffer through the pages? In this case, the answer is a resounding ‘no.’ While Ward’s work draws from Lewis and other sources heavily (rightly so) and boasts an academic perspective, Ward has written a book that is very soluble. No Ph.D. required.
It’s also interesting. You know, my greatest concern with literature today is that much of it sounds the same. It becomes droll. The Narnia Code, whether truth or fancy, is a new, intriguing idea. The result of such writing is that it causes the reader to think critically about something, rather than simply consume the latest literary fad until she’s intoxicated with it.
But enough about Ward’s general style; let’s talk about the good stuff—The Secret of the Seven Heavens!
Ward’s premise is simple: There’s something more going on here than a children’s fairy tale. An honest reader must—I think—step away from The Chronicles of Narnia with a bit of a furrowed brow, realizing that Lewis has given us a puzzle. Let’s be real with each other: With the number of people who’ve been exposed to Narnia, I know Ward and I aren’t the only ones who found it strange that Father Christmas made a cameo in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It’s alright to admit it. As an academic, as a literary scholar and professor at Oxford, a thrown-together fairy tale seems unlikely.
I digress a moment to offer a similar example. Consider an episode of NCIS, titled Frame Up, where a disgruntled forensic lab monkey tries to frame Agent DiNozzo for murder. They find a torn latex glove at the crime scene, and when DiNozzo is interrogating himself in his cell, he responds to himself by saying, “A ripped glove at the scene of the crime? I know it seems a little sloppy for a trained investigator, but those are the breaks when you’re a homicidal maniac!” That is probably the best description I can offer of my feelings toward the alleged randomness of the Chronicles. Neither DiNozzo nor Lewis is a perfect character, but we expect a character to be consistent with himself. It is unusual that a man with a mind like Lewis’, whose other writings all depict a brilliant, logical mind, would throw a bunch of random, unrelated ideas together to write a kids book. Ward says it best here:
“As I got older and began to read his other writings, I became ever more intrigued by the seemingly random aspects to the Chronicles. They were not what you would expect of a man like Lewis with a highly trained mind. In his younger days he was tutored by a rigorous, logical thinker, William Kirkpatrick, who taught him that he should always have reasons for anything he said.” (p. 18)
For this much, I am in strong agreement with Ward. I don’t want to share the details of The Narnia Code, because I think it’s a book any Lewis fan should read and weigh herself. The idea is that the Chronicles are representative of a pre-Copernican view of the planets. All of those seemingly random pieces of the stories that we thought Lewis incorporated just for fun—were there for a reason. Each book is aligned to a planet, takes on that planet’s history and mystery, emotion and mythology.
I know, right? Your head just exploded. It’s a fascinating premise. You must believe me when I tell you that I (in something akin to desperation) want Ward to be right. I’ve never read another piece about the Chronicles that seemed to fit so well with what I already know of Jack and his writing. Wanting something to be true, however, does not make it so. And my only real contention with Ward’s book is this: Sometimes if you’re looking for a particular piece of evidence, you can be guilty of evidence bias. You find what you’re looking for and unknowingly ignore the pieces that might contradict your theory.
Please understand me. I am not accusing Ward of evidence bias. After reading his work, there is one thing I’m quite certain of, and that’s the fact that Ward has studied this a great deal. As his audience, however, I cannot (and will not) accept his theory without digging deeper myself. And yes—I have a plan to do so, beginning with a re-reading of The Chronicles of Narnia, a journey through Lewis’ poem, The Planets, and purchasing (in hard copy) Ward’s lengthier volume on the matter, Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis. I am also on a journey to find someone who staunchly disagrees with Ward to read some criticism of his theory.
Before I make my recommendation, let me say one final thing: The idea of C.S. Lewis doing something as devious as this—to write an entire 7-volume fairy tale with something of a secret meaning—fits exactly my impression of Lewis. It is mischievous and whimsical, to say the very least. It harms nobody (face it—we’ve all loved and enjoyed the Chronicles for years; very few seem bothered enough to dislike his tale, other than his good friend J.R.R. Tolkien and a few other sourpusses!), but makes you shake your head and chuckle when you think about it. That’s Jack for you! That, in itself, lends credibility to Ward’s theory of a Narnia Code.
Overall, I was pleased with this book and with Ward’s writing. I would recommend The Narnia Code: C.S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens to any reader of Lewis, any student of astronomy, anyone interested in medieval literature, and anyone looking for something a bit fresher than most of our current literature. | <urn:uuid:781671bf-76c5-4e25-891f-d5f413245e62> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://semmie.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/the-narnia-code/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=309c070579 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969144 | 1,559 | 1.53125 | 2 |
|Old High School & College Yearbooks Online|
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Silsbee, TX High School Class of 1911 Graduation
First Graduates of New High School Receive Diplomas.
Silsbee, Texas, May 27.—The commencement sermon for Silsbee High school was preached by Rev. A. E. Ewel of Beaumont, his subject being “The Dream of Joseph.”
The choir, composed of twenty voices, backed by an orchestra, rendered some splendid music. The songs were appropriate.
Friday evening will be long remembered, it being the first graduating exercise from the new high school. Miss Katie Daffan delivered the address to the graduates. After her address she presented the diplomas to the graduates. Henry George Hendricks, valedictorian, and Patrick Albert Kelley, salutatorian. This being done, those in the grades who were entitled to promotion were presented their certificates of promotion.
Beaumont Enterprise, Beaumont, TX 28 May 1911 | <urn:uuid:d67ca36e-0572-4c4d-adc3-72ccc0688fd9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www3.old-yearbooks.com/texas/silsbee-tx-high-school-class-1911-graduation | 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 | 0.962009 | 227 | 1.625 | 2 |
Beer Game: Sentences|
Category: Skill Games
Now this is a game that has the potential for some very good humor. All you need to play is people and beer, really, believe me.
The game begins by a player saying a word. The next player must say a word that helps form a sentence from the previous words. The game continues until someone says a word that doesn't make any sense in the sentence, takes too long to think of a word, or is unable to speak due to excessive laughter. The player at fault takes a drink and play begins again with a new word. | <urn:uuid:405de318-7c6d-4dcd-8465-bc12e96d2981> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.realbeer.com/fun/games/games-277.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987107 | 123 | 1.835938 | 2 |
What you will learn
Youth Leadership School
2 days and nights, $30 (meals included)
The Leadership Institute’s flagship school, nicknamed “the boot camp of politics,” provides you with effective techniques to organize and lead mass-based youth efforts for candidates and causes of your choice.
The Youth Leadership School has launched more successful political careers than any other Leadership Institute training program.
Topics covered include:
- Building an effective student organization
- Getting out the vote
- Earned media (favorable publicity)
- Developing a public relations strategy
- Launching a successful career in politics
This school is held on college campuses across the country and at the Leadership Institute in Arlington, Virginia. | <urn:uuid:6b751b10-fed0-4dc4-bd1d-d1cb4f34a927> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/school.cfm?ID=22370 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950476 | 150 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Short Bio of Daniel Keyes
Daniel Keyeswas born August on 9, 1927 and is a famous American author best known for his Hugo award-winning short story and Nebula award-winning novel Flowers for Algernon. The book won him the Author Emeritus honor by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2000.
Keyes was born in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Maritime Service as ship’s purser. He obtained a B.A. in psychology from Brooklyn College, and after a stint in fashion photography (partner in a photography studio), earned a Master’s Degree in English and American Literature at night while teaching English in New York City public schools during the day and writing weekends
Daniel Keyes was educated at Brooklyn College, where he received a B.A. in psychology in 1950. After the completion of his graduation, he briefly worked as an associate editor for the magazine Marvel Science Fiction while pursuing his own writing career.
Later, he earned a Master’s Degree in English and American Literature while pursuing a teaching career in English in New York City public schools during the day. In 1952, he got married to Aurion of hisea Georgina Vazquez, with whom he had three children.
Keyes went back to Brooklyn College where he received an A.M. degree in and continued to teach English on the university level, first at Wayne State University in Detroit. Michigan, and then at Ohio University, where in the 1970s he was promoted as a Professor of English and director of the University’s creative writing center.
Flowers For Algernon
Those of you, who have had a chance to read Daniel Keyes may wonder why did Daniel Keyes write Flowers of Algernon because its theme varies from other work pieces. Through this book, Daniel Keyes has tried to explain to us the psyche of mentally disabled individuals or those with an IQ less than the rest. Flowers of Algernon is although a science fiction but the message it carries is deep and thought provoking-that is, not to make fun of those who lack mental capabilities.
Flower of Algernon revolves around Charlie, who is a thirty two year old individual with an IQ level of 68. At work, co workers ridicule him and treat him like an entertainment machine. Charlie learns that two scientists are working on increasing the mental level and their first experiment on a mouse named Algernon has been successful; therefore, he presents himself as the first human subject for the experiment.
After few days, Charlie’s IQ level triples. Due to his superior abilities, his emotional relationships suffer and he is neglected by the society. Gradually, Charlie discovers that the neural enhancement was temporary, his memory reverts to original. He dies in a hospital with a last wish to place flowers on the grave of Algernon.
Coming to the reason of writing Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes told that in 1945, when he was in school, where he had a major conflict with his parents. They wanted him to become a doctor and Daniel was interested in making his career as a writer. During this phase, he used to wonder how to increase the intelligence of an individual.
The idea came when later in 1957, Daniel was teaching English to weak students and during a lecture, a student raised a question that if he becomes smart and intelligent, would he be allowed to study with regular students. These two events moved him and promoted him into writing a short story called Flowers of Algernon in 1959. Due to the increasing importance of the issue, Daniel Keyes gave it the shape of a novel. | <urn:uuid:49efd8be-0133-4660-a88a-c3097b4dda0f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.writeawriting.com/write/why-daniel-keyes-write-flowers-algernon/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982941 | 763 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Op-Ed: Exposé: Catholic NGOs against Israel
Giulio MeottiThe writer, an Italian journalist with Il Foglio, writes a twice-weekly column for Arutz Sheva. He is the author of the book "A New Shoah", that researched the personal stories of Israel's terror victims, published by Encounter. His writing has appeared in publications, such as the Wall Street Journal, Frontpage and Commentary. He is at work on a book about the Vatican and Israel.
Trocaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland; it receives substantial funding from the government and the country’s bishops. It has been awarded many prestigious prizes, such as the Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award, in honour of “The Pimpernel of the Vatican”, and colleagues who saved over 6,500 prisoners of war, Jews and citizens of Rome during the Nazi occupation.
But this famous Catholic NGO is also one of the most virulent demonizers of the Jewish State. After a campaign by Richard Humphreys, Labour party Councillor for Stillorgan, near Dublin, the Catholic NGO removed the material for schools titled “Give peace a chance”, because it is full of anti-Israel stereotypes.
In a recent op-ed in the Irish Times, Trócaire’s director, Justin Kilcullen, urged his country to promote a total ban on “illegal settlement goods” and to “push European counterparts for similar action”.
As exposed by the Israeli Ngo Monitor group, Trócaire’s “Occupied Palestinian Territories/Israel Programme Officer” Garry Walsh was previously employed as the National Coordinator for Ireland Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. Trócaire is also involved in campaigns to commemorate the Palestinian “nakba”, an Arab term for the establishment of the State of Israel, meaning catastrophe.
Trócaire asks for a review of the EU-Israel association agreement. The initiative comes from the Bishop of Clonfert and chairman of Trócaire, Dr John Kirby, and Bishop Ray Field, chairman of the Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, both members of an international Catholic Church delegation to the Holy Land. The Catholic NGO castigated Israel for being an apartheid state which practices "racial segregation".
Along with a ban within Ireland, Trócaire is seeking a push towards an EU-wide ban of Israel's goods.
A document which was circulated by the Irish bishops on the Middle East accuses Israel of "the expulsion of over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes", the "forceful expropriation of land", the "plan to ensure that Jerusalem becomes ethnically a Jewish city" and the "refusal to recognise the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention".
The Catholic NGO is affiliated with many Palestinian groups such as the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, which accuses Israel of "torturing" prisoners.
But Trócaire is just one of the many NGOs which are now campaigning against Israel and the Jews.
Another one is Pax Christi. The association is preparing "a week of advocacy and action in support of an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine" to be held next September. Pax Christi has mounted a campaign to boycott Israeli products, including setting up stands in German pedestrian zones to encourage people to not buy Israeli goods.
Recently, Pax Christi sponsored the campaign "Occupation tastes bitter" demanding "unambiguous labeling of products from Israeli settlements".
During the Second Intifada Palestinian terrorists entered the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. A group of activists of the International Solidarity Movement evaded Israeli military patrols and entered the Church to support the Arab terrorists. “Pax Christi USA”, while not particapating directly in ISM action, offered them a large public relations platform and sent a special “observer” in the person of Dennis B. Warner, Pax Christi USA.
The position of the NGO has been eloquently summarized by its chairman, the Italian Bishop Luigi Bettazzi: “To the Israeli friends I say: be aware that one day it will be said that the Nazis have been exceeded, that they killed ten for one of them and you killed a hundred”.
Another powerful Catholic NGO comes from the Netherlands, Called Cordaid, it has been involved in financing the largest anti-Jewish hate campaign of the century, the UN World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa. According to René Grotenhuis, director of the aid group Cordaid, “boycott of Israel in Palestine is justified".
On the ground, these NGOs use the local Arab clergy to advance their agenda. So a Catholic priest has celebrated mass every Friday afternoon on the outskirts of Beit Jala to stop the building of the security fence there, called the "separation wall". Father Ibrahim is not an ordinary church man, but as the Director of the Latin Patriarchate’s school, he manages 60 teachers and 900 students.
Another aid group is the Pontifical Mission for Palestine. One of its leaders in the region, Sami El-Yousef, just promoted a document saying that "the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is a sin against God and humanity", while the NGO former president, Robert Stern, gave an interview to an Italian monthly magazine under the headline: "Concentration Camps for Palestinians".
Then there is the Caritas NGO, the Vatican humanitarian arm, which gives relief to many people around the world, but when it comes to Israel, is very anti-Semitic. A poster graphically attacking the Israeli security fence featured Vatican headquarters address and listed the endorsement of 151 of Caritas' international branches.
According to the Simon Weisenthal Center, "the poster undoubtedly exacerbates Middle East-related anti-Semitism, justifies further attacks on Jewish targets under the sanctification cover of the Holy See and impugns Caritas' credibility as an effective relief and unbiased relief agency".
In the Italian website of Caritas there is a link to "Stop the Wall", the so called "Palestinian Popular Campaign against the Wall of Apartheid".
In XIX century France, Catholic anti-Semites bore names such as “Ligue Antisemitique”,“Comite´ Ouvrier Antijuif” or “Ligue Antijuive”. In the XXI century, Catholic humanitarians speak the language of transnational institutions and are based in charities. But they also cultivate the fantasy of somehow removing Israel and its people. | <urn:uuid:020c904d-7fdf-4f1e-a5d0-73ab25754eaa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/12800 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945461 | 1,367 | 1.625 | 2 |
Imagine a library that provides books 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No registration is required. There are no forms to fill out, and no late fees are charged.
The procedure is simple: Take a book and/or leave a book.
“They are for anyone who wanders by who has a great love of books. They can take one or leave one,” said Ben Johnson, executive director of the Parkside Community Association.
The organization runs the Little Library program in the Parkside neighborhood of Buffalo. In the program, small boxes filled with books are installed at various locations for readers to take or leave what they want.
After announcing the program in November, the association officially launched the unique book-lending initiative Tuesday afternoon at 310 Woodward Ave. – one of 10 Little Library locations.
The boxes stand on 4-inch-by-4-inch posts, are weather-resistant and accessible to everyone.
The 10 stations have been situated throughout the Parkside neighborhood on public rights of way. They were installed with pedestrian traffic in mind near the major thoroughfares of Parkside Avenue and Main Street.
Johnson said book donations came from as far away as Orchard Park. Talking Leaves bookstore donated nine cases of books.
Block club members or other volunteers will check the small structures routinely to restock the books, to make sure no unwanted items such as pornography or commercial advertisements have been added, and to make sure the structures are not defaced by vandals.
The 10 boxes were handcrafted by Megan McNally, owner of Rusted Grain. She builds furniture out of reclaimed wood primarily taken from construction projects and demolitions of houses in the city.
Each of the 10 Little Library boxes is unique and has its own story, McNally said. Each has a different roof. Some are made out of metal or asphalt.
“The asphalt came from my roof I redid this past year,” she said.
Delaware Council Member Michael LoCurto provided $5,000 to the association for the project. Half of the funding paid for construction of the boxes, and the other half was used to pour the foundations, Johnson said.
The association plans to help other communities get started.
In addition to the 310 Woodward Ave. location, other Little Library installations in Parkside are at: 60 Agassiz Circle.; 28 Elam Place; 120 Greenfield St.; 461 Woodward Ave.; 73 Crescent Ave.; 94 Jewett Parkway.; the former Fairfield Library site at 1659 Amherst St.; 157 Woodward Ave.; and 36 Tillinghast Place.
For more information, visit the association website at www.parksidebuffalo.org. | <urn:uuid:cf7540dd-731c-4202-8a51-2da455a11bb8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130123/CITYANDREGION/130129702/1016 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944261 | 555 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Governor’s vaccination order buffeted by parental concerns
Posted on Feb 6, 2007 | by Dwayne Hastings
DALLAS (BP)--Texas Gov. Rick Perry is receiving mixed reviews over his executive order requiring elementary school-age girls to receive the Gardasil vaccine targeting a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cervical cancer.
The governor’s Feb. 2 order, bypassing the Texas legislature, rankled many who say it tramples parents’ rights and might encourage premarital sex.
The governor took a step that should have been weighed by the people’s elected representatives, the legislature, said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
“I’m shocked that Rick Perry would do this, and without the approval of the state’s legislature,” Land said Feb. 3 during his weekly “Richard Land Live!” radio program. Perry, a conservative Christian, opposes abortion and embryonic stem cell research.
With the start of the 2008-09 school year, girls entering the sixth grade in Texas will be required to receive Gardasil, a vaccine produced by Merck & Company and approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration in June 2006. The vaccine protects patients from certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted disease. Some strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer.
Texas currently requires students to receive inoculations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
Like most states, Texas allows parents to opt out of the requirement to have their daughter vaccinated with the anti-HPV drug, or any other inoculation, if they have religious or philosophical objections.
Land indicated it is a difficult issue. “While I certainly disapprove of premarital sex, and I don’t want the government to do anything that would encourage that kind of behavior, I don’t want premarital sexual intercourse to be a death sentence,” he said.
Perry, in a Feb. 5 statement, said, “Providing the HPV vaccine doesn’t promote sexual promiscuity any more than providing the Hepatitis B vaccine promotes drug use,” according to the Dallas Morning News. “If the medical community developed a vaccine for lung cancer, would the same critics oppose it claiming it would encourage smoking?”
The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 10,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2006 and approximately 4,000 died from the disease.
HPV also is a suspect in invasive oral cancers.
Land admitted he and his wife would have to seriously ponder the advisability of allowing their daughters to receive the vaccine if they were younger.
“If my daughter makes a wrong decision, if I can somehow protect her from that becoming a death sentence, then I would sit down with my wife and talk about it,” Land said. Yet he noted that ages 11-12 seem “awfully young” to be taking the vaccine.
Wondering aloud if children in Texas will be able to get the vaccine without their parents’ knowledge, Land expressed concern over anything that comes between children and their parents.
“The idea that a governor is going to require this for a whole state even with a parental opt-out seems to me to seriously endanger the parent-child bond,” said Land, calling the governor’s order an “unwarranted intrusion by the governor into a role parents should play in these choices.”
Land said he would be more comfortable with the governor’s decision if the vaccinations were offered free with parental involvement.
A spokesman for Concerned Women for America said Perry’s decision “forces little girls to be shot with a sex virus vaccine” and is an “outrageous assault on girls and their parents.”
At least 18 states are considering legislation to require the Gardasil vaccine for school-age girls. Michigan rejected similar legislation in January. The typical cost for the three-shot series is $360.
Perry insisted the program is no different than the massive federal government campaign that provided inoculations against polio for all schoolchildren in the 1950s and 1960s.
“I look at this no different than vaccinating our children for polio,” the governor said. “If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well-being of these individuals, to have those vaccines available.”
The governor’s action has prompted some to suggest he was listening to special interests and not the state’s citizenry.
According to a Chicago Tribune report, pharmaceutical company Merck is pouring large amounts of cash into a nationwide effort to convince state legislatures to include Gardasil as one of the many vaccinations schoolchildren must have. The newspaper noted that one of Merck’s lobbyists in Texas is the governor’s former chief of staff.
“This has a certain odor to it that is not pleasant,” Land said.
The governor’s press secretary suggested that while the governor was not bowing to pressure from Merck, he probably felt some pressure from the state’s first lady, Anita Perry, whom the Dallas Morning News said was a nurse and a “robust spokeswoman for women’s health issues.”
Several Republican lawmakers in Texas planned to file legislation overruling the governor’s order; one legislator said she planned to ask the state’s attorney general if Perry’s decision is legal.
Merck’s name has been in the news for uncertainty surrounding some of its products. The company voluntarily recalled its arthritis medication Vioxx after widespread reports of patients suffering serious heart problems while taking the drug. Concerns also are being raised over Merck’s medication Fosamox designed to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases. | <urn:uuid:3e69f20f-b422-41f9-ab14-fec24571e21a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=24906 | 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 | 0.959715 | 1,274 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Mentoring program comes full circle
Monday, April 4, 2005
When SCSU student Decontee Kofa heard the call for volunteers to help troubled local girls turn their lives in the right direction, her response was immediate. Three years later, her lasting “big sister” relationship with Chanel Lewis, now a 10th grader at Technical High School, has become the foundation for the award-winning Women and Girls Mentoring Project.
The cross-generational, cross-cultural group of 15 SCSU women students mentoring 25 local high school girls meets weekly at the SCSU Women’s Center to talk about issues and motivate each other through personal stories, encouragement, and activities to explore career fields and expand their expectations for the future.
The program started in fall of 2001, when Vice Principal Lanie Odette from St. Cloud’s South Junior High School appealed to members of the Council of African American Students (CAAS) at SCSU to reach out to some of her female students. She had an idea that spending some time with college-age women – fellow students of color – could help girls whose problems were affecting their behavior. It did. In a matter of months Odette was reporting noticeable differences in the girls’ attendance and schoolwork.
Kofa was moved to action because Odette’s plan touched a nerve. “I thought about myself at that age, and I knew if I’d had a mentor – someone else to talk to about issues that were serious to me instead of dealing with them myself – it would have made a huge difference,” Kofa said. “I came from a single parent household, as Chanel does, and sometimes I was lonely.” She and two fellow CAAS members, Tesha Alston and Tasha Taylor, were the initial volunteers. Alston and Taylor have since graduated from SCSU, but Kofa went on to organize a more structured mentoring organization the following year.
In the fall of 2003 Kofa worked to make the group a bona fide SCSU student organization eligible for funding from SCSU student activity fees. The process led her to the SCSU Women’s Center to find a formal adviser for the new group, Today’s Women. Staff member Lee LaDue was stunned to hear Kofa’s description of her active, already thriving student of color mentoring group, since she knew two faculty members had been working on a grant to initiate just such an organization. So the match between them and Today’s Women was made.
“It was just amazing,” said Kofa, a recipient of St. Cloud’s 2004 Mayor’s High Five Award for Diversity. “The work we’d been doing with the girls was a perfect fit with what these professors envisioned. It was a blessing finding out about each other.”
SCSU professors Niloufer Merchant, who teaches community psychology, and Lalita Subrahmanyan, whose field is teacher development, landed $26,000 in grant funding to take the mentoring program to the next step.
The program is expected to have a tremendous ripple effect on individuals, their families and their communities. SCSU participants are developing valuable personal and professional skills, as well as deriving great satisfaction from the impact they are having on their younger protégées, and their mentees are gaining the self-esteem and motivation to aspire to higher educational and career goals. The supportive environment that the young people are experiencing will have a lasting influence on their lives and the lives of those they touch in their future endeavors and relationships.
The program has come full circle with the group’s first graduate now a college student. With the help of a $5,000 scholarship, Bintou Jatta has gone from high school mentee to SCSU freshman. And true to the purpose and goals of the group, Jatta is mentoring another St.Cloud girl whose life will be enriched by the bonding, support, and inspiration found in the Women and Girls Mentoring Project. | <urn:uuid:d5c9602d-5aa1-4f1c-8a6d-e23af5cedb4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stcloudstate.edu/news/outlook/story.asp?storyID=14823&issueID=10902 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97699 | 848 | 1.578125 | 2 |
UNHCR condemns violence against Serb returnee in Kosovo
News Stories, 7 October 2003
GENEVA, Oct 7 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency has expressed serious concern over a recent attack on a Serb returnee in Kosovo, calling it a "stark reminder" of continued harassment against ethnic minorities seeking to return to the province.
The returnee, a 73-year-old Serb woman, had gone back to her hometown of Gjilan/Gnjilane on Saturday to repossess her property as authorised by a court ruling. She was shot and wounded by an ethnic Albanian man who had moved into her house with his family after she fled Kosovo in 1999.
The woman is now in hospital in the northern Kosovo town of Kosovska Mitrovica. The man who shot her has been arrested.
"The shooting represents the worst act of violence against a Serb returnee to Kosovo in many months," said UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski at a news briefing in Geneva Tuesday. "It is a stark reminder that despite much progress in efforts to reconcile Kosovo's communities, members of ethnic minorities who go back continue to face harassment and attacks."
Some 230,000 people, most of them ethnic Serbs, were estimated to have fled Kosovo in 1999 to Serbia proper and Montenegro, as Serbs forces lost control of the province. Only an estimated 8,379 minority members have since gone back, about half of them Serbs. The remainder are ethnic Roma. | <urn:uuid:8f239490-7fda-4ce5-9b59-067429763e33> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unhcr.org/3f82afa34.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979997 | 307 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Despite the increasing importance of mobile devices for both traffic and sales, fewer than half of businesses (41%) are able to accurately measure the behavioral differences between mobile and desktop visitors.
A further 41% report that they have limited insight into how mobile users browse their sites, while almost a fifth (18%) say they cannot measure the difference at all.
The findings come from the new Econsultancy/Kontagent Mobile Sophistication and Strategy Report, which takes a hard look at how organizations and agencies are responding to the ever-expanding reach and importance of mobile.
The study is based on a January 2013 survey of 1,301 respondents from both client-side and agency backgrounds. To provide context for mainstream marketers, the sample was divided into two main parts.
One part is comprised of those companies who have been determined to be “mobile first” by one or more measures, such as having a majority of customers/audience access site(s) via mobile devices or having a primary revenue stream from mobile.
This group is used for comparison with the main body of the sample, the “mobile mainstream,” which better reflects mobile programs across sectors and company types.
Which of the following best describes your organization’s ability to measure behavioral difference in mobile site visitors vs. desktop web?
As expected, the mobile first group proved to be far more adept at measuring user behavior than the mainstream. Almost two-thirds (63%) of that group can track differences in behavior between mobile and desktop users.
Perhaps as a result of the lack of accurate analytics, 46% of the mobile mainstream said that they optimize their mobile sites less than quarterly or never.
Only 23% of the mainstream group said they update their mobile sites based on user feedback/data either monthly or weekly; however, this increases to 63% among mobile first companies.
The report reveals that mobile sites are updated even less frequently than apps, which is a surprise given that updates are easier for most organizations.
It may be related to the current divide in goals between the two: many apps are conceived of as revenue drivers, while sites are for information.
How often is your organization optimizing its mobile site based on user feedback or data?
Finally, the new report looks at the extent to which mobile programs are supported by business intelligence and analytics teams. This can often be a useful measure of how much value a business places in its mobile initiatives.
Among companies that have BI or analytics teams (roughly 65% of the total sample), there’s an expected gap between the mobile first and mainstream.
However, it’s a sign of the importance of mobile at all types of organizations that the majority report reliable support in a time when many departments suffer from a lack in analytics resources.
To what extent does the mobile program get support from an analytics/business intelligence team? | <urn:uuid:d882b6bc-9662-40df-85a6-44c88847ddf4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://econsultancy.com/mt/blog/62287-just-41-of-businesses-can-accurately-track-mobile-vs-desktop-user-behavior | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961815 | 588 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Parents everywhere know that it gets more difficult to keep tabs on your kids especially as they get older. Even with a cell phone, the best you can do is call and ask where they are and be content with their response. Unfortunately, they may not always tell you the truth.
With a GPS tracking software, you can put these worries behind you. It simply involves installing the app on your child’s phone and you can then track the phone at all times. The Android GPS app is one of the very efficient tracking softwares. Let us see how it works.
For even more info , visit this Android tracking app site.
Just for your information, Android refers to the OS developed by Google for mobile phones. This OS can be used as an alternative to the other previously known operating systems for mobile phones like Symbian, iphone OS and Windows Mobile from Nokia, Apple, and Microsoft respectively. Being an open source OS, many different apps can work with it. With the many different apps available to the Android OS, any phone running on this OS has limitless possibilities.
Find the right app and your android based phone becomes an effective GPS tracker. The location of the phone and hopefully the user is determined buy the application tapping into the phone’s in-built GPS function. The way this works is that you purchase and install an Android GPS app. With the purchase, you get access to a website and from here, you can monitor the movement of the phone and its user. You can immediately see how effective this would be for keeping tabs on your kids.
This looks very much like the kind of stuff that was only dreamed of years back and seen only on science fiction movies. Turning your Android phone into a GPS tracker is as simple as getting and installing a considerably cheap Android GPS application. With this, you can always know where the phone and by implications its user is. This is done with surprising accuracy
One more thing to note is that you can make some choices when choosing your Android GPS app. Some apps a visible. What this entails is that the user is aware that there is a tracking app working in their phone. You can spend a bit more to get an app that works without the knowledge of the phone user. Your choice of app would obviously be dependent on your specific need.
If you just want to know where the phone user is without minding their being aware of it, then simply get the visible GPS app. In cases where you need to watch without being seen, you would certainly need the invisible GPS software.
Go to an Android store today and find out all the functions available to you on your Android phone. The more your Android app offers, the more you would have to pay for it. This is more than a mere toy. It can be a life saver.
For even more info , visit this Android spy site. | <urn:uuid:c6f463fd-6a7b-4d52-a71b-92f3ecbd463d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sendsmstextmessage.net/android-gps-applications-keeping-your-kids-in-sight.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959632 | 584 | 1.726563 | 2 |
The BBC News website chronicles the key events in the aftermath of the Bali attacks.
More than 200 people were killed in the Bali bombings
12 October 2002 - Two bombs explode in the Kuta tourist strip on the Indonesian island of Bali. One hits Paddy's Irish Bar, and the second explodes in a van outside the nearby Sari club. A total of 202 people die as a result. A third bomb explodes near Bali's US consulate, but no one is hurt.
19 October - Police arrest Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir in connection with a spate of church bombings across Indonesia in 2000. Intelligence officials suspect him of heading the shadowy South East Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah - which is said to have links to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
7 November - Indonesian police arrest the first suspect for the Bali bomb blasts, a mechanic called Amrozi bin Nurhasyim. Under questioning, he admits to playing a role in the attacks.
12 November - A taped message, purported to be from Osama Bin Laden, praises the Bali bombers as "zealous sons of Islam".
21 November - Police arrest another key suspect, Imam Samudra, as he is about to board a ferry for Sumatra. Police believe he was the planner or "field commander" of the Bali operation.
4 December - Amrozi's older brother Mukhlas ( also known as Ali Gufron), is arrested close to the Central Javanese town of Solo. At the time of his arrest, he is not linked to the Bali attack, but he is later accused of being the "mastermind" behind the bombings. Police also say he is Jemaah Islamiah's operations chief.
14 January 2003 - Ali Imron, younger brother of Amrozi and Mukhlas, is arrested as he tries to flee the country.
28 January - After months of hinting, police formally blame Jemaah Islamiah for the bombings.
29 January - Police link Abu Bakar Ba'asyir to the attacks, although he is not formally named as a suspect.
11 February - Ali Imron publicly admits his role in the attacks, and demonstrates how they were carried out. He says he feels sorry for the families of the victims, but describes the US and its allies as "legitimate targets".
23 April - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir goes on trial, charged with plotting to overthrow the Jakarta Government, involvement in a series of church bombings and an aborted bomb attack in Singapore.
12 May - Amrozi goes on trial, charged with helping plan the attacks, as well as with buying the explosives and owning the van used in the bombings.
28 May - While giving evidence at the trial of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, Mukhlas admits having a role in the bombings, and says he knows Osama Bin Laden well.
2 June - Imam Samudra becomes the second key suspect to go on trial.
11 June - Appearing at Amrozi's trial, Imam Samudra denies playing a direct role in the attacks, but says he could be "morally responsible".
16 June - Mukhlas becomes the third key Bali suspect to go on trial.
17 June - An inquiry in Australia hears that Prime Minister John Howard's government knew of a possible threat to Bali four months before the attack.
23 June - Mukhlas accuses police interrogators of torturing him into confessing a role in the attacks. He asks the court to ignore his earlier admissions of guilt.
30 June - Police catch another key Bali suspect, Idris - who is alleged to have organised accommodation and financed the attack. Prosecutors also announce that they are seeking the death penalty against Amrozi.
14 July - Amrozi tells the court that the attack had "positive aspects", because it encouraged people to re-embrace religion and weakened the corrupting influence of foreign tourists.
16 July - Imam Samudra says the bombing was "justifiable" under Islamic teachings, and its purpose was to "avenge the killings of Muslims by the United States and its allies".
