text stringlengths 211 577k | id stringlengths 47 47 | dump stringclasses 1 value | url stringlengths 14 371 | file_path stringclasses 644 values | language stringclasses 1 value | language_score float64 0.93 1 | token_count int64 54 121k | score float64 1.5 1.84 | int_score int64 2 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WASHINGTON — The U.S. job market was resilient in December despite fears that a budget impasse in Washington would send the economy over the fiscal cliff and trigger growth-killing tax hikes and spending cuts.
Employers added 155,000 jobs last month, roughly matching the solid but unspectacular monthly pace of the past two years.
The gains announced Friday weren't enough to reduce unemployment, which remained at a still-high 7.8 percent. The November rate was revised up a notch from the 7.7 percent the government had originally reported.
The stable pace of December hiring suggested that many employers tuned out the fracas in the nation's capital. The threat wasn't averted until a deal won final passage on New Year's Day.
Rather than hold back until the fiscal cliff was resolved, many employers kept hiring, most likely in anticipation of higher customer demand.
"What would hiring have been if we had not been facing the fiscal cliff in December?" said Robert Kavcic, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. "We might have seen quite a bit stronger job growth" — something closer to 200,000 a month.
That's an encouraging sign for the job market, because an even bigger budget showdown is looming: Congress must vote to raise the government's $16.4 trillion borrowing limit by late February. If not, the government risks defaulting on its debt. Republicans will likely demand deep spending cuts as the price of raising the debt limit.
Robust hiring in construction and manufacturing drove last month's job increases. Construction firms added 30,000 jobs, the most in 15 months. In part, that increase likely reflected hiring needed to rebuild from Superstorm Sandy. And the housing market's gradual recovery has energized homebuilding. Manufacturers added 25,000 jobs, the most in nine months.
Economists found other hopeful news in the report. Americans were given more work hours in December — an average 34.5 hours a week in December, up from 34.4 in November. And their pay outgrew inflation. Hourly wages rose 7 cents to $23.73 last month, a 2.1 percent increase compared with a year earlier. Over the same period, inflation rose 1.8 percent.
One company that hired last year and would like to add more jobs in 2013 is Arteriocyte, a Cleveland-based stem-cell therapy and medical device company. But CEO Don Brown is concerned about potential cuts in government spending, which he says could erode Arteriocyte's revenue.
One such cut is a 2 percent reduction in the reimbursements Medicare gives doctors and hospitals. That reduction was delayed by the budget deal reached this week. If the reimbursement cut is imposed later this year, it would lower revenue for the hospitals and surgeons that buy Arteriocyte's advanced products.
"Our entire customer base is unsure about what their reimbursement landscape is going to be," Brown said.
The Obama administration's health care overhaul law also imposed a 2.2 percent sales tax on medical devices. Brown estimates that will cost his company $400,000. He had hoped the tax would be eliminated as part of a fiscal cliff agreement. | <urn:uuid:ae9bdb5a-b346-4257-be97-7d61494e766d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Job-market-shrugs-off-fears-of-fiscal-cliff-4168759.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969156 | 650 | 1.640625 | 2 |
SANTA FE, N.M. It has been more than two years since a Roman Catholic outcry over Los Angeles artist Alma Lopez's digital collage of the Virgin of Guadalupe clad in flower petals with a bare midriff.
The chilling effect is still felt in Santa Fe, where officials at state-run museums say pressures not to offend viewers have been acute since the "Our Lady" controversy.
"It's not whispered it's intense," said Marsha Bol, director of the Museum of Fine Arts.
Lopez's "Our Lady," a computer-generated collage of a model wearing a floral garment resembling a bikini, was part of a Cyber Arte exhibit at the Museum of International Folk Art.
Roman Catholics were offended by the bared midriff on so sacred an icon and asked a judge to order it removed from the wall of the museum. The exhibit was open from February through October 2001. It closed four months early to appease protesters, museum officials have said.
"There was the sense that there might be internal censorship that descends on curators and others," said Tom Wilson, former head of the Museum of New Mexico. "I think it has happened."
In this climate, curators might exclude works if expressions were "too hot to handle or more cutting-edge," he said.
Curators avoided placing work by potentially controversial artists in the upcoming exhibit "So Que," a showcase of work by living New Mexican artists residing south of Interstate 40. The exhibit is scheduled to open at the Museum of Fine Arts in January.
Even in the midst of the Our Lady controversy, museum officials were concerned about a possible future chilling effect, Wilson said. He recalled the threatening phone calls and hate mail sent to Tey Nunn, curator of the exhibit that included Lopez's "Our Lady."
"Who would want to go through that?" Wilson asked.
Asked if curators have been practicing self-censorship since "Our Lady," Bol acknowledged, "it's a fight."
"My intention is to try to fight against this as an undue influence," Bol said.
During a recent interview in Santa Fe, when So Que curator Betty Gold was asked whether viewers could expect to see any "edgy" work in the show, she responded: "I just want to have a nice show
and not cause problems for the museum."
After "Our Lady," the Museum of New Mexico revised its policies for handling sensitive materials, allowing more opportunity for public input without setting new standards for selecting objects for an exhibit.
The Sensitive Materials Committee, originally created to deal with issues arising out of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, still has responsibility for potentially controversial artwork. But now the committee meets quarterly, and any staff member can bring an issue before the committee at any
time, from the planning stage of an exhibit to its opening. | <urn:uuid:38f4b4d7-982e-4ace-9ed9-c2fbb4ba013b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://archive.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=11497 | 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 | 0.977799 | 590 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Like most people I was shocked by the scenes we have witnessed on our television screens in parts of London and other cities during this last week.
The violence and vandalism is disgraceful criminal behaviour and the Police and Fire Service deserve great credit for doing a valiant job in incredibly difficult circumstances.
But once calm has been restored, we need to learn the lessons from these awful events and ask some searching questions.
The first priority must be to ensure the Police have sufficient resources to deal with outbreaks of mass lawlessness so that people and property are protected.
The public will also rightly demand and expect that those guilty of this criminality are brought to justice.
But the bigger challenge is how we go about building cohesive sustainable communities where young people feel engaged, have a sense of civic pride and above all hope for the future.
This will be no mean feat. In some areas there is a tangible disconnect between a number of young people and the rest of society, which will have undoubtedly contributed to the riotous behaviour.
Speaking on Sky News before the general election, Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, made an extraordinarily prophetic predication about “a very serious risk” of rioting if huge cuts were implemented.
The government therefore needs to undertake a complete rethink on its economic austerity measures that are now beginning to bite.
In light of recent happenings, it would be crazy for the government to proceed with its planned cuts in the number of Police and Fire Fighters. Indeed, ministers should reverse the cuts in these services that have already taken place.
But that is only part of the story. We also need an enduring preventative strategy to change the mindset of those alienated young people who think it is okay to smash up their own neighbourhoods.
Scrapping EMA and the Future Jobs Fund, severely curtailing youth services and reducing Surestart provision that offers help with parenting skills, just makes it harder to engage disengaged young people.
There are obviously issues like gang membership linked to the outbreaks of this violent disorder and I know Derby has had its own problems with gangs in recent years.
But I also know organisations like Derby’s Enthusiasm Trust undertake groundbreaking work to deflect young people from joining gangs and getting involved in a culture of violence.
However, unless the government rethinks its draconian public service cuts, funding for this kind of pioneering youth work will not be available.
Such a rethink would have the dual benefit of protecting public services, which make our society a decent place to live, and simultaneously increase employment opportunities for young people too.
Nothing can justify the looting and fire setting that we have observed, but unless we address the underlying causes of this disaffection, my fear is it will happen again.
I have been arguing that the Government was going too far and too fast with its cuts agenda ever since the Chancellor introduced his emergency budget in June last year.
The events of the last week demonstrate that there is an urgent social, as well as an economic imperative for the Chancellor to embrace a Plan B. His fiscal medicine just isn’t working and made it harder to respond to and prevent the dreadful scenes of the five days. | <urn:uuid:43f5a9c9-3d0a-4481-a55e-dd5f2fa759a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://labourlist.org/2011/08/after-calm-is-restored-we-must-ask-searching-questions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967635 | 643 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Good gays - bad gays?
Helsinki gay community fears killing of Professor Kari S. Tikka could polarise singles and those in established relationships
By Perttu Kauppinen
On Friday morning, Jorma Hentilä, chairman of the pro-gay rights Seta Foundation, signed the condolence book for Professor Kari S. Tikka in the Helsinki restaurant DTM. Tikka was a regular at the establishment, and it was from there that he left on the night that he died.
Seta, which promotes equality for sexual minorities, brought the condolence book to the restaurant in order to provide a way for people to express their emotions. Tikka was a familiar face for those who frequent Helsinki's gay bars, and those who knew that face were devastated by the crime.
Already last Sunday evening Hentilä received 11 telephone calls. All callers were men. Two of them were unknown to Hentilä. However, their emotions were all the same: grief, anger, and confusion over the killing of Professor Tikka.
Juha-Heikki Tihinen, another regular at DTM, says that everyone who frequents gay establishments knew Tikka, at least by sight, and everyone knows someone who knew him even better.
"Helsinki's gays, at least the ones who are involved in organisations, or who go out a lot, can be called a community. In gay bars everyone recognises everyone else, and Tikka moved around in that community a good deal",Tihinen says.
In addition to the personal grief felt by those who knew Tikka, there is collective grief - shock that something like this could have happened.
Last week Seta's social workers were prepared to answer a flood of calls from people who felt frightened and concerned. However, nobody rang.
The unexpected silence was attributed to improved networks in the gay community in recent years. Friends can give such good support that there is no need for outside help.
Years earlier the situation would have been different.
Hentilä says that in the 1980s and in the early 1990s violence and the threat of it were clearly a cause of concern for Helsinki gays. It was a time of living in the closet, and gay men did not know other gays. The atmosphere in society was also different - a cause of greater anguish. Hentilä himself once had to keep his orientation a secret in order to protect his political career.
Now fear is eased by the consensus within the gay community that the killing was not a homophobic hate crime. The suspected killers have been caught, and there is no fear of an actual attack from outside - even though the motive for the killing remains unclear.
However, there are many other kinds of fears.
Dr. Lasse Kekki, a researcher at the Academy of Finland, says that the crime might increase internal intolerance within the gay community. In some media outlets, the murder victim and his lifestyle have been portrayed as the cause of the tragedy. Kekki says that the same might happen within the community itself.
"Conservative gay culture emphasises the importance of secure couple relationships. There is talk that people should not try to jump over age gaps and differences in social class", Kekki ponders.
The expert on gay issues says that this kind of conservatism has been raising its head for some time now. It involves a simplistic division between gays who live as couples, and those who are single. Some of those who live as exclusive couples look down on single gays who live in bars and emphasise their sexuality.
"It would be most dangerous if the gay community were to see men like Tikka, who live active and interesting lives, to be somehow abnormal. It is easy to denounce something like that, and it is easy to blame the victim. In the background are images of what is the right kind of homosexuality."
The situation is absurd, in that all homosexuals have been seen as abnormal by the standards of the heterosexual world. On the other hand, a heterosexual man who is interested in significantly younger women is not seen to be exceptional to any great degree.
Another fear involves stereotypes from the outside. Sami Mollgren, editor-in-chief of the www.ranneliike.net website, says that many are afraid that violence could escalate. Although just a small proportion of gays frequent gay bars to seek short-term sexual relationships, the image of the party-mad oversexed gay man lives on tenaciously.
"Most of the people I know live in solid couple relationships. Now there is fear that the dominant image will turn toward the traditional model, in which gays in bars are there for no other reason than to look for someone to have sex with", Mollgren says.
One stereotype has, perhaps surprisingly, been left unconfirmed. Posters advertising tabloid newspapers did not cry out about a gay murder, nor was sexuality emphasised in the news that was reported.
"If the papers had written that the gays had it coming, there would have been something to get excited about", notes Juha-Heikki Tihinen. "Now there is no easy way to react."
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 4.6.2005
Previously in HS International Edition:
Suspects in Tikka murder also suspected of robbery (2.6.2006)
Police believe they have solved Professor Tikka murder case (31.5.2006)
Two young men held in connection with murder of Professor Tikka (30.5.2006)
Helsinki professor found murdered in apartment (29.5.2006)
PERTTU KAUPPINEN / Helsingin Sanomat | <urn:uuid:0d8051d5-a2d1-42de-9012-20aa5f8f3e86> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Good+gays+-+bad+gays/1135220176406 | 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 | 0.972641 | 1,178 | 1.742188 | 2 |
ApiTrade Africa launches new Initiative
Bosco Okello, CEO, ApiTrade Africa, Kampala, Uganda
Keywords: Africa, bee products, fair trade, honey trade, Market and Investment Promotion of Apiculture in Africa
Following a successful year in 2008, our gates are more widely open to African honey processors, buyers and exporters looking for African honey. Demand is rising for African honey in the export and domestic markets: the increased desire by private sector to work within a regional framework through ApiTrade Africa, and the growing need by middle-income earners to invest in the honey value chain, have impressed upon us the need for action.