21 July -Ali Imron becomes the fourth key suspect to go on trial.
23 July - Idris admits he was responsible for exploding the bomb near the US consulate in Bali.
28 July - Prosecutors seek the death penalty for Imam Samudra.
31 July - A key witness at the trial of one of the Bali bombing suspects says al-Qaeda may have helped fund the attack.
5 August -A car bomb explodes in Jakarta, which Indonesian police say has similarities to the Bali attack.
7 August - Amrozi is found guilty of helping plan and carry out the attacks. He is sentenced to death.
14 August - Hambali, dubbed the "Osama Bin Laden" of South East Asia, is arrested in Thailand. Police believe he was involved in the Bali bombings and a string of other regional attacks, as well as being a leading member of JI.
2 September - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is convicted of subversion, after judges say he knew about and supported the actions of JI, even if he was not directly involved. The subversion charge is later overturned on appeal.
3 September - Prosecutors ask for a 20-year jail term for Ali Imron, saying they do not want the death sentence because the defendant had expressed remorse for what he had done.
10 September - Imam Samudra is found guilty of organising attacks and sentenced to death.
18 September - Ali Imron is convicted of planning an act of terrorism and sentenced to life in prison, after the court said it had taken into account his expression of regret.
25 September - Lawyers for Amrozi lodge appeal against his death sentence, in a process expected to take years to resolve.
2 October - Mukhlas is sentenced to death for acting as the overall co-ordinator of the attacks. He says he will appeal.
12 October - The first year anniversary of the bombings, which killed 202 people.
20 November - Imam Samudra lodges an appeal against his sentence with the Supreme Court.
7 January 2004 - The Supreme Court rejects Amrozi's appeal. His lawyers say they will now file a judicial review, a process which could take months.
29 January - Sarjiyo, also known as Sawad, is jailed for life for helping to make the Bali bombs. He says he will appeal.
27 April - Idris, also known as Jhoni Hendrawan, goes on trial, accused of helping to carry out the Bali attack.
30 April - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is rearrested on suspicion of terrorism, with police saying they have enough evidence to show he was the leader of militant group Jemaah Islamiah, blamed for the Bali bombings.
23 July - Indonesia's highest court rules an anti-terrorism law enacted in the wake of the Bali attacks and used to convict the Bali bombers should not have been used retroactively.
28 July - Police drop plans to charge Abu Bakar Ba'asyir over the Bali bombings, but he will still be charged with heading Jemaah Islamiah.
24 August - Idris, also known as Jhoni Hendrawan, is cleared of his part in the Bali bombings, even though he admitted a role, due to July's ruling on the anti-terrorism law.
7 September - Imam Samudra publishes an autobiography, I Fight Terrorists, justifying his role in the attacks.
15 October - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is charged with being the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah and involvement in the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2003. The cleric is charged over the Bali bombings under ordinary criminal legislation, rather than the harsher anti-terrorism laws that were only brought in after the 2002 attacks.
4 November - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir tells a court in Jakarta that the charges against him are "jokes" and a plot, backed by the US, to keep him in jail.
1 February 2005 - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir formally denies any involvement in the Bali bombings and the Marriott hotel attack. He says the bombers were wrong to stage attacks in Indonesia, because it was not a nation at war. The cleric also denies being connected to Jemaah Islamiah.
3 March - An Indonesian court finds Abu Bakar Ba'asyir guilty of conspiracy over the Bali bombings, but is cleared of more serious charges over a bomb attack on the Marriott hotel. The judges say Ba'asyir had given his approval for the Bali bombings. He is jailed for two-and-a-half years, a sentence which Australia's foreign minister describes as "disappointing".
6 August - Indonesia's Supreme Court rejects a final appeal from Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, upholding his original 30-month sentence.
17 August - Indonesian authorities reduce the 30-month sentence handed down to Abu Bakar Ba'asyir by four months and 15 days for good behaviour. Seventeen others convicted of playing a role in the Bali bombings have their sentences cut by three months.
1 October - Three suicide bomb attacks in two tourist areas in Bali kill 23 people - among them foreign nationals. More than 150 others are injured as blasts rip through three restaurants - two in the Jimbaran beach resort, the third in Kuta. Anti-terrorism officials say the attacks appear to have been carried out by Jemaah Islamiah.
7 October - The US offers $10m for information leading to the capture or death of a key suspect in the 2002 Bali bombings. The suspect, known as Dulmatin, is an electronics specialist and a senior figure in Jemaah Islamiah.
20 October - Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra will not seek presidential pardons, prosecutors say, and are "ready to be executed anytime soon".
10 November - Police say fingerprints taken from a man killed in East Java match those of Azahari Husin, a Malaysian explosives expert believed to have built the bombs used in the 2002 Bali attacks.
14 June 2006 - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is released from prison in Jakarta. Australian Prime Minister John Howard says his country would be "distressed" by the move.
21 August - The executions of Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra are postponed after they authorise their lawyers to file a last appeal
5 September - An Indonesian militant is jailed for eight years for his role in the 2005 triple suicide bombings in Bali. Abdul Aziz is convicted of sheltering the bombings' alleged mastermind, Malaysian-born fugitive Noordin Mohammad Top.
7 September - A court sentences two militants to jail for their part in the 2005 Bali bombings. Mohammad Cholily is found guilty of supplying equipment used in the attacks, while Dwi Widyarto convicted for helping transfer onto disc a video of Noordin Mohammad Top.
14 September - Former mobile phone salesman Anif Solchanudin is found guilty of helping to plan the 2005 Bali bombings and sentenced to 15 years.
7 December - Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra launch a last-ditch appeal against the death sentences. Their lawyers say they plan to argue that the men were found guilty on the basis of retroactive legislation.
21 December - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir has his conviction for conspiracy in the 2002 Bali bombings overturned by the Supreme Court.
25 January 2007 - Dulmatin, a top militant wanted for the 2002 Bali bombings, is hurt in a gun battle in the Philippines, the country's military says.
11 May - Four children belonging to Dulmatin are taken into custody in the southern Philippines.
25 September - Indonesia's Supreme Court rejects the final appeals of Imam Samudra and Mukhlas. A court official says the men had provided no new evidence to challenge earlier verdicts. An appeal by Amrozi was rejected earlier in September.
12 October - Ceremonies are held in Bali and Australia to mark five years since the bombings. At dusk, 202 sea turtles are released into the sea at Kuta beach.
6 August 2008 - Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra appeal against their death sentences at Indonesia's constitutional court. Their lawyers say shooting does not guarantee instant death and can thus be deemed torture. They say the men should die by beheading or lethal injection.
21 October - Indonesia's constitutional court rejects an attempt by Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra to change the method of their execution.
24 October - The Indonesian attorney-general's office says Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra will be executed in early November.
3 November - Lawyers for Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra file a new appeal, saying they had not been properly informed of the Supreme Court's rejection of an earlier appeal.
6 November - Families of British victims of the 2002 Bali bombings say executing their loved ones' killers would offer a "state-sponsored route to martyrdom".
8 November - Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra are executed by firing squad on the island prison of Nusakambangan. | <urn:uuid:4d22bc60-36f5-47a7-b014-997eaa86f049> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3126241.stm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97415 | 2,772 | 1.5 | 2 |
Chess, the game of kings. From its origins in India fifteen hundred years ago to the labs of IBM where Deep Blue, the computer that defeated grandmaster Gary Kasparov, was built, chess has been played by millions on everything from handmade pieces to commercial sets. Following on the heels of their best-selling DC Chess Collection Magazine, Eaglemoss introduces The Lord of the Rings Chess Collection, a magazine and figurine series that recreates the characters of Middle-Earth as a series of stunning collectible chess pieces.
Based on Peter Jackson's award-winning Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Eaglemoss' The Lord of the Rings Chess Collection moves the epic battle between the forces of good, embodied by Aragorn, the heir to the throne of Gondor, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, from the fields of Pelennor to the chessboard. Each chess piece comes with a magazine that offers a wealth of information that will captivate both fans of The Lord of the Rings and chess enthusiasts with profiles of the characters, the rules of chess and the moves of the pieces about the chessboard, insight into the characters and their world, and chess tactics and strategy. Each chess piece begins like as a hand-crafted sculpture by artist Toby Whiting, is then approved by New Line Cinemas and the actors, and is then moulded and hand-painted based on the original sculpture, making each piece a true work of art.
Eaglemoss' first Lord of the Rings chess collection is based on the battle of Pelennor Fields, seen in the third film of Jackson's trilogy, The Return of the King. The first four pieces in the collection are Aragorn, the White King ; Gothmog, the Black Bishop; Gandalf the White, the White Bishop; and Gollum, the Black Pawn. Future pieces in the 32-piece collection will include King Theoden (a White Knight), Sauron (a Black King), Arwen (the White Queen), and Orthanc (a White Rook).
With Peter Jackson's long-awaited film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey arriving in theaters this December to take us all back to Middle-Earth, embark on a journey of your own into the lands of Middle-Earth and the majesty of the game of Chess with Eaglemoss' The Lord of the Rings Chess Collection, offered in September's PREVIEWS catalog. Talk to your retailer today and pre-order the first four pieces to start a collection that will be treasured for many years to come.
|Aragorn (White King)
|Gothmog (Black Bishop)
|Gandalf the White (White Bishop)
|Gollum (Black Pawn) | <urn:uuid:6b412d94-d86e-4564-9bef-d1ead36db805> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/979?articleID=124755 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932963 | 565 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Warhol is Here at the De La Warr Pavilion
presents and explores the work of Andy Warhol in the context of his beliefs, lifestyle and above all, his legacy for the 21st century.
The Pavilion is also presenting a companion exhibition, curated and conceived by Jean Wainwright in the rooftop foyer of the Pavilion. This sound installation comprises of tape recordings of interviews taken over the course of an eleven year journey to find Warhols voice as told by others. The recordings, played on old cassette players, were gathered from collaborators, stars of his films, and his family. We hear his brothers John and Paul on growing up with Andy, as well as conversations with John Giorno, Gerard Malanga, Billy Name and Brigid Berlin, amongst others. From the way he talked, to his working methods and relationship with family and lovers, this installation provides a unique insight into Andy Warhol from Jean Wainwrights archives and is accompanied by photographs and objects from her extensive Warhol collection.
Over 100 works are included in Warhol Is Here which features one of the artists most important works The Marilyn Diptych (1962. Considered to be one of the worlds most important pieces of contemporary art it was created at a time when Warhol was changing from being a commercial artist to establishing his reputation as a fine artist. Other works include prints from the Campbells Soup series (1968), a group of Brillo Boxes (1968) and portrait paintings including Gilbert & George (1975), Joseph Beuys (1980) and Robert Mapplethorpe (1983). There are drawings from as early as the 1940s, stitched photographs, Polaroid self portraits, posters and an entire gallery, papered with Cow Wallpaper, dedicated to late paintings from the 1980s, which includes Camouflage (1986), a spectacular four panel silkscreen.
The show is assembled from a selection of works from ARTIST ROOMS, (a new collection of modern and contemporary art held by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland for the nation), as well as those sourced from Tate collection, The British Museum, V&A, Cecil Higgins Art Gallery other private collections.
The Pavilion also created a programme of music, live performance, film, events and workshops inspired by Warhol and published a small handbook of essays by artists, curators, writers and musicians commenting upon the memory, influence and impact of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. | <urn:uuid:f2e5adcf-0e15-4b35-b975-c59acff950e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=50647&int_modo=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970642 | 505 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Flash floods and landslides have killed at least nine people and left thousands homeless in Sri Lanka, disaster management officials said on Tuesday.
Sarath Lal Kumara, a senior Disaster Management Centre (DMC) official said that all 9 deaths have been reported from the central
district of Matale.
Three of them died when a tree collapsed on a van. The rest were buried in landslides. He said over 4,000 displaced people have been accommodated in 17 relief camps.
Most reservoirs in the north central and central province have reached spill level forcing the opening of sluice gates, officials said.
Several districts in the central hill province have been declared as landslide danger zones. Public transport including trains services remain disrupted. | <urn:uuid:276b7673-0ad3-4cf5-9457-370bb210b959> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/srilanka/Landslides-flash-floods-kill-9-in-Sri-Lanka/Article1-974331.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965982 | 150 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Winter is coming and some books are best read on a cold, blustery day or night. The Game of Thrones books that I have recently been devouring have their fair share of snow and ice scenes but I have always thought that any book by Charles Dickens is best read in the winter. There is something about the despair and struggle of his characters to a better life that makes me think of winter.
So here are some books that will make you cozy up to the fire place with something hot to drink.
The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folktale by Jan Brett. A fun story where several animals try to squeeze themselves into a mitten. Will they all fit inside?
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner. A delightful book in rhyme describing what snowmen do at night while everyone is asleep.
Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. What every kid hopes to wake up to. The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson. On a cold, winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear. But what happens if the bear wakes up?
Kid's Chapter Books and Nonfiction
7 Professors of the Far North by John Fardell. Sam finds himself involved in a dangerous adventure when he and his new friends set off for the Arctic to rescue kidnapped professors from a mad scientist.
White Star: A Dog on the Titanic by Marty Crisp. Sam, a passenger on the Titanic, volunteers to help care for the dogs in the ocean liner's kennel and becomes fast friends with the Irish setter of the ship's owner.
I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer by Carole Weatherford. True, dramatic story of Henson's journey with Robert Peary to the North Pole.
Poles Apart: Why Penguins and Polar Bears Will Never Be Neighbors by Elaine Scott. No penguin has ever lived at the North Pole, nor any polar bear at the South Pole. Find out why in this lively and informative book.
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn. What is more entertaining than a winter scavenger hunt in New York City? This story is told in the alternating voices of Dash and Lily.
Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan. My feet were cold the entire time reading this book. The tragedies and triumphs of a stowaway aboard Shackleton's ship Endurance during his 1914 Antarctic expedition.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Accompanied by her daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North.
Trapped by Michael Northrup. Seven high school students are stranded at their New England high school during a blizzard. Will they survive?
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. A snowstorm provides the backdrop for this story of the murder trial of a man accused of killing a local fisherman in December 1954.
Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. Love alternate timelines? Try this murder mystery set in the imaginary Alaska Jewish homeland.
Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Alaska, 1920. A childless couple builds a child out of snow. The next day the snow child is gone and in its place they see a blonde-haired girl running through the woods. Who is she?
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Love locked-room type mysteries? A journalist in Sweden goes to investigate the disappearance of a girl 40 years ago for her grieving uncle.
Happy winter reading! | <urn:uuid:861e99e2-c64a-440c-904a-3d739a061bad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/News/Blog/LibraryBlog.asp?blogID=3&Cat=Teens | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936976 | 757 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Tight housing credit brings little joy
The monthly private sector credit numbers for June 2011 were released by the Reserve Bank last week. The data highlights the amount of outstanding credit for the private sector. Of particular interest is the housing credit data.
Housing credit is broken into two parts: owner occupier and investor credit. Total housing credit grew by just 6.0% over the 12 months to June 2011, the slowest annual rate of growth in housing credit over the length of the time series which dates back to January 1991. Owner occupier credit increased by just 6.5% over the year and investor credit grew by 5.8%. Annual owner occupier credit growth was the lowest in history while investor finance growth reached a low of 2.3% in October 2009.
The limited growth in credit is indicative of the response to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) by financiers, having tightened credit requirements for home loans. It is also representative of the higher interest rate environment resulting in lower home loan demand and consumer caution which is resulting in home loan owners paying down debt.
The annual growth in housing credit across Australia has actually been easing ever since March 2004, which was also the time the housing boom of 2001-04 was starting to run out of puff. As the graph shows, ever since private sector housing credit peaked the rate of capital growth in property values has also been slower.
The most recent RP Data-Rismark Capital City Home Value data is to June 2011, 74 months since housing credit began to fall. Over this time, home values across the combined capital cities have increased by a total of 40%. During the preceding 74 months, capital city home values increased by a total of 97.4%. The evidence certainly suggests that as growth in housing credit slows so too does the rate of property value appreciation.
Although a decline in housing credit is likely to result in lower levels of home value growth, there is no precedent that it will result in substantial falls in home values.
What is a likely result of lower growth in housing credit is a lower number of housing transactions. When the volume of home sales in the three largest cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are plotted against the annual change in housing credit you can see that volumes have been trending lower since growth in housing credit peaked during March 2004.
Obviously this changing market dynamic is going to have an acute impact on home owners and property professionals.
Home values are unlikely to grow at a similar pace to that which they have grown in recent years. It is important to note that this shift has been happening without much notice in recent years. Over the past five years, capital city home values have grown at an average annual rate of 5.5% compared to annual growth of 7.1% on average over the decade. So clearly the last five years have recorded a much slower rate of capital gains than the preceding five years. Lower rates of capital growth mean less equity in homes and as a result less housing market speculation. In-turn, we will likely see fewer investors actively looking to invest in property unless rental returns climb markedly from their current levels, providing opportunities for positive gearing.
For property professionals, fewer transactions coupled with lower equity levels is likely to result in less commission and lower demand.
How long will these conditions last? Who's to say but affordability is an issue and not one that is likely to be improved upon quickly so these conditions are the new normal with property values likely to grow more in-line with household incomes going forward. The banks have stated that consumers will have to get used to lower levels of credit after the GFC, now obviously that won't continue forever but a restricted credit supply is likely to remain for a number of years, especially while debt problems persist in many economies.
The best of everything at Portside Wharf
The Mark at Sydney's Central Park
Meanwhile, Mike Quigley, boss of the federal government's national broadband network, has also sold his Mosman mansion recently at $3,555,000. It represented a loss on the $3.6 million paid in 2007.
Brought to you by: Caydon
Atria Apartments in Hawthorn offers buyers an opportunity to invest in one of Melbourne’s finest suburbs. | <urn:uuid:da75bf97-2df3-4c94-9126-be061d35dd0c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/tight-housing-credit-brings-little-joy/2011080851073 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972058 | 867 | 1.65625 | 2 |
For a taste of how Thailand is coping during these recessionary times, step inside the IMF Kitchen. Dechatorn Henchaichone, an idle construction contractor (no work for him these days) opened the simple, 10-table restaurant in July in a vacant shop that once sold $2,500 car stereos (no market for those anymore). Dechatorn's electrical engineer mops the floors. His foreman waits tables. The bookkeeper handles the cash box. It's quite a step down for a firm that had million-baht contracts to install electrical wiring and air-conditioning in high-rises. "Thai people need to be reminded that the good times were not for free, that they came with a price," says the electrical engineer, Thanakorn Punyaratyuenyong. He is paying dearly himself for the profligate years. He stopped driving his car and now rides the bus, he lost his house when the bank foreclosed, and he has postponed his marriage.
The recipe at the IMF Kitchen is much like the one the IMF imposed on the country. One, reduce spending (the employees took 40% pay cuts). Two, stop borrowing (Dechatorn and his wife invested less than $1,000, bringing the dishes, cutlery, pots and even the cooks from their home). Three, reform the financial institutions (the staff is drawing up a new plan for the contracting business). Is it working? The eatery, popular with workers down-scaling their lunch habits, is breaking even. "It's not the IMF's fault that Thailand seems to be standing still," says Dechatorn. "To me, IMF means I Am Fine."
Is the country itself in fine shape? Not quite. The results in Thailand, a model student of the IMF regimen, are much like those at the IMF Kitchen. The reviews are first-rate; the returns, so-so. The currency has been stable for several months, the stock market has flickered with new life in recent weeks and the country has avoided the unrest that has erupted elsewhere in the region. Foreign reserves are growing, though that's largely because imports have declined. Exports have not picked up significantly, and the jobless ranks have swelled to more than 2 million, or 8.5% of the workforce. Although interest rates have started to fall, banks are reluctant to lend. Domestic consumption is so low that even with a weakened baht, inflation remains in check. Economists are cautious about when recovery will take place, expecting a GDP contraction of 8% this year and 2% in 1999. "It's like the chicken and the egg," says Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecom tycoon who has organized a political party around the idea that Thais, not the IMF, should fix the economy. "The government thinks if it revives the banks, they can lend to the real sector and productivity will bounce back. I think we need to revive the real sector first."
Indeed, the IMF's normal approach doesn't involve economic stimulation. "There was very little choice in terms of having reserves replenished," says Abhisit Vejjajiva, a top adviser to Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. "Plus, the government had lost credibility, both with people here and the international community. Any economic package needed assistance from someone else [like the IMF] to gain credibility." Chuan and his team, which came to power in November, took its IMF medicine--low interest rates, budget cuts, tax hikes and bank reform--while blaming the country's ills on the previous government, on whose watch the treasury was nearly depleted in an effort to prop up the baht. The prescription has left the economy numb. To rev things up again, the government is liberalizing foreign-investment laws. Plans to privatize state companies, including Thai Airways and the utility monopolies, have stirred nationalistic impulses. Amarin Khoman, chairman of conglomerate Thai Star, wrote in the Bangkok Post that the IMF Letters of Intent should be called "Letters of Surrender."
But as a recipient of the IMF's billions, Chuan & Co. aren't making even the mildest of criticisms. "The hardship is intensifying, I know," says Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda. "But we had to stabilize the exchange rate and reform first." Such acquiescence has served its purposes, for Thailand has been able to play the responsible and repentant student even as it chips away at fundamental planks of the IMF plan. For example, Bangkok persuaded the fund to scrap its fiscal-surplus requirement and allow a budget deficit. It also won endorsement of a plan to issue bonds to recapitalize failing banks in exchange for having the government take over their management. "The IMF underestimated the severity," says an economic adviser to Chuan. "So naturally they made mistakes. Now we try to correct them."
In the meantime, thousands of Thais have lost their jobs. To the destitute, measures to pump up the economy now seem tardy. "By waiting, they have caused real damage to the economy that will be difficult to patch up quickly," says Kamal Malhotra, co-director of Focus on the Global South, a Bangkok policy research group. Still, many Thais, like engineer Thanakorn at the IMF Kitchen, are displaying extraordinary patience. "We just have to make the best of today and believe that tomorrow will be better," he says. Chuan's IMF-friendly government is hoping it doesn't run out of tomorrows before such patience wears thin and the lines at the IMF Kitchen grow longer. | <urn:uuid:bc9e2a15-4b22-4fce-ade3-bfa4b1bd2ba5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2040328,00.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975701 | 1,163 | 1.539063 | 2 |
The ‘subversive adult Disneyland’ where iPods track your every move
El Reg visits the Museum of Old and New Art, where IT budgets are boundless
David Walsh invented what he calls “a money mine”, and when he decided to spend some of its contents on an art gallery, he gave his IT team more than four years to provide the best visitor experience of any museum in the world.
That team now rates their work on the gallery as a “dream project”, thanks to Walsh’s no-compromises attitude and an environment in which different disciplines pulled together. A more-or-less-limitless budget also helped.
The 51 year old Walsh was able to offer this work environment because he is a professional gambler who devised a betting system that works so well there's conjecture about whether he's a billionaire or merely a multi-millionaire many times over.
However large his fortune, he's been able to spend at least $AUD100m on art, amassing a collection that outgrew first his home and then a small museum.
His new creation, Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), can hold a lot more of his booty and was designed as "a subversive adult Disneyland". Since opening in 2011 it has become one of the planet’s hottest artistic attractions.
The Museum is unashamedly an expression of Walsh's tastes and interests and has polarised the art world, thanks to exhibits like Cloaca, a machine that makes a spectacle of food turning into faeces. Within the walls of the museum you’ll also find the pelt of a kitten, staked out as if it were a bearskin rug, and The Epic of Gilgamesh written in binary on the walls of a maze.
Technology infuses many exhibits, with one of the first works on display, bit.fall, offering a waterfall that connects to the Net to find words trending in news. Those words are squirted out by a row of nozzles which generate a cascade of disintegrating droplets-as-script.
Technology is also thrust into every visitor's hands when they arrive, in the form of an iPod touch on a lanyard. ‘The O’, as the device is dubbed, locates visitors as they move about MONA’s galleries and offers content – audio, text and video - pertinent to nearby artworks. Each work offers a chance to cast a vote – the options are Love or Hate – with results presented instantly so visitors can see how their tastes match those of previous visitors.
At the end of a visit, The O uploads a list of all the artworks a visitor beholds to the web, so that visitors can re-live their visit.
Next page: Secrets of the O | <urn:uuid:50ab047e-f63c-42de-93bf-3427e063dd97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/25/technology_at_the_museum_of_old_and_new_art/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965247 | 587 | 1.585938 | 2 |
|Congressman John Tierney, D-MA|
Public Domain Image
I could be facing a top marginal tax rate of 60% next year. Either I move back to the US or I renounce my citizenship. I may have no other legal options under a proposed US law (unless I want to move my family into a one-bedroom flat and live on rice and beans).
Congressman John Tierney has proposed the Tax Equity and Middle Class Fairness Act of 2011. You can read the full bill if you like.
A "Middle Class Fairness Act" sounds all well and good, but as you know, the titles of bills and their contents are often at odds with one another. He wants to remove oil and gas tax breaks. He wants to remove timber subsidies (is destroying the US timber industry good or bad? I can't remember). He wants to remove coal tax breaks (hallelujah!).
He also proposes "Removal of the foreign earned income exclusion which allows U.S. citizens living overseas to avoid paying taxes ($5.4 billion in 1st year)."
Here are a few interesting interesting points:
First, I pay taxes. Lots of them. I live in Europe. These aren't exactly tax havens over here. He probably meant "avoid paying US taxes", but as Congress is systematically stripping US expats of the benefits of their citizenship, I can't see many expats being happy about this.
Second, where did that "$5.4 billion in 1st year" figure come from? Given that the US Census, despite being required to in our Constitution (Article 1, Section 2), refuses to count Americans living abroad, we don't actually know how many US expats there are. How can we claim that we'll earn $5.4 billion when we don't even know where that money is coming from?
When I told my wife about this bill she was shocked and the first thing she said was "we'll have to move to the US."
I haven't lived in the US in years. I have a life here in Europe and I don't want to give it up, but I don't see what my options would be. I can't (yet) apply for French citizenship and while that does not legally block me from renouncing my US citizenship, I'm still not keen on giving it up. My other options are trying to hide from the IRS for the rest of my life or reducing my family to poverty.
It's entirely possible that the US-France tax treaty may shield me from the bulk of this, but as I'm hardly a lawyer and in trying to read through that, my eyes glaze over. And I see from consulting the list of US tax treaties that fewer than one third of the countries have have a tax treaty with the US. Given that many expats are paying in excess of $2,000 just to file a tax return (another charming "tax" to deal with), this is only going to increase our burden. And please note that many of these treaties reduce double-taxation but do not eliminate it, and the treaties generally only protect some types of income, not all. Further, while Americans on US soil have plenty of accountants to turn to, we have far fewer in Europe and we have more laws we have to deal with, making it even more of a red tape nightmare.
|Johnny Depp left France|
due to double taxation.
Photo by Arnold Wells
This law won't pass because it's attacking Oil, Gas and Coal and they have enough money to destroy this. For once, I'm glad that the US Supreme Court has said companies are allowed to donate unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns. That's completely immoral, but I don't know what I'll do if this law is passed.
Tierney's bill is going to force a lot of Americans to move back to the US or renounce their citizenship. What a nightmare. | <urn:uuid:b288bb4c-410d-400d-867e-e708aec76427> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.overseas-exile.com/2012/02/congressman-john-tierney-d-ma-wants-to.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979458 | 810 | 1.5 | 2 |
Teachers protest against army occupation in Northeast
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 March 2003, 11:50 GMT]
Tamil and Muslim Teachers in Northeast organized a symbolic strike by calling in sick demanding the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) vacate the schools, places of worship, private residences and public buildings which have been converted to SLA camps, sources in Batticaloa said.
Students had to return home due to absence of teachers.
Calling the Government of Sri Lanka to attend to their demands, hundreds of teachers marched from Batticaloa Hindu College grounds to Gandhi square this morning, sources said.
After the public meeting at Gandhi square, Batticaloa district head of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU), S. Tharmarajan, handed over a memorandum to Additional Government Agent, V. Shanmugam and to Additional Education Commissioner, T. Ponnambalam to be given to Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe.
The Memorandum, earlier issued to the press by CTTU president T. Mahasivam contained 31 demands, sources said.
"Government should ask the security forces to leave schools, temples, private and public builds immediately as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Palali Teacher Training center and other schools which are currently closed as they fall within the High Security Zones (HSZ) should be immediately reopened facilitating progress in education in Northeast. Students are psychologically impacted by the camps located in populated areas as they face harassment from the soldiers. These camps have to be immediately removed," said the memorandum.
The memorandum further outlined other woes of Northeast teachers and demanded that they be immediately addressed. "At least one thousand volunteer teachers in the Northeast should be immediately made permanent. Compensation for flood damage promised to the teachers by the Government of SriLanka should be paid immediately," added the memorandum.
Memorandum further said,"Sinhalization of Tamil schools by appointment of Sinhala principals to Tamil schools must be immediately stopped. Inordinate delays in granting promotions to Tamil teachers should be avoided and promotion review carried out regularly on a yearly basis to avoid teacher frustrations."
Meanwhile, the protest fast being carried out by the Batticaloa-Amparai volunteer teachers entered its ninth day. The president of volunteer teachers union, A. Amirthalingam, said that the fast will continue until their demands are met. | <urn:uuid:03bca631-eb27-49b4-8724-4f31a6008097> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=8512 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958224 | 490 | 1.53125 | 2 |
I would like to thank West Fargo Public Schools and Westside Elementary School for hosting the Camp Invention program this summer. Camp Invention director Kaye Fischer and talented local teaching camp staff helped to prepare local youth for future success through practical application of the 21st century learning skills such as teamwork, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.
One hundred-and-twelve West Fargo, elementary students joined over 77,000 students nationwide in tackling exciting hands-on STEM challenges at the Camp Invention program. The science, technology, engineering, and math concepts that they learned were used to solve a series of real-world problems that required innovative solutions. I especially want to thank the adult and youth staff and the students in West Fargo for the exceptional creativity and inventiveness that they displayed throughout the week.
Susan Z. Clarke,
Regional Consultant for | <urn:uuid:61e40bb6-c599-4a8c-aac4-d5f0c6ffc063> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.westfargopioneer.com/content/letter-editor-thank-you-camp-invention-hosts?qt-latest_trending_article_page=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943393 | 172 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Selective use of data
Data is good in journalism. Selective use of data, not so much.
So let's look at the following story from The Nerve, a journalistic endeavor of the S.C. Policy Council. The council is a heavily conservative advocacy organization, but for those critics who would like to dismiss The Nerve's work out of hand as a result, stop.
The reporters, many of whom worked for "established" media, know their stuff and more often than not have uncovered those annoying little tidbits that send politicians into a tizzy. It also has become another media voice documenting and amplofying FOIA violations - can't be enough of those.
Yes, the stuff could use some solid editing from time to time. And it can be a bit shrill - one clearly knows the direction the writers are coming from ("Where Government Gets Exposed" is the site's tagline). But to dismiss it out of hand is ill-advised.
However, there are things like this that bother me because they show selective use of data to put a finger on the fairness scale, so to speak. And yes, I am a USC employee, and no, doesn't matter a twit to me what the subject is. We're talking basic journalism, editing and fairness in presenting data here. So consider the following. My comments and questions, had I edited this, are in brackets and italics:
As College Tuition Rises, So Does Administrators’ PayThe body of the story bears that headline out at only one school.
By Amit Kumar
We’ve all heard it before: Tuition at South Carolina’s public universities and colleges is rising; state appropriations for higher education are falling; and it’s something that has been going on for years."Remained constant or 'even' increased" - so if it's remained constant, why is it worth mentioning?
There is, however, at least one budgetary commitment that has remained constant or even increased at state institutions of higher education in recent years: total compensation paid to university presidents and vice presidents.
OK, so the news is what? If administrators' salaries had been going up, the news is clear. But if their compensation stayed "steady," then doesn't that bolster the idea that the extra money's been going for other purposes (like education and more faculty)?
The Nerve analyzed total compensation packages for the presidents and vice presidents at the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and the College of Charleston, the largest undergraduate public universities in the state. The Nerve obtained compensation records by filing S.C. Freedom of Information requests with all three universities.
While tuition at all three public universities has nearly doubled in the past decade, university administrators have been receiving steady compensation packages worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, the review found.
The Nerve’s review also found that, while university administrators often point to decreases in state appropriations as justification for tuition increases, the amounts of federal stimulus dollars each of these three universities received in the past two fiscal years more than offset any cuts in state funding.More on this in a minute, but hold this question - do stimulus dollars actually replace state appropriations?
OK, gives us a bit of context. But is 12 times excessive compared with similar officials in other states (which also have been cutting budgets) or with other S.C. officials? Has that ratio increased or decreased over time - that's a major weakness throughout the story; the real issue is whether there have been increases, and have those been excessive? I know it's hard to feel sympathy for someone making $300K or $400K a year, but as journalists, we're supposed to know when a snapshot can be more misleading than a time series. BTW, check the state salary database, and 17 state employees show up (most from the universities, including the Medical University of South Carolina, as making more than $300,000, none of them the university presidents because the presidents' actual salaries are much lower).
For fiscal year 2011-2012, the total compensation package for USC President Harris Pastides is valued at $535,000; for the College of Charleston President George Benson, at $398,987; and for Clemson President James Barker, at $400,000.
Each of those packages is more than 12 times the per capita income in South Carolina, valued at $33,163 in 2010 by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
At USC, the total compensation paid to Pastides each year since fiscal year 2008-2009, his first in the post, has been constant at $535,000. That number includes both money from state government and supplemental private funds from University of South Carolina foundations.What's the breakdown? Has the public portion of that changed? What relevance does the "private" part of that have to the argument at hand, which seems to be tuition rises but these folks keep dipping from the trough.