It is evident that market is the engine for increasing production ie when farmers can sell their products they have incentive to produce. Therefore, improving the market chain through appropriate information provision will go a long way to promote trade in bee products in the region and beyond. This is more so for Africa where information is difficult and expensive to access.
Often, demand for honey exceeds supply because beekeeping in Africa is dominated by small-holder subsistence arrangements. There is need to stimulate more investments in the sector at different levels of the value chain. Service providers, government and development agencies should develop a system that provides reliable information to prospective pro-African investors. Already there is a lot of expertise among service providers in Africa to support strategic investments in the sector, however there is no platform to make this happen. For instance, several service providers who attended the ApiExpo Africa 2008 cannot sustainably reach out to prospective investors since there is no existing system to facilitate the process. Investors need also to have the right information in terms of business opportunities, investment risk analysis, economic analysis and appropriate technology.
Under the Market and Investment Promotion of Apiculture in Africa (MARIPAA) Programme, a number of market development activities will be undertaken in 2009, including match-making between exporters and importers, supporting fair-trade and organic production projects and promoting regional co-operative bulking systems. Similarly, in collaboration with partners, for example, Uganda Investment Authority, SNV-Netherlands, and the private sector, investment promotional channels are being established. These include the establishment of Business Clinics where investors meet specialised consultants to mentor them and turn their honey-related business ideas into viable projects. The first Business Clinic opened on 20 April 2009 at ApiTrade Africa offices in Kampala.
For more information about this initiative and its impact visit www.apitradeafrica.org | <urn:uuid:48cda38a-e84c-481f-b9ca-e6a209ffa6c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.beesfordevelopment.org/portal/print.php?id=1817 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940216 | 513 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Mary Lee trolls off coast near Isle of Palms
Mary Lee, a 16-foot-long, 3,456-pound great white shark, made another trip through the Lowcountry on Friday, passing off the coast of the Isle of Palms.
It stirred up lots of interest on web pages of great white research group Ocearch.
Mary Lee was tagged in September with a satellite transmitter in New England and named by Ocearch. Her travels are followed on the Ocearch monitor website.
In addition, her route is tracked on Ocearch’s Facebook page, where one person posted that he had seen her in the Charleston Harbor.
It is unclear if it was in fact Mary Lee because she did not ping in the Charleston Harbor. A ping occurs when the shark’s fin tag breaks the surface and a satellite is overhead, according to Ocearch. The longer the shark’s fin is above water, the more accurate the ping. It can detect the radius to within 250 meters.
In the past month, Mary Lee has traveled up and down the East Coast between Oak Island, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fla.
She first turned up off Isle of Palms in early November, and might have nosed into Charleston Harbor then.
After that, she tracked to Florida, then back up the coast to Charleston Thanksgiving weekend.
In the past week, she had been in the waters off Murrells Inlet until heading South in the early hours of Friday.
Researchers believe she is trying to fatten up for the winter.
Great white sharks can grow to longer than 20 feet and weigh nearly 3 tons.
Reach Brenda Rindge at 937-5713 or www.facebook.com/brindge. | <urn:uuid:f58c4e06-7e53-40fa-8e6b-2d2cd73be790> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121208/PC16/121209435 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949151 | 365 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Connect to share and comment
Seven thousand miles from Detroit, GM builds a great wall of Buicks.
BOSTON — Can things get any worse for Detroit?
First, a suspected Islamic terrorist tries to blow up an airplane over the city (with a bomb in his underwear, no less).
Then this week General Motors — the company that helped put the motor in Motor City — said sales in China surged 67 percent in 2009, even as the U.S. auto industy collapsed, further decimating Detroit's economy.
GM sold more than 1.8 million cars and trucks in China, just below what it sells in the U.S.
To rub Sichuan hot bean paste into the city's wounds, those China sales were led by Buick — a stodgy brand that, for years in the U.S. market, GM has been trying to rid of the old man smell. Even a pre-scandal Tiger Woods couldn't turn that trick: GM and Woods parted ways in 2008 after a nine-year marketing partnership that featured the young, hip and (then) wholesome golfer.
But Buick isn't the company's only happiness in China lately.
GM and its joint venture partners also saw big sales jumps in cheaper "microvans" (think really small minivans) and pick-ups, which play well in China's vast rural areas. GM now owns a 13.4 percent market share in China, the world's fastest-growing market for automobiles — not bad for a bankrupt company that took $50 billion in U.S. bailout money last year.
GM's success in the dragon is the result of several factors.
The first, of course, is China's rapid growth, which has created a large and growing army of consumers ready to get behind the wheel. Fueled by big government incentives, China's overall auto market grew a staggering 50 percent last year, for the first time dethroning the U.S. as the largest vehicle market in the world.
U.S. consumers bought 10.5 million cars and trucks in 2009. The Chinese bought 13 million. While that number is expected todrop significantly this year as Beijing's incentive programs wind down, China is now critically important for automakers worldwide.
"There's no question that China will become the world's largest auto market as long as the economy keeps growing," Kelly Sims Gallagher, a professor at Tufts University, told the Washington Post this week.
Here's why: In the U.S. there are 850 cars for every 1,000 people. In China, there are currently 35 cars per 1,000 people. That's a lot of room for growth.
Now factor in China's population of 1.3 billion people and its rapidly growing middle class, and you can see what GM, Ford, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Changan, Shanghai Automotive Industry and other global and local automakers are fighting over. | <urn:uuid:7c9bcada-211a-4b98-9fc8-f9e7028ccb98> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/100108/general-motors-china-car-sales | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959833 | 603 | 1.585938 | 2 |
South Africa recalls 500,000 HIV test kits: ministry
AFPJOHANNESBURG -- South Africa is recalling 500,000 HIV test kits it ordered from a South Korean company after a World Health Organization (WHO) warning over inconclusive results, the health ministry said Tuesday.
July 18, 2012, 12:06 am TWN
Authorities are investigating how the SD Bioline tests were ordered earlier this year after the WHO issued notices in November last year, health spokesman Joe Maila said.
“The set order was about 500,000, and all of them have been recalled as a precaution,” Maila told AFP.