A report by The Chronicle On Higher Education, though, found that the median total compensation package for university presidents – including presidents of university systems with multiple campuses, like that of USC – at 185 of the top research institutions in the nation in 2009-2010 was $440,487 – $95,000 lower than Pastides’ package.Useful to know.
Meanwhile, both in-state and out-of-state tuition for attending USC have more than doubled in the past 10 years, with in-state tuition rising from $5,024 in 2002-2003 to $10,168 in 2011-12. After adjusting for inflation, that figure represents a 61 percent increase in tuition and fees.OK, back to the original question - are stimulus funds the same as state funds? I don't know, but the journalist could have helped me out as a reader. Many federal funds come with restrictions, as opposed to the state's "general fund" dollars. If the fed money is not a perfect substitute, is the argument here that the fed money used for purpose "x," should have then freed up the same amount of state money for other uses, thus negating or lessening the need for a tuition increase? Would have been nice to explain.
A common refrain from universities regarding their yearly tuition hikes is that the increases are necessary because the amount of money the state appropriates to higher education has decreased each year. And this is true: For instance, for the 10-year period from 2001-2002 to 2010-2011, annual state appropriations to USC-Columbia have declined by 45 percent, from $183.7 million to $101 million, according to the most recent report by the S.C. Commission on Higher Education.
However, for the past two completed fiscal years, state universities have received federal stimulus dollars as a response to the recession. While those stimulus funds, which are non-recurring, have more than offset year-to-year reductions in state appropriations, universities have still elected to raise tuition in those years.
For example, in fiscal year 2009-2010, state recurring appropriations to the entire USC system declined by $20.5 million; that same year USC received $29.2 million in federal stimulus dollars, more than offsetting the loss in state dollars. Still, USC increased tuition by 3.6 percent for in-state and out-of-state students in 2009-2010.OK, so the story vis a vis Benson is? The five VPs is interesting. But why does the story report only VP increases for College of Charleston? What about Clemson, USC, etc.? (Note: Clemson's data comes at end - would be useful if these were grouped if the point was that VPs overall were getting raises.)
Similarly, at the College of Charleston, President George Benson’s compensation has not increased since he first took the top position in 2007-2008. However, the compensation packages for five of the college’s six vice presidents have increased since 2006-2007, including three packages that have increased by more than 14 percent each after adjusting for inflation.
For instance, the compensation package for George Watt, the college’s executive vice president of institutional advancement, has increased by $62,687, or 20.1 percent after adjusting for inflation, since 2008-2009 – right at the height of the recession.Sounds not so good. But what does a VP of institutional advancement do? As a reader, helps me decide whether it's reasonable.
In the past 10 years, in-state tuition at the College of Charleston has increased from $4,858 in 2002-2003 to $9,616 in 2011-2012, or by 57 percent after adjusting for inflation. Out-of-state tuition has increased even more, by 76 percent after adjusting for inflation, or $13,356 more per year.Perhaps it is too obvious to note that one of the reasons general funds make up "only" (a loaded word) a small part of the budgets is because the state appropriations have been cut so much? Again, trend data useful for me as a reader to determine context.
College of Charleston, like USC, repeatedly justifies tuition increases at least partially because of lowered state appropriations. But although the amount of general funds appropriated to public universities has decreased significantly in recent years, general funds make up only a small portion of a university’s overall budget.
For fiscal 2011-12, general funds made up only 9 percent of the College of Charleston’s overall budget. For USC, that number was 11 percent; for Clemson University, general funds were only 8 percent of its overall budget.
The bulk of these universities’ budgets actually comes from other funds, which are made up of tuition and fees. Of the College of Charleston’s $220 million budget, $183.5 million, or 83 percent of the overall budget, comes from other funds. At USC, $641.8 million out of its $907.2 million budget, or 71 percent, comes from other funds; at Clemson, other funds make up $650.6 million out its $805.4 million budget, or 81 percent.And, again, that large proportion would be a direct result of state funding being cut, right?
Universities are crying out that they need to increase tuition because their state appropriations are dwindling; but those appropriations make up only about 10 percent of their overall budgets, and cuts to those funds have been offset by federal stimulus dollars in recent years.So synthesizing my comments: This is a collection of random facts that when put in the same graf sounds sinister but fails to answer whether stimulus dollars can be directly substitutable for state appropriations and how much state money as a proportion of the schools' budget has changed. The implied argument seems to hinge on "only," but the "only" might well be the result of state cuts, especially if the federal money is not a one-for-one replacement - seems a bit tautological, eh?
OK, that's useful.
All these same financial trends are visible at Clemson, where in-state tuition has increased by 67 percent and out-of-state tuition by 75 percent in the past 10 years after adjusting for inflation.
In that same time, Clemson President James Barker has seen his compensation package increase by $120,986, from $279,014 to $400,000 – a raise of 14 percent after adjusting for inflation.
Some of Clemson’s vice presidents have received large compensation increases in the past decade as well, even when adjusting for inflation.
In the past 10 years, the compensation package for Doris Helms, Clemson’s vice president for academic affairs and provost, has increased by 28 percent, to $270,389 today. The package for John Kelly, vice president for agriculture, public service, and economic development, has increased by 19 percent after, to $242,732 today; and for Neill Cameron, vice president for advancement, by 15.5 percent, to $211,185 today.OK, that's useful. So Clemson raises some flags. But when did those raises happen? Isn't it possible the bulk were before the 2008 recession? Help me out as a reader to evaluate the information. It's far more significant if they've continued getting raises even after the economy tanked.
And why don't we hear about the VPs at the other institution
Bottom line: Might be a story here. Take your pick based on your policy/political/fiscal orientation:
- Tuition's gone up even though the schools' financial picture shouldn't have changed because federal stimulus dollars were exactly substitutable for the state money that was cut. (Nothing in the story says that about the fed dollars; we are left to artfully conclude it.) Ergo, any tuition
increase somehow is tied to the pay, although how is that possible when the pay remained steady for the presidents of two schools and we have no data in the story showing significant increases for underlings at one of
thosethe three schools (besides Clemson)?
- University officials' pay has continued to rise even while the economy has gone to crap. (Unfortunately, the data we have right now shows that's the case at "only" one of three, and even then it's not clear when the increases took place.)
- State appropriations were cut and the stimulus dollars that came in could not directly replace them. So tuition was raised, in part to cover the salaries plus any increases in those salaries over the past decade. That was wrong, since the stimulus money could have freed up other funds that could have been transferred back to other lines to cover/offset the salaries. The implication is that those top officials should somehow have refunded parts of their salaries to cover that (unspecified) part of the tuition increase.
Bottom line - numbers don't make a story credible by themselves. Careful, clear numbers with accuracy, completeness and context - and the assumptions clearly spelled out - do. | <urn:uuid:445cd020-f31b-4422-bef3-33674ecb32d3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://commonsensej.blogspot.com/2011/12/selective-use-of-data.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964977 | 2,868 | 1.828125 | 2 |
LONG BEACH - For a string of new high schools slated to open in the Long Beach Unified School District in the coming years, the motto is "smaller is better."
Next fall, the district will celebrate the grand unveiling of Ernest S. McBride Sr. High School, which is now being built on the 24-acre former site of DeMille Middle School at 7025 E. Parkcrest St. in East Long Beach. The school is now accepting applications for fall 2013.
McBride is the first of at least two new high schools expected to open over the next few years as part of the school district's Facility Master Plan, which is a long-term blueprint to address changing needs in Long Beach. The district is now considering small high schools at two other locations, one at the corner of Redondo Avenue and Hill Street and another on the site of the former Jordan Freshman Academy next to Jordan High in North Long Beach.
The schools are part of dozens of new construction and renovation projects funded through Measure K bonds. Approved by 71 percent of voters in 2008, Measure K provides $1.2 billion from property taxes for building, renovating and improving Long Beach schools, many of which are more than 50 years old. The funds are separate from the district's general budget and by law can only be used for school improvement projects.
The $75 million McBride High will open in fall 2013 for a class of 250 freshman. The school is named after a local civil rights leader and community activist
McBride will eventually have an enrollment of about 1,000 students in grades 9-12, making it the smallest high school in the district.
Officials say the plan for smaller schools will help alleviate crowding in some of the largest high schools, which have up to 4,000 students.
"We're moving towards smaller high schools because research shows that students do better in smaller high school environments," said Vivien Hao, a project community coordinator for Measure K. "McBride will be a quintessential small high school."
McBride represents the changing face of Long Beach Unified as the district moves to close small elementary and K-8 schools in neighborhoods with low enrollment, while it revamps and builds schools in high density areas.
In the most recent proposed closure, the school board earlier this week voted to close Monroe K-8 in East Long Beach. With 655 students, Monroe is the smallest of Long Beach's 11 K-8 schools and has just 162 students from its immediate neighborhood, district officials said.
Among some of the bigger Measure K projects, the district this fall opened Nelson Academy, a $45 million middle school in Signal Hill, and is now in the planning stages for rebuilding Newcomb Academy, Roosevelt Elementary and Jordan High.
The largest of the Measure K projects, the $105 million massive renovation at Jordan will take place over the next few years in an attempt to transform the struggling high school into a flagship for the North Long Beach community.
For now, district officials are looking forward to the grand opening of McBride next year. At the McBride site on Thursday, construction was under way on the school's 43 classrooms in seven buildings.
The school will offer several innovative programs focusing on three fields: health/medical, law enforcement/legal services and engineering. Hao said McBride is designed to prepare top students for careers in high-demand fields.
To qualify for acceptance, students will be required to have earned a grade of "C" or better in algebra to assure they're prepared for more rigorous math courses, she said.
"Students will be prepared to go directly into a career or to college," Hao said.
McBride will be accepting students from Long Beach Unified, as well as students from surrounding school districts.
When it opens in fall 2013, McBride High will be the district's first new high school since Cabrillo High opened in 1995.
Officials anticipate a waiting list. Interested parents and students can go to lbschools.net/mcbride or call the superintendent's office at 562-997-8242. | <urn:uuid:e55e3eff-d311-43f2-b9df-245f97ca638a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.presstelegram.com/rss/ci_22152919/lbusd-high-school-projects-will-exemplify-smaller-is?source=pkg | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960902 | 838 | 1.5 | 2 |
|Chronological and political information|
RonTha was a Meerian who lived on the planet Bandomeer. He was a strict follower of rules and protocol, and believed in doing everything according to regulations. He took Obi-Wan Kenobi on a tour of the Agri-Corps Enrichment Zone building, and was very interested in the growth of the plants there, allowing himself to go on at considerable length about one small seed or the other. After Kenobi had been kidnapped from the Agri-Corps building by Offworld operatives and Xanatos, and taken to the deepsea mines of Bandomeer, RonTha was questioned by Qui-Gon Jinn, as to whether he had observed anything suspicious. At first, he denied being in the Agri-Corps building that night, as it was against rules to be there after hours. But after continued pressure from Jinn, he succumbed, and admitted that he had been in a orchard near the site of Kenobis' kidnapping, as he liked to have fruit from the orchard before bed. He told Jinn that he had seen some men carrying Kenobi away, and had followed in time to see them take him away by boat. He was then persuaded by Jinn to be allowed to take an Agri-Corps boat to rescue young Kenobi.
- Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival (First appearance) | <urn:uuid:cd6cf73a-413a-40f6-8b87-3783ca8c36d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/RonTha | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986947 | 284 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Harlem’s ‘Queen of Soul Food,’ Sylvia Woods Dead at 86
By Jeff Mays, Jill Colvin, Amy Zimmer
HARLEM, NY — Sylvia Woods, the “Queen of Soul Food,” whose legendary eponymous restaurant in Harlem was world famous, died at the age of 86 Thursday. She died “peacefully” at 4:50 p.m. at her Westchester home after battling Alzheimer’s, her family said in a statement. The news prompted an outpouring of memories from friends and local officials, who celebrated her life as a Harlem institution who put the neighborhood on the culinary map.
“We want to thank everyone for all the love they showed us through the 50 years,” said Woods’ granddaughter, Tren’ness Woods-Black, standing outside of the restaurant Thursday evening with her father Kenneth Woods. “My grandmother was a loving person and we appreciate that.”
Woods, who hailed from Hemingway, S.C., opened Sylvia’s Restaurant in 1962, with help from her mother, Julia Pressley, a farmer and midwife who mortgaged her farm to loan money for the purchase, the restaurant’s website said.
Woods built the spot at 328 Lenox Ave. and West 127th Street with her husband and childhood sweetheart, Herbert, into a dining destination for locals and tourists, who flocked to the neighborhood by the busload for a taste of her legendary fried chicken and collard greens.
Sylvia’s also became a hub for politicians, hosting Congress members, presidents and other power brokers. U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, who celebrated his recent primary victory at the restaurant, said Sylvia’s was “a magical place that brought the community together.” In an interview, Rangel told DNAinfo.com New York that he had first met Woods more than 40 years ago, when he was still lawyer, and she was working as a waitress at another eatery. He watched as she and her husband turned Sylvia’s into an institution, doing everything — from buying their vegetables at the local market to waiting tables — themselves. He watched as she and her husband turned Sylvia’s into an institution, doing everything — from buying their vegetables at the local market to waiting tables — themselves.
What made the restaurant so memorable, he said, was the way Woods embraced her customers, stopping by tables to catch up and chat. “She treated you just like she was family,” Rangel said.And of course there was also the food. Rangel said he used to think soul food was something that only southern folks ate. But she quickly changed his — and others’ —minds. In the process, she became an “icon,” he said, even eclipsing the powerful people she fed.
“She put Lenox Avenue on the map,” he said. “We’re going to miss that lady.” Mayor Michael Bloomberg had coincidentally scheduled his annual Harlem Week reception Thursday evening, where Woods was scheduled to receive an award commemorating the restaurant’s 50th anniversary. He held a moment of silence for Woods before presenting the award.
In a statement, he commended Woods’ commitment to Harlem, noting that she never forgot to give back by creating the Herbert and Sylvia Woods Scholarship Endowment Fund for Harlem High School seniors.
“We lost a legend today,” the mayor said. “In her words, the food was made with ‘a whole lot of love’ and generations of family and friends have come together at what became a New York institution.”
He added: “New York City will never forget the Queen of Soul Food.” In Harlem, memories of the matriarch poured out as news of her passing spread. “My heart goes out to the Woods family,” said Harold Mozelle, a retired postal worker, who said he loved coming to Sylvia’s for the oxtail, cabbage and rice before concerns about high blood pressure made him visit less frequenety.
“The lemonade is slamming,” he said, “and so is the fried chicken.” Zakiya Bey, 73, a retired child care worker, said she visited Sylvia’s before moving to North Carolina, where people often asked about the restaurant when they learned she was a Harlemite. “It’s so well known. Who doesn’t know Sylvia’s?” she asked. “Sylvia’s is pretty much a legend,” her son Mwamba Bey, 52, a CPR instructor, agreed.
Both said Woods’ passing reminded them of how Harlem has changed, with tourists now flocking to the restaurant on tour buses. Woods’ family was together in Westchester when she passed away, her granddaughter said. “Ms. Woods was surrounded by a host of family and loved ones,” a statement from her family said. “Sylvia gallantly battled Alzheimer’s for the past several years, but never once lost her loving smile.
“Sylvia publicly announced at her 80th birthday celebration that she was retiring and passing the torch to her children and grandchildren,” the statement continued, “whom have worked side by side with her and her late husband Herbert building a Soul Food empire for the past 50 years.” | <urn:uuid:96b2fbdf-b77f-46a2-b654-429a948947fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://inqnews.com/?p=162 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979397 | 1,153 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Cars For Girls: THE IN'S & OUT'S OF CO-SIGNING A CAR LOAN
The Auto Channel
An unfortunate thing about being a teenager or a young adult is you're just not always taken very seriously. So attempting to make important decisions, like buying or what's also called financing a car, can be a difficult road to navigate. And because we're kind of new at understanding how to work the system, we are often taken advantage of or downright rejected. This is where – whether we like it or not (and most times NOT) – a parent or guardian does come in handy.
No Credit History Equals No Car Loan
Hey – when we borrowed thirty bucks from dad last week, we paid it back – that should be good from something. And you've always been on time to your job. You've got what's called creditability. So why won't the bank or dealership give you that car loan?
- Car loans are based on credit history. If you go to buy a car, the dealer is going to use your Social Security number to look up your credit report. This document provides information about your credit history – like if you have a bank account or if you have a credit card in your name. Also, they'll pull your FICO score. This number, which ranges from a low 500 to a high 850, is determined by several different factors, such as how long you've had your financial accounts, if you pay bills in your name on time, or if your credit cards are maxed out.
So you can promise until the cows come home you'll make your payments, but the dealership uses these documents as concrete proof you're creditable. So do landlords, and even potential employers.
Piggy-Back Off an Established Credit User
It's the chicken-and-the-egg saying: What came first? I mean, how can you show a credit history if you can't get credit because you don't have a credit history? Geesh.
- Talk to a trusted parent or guardian about co-signing for a credit card. Build your credit by starting with something a bit more manageable and controlled than a big old car loan.
- Get a secured credit card. Most credit cards are based on the trust you can spend now and pay later. A secured credit card works the opposite way: You put money upfront and can charge up to that amount.
Co-signing is about drafting off someone else's (hopefully) good credit history in order to establish your own. It's important YOUR NAME goes on the paperwork, so chances are you and a parent will have to sign up for a new card rather than just getting your name on an old account.
If Either of You Mess Up, it Reflects Poorly On Both Your Credit
If you go on a spending blitz and try and hide the bill – I'm talking about bad behavior you OR your mom or dad do – your credit is no longer non-existent, it's now complete toast.
- Learn as much as you can from the credit bill. Have your co-signer explain what an interest rate is, how much yours is, and how it affects the total cost of your portion of the bill.
- No matter how much money you make, your credit follows you. It takes seven years for a negative mark to be removed from a credit report, and keep in mind there are three companies that provide credit reports: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.
Even if you aren't regularly using the credit you're piggy backing on, your name and future are involved so learn as much as you can. This can be a BIG moment in our life, as we're faced with some issues of whether or not we want to manage our money like our parents do!
The Big Moment: The In's & Out's of Co-Signing for a Car Loan
So after much vehicle research – do it here on The Auto Channel to find out how much car you can afford – and some credit building, you're ready to walk into the dealership and get YOUR NAME on the loan paperwork with a trusted parent co-signing below YOUR dotted line.
- High FICO score equals a low interest rate. So if you (and your parents) have been good – having a low debt-to-credit ratio (meaning if you are approved to use $10,000 worth of total credit and you only have, say, $500 left to pay off on a Nordstroms card), a history of paying on time – you'll get a great interest rate. The difference is thousands.
- Bite the bullet and opt for a 24-to-36 month lease. This means higher monthly car payments, but less interest costs in the end. The difference, again, is thousands.
- Default on the loan and your co-signer will have to pay up. Mom and dad will be responsible if you miss a payment, you'll hurt all three of your credit scores, and you won't have transportation. This is why you NEVER, NEVER want to co-sign for a friend!
Think of mom and dad in this situation as helpers in establishing your credit, not a bankroll for your wheels. Co-signing for a car loan in a sense gets you another step closer out of the house and on your own!
Carz4Girlz Close-ups and AdviceCo-signing Car Loans
Good Better Best - Camry, Civic, TSX
Being More Green With the Car You Have Now
10 Great Reasons A Girl Wants a Truck
Joining the Jeep Family?
Talking and Texting - A BIG NO NO WHILE DRIVING!
Financial Mistakes and Saves
2008 SUV's You Parent Might Buy You!
SUV 101 - How to get your Parent to Buy You an SUV
2007 smart Car
2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster
2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata
2005 MINI and MINI CooperS
2005 Audi tt
More to come, I promise. | <urn:uuid:b041a45f-9b32-4482-9482-a9dda024511b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/10/13/171569.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954044 | 1,262 | 1.828125 | 2 |
The Lure of Falling Water
By Tamia Nelson
March 12, 2013
What explains the allure of falling water? Is it simply the display of nature's power at its most elemental? Or is it the constellation of sensory delights — the touch of cool mist on cheek, the roar reverberating between the river's banks, the trembling earth under our feet, the play of light and shadow on pool and drop? Or could it be something else? Some atavistic awe, perhaps, a relict of the time, not so very many centuries ago, when gods were thought to inhabit the earth's still and moving waters, and when mere mortals feared to incur the water spirits' terrible wrath by some disrespectful act, even if the disrespect was unintended. Of course, those vengeful gods are now long gone from our lakes and streams. But human memory is longer.
In any case, and whatever the reason, I've yet to meet a paddler who is not wholly captivated by waterfalls. Creatures of our time that we are, however, we no longer leave offerings of food or wine for the waters' resident spirits. Instead, we take pictures of each falls we encounter, hoping to capture something of its power and majesty in the process. And yet, all too often, our pictures disappoint us. Something — something vital — is missing.
Our ancestors would have had no doubt as to the reason. They would have told us that the river gods, finding no offering at the water's edge when we took our leave, had chosen to withhold their blessing. In other words, our images had been cursed. That would have been that, too. No other explanation would have been needed. But 21st‑century paddlers are unlikely to be happy with this state of affairs. We want something a little more in tune with our times. Something a little more scientific. We want to understand why we failed to coax the images we sought from nature. And we can begin by …
Cultivating an Awareness of Light
First things, first, though. I'm going to assume that you've mastered your camera and its controls — that you can manipulate shutter speed, aperture, sensitivity, and metering without a second thought. I'll also assume that such terms of art as depth of field, exposure, bracketing, and focal length hold some meaning for you. If this isn't the case, I'd suggest you check out my archived Backcountry Photography articles. (I've listed some of the most relevant ones below.) Then, when you've gotten to know your camera a little better, and when photographic jargon no longer seems like a foreign tongue, just come back here and pick up where you left off.
OK. Let's shed some light on our subject. To capture waterfalls at their best, you want uniform, diffuse light and thinly overcast skies. And what's the worst of all possible worlds for the paddling photographer? A falls that is brilliantly illuminated in one part, while sunk in deep shadow in another. In the latter case, no amount of fiddling with exposure will yield good results. The problem is compounded by water's mirror‑like quality. Here's one instance where reflected light washed out much of a shot's fine detail:
I lengthened my exposure to keep the kayaker from being lost to view in the shadowy plunge pool, with the result that the waterfall proper was reduced to a wash of light. But if I'd exposed for the brightly lit face of the falls, I'd have been equally unhappy with the result. The kayaker would then have disappeared into the murk. Such lose‑lose scenarios often confront paddlers hoping to photograph boating action on sunny, cloudless days.
Sometimes, however, you get lucky. Thin cloud can attenuate and diffuse the sun's light, making it easier to find the correct exposure. The next photo is of the same falls that you saw in Photo A, but this shot was taken on a drizzly, overcast day. As you can readily see, little was lost to glare.
Of course, the sun really isn't your enemy. Without the sun there'd be no light. And no light would mean no photography. (Well, no visible light photography, anyway.) Still, too much of any good thing is often just that: too much. Moreover, low light is not no light. In fact, the fading light and subtle tints near dusk and dawn often make for memorable waterfall shots, as the following sunset photo demonstrates.
That said, you can't always wait around for the sun to go down, and you certainly can't summon clouds when you need them. Luckily, there are three tools available to help you cope with the less than ideal conditions that arise when shadow and sunlight sit side by side, and the first of these is …
The Polarizing Filter. Think of this as sunglasses for your lens. A polarizer cuts through glare and intensifies colors. It also reduces the amount of light entering the lens. Read "Through the Sunstone" to learn more about employing polarizers to best advantage.
And then there's …
The Neutral Density Filter. Another take on the "sunglasses for your lens" idea, neutral density filters — and their sophisticated cousins, graduated neutral density filters — are available in a range of optical densities, with the darkest being very dark indeed.
Both types of filter work by reducing the light reaching your lens from the brightly illuminated water, permitting the longer exposures needed to wrest fine detail from the murk. But they also make that murk even murkier, with the result that your "solution" may actually exacerbate the problem. The bottom line? It's hard to get the balance right.
There's another approach, however, even if it's not for the faint of heart:
High Dynamic Range Photography. On first acquaintance, the technique sounds simple. Just shoot a series of bracketed shots and then meld them in your digital darkroom, producing a composite image that's correctly exposed everywhere. But it's not really simple at all. And the devil's where he usually is — in the details. Since waterfalls are, by their very nature, fluid subjects, never the same from one minute to the next, you may find that combining multiple exposures creates insuperable difficulties. Yet this approach has many devotees, and some of the resulting images can take your breath away. If you have the software (and the time), it's certainly worth giving it a try.
That reference to the fluid nature of waterfalls brings up another important point. Falls are a prime example of water in motion, after all, and when …
Shooting Moving Water …
There's a lot to be taken into account besides the amount (and quality) of the ambient light. Consider shutter speed, for instance. There are two polar extremes: You can freeze time with a fast shutter, or slow things right down and go with the flow. Here's an example. Same place. Same day. Same time of day. (Give or take a few seconds.) But one exposure was nine times longer than the other. See if you can spot the difference:
It wasn't hard, was it? Especially as I labeled the shots with the shutter speed. The shorter exposure (Photo D) stopped the action, so to speak, while the longer one painted the moving water as a blur of white. And which is better? It's your call. What do you want your photo to show? That is the important question, and it's one each photographer has to answer for herself. In the next shot, I wanted to capture the chaotic, turbulent flow of the water in the drop. So I opted for a comparatively fast shutter (1⁄20th of a second, to be exact). And this was the result:
A slower shutter speed would have ironed out the tumbling crests and heaving troughs. But the effect, though certainly pleasing, would have been quite different, as a ½‑second exposure of the same drop, taken from a slightly different vantage point and shot with a tripod, illustrates:
And while I like both pictures, there's no denying that they elicit very different responses. A further illustration can be seen in the following two photos. The first …
Was shot on a sunny day, with a shutter speed of 1⁄1000th of a second. Now compare it with a second photo of the same drop, made when the sun was filtered through a veil of high cirrus. It was shot at a much slower 1⁄30th of a second.
But what if I'd wanted to stop the action in Photo I, just as I did in Photo H? Could I have done so? Yes, but there'd have been a price to be paid. In order to use a fast shutter under low‑light conditions, I'd have had to increase my camera's ISO. And that would have produced color artifacts ("noise") in the resulting image. You might have more luck here than I did, however. My camera doesn't handle high ISOs well. Many digital SLRs do a better job, and yours might be one of them.
Have we learned everything we can from the photos we've seen so far? Not at all. In addition to the range of exposures achieved by varying aperture and shutter speed, notice that the images also exhibit different …
Vantage Points, Perspectives, Angles of View, and Orientations
Each of these variables influences the appearance — and the emotional impact — of a shot. Your vantage point is simply the spot you shoot from, whereas your perspective is determined by the angle of the shot. Are you looking down on your subject? Or up at it? It makes a difference. Angle of view is easy to confuse with perspective, but it's not the same thing at all. It represents your breadth of vision. It can be narrow and tight or broad and inclusive, and to a very large degree it's controlled by your choice of lens, with wide‑angle lenses offering a wider window on the world. Orientation, on the other hand, can be changed at will. Hold your camera level and the resulting image is wider than it is high. This is "landscape" orientation. Turn the camera 90 degrees, however, and you're shooting in "portrait" mode: The image will be tall and narrow. Needless to say, and despite the misleading name, you can also use portrait mode to shoot landscapes.
To see how these variables affect the look and feel of a photo, consider the following shot, made below a falls on The River during low water:
It's the same falls shown in Photos D and E — they're reproduced below to make comparison easy — but the lower vantage point and upward‑looking perspective in Photo J paint a very different picture.
Changing orientation also influences how the viewer sees a shot. The next two photos (Photos K and L), were taken from the same location on the same day, and both were then converted to black and white in the digital darkroom. The first was shot in "landscape" orientation, …
While the second was taken in "portrait" mode.
Photo K was shot at a focal length of 55 mm. It included little more than the waterfall and plunge pool. Photo L, on the other hand, was shot at 10 mm, yielding an ultra‑wide‑angle field of view, though since I was shooting in portrait mode, it might better be described as an ultra‑tall‑angle field of view. In any case, the photo includes the foreground, even showing the deep natural pothole at my feet. The two photos have the same subject, but the effect on the viewer is quite different.
Having now introduced focal length into the discussion, this is a good time to ask if there's a place for long telephoto lenses when shooting waterfalls. And my answer? Sure there is! Photos H and I (above) were both taken with a long zoom, at around 270 mm. If I'd been restricted to a shorter lens, I couldn't have filled the frame. A telephoto is good for more than bringing a distant falls nearer, of course. It can also be used to compress a long view to good effect, as in the photo below:
Here my long lens brings a watery staircase into sharp relief. Compare this "telescoped" view with another of the same scene, taken from a different vantage point while using an ultra‑wide‑angle lens at 10 mm:
The second shot combines a deep depth of field — not surprising when using such a short lens at an aperture of ƒ/16 — with a near panoramic portrait of the falls. It also gives the viewer a much better idea than the preceding long‑lens shot of the sweep of The River around the bend, the season of the year, and even the hour of the day. But the first shot (Photo M) arguably does a better job in conveying The River's raw power.
Let's take a last look at Photo N before moving on. The very span and scope of the scene remind me that the phenomenon of self‑similarity over scale changes can sometimes make it impossible to know whether you're looking at Niagara or Nano Creek. So you might want to include something to impart a measure of scale to your waterfall shots. There are plenty of candidates. Trees, boats, birds… Any or all of these will do the trick. Even your buddies can be pressed into service, as the next photo of a falls shows. The original was shot on film, using a 50 mm "normal" lens, and while my ad hoc slide conversion method leaves much to be desired, it's still easy to see why we chose to carry around this particular drop:
What's the take‑home lesson from all of the foregoing? Simply this: While there's no one best way to photograph a waterfall, there are plenty of ways that the final image can fall short of your expectations — and plenty more ways to get it right. There's no need for me to tell you which outcome is more desirable, is there? That being the case, let me wrap this up with …
A Few Parting Shots
Beginning with the most important tip of all. Do you want to know the secret to getting the shot you want? It's easy. Shoot lots. (Cyclists may be hearing echoes of the advice the laconic Eddy Merckx gave to would‑be champions, back in the golden age of bicycle road‑racing: "Ride lots." It certainly worked for him.) If you take a lot of pictures, and look at everything you shoot with a critical eye, it's almost impossible not to learn something in the process.
Now here are a few more things to keep in mind:
Stay Alive. Actually, this is probably the most important tip of all, but it shouldn't require much reiteration, should it? After all, you're no good to your nearest and dearest if you're dead. And make no mistake, sheer drops and swift currents can kill. Don't get so engrossed in the business of framing a photo that you tumble into the river. (I've seen it happen!) When scouting a shot, exercise the same care that you would when scouting a river. No picture is worth putting your life on the line for.
Protect Your Gear. Waterfalls and their immediate environs tend to be wet places. (You're not surprised, are you?) Even the air is full of penetrating mist. So make a raincoat for your camera and use it. Keep a clean, dry cloth handy to wipe down camera and filters when you're done shooting, too. (Read "Snapping in the Rain" for more ideas on coping with wild water.)
Steady On! Few photos are improved by a shaky stance, and slow shutter speeds always demand rock‑solid support. Use a monopod or tripod when time and terrain permit.
Meter on the Highlights. It helps to avoid overexposing the water.
Take Test Shots. Pixels are cheaper than film. And with a digital camera you can preview your shots as you take them. Which makes it easy to check every exposure before you move on. In particular, learn how to display and interpret the histogram for each image.
Bracket Shots. If time allows, shoot several pictures from the same place, but alter the exposures by as much as 2 EV either way, in 0.5 EV increments. This increases the odds that at least one shot will come out well.
Enjoy Yourself! As important as technical considerations are, they're not an end in themselves. A flawed photo can still evoke good memories. And that's why you take pictures in the first place, isn't it?
Enough of this. It's time to put your skills to the test. Find a waterfall and shoot it. (Frozen waterfalls make good subjects, too. Can you spot the Old Man of the River in this shot? Maybe the river gods haven't abandoned their former haunts, after all.) Then, when spring returns to Canoe Country and sets the waters running free again, you'll be ready.
It sometimes seems that photos of waterfalls adorn every calendar and tourist brochure, and if you're a paddler you've probably taken your share, as well. But as most of us have discovered, compelling photos of falling water don't come easy. If you've been disappointed with the results of your efforts in the past, however, take heart. You, too, can capture a little of the magic of moving water. I've offered some suggestions here. Time and experience will do the rest.
Related "Backcountry Photography" Articles
And from my own website:
Copyright © 2013 by Verloren Hoop Productions. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:87fc92f8-fafa-4142-a4c9-8c2715d6799a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://paddling.net/sameboat/archives/sameboat697.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962335 | 3,676 | 1.78125 | 2 |
AN asylum seeker who has been on a hunger strike for almost 50 days has been transferred to Australia to undergo urgent medical attention.
There were reports earlier this week of the man, who is believed to be Iranian, being hospitalised in Nauru, prompting Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young to call on Immigration Minister Chris Bowen to intervene.
The Department of Immigration confirmed after 5pm on Friday that the man had been transferred to Australia "temporarily" because his condition had deteriorated to a point where he could not be treated on Nauru.
A department spokesman would not provide further details about whether the man had ingested any food or specifics about his medical condition.
The decision was based on a recommendation by the department's health services provider, International Health and Medical Services.
As soon as he is deemed fit to travel the man will be returned to the processing centre on Nauru.
Meanwhile, a second group of asylum seekers, including 12 children, has been transferred to the regional processing centre on Manus Island.
The department said the transfer was made up entirely of eight families from Sri Lanka and Iran and included 16 adults and the children.
They arrived in Papua New Guinea early on Friday.
The selection of this group was based on "operational considerations and an assessment of their particular circumstances", the department said. | <urn:uuid:c59b897f-ef87-4c3c-b541-0a54c2ef6c32> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/hunger-striker-transferred-australia-temporarily/1643260/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982456 | 270 | 1.539063 | 2 |
The Honorable S. Ward Casscells, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and Public Health,
Vice President for External Relations and Public Policy
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Texas Heart Institute
The Honorable S. Ward Casscells, MD, is the Tyson Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Public Health, and Vice President for External Relations and Public Policy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Senior Scholar at the Texas Heart Institute.
From April 2007 through April 2009 he served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) where he was credited with turning around a struggling $45 billion health and education system with 137,000 employees, 10 million patients in 900 clinics and hospitals in 100 countries. For this work Dr. Casscells received the Department of Defense's highest civilian award - the Distinguished Public Service Medal and the Surgeon General's Medallion from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Casscells graduated Yale College and Harvard Medical School (magna cum laude). He trained in medicine and cardiology at Beth Israel, Brigham and Women's, and Massachusetts General Hospitals, the Harvard School of Public Health, National Institutes of Health, and Scripps.
His published research is in the areas of prevention of heart attack and stroke, Bayesian decision-making, medical ethics, influenza and emergency preparedness, nanotechnology, and healthcare management. He also speaks publicly about living with cancer. An inventor, he has founded several successful companies, including Volcano Corporation, and served on numerous civic, corporate, and professional boards, and has been elected to a number of honorary societies.
His recent book, When It Mattered Most, a tribute to medics killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, was termed by Newsweek's Evan Thomas, "a noble work".
A colonel in the Army Reserve, Dr. Casscells served in Iraq in 2006, earning the Joint Commendation Medal and honorary membership in the Iraqi Medical Regiment.
He, his wife and three children are Texans, living in exile in Washington, DC. | <urn:uuid:3361642c-362f-4cb3-a2be-d06b1f3fc68a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uth.tmc.edu/schools/med/imed/divisions/cardiology/faculty/faculty-casscells-s-ward.html | 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 | 0.950836 | 420 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Oh sure, you can sign your own payloads and install your own keys, but in practical terms this means that people who buy computers will not only have to put up with what the vendor pre-installed - just like the majority of people won't ever "install Linux over Windows", even though lots of people think that this is a good enough workaround - but they will have yet another barrier if they do ever discover that they could run something else.
And I'm sure it's not beyond the skills of the vendors to make installing one's own keys a near impossibility and then claiming it was an accident for as long as it takes before they can then claim that the product is no longer supported.
So in practical terms, it is all about control. We can discuss technical workarounds as much as we like and deny that the technology imposes any particular restrictions, but the combination of one company's continuous strategy of pushing the regulatory envelope and that technology results in a shoring up of that company's position.
Why else are the distributions jumping through hoops? Because they like a challenge? The practical effect of the misuse of such a technology is as much a fact as any aspect of the "it's OK - I can still boot my kernel" technical discussion. | <urn:uuid:485640a8-41ee-4c6c-98fe-5c844ee0cb81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lwn.net/Articles/503436/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974227 | 254 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Funded by: US Agency for International Development
Project Duration: 2003–2009
American Academy of Family Physicians (subcontractor)
URC helped to improve health care services and increase service access and utilization. The project broadened health care reform to increase integration, access, and quality in the delivery of services by developing a primary health care model that set standards for comprehensive, integrated services for family planning, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. | <urn:uuid:c9999081-7632-4cb3-bf97-7af97718d82d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://urc-chs.com/project?ProjectID=56 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93519 | 100 | 1.578125 | 2 |
We’ve observed a particular pattern of questions emerging on several Stack Exchange sites.
All these questions are effectively guessing games.
I remember myself playing this a bit childish, but in some ways awesome game, where you control a tank, and can pick up and stack turrets (and maybe something else) from enemy tanks you kill. Maybe they also had different platforms (and if it’s one with wheels then technically it’s not a tank, but hey). It was around 2000 (or maybe even earlier) and the game had 3D graphics.
Trying to remember a book I read in the 80s, reptiles are dominant, have language, have human slaves. Northern human tribes attack the reptile settlements. The reptiles have gourds of partially digested food…they use some type of slug creature to clean hair and fur off mammals.
Please help me finding the single word for representing a person who guides at right time (at the time of need).
I am looking for a children’s book that features a mouse. He lives in a red ticket booth and sleeps in a drawer and rides a motorcycle. It is either a chapter book or a collection of short stories about this mouse.
The question owner tries to describe something they can’t quite remember, in hopes that the greater community will “buzz in” to hazard an answer based on the limited information provided, like on a game show. The best guess gets upvotes, and potentially an accepted answer checkmark. It’s fun, right?
Our engine is great at these kinds of questions, and they tend to do well:
- identify-this-game is the 5th most popular tag on gaming
- story-identification is the 2nd most popular tag on scifi
- single-word-requests is the 3rd most popular tag on english
- story-identification is the 2nd most popular tag on literature*
Of course, guessing game questions aren’t a new phenomenon; I alluded to them in the Pee-Wee Herman Rule. But after a year of observing these guessing game questions grow and spread to multiple sites with similar effects, I no longer believe that the slight benefit of these questions outweighs the many negatives.
1. Guessing game questions aren’t practical
Consider Stack Exchange’s first rule of questions not to ask:
You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page.
A half-remembered description of something you vaguely recall is not what I’d call a practical, answerable question.
Unless the asker has demonstrated a practical reason they need to find this, documented that they’ve invested substantial effort in finding it, and given us something concrete that provides us with a reasonable chance of actually guessing the answer — it’s simply Not a Real Question. At best it is a game show trivia contest.
2. Guessing game questions don’t help others
Because these questions are based on vague, broad, half-remembered descriptions, it is unlikely anyone else will be able to find them through a web search. I have a difficult time imagining how you’d construct a web search, either on Google or via Stack Exchange’s built-in search, to find something that you can’t fully articulate. What’s even worse is that these questions, by their very nature, will contain a bunch of broad, speculative “maybe it’s like…” catch-all terms that are likely to trip up future visitors who end up there by accident.
Consider the example of Netstorm: Islands at War, a game so apparently difficult to remember that our gaming site contains no less than three exact duplicate
identify-this-game questions about it:
- Help identify a real time strategic game taking place on flying islands (September 18, 2010)
- What was the Win95-era game based around floating cities and shield defense? (July 1, 2011)
- Looking for an old PC strategy game, with world hanging in the air/clouds (July 27, 2011)
The goal of Stack Exchange is not to construct un-findable single-serving questions that only help one person, but that’s exactly what guessing game questions tend to do.
3. Guessing game questions are unfair
If we allow vague and insubstantial questions, we are explicitly opening the door to “do my work for me” questions (or worst case, Yahoo Answers) — no need to expend effort, do research, provide examples … just explain in vague, broad terms what it is you partially remember and we’ll do the rest of the hard work necessary to figure it out for you? That’s a dangerous precedent to set. It is disproportionate and unfair to the experts on the site.
Also, an expert in the topic should be able to have at least some confidence that the answer he’s writing answers the question. Take that away, and you’re left with questions that don’t know what they want, and answerers throwing guesses at it hoping one will stick. “Is it mentor?” Nope, try again! “Is it Star Fighter XXIV: The Star Fightening!” Sorry, go fish!
4. Guessing game questions aren’t educational
I understand that it’s sometimes fun to guess what someone is thinking of. I also appreciate that it takes a lot of expertise and deep domain knowledge to take a vague, half-remembered description and nail the exact thing. But I would also argue that these questions aren’t educational in any way, because there’s no way to learn about the process of discovery. A particular community member, by virtue of their experience in the field, just happens to be able to take the limited information you remembered and fill in enough of the blanks to guess the correct answer.
I urge you to click on the guessing game tags yourself and take a long, hard look at the artifacts these guessing game questions are producing. After a year I am convinced that guessing game questions do not meet our goal of making the Internet better.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
* and when your site’s most popular tag is “book-recommendation”, there are perhaps deeper problems to contend with. | <urn:uuid:fa52fbb0-b39f-4011-8c28-ea1e95f44972> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2012/02/lets-play-the-guessing-game/ | 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 | 0.940025 | 1,355 | 1.648438 | 2 |
All honour to the Enderbies, therefore, whose house, I think, exists to the present day; though doubtless the original Samuel must long ago have slipped his cable for the great South Sea of the other world.
The ship named after him was worthy of the honour, being a very fast sailer and a noble craft every way. I boarded her once at midnight somewhere off the Patagonian coast, and drank good flip down in the forecastle. It was a fine gam we had, and they were all trumps—every soul on board. A short life to them, and a jolly death. And that fine gam I had—long, very long after old Ahab touched her planks with his ivory heel—it minds me of the noble, solid, Saxon hospitality of that ship; and may my parson forget me, and the devil remember me, if I ever lose sight of it. Flip? Did I say we had flip? Yes, and we flipped it at the rate of ten gallons the hour; and when the squall came (for it’s squally off there by Patagonia), and all hands—visitors and all—were called to reef topsails, we were so top-heavy that we had to swing each other aloft in bowlines; and we ignorantly furled the skirts of our jackets into the sails, so that we hung there, reefed fast in the howling gale, a warning example to all drunken tars. However, the masts did not go overboard; and by and by we scrambled down, so sober, that we had to pass the flip again, though the savage salt spray bursting down the forecastle scuttle, rather too much diluted and pickled it to my taste.
The beef was fine—tough, but with body in it. They said it was bull-beef; others, that it was dromedary beef; but I do not know, for certain, how that was. They had dumplings too; small, but substantial, symmetrically globular, and indestructible dumplings. I fancied that you could feel them, and roll them about in you after they were swallowed. If you stooped over too far forward, you risked their pitching out of you like billiard-balls. The bread—but that couldn’t be helped; besides, it was an anti-scorbutic; in short, the bread contained the only fresh fare they had. But the forecastle was not very light, and it was very easy to step over into a dark corner when you ate it. But all in all, taking her from truck to helm, considering the dimensions of the cook’s boilers, including his own live parchment boilers; fore and aft, I say, the Samuel Enderby was a jolly ship; of good fare and plenty; fine flip and strong; crack fellows all, and capital from boot heels to hat-band.
But why was it, think ye, that the Samuel Enderby, and some other English whalers I know of—not all though—were such famous, hospitable ships; that passed round the beef, and the bread, and the can, and the joke; and were not soon weary of eating, and drinking, and laughing? I will tell you. The abounding good cheer of these English whalers is matter for historical research. Nor have I been at all sparing of historical whale research, when it has seemed needed.
The English were preceded in the whale fishery by the Hollanders, Zealanders, and Danes; from whom they derived many terms still extant in the fishery; and what is yet more, their fat old fashions, touching plenty to eat and drink. For, as a general thing, the English merchant-ship scrimps her crew; but not so the English whaler. Hence, in the English, this thing of whaling good cheer is not normal and natural, but incidental and particular; and, therefore, must have some special origin, which is here pointed out, and will be still further elucidated.
During my researches in the Leviathanic histories, I stumbled upon an ancient Dutch volume, which, by the musty whaling smell of it, I knew must be about whalers. The title was, “Dan Coopman,” wherefore I concluded that this must be the invaluable memoirs of some Amsterdam cooper in the fishery, as every whale ship must carry its cooper. I was reinforced in this opinion by seeing that it was the production of one “Fitz Swackhammer.” But my friend Dr. Snodhead, a very learned man, professor of Low Dutch and High German in the college of Santa Claus and St. Pott’s, to whom I handed the work for translation, giving him a box of sperm candles for his trouble—this same Dr. Snodhead, so soon as he spied the book, assured me that “Dan Coopman” did not mean “The Cooper,” but “The Merchant.” In short, this ancient and learned Low Dutch book treated of the commerce of Holland; and, among other subjects, contained a very interesting account of its whale fishery. And in this chapter it was, headed, “Smeer,” or “Fat,” that I found a long detailed list of the outfits for the larders and cellars of 180 sail of Dutch whalemen; from which list, as translated by Dr. Snodhead, I transcribe the following: | <urn:uuid:9a20d67a-ea86-41d2-ac29-94c18a390d81> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wpdemo.themnific.com/pre/03/?p=263 | 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 | 0.981032 | 1,168 | 1.648438 | 2 |
The state of Oregon boasts what is probably the country's farthest-reaching ethics reform law. Corruption scandals in Oregon led to legislative action last year that requires public officials in that state to release their family members' financial records. State legislators touted the move as probably the country's farthest-reaching ethics reform law.
But nearly 200 public officials across the state quit after the law took effect this spring. The surprise resignations left many in the state bewildered.
The ethics exodus made perfect sense to rural residents outside the state's major cities. Rural Oregonians say the urban part of the state has gone way too far on lots of policies, including medical marijuana and physician-assisted suicide. Many are also bothered by the fact that Portland has an openly gay mayor.
Tim McGinness, a resident of Elgin — a small town in the far northeast corner of the state — says the state's ethics reform bill was the last straw for many lawmakers from rural and eastern Oregon.
McGinness was the chairman of his city's planning commission, until he resigned in protest in April.
He says it all goes back to early last year, when Democratic state lawmakers signed off on a change to financial disclosure for public officials. At the time, it was hailed as a model for other states.
The law forces officials to publicly declare the sources of their income and those of their spouses. Plus, for the first time, officials are required to identify the names and addresses for all the members of their family.
McGinness says that's an invasion of privacy — and proves how out-of-touch Portland lawmakers are with the folks in the rest of the state.
"I don't mean the people here are less intellectual, less intelligent or not as savvy to the world around them," McGinness says. "But for the most part they just want to keep to themselves."
McGinness says it's personal freedom — that frontier sensibility — that's led to the current revolt.
McGinness says he and others believe the motivation for asking for the personal details of relatives is to learn what they do for a living. He wonders, for example, why people in Portland even care where his sister works.
'Breaks My Heart'
One hundred ninety local officials resigned or quit in the days before the April 15 deadline for lawmakers to fill out the new financial disclosure forms. The penalty for refusal was steep — up to $5,000.
No place was harder hit than McGinness' town of Elgin. In a single week, the town's entire planning commission and City Council quit.
At the City Council meeting the week before the deadline, Mayor Carmen Gentry softly sobbed when she signed her letter of resignation.
"It just really breaks my heart that it has to come down to this," Gentry said at the time.
About a month after the mass resignations in Elgin, the county appointed an interim City Council.
But more than 100 public seats around the state still remain empty.
Many public officials, says McGinness, are not interested in getting their old jobs back — not unless the state Legislature withdraws the law.
That's not likely to happen.
"I think the thing to not lose sight of for everybody involved in this Oregon law is the reason for it. There are logical, good and important reasons to have a strong financial disclosure law for lawmakers," according to Peggy Kerns, director of the Center for Ethics in Government in Washington, D.C.
Kerns says she wants to see the other 49 states follow Oregon's lead and ramp up ethics laws.
Indeed, bulked-up ethics reform laws are under consideration in a number of state capitols. And those lawmakers are watching what's happening in Oregon with interest.
Ethan Lindsey reports for Oregon Public Broadcasting. | <urn:uuid:171c96cd-f094-42cf-815c-d21be771defc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91606626 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970378 | 782 | 1.75 | 2 |
Diane Shattuck filled a prescription in December for a generic antibiotic called doxycycline. With insurance, she paid $4.30 for 60 pills at a CVS store in Orange.
She returned at the end of February to refill her prescription. This time, she was told her cost for the drug would be about $165.
"It was bizarre," Shattuck, 73, told me. "And no one at CVS could explain why the price was so high."
Unfortunately, I won't be able to offer a clear-cut answer, either. But my effort to untangle Shattuck's situation cast a harsh light on the shadowy world of drug pricing.
It revealed that different manufacturers can charge wildly different prices for what is essentially the same generic medicine, and that drugstores can rake in unconscionable profits by passing along marked-up meds to customers without the slightest explanation.
"It's a very murky world," said Jeffrey McCombs, a professor of pharmaceutical economics and policy at USC. "All you can say for sure is that the price being charged has nothing to do with the actual cost of producing the generic."
There's been a lot of buzz lately about insane healthcare charges. Time magazine carried an extraordinary article by Steven Brill recently highlighting the arbitrariness of many hospital prices. My own columns on being hospitalized after a cat bite touched on some of the same issues.
But crazy hospital charges often can be negotiated lower by patients or patient advocates. Prescription drugs are offered by pharmacies to customers on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. And many people might not think to even question the price being charged.
Shattuck was prescribed doxycycline for a skin rash. The first batch of pills she received was manufactured by Watson Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Switzerland's Actavis Group last year. Watson specializes in generic drugs.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, "doxycycline is in a class of medications called tetracycline antibiotics." It's used to treat inflections, "including pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections; Lyme disease; acne; infections of skin, genital and urinary systems."
When Shattuck tried to refill her prescription last month, she was informed that the only doxycycline available was manufactured by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, which, like Watson, specializes in generic drugs. Mylan's doxycycline, however, came with a price tag absurdly higher than Watson's.
Shattuck's doctor said she could skip the refill and stop taking the med, so she never had to fork over the extra cash. But the experience left her wondering how the insured price of the drug could have gone from just a few bucks one month to $165 two months later.
Mike DeAngelis, a CVS spokesman, blamed the problem on "a supplier shortage" involving Watson's doxycycline.
He also said that, "recognizing the significant price difference between the generic drug our patient was previously dispensed and one that was available from a different generic supplier," Shattuck was offered "a bridge supply of her prescription until the original supplier's product became available."
CVS reordered the Watson-made doxycycline within a week's time, DeAngelis said, and "refilled her prescription Feb. 22 and left her a message that her order was ready."
First of all, Shattuck told me that CVS' "bridge supply" consisted of just three pills, which weren't enough to last until the new refill was ready. Moreover, she said, there was no message from the pharmacy that a refill was ready.
"That's because they don't have our phone number," Shattuck explained. "We don't want them calling all the time to say our prescriptions are ready."
As for that supplier shortage, Charlie Mayr, a spokesman for Watson's parent, Actavis, said that "we are shipping to all customers, including CVS. There is no shortage of inventory from the Actavis perspective that we are aware of."
He declined to comment on the pricing of his company's doxycycline, as did Nina Devlin, a spokeswoman for Mylan.
But Devlin said that Mylan's doxycycline and Watson's doxycycline are not perfectly identical, "and therefore cannot be compared by price." | <urn:uuid:549d1957-5e90-4abb-8838-3b9464bcb6b4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.portlandscw32.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20130308,0,2464874.column | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975499 | 908 | 1.648438 | 2 |
It’s been a decent day out there, though perhaps one of those days that look better from the inside thanks to elevated humidity levels. Highs in the mid-and-upper 80s aren’t too far from normal here in late August, and after the weekend storminess, it’s nice to see lots of sun again. We should stay dry through the remaining daylight hours, but a cold front on its way brings a chance of rain early Tuesday morning.
Through Tonight: Clouds associated with an approaching cold front may not make themselves too known until late night, with just a few here and there early. After midnight, mostly cloudy skies should be the rule. A line of showers or t’showers could (30%-40% chance) move into the region before sunrise, sweeping east with the front into the early morning. With at least partly cloudy skies, and still high humidity, lows only reach the upper 60s to low 70s.
Tuesday: The cold front should push through the area early enough to salvage a pretty decent day. After a threat of near-sunrise (maybe into rush hour) showers or t’showers, a nicer air mass filters in behind the front. With plenty of afternoon sun, and a bit of a downsloping (compressed/warmed off the mountains) wind, we probably won’t notice cooler air just yet, but it should be drier. Highs range from the mid-80s to near 90. Some cold air aloft might spark a shower late in the day, but with less and less surface moisture to work with, it seems a small risk.
Pollen: Recent rains have helped clear pollen temporarily. Tree, grass and weed counts are all low. Mold spores remain high. If you’re a ragweed sufferer, Susan Kosisky from the U.S. Army Centralized Allergen Extract Lab notes that typical peak is early September.
Florida rain: Torrential rain bands from tropical storm Isaac spiraling over the Florida peninsula have produced rainfall totals today up to 7”. The most widespread heavy totals exceeding 2.5” concentrated in Broward and Palm Beach Counties according to data from the National Weather Service and WeatherBug. But the big winner was Okeechobee County Airport which received 7” today, making its two-day storm total 13.68”.
Isaac at 5 p.m.: Maximum winds have strengthened to 70 mph and pressure is down to 981 mb. Very close to hurricane status. Link: Image of latest landfall simulations from four models. | <urn:uuid:fc243d75-6911-4a05-8dd8-30aa9de069f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/2012/08/27/0b8393fc-f08a-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_blog.html | 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 | 0.949356 | 538 | 1.640625 | 2 |
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GKC readers not only inquire about great Passover recipes, but also about great Passover wines. This time of year we are flooded with wine and food questions and we will attempt to help you with each of them. First, the most popular question is, “What are your recommendations for great Seder wines? Specifically, please recommend …
A Little Known Best Kept Secret... How I Cook Kosher for Passover Recipes without a Passover Kitchen
Many articles are published this time of year regarding the pre-preparation time for Passover. They focus mainly on cleaning the house, and possibly buying ingredients for your Passover recipes. But it's rare to find any practical advice for someone who wishes to cook their Kosher for Passover foods well in advance of the holiday. In this special guest blog, Rivka Slatkin offers an innovative and time-saving way to start cooking Kosher for Passover recipes, well before kashering your entire kitchen. | <urn:uuid:67dcb5f6-fe00-4fcb-bf8c-cbaf330aea99> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gourmetpassovercooking.com/2012/03/dairy-menu/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951178 | 255 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Swedish Govt Receives Baltic Pipeline Plans
by Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
December 21, 2007
The joint venture that plans to build an underwater Baltic Sea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany on Friday handed in application documents to the Swedish government.
The move was announced shortly after members of the opposition and
government held a special debate in parliament on the project.
Members of the opposition cited a recent survey by Swedish radio
news that said 72 percent of the legislators that answered a recent
poll opposed the envisaged pipeline through the Baltic Sea, some 10
percent were in favor while 17 percent were undecided.
Anders Ygeman, environment spokesman for the opposition Social
Democrats, said the centre-right government had "abandoned the
previous government's stance" and lacked support also among many of
its own parliamentary backers.
Ygeman urged Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren to "clearly
state" that the gas pipeline was "not in Sweden's interest," adding
that Sweden and its Baltic neighbours should probe a land-based
Carlgren said he would not be drawn on the possible merits or
disadvantages of the project in order not to jeopardize the process,
but underlined it would be evaluated according to "tough
Critics have cited potential hazards posed by chemical weapons
dumped in the Sea after World War II.
Carl B Hamilton, member of parliament for the Liberal Party that
is part of the four-party coalition, said he remained skeptical.
He said Foreign Minister Carl Bildt should use his contacts in the
region to broker a deal to build the pipeline on land by bridging
outstanding differences, mainly between Russia and Poland.
Hamilton added that in future the increased oil tanker shipping
from Russia through the Baltic Sea posed an "even greater threat" to
The 1,200-kilometer pipeline would run from Viborg in Russia to
Greifswald, Germany and was planned to pass through the Swedish
economic zone, east of the Swedish Baltic Sea island Gotland.
Sweden is not dependent on Russian energy exports, but critics of
the project have noted that Moscow has at times used energy as a
means to gain political leverage, citing the example of Ukraine.
Nord Stream, the Russian-German joint venture, said it had
submitted an application for the construction of the pipelines as
well as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
The group said it was willing to "discuss all relevant factual
issues with authorities, organizations and citizens."
Copyright 2007 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
Nord Stream Pipeline
Nord Stream AG
Vyborg, Russia to Greifswald, Germany Russian Federation | <urn:uuid:f38e2669-d159-4827-9387-0bbfe5c847d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.downstreamtoday.com/(S(pesaxm55a1z0azmbreaiat45))/news/article.aspx?a_id=7807&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942086 | 570 | 1.742188 | 2 |
" Meet Dan Budzban, 6th grade Rainbow Valley Teacher and
Dan was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1975. He further pursued his education, attending The University of Wisconsin at Madison where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts in 1999. He married his wife, Stephanie, in 2001 and moved to Arizona. He enrolled in the Rio Teacher Prep Program, earning his teaching certificate. He has been a teacher in the Liberty School District for 8 years.
Dan's interest in cartooning started at an early age, reading Peanuts and Garfield in the daily paper as well as watching lots of Looney Tunes on Saturday mornings. In June, of 2007, Dan attended the Gilchrist Cartoon Academy Apprenticeship program in Avon Connecticut where he learned how to professionally cartoon . During his time there, he was fortunate enough to work alongside Guy Gilchrist, the cartoonist for Jim Henson's Muppets cartoon in the early 1980's and is currently the cartoonist on the comic strip Nancy seen in hundreds of newspapers across the United States. Dan also worked with Scott Lincoln and George Sellas, two extremely talented cartoonists and artists.
Dan's comic strip, the Desktop Bandits, revolves around a group of school supplies caught up in the every day educational humor. Dan draws on his educational background for his stories. It has been in creation for three years with the most recent work being viewed on this website.
This strip reminds us about personal hygiene!!
[ << index ] All items | <urn:uuid:0e8f45df-113c-4d30-8f07-7af56ef4bf11> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.liberty.k12.az.us/education/components/album/default.php?sectiondetailid=949&grid=596 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980525 | 304 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Monday 20 May 2013 02:40 UTC
If you're learning to fly, or thinking of learning, then here's the place to post your questions, comments and experiences
I did my first solo landaway to Duxford. Much fun. Many years ago.
IMHO the big thing to get right is what's on your kneeboard. Get all the information together, in roughly the order you'll need it, and know your way around it. Include information for your alternate - it's incredibly rare that a solo student has to divert, but not impossible. Have a well marked up chart that you're really comfortable with the folding of.
And most of all, enjoy it, and so long as you do it all as taught, you'll be fine. Don't come up with any clever new ideas! Those always end in tears.
Yes, but fortunately most of them happened to other people.
But my first solo X-country I tried to "do my own thing" nav-wise, got horribly lost, eventually found my way back to home base late and embarrassed. I was honest with my instructor, who calmly said that perhaps we should do a little more dual nav. I agreed.
I was half the age I am now, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
I did the first part of my training in oz (then my visa ran out but that's another story). Best tip I got was to draw a rough visualisation of your destination on your plog. But do it (sounds obvious) in the direction that you expect to come from. That way you have a fair idea of what you should be seeing. As you learn (and still for me now) it's all about reducing the workload. I would write where downwind should be and the numbers at each end of the little lines that represented the runways. Hope this helps.
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Beachgoers on the shores of the Sea of Azov in southern Russia region of Krasnodar were surprised and devistated by the cries of a donkey parachuting above them. The donkey was tied to a parachute as a promotional stunt. The shrills of the donkey led to the tears of children as people began filming the event and calling local newspapers. Not until later were regional police called. When did radio advertising and blimps not become enough?
The story was aired on Russia Today: | <urn:uuid:042c02cf-4c2f-4ed6-abb2-f688b624613c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://disinfo.com/tag/golubitskaya/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988443 | 103 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Academics - Opportunities - First-Year Seminar - Community Tours - Research Seminars - Service-Learning
Undeclared students have access to the wide range of courses offered in all of the colleges across the University. Taking introductory courses in majors of possible interest, many of which are part of the NU Core Curriculum, is a wonderful way to begin to explore the disciplines, while taking advantage of the richness of Northeastern’s varied curriculum. We also offer multidisciplinary courses that have been specifically designed to provide undeclared students with opportunities to explore broad philosophical and practical issues/questions, to give students opportunities early in their academic studies to work closely with faculty and other students, and to both ask and answer the questions that matter in today’s world. In so doing, students are able to explore interests that may translate into academic majors or areas of study.
- Why should the NU community care about sustainability? And, if we do, what can we do to enhance current sustainability efforts?
- What is the role of the University in promoting citizenship and social activism?
- How might this extend to NU students and both our Boston and global communities?
Opportunities across the University
We encourage our undeclared students to pursue the rich and rigorous academic avenues available to them at Northeastern. The wide array of research opportunities, internships and co-op positions, local, national and international all play an integral part in the academic journey of an undeclared student.
The University expects all students to explore different disciplines as they fulfill the thought-provoking requirements in the NU Core. This ensures, for example, that a chemistry major will graduate not only with the depth of knowledge in science, but also with the breadth of knowledge of the social sciences, arts and humanities as well as the skills to think critically and analyze and synthesize information. Capable advisors guide undeclared students to fulfill these NU Core requirements as the students take courses that will help them explore various majors and disciplines of interest and discover the path that will lead to their academic goals.
Connections and Decisions, the Freshman Seminar for Undeclared Students
FSEM 1000, Connections and Decisions, is a one-credit seminar specifically designed for first-semester freshmen in the Program for Undeclared Students. Through this weekly course, we provide guidance to students as they explore the wide variety of opportunities and resources available on our campus. The class is co-taught by instructors who are advisors, faculty, or graduate students, in partnership with teaching assistants, undergraduate students who enjoy introducing students to the many exciting facets of Northeastern’s campus.
Weekly discussions, in-class exercises and reflections, and homework assignments help first-year students to:
- learn how to navigate and make the most of the resources available at the University
- adjust to the academic and social aspects of university life
- provide guided exploration to students as they discover the path to their academic goals
- foster students’ independence and self-reliance as they learn to manage their academic careers
As a part of this course, students attend our Meet the Majors Fair as well as the many weekly programs offered through our What’s in a Major series where faculty and students from majors across the University speak about their classroom and co-op experiences.
Undeclared students are required to participate in a Place and Opportunity tour as part of their FSEM1000 course requirements. Students will have the opportunity to go on a neighborhood tour conducted by their Peer Mentor and Teaching Assistants for FSEM1000. Students will enjoy local food from restaurants on their tour and get to know more about the Boston community and ways for students to get involved in service and to learn more about their new urban surroundings. The Place and Opportunity tours are an important introduction to the dynamic and engaging opportunities that await NU students.
Undeclared students may elect to participate in one-credit research seminars designed to introduce them to the process of conducting academic research and to explore its relevance for real-world problem solving. Students select from a broad array of research topics currently being explored by NU faculty members. The seminars meet weekly and allow students to study important global issues in a small-group setting and, under the guidance of a faculty member, to discuss and assess the relevance and impact of these timely academic issues.
Through the research seminars, nationally-recognized Northeastern scholars help students explore:
- what it means to be a researcher or to conduct primary research
- why academic research should matter to people in the real-world, and
- how research translates into individual and organizational policies and practices that can improve the world
Undeclared freshmen may choose a service-learning section of FSEM1000 which will provide the opportunity for students to explore their interests, develop professional skills and prepare for their first co-op experience. The service-learning sections will serve weekly at a local organization outside of class, helping students become more familiar with the Boston community. Their service will be integrated into the FSEM1000 Connections and Decisions curriculum and allow students the unique opportunity of experiential learning in their first semester.
Here is a list of our Service-Learning Community Partners:
-Boston Rescue Mission
-Boston Scholar Athlete Program
-Hostelling International, Cultural Kitchen
-Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures
-Peace through Play
-Strong Women, Strong Girls
-Tobin Community Center
-United South End Settlements (USES)
-Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury
-YMCA of Greater Boston, King K-8 School
-Youth Development Initiative Program (YDIP)
For more information on the range of service-learning opportunities offered by our Service Learning website.
If you’re interested in taking a service-learning section of your FSEM1000 seminar, please fill out the brief survey at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S-L_undeclared_interest_form_Summer-Fall2012 so that we can help identify service opportunities best suited towards your academic and professional interests! | <urn:uuid:4e861592-246c-4dd0-8cda-537155cab8a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.northeastern.edu/undeclared/academics/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940621 | 1,272 | 1.703125 | 2 |
But that was the past and the world has changed drastically since then, as has the visions and experiences of this visionary. Beginning at the age of 16, in underground shows and galleries, she was inspired, but wasn't able to follow her passions through formal avenues of discovery. You see, 40 years earlier her father had studied in England, and she needed special permission for advanced studies.
Simple enough, but her rebellious young mind asked the wrong questions, like 'Why were the Americans stopped in Pilzen in 1945?'.
So off she went instead to a textile arts school, but a chance to leave the country took her to Germany, where she was again deprived of educational opportunities, and employment as well, even as an intern. After 2 years in Germany, and what she calls 'The Change', she returned to Prague, wanting to do things. Big things.
What she found though was the continuance of an age-old apathy, "Under the Communist, the Czech people were sitting in bars saying 'Oh, we can't do anything, we can't do what we want, we have to drink'. When the wall came down, after The Revolution, I came back and they are still sitting in the pubs talking, 'We can't do anything, we are too poor'. It's all just a million excuses."
Supporting herself designing t-shirts, she learned the art of business without becoming cynical about it. Surprising, because the imagery inherent in her work is an honest portrayal of an unhappy, cynical world.
"Do you see the world being happy? Then why should we just paint pictures of flowers and landscapes?" This comes from the belief that good artwork comes out of difficult times. Good artists are those sensitive souls that say out loud things that people are generally afraid to say or see.
Her recent works, (long displayed at the now defunct Marquis de Sade), are born from her experiences in the Balkans, especially Macedonia and Albania. Depicting the poor but noble spirit of these war-afflicted regions, she painted a very moving piece, "The Survivor", painted after gaining perspective from a hard to come by copy of Nick Cave's And the Ass saw the Angel.