The South Korean company issued a recall after the WHO again in June flagged the problem.
South Africa, which launched a massive HIV testing campaign in 2010, had already begun using the finger-prick test kits. The WHO said the kits did not return false results but were plagued by inconclusive readings.
“The test displayed an unacceptably high rate of invalid test results ... Thus no test interpretation is possible and so one is likely to have no result rather than an incorrect result,” the organization said.
South Africa has the world's largest HIV caseload, with six million people currently living with the virus.
Local media reported the tests had been bought for 22.5 million rands (US$2.8 million). | <urn:uuid:390c7ad9-06d1-41e6-b6cd-220809ac7518> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chinapost.com.tw/health/aids/2012/07/18/347915/South-Africa.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959018 | 284 | 1.734375 | 2 |
SCOTLAND’S LARGEST ROSARY LAUNCHES NATIONAL PRAYER CAMPAIGN
Scotland’s biggest and most colourful Rosary was blessed by Cardinal Keith O’Brien on: Friday 8 February 2013
Mission Matters Scotland launched its Year of Faith Mission Rosary campaign at Cardinal Newman High School, Bellshill.
The colourful, giant, five-decade Rosary, around four feet in diameter, has beads the size of tennis balls and a crucifix two feet high. It was made by staff and pupils at the North Lanarkshire secondary school as a large-scale copy of over 100,000, normal-size Mission Rosaries being sent out by Mission Matters Scotland to parishes and Catholic schools, to reintroduce the rosary as a form of daily prayer across the country. The Rosaries are accompanied with easy-to -follow instruction cards for both adults and school pupils and represent Scotland’s contribution to a world-wide campaign of prayer organised by Pontifical Mission Societies and centred on the Mission Rosary.
Father Tom Welsh, director of Coatbridge-based Mission Matters Scotland, which sends money collected in this country to Rome for distribution to missions across the world, said: “The Mission Rosary, which has different coloured decades, representing each of the five continents of the world, is an ideal way to raise the prayer life of Scotland and to remind people of the importance of the missions. In this Year of Faith, when the Catholic Church is reaching out through its new evangelisation, it’s a simple and ideal way of re-introducing the Rosary to Scotland at a time when the country and the world need prayer, and the benefits it brings, both at home and on the missions, as never before.”
The campaign has the backing of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. He said: “This new Rosary Campaign encourages families and schools to rediscover the great prayer of the Rosary, and opens minds and hearts to the work of missionaries overseas. The Bishops are delighted to support it as a real fruit of the Year of Faith.”
Cardinal Keith O’Brien said: “I am very pleased to have been invited to bless this giant rosary and copies of the small ones now being sent out to schools and parishes across Scotland. We are all called to prayer and this campaign fits in well with Mission Matters Scotland, which follows the great and proud tradition that we have as a nation of missionary work, when it invites us to pray a little every day, both for this country and for the missions.”
Cardinal Newman High School head teacher Isabelle Boyd said: “We are very pleased to help launch this Rosary campaign as we have a great Rosary tradition in the school with Rosary prayed by pupils and staff every Friday in our oratory at lunchtime. We see this as a great opportunity to boost the awareness of this accessible and easy-to-say form of prayer further among pupils, staff and parents in this Year of Faith.” | <urn:uuid:3f37f976-ca75-4e5e-8081-7a5e65de4d12> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.archdiocese-edinburgh.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=544:national-prayer-campaign&catid=52:news&Itemid=213 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959266 | 642 | 1.546875 | 2 |
In the sentence below, is the comma optional or should it (not) be there? I can hear it there when this is spoken, but I am not convinced it needs to be there in written form.
In order to pass [...] data protection, the customer must correctly answer [...]
As one could simply reorder the elements of the sentence:
The customer must correctly answer [...] in order to pass [...] data protection.
and no comma would be needed. | <urn:uuid:673d643c-8894-488b-9e7c-00bb890f3085> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/80825/is-a-comma-in-this-sentence-required?answertab=active | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939445 | 93 | 1.585938 | 2 |
However, Facebook is often a cause of much frustration for me because it gives people space to proclaim some rather shockingly sexist attitudes and beliefs. For example, one male on my friends list recently posted a status that said, "handjobs are like the WNBA, a cheap imitation of something guys do better themselves." I tried to point out how this was sexist, but the poster seemed to get distracted and have his attitude reinforced by others who commented saying that this status was funny.
I call out sexist/homophobic/racist statuses rather frequently to varying degrees of success. But today I was met with a shocking Facebook fan page. Anyone can make a fan page on Facebook, and currently there is a growing trend for people to make pages for anything even remotely clever that might attract fans. Today in the "Suggestions" sidebar of my Facebook home page, I was introduced to a fan page for "more girls go to college than boys, so stfu and make ME a sandwich," a page with more than 147,000 fans* and some pretty horribly sexist photos.
(click for a better view)
"But Amelia," people will say. "The first part is true. More girls are in college than boys. And the other part is a joke. Stop being a humorless feminist and just take a joke. It's a joke, see? Haha!"
I'll be honest. I am writing this post without knowing the current statistics when it comes to gender and college attendance in America (I know that my college is about 60/40 when it comes to women/men), but even if it is true beyond a doubt that more women attend college then men, that does not excuse the sexist language in the title of this page. Yes, it may be an inversion of a sexist trope, but I don't find it funny because it is still being used to put people down.**
The "make me a sandwich" trope is used so commonly that most people probably don't recognize the problems it presents. It is often used as a means of demeaning women who dare to make something of themselves. It is used to put women "in their place" - the kitchen, where they can serve men. Turning this on men does not make it funny. It's still sexist, through and through.**
The worst part of this terrible fan page?
Two of my friends are fans.
*At approximately 8:15pm CST on April 7, 2010 when I took the screen shot featured above
**EDIT (4/8/10): Added some lines to clarify that inverting a sexist "joke" so that it's aimed at men does not mean it's funny. | <urn:uuid:a5c219d5-1459-42ec-b192-d620d1fa838f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://impersonated.blogspot.com/2010/04/post-in-which-i-question-my.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973098 | 549 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Article from [UK] Daily Telegraph , stories of three women and their experiences of difference, disability and the difficulty of staying in or getting back into work.
Includes the very wonderful Rachel Waddingham who joined us by Skype in September for World Hearing Voices Day to talk about her work with The Voice Collective.
Mental illness at work: the last taboo
Mental illness – be it schizophrenia, depression, autism or OCD – needn’t be the end of a career. Far from it, say these women.