Another piece, "The Shock Shop", is inspired by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and an alcoholic friend's experiences with the German mental health care system.
Her latest works are exploring the structures of meat, (she's vegetarian) and imagery from the age of Francis bacon, especially the biblically proscribed punishment of being skinned alive. She is seeking to show the beauty of meat, and the differences between skin and meat through the medium of her paints.
Given the rich, luscious, yet slightly unsettling feeling of her paintings, this new body of works promises to be an enlightening experience for all those who haven't forgotten the importance of either, and want to feel once more with all their senses. | <urn:uuid:00fbab8c-c3ee-4ced-9cd3-4ad621f97f9f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.think-magazine.com/culture/31-artists/103-ellen-eldridge.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980261 | 602 | 1.804688 | 2 |
It is so far, so good for the Chicago Transit Authority's freshly rehabilitated Green Line.
It returned to service Sunday almost on schedule--remarkable considering the complexity of the project--and though work remains on several stations, riders got what was promised: a faster, smoother trip through the West and South Sides.
But as a symbol of renewal in public transportation, the reopening of the once-dilapidated, century-old elevated train system commands several important considerations, the most immediate being whether this experiment turns out to be boondoggle or genius.
The CTA took an enormous gamble 28 months ago when it decided to completely close the line, reasoning--correctly so--that the $350 million rebuilding could be completed much more quickly and cheaply. With ridership already declining, however, that sent passengers scurrying to other forms of transportation.
The question now--with the promise of better service--is whether those riders can be lured back, along with new ones, and whether the restoration also can help rejuvenate neighborhoods along the route.
The answer will influence other important decisions in the months ahead, among them whether other dilapidated lines--notably the Brown Line--should be rebuilt, operated at continuing great cost or closed.
The CTA is at a critical juncture for those kinds of decisions, with ridership declining in general and state and federal support of mass transit shrinking rapidly. The unfortunate resignation of CTA President Robert Belcaster couldn't have come at a worse time; his businesslike, innovative, customer-oriented approach in leading the CTA through some tough budget times will be missed.
Mayor Richard Daley and the CTA board must choose wisely in filling this void because the choices are going to get tougher if the CTA is to stay afloat and provide reasonable service. It must make fundamental decisions about the level of service--whether, for example, the sickest parts of the system should be eliminated, or--as Belcaster proposed--such things as overnight service should be chopped.
In that, the CTA could use the forbearance of community and political leaders who demand more and better service--more stations on the Green Line, as one example--while the agency is suffering.
The CTA is not alone with these problems; it is a microcosm of what is afflicting transit systems nationwide. And that underscores the greatest consideration of all: whether, at the state and federal level, there is sufficient understanding of the fundamental role of public transportation as a lifeline in urban areas. If the support continues to dwindle, the Green Line may be the CTA's last great experiment. | <urn:uuid:758a118b-1f3f-48af-9af6-20cc4d933261> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-05-16/news/9605160014_1_green-line-public-transportation-chicago-transit-authority | 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 | 0.941456 | 540 | 1.78125 | 2 |
September 18-19: Highs and Lows
This story is typical of the thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of stories that, along with the silt and the mud, now permeate the Gulf Coast region. Everyone has a story and many of these people need someone who will listen to their story. As time passes for the people in the Red Cross Shelter in Hattiesburg, telling their stories seems like the only thing they have control of. There is no question that help has been pouring into the region—help from the federal government, from state government, from the Red Cross, from local charities, from churches, from businesses, from individuals, and from loosely organized groups. However, a system to access this help is sorely lacking. Every day the radio, television, and newspapers are filled with phone numbers and addresses where a specific kind of help is available. If you need a tarp for your roof, go to one of these four locations; if you need cash assistance, go to one of these Red Cross locations to register; if you need food, go to this location tomorrow; if you need emergency food stamps, call this number; if you need a prescription refilled, go to one of these pharmacies; if you need clothing, visit this church; if you need … if you need… if you need…, and the list goes on and on and on. Even the most experienced human services worker would have trouble navigating through the maze of available assistance. It's a disaster in and of itself.
The good news is that property owners who have cars are starting to get trailers from FEMA. The first trailer park that was set up for people at the Hattiesburg shelter is at a county park about 20 miles away. Although they are only one bedroom trailers, the people I've talked to are quite happy with them and with the location. A few people have turned them down because they are city people who are afraid of living so far out in the country. They are hopeful another park will be set up closer to town.
For the most part, however, the people who are left at the shelter now are the people without cars, people with disabilities, and people who didn't own property to begin with. These are the poorest of the poor, the sickest, the feeblest, the most mentally unstable, the least desirable. The shelter is scheduled to close by no later than Friday, September 23. Where these people will go is yet to be seen but I suspect some will be transferred to yet another shelter until someone figures it out.
When 76-year old Gilda arrived at the shelter she quickly won everyone's heart. Rather than evacuate New Orleans with various members of her family who were heading in different directions out of the city, she chose to drive a 60-year old, mentally-challenged friend of hers to Mississippi where this woman's relatives lived. Just outside of Hattiesburg, her car broke down. The car had to be left and Gilda and her friend were given a ride to the shelter to sit out the storm. For the next three weeks, Gilda searched for her daughter, her niece, anyone who could take her in. She posted her information on the Internet, she was interviewed by the newspaper, she spoke with the radio and the TV news. Her health deteriorated and she spent time in the hospital before returning to the shelter to wait for some information about her family.
One day last week, when she returned to the shelter after a doctor's visit, she found that her friend had left the shelter without her. Now utterly alone, she tried hard not to despair but despair was clearly setting in. She was angry, hurt, and terrified of never finding her family. But even then, she had a good word for anyone who would listen; she helped the woman in the cot next to hers find clothes that would fit her; and she hugged anyone who needed a hug.
Then, just two days ago, she received a call at the shelter. Her niece found her listed on the Internet and immediately called her. Yesterday, her niece came to get her and took her home with her. I can't think about Gilda without tears coming to my eyes. What an amazing spirit she is. God clearly lives in her soul.
Although not quite as dramatic as Gilda's story, Mary's story touched me in a different way. With no home of her own, Mary worked as a live-in care giver to an elderly woman. The house where she was living was destroyed and the person she was caring for moved in with relatives. Like countless others, suddenly Mary had no place to live, no job, and no hope of getting a FEMA trailer. She thought she could get another live-in job but with no phone where potential employers could call her, the prospects didn't look good. She was becoming more and more depressed by the day. After we talked on Friday, I was pretty convinced she would be one of the long-term victims of Katrina with little chance of recovery. Then on Saturday, a woman stopped by the shelter. Mary happened to overhear her tell the Red Cross worker at the registration desk that she lives alone in a four bedroom house just down the road from the shelter and wondered if anyone there wanted to come live with her. Mary jumped at the chance and now has a nice place to live, a new friend, and renewed hope. She hugged me when she left and thanked me for the time I had spent with her. She walked out the door of the shelter with a smile on her face.
Gulf Coast UUs
On Sunday (September 19) we went down to meet with the UU congregation in Gulfport. Rev. Martha Munson (minister, UU Congregation of East Aurora, NY) is going to be joining me here tomorrow and we'll be spending time with the Gulfport UU community over the next week. All are alive but many have lost their homes—their pain is palpable. I'll have much more to share about their needs soon. Keep them in your prayers.
In faith and hope,
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors and congregations. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Thursday, August 2, 2012. | <urn:uuid:46084233-3f24-4784-ad9c-2132a382b2be> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uua.org/news/archive/gulfcoast/apersonal/21587.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984672 | 1,279 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (AMEX:LNG) announced its plans to build the first liquefied natural gas export plant in the United States for 40 years. Cheniere intends to make a market revolution and it has already received initial interest from potential buyers and producers interested in committing supply to the project.
After the news was reported, LNG's stock flew up 12.69% at 3.02 on the high volume of over 1 million shares. It is more than the company's average traded volume and it still keeps a high value.
During the last weeks, there was a resistance level at 3.0, while currently LNG trades at 3.34 and the maket cap points 191.26M.
Cheniere Energy, Inc. is developing a platform of three, 100%-owned, onshore liquefied natural gas, or LNG, receiving terminals along the U.S. Gulf Coast. According to the records, company's revenue for 2009 is higher than the year before, but its net income is 2 times lower. However, the LNG's quarterly results for 2010 look better.
Although the results were consolidated for financial reporting, Cheniere, Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. | <urn:uuid:e5d888a6-01e9-490b-b4fb-1165ea892b3f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pinkinvesting.com/article/view/Cheniere-Energy-Inc.-Plans-A-Market-Revolution_585 | 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 | 0.960492 | 254 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Optimism about the possibility of improving living conditions for everyone in America so that every individual can realize their full human potential is at the heart of the democratic Left tradition in America. Against the ideological Right's grinding negativity and appeals to the fear, selfishness and ignorance, the democratic Left offers hope for national renewal.
- "But what has happened is the Republicans have said 'no, no, no.' They have waged more filibusters than any time in the history of this country. They have been the party of 'no' and obstructionism. At some point, what the president has got to understand [is] they do not want America to succeed. They're into politics." Senator Bernie Sanders, Vermont. Oct. 3, 2010. | <urn:uuid:7b320d8d-c423-480f-b335-3e1b6f14e271> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://left.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954437 | 150 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Playing Cards - 108 Poker Tips
Brand: Finders Forum
Types: Playing Cards, Card Games
Poker - a game of chance or a game of skill? Chance, because of the random dealing of playing cards; skill as players have to make informed decisions based on the risk-reward nature of the game and the general probabilities presented with each hand.
Among the more interesting tips and trivia contained in our Poker Tips & Trivia Playing Cards are the following:
When players are placing their bets watch which chips they use. Using small denomination chips for the same size bet usually denotes weakness or a bluff while using larger denomination chips often subconsciously indicates confidence and strength. If you are betting using a black chip to bet $100 it looks like a smaller wager than a bet of $90 using three green chips and three red chips even though it's $10 more. If your opponent is inexperienced you can put more chips in the pot when you would like him to fold and the greater number of chips in the pot is more intimidating than only one and conversely if you are looking for action, bet with fewer chips.
Alice Ivers, better known as "Poker Alice", moved to Colorado from England in 1860 and eventually married a mine who played cards. She often accompanied him and after he died started playing for a living. She earned the nickname "Poker Alice" having been able to make as much as $6,000 gambling on a good night. Alice claims to have won more than $250,000 gambling over the years and to have never once cheated as she new how to count cards and figure the odds and was skilled at "reading" other players while remaining stone-faced herself.
An intriguing combination of Poker Trivia and Poker Tips, while there's no guarantee you're going to win you will however learn more about the game and the interesting personalities who play for a living and for pleasure when you explore the world of poker with our Poker Tips & Trivia Playing Cards. | <urn:uuid:0bb607f1-b60c-4e74-aca8-a6407ffa50db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.puzzlemaster.ca/browse/games/boomerangs/4702-playing-cards-108-poker-tips?image=7537 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977085 | 404 | 1.5625 | 2 |
|Published 2,662 days ago|
Teacher sacrifices locks after students exceed reading quotas
Jaylynn Snider takes a razor to the head of Mark Stuckenschneider, a teacher at Pinnacle Canyon Academy. Stuckenschneider, called "Mr. S" at the school, challenged sixth graders to read 30 minutes every school day in January. Not only did the students read the time required for the challenge, but they exceeded it. The reading challenge was in addition to normal reading assignments and homework. In an assembly on Feb. 3, the studentbody watched as locks of hair fell to the floor. Stuckenschneider said he has always had long hair and was unsure of what to expect as a bald man.
|Related Articles |
Best viewed with Firefox | <urn:uuid:e16d94e3-873e-4343-9682-bb6f08d5a4f1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sunadvocate.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=8386&poll=269&vote=results | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972118 | 164 | 1.75 | 2 |
Narzibek Davlatov and Akhtam Toirov were sentenced to 15 and 22 years in prison, respectively, for serving as accomplices in the slayings. The two men were arrested in October 2001, and their trial began in June 2003.
The convictions come a week after a Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) delegation traveled to Tajikistan and called on the government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the murders of dozens of journalists during the country's 1992-1997 civil war.
In December 1995, Olimpur was found dead near the University of Tajikistan with a gunshot wound to the head. Months later, in March 1996, Nikulin was shot dead outside of ORT's offices in the capital, Dushanbe.
The presiding judge in the case, Makhmadali Vatanov, told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the murders were ordered by Nozim Yunusov, a field commander with the United Tajik Opposition who died during the civil war.
The man suspected of carrying out the killings, Nasrullo Sharipov, is serving a prison term in St. Petersburg, Russia, for an unrelated crime, according to Russian news reports. Russian authorities have rejected Tajikistan's extradition request.
"We are pleased that Tajik authorities are finally taking steps to end impunity and bring to justice those responsible for murdering journalists during the civil war," said CPJ deputy director Joel Simon. "We hope that this trend continues."
CPJ delegation calls for an end to impunity
During a meeting with the CPJ delegation last week, Deputy State Prosecutor General Azizmat Imomov agreed to review a CPJ list of about two dozen journalists who were murdered during the war and promised to respond in writing within 30 days.
Journalists in Tajikistan who met with the delegation said the government's failure to solve these cases continues to haunt the press and inhibits basic coverage of even mundane topics.
CPJ first visited Tajikistan in 1994 and found that both parties to the conflict—the People's Front and the United Tajik Opposition—were targeting journalists in reprisal for their reporting. A peace treaty between the warring factions ended the war in 1997. | <urn:uuid:be9e7537-8052-47e3-9eaf-a104f89ab9ea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cpj.org/2003/07/suspects-convicted-of-murdering-two-journalists-du.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973556 | 457 | 1.523438 | 2 |
NEWPORT CITY – Substance abuse continues to be a major problem in the Green Mountain State. Last Wednesday, the Community Form Coalition, with the assistance of entertainers Wayne Warner and Emily Nyman, presented “It Can’t Happen To Me” at North Country Union High School auditorium. The goal of the program was to create awareness of the impact that substance use and abuse has on the entire community.
Vermont, said Warner, rates second per capita for the highest drug use in the country. Vermont spends more than a $150 million a year on drug-related crimes, which doesn’t include the overflow on child abuse and the need for foster care and adoption.
Michael Lucier, an inmate of the Northern State Correctional Facility, presented the keynote address. Lucier, on Aug. 18, 2009, lost control of his vehicle on the North Jay Road in North Troy, struck pedestrians and a utility pole and continued driving until he crashed his vehicle on Route 105.
One of the pedestrians, Alyssa Burns, sustained broken bones and lacerations. The other pedestrian, Bethany McAlister, died.
Lucier, who showed up to the forum with guards and in shackles, told the small crowd that he started using drugs and alcohol when he was around 16. He never thought he had a problem like the ones he saw on television and locally. But Lucier soon found out that he has an addictive personality.
“It seemed like the more I used, the worse I got, and the more I wanted to do,” said Lucier. “It just became to where it was never enough.”
Lucier’s substance use started as an occasional weekend activity, but then turned into something he did every weekend. At 21, he was introduced to painkillers. Lucier liked the effect of the pills and kept taking them. Taking pills soon turned out to be an everyday activity. Lucier eventually got introduced to heroin.Â
“It’s something I would never, ever dream I would ever start doing," said Lucier. "As a kid, we never even heard of that (heroin), but it started coming around the area and I was hanging around with the kids that were hanging around with the people that were bringing it to the area."
It got so bad that Lucier started stealing out of his parents' Newport Center Store and ripping off friends. Lucier checked himself into a New York rehabilitation center for 31 days, which helped, but it was not enough and he started using within three months after getting out. It got so bad he lost his job and was kicked out of his parents' house. He stayed at an acquaintance’s camp for a few months when he heard about a bufo/morphine clinic in Springfield. The clinic helped him a lot. He said he got cleaned up from all the other drugs and was going to that clinic for four years. "I was doing good. I got myself into a relationship. I was happy."
Around 2007, he transferred his treatment to the methadone clinic in Newport City. But Lucier got into relationships problems and started drinking, until he was doing that everyday.
"I never got into drinking heavy" before this, he said. "But as soon as I started drinking, it was just like the pills, it progressed and progressed." Friends warned him that he was using alcohol the same way he had used drugs. His world fell apart.
The day Lucier killed McAlister, he went to the methadone clinic and stopped to pick up some pills from a friend, "because I didn't care about my life." During his meal break at work, Lucier bought a fifth of alcohol at noon and drank it by 3 p.m. After work, he stopped at his parents' store to buy groceries and more alcohol while on his way home in Jay.
“After that it gets a little fuzzy,” said Lucier. He left the store and stopped at a friend’s home, but doesn’t remember being there. Lucier’s friend tried to convince him to spend the night. “He knew I was messed up more than I did, but it obviously didn’t work, because I didn’t stay. I ended up driving home, but I never made it home."
On the way home, Lucier blacked out, struck the two women and the utility pole. When Lucier's vehicle hit the pole, he snapped out of the blackout enough to swerve back on to the road, unaware that he had hit the women. He didn’t want to call the police to report he hit the pole, because he was concerned he'd get arrested for drunk driving.
Lucier kept driving but blacked out again and got involved in a second collision further down Route 105, where he woke up for a brief time. Lucier woke up again in the hospital with a police officer on one side and doctor on the other. He didn’t find out he'd hit the women with his vehicle until he was at the police station.
Lucier never thought he would hurt someone.Â
“I didn’t want to hurt someone like that, but I did,” said Lucier. “Now I have to live with that the rest of my life, knowing I took somebody’s life and I can’t give it back. It’s not a good thing, trust me. It can happen to you and it does. I’m living proof of that.”
Lucier also has to deal with the thought he hurt Burns mentally and physically. Now he has to spend the next four and a half years in prison. Lucier said prison is a place he never thought he would go and he knows very well that he ruined his life.
Lucier would like to see more forums like the one held Wednesday and a helpline, which some users may find easier than meeting someone face to face and admitting he or she has a problem. Lucier said he will never forgive himself for the accident.
“That just isn’t going to happen,” said Lucier.Â
After Lucier’s presentation, forum organizers played Warner’s "Black and White Rainbows," a very moving DVD that portrays McAlister and other victims of substance use and or abuse.Â
“We’ve got to get our voices united in this cause,” said Warner. The problem, he said, has reached everyone. The problem was also the empty seats in the auditorium. “We need to fill the seats. This is our village, this is our community and we need to come together. There are too many people who are quite frankly MIA.”
"Everyone needs to get mad, there will be plenty of time to get sad and plant crosses on the side of the road," Warner said. People will have to make time to reach in their closets for the suit they don’t like - the suit they only wear at funerals.
Warner is proud to be sober for 20 years. Many of his friends in the music business warned him that the substance abuse topic and such forums would hurt his musical career, but that hasn't stopped him from spreading his message.
“Before being a recording artist, on top of making records and traveling throughout the country, I am first and foremost a dad," said Warner. "I am so proud to be a dad in your village and your community. I am proud to be your Vermont neighbor.”
Warner, who was born with the "genes of addiction," said he wasted his educational opportunities, wasted what could have been long-lasting and amazing relationships, wasted sleeplessness for people who loved him, wasted his youth and wasted his emotions.
The last time Warner ever used substance was at the town gazebo.
“Too many partied until they laughed - until they cried and cried - until they died," said Warner. "It’s time to get mad….When I say get mad, I don’t mean we need to dust off the lawnmower and go run over a bunch of police whistles, but we need to be united."
Warner doesn’t like the phrase "It’s just pot."
“To all the drug addicts and users, I know you. I am you. I know where you live," said Warner. "It’s a place called hell. Pot is a door handle to that hell. Pot is nothing to mess with.”
Warner urges young people to become addicted to life and the high they get when they reach the top of the mountains of their dreams. He said they should be hooked on hope for the future, drunk on the love they have for themselves and neighbors and intoxicated with the feeling they get when they reach their goal and grab their diplomas.
“Be addicted to life, be a life-oholic,” said Warner. “To those too deep in the swamp, we don’t hate you. Quite often we hate what you do. Come to the shore, dry off. The village awaits you with open arms.” | <urn:uuid:43acaf30-80cf-4c14-b4fb-8f14700de288> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newportvermontdailyexpress.com/content/day-bethany-died?quicktabs_2=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986045 | 2,031 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Understanding Fixed Annuities
Having enough money for the retirement lifestyle you want is usually best accomplished by using all the financial tools at your disposal. Your retirement plan and IRA can provide the foundation for that nest egg. Another tool you may want to consider is a fixed annuity.
What is a Fixed Annuity?
A fixed annuity is a contract issued by a life insurance company under which you give the insurance company a sum of money and the insurance company guarantees to pay you periodic fixed amounts over time. The earnings within the annuity accumulate on a tax-deferred basis until you begin to receive withdrawals. With a fixed annuity, the insurance company usually guarantees a rate of return for some period with the rate being adjusted after an initial period.
Most people use fixed annuities to accumulate funds on a tax-deferred basis as part of their retirement planning strategy. Depending on the policy, withdrawals of interest, or in some cases up to 15% of the principal can be made without penalty. Withdrawals are subject to regular income tax and the IRS imposes a 10% penalty tax if funds are withdrawn before age 59 ½.
There are also annuities that offer payouts beginning immediately. Variable annuities are somewhat similar but offer no return guarantees.
Review the Details
- Initial rate guarantee. Compare the initial rate guarantee to other investment options such as government bonds and tax-exempt bonds. Be sure to understand how long the initial rate will last. Some policies offer very attractive rates that only last for a short time.
- Subsequent rate re-setting. After the initial rate period, the insurance company will reset the rate. Check to determine what their prior rate setting policy has been. Usually, they adjust the rate based on interest rates at that time.
- Fees or commissions. Most fixed annuities are sold without a commission charged to the buyer. The insurance company pays the salesperson and recoups that cost out of their earnings on managing your funds. Do not be afraid to ask the salesperson what he or she will receive. In most cases, it should be less than 5%. Remember, the commission the salesperson received will ultimately reduce the return on your annuity.
- Surrender charges. Fixed annuities should be thought of as long-term commitments. Even though in most cases the insurance company is paying interest on your whole investment, there are costs associated with the contract that they plan to recover over time. The contract should spell out how long any surrender charge will last for early withdrawals.
- Insurance company. Be sure the insurance company is financially sound and that they have a good customer service history. You want to make sure they will be able to fulfill their guarantees. You should be able to get a ratings report from the salesperson or at the public library.
Fixed annuities can be a valuable part of your total financial strategy, but they are not for everyone. They offer the benefit of tax deferral and come with the guarantee of the insurance company. Be sure to investigate all of the details before signing up. Compare the rates, understand all the charges and make sure the insurance company is financially sound. | <urn:uuid:c6ea4874-93bd-4d99-97d3-7790c506275c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.empirebank.com/pfc/SBR_template.cfm?DocNumber=PL45_0522.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961219 | 644 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes - Yahoo! News
What better way to concentrate wealth than to allow rich people to seize the property of the less rich?
Behold, the power of wealth:
- A divided Supreme Court ruled that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development in a decision anxiously awaited in communities where economic growth conflicts with individual property rights.
Thursday's 5-4 ruling represented a defeat for some Connecticut residents whose homes are slated for destruction to make room for an office complex. They argued that cities have no right to take their land except for projects with a clear public use, such as roads or schools, or to revitalize blighted areas. | <urn:uuid:3d9844fe-dc1c-4113-9478-7e91db2d4e79> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://concentrationofwealth.blogspot.com/2005/06/supreme-court-rules-cities-may-seize.html | 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 | 0.956812 | 145 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Brooklyn Society of Miniature Painters: Annual Exhibition [11th]
- Dates: January 21, 1929 through February 18, 1929
February 10, 1928: The showing of the Tenth Annual Exhibition of the Brooklyn Society of Miniature Painters now on view at the Brooklyn Museum has been extended for a week until February 20th, instead of the closing date which was originally set at February 13th.
Dr. H. V. Kaltenborn, Associate Editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and well known for his discussions of current events, especially over the radio, will give a talk on "Life in the Orient" on Sunday afternoon, February 12th, at 3:30 in the auditorium of the Brooklyn Museum. This talk will be a record of the his personal experiences in China, Japan and the Philippines.
There has been a change in date of the talk by Miss Ruth Weaver at the Brooklyn Museum. Her subject, "Working Out Problems of Design and Color with Marionettes", which was to have been discussed on Monday morning, February 13th, at 10:45, has been changed to February 20th at the same hour.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1916 - 1930. 01-03/1928, 025. View Original | <urn:uuid:4a3effa3-fd6b-4d3c-90cd-439b148a4fff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/exhibitions/1398/community/posse/right_tab/timeline/ | 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 | 0.970054 | 266 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Strand7® – Full-featured Finite Element Analysis Software.
Strand7 is a general-purpose finite element analysis system designed specifically for Windows®. It is used for the static, dynamic and heat transfer analysis of structures and comprises pre-processing, post-processing and solver functionality in a single application. The state-of-the-art interface offers a consistent environment for the creation and analysis of finite element models and the extraction and interpretation of results.
Strand7 is well suited to companies of all sizes in aeronautical, civil, mechanical, naval architecture, structural, geotechnical, materials handling and heavy industries. It is designed to be used by all engineers undertaking structural analysis, whether the structure is a multi-storey building, an aircraft wing or a crank-shaft for an engine.
The Strand7 pre-processing environment combines fully automatic meshing with a powerful set of tools for manipulating both geometry and elements directly. Its powerful geometry import/export capabilites make it an excellent companion analysis tool for Rhino3D users.
The comphensive element library includes a full range of 1D, 2D and 3D (low and high-order) elements for the linear and non-linear analysis of framework, plate/shell and solid models. The suite of solvers includes static and dynamic solvers for linear and non-linear stress and heat transfer analysis. The non-linear solvers support geometric, material (including plasticity and large strain) and contact non-linearity.
The post-processing environment is designed to allow easy extraction of the results: graphically on screen, in spreadsheet format and in user-configurable printed report form. Strand7 also offers many easy to use specialized features such as the interactive Laminated Composite Module. Additionally, the Strand7 API offers a very powerful environment for developing specialized applications or for integrating Strand7 functionality directly within a user’s own computer programs.
Strand7 is sensibly priced and therefore within reach of even the smallest engineering and manufacturing company. For more details about Strand7 or to download a working demo version, visit our website at www.strand7.com or send email to email@example.com.
Opiniones de clientes
Puntuación media basada en 9 comentarios
563 de 1070 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
A pleasure to use
I started my professional career at a construction site in 1952 and ten years later I graduated from university. Around 1972 I first got involved with the finite element method (FEM) for the first time and since 1975 I work with this method almost every day. I have carried out several thousand finite element analyses (FEA) using more than five different programs and I have presented more than ten papers at national and international conferences. In 1986 I started presenting a course 'The Application of the Finite Element Method in Practice', which ran for 25 full days and I have presented this course at least once a year since then. In 1996 the course was compressed to an intensive 5-day course which made it more accessible for delegates and it also made it possible for me to present more courses in a year (five courses in 2004).
In November 2000 I attended an introductory course on the FE program Strand7 and I was immediately impressed by this software system. Strand7 has been written by professionals for engineering problems in the fields of civil, structural and mechanical engineering, as well as shipbuilding and aviation. The predecessor of the Windows based Strand7 was the DOS based Strand6, which was used successfully for more than five years in the engineering industry.
Strand7 is easy to use, the help facility is excellent, the manuals are immaculate and the support is superfast and superb. With the new sparse solver the processing speed has been increased dramatically. An analysis of a structure with over 500,000 degrees of freedom, that took more than 11 hours with the skyline solver can now be completed on the same machine in less than six minutes with the new solver.
To find out more about the capabilities of Strand7 visit their website at www.Strand7.com. You shall find there many prominent structures that were analysed using the program: The roof structure for the main stadium for this year's Olympic Games in Athens, the innovative roof for the swimming pool for the 2008 Beijing Games, a ground-effect vehicle that can only fly at a height of one to two metres above water.
I have used Strand7 for several hundred analyses. One of them was a transient non-linear dynamic analysis of the structure of a big birdcage (dimensions 100m x 200m, columns up to 45m high) which is presently under construction near Plettenberg Bay on the Indian Ocean.
Strand7 has been written with dedication to excellence and it is a pleasure to work with the software.
Roland Prukl, Dipl.-Ing., Pr.Eng., FSAICE, AIStructE
P.O.Box 4175, Honeydew 2040, Republic of South Africa
474 de 926 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
Efficient FEA in an Integrated System
I began a Finite Element Analysis course during my fourth year at Technikon. The course involved a basic theoretical background into the method, along with the practical use of a FEA system. The course suddenly became quite complicated due to the system being used and the lecturer could not provide adequate support for the basic operating functions of the software.
This immediately lead me to begin an extensive search of the Internet for an alternate more user-friendly system that I could use for the remainder of the course. My search lead me to a finite element analysis system known as Strand7. The system is developed in Sydney, Australia by G+D Computing and includes fully-integrated pre & post-processors, along with a complete suite of solvers for linear, non-linear and dynamic analysis.
I had urgent assignments to do for the course and I was struggling, so I decided to download the demo version of Strand7. I began to learn the system with the included tutorials and found that I was solving dynamic problems within a matter of hours! I was so relieved I had found a system I could use for my studies.
The system allowed me to work on my assignments in a very manageable and efficient way, thus allowing me to concentrate on the problem at hand. I purchased a copy for use during the remainder of course due to the system's affordability and the effective support provided.
I have been using the Strand7 FEA System for more than three years now for problems ranging from simple linear static problems, right through to the most complex dynamic problem and I can positively say that it is extremely user-friendly and its ability to import IGES files generated by Rhino and other systems, is a very big plus in my opinion.
I would recommend Strand7 to any Engineer involved in analysis and design. The software allows the rapid generation of models, thus freeing up time for the engineer to interpret the results and therefore develop better products.
19 de 57 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
The Power of Simplicity
de 'Moises Villar' de Moises Villar
I have started a career in the facade industry as a Designer five years ago and Lead a couple of projects here in Pasig with developments at Rockwell, Philippines. I also had experience on pioneering works related to schematic, detailed designs and construction documentation designs of single cable, net cable and tension bars for Forum66 project in Shenyang, China.
I am very satisfied on how easy to use and learn the interface. I must admit that I was initially clueless on how to draw the first nodes and beams, and it seems more efficient to start with a pre-modeled 3D dxf (for fish tail cable design, complex elliptical canopies and curving facades) from another CAD drafting software. But, STRAND7 stands strong on how to segregate and organize structural members as well as give a personal taste to it wherein you can customize colors, member colors and have a number of display options. A good feature was that of viewing the orientation of the plate members, I was able to use it to trace an error with a sloped glass or corner glazing cases that I modeled using 25mm mesh.
You can also use the load patch tool to load plates and have it converted to distributed loads on the members supporting it. You'll just need to input the pressure load in plate local axis and be converted to distributed loads on beam members just like magic!
The display options comes handy when you want to focus to a specific structural element. You can turn on/off the members based on properties, groupings or ID numbers. I am also glad to hear that an option to have ID numbers on nodes has been added. This saves time selecting hundreds of nodes in order to change temperature or support conditions. Take note that you can also do this in post processing, the results will also follow suit in the indicated display. For example, in solving cables along with steel structure, you can right click on the screen and turn off the display of the cable and see the maximum stress or deflection for the steel structure. This is useful to make impressive visual reports. I believe that the developers can maximize this in future developments by giving options to make multiple page reports.
Finally, the analysis engine is fast. Glass analysis with 25mm mesh can be finished in few seconds time. In comparison to STAAD it is also faster analyzing glass fin systems. Using nonlinear analysis with cut-off bars and/or cable members is also a breeze (just input properly the required parameters like length and tension/ compression limits). Errors and warnings gives you a clue on what member and variables needed to be inspected. Even the results viewer can be customized so you'll only see the warning or the error in consideration.
The documentation (help file) is well written with links to related topics as well. The properties and principles behind FEA are introduced as well as few formulas, diagrams and examples. My mentor is practically happy that he is not much disturbed since most of my general questions are already answered by through the help file.
The developers of Strand7 are making a very good job enhancing my user experience and I am looking forward a more fruitful and productive career in my office especially now that I have moved to the Structural Engineering Department.
485 de 1131 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
Strand 7 Review
My name is David Beneke from Cardno Consulting Engineers. I have 15 years experience in finite element analysis, I am a Registered Analyst (Advanced) with NAFEMS and run our Engineering Analysis group with 4 full time analysts. We run 3 seats of Strand7 and a seat of Nastran 4w 2004.
We use Strand7 for the majority of analytical work and I am very pleased with its performance overall. Like all sofware it has its strengths and weaknesses however given that I have reasonable experience with both Strand7 (15 years) and Nastran 4w (2 years) I feel that I can provide a reasonable view of Strand7's performance.
* Strand7 operates predominantly on element based meshing and its pre-processor is well suited to this. Selecting elements based on element region is excellent whilst changing element attributes is straight forward as well.
* Applying plate element pressures and especially tractions for example is more advanced than Nastran 4W.
* The 2D and 3D automesher works quite well and so long as it is used appropriately can generally deliver meshes which have only minor amounts of element distortion. The geometry healing option which you use to use the automeshing tool is really good.
* The post processor is excellent and in my opinion is more flexible than Nastran 4w. This is especially the case for presentation of multiple output vectors on all element types at one time. Normalised jumps is an output vector automatically generated which is something which has to be done manually in Nastran 4w. Graphing results and data is another strong point.
* Strand7 is generally quite intuative and is good for graduate analysts first getting into analysis work.
* Strand7 does not have the capbility to create the geometry from scratch. This is a big issue especially in the case where you may be analysing a complex plate mesh or solid in which you need to change the geometry but the loads and constraints remain the same. With Strand7 you cannot create new geometry so you are forced to re-import revised geometry, re-mesh the new geometry, re-establish connectivity with the unaffected areas of the mesh and then re-establish loads and constraints on the new section of mesh. Nastran 4w wins hands down here as the geometry is used to define the loads and constrants. You just simply create the new geometry and re-mesh. Simple.
* When automeshing on imported geometry, Strand7 is quite clunky in its approach for introducing mesh refinement. Its point based rather than curve based which means you are not quie sure on what mesh density you will get.
Other than the above, I beleive that Strand7 is reasonable priced at around AUS$6K per seat for what you get. The equivalent in Nastran is around AUS$20 (advanced modeller + implicit non-linear). We have used Strand7 for both linear and non-linear implicit analyses for models up to 1.5 million DOF with no problem. Whilst Strand7 does not give you access to explicit solvers and 3D contact solvers that Nastran 4w can, Strand7 is by far the most cost-effective for a consulting engineering business and hence it is the programe that we use in the majority.
Notwithstanding the above, the FEA software that you use is only as good as the person using it - without adequate checking of input data and benchmarking you can have the best software in the world but the results will be useless.
521 de 1229 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
Highest recommendation possible
I would firstly like to establish my credibility. I am the principal engineer in a large international engineering firm, and have been using Strand for more than 15 years now, as my main everyday software package. I use it for both structural and mechanical engineering applications, with a large range of analysis types including elastic analysis, elastic buckling, large displacement, non-linear stress-strain, dynamic analyses, and to a lesser extent thermal analyses. I have had ongoing contact with G+D (the developers) during that time, and have been on a number of their courses over the years. We have a number of copies of Strand in different offices, and I know that my comments would be echoed by the other users.
This program is a pleasure to use. It does what I expect and want it to do. It is all but bug free. There are usually a few bugs when they have a major update, but they fix them straight away. It is very stable. It does not crash or misbehave even after long hours of use.
The interface is very good, very consistent, and has a lot of simple user adjustable control. When there are features that I would like or that I think should be changed, I let G+D know, and they are very receptive. If I get stuck with a problem, I phone G+D and get great help. Sometimes, I will send them a model and they will sort out the problem and send it back.
I have trained many people to use Strand over the years. It is simple to learn, so that I would normally expect to only spend 1-2 hrs to get someone started on their first analysis. At the same time, it has lots of features that I have barely touched.
I have had exposure to a number of other FEA packages over the years, as well as frame analysis packages, and CAD packages. I think also of Word and Excel which I also use regularly, and Strand stands out ahead of them all in my eyes.
I speak very highly of G+D and of Strand, and would happily recommend Strand to anyone.
467 de 1235 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
I am Chief Civil/Structural Engineer in the Brisbane office of Worley Pty Ltd. Worley uses a variety of FEA systems, including Strand7, Ansys and Abaqus. I am of the view that Strand7 represents outstanding value for money and ease of use.
The cost of initial purchase and annual support and maintenance is significantly lower than other FEA systems. The capabilities of the basic package are more comprehensive than most comparable systems. Features such as non-linear analysis (including non-linear geometry, non-linear materials, buckling, etc), transient dynamic analysis, laminar composites, rubber materials, steady-state and transient thermal analysis, etc, are all included in the base package. Add-ons are pretty much limited to CAD Import and Auto-meshing, a Sparse Solver (very useful for large models), and the API (for software developers). All of these options are very reasonably priced.
The integrated graphic pre- and post-processor means that you really only need access to the one software package for most normal analysis. If you opt for the CAD Import an Auto-mesher tool, you can also import solid and surface models from pretty well any CAD package. The resulting FEA model is not linked dynamically to the CAD model, so any changes to the CAD model mean the FEA model must be re-imported and rebuilt. This is a bit of an issue if you are doing a lot of “design development” (“tweaking” the geometry of a mechanical part, for example), so you might want to look for an integrated CAD/FEA solution if this is the main kind of work you do. (Good luck at finding an integrated CAD/FEA system with non-linear capabilities at the price of Strand7 – if you find one, let me know!)
I believe the user interface of Strand7 is second to none. Ease of use, access to features, user control of graphics, formatting of hard copy output, etc, are all very well implemented.
In terms of limitations, we find that Strand7 copes with just about anything we can throw at it. Strand7 does not have an explicit solver option, nor an automatic surface-to-surface contact capability, so I would baulk at using it as my primary tool for highly non-linear analysis or extreme transient events (eg motor vehicle crash analysis), for which other FEA systems would be more appropriate. Also, there is no “multi-physics” option (e.g. integrated CFD/FEA). However, for most typical engineering applications, it is well worth a look.
Anyone who has an interest in acquiring and developing a finite element capability should download the free demo for the Strand7 web site (www.strand7.com.au), and judge for themselves whether the package has the features and capabilities they need.
307 de 917 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
Great FEA Software at a Reasonable Price
I own a composites company that manufactures epoxy, prepreg, carbon components and structures for the aerospace, automotive and medical industries.
Three years ago my company became involved with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to develop large composite antenna structures. To fulfill the contract, we required in depth FEA analyses. We evaluated MSC Nastran, NE Nastran, Algor and Ansys and bought one of them. The software proved cumbersome to use and in fact, couldn’t address the required solves we needed.
We then discovered and immediately purchased Strand7. We have been extremely pleased with its ease of use, solving speed, results presentation and particularly its ability to address complex laminate structures. Strand7 is reasonably priced and they don’t nickel and dime you for features beyond the basics. The software is sold as a complete package, including solvers, the competition sells as options.
We have since gained other dish contracts (most of which are extremely complex composite structures with many surfaces) and one thing that may be not be apparent to most users, is the precision Strand7 provides in its meshing, where other packages fail. Because we are concerned about the RMS of a dish structure under various load conditions, we run 3D best-fit regressions against the displaced nodes, which means you want your undisplaced nodes to be as accurate to the designed shape as possible. When running RMS calculations, we consistently find the undisplaced mesh to be better than e-6 inches, with very, very few outliers.
The composites module is flat out - great. Developing the laminate (at times – greater than 60 plys), setting plate orientations and offsets is quick and simple. We even use the laminate presentations provided in Strand7 on the shop floor.
We own various CAD programs, but our CAD program most widely used by far is Rhinoceros, due to its 3D precision and ability to import and export most other CAD programs. Our customers normally use various other CAD programs including ProE, SolidWorks, AutoCad and Catia and we easily import their work in Rhino, clean it up, and then export an iges for importation to Strand7. The show free edge function in Strand7 makes any questionable surface interfaces quickly apparent, that can then be tweaked in Rhino and then quickly re-imported.
Another feature that deserves mentioning is the - free to download - Strand7 viewer. This has proven invaluable, where our customers can review a complete analysis that we have created on their project.
We are a US company and at the time we purchased the software, there was no US representation and only a limited number of US users. This has changed and there is now a US company distributing and providing support for Strand7, as well as also being a reseller of Rhino. In my opinion – the perfect combination.
I am not one prone to write reviews on software that we have purchased, but after reading Mr. Neoconardis’s strange and negative review on this site, I find myself with no choice. Because I personally, as well as my company, use Strand7 almost every day, I have to wonder what motivates such an individual.
In conclusion, Strand7 has proven to be one of the best software investments my company has made. Why? It’s a great software tool that has paid for itself many times over and has provided us the ability to efficiently and effectively design and analyze very complex composite structures, which more often than not, evolve into manufacturing contracts.
Beaufort Composite Technologies, Inc.
158 de 753 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
Strand is a wonderful tool
de 'Lyndon Johnson' de Lyndon Johnson
Having used most of the big FEA packages I must say I find Strand refreshingly simple to use but incedibly poewerful too.
From a simple quick space frame built on nodes and elements to a complex nonlinear analysis composite of concrete and steel, Strand has proven simple fast and accurate. I love it and I import solids from Rhino very easily. It does have some reasonable modeling tools but it's easier to create the model in Rhino.
Right now I'm analyzing optimal spherical cavities in light weight reinforced concrete structures for a post-grad thesis, Strand is the only package we tried that has actually worked for this, within the solid you can create steel within the concrete matrix fully attached. I'm amazed it is not used more as in my opinion it is a better product than most of it's more expensive competitors. Probably you are not paying for the high end marketing !
I have never had it crash and the post processor is a dream to use.
299 de 1040 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
I would not buy this program.
Written by non-professional programmers. Interface is totally illogical, program HANGS regularly, I/O is sub-standard.
For the same money you can buy a professional, mainstream product such as ALGOR, CADRE or NASTRAN.
419 de 1299 personas consideran que el comentario es útil
I don't share Mr Neoconardis point of view...
I have been using Strand7 for about 5 years and based on my experience of Strand7, Mr Neoconardis could not possibly have reviewed the same program that I use.
One of Strand7's major strengths is its interface - it is extremely well thought out, very logically laid out and very easy to use - much easier than other FEA packages, and I have used almost all of them. I also do not share Mr Neoconardis hanging experience. I find Strand7 is extremely stable and very reliable.
Based on my experience, the other products Mr Noeconardis mentions are significantly more expensive than Strand7. | <urn:uuid:8abb62b1-bd58-4407-92f0-0fc9567b48e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rhino3d.com/es/resources/?id=597 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945476 | 5,281 | 1.765625 | 2 |
|A man holds a Bible, February 2, 2013. (REUTERS/Max Rossi)
OSLO - A Finnish toilet paper maker has removed quotes from the Bible, including the words of Jesus, that it inadvertently placed on its rolls after protests from some Norwegian church leaders.
Metsa Tissue was trying to convey messages about love but accidentally included lines from the Gospel of Matthew and First Corinthians on toilet paper sold in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
The firm selected the quotes from Facebook submissions, including one from Jesus: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
It only realized its mistake when it received feedback.
"People like to read small, happy messages while sitting on the toilet," Christina von Trampe, a spokeswoman for Metsa Tissue, which produces the Lambi brand, told Reuters.
"The vast majority of the feedback has been positive. Our intention was to spread love and joy, not religious messages."
Laila Riksaasen Dahl, the Bishop of Tunsberg in protestant Norway, was not amused.
"This is bad taste and show lack of respect," she told Vaart Land, a publication focusing on religion issues. "Bible verses do not belong on a roll of toilet paper."
The company, whose toilet rolls in the Nordics regularly feature witty quotes, poetry or philosophical messages, said it would continue the product line but with more stringent vetting. | <urn:uuid:ae94dbd2-8fba-4aa7-b2b9-d7fac620144a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2013/03/04/20627511.html?cid=rssnewsweird%20news | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951879 | 295 | 1.703125 | 2 |
I've been rereading an important 2002 paper by Finn Erik Aas et al. (Mike Toomey's group; Molecular Microbiology 46:749-760). They dissect the roles of the Neisseria type IV pilus components PilE (the major pilin), ComP (a minor pilin important for DNA uptake), and PilT (the retraction ATPase). The results are important and need to be considered in the CIHR grant proposal we're rewriting.
I was about to try to summarize them here, when I wondered whether I might have already posted anything about this paper. A quick search for 'Aas' found a whole post from last summer, which I had completely forgotten about! So here I'm instead going to edit/annotate/rewrite that post.
An important difference between this paper and previous papers is their careful attempts to separate of DNA binding from DNA uptake. DNA binding is usually measured indirectly by giving cells radioactively labeled DNA and comparing cell-associated cpm with and without pretreatment with DNase I, which removes DNA that has bound to cells but not been taken inside them. And that's how it's done in this paper - the 'binding' values are how much of the total cpm is removed by DNase I treatment (i.e. they're determined by subtraction).
The Aas et al. paper showed that, when 5x10^8 wildtype Neisseria cells are incubated for 30 min with 500 ng of 32P-labeled plasmid DNA containing the Neisseria uptake sequence (the DUS), only about 1-2% of the DNA sticks to the cells (i.e. is still there after 10 min on ice and three washes with cold medium). They found that more than half of this DNA is taken up during the 30 min incubation, because it wasn't removed when the cells are incubated with DNase for 10 min at room temperature before being washed instead of being stored on ice. If the DNA doesn't contain a DUS the cells still bind a lot of it (25-100% of the +DUS binding amount), but almost none of the bound DNA is taken up (> 0.01% of the 500 ng). This says that cells will bind any DNA but can only take it up if it has a DUS.
The minor pilin-like protein encoded by comP is normally expressed at a very low level (so low that it's barely detectable by protein assays), but the level is high enough to show that the ComP protein is incorporated into pili along with the major pilus protein PilE. Cells lacking PilE don't have visible pili and they didn't bind DNA or take up DNA, but cells lacking ComP have normal-looking visible pili and they bound just about as much DNA as wildtype cells. But they hardly took up any of this DNA even if it had a DUS (they interacted with DUS+ DNA the way wildtype cells interact with DUS- DNA).
This strongly suggests that the ComP protein recognizes the DUS at the cell surface, but that ComP is not involved in the non-specific DNA binding step. Consistent with this, overexpressing the normally-scarce ComP protein increased by 20-fold the amount of DNA bound and taken up, and proportionately increased the transformation frequency. This increased uptake was specific for DNA containing a DUS, although a modest increase was also seen for DNA that lacked DUS. Overexpression also greatly increased the amount of ComP protein in the pili. I think this result says that ComP can cause DUS-specific DNA binding, on top of the normal non-specific binding. ComP, when assembled into pili, would be able to bind DUS-containing DNA but not other DNA.
However, the authors found that, when they purified ComP, it did not bind specifically to any DNA. They tested both 'recombinant' ComP (+ His-tagged) and 'overexpressed' ComP, but they they don't show this data and they don't say how the binding assays were done. Does this result mean that ComP really doesn't interact with the DUS? Maybe. The authors suggest that it acts by modifying some other protein so that it binds the DUS, but another explanation might be that ComP loses its DNA-recognizing function when it's purified away from the T4P complex.
My tentative model: ComP is processed by the prepilin peptidase as is the main pilin (PilE), and is assembled along with PilE into the pilus filament, where it forms a very minor component. Once DNA binds non-specifically to the PilE part of the pilus, it can interact with ComP and, if the DNA has a DUS, be taken up when the pilus is retracted. If the amount of ComP in the pilus exceeds the non-specific binding capacity of the PilE, DNA will bind directly to ComP (even if it can't be taken up, see below).
What about PilT? In most bacteria with T4P, PilT provides the power to retract type 4 pili filaments, by disassembling the subunits from the pilus base. (The exceptions are H. influenzae and its relatives in the family Pasteurellaceae, who don't have a pilT homolog.) As pili are thought to bind DNA at the cell surface, PilT would then be responsible for pulling the pilus and its DNA into the periplasm. PilT mutants had already been shown to have the expected phenotype: abnormally large amounts of pili, and unable to take up DNA or be transformed. We might then expect that having more pili would make pilT mutants bind more DNA than wildtype cells, but Aas et al. found that they bound <1% of the wildtype amount. They took up about 20% of what they bound, but I think this may be at the detection threshold.
Overexpressing ComP in a pilT knockout increased the DNA binding (but not uptake) by about 5-fold. This added binding was DUS-dependent. I could add this to my tentative model: The nonspecific binding by PilE requires PilT, but we have no idea why (I'll call this the magic PilT effect). Specific binding by ComP does not.
They then made transcriptional fusions of pilE and pilT to the E. coli lac promoter (in different strains) so they could keep the genes turned off or turn them on by adding IPTG, as desired, and measured transformation. When each gene was on throughout the transformation experiment, transformation was close to normal, as expected. When it was off, there was no transformation, again as expected. They then tried turning the genes on halfway through the transformation experiment, to find out whether PilT was only needed to pull the pili in
When pilE was off during the DNA incubation step and then turned on after the cells had been washed free of unbound DNA, transformation was down >500-fold. This is consistent with both nonspecific and specific binding happening only in assembled pili - it's no use making the pili after the DNA has all been washed away. When pilT was off during the DNA incubation step and then turned on after the cells had been washed free of unbound DNA, transformation was down >32-fold; this says that some DNA can bind to cells in the absence of PilT, and then be later taken up once PilT becomes available.
Does this mean that the binding that happens before turn-on of PilT is specific for the DUS?
The authors then did the same experiment in cells overexpressing ComP. When there are no pili (pilE off) my model predicts that no DNA will bind even though there's tons of ComP, so turning pilE back on after the cells are washed shouldn't give any transformants. In fact it gives some, but not a lot. When there are pili but no PilT, my model predicts that having tons of ComP will increase DNA binding, and that this will increase transformation frequencies once PilT becomes available. My model predicts that this binding will be DUS-dependent, but that isn't shown.
Summary of the PilT bit: Having pilT off while DNA is binding to the pili reduces transformation frequencies 32-fold when most binding is initially nonspecific, because most of this binding is caused by the magic PilT effect, but only 7-fold when more of the binding is by ComP to the DUS, because the magic PilT effect doesn't act on ComP binding to the DUS.
But uptake requires pilus retraction. So maybe I should conclude that, in wildtype cells, most DNA initially binds non-specifically to the many pili that have no ComP but have been magicked by PilT. DNA bound to these pili is not released to the solution, and these pili are not retracted. But if a DNA fragment has a DUS, the DUS can bind to one of the fewer pili (or pseudopili?) that have ComP (binding to directly to ComP or to another protein). Once a ComP-containing pilus has bound DNA it can be retracted, pulling the DNA in and initiating uptake. This pilus might then elongate and bind another DUS, or other ComP-containing pili might be continually assembled and accept DNAs from the PilE pili.
I'm going to stop here, because the more I read the confuseder I get. I'll talk this all over with the RA tomorrow morning and see if she can sort me out.
Naming a viral disease around the world
23 hours ago in Rule of 6ix | <urn:uuid:71e7f27f-1b54-4160-92fa-370640714121> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rrresearch.fieldofscience.com/2010_08_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964985 | 2,057 | 1.820313 | 2 |
MANSFIELD, Ohio (AP) - A storm has destroyed half of an Ohio oak
tree that played a key role near the end of "The Shawshank
The 1994 movie was filmed in an around an old prison in
Mansfield in north-central Ohio, and the tree is where Morgan
Freeman's character finds money and a note left by Tim Robbins'
Malabar Farm State Park manager Louis Andres (AN'-drehs) tells
the News Journal of Mansfield (http://bit.ly/nMG68r ) the tree was
hit Friday by straight-line winds that split it down its rotted
middle and took out one side. The tree is on private farmland
adjacent to the park.
Local convention and visitors bureau president Lee Tasseff calls
the damage "tragic." He says the oak is a sentimental stop for
"Shawshank" fans drawn to the film's locations. | <urn:uuid:b0cdb0fa-3cdc-4b80-a2af-41a2ad0fa00c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kbtx.com/news/thebuzz/headlines/Storms_damages_Ohio_tree_seen_in_Shawshank_126583373.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939399 | 198 | 1.554688 | 2 |
I must have read this before, it's my underlining. But it comes as a revelation:
The most significant thing about Herodotus is that he is the literary expression of a whole people, as cunning in their ability to deal with facts as their prototype, Odysseus, was cunning to deal with monsters. Herodotus traveled widely and judged rationally of all he saw, but in the vast scope of his story he perforce relied mostly on hundreds of other Greeks who had gone to all the limits of the world with which he dealt, or who had lived before him and handed down to him information on the past, and who were as questioning and as sane as he.--So Kenneth Rexroth, Classics Revisited 42-45, at 44-45 (1968). I really don't remember the phrase "senatorial party," though I underlined it (I believe in the 80s). It's a beguiling notion until you reflect that it is the party of Ted Cruz and Rand Paul. I assume Rexroth was looking for something more austere and patrician but public-spirited. The last one I can think of who might meet that model is Lloyd Bentsen. Am I forgetting anybody important?
The epic subject of Herodotus will haunt the philosophy of history from his day to ours. The conflict of molar, obliterative mass civilization emanating from a single power center versus the dynamism of the manifold-centered city-state--eighteenth century America versus 1968 U.S.A.--Herodotus' History is the first large-scale anti-imperialist indictment. But what is wrong with imperialism? Did not Persian ecumenical egalitarianism, so like the empire of the Incas, ensure a greater good to a greater number than did the anarchic communalism of Greece? Eventually the city-state failed so completely that there was no other solution than the takeover of the Persian Empire itself by Alexander.
This would certainly be the utilitarian judgement; but the "Senatorial party"--Herodotus, Tacitus, Cicero, de Tocqueville, Lord Acton--have always disagreed. ... | <urn:uuid:955520c2-0f9e-4af4-870c-9540992fd698> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://underbelly-buce.blogspot.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96975 | 443 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Turns out this was a one-shot deal. I just heard from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission that there won’t be any more free transit after today.
I know this will be an outrage to many transit supporters, but I wonder if the transportation hierarchy doesn’t have a point about putting the money to better uses.
This is not Spare the Air. We’re not trying to convince people to take transit when they have no other reason to. They have a very good reason to pay their money and take their seat.
What we don’t have is the capacity to carry all of these people. Only 10 percent of Bay Area commuters take transit on average. Even so, peak-hour BART trains are still packed.
If this money can get more buses, organize more carpools, fuel more ferries or run more trains, it might do a lot more to keep things moving than today’s free-for-all.
That being said, it would still be nice to have free transit. The fact is, the money that’s already supposed to go to public transit via tax formula will have to be dragged kicking and screaming out of Sacramento.
Interestingly, UC Berkeley’s PR folks sent out an e-mail hawking some of their experts, including Alexander Skabardonis, director of the California
Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways:
Skabardonis notes that the true effects of the freeway collapse on Bay Area traffic will not be clear from Monday’s commute. “The media did a great job scaring people off from driving through the area, and then there are the people who took advantage of the one-day free transit offer, so the commute on Monday was not really representative,” he said. “Later in the week we may get a better understanding of the true impacts on transit and traffic.”
The other downside of free transit, which is especially relevant when commuters are squeezed, is that it attracts joy riders, people who wouldn’t have been going anywhere to begin with. One thing we don’t need on BART right now is extra bodies. | <urn:uuid:984c4091-14c1-4396-bed6-24de7080f0a6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2007/04/30/so-much-for-the-carrot/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955815 | 447 | 1.5 | 2 |
Digitization of the country's healthcare data has released deep wells of previously untapped capital. The resulting gusher is spewing billions of dollars across government agencies, private companies and healthcare providers.
Two efforts undertaken this week seek to control--if not contain--the flow.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services selected Northrop Grumman Corporation to develop a National Level Repository to track billions of dollars in federal incentive payments intended to entice healthcare professionals to adopt electronic health records.
"As the United States undergoes a significant transformation of its healthcare system, the National Level Repository will meet a critical need by processing millions of transactions to provide correct and accurate payments to our countless professionals, institutions and state agencies that are serving the medical needs of our citizens," said Amy King, Northrop Grumman's vice president of health information technology programs.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate this week passed a bill "that would put tighter controls around the money the government invests in its major information technology projects," reports Washington Technology.
The bill does not specifically target health IT, but its sponsors noted last fall that an information systems modernization program undertaken by the VA was one of "two investments in particular [that] are especially egregious" in terms of cost overruns. | <urn:uuid:a1e5b9fe-c190-4fb6-a01b-c5f6a8de76d8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nextgov.com/health/health-it/2010/05/controlling-the-flow-of-it-dough/53346/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944491 | 258 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Bob Barr on Drugs
Libertarian nominee for President; Former Republican Representative (GA-7)
Despite his open appeal to conservatives, Barr’s recent renunciations of Republican backed legislation will limit his appeal among movement conservatives. Barr has changed his mind and now strongly opposes the war, condemns the Patriot Act as a violation of civil liberties, criticizes efforts to restrict rights of homosexuals, and even favors the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes.
We all know that smoking is bad for people’s health, but most of us also believe that America remains a free country, in which people should be able to make mistakes. Yet for years “would-be national nannies have been attempting to give the FDA the power to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products,“ says Barr. The latest proposal is moving through Congress with the support of the Republican and Democratic presidential contenders.
But ”the last thing we need today is more regulation and more bureaucrats, which inevitably means less freedom,“ explains Barr. People know smoking is bad for their health, which is why ever fewer people light up. Washington should leave smokers and other tobacco users alone.
There is little doubt that the Clinton campaign and the president were aware of Cabrera’s illegal activities, since he had already been indicted for drug trafficking twice and was convicted of lesser charges under plea bargains in both cases. A month after attending the fund-raiser, local detectives arrested Cabrera. He is now serving a long prison sentence in Florida on a conviction for bringing more than 6,000 pounds of cocaine into America.
In February 2002, President George W. Bush told the American people that more than 20,000 of their fellow citizens had died the year before as a result of illegal drugs. When Bill Clinton took over as president in 1993, only 12,000 Americans had died of illegal drug use. Think about it: that is a massive and unacceptable escalation in the number of deaths. And it has been going on for decades.
To prohibit the expenditure of Federal funds for the distribution of needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of illegal drugs. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit Federal funds from being expended to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of illegal drugs.
|Other candidates on Drugs:||Bob Barr on other issues:|
GOP: Sen.John McCain
GOP V.P.: Gov.Sarah Palin
Democrat: Sen.Barack Obama
Dem.V.P.: Sen.Joe Biden
Constitution: Chuck Baldwin
Libertarian: Rep.Bob Barr
Constitution: Amb.Alan Keyes
Liberation: Gloria La Riva
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Ralph Nader | <urn:uuid:9803c2b7-19e1-4484-97bd-0c7e1f60114e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Bob_Barr_Drugs.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9407 | 578 | 1.625 | 2 |
Many of us here are proud of our River City status, even though it’s no secret that we’ve never connected with our riverfront the way we should. But in cities like Portland and Pasadena, people have found a way to turn some of their oldest structures—their bridges—into their newest attractions.
Portlanders relaxing on the Hawthorne Bridge at the PDX Bridge Festival
Photo by Aaron Rogosin
With the exception of a few well-placed restaurants, Sacramento has largely squandered the extraordinary potential of its location at the confluence of two great rivers. And while the Great Recession promises to delay any riverfront plans for a while longer, we need only look north and south for inspiration on how to connect with our two downtown bridges.
In 2010, a guy named Tucker Teutsch launched the ambitious, two-week PDX Bridge Festival in Portland. The idea was to spotlight the city’s connection to its eight historic bridges that span the Willamette River downtown. So over the last few summers, the community has celebrated with art, music and food; and some of the events have taken place right on the bridges themselves. On one of the days, the Hawthorne Bridge was closed, covered in sod, and the community was invited to “Brunch on the Bridge” to collect food for the hungry. Organizers placed colorful picnic tables across the span, along with portable trees, and people brought their own blankets for picnics (there were plenty of food trucks nearby, of course).
And in Pasadena, a group called Pasadena Heritage has been throwing a big one-day party on the 1913 Colorado St. Bridge since 1978 to raise money for historical preservation purposes. The bridge is closed to traffic as thousands of locals eat, drink and listen to live music.
Here in Sacramento, we have two very cool old bridges, the 1935 Tower Bridge and the 1912 I Street Bridge (which is getting a small 100th birthday celebration on Sept. 14), both of which would make for beautiful temporary parks and event spaces, and would draw thousands to Old Sacramento for the rare chance to lounge over the river for a few hours on a warm summer day or night.
The Tower Bridge is operated by Caltrans, and the Union Pacific Railroad operates the I Street one, so they would need to be involved. The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation or the Center for Sacramento History might be natural facilitators. And Portland’s Tucker Teutsch says he’s available for hire to help make it happen.
The Bottom Line
The costs will depend on our ambitions, but we can start relatively small with our own “Brunch on the Bridge.” No matter how small it starts, it could be an exciting economic generator for Old Sacramento, food trucks (“MoFo on the Sacramento,” perhaps?) and local nonprofits. Plus, it could do more in one day to celebrate the river and our bridges than in the century since the I Street Bridge first graced our shores. It’s time to make some waves.
A time-lapse video of the PDX Bridge Festival’s “Brunch on the Bridge” in Portland.
By Aaron I. Rogosin | <urn:uuid:53084f2e-0932-4091-93dc-59a342dd17d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sactownmag.com/August-September-2012/Bridge-Party/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954053 | 662 | 1.679688 | 2 |
By Jon Miller | Post Date: July 2, 2009 5:32 PM | Comments: 5
Someday this will be a textbook case for what not to do in extending your supply chain to the edges of the globe in the pursuit of low piece prices or offsets against sales of airplanes to the countries supplying parts. The 787 aircraft is many months behind schedule and in no small part due to supply chain woes. The piece price cost savings may still put them ahead in traditional accounting, but not for long if they continue losing orders to airlines who haven't taken delivery, have been hit hard by the economic crisis, and are forced to cancel orders. It's hard to put a price on orders lost because you couldn't ship them on time. You can't make that up on volume.
A bit of million dollar consulting advice I will offer up as a public service; here is where a company like Toyota would put as much of their lean supply chain for the 787 as technically possible:
From the WSJ article:
When Boeing first rolled out plans for its Dreamliner, it said that it was reinventing the way it builds commercial airplanes. Instead of manufacturing most of the plane at its Everett, Wash., facility, many parts would be made by suppliers around the world. The parts then would be shipped to Boeing's plant for final assembly.
It was not the first time such a supply chain reinvention turned out to be a blunder. And by definition it was not a reinvention (unless we mean "making something that's already been made, again"). I fear this won't be the last time this blunder is "reinvented".
This was what Deming would call tampering: not kaizen - improvement based on a standard - nor innovation. It was an idea dreamed up as a result of consultant briefings and number-crunching, far, far removed from the gemba. In fact, this sort of thing has been tried before, long ago by a far more advanced lean thinker: Henry Ford. There is an abandoned industrial city in the middle of the Amazon jungle called Fordlandia. The Ford Motor Company built a city in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon in an attempt to supply their own rubber for tires, circumventing the established source of British Malayan rubber. How did that work out? Not so well. It's an interesting story, I recommend reading about it.
Fordlandia photos courtesy of Guilherme Carvalho's collection on Panoramio.
Henry Ford was a lean manufacturing visionary. He vertically integrated his supply chain and made great advances in industrial productivity. How did he go so wrong in this Amazon venture? One word: gemba. He didn't get enough of it. Like Boeing executives who made the decision to fly airplane parts from all over the world to Washington State, Henry Ford never went to see the Fordlandia site in Amazon for himself. One of the tenets of lean thought is genchi genbutsu or "go see the real thing" with your own eyes. Ford's rubber plantation gemba was totally unsuited for rubber production, the local workforce culture completely not adapted to Ford's method of labor management, and they failed to notice that the midday heat did not make the most motivating working conditions. Henry Ford never visited Brazil. He never went to gemba, and he paid the price.
Boeing can still pull their supply chain together. The world is not such a big place and no supply chain is so complex that it can't be simplified. But first, they need to get a firm grip - on their heads - and get their feet to the gemba with all speed.Comments are moderated to filter spam and inappropriate content. There may be a delay before your comment is published. | <urn:uuid:1a7506b4-4eb8-49b4-8473-beb874859dbe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gembapantarei.com/2009/07/boeing_gets_a_grip.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969922 | 770 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Loc: Finland, on the Arctic Circle
Could be that Apple decided earlier that Bluetooth syncing would drain power too much, that's what they claimed about the 3G chip officially.* And it actually does drain the battery a bit when sending data over it, I've done it sometimes with a short video clip -- half a minute, maybe, shot with the the Razr's camera -- and sending that even drained half the battery. Syncing your address book and/or calendar OTOH probably wouldn't take as much power. Further, what I've gathered I'm guessing BT hasn't quite fully lived up to it's expectations thus far, so we'll see what happens to it in the future. It's good, probably best for low-voltage wireless input gadgets, such as mouse and keyboard, but for anything with more bits involved, I suppose something like Wi-Fi/WLAN, WiMax, 3G or even EDGE is much better. And well yeah, come to think of it, if the iPhone has built in WLAN, why can't it sync via that?<br><br>*Not wanting to make this another iPhone debate(/argument), just mentioning. ;)<br><br>
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All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon. | <urn:uuid:a7e056cd-f77c-49fc-934f-a04c9ad6957b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.applecentral.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/335584/Re_There_s_something_in_the_ai | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938757 | 405 | 1.5 | 2 |
Before seeking treatment for sun spots, patients should consult a dermatologist or physician to determine if they are suffering from benign sun spots or skin cancer. When diagnosed with sun spots, patients often turn to various skincare professionals for treatment.
Choosing a Clinic
Patients with sun spots often face several options when seeking treatment. Chemical peels, intense pulsed light therapy and laser resurfacing are common treatments associated with sun spots. The clinic should be equipped with one or more of these treatments, as well as safe and effective medical equipment.
The clinic should be conveniently located to avoid a lengthy commute home after treatment, especially if the patient is driving themselves after their procedure. Some procedures, such as deep chemical peels, may require the patient to find a ride home from a friend or family member.
Some physicians or dermatologists may choose to remove sun spots just in case they are cancerous. This is a subject patients are encouraged to discuss with a dermatologist or physician.
Choosing a Specialist
Patients should confirm the specialist's qualifications and certifications with the Medical Licensing Board in their state. While this may seem obsessive to some, it is helpful in determining if the skincare professional is fully qualified to perform your procedure. Never receive treatment from an unqualified or uncertified person.
It may also be helpful to ask for referrals or before and after pictures to help make a decision. Listening to others' experiences or looking at results is a good way to judge the skill and competency of the specialist.