Photo: LAURA PANNACK
By Bridget Freer 7:00AM GMT 12 Nov 2012
When four MPs stood up in the House of Commons in June to talk about their mental-health problems, it was to introduce a private member’s Bill to remove laws that restrict ‘mentally disordered persons’ from doing jury service or becoming a member of parliament or a company director.
But when Sarah Wollaston MP told of her severe depression, anxiety attacks and suicidal thoughts, and three of her colleagues talked about their experiences with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and postnatal depression, their words had a far wider reach than simply highlighting prejudice and introducing a bill to halt it. It was a brave and surprising thing to do and they met with warm applause from around the nation.
Not least from Caroline Ashrafi, a 49-year-old tax manager who had staged a ‘coming-out’ of her own a couple of years earlier.
In 2010 Ashrafi’s employers, KPMG, had sent her on a course designed to tackle the issue of how to retain talented women in her industry. ‘It was 20 women shut up in a room for two days, and I thought, “Oh, God, do I really want to sit in a room with 20 women?” But it was brilliant – a very motivational, far-reaching two days. One of the main topics was “Why do women reach the glass ceiling and what are your barriers?”’
As the women talked about childcare and family commitments, Ashrafi thought, ‘None of this applies to me. I have one son but having a child hasn’t been a barrier to my career progress. My biggest barrier has been my illness, my depression.’
Ashrafi didn’t feel ready to share that at the time, but the support and affirmation she received from her peers on the course worked on her and a week later she woke up thinking, ‘Today’s the day I am going to tell the world.’
‘I sent an email to the 20 people on the course and 10 other colleagues, telling them, “This year is the 30th anniversary of my being diagnosed with clinical/reactive depression, which has been, at times, disruptive, upsetting and has often wreaked complete havoc with my very existence.”’
As the morning passed, responses pinged into Ashrafi’s inbox. ‘They were unequivocally supportive. It took my breath away. Oh, my, it was very powerful. I learnt that day that the most effective way of getting rid of stigma and changing attitudes is by admitting and telling your story.’
Which is ironic, because for years Ashrafi had been locked in silence about her condition for fear of the repercussions. ‘I genuinely feared the prejudice,’ she says. ‘I have seen instances during my career of people being treated badly because of their mental-health issues, and I was never confident enough to be open about it before.’
Ashrafi is far from alone. One in three women have taken antidepressants at some point in their lives, according to a report by Platform 51 (formerly YWCA). The mental-health charity Mind estimates that, at any given moment, one in six workers are experiencing depression, anxiety or stress. Emma Mamo, the charity’s policy and campaigns manager, says, ‘Mental health in the workplace is the elephant in the room; too often it is ignored. But we think some problems are too big to ignore.’
It turned out that Ashrafi’s employers felt the same, and since her confessional email they’ve co-opted her on to their disability steering group as a mental-health champion. However, she says the most surprising by-product has been increased vigour. ‘Living a lie takes a lot of energy. The exhaustion of pretending can be overwhelming; take that away and you can channel your energy.’
Covering up at work has never been an issue for Rachel Waddingham, 34, who lives with her husband in south-east London. ‘Everyone knows,’ she says, ‘and it’s not the most important thing about me.’ Waddingham says that, of all the mental-health conditions, hers – schizophrenia – carries the most stigma.
‘I am at the severe end of the spectrum where most employers won’t give people a chance . It shouldn’t be like that. It was amazing to see the MPs come out and talk about their issues. But the day an MP talks about hearing voices will be the really big day for me.’
Waddingham works full-time managing support groups for people who are affected by psychosis and hear voices, including one in Holloway Prison. She also trains mental-health professionals and is studying for an MSc in psychological research methods. In her spare time she sings in pubs.
Leading such a busy life actually increases the voices. ‘I have them pretty much all the time,’ she says. ‘It might sound distracting, but it makes me good at my job. I have 13-odd voices, some of whom are challenging to deal with, but I am the mediator; that helps me deal with difficult situations at work because it uses the same skills. I am also great at focusing, because I have to be good at putting those voices to the back.’
The voices started in her teenage years, but she traces their origins to a time when she was seven and ‘saw a monster’ in the mirror. ‘I suffered sexual abuse in my childhood, and my way of carrying it was to squish it down into that monster. When I was that young I was so invested in being a strong child that I wasn’t able to tell anyone, and that is why I started to have the voices.’
Waddingham ‘limped on’ through her school years until everything went ‘colossally wrong’ when she got to university. Having found her diagnosis of schizophrenia initially helpful, she now feels it is irrelevant. ‘It’s just a label. It technically still applies to me but it’s not something I find it particularly helpful to dwell on. I no longer need medication and can still live this life that I am really happy to live.’
For Robyn Steward, 25, life started precariously. She was born prematurely with 10 disabilities including cerebral palsy, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia (number blindness) and Asperger’s.
At school she was bullied and ‘just felt thick all the time… but my IT teacher found things I was good at, and encouraged me to do them.’ This led her to study IT at college where for the first time she felt that if she worked hard she could do well. She spent a lot of time explaining computers to other students and realised she had a natural bent for teaching. Through contacts in the National Autistic Society she began coaching people about autism.
‘The key to being successful is finding your niche, and I am good at public speaking,’ says Steward, who finds eye contact with an individual problematic but has no trouble addressing 500 people. ‘Occasionally I get over-stimulated and have information overload, which makes me very anxious. When that happens I paint or listen to Pink Floyd, which are both really calming for me.’
Steward now runs a business training teachers and healthcare professionals about autism, but is frustrated that others have not been so lucky. ‘Only 15 per cent of people on the autistic spectrum are employed, says Steward. ‘A lot of that is down to employers’ fear. We need bosses to realise autism can be a massive advantage. I can be a bit monotropic and concentrate on one thing to the detriment of others, but the flip side of that is that I get a lot of things done. It’s just a case of having employers open their minds a bit.’
Jane Harris, the associate director of communications at the charity Rethink Mental Illness, agrees: ‘There is a misconception that if you have a mental illness you can’t work, but many people with mental-health problems hold down high-pressure and demanding jobs. Anyone can be affected by mental illness. We all fall somewhere on the spectrum.
‘Women are more likely to be affected by depression, anxiety and psychological distress. They are also more exposed to problems such as poverty, discrimination, overwork, domestic violence and sexual abuse, and as a result they potentially face even greater barriers when it comes to employment. We need to overcome the stigma and misconceptions to ensure that everyone affected by mental illness gets a fair chance in the workplace.’