Other Factors to Consider
Patients are also encouraged to inquire about the price of the treatment to avoid surprises later. Prices may vary greatly from one clinic to the other, so patients should keep this in mind. It may also be helpful to ask about any significant differences in price, as there may be a legitimate explanation.
Some clinics offer financing for treatment. If financing is needed, patients should ask about financing plans as well.
Asking questions is strongly encouraged when determining where to receive treatment. Learning as much as possible about facilities and skincare professionals is a vital part of the treatment process and often helps to quell some uncertainties patients have before treatment. | <urn:uuid:df006a2d-a2dc-4ce4-b453-d441ba6b8afa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.skincareguide.com/article/tips-for-choosing-a-sun-spots-specialist.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955347 | 445 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Author Mah's Book
Chinese Cinderella is a heartbreaking, story of a young Chinese girl who is disgraced and unwanted all her life by her own family. It is a sad memoir of Adeline Yen Mah's own childhood, growing up in the 1940s and 1950s and entering her struggle for acceptance from the time she was born to the age of fourteen. This is a story about how Adeline is ignored and considered bad luck by her family when her mother dies giving birth to her. When her rich dad r...
Chinese Cinderella And The Secret Dragon Society
Adeline was born into a family of prosperity and privilege. In the 1940s Shanghai, Chinese Cinderella or CC for short is sheltered from the harsh brutalities of the Japanese invasion in China. But after enduring abuse in the hands of her stepmother, CC is cast out of her home and seeks refuge at a martial arts academy where she improves her athletic skills and health. There, under the guidance of Grandma Wu and a troop of orphaned acrobats she is introdu...
Falling Leaves: the True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter
Born in Tianjin (a port city a thousand miles north of Shanghai) in 1937, Adeline was the fifth child, but her mother died of complications after giving birth. Her father remarried a beautiful, imperious, and spoiled woman of half-Chinese, half-French heritage who proceeded to turn him into an unfeeling brute as well as make the children's life a hell. She had two children of her own but was just as inconsistent and mean-spirited with them as with her st...
View these reviews in summary mode
Adeline Yen Mah Message Board 4/12/2008 2:59:52 AM
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Mah has written! | <urn:uuid:7e8d37b4-3a39-44ae-9992-29180aec777b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.allreaders.com/Topics/Topic_15257.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96578 | 369 | 1.640625 | 2 |
This week, Arianna Huffington announced the Huffington Post’s latest section: HuffPost Divorce. Her plug: “Breaking up is hard to do… but reading about it isn’t.” Upon Monday’s launch, however, there appeared a column that women’s rights advocates took very hard: a piece by Dr. Richard Warshak promoting the discredited “Parental Alienation Syndrome,” or PAS.
Parental alienation is a dangerous custody-battle concept that has been used primarily against mothers–and in particular, mothers trying to protect themselves and their children from hostile or abusive ex-partners and fathers. As R. Dianne Bartlow explained in her Summer 2010 Ms. article, “There’s Nothing Friendly About Abuse”:
PAS theorizes that most accusations of child abuse (especially sexual abuse) made during a custody battle are actually fraudulent. Not only are the charges false, says the theory, but they are deliberately undertaken by one parent (in most cases, the mother) to “alienate” the child from the other parent (generally, the father).
Frighteningly, PAS has allowed abusive or otherwise hostile fathers to gain custody of their children and then forbid the children contact with their mothers.
Yet parental alienation is not accepted as a valid theory by the American Psychological Association, and was rejected from the DSM-V. Without a real psychological definition, it has devolved over the years into a label for any negative testimony about the father by the mother (even if it’s true). It’s also now promoted as gender-neutral, but the parent most often labeled the “alienator” remains the mother. It’s also one hell of a cash cow for psychologists who make a living from it.
In keeping with all this, Warshak’s post, “Stop Divorce Poison”, gives an overly simplified description of “alienation” that could describe nearly any hostile or cantankerous relationship: “persistent bad-mouthing, lies, exaggerations, overlooking positives, and drum-beating negatives.”
A half dozen domestic violence and motherhood activists, including myself, descended upon Warshak’s column to leave comments describing how discredited PAS really is. But, as I witnessed and others report, by the evening of November 9, most of the comments (nearly a dozen) posted by critics had been deleted in the space of five minutes. According to those I’ve spoken with, deleted comments contained valid source material from professional organizations citing:
- how discredited parental alienation really is
- how parental alienation did not make it into the DSM-V
- how it is used primarily as a weapon by abusive fathers against protective mothers
Here is an example of a comment that was removed:
Another activist and I wrote to David Flumenbaum and Arianna Huffington to inform them about the censorship of opposing, critical views. Both of us received an email in return from Social News Editor Adam Clark Estes, who wrote:
I’ve double-checked the comments and all of those missing were removed in accordance with HuffPost’s commenting guidelines. You can read more about those here:
That said, we’re in touch with Dr. Warshak about his comments and will do our best to keep the conversation flowing in the future.
When considering the above screenshots (pure facts devoid of non-objective commentary) it’s unclear which part of these guidelines apply:
(I) The Huffington Post welcomes all users to join our community and to comment and treats all members of the community equally.
(II) We want the Huffington Post to be home to open, transparent conversations in which people connect, discuss, share ideas, and debate the issues.
(III) We are also committed to maintaining a non-toxic atmosphere.
(IV) In order to preserve a functional and civil conversation, we do not allow trolls, trollish behavior, or stalking.
(V) Members of the HuffPost community deserve to be free from spam, and we do not allow posting the same comment multiple times within one thread or on multiple threads.
It’s frustrating that the supposedly progressive HuffPost has given a platform to Dr. Richard Warshak, one of parental alienation’s most fervent supporters, but won’t give the same platform to its commenters.
On November 10, activists returned to the article to comment; it remains to be seen if their comments will be deleted–or whether they’ll fall victim to HuffPost-moderation’s thin skin. If a blog can delete comments opposing their viewpoint, then what’s the point of comments? You might as well change the name to “compliments.” | <urn:uuid:607a1bf3-db2b-40bc-947a-43976aaebc30> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://msmagazine.com/blog/2010/11/11/huffington-post-censors-criticism-of-feminist-commenters/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951187 | 1,004 | 1.625 | 2 |
The following op-ed is written by Henry Bayer, executive director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.
Wherever we live and whatever political party we identify with, most Americans agree on a few basic things.
believe that those who work hard should have decent pay, affordable
health care, security in retirement and respect on the job — and that
government should provide essential services, like good schools for our
children, safe streets for our families and a safety net for the most
vulnerable, including the elderly, disabled, at-risk kids and unemployed
Despite this common-sense consensus in support of vital
public services and the men and women who provide them, a chorus of
corporate special interests are echoing extreme attacks on workers and
their rights. And far too many politicians are listening.
Read more » | <urn:uuid:5ece92f7-f28a-4eaa-a31f-02cd621f8317> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.progressillinois.com/explore/tag/scott-walker | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941306 | 174 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The Justice Secretary will declare that deep cuts in public spending must fuel a new approach to crime and punishment that puts more emphasis on rehabilitating offenders than on locking them up.
Describing today’s prison population as “astonishing”, he will say that the current system is simply “warehousing” criminals at great expense and doing nothing to prevent them re-offending when they are released.
In the strongest signal yet that the Coalition could scrap short prison sentences for many crimes, Mr Clarke will also say it is “virtually impossible” to rehabilitate someone during a jail term of less than 12 months.
The Coalition will soon launch a full review of sentencing policy.
Fuelling expectations that the review will reduce the number of custodial sentences imposed on offenders, Mr Clarke will say that the debate on criminal justice must move on from the “numbers game” of measuring the effectiveness of policies solely according to the prison population.
Instead of counting the number of people in jail, politicians and the public should focus on the re-offending rate, which has risen in recent years, he will say in a speech at King's College London.
Mr Clarke’s aides said his speech is intended as a criticism of Labour’s management of the criminal justice system. But it will inevitably draw comparisons with the approach taken by previous Conservative administrations.
Michael Howard, Mr Clarke’s successor as Home Secretary in Sir John Major’s government, declared in 1993 that “prison works”.
But Mr Clarke will openly challenge that notion, suggesting that recent falls in crime have been caused by economic and social factors, not the increasing use of prison sentences.
“Too often prison has proved a costly and ineffectual approach that fails to turn criminals into law-abiding citizens,” he will say. “In our worst prisons it produces tougher criminals.”
Mr Clarke rejected Labour claims that his approach was at odds with strong backing by Mr Cameron during the General Election campaign for short sentences for vandalism and disorder.
"I am not at direct odds with my leader. You do need short sentences for the kind of nuisance criminal who keeps being a recidivist," Mr Clarke told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
Almost half of all prisoners reoffend within a year of their release, official figures show. For those serving sentences of less than a year, the recidivism rate is 60 per cent.
Around 60,000 people each year serve a prison sentence of less than 12 months.
Mr Clarke will suggest today that such sentences are all but worthless.
“It is virtually impossible to do anything productive with offenders on short sentences,” he will say. “And many of them end up losing their jobs, their homes and their families during their short term inside.”
Mr Clarke’s remarks may prepare the way for controversial moves to reduce the use of short custodial sentences, as the Liberal Democrats proposed in their election manifesto.
Earlier this month the Prison Governors Association joined the National Association of Probation Officers in calling for an end to sentences of less than a year.
The number of people behind bars has risen steadily to its current record level but neither crime rates nor public concerns about crime have fallen to a similar extent, he will say.
Mr Clarke was Home Secretary in 1992-93, when the prison population was around 45,000. Today, it stands at 85,000.
“This is quite an astonishing number which I would have dismissed as an impossible and ridiculous prediction if it had been put to me as a forecast in 1992,” Mr Clarke will say.
The average cost of keeping an offender in prison for a year is almost £40,000 and the Government currently spends £2.2 billion a year on the prison system.
In opposition, the Conservatives drew up plans to build 5,000 new prison places and promised to meet a Labour pledge of 96,000 prison places by 2014.
But with departments like the Ministry of Justice facing budget cuts of up to 33 per cent over the next four years, Mr Clarke will signal that the days of rising prison numbers must end.
“Just banging up more and more people for longer without actively seeking to change them is what you would expect of Victorian England,” he will say.
Whitehall sources said Mr Clarke’s approach to sentencing and prison numbers is causing concern in Downing Street.
Some of David Cameron’s senior aides are said to worry that the Coalition will be criticised by voters unless it is seen to be tough on crime.
Mr Clarke is prepared for criticism over his approach from right-wing Conservative MPs and some parts of the media and will say: “It is too simple to argue about tougher sentencing or softer sentencing, although it makes for good headlines. I believe in intelligent sentencing.”
But to reassure people worried about a more liberal approach to crime, Mr Clarke is examining measures to make community penalties much tougher.
He will promise “rigorously enforced community sentences that punish offenders” at the same time as helping them get them off drugs and alcohol and into work.
Some Conservative MPs and law-and-order campaigners will reject the minister's new focus on rehabilitation, dismissing community sentences and other non-custodial sentences as a soft and ineffective response to crime.
The National Audit Office reported two years ago that some criminals given community sentences were routinely allowed to skip community work and other requirements because probation officers do not properly enforce the rules. | <urn:uuid:d5f9b828-08f9-4097-b09a-e3cede3d5b17> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7862003/Kenneth-Clarke-Fewer-criminals-will-go-to-prison.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967185 | 1,143 | 1.664063 | 2 |
It seems, on the face of it, like a dreadful case of taking coals to Newcastle.
Next month, on October 7, the French luxury brand Hermès is to launch a limited edition of its first Indian sari in Mumbai. Sari? In the land of the sari? In a country where many women can identify, from 50 feet and in poor light, the exact weave, region of provenance, perhaps even the mood the weaver was in when he made it?
What may seem recklessly foolish is, in fact, a belated recognition by Hermès that the Indian woman's attachment to her traditional clothes and cultural identity is so strong that she will not accept anything blindly, no matter how globally famous the brand. It has to "connect" in some way with her traditions and those traditions dictate that, on formal occasions, she should wear a sari, not western clothes.
"We want to be part of the life of India, to meet Indian culture," said Bertrand Michaud, the regional managing director of Hermès. "Our sari is not a marketing tool, it is a tribute to Indian culture and elegance."
The idea of a "Hermès sari" is, for Radha Chadha, managing director of Chadha Strategy Consulting in Dubai, a master stroke.
"It's delightful," she said. "It's like saying 'namaste' to India in its own language."
The 25 Hermès saris, made of cashmere, twill silk and mousseline changeante, have been created in Paris and are priced at US$2,000 (Dh7,350). They may not be a marketing tool as Michaud insists but they demonstrate a new awareness by the luxury brands, which have not seen the kind of growth in India that they have experienced in China or Russia, of the need to cater to the specific needs of the discerning and often finicky rich Indians.
With an economy roaring along and a surplus of millionaires, India was expected to be a no-brainer for the luxury brands. Yet it accounts for only half a per cent of the global luxury market at $846 million. China, by comparison, accounts for 10 per cent of the global market at $17 billion.
The big brands came to India expecting explosive growth. Instead, they have been forced to wait. Several factors have thwarted their hopes. For one, there is no Bond Street, Fifth Avenue or Ginza in India where they can open shop. In an "ordinary" shopping area, they may end up next to a McDonald's or a Pizza Hut, which is not quite the location they deem desirable.
In a country where the pot-holed road to a five-star hotel may be littered with rubbish, the luxury brands have found it hard to provide a self-indulgent retail experience.
Given the absence of a fashionable, upmarket place, they have confined themselves to small outlets in five-star hotels or the two dedicated luxury malls in New Delhi and Bangalore in south India.
Mumbai, oddly enough, has no luxury mall, despite being the commercial capital and the home of Bollywood. The small size of the shops in the luxury hotels has meant that they cannot stock as much variety as in their stores elsewhere.
For another, India's import duties of 30 per cent make the prices of the same goods high. Many affluent Indians who travel frequently prefer to shop abroad for their luxury goods because of the price, the greater variety and the generally more enjoyable experience.
The habit of shopping on overseas trips dates back to the days before India's economic reforms, when there was hardly anything worth buying. Anyone going abroad used to be presented with a long list of items to bring back, ranging from lipstick and chocolates to perfume.
"Maybe the younger generation will be different but for my generation, the habit of shopping abroad is just too strong," said the Mumbai socialite Arti Surendranath. "Psychologically, you feel they'll have the latest stuff and it's more fun there. And when you've shopped abroad, why buy here?"
Research has shown that Indians love to shop on holiday, unlike westerners who prefer to relax. "The first thing they ask about any destination is the shopping, not the sights," said Prakash Verma, a New Delhi tour operator.
You can see the struggle to sell if you visit either of the luxury malls on most days. They tend to be deserted, with shop assistants outnumbering customers. "We consider it a good day if we sell two handbags," said a shop assistant in Delhi's luxury mall, DLF Emporio.
The solution that some brands have come up with is to cater to Indian tastes. This was possibly pioneered by the Spanish company Lladro, which produced limited-edition porcelain figures of the popular Hindu god Ganesh some years ago, instantly elevating a routine object found in millions of homes into an exclusive and prized possession.
Canali, the Italian men's fashion brand, has a special jacket inspired by the "bandhgala": a formal and smart high-collared jacket worn by sophisticated Indian men at weddings and formal occasions and India's answer to the tuxedo. This is an India-specific product custom-made for India and it has done really well.
Then there is the limited-edition clutch bag by Bottega Veneta. The Bottega signature weave has been blended with conventional Indian embroidery and adorned with the word "India" on a sterling silver plate inside the clutch. Mumbai's society queens and celebrities stumbled over their Jimmy Choo's to grab one.
Customised goods make sense in this market because Indians enjoy a long tradition of handmade and handcrafted objects. Men and women generally go to their own tailors for bespoke outfits. An Indian woman would not be seen dead in the same sari as someone else.
Even jewellery tends to be custom-made, with jewellers making home visits for leisurely discussions over cardamom-flavoured tea on individual designs. The maharajas, who set the gold standard for opulence and excess, never used to merely accept whatever a Louis Vuitton or a Cartier had already made; they had pieces made to order that were unique. Indians who have made their own fortunes since the economic reforms of 20 years ago have continued this tradition.
Tailoring products to suit Indian tastes and keeping them exclusive is only a partial solution to sluggish growth, according to Arvind Singhal of the New Delhi retail consultancy firm KDA Technopak. He believes that, by staying inside their five-star "ghettoes", the luxury brands have failed to understand Indian psychology.
Singhal says they fail to realise that in India, luxury coexists with squalor.
"The mansion of India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, may be right next to a slum but neither he nor the slum dwellers are upset about this. That's how things are. It's not like Sao Paulo where you need armed guards to go through a slum area. If rich Indians are comfortable with this juxtaposition, why do they stay away, feeling their brand will be devalued by being displayed in such areas?" he said.
Hermès has become the first luxury brand in India to leave the "ghetto". Last month the company became the first international brand in India to open a street-level stand-alone store in Mumbai. It chose a beautiful Victorian building in the historical Fort area - 15A Horniman Circle - which happens to be located at "point zero", the spot from where all distances in the city are measured. For a brand that prizes its heritage, opening in a heritage building is apt.
Spread over 3,000 square feet on three floors, with an art gallery on one floor and glass elevators, the shop is one of the biggest Hermès outlets in Asia. "We want to be part of the life of India and that means being on the street, not tucked away in a hotel. And we have so much space that we hope to have our entire collection here," said Michaud.
What next? Chadha loves Hermès's new Chinese brand, Shang Xia, in Shanghai, which is the result of Hermès taking traditional Chinese artefacts and polishing them up to the Hermès level. "The stuff in the shop is exquisite. If they did that for India - created an 'Indian Hermès' - it would be great," she said.
Appealing to Indian taste
Indians are so attached to their culture, particularly their food, that it’s no surprise they like to take their own snacks with them when they travel. Tour operators say one of the first things Indian tourists ask on arriving in a city is: “Where’s the nearest Indian restaurant?” Some of the wealthy fly their own chef out with them to enjoy home-cooked food on the road.
The first lesson the big fast food chains learnt when expanding into the country was that they had to Indianise their menus and adapt them to the Indian palate. So, pork and beef items were out and spicy items were in. And it is not just eateries that have adapted.
• McDonald’s: It offers spicy burgers such as the BigSpicy Chicken Wrap and McVeggie burger made with spicy vegetables. Its adaptation of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) is the McSpicy Paneer Burger and the Paneer Wrap. Only the breakfast items are non-Indianised.
• Pizzas: Both Domino’s and Pizza Hut offer spicy toppings such as “tandoori chicken” and “spicy masala chicken wings”.
• Mont Blanc: The Swiss luxury penmaker came out with a limited edition bearing the ascetic Mahatma Gandhi’s engraved image in 2009. It was meant to be something that appealed to Indian pride but it had to be withdrawn after protests saying that it “degraded everything he symbolised”. | <urn:uuid:639a834c-4f2f-4356-af03-4634c35e4f7f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/fashion/india-gets-herm-s-sari | 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 | 0.963012 | 2,091 | 1.695313 | 2 |
There are a lot of reasons biological parents choose to place a child up for adoption. One reason that is very common is that they want their child to have both a mother and a father in their home. And oftentimes when that is the reason, it means that the biological parents are no longer together. When that happens, when there is a separation between the biological mother and biological father, it isn’t uncommon for the biological father to be brushed aside during the adoption process.
It takes two to make a baby, but it only takes one of those two to physically carry the child. It also takes only one of those two to deliver the baby. In many unfortunate cases the birth father wants to be part of the process, but he is sometimes the forgotten part of the adoption triad.
Biological fathers play a different role in the adoption process. If they’re not present when the baby starts to kick and move, they lose out a little bit on the experience. If the biological father isn’t present during birthing classes or doctor visits, he tends to be a little less aware of how things are progressing. And if the biological father is kept out of the decision making process while choosing the adoptive couple, he’s less likely to feel like he is part of the situation.
Birth fathers are not disinterested. They’re not unaware, and they do indeed care. Oftentimes it’s an uphill battle that they tire from climbing after time. After all, it can be a lot to ask for a potential birth mother to include her ex-boyfriend in the some of the most emotionally intense and stressful times of her life.
The struggle to keep the birthfather involved continues with the adoptive couple. By virtue of the fact that most contact between adoptive side and biological side happens between the adoptive couple and the birthmother, the birthfather can get lost in the shuffle. There are a lot of things going on and emotions are running at hyper speed. If the birthfather isn’t integrated in the happenings of the pregnancy, he’s less likely to be weaved into the fabric of the adoption process. And if he’s left out of the adoption process, he’s less likely to be involved in the post-adoption relationship.
Birthfathers can be a wonderful presence in the adoption triad. Many birthfathers who are left out wish they could be involved and would be a great addition to the interesting family tree that is open adoption. No matter what part of the adoption triad you belong to, don’t forget about the often forgotten man. | <urn:uuid:9cd84726-dbc7-43dc-bbac-b9cfa4032e16> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://birth-parents.adoption.com/after-adoption/sound-of-silence-birthfathers.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961118 | 540 | 1.507813 | 2 |
In February, the Welcome Centre hosted a shared meal and short film show to launch a new project run by SAGE Greenfingers. From their base at Grimesthorpe Allotments, SAGE Greenfingers, an established local charity, offers creative therapeutic activities to a community of adults experiencing mental health problems (http://www.sagesheffield.org.uk).
John Lawson introduced the new Refugee and Asylum Seeker Project, funded through Ecominds, a Big Lottery grant managed by Mind. This project hopes to enable 20 refugees and asylum seekers with mental health concerns to work alongside other members on the Greenfingers allotments over the next year or so. Workers and volunteers from many Sheffield based food growing initiatives attended the evening as well as a number of refugees and asylum seekers.
Continuing with the theme of asylum and allotments, in early March the Welcome Centre showed “Grow Your Own”. This film, a comedy, fictionalises the arrival of a number of refugees and asylum seekers on a ‘typical’ allotment site somewhere in Lancashire. Within the comic setting of cantankerous northerners, the film allows the painful stories of the refugees to be told. There was a large audience for this event who were all moved by the film as well as having a good laugh. The film highlighted the way that growing vegetables and flowers, together with a supportive group of people, can help improve life for people in distress.
There is a strong network of local allotment projects and anyone interested should email the Messenger for further information. If anyone would like to find out more or knows of refugees/asylum seekers or others who might benefit from the work of SAGE Greenfingers, contact them on: firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:e960ef5c-8c98-498a-b1cd-b5c16272693f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.burngreavemessenger.org/archives/2011/april-2011-issue-93/finding-refuge-at-greenfingers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947986 | 371 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Last Updated : June 02 2010. Please let me know if you have trouble in viewing the writeup, and hearing the audio clips provided below.
A great person once said that history is written by the victor. The one who is smart and cunning, who wins and has the money, who is extremely powerful and has a throng of followers around them, who can literally decide your fate if you turn your back on them...these are the people who have the muscle to bend a true story to their liking and ultimately to their advantage.
It's all too easy to be star-struck watching the hundreds of video clips of Lance Armstrong on Youtube. Its easy to buy a bunch of books written by him and his lieutenants and believe what he invariably asks you to slurp in. And it's easier going with the fan following based around him and his brand and do exactly what they're all doing.
But it's difficult to go out against the tide and exercise some independent critical thinking skills to challenge the root of the system. We're often times lazy to explore or plainly just narrow minded to accept the other half of the story. When we believe in something, we fix it in our world view and build castles around it to protect it. But if castles are built on loose foundation, like the story of the man who built his house on mud, it will topple sooner or later. When it crashes down, that will be a mind-blowing experience.
So what is the other half of the story for those of you who haven't heard at all? Join in this post as I amass together a few facts, figures and audio clips that are absolutely critical if you are to have a "balanced knowledge" of the persona of Lance Armstrong. Some of these I collected over from some who were bold enough to only share, talk and write. By all means, this is a re-pollination of facts but done so as to never let people forget the past. So get yourself a cup of tea or coffee and focus for a while on the 'other side of the grass'.
1. "LANCE ARMSTRONG'S DOPING HISTORY" : This 50 page report challenges us to think about the curious holes in Lance Armstrong's story and his strange attitudes towards doping in general, especially given his stature in the sport. You'll be going "But Why" in little-time.
2. FLOYD LANDIS' EMAIL TESTIMONY : Floyd Landis shocked the cycling world on May 20, 2010 when he confessed to doping via email to UCI. Not only did he reveal how he took the drugs, he also implicated "master tactician" Armstrong and his seemingly evil manager Bruyneel for instructing him on how to use them. Besides, from his firm email, there is little doubt that Armstrong was also on the juice. Read the startling letter below :
3. MICHAEL ANDERSON'S TESTIMONY : Mike Anderson was not only Armstrong's former team mechanic, the man also ran errands for him, maintained his kids toys and bicycles, did groceries for him and his family and performed other manual labor around the cyclists' home property in Dripping Springs. Being so close to Armstrong, you would think he would have an intimate knowledge of Lance's homely affairs, behind closed doors. And sure he did. One interesting account, of several, involved him discovering an unmistakable box of androgen in Lance's apartment bathroom. The friendship and written contracts between both parties quickly turned sour from then on. This court account gives the full details of another one of Armstrong's broken relationships.
4. "THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT HE TOOK EPO DURING THE 1999 TOUR" : Read on through NYVelocity as reputed exercise physiologist Dr. Michael Ashenden from Australia explains the 6 positives from Armstrong's '99 urine samples with a level of detail you can only imagine. In short, there is 100% certainty that all results from the tests were valid and news stories and other allegations trying to bend this fact is simply misinformation. See Link.
5. "GROSS ERRORS IN CALCULATION OF ARMSTRONG'S CYCLING EFFICIENCY" : PhD Sports Scientists from South Africa elucidate the outright gross errors and measurement inconsistencies in Edward Coyle's battery of tests performed on Armstrong at the University of Texas. This study is suspect not just because of the errors in it, but also for the fact that the paper curiously appeared at a time when Lance Armstrong was suing SCA Promotions in court. And what else? Ed Coyle was a PAID CONSULTANT for Lance Armstrong during that time. In other words, Armstrong was paying him to manufacture some results on paper that would help him win the 5 million dollars. If that doesn't tell you anything, this study is often quoted to others to make believe that Armstrong is somehow magically way off the charts when it comes to pedaling efficiency. That's why he won the Tour de France 7 times, or so they claim. Well, consider that the latest research has blasted this myth apart with a double barreled shotgun. See Link.
6. "AND IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, ARMSTRONG WAS VISITING FERARRI FOR 3-4 DAYS AT A TIME" : One of the most honest journalists around happens to be showing honesty in return for little money. And our cancer humanitarian called him a "f**cking little troll" while the honest journalist returns only professionalism in his job. In this candid interview with David Walsh at NYVelocity, you learn a few good things going on that are nicely hidden behind the charisma of Lance and the world of pro cycling. Guaranteed that you won't get this in your Texas newspaper. See Link. Alternatively, Mike Anderson, a former personal mechanic of Lance, testified in great detail in court to the elaborate meetings between Lance and the notorious doping doctor. See Link to read the Anderson Report.
7. "WE'VE BEEN FED A PACK OF LIES" : A short interview with Walsh by NPR. Team Motorola had decided to dope like the others and this was gained from inside sources working very closely with the team. "Cycling has gone into the gutter" because of the silence of folks who knew all along the real kind of game going on behind the scenes.
8. "THE SMOKING GUN IS IN LANCE'S COVERUP..." : When your own wife knows something is seriously different as you charge up Sestriere, dragging along another EPO filled black sheep to help him win the 1999 Tour, and when she goes against all odds to come out and be sincere and forthright about the all these events from the perspective of friends who were close to Lance, it makes for a powerful take on the issue. This 1 hour revelation from Betsy Andreu as she spoke to Competitor Radio will shake the castle you had built around your view of Lance...the truthful, kind, charity-driven hero who is known to spark streaks of performance miracles over the course of many years.
9: "STEPHANIE McIlAVAIN AND HER HUSBAND WERE UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE FROM OAKLEY..." : When your very future career is put at stake because of what you will say in court, you comply so that truth is bent in favor of the manipulator of truth. There is substantiated evidence that people involved in Lance Armstrong's circle in his early days were 'straightened' to say what Lance Armstrong wanted them to say. Fortunately, in a sea of liars, only one woman selflessly stands strong to tell the truth. Here is Betsy's interview in 5 parts with an Irish radio show host.
11. "I WAS IN THAT ROOM AND I HEARD IT, I DEFINITELY WON'T LIE" :Why was Stephanie Mcllavain, an employee of Armstrong's sponsor Oakley so completely shaken and nervous in court? Because she was disgraced as a liar with irrefutable audio proof. Greg Lemond taped a phone conversation with her on September 21, 2004 without telling her, where she went on to candidly admit hearing and knowing the things Lance did in his great pharmaceutical career. That audio, presented below, is not the best in the world, but if the listener gives it the required attention and patience, many disgusting things can be learned about the state of pro cycling back in those days. At one point in the clip, she goes nonchalantly with reference to drug taking, "Its going to be funny to see what George Hincapie's baby is going to look like." Horrible.
3. Ed Coyle's Error Prone Research : "Improved Muscular Efficiency Displayed As Tour de France Champion Matures", JAP (2005)
-"Delta efficiency Calculation In Tour de France Champion Is Wrong", Ashenden et.al, JAP (2008)
-SIAB : Dr. Michael Ashenden Bio
-"Scientist : My Research On Lance Armstrong Was Flawed" : NYTimes Daily
4. Lance Armstrong's Blood and Urine Testing Results : August 2008-July 2009
-NYVelocity : Interview With Armstrong's Bio-Passport Critic, Jakob Moerkeberg
5. -4 Part Analysis - "Lance Armstrong Meets BioPassport: Reticulocytes Difficult to Explain"
6. How Pro's Defeat Anti-Doping Control : An Article By Joe Papp
7. -Blood Journal : "False-Positive EPO Test Concerns Unfounded" by Don Catlin, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA
And for those who're addicted to this post, and still can't get over the urge to push on and learn more...
Below is a closeup portrait of Lance Armstrong's narcissistic, temperamental personality. This, most people knew from a long time back. But even the latest news reports confirm that his is an attitude that hinges on deliberately creating conflicts and tension among people, even if its in his own team! This is his strange way of inflicting psychological wounds on people he doesn't like, his way to disintegrate an opponent.
Besides, he's also one of the smartest guys in the room, and knows very well how to get around the system. The following observations are from Cédric Vasseur, a former teammate who rode for him in Team US Postal. Credits for the quote go to the book From Lance to Landis by renowned journalist David Walsh. Every real cycling fan must have read this book at least once. Investigative journalism doesn't get better than this.
Note : This blog will always remain democratic, so feel free to voice your opinions after you have read and heard the above post. | <urn:uuid:3e660b35-9efb-4ab7-afd8-9e287b3f38be> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2009/11/8-things-on-lance-armstrong-from-other.html?showComment=1259614103613 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963461 | 2,229 | 1.601563 | 2 |
I'm willing to get behind a mandatory helment law, but only if we also pass a law that says all pet cats and dogs must wear helments as well at all times--and that includes indoor cats, because you never know when a potted plant is going to fall off a windowsill and clock Mittens right on the bean. However, I'm willing to bet that a pet helment law will never happen, since while non-cycling New Yorkers are perfectly happy to demean cyclists by forcing them to wear foam hats for no reason, they actually tend to treat their pets with some measure of dignity.
Speaking of helment laws, another reader tells me Felix Salmon (who is not a cartoon character) is also against them--and he's actually smart, so in your face:
First of all, consider this chart:
Then consider this:
The x-axis shows bikers as a percentage of total commuters, while most bike trips in New York are not home-to-work commutes at all. If you included all New York cyclists, New York would have a higher ratio of cyclists, and fatalities per cyclist would go down. Put it this way: the chart is taking the total number of bike fatalities, and dividing it by the total number of bike commuters, rather than the total number of bicyclists as a whole.
Yeah, I didn't understand any of that either, and that's how you know this Felix guy is one clever Salmon. All I know is that I'm pretty sure the "X-Axis" is a new mountain bike pedal from Time, though I'm not sure what that has to do with cycling fatalities, unless that chart is just showing the float/release curve.
But here's the part I did understand:
Liu is also pushing to make helmets mandatory; I’m not such a fan of that idea. For one thing, I have yet to see any empirical data showing that mandatory helmets increase safety. And in general, insofar as a mandatory helmet law would reduce the number of cyclists, it would also reduce the safety-in-numbers effect.
To that I would like to add an emphatic and articulate "What he said." I also appreciated this little bit of irony:
Liu also wheeled out the media-relations guy from AAA New York, of all people, to say that the best way to prevent cyclists incurring serious injuries is to force those cyclists to wear helmets. That’s just depressing: one would hope that a car-drivers’ organization might at least pay lip service to safer driving, rather than putting the onus entirely on the bikers.
Taking bike safety advice from the AAA media-relations guy is like taking new car advice from David Byrne:
("The Huyndai Elantra is the obvious choice. It comes in lots of pretty colors and the cupholders are awesome.")
By the way, if you want more cycling tips from America's premiere motoring club, just watch this instructional video:
This video tells you pretty much everything you need to know about riding a bike along the skidmarks of Canada's soiled underpants. First of all, there are only three (3) acceptable reasons for an adult to ride a bicycle, and those are:
--"It's a great form of exercise"
--"It's good for the environment"
--"It's fun to ride"
So remember, if you ride for any other reason--like because it's practical, or because it's less expensive--you are a godless communist and should take the next steamship back to Amsterhagen forever.
Also, make sure you're highly visible at all times to ensure that you're readily identifiable as the freak you are. Acceptable attire includes Tridork:
And of course Chalk Outline:
Just kidding about that last one. Police only use chalk outlines at crime scenes, and everybody knows that in America it's perfectly legal to run over cyclists.
In any case, even Felix Salmon does have some concerns about the bike share program, those being:
Meanwhile, my biggest fear is that we’ll see the opposite: a bunch of people who have no idea what they’re doing, riding on sidewalks, salmoning, and generally causing chaos.
I particularly enjoyed that Felix Salmon used the term "salmoning," though it's unclear if he means it in the "riding against traffic" sense or the "riding while interpreting data" sense.
Also pertinent to yesterday's post is this comment, which was appended to it by a reader:
I actually feel for someon who has had their bike, or any other hard earned property, stolen. I wish I could be as cavalier as you wild cat but then again I don't own a stable of expensive artisinal bikes for every occassion. It don't think it's comparable to a serious crime but it still sucks hard.
June 26, 2012 4:32 PM
First of all, I don't own a stable of artisanal bikes for every occasion, and I'm conspicuously lacking a handmade lugged 650b brunching porteur with a handlebar-mounted French press. Secondly, as for wishing he could be as cavalier as me, my response to that is "You're welcome," because my "job" is to be cavalier about this sort of stuff so that you don't have to be. Here is an extensive, though by no means complete, list of bike-related stuff I feel duty-bound not to give a shit about:
--When someone's ugly bike gets stolen, as in yesterday's post;
--When that same person gets his ugly stolen bike back because he constantly kisses the asses of a bunch of music dorks on Twitter, and then writes an article in "Salon" about it;
--Helments, and the wearing or non-wearing of same;
--The new Dura Ace and how it compares to the old Dura Ace;
--The latest crabon bike and what some reviewer writes after sitting on it for five minutes;
--Amateur bike racers' results, data, and race reports. (This is because being good at amateur bike racing is not a talent. At best, it's a dubious skill, like being double-jointed and grossing out girls in the school cafeteria.)
Fortunately, if you want to hear people giving a shit about these things, you're in luck, because it describes the entire rest of the cycling Internet. And if something bike-related is not on the above list, it's safe to assume I also don't give a shit about that either--unless it pertains directly to me, in which case I care about it passionately.
Speaking of yesterday's post (and myself), in that post I remarked that I couldn't believe how much free time the people involved in that stolen bike recovery had. Well, ironically, that very afternoon I suddenly found myself with a small yet enticing window of free time, during which I resolved to ride a bicycle. Now, ordinarily when cycling for enjoyment I'd put on a bunch of stretchy clothes like the latent Fred that I am, but given the small amount of time this seemed even sillier than it usually does. Plus, awhile back I read this book buy this guy:
In it, the guy says it's OK to ride a bike in your underpants, so I decided that's what I was going to do. (Though I also had clothes on over my underpants, because I'm just self-conscious that way.) Then, for the first time since returning from Italy and the puzzlingly-named Full Bike Day, I removed my detachable travel chariot from its case and reassembled it. I'm pleased to report that even after being molested by baggage handlers in four countries (I'm referring to the bike bag, and not me, though I suppose if I'd been molested by baggage handlers in four countries I'd have a potentially lucrative lawsuit on my hands) it was still in good shape. The only maintenance I needed to perform was taping the bars--though when I say "tape the bars" I obviously mean this:
New handlebar tape is for effete roadies and one percenters.
I also schmeared overpriced cream cheese on the underside of the saddle Eric "The Chamferer" Murray made me, because he said if I didn't he'd fucking kill me, and then he put his chamfering knife in my nostril for emphasis:
By the way, one might say I haven't quite earned the "World Traveller" sobriquet, but if riding from a hotel to a book signing and back again and then ordering room service in four (4) countries (one of which isn't even English-speaking) doesn't qualify me as a world traveller then I don't know what does.
Anyway, thusly equipped, I rode until I wound up at the beach:
I should add that, in addition to wearing underpants, I also wore a fanny pack:
There was a time, many years ago, when I would often ride this very same route clad in a t-shirt and a fanny pack, simply because I didn't know any better. Then came the stretchy clothes, and the clicky shoes, and the aversion to "junk miles," and before I knew it I had to read a book to remind me of how much fun I'd been having back in the fanny pack days:
Anyway, I didn't have much time to hang around and relax, so instead I took a picture that made it look like I was hanging around and relaxing in the hopes that doing so would convince me that I was actually relaxing:
I suppose taking a contrived relaxation picture is the underpants-and-fanny-pack equivalent of Strava.
Speaking of world traveling, the guy who made this movie forwarded me this movie:
And you'll either be relieved or disgusted to know that people still haven't tired of parading themselves in front of the poor people of the world on their fixiebikes:
Apparently, our cities are no longer "edgy" enough, so in order to feel special they have to travel to places like this:
("I'm gonna gentrify the fuck outta this town.")
Then, they have to act like drinking coffee is a big deal:
At first I thought the smiling guy on the left was under the mistaken impression that he was actually watching the filming of a real TV show or documentary, but then I realized he was probably smiling for altogether different reasons:
Anyway, hats off and underpants on for the filmmaker:
And lastly, from North London comes this cockpit:
Which incorporates Grip Shift nubbins to stunning effect:
Strangely, the reader who sent me these pictures called the setup "subtle," though I guess that's just the British spelling of the word we here in Uh-merica spells as "suttle." He also speculated that the setup was designed "possibly to accommodate an extra pair of tiny t-rex hands."
I'm inclined to agree. | <urn:uuid:9c01d38e-962e-4891-a1b3-283c866f42a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2012/06/you-cant-spell-wednesday-without.html?showComment=1340855924718 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974578 | 2,316 | 1.671875 | 2 |
If you can't view the original size image at the true source of image, then it has been explicitly made that way by the server so that people who think they are smart can't get around it. It's quite common on sites that hold value in their images to produce two images on upload (Simple scripting job); The original to store privately, and a reduced quality preview copy (Perhaps even watermarked). The original needs no connection to the poor copy, so you're at a dead end if that's your case.
Of course, there are lots of lousy methods used to keep images safe too — generally obfuscation of some manner that can be by-passed — but I'm not all that interested in helping people jack other people's images.
@ LearningCoder: When you click "open image in new tab", it's probably respecting the HTML/CSS resizing or something. | <urn:uuid:e86f0252-b52d-47c1-a9c5-78092f8d2773> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.codingforums.com/showpost.php?p=1297078&postcount=10 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962582 | 181 | 1.617188 | 2 |
POPSUGARFoodSource: Stock Your Kitchen With These 10 Essential International Cookbooks
Hoping for an easy way to broaden your culinary horizons? Look no further than a new cuisine. Before you raise your hand in protest to even more restaurant dining, hear me out: the best way to familiarize oneself with a particular country's food is by actually cooking it yourself. We promise this proposition will be both fun and easy, thanks to the following tomes, each of which is written by a foremost expert in the cuisine. Behold: 12 definitive international cookbooks that are essential to any globe-trotter's kitchen.
- Spanish: The New Spanish Table: As a lover of all things Spanish, I researched high and low to find the seminal cookbook on Spain in the States. I quickly discovered that it's Anya von Bremzen's The New Spanish Table ($23). The book is full of colorful stories and tested recipes that stretch from Valencia to Basque Country to La Mancha and everything in between.
- Vietnamese: Into the Vietnamese Kitchen: The food of Vietnam can be as abstruse as it is inspiring. With Into the Vietnamese Kitchen ($35) - which includes everything from recipes to a pantry ingredient primer to the history of Vietnamese cuisine - Andrea Nguyen demystifies the country's complex cuisine without ever dumbing it down.
- Italian: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking: Marcella Hazan is largely credited with bringing traditional Italian cooking to England and the United States. Her attention to detail and reliable recipes - like a three-ingredient tomato sauce that quickly became famous - make Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking ($35) worth keeping around.
More from POPSUGAR Food: Master the Culinary Craft With Technique-Driven Cookbooks
- Chinese: Land of Plenty: Chinese-speaking Fuchsia Dunlop spent 15 years exploring China and its cuisine, even studying at the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine. Land of Plenty ($30), her cookbook on authentic Szechuan recipes, is the closest you'll get to eating in Chengdu without actually flying there.
- Greek: The Olive and the Caper: Author Susanna Hoffman refers to The Olive and the Caper ($20) as "adventures in Greek cooking," and these are adventures, indeed. In the book's more than 700 pages, Hoffman - part recipe developer, part scholar and storyteller - covers not only recipes and obscure ingredients (mizithra cheese, anyone?), but also the role food plays in everyday Greek life.
- French: Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Two words: Julia Child. Need we say more? Her two-volume Mastering the Art of French Cooking ($90) not only made her a publishing legend, but has also taught tens of millions of cooks how to make boeuf bourguignonne as Burgundians enjoy it.
- Indian: Madhur Jaffrey Indian Cooking: Madhur Jaffrey didn't learn to cook as a child growing up in Delhi, but after acting and hosting cooking shows on BBC, she became one of the world's preeminent ambassadors of Indian cooking. Her eponymous title Madhur Jaffrey Indian Cooking ($35) offers illustrated how-tos for everything from vindaloo to palak paneer.
More from POPSUGAR Food: Kitchen Essentials: Cookbooks Everyone Should Have
- Moroccan: Couscous and Other Good Food From Morocco: When cookbook author Paula Wolfert published Couscous and Other Good Food From Morocco ($20) in 1973, she put one of the world's great cuisines on the American map. The book became so known for its tagines and bisteeya that in 2008, it was inducted into the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame.
- Mexican: The Essential Cuisines of Mexico: Diana Kennedy is to Mexican what Julia Child is to French; in fact, she's even been nicknamed the "Julia Child of Mexican cuisine." Her 2009 book, The Essential Cuisines of Mexico ($23), which combines three of her previous bestsellers with more than 300 recipes from various regions in Mexico, doesn't shy away from true Mexican ingredients like cactus, lard, or beef tripe.
- Russian: Please to the Table: Classic Eastern European food can be hard to come by these days, so if you've got an itch for borscht, then your best bet is to make it at home. If you're looking for somewhere to start, then Please to the Table (from $42), by Moscow-born recipe developer Anya von Bremzen, is the definitive cookbook on Soviet cuisine.
Eat Your Way Through South Africa
Eat Your Way Through Germany | <urn:uuid:8807acba-8fc9-4a5e-997b-f60c3d730cb6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shine.yahoo.com/book-club/stock-kitchen-10-essential-international-cookbooks-182800349.html?.tsrc=yahoo | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935308 | 982 | 1.671875 | 2 |
March 23, 2012
From Northwest to Nerdbots: Alumni use business, creative skills to create quirky robots
To learn more about the Nerdbots, visit http://nerdbots.myshopify.com/.
Watch a video about the Nerdbots, produced by MailChimp.
It started with Leotron.
Standing about 19 inches tall, his body is built with a radio, a Polaroid camera, flexible pipes and electrical cords. It turns out he’s also partial to lists, spreadsheets, diagrams, charts, comic books, Starbucks lattes and his graphing calculator – which he professes to operate with his eyes closed.
He’s the whimsical creation of Northwest Missouri State University alumni Nicholas and Angela Snyder who, since building Leotron in 2007, have assembled – and sold – about 300 creations somewhat like him. They call them Nerdbots.
“One day Angela decided, ‘You know what? I sort of want a robot for my desk,’” Nicholas recalled. “We thought, ‘Well, we can make one!’ We went ahead and found the parts and took the power tools that I had, made the one and still have him to this day.”
Angela graduated from Northwest in 2004 with an advertising degree and is a designer at Hallmark. Although the couple is separated by a year in age and met while attending Northwest together, Nicholas put off completing his business management degree until 2008 as he settled into a consulting role at Cerner. They were married in 2005.
The Snyders were a couple years into their marriage before the self-described nerds realized each other’s interest in robots. Then, as they introduced Leotron to friends and family members, the reaction was so positive they built more robots. They had created 15 when they decided to turn Nerdbots into more than a hobby.
The Nerdbots have since created a buzz that is spreading across the internet with a video produced by MailChimp and a Skype chat with Canadian blogger Martin Provost. The Nerdbots also have been featured in publications throughout the Kansas City region.
“I think the robots themselves just speak to a lot of people,” Angela said. “When we first started out, we thought our target audience would be people kind of like us – young, urban professionals. But we’ve grown to discover that all age groups seem to find something that they like about them, whether they see something in the parts themselves that they remember from their childhood or their parents had when they were little. The younger people just kind of think they’re cool.”
The one-of-a-kind Nerdbots come with names like Sparky, Bendix and Nudges. Often, their names are derived from one of their parts – like Exit, whose body is made from a salvaged exit sign.
Each ‘bot also comes with a quirky backstory based on notes Angela keeps in a notebook. There’s Eico, who enjoys listening to books on tape about dinosaurs and makes beautiful macaroni art. And Madge is a square dancing enthusiast who loves playing Chinese checkers but has an unhealthy fear of raisins.
“Whenever we’re out and about and we think of something really nerdy that strikes us as being funny, we’ll jot it down in this notebook,” Angela said. “As we’re building the robots we kind of talk about it together – like what we think its hobbies will be. We name it and just have fun with it.”
For the Snyders, skimming scrapyards for discarded parts is one of their favorite pastimes. They rarely go to a scrapyard with an idea for their next Nerdbot and enjoy the hunt for parts that are unique and interesting. They also take pride in their mission to give old, abandoned parts a new home.
“It could be something as old as the junkyard’s been there,” Nicholas said. “It’s just unloved and unappreciated and something that sort of has no purpose other than to be recycled or turned into a Nerdbot. We thought it was a great way to take the old and make it new again.”
The Snyders say their experiences at Northwest and the skills they learned as students were important to building Nerdbots as a sustainable business. Nicholas is heeding the advice of business professors who explained the importance of doing something that serves needs and attracts people, while Angela incorporates the marketing, design and creative abilities she learned at Northwest.
“The thing that led me to Nerdbots was there’s a need to sort of reuse all this junk, and it was a creative idea,” Nicholas said. “It was something that’s sustainable because everybody’s going to be throwing things away, and we’re never going to get to a point where people are going to reuse everything they have. So it was a sustainable business model in the sense that the materials are there, they’re inexpensive and it’s an opportunity to help out in the process. It had all the pieces that professors and mentors and counselors had always instilled that (the business model) has to have.”He added, “I think Northwest provided a good platform for each of us to do what we really felt comfortable. We both feel very grateful that we had the professors that we had at Northwest. We feel we’re both succeeding because of what we were given at Northwest.”
For more information, please contact:
Mark Hornickel, Media Relations Specialist
firstname.lastname@example.org | 660.562.1704 | Fax: 660.562.1900
Northwest Missouri State University
215 Administration Building | 800 University Drive | Maryville, MO 64468 | <urn:uuid:8bec6dac-dd59-468b-8607-f4fd2318ab97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nwmissouri.edu/media/news/2012/03/23nerdbots.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978231 | 1,241 | 1.695313 | 2 |
- October 6, 2009
- 21 Comments
The Problem with Marketing (and markets because of it)
For over 15 years I have been looking at the world of marketing, advertising and public relations and seeing things a bit differently. I was not alone. Countless others also saw the real need for systemic changes, or dare I say reform, across the board. The fundamental challenge became that the broad concept of “the market” was not fair nor efficient – the ones with the power (and money) won, and they often won at the expense of other’s loss.
It has been all too easy for narcissistic leaders in the pursuit of profits that appease the players in the stock market to game the system, even more recently beginning to hide in the open amidst the glut of information. Worldcom, Enron, AIG and Bernie Madoff are the poster children for this problem – the problem with human nature, addiction to power and greed – the problem with entitlement – the problem in an inefficient market with bad actors.
But the sales teams and the marketing teams were given the mission of attacking the market and bringing back as much revenue as possible and expending the least amount of cash (in pursuit of the highest ROI). The support teams were tasked with defending the cash, by doing as little as possible to solve for the customers problems. Occasionally they were tasked with asking, “do you want fries with that?” How thoughtful.
The marketing department set about optimizing their mix of communications channels, studying demographic/psychographic behavior and testing creative before deployment. Some of this is great work. A lot of it is wrong.
It is wrong because it started in the wrong place. It started from an intention of maximizing profits, not maximizing the creation of value in the market. It thrived on the inefficiencies of the market as it studied the terrain to plot their campaigns across the market’s battlefields. Meanwhile, many of the consumers were overwhelmed by a superiorly equipped army. Many still are.
But in 1994, that began to change with the early days of the commercial web. And from there, through my work with virtual communities, to my days at the United States Mint in ecommerce, through the development of a content management and relationship system for Palm and more recently through the growth of Social Media Club I have been experimenting with new ways of approaching marketing.
This is in part, explained further in my post yesterday on The End of Marketing, The Return to Markets, but it is something I will need to write about for a while to explain fully.
The most important thing to understand about being successful in social media is the importance of attitude and intention. It’s starting from the right point of origin and with the right mindset that will ultimately guide your choices as you ENGAGE with the market. But if your intention is to take the most money possible from customers, you end up in a different place then if your point of origin is serving that market.
This is not to say we shouldn’t be concerned with being profitable. We must be in order to continue to grow, to improve and to do our best to create value. Personally, this is something I have put off for too long now, which is why I am excited about the fact that I am going to be working with Peter Corbett in opening an iStrategy lab office in San Francisco. It’s time to put my own oxygen mask on and do more client work.
In living the spirit of starting from the right intentions, my work and my writings will focus on a new framework to replace marketing and return to a fair, open and efficient market. Yes, there have been some great advancements to this common cause from conversations/communities around Marketing 2.0, Social Media, PR 2.0 and even more recently Social Business Design.
Personally, I think about the tactics behind the ideal of serving the market in what I believe is the purest description (but alas destined to still be another buzzword perhaps).
Market Engagement Optimization (MEO)
Ultimately, when I am looking at MEO, I am thinking about how do we prepare our workforce and operate our companies in the way that creates the most value while we are serving the market. To this end, Chris Brogan and Justin Levy have it right in their book Trust Agents. If employees are encouraged to be Trust Agents in the market they serve on behalf of their companies, they will ultimately be more effective and efficient then competitors not embracing this market based strategy.
I talked about Market Engagement Optimization in a recent post announcing the Reality Check Series with Social Media Club and RealPlayer SP. Now it’s time to start discussing it more broadly with you and other leading thinkers to better develop it as a framework that is easily implemented and doesn’t require an MBA to understand. For this revolution to be televised, everyone will not only need their 15 minutes of fame, but they need to be prepared to engage and they need to be prepared to participate while representing the company in the best possible way.
But like brand makeovers that only involve changing the logo and the color scheme, just representing the company in the best possible way is not enough. The very core, indeed the soul of the company also needs to be in alignment with the current and future market dynamic. Last night at the Social Media Club Palm Beach County launch someone mentioned that within 6-8 months it is expected that consumers will naturally come to expect of all companies customer support within Twitter and other social sites. If true, this is happening even faster then I thought.
What is MEO then?
As I answered the question of what is social media? I take the same approach in looking at MEO. In fact, to me, MEO is just another part of Social Media, it’s a better framework for holistically leveraging social media and other emerging technologies as a primary point of participation with the market.
Simply put, MEO is the art and science of serving the market and maximizing the return on participation. It starts with a culture that respects customers and that harnesses the passions of its employees to engage in the market. Whether you call them ambassadors, evangelists, team members or an employee doesn’t matter. What does is the understanding that when they are better able to engage in the market on your behalf, your company will benefit.
Of course, if your product sucks or your employees hate working for you, this approach will not work. This approach is for real leaders, not egomaniacs who rule by fear and worst practices.
In comparison to SEO, which is natural, MEO there places a greater emphasis on the human over on the other side then who’s competing over relevance of keywords.
An example of this is the adwords campaign I ran with Gilbert Guide in 2007 where we figured out what people would be searching for and actually promoted the link for a well-written blog post that answered the question searchers were asking. We got 2.34% click through rates on that.
What we did then, and what I am proposing now under the framework of MEO is that the best way to make money in a given market is to serve that market and create value. In an increasingly transparent world where Social Media is making more and more information visible everyday, it is of paramount importance to optimize your interaction, communication and collaboration (aka engagement) with the market you serve.
This requires much more then a uni-dimensional approach and even more then a multi-channel integrated marketing approach. It requires a holistic strategy that encompasses tools, talent, methodologies and time.
If you are successful with MEO, you will generate a wealth of good will and trust within the market for your brand. It’s important to remember that it’s not your brand, your logo or your ad campaign that will do this for you – it’s your people. That’s where it all starts and where it all ends.
What about “Market”
What matters most in understanding the market dynamics in an open, web-based market is:
1. Have a clear understanding of the unique aspects that define the market (sets the context for engagement)
2. To identify where they interact with each other in the real world and online
3. To earn their trust by looking out for the mutual interests you share with them
4. To act from a place of integrity, with good intentions
5. To develop true leadership while encouraging and enabling the development of individual capabilities, emotional wellness and intelligence of the workforce
This is where the ideas from the social media playbook model really works well. The best insights about the market(s) comes from participating within it and building close personal and professional relationships. A simple framework for participation is Look, Listen, Learn, Join, Lead, Repeat.
Of course, we always should be learning, in fact being a learning organization in today’s knowledge economy is a fundamental necessity if we are to optimize our employees for successful market engagement.
So What About Engagement?
While this is still being debated hotly, I take the simple route. It’s about any interactions that are intended to open a dialog of some sort and the activities that result from that dialog. So it includes all forms of communication (even the ‘old world’ stuff), participation within open communities, and discussions in closed communities, collaboration on market issues, customer advisory boards, customer conferences and more.
The most valuable form of engagement I have found is when one has earned the trust of the market sufficiently that they are able to convene the market together for a conversation. This is exactly what NPR has done with their Digital ThinkIn I am joining on Friday and what I have recently been doing with JR Johnson and Lunch For Good. It also takes the form of the Reality Check series we are doing with RealPlayer SP and several local Social Media Club groups around the world.
Optimization is Just That
When we add optimization to the idea of Market Engagement is where we really get busy. This is where we really figure out what works and CHANGE what we are doing as a result of the lessons learned. It’s a constant feedback loop and it’s where I expect to be spending a lot of my time over the years to come. The optimization of market engagement is an ongoing process that often happens in real time.
This is particularly true at live events, which require grounded facilitation skills in addition to subject matter expertise and the ability to think creatively. Whether that is an internal strategy development workshop, or it is an open community event or workshop, shifting people’s thinking requires the gentle nudge of insight that is akin to the light touch of a yoga instructor moving you into the perfect position.
Optimization also comes from a post activity review, which is all too often missed or skipped due to a lack of time. It’s sitting around and giving an honest assessment of what happened and why it did. It’s changing it up for the future. And if it is focused on serving the market while being profitable, you can get an excellent return on participation.
Return on Participation
Its not just how many dollars we got out for effort expended, though that can be a fair measure. But just like the triple bottom line suggests we pay as much attention to the ecological and social impacts as we do the economic ones, ROP requires us to look for the value created in brand equity, in trust, in relationships earned, in relationships retained, in new opportunities discovered, in stories collected to be shared with others, in new ideas co-developed with the market and in lessons learned. These intangibles are hard if not impossible to quantify, but failing to consider them (as we would do if we were SOLEY concerned with profits as the only thing that matters) is a mistake.
To this end, I propose a new measure that will measure a return on participation (and a bit more really). In my discussions with Adrian Chan about his fabulous ideas around a brand’s sociability it struck me that my market model (above and below) was qualitatively expressing an indicator we could actually measure. It struck me that we need a new tool to replace the NetPromoter Score.
We need a Net Trust Score©.
The question would be asked in the same way as we do with NetPromoter. The question is, how much do you trust our employees? Or perhaps its simply How much do you trust our brand? Or both? What else might we be measuring in this way that would be a good barometer.
While likelihood of promoting a company or product is a great indicator for word of mouth and to a degree implicitly includes trust, it could often hide real problems and issues with the company that are being ignored, because they seemingly don’t affect the short term bottom line. For instance, many people in the US would give the iPhone a high NetPromoter score, but the how much do I trust Apple and AT&T question would get a tremendously lower score. Then again, the company’s leadership would need to care about other people rather then just themselves, so this is also a good example of the problem with marketing and some aspects of corporate leadership too.
Ultimately, as I demonstrate here in my model of the market, the barrier between a company and its market acts much like a trust filter. When it is low, the ease with which trust flows in and out of the company is impeded, diminishing the potential value creation and chances for collaborating with the market for word of mouth benefits and collaborative innovation. If the company has a high Net Trust© score, it will be easier for it to engage with the market and garner the benefits – lower cost of customer relationships, higher return on participation, increasing innovation, increasing ability to hire the best and brightest and ultimately, though this, being a world class, highly profitable and effective company.
The end of marketing and the return to markets is a complex idea, but one that is already taking hold in certain corners of the world. I hate citing the usual case studies from Social Media, but it’s true that Zappos, Dell, Best Buy and many others are already on this path. Others like GE have been doing so many aspects of it right, that they just need that little nudge from the anti-marketing yogi to put them on the right path.
Where From Here
Well, this is my first post published over here on PR 2.0 really, and it marks a new beginning for me in putting my thoughts out and collaborating with you to help figure out how to improve on them, and to an extent, how to even define it. So I ask you, what do you think about Market Engagement Optimization (MEO) and the much-needed revolution in marketing? Is it ready for prime time or does it already belong in the buzzword rubbish bin?
Personally, I am going to use the phrasing no matter what. And Unlike many people out there today, I am not going to try to ‘own’ it or copyright it. It belongs to the market. And that’s the point. | <urn:uuid:f5ebddc6-fd94-4328-ab40-ef7bebf7978e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.briansolis.com/2009/10/market-engagement-optimization-meo-and-nettrust-score/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960302 | 3,131 | 1.523438 | 2 |
The $30 Billion Stack of Paperby Stephen Gordon
21 pages of paper is apparently worth $30 billion taxpayer dollars — if you are too big to fail, that is. That’s 1,428,571,428.57 bucks per page. Here’s how ABC reports the story:
An AIG report to the Treasury Department last month warned that if the government didn’t come to its rescue again, its collapse would trigger a “chain reaction of enormous proportion” that would “potentially bankrupt or bring down the entire system” and make it impossible for AIG to repay the billions it already owed the U.S. government.
Four days later, AIG was given $30 billion in federal aid on top of the $130 billion it had already received.
Read the AIG Report to the Treasury Department here.
A draft of the report, obtained by ABC News, was marked “strictly confidential.” It said, “The failure of AIG would cause turmoil in the U.S. economy and global markets and have multiple and potentially catastrophic unforeseen consequences.”
The draft was dated Feb. 26. On March 2, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve system announced that AIG, which lost $61.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, would receive $30 billion in new government help.
AIG warns in its report of the “systemic risk” that a potential collapse posed. It describes a “systemic risk” as one that “could potentially bankrupt or bring down the entire system or market.
Considering how easy it is to come with $30 billion of other people’s money, I thought I’d try the same approach. Of course, I’m not as greedy as AIG — I only need a million bucks to stimulate the parts of the economy in which I’m interested.
I also think my request deserves special consideration for two reasons. The first is that it was very difficult to write on toilet paper with a magic marker. Have you ever tried it?
The more important reason is that I only used four squares of singly-ply toilet paper for my request. Not only are my sheets smaller than those used by AIG, but the total cost to the taxpayer will only be $250,000 per sheet. Considering that I’m saving everyone $1,428,321,428.57 per sheet as well as saving the rain forest, I’m certain my request won’t be denied.
Instead of TARP funds, perhaps we could call them CRAP funds, instituting a new Crappy and Reckless Assets Program. For a few extra trillion dollars, I could also be appointed the Crap Czar, so I can mismanage toxic assets as well as the fine folks in D.C.
The bottom line is that if I don’t get the money, millions of people will lose their jobs, it will impact countries around the world and every bank in America will go under. And, as evidenced by my request for stimulus largesse, it’s obvious that I’m way too big to fail.
A tip of the hat to Andrew Sullivan. | <urn:uuid:3b31688f-8fe2-45a7-a673-40a997a200a7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2009/03/09/the-30-billion-stack-of-paper/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955987 | 674 | 1.625 | 2 |
Dear Dr. K: I'm the executive assistant to a CEO, a man I've worked with for years. By most measures, he's doing a very good job for the company, but people don't like him. He's aggressive, and that's been good for the company, but he comes across as angry. I think he'll listen to advice from me. How can he channel his aggression more constructively?
Dear Reader: I'm no expert on leadership, but I've seen many leaders in the medical arena. And you're right: An aggressive personality has both advantages and disadvantages in a leader. Aggression can drive a company to compete successfully in a competitive world. The leader can set goals that some on the team think are unrealistic — but then the skeptics are proven wrong. They discover that they are able to meet their leader's goals. Think what happened to Apple under the leadership of Steve Jobs.
But aggressive personalities can also cause disruption with their anger and impatience. They can drive good people away. That's particularly true when their personalities cause them to dismiss any advice that doesn't fit their preconceptions. When it becomes clear to others that a leader is primarily concerned about his own position and not about the well-being of the company, some people stop following the leader. While many talented people stayed with Apple because of Steve Jobs, others left.
In my opinion, what matters most is which part of a person's brain is driving his or her aggressiveness: the rational
That's why managing aggression is one of the most critical issues in leadership success. The challenge is to use aggression for creative, helpful purposes without inflicting pain or harm. Hopefully, you can help your boss recognize his aggression and funnel it into constructive directions.
My Harvard Medical School colleague Dr. Ken Settel, with Joseph Cardillo, has written a short, instructive e-book about the characteristics of successful leaders. It's called "CEO Psychology: Who Rises, Who Falls, and Why." You can learn more about it at my website, AskDoctorK.com.
Dr. Settel recommends the following exercises to help a person pay careful attention to his anger:
· Ask: Am I angry? What exactly is stirring me up? Take a time-out.
· Ask: Is what I am feeling appropriate to the situation at hand?
· Ask: What is expected of me in this situation? What is my goal? What do I want from this situation? What do others want?
Finally, I'll bet your boss has a sense of humor, but others may not have seen it. Laugh at his jokes and say, "I wish others could see how funny you are." That's a valuable antidote to the impact of an intense personality.
Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. See his website to send questions and get additional information: www.AskDoctorK.com. | <urn:uuid:584326a5-3dc2-4d74-985f-a72383d47a57> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.montereyherald.com/health/ci_22478955/ask-dr-k-tips-managing-aggression?source=rss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980831 | 597 | 1.789063 | 2 |
"Google and Gmail will be filtered throughout the country until further notice," said Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, an Iranian official with the state-run body in charge of online censorship and computer crimes, according to the semi-official Ilna news agency. There was no indication as to whether the filtering would be temporary or permanent.
Khoramabadi claimed the decision was taken after Iranians pressed the authorities to filter the sites because of links to the film.
The Young Journalists Club, an Iranian semi-official news agency that broke the news, said the move was in reaction to YouTube's refusal to take down the anti-Islam film, Innocence of Muslims.
Despite a series of regime-sponsored protests in Tehran over the film, many Iranians appear not to be bothered by it.
At midnight in Tehran, Google was still accessible, according to citizens who spoke to the Guardian, but some said they could not access their Gmail accounts as some internet service providers appeared to have blocked the service.
"Just three hours ago I was still able to access my Gmail account but now I cannot open it," said a Tehran citizen who asked not to be named. Another citizen in the central city of Isfahan, however, said Gmail was still accessible.
The decision to filter Google and Gmail has coincided with government plans to launch the initial phases of a national internet, a countrywide network aimed at substituting services run through the world wide web.
"In recent days, all governmental agencies and offices … have been connected to the national information network," said Ali Hakim-Javadi, deputy communications and technology minister, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.
Iran's national internet project has prompted fears among web users that authorities might be planning to pull out of the global internet, but some experts believe that they are creating it to secure the regime's own military, banking and other sensitive data from the outside world.
"Iran has fears of an outside cyber-attack like that of the Stuxnet, and is trying to protect its sensitive data from being accessible on the world wide web," an Iranian IT expert with close knowledge of the national internet project told the Guardian earlier this year. Stuxnet, a computer worm designed to sabotage Iran's uranium enrichment project, hit the country's nuclear facilities in 2010.
Many Iranian have taken to social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter to react to Khoramabadi's announcement.
Golnaz Esfandiari, who has a blog on the Radio Free Europe website, Persian Letters, tweeted: "By blocking Gmail/Google, #Iran government punishes its own people over anti-Islam movie. Most Iranians have not seen it/don't care."
Iran is among the world's most censored countries and has widespread online censorship.
According to the New York-based the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Iran is ranked fourth in the latest list of the most censored countries, behind Eritrea, North Korea and Syria.
Access to more than 5m websites are filtered in the country, including social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, and the websites of many western media organisations, including the Guardian, BBC and CNN. The website of the New York Times is not blocked.
People in Iran who try to visit blocked addresses, are redirected to a web page that reads: "Access to the website is denied according to [Iran's] computer crimes regulations."Many Iranians access blocked addresses with help from proxy servers or virtual private network (VPN) services and as many as 17 million Iranians have Facebook accounts, although the site remains blocked in Iran.
Despite censorship, Iranian authorities, fearful of falling marriage rate, announced last week that they were contemplating to give permission for the country's first spouse-finding website. | <urn:uuid:f743c697-be58-4e11-933f-e18f33658b0e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/23/iran-block-access-google-gmail?newsfeed=true | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963567 | 773 | 1.796875 | 2 |
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