Popular culture has picked up on the message, too. Two recent primetime dramas, Homeland and The Bridge, feature tough women in tough jobs who also happen to be dealing with mental illness: bipolar disorder in the case of Homeland’s Carrie Mathison, and Asperger’s for Saga Norén of The Bridge. They are both depicted as using the characteristics of their conditions to good effect as tools in their work, but are also at times overwhelmed by those same characteristics.
This strikes a chord with Heather Call, a 29-year-old pharmacist. ‘My job is a recipe for OCD,’ she says, ‘because you are under pressure and you have to make sure you are giving out the correct medicine and the right advice, so you have to check. When I wasn’t well I would check and check and check until I was overchecking and couldn’t stop. But now, when an OCD-type thought comes in, I can recognise it and deal with it. I have learnt to stop myself and say, “That is adequately checked. You need to give it out now.”’
Call’s symptoms first emerged at university, where she found herself trying to solve vast questions such as ‘Does God exist?’ in her head over and over again. She managed to carry on until she was pregnant with her third child and realised that she couldn’t deal with her symptoms on her own anymore. ‘I’d be driving along and hear a noise and think, “Have I just knocked somebody over?” – a totally irrational thought. But I wouldn’t be able to dismiss it and would find myself driving back to where I heard the noise to check.’
She told her GP and then a specialist, who prescribed an antidepressant called sertraline. ‘I was a bit nervous and wondered if it would change who I was. But it’s just replacing a chemical that is deficient in your brain, and because of that you can think clearly again. It brought the old me back .’
Call has just come back from a year’s sabbatical in Uganda, with her husband, a doctor, and their three children, working in the slums of Kampala. She says this would never have been possible before she started her treatment seven years ago.
Her condition makes her better at her job, she now believes. ‘As a pharmacist I can be more understanding of people who are prescribed drugs for mental-health conditions. When I first had symptoms I was scared to talk about it, and felt I was going mad, but the more I find out about how easily treatable it is, the more I’m prepared to let people know about it. It isn’t a life sentence – you can get help and move on and lead a full life.’
Hearing Voices Network (hearing-voices.org);
National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk);
OCD UK (ocduk.org);
Rethink Mental Illness (rethink.org) | <urn:uuid:f4c2134c-52a7-4f54-9d5e-9befd2b110e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://recoverynetworktoronto.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/mental-illness-at-work-the-last-taboo/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97826 | 2,634 | 1.625 | 2 |
Other browsers hide in shame.
As the Google I/O conference continues, the search giant has revealed some interesting stats regarding its Google Chrome web browser.
As it turns out, it now has:
- 310 million active users as they grew almost 100% over last year
- Google Chrome processes over 1 TB of data every day
- Users type 60 billion words daily
- … and lastly, thanks to its superior rendering engine, it saved a total of 13 years of time
Finally drops the beta tag, available to download right now.
During the Google’s I/O conference, the search giant has also published the Final version of the Google Chrome web browser for Android.
As expected the Beta to Final transition mostly focused on stability and performance improvements. However, Google also said that they have been working to improve the overall experience for the tablet users, which is always a welcome step forward.
Includes dramatic improvements.
After announcing that something big is coming, Mozilla has revealed the 14th version of the Firefox Mobile web browser for the Android devices.
According to the official blog post, Firefox 14 Mobile has significant performance improvements in many different areas, ranging from startup to page load times.
Even though EU and Microsoft aren’t exactly the best friends, it looks like both of them have found a common enemy: users tracking.
Recently, the software giant has informed that the upcoming release of the Internet Explorer 10 will have a “Do Not Track” feature enabled by default, which made advertising agencies unhappy. As a result, W3C has updated the DNT draft and asked web browser makers to disable such feature during the initial software launch.
Few months ago, Microsoft has acquired a total of 925 patents from the AOL that are worth more than $1 billion.
Although 650 of those patents were later sold to Facebook for $650 million and remaining 275 licensed as well, it made us wonder, what exactly did Microsoft buy?
Thankfully, we have just learned more about the deal and it’s pretty fascinating. While we won’t tell you about all the juicy details, here is what they got when it comes to web browsers, at least according to the Envision IP:
With the launch of the Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft has introduced a new JScript engine called “Chakra”, which improved the overall browser performance, thanks to the JIT (just in time) compilation on a separate CPU core as well as other improvements.
Now, with the upcoming release of the Internet Explorer 10, the software giant is looking to evolve it even further.
With Internet Explorer 10 and more.
If you are curious to see the upcoming IE10 browser in action, check the full Windows Phone 8 Summit video above. Not interested in everything? No worries, browsers start at: 15:00 and 39:00!
Alternatively, check our recent post about the very same presentation.
Wacka, wacka, wacka…
An investment bank called “LUMA Partners” has produced one of the worst videos we’ve ever seen, so check it out!
With companies like this, no wonder that our banking system is a mess.
In today’s Windows Phone 8 developer’s event, Microsoft has revealed some of the new Internet Explorer 10 features. Although they did not get into specifics, there are still tiny bits that are worth reporting.
Please note: Microsoft said that they will only talk about features that are developer related, so don’t expect anything else.
Tim Bray, the co-creator of the XML markup language, has suggested a new error code for the web censorship, which should inform users that their content is being blocked.
Described as “A New HTTP Status Code for Legally-restricted Resources” it should display the following details:
Description: Unavailable for Legal Reasons | <urn:uuid:b42a4afb-77a3-4272-abd5-22181e08a78c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.favbrowser.com/page/32/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933878 | 802 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Washington, D.C.: First in war, first in peace and last in the American League.
For years that was the moniker given to our nation’s capital in recognition of the futility of both iterations of the old Washington Senators who, from the retirement of Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson in the 1920’s, rarely had even a glimpse of the first division in the American League (then an eight-team division), let alone a sniff of the pennant. In 1972 they were moved to Minnesota which became a winning and profitable franchise.
A new version of the Senators was formed and another Hall of Famer, the great Ted Williams, during his brief managerial stint, actually led them to a winning season before the team was moved to Arlington, Texas, and became the Texas Rangers, now also a winning and profitable franchise.
You might say that even with one of the game’s all time great pitchers (Johnson) and then with one of the games all time great hitters (Williams) the old (and older) Senators never really ascended to the heights that the city reached.
Today’s National League team, aptly called the Washington Nationals, have continued that tradition, although there may now be a glimmer of hope for the future which would be a rude, but welcome awakening, indeed.
Aside from its baseball record, Washington is a big league city in every way. After all it is the nation’s political and diplomatic capitol and a beautiful city for residents and visitors, alike.
Imagine then my shock and indignation with the recent revelation of Travel & Leisure magazine’s rating of the city as the third rudest in the country, trailing only New York and Miami. Another Florida city, Orlando, came in ranked 10th rudest.
Naples, I am pleased to report, did not even make the top 20 list. This in spite of the feeling expressed by many Neapolitans in their letters to the editor, that our seasonal residents and visitors from the north are consistently rude on the road and “pushy” at stores and restaurants.
Perhaps our Collier County commissioners, who seem attuned to rudeness at times, voted to keep Travel & Leisure out of Collier County. I will check the newsstands since I am not a subscriber.
And speaking of political rudeness, Travel & Leisure, in commenting about Washington’s high spot on the list of rude cities, writes that “politics is ugly, and perhaps getting uglier. Even though our nation’s capital still counts as a great family getaway, it got two spots ruder since last year. For less attitude, voters preferred to hang out with any locals cast in bronze or granite. The magazine concedes that Washington ranks first and second for it’s museum and historical monuments.”
This would indicate to me that tourists prefer George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson to Barack Obama, Harry Reid or John Boehner. Must be a message there for this year’s candidates who are striving so tirelessly to occupy the White House for the next four years.
Perhaps they should heed the words of former presidents Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy.
Truman once exclaimed that if you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog. Kennedy opined that Washington is indeed the All American City, combining the charm of the north with the industry of the south.
And as far as politics being ugly, that is one point on which I would agree with Travel & Leisure. Again, ask the aforementioned politicos and the many current candidates who can’t wait to become a D.C. resident, no matter how rude they might have to be.
Despite being our third rudest city, our nation’s capital is the city that annually hosts the lighting of our national Christmas tree and such events as the Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring, the Smithsonian Festival in the summer and the Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations, where Naples’ own maestro, the late Erich Kunzel, often conducted.
Oh well. Travel & Leisure, what can you expect from a city built on swamp lands and wilderness and one laid out by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a Frenchman. From those crude beginnings, a great city has arisen. Perhaps the magazine meant crude rather than rude. | <urn:uuid:e9e79c2a-5eea-42d7-8aea-b90b46693ba3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/01/ciao-defending-washington-dc-and-naples-fla/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958223 | 895 | 1.578125 | 2 |
The Freedom From Religion Foundation awarded Roger, Pat and Melody Cleveland its "Emperor Has No Clothes" Award on July 4, 2003, at the Lake Hypatia Independence Day celebration. It is hosted annually by the Alabama Freethought Association at the Clevelands' park grounds in rural Alabama. (Pat and Roger are married, and Melody is Roger's sister.)
The Alabama Freethought Association took the original successful lawsuit challenging Judge Roy Moore's courtroom Ten Commandments. The Association was joined by Gloria Hershiser, and the case was only thrown out by the state high court on a bizarre technicality.
Roger, Pat and Melody dreamed of a freethought "advance, not retreat," right in the buckle of the bible belt. They generously open their beautiful land and lake to hundreds of freethinkers from all over the country over the 4th of July weekend and for other special events.
They deeded land to the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which raised funds for the Lake Hypatia Freethought Hall. The second installment, the auditorium, was dedicated in 1999. The Clevelands also invited the national Foundation to place its Atheists in Foxholes monument at Lake Hypatia. The Clevelands, in publicly espousing this most significant cause of freethought and state/church separation, embody the small child in the fairy tale who says, "But the emperor has no clothes." | <urn:uuid:ab0147f9-443d-42a3-842d-393c8727d484> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ffrf.org/outreach/awards/emperor-has-no-clothes-award/item/11895-roger-pat-melody-cleveland | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953846 | 291 | 1.726563 | 2 |
CLEVELAND -- Hot and steamy temperatures soared to new highs across northeast Ohio on Friday.
The National Weather Service says new records were set in Cleveland, Akron, Mansfield and Toledo that date back around 100 years.
In Cleveland, the thermometer peaked at 90 degrees at 4:09 p.m., breaking the previous record of 89 set in 1914.
In Akron, a new record high of 88 tied a record set in 1914 and 1904.
In Mansfield, 88 degrees was the high and tied an old record from 1918.
And, in Toledo, 92 degrees was the new high at Toledo Express Airport, blowing past the old record of 89 set in 1914 and 1904.
More steamy temperatures will occur over the weekend and more records could be set, especially on Memorial Day Monday. | <urn:uuid:054b7dab-0582-43e8-bc52-df0003f13331> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/246085/45/New-record-highs-set-on-Friday | 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 | 0.936174 | 164 | 1.59375 | 2 |
In Defense of Bosses from Hell
Smart and nice don't always go together. You just have to understand the trade-offs.
(Business 2.0 Magazine) -- Most books about leadership read like the Scout manual: CEOs and top managers should be authentic, considerate, sensitive, and modest, as well as creative, smart, and strategically brilliant. All true - but not very useful in the real world, where the person in the corner office might be as approachable as the junkyard dog.
Exhibit A: Steve Jobs.
Is he the charming, jeans-wearing CEO whose dramatic unveiling of the Apple (Charts) iPhone in January drove the stock up 8 percent by day's end? Or is he, as has been chronicled in several books, the classic jerk boss, notorious for belittling subordinates and business partners?
He's both, of course, and not much different from most executives: blessed with some attributes and cursed with others.
It would be nice if Bobby Knight, the college basketball coach who recently set the all-time record for career victories, didn't have temper tantrums on and off the court, throwing chairs and accosting students. But Knight is also known as a great tactician, a skilled coach, a mentor to other coaches, and a friend to players and former players facing personal difficulties.
Perhaps more important in a sport increasingly dragged down by scandal, Knight is a coach who has consistently graduated his players and has never had trouble with the NCAA.
All the platitudes about ideal management qualities might make people think they know the secret sauce, but I take a contrarian view that those notions actually make matters worse. Since people have been taught to seek perfection in leaders - and mistakenly believe it's possible to find - they tend to get starry-eyed when they meet someone who seems to fit the profile.
The board of Hewlett-Packard (Charts) thought it had found the perfect CEO to shake up the company and beef up its marketing when it hired Carly Fiorina. She did shake things up - but that turned out to have costs, not just benefits, and her "my way or the highway" style eventually caused the board to lose patience.
Here's another point the leadership pundits miss: Situations differ, often wildly, in the extent to which one individual can make a difference and in the set of attributes required to be successful. It's not by accident that lots of difficult, egomaniacal bosses have come from industries like media (Michael Eisner and Anna Wintour), fashion (Mickey Drexler), finance (the late Lew Glucksman of Lehman Bros (Charts).), and technology (Jobs and Oracle (Charts) chief Larry Ellison).
These are all settings in which one great product or revolutionary idea - the sort of thing most likely to come from a single brilliant individual - can often mean the difference between success and failure.
But ironically, most research on leadership, such as Jim Collins's study of Colgate-Palmolive (Charts) CEO Reuben Mark, has focused on industries like manufacturing, hospitality, and transportation, where operational efficiency is crucial and individual brilliance takes a backseat to the importance of building cohesive teams.
It would be wonderful if workplaces were filled with leaders who behaved as polite, mature adults. Despite their track records of success, Apple, Oracle, and big Hollywood studios have lost a lot of talent to nasty behavior. But utopia is impossible, which is why management consultants and authors should stop talking so much about how to find an ideal leader and instead focus on placing people into jobs that play to their strengths - and where their flaws won't be fatal.
Business 2.0 columnist Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. | <urn:uuid:a6e37026-4b8c-4539-b7df-c78d11915f4e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/03/01/8401039/index.htm?postversion=2007040311 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970851 | 790 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Kwik’pak and Oldways: “For the Health of It” Re-cap
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this was our best wild salmon event yet. New York was fun, Houston was sunny, but Boston is our home, so you know that we had to do something big when it came time to plan, with our friends at Kwik’pak, our “For the Health of It” event at the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge.
I think Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from the Harvard School of Public Health said it best: “Seafood is the single most important food one can consume for good health.” This is especially true with seafood like Wild Alaskan Yukon River Salmon, which beats out every other kind of fish in the USDA database when it comes to high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids. Kwik’pak and Oldways wanted to plan an event that would show off the wonderful benefits of this salmon in a variety of ways, including cooking demos, a Q&A session from the Yupik Eskimos who harvest the salmon, and what else? Lots of eating!
If you haven’t seen the inside of the Harvard Faculty Club, then you’re missing out on a chance to experience the real-life version of Hogwarts. Chandeliers, regal-looking chairs, paintings of celebrated scholars and people who are generally a lot smarter than you. It was a truly fun and beautiful venue.
We started things off with the Oldways bosses (did I mention they are both humanitarians and FABULOUS dressers to boot?) speaking about our collaboration with Kwik’pak, and how salmon is a perfect fit for the Oldways Traditional American Table. They also introduced the good doctor Dary Mozaffarian, who went on to give his presentation titled What Consumers Need to Know About Seafood, Omega-3s and Human Health.
Some things I took away from his talk
- Fish/Omega-3’s are the FIRST line of treatment for primary prevention of cardiac death
- Women who are pregnant can eat fish to improve the verbal IQ (among other things) of their unborn child. Mothers who are expecting should eat up to 12 oz a week of a variety of seafood
- There is no convincing evidence that mercury has had an effect on the general population
- Modest fish intake can substantially reduce heart disease death, the leading cause of death in both men and women
Dr. Mozaffarian knocked his presentation out of the park. For hours afterwards, all anyone could talk about was how informative and well-presented his talk was. I’m also inclined to call him the rock star of the event, though I haven’t decided whether he’s a Mick Jagger or more of a Paul McCartney. Must research.
The next person to stand behind the podium was Jack Schultheis, General Manager of Kwik’pak Fisheries.
Jack gave a really moving speech about the importance of Yukon River Salmon to the Yupik people, and how he is focused on helping develop the economy in the Lower Yukon. “Our job is to ensure that our fishermen get the highest economic return for these valuable fish,” he said. Since arriving in Alaska in the early 1970s, Jack has been a fixture in the Alaskan fishing industry and it became very clear to everyone in the audience how passionate he really is about his job and about the people he works with.
Then it was time to get cookin’!
Jeff Tenner (r.), Executive Director of Culinary Operations at Legal Sea Foods, and Peter Doire (l.), Senior Chef, were kind enough to come over to Harvard to show us how to cook Wild Yukon River Salmon in two different recipes: Brown Bag Salmon and Salmon Ceviche.
Amazing, right? The guys were very funny and the meals looked wonderful. So wonderful in fact, that after they were done cooking, we all had to have an “Eat Salmon and Mingle” break.
Bill from The Boston Foodie being a good food blogger and taking some sweet pics!
We served Yukon River Salmon with 4 Dipping Sauces, along with some Spanish Cava to drink. The Mango Salsa Sauce was the clear favorite of the evening.
Richard from The Passionate Foodie surveying the scene
And there’s me on the left with my always camera-ready co-worker Erika on the right!
After all that eating and chatting, it was time to take our seats again to hear Matilda Oktoyuk and Ellen and Humphrey Keyes, Yupik Eskimo fishermen speak about their daily lives in Emmonak, Alaska. They really emphasized how important the salmon is to their survival in today’s modern world. Audience members quizzed them about what their lives are like in the off-season, how much vegetables cost in the Lower Yukon, and the South Beach Diet even came up at one point. What can I say? You never know what to expect at an Oldways event!
And then all of sudden, the event was over (much too quickly) and it was time to say goodbye to all of our new friends.
I would like to thank everyone who attended Friday’s event, you don’t know how much fun we had with all of you. We would also like to thank all of our speakers and especially the great people at Kwik’pak. | <urn:uuid:91ef7b3a-c3ec-4a67-8e1f-deceb331cddc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oldwayspt.org/blog/kwik%E2%80%99pak-and-oldways-%E2%80%9C-health-it%E2%80%9D-re-cap | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97445 | 1,157 | 1.765625 | 2 |
|One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney|
|Fawcett/Ballantine, $10.00, PG-13, ISBN 0-449-00017-6|
Mary Jo Putney has dealt with serious social and personal problems in
her previous books: alcoholism, epilepsy, child sexual abuse, incest.
In One Perfect Rose, she takes on the really big one -- death. And she
has crafted a compelling book with a message for us all -- that we
should value life while it is ours to live and live it fully. This is
the lesson Stephen Kenyon, Duke of Ashburton learns when he is
informed by his family physician that his recurrent stomach problems
are incurable and that he has three months to live.
Stephen is thirty-six years old. He has been duke for only two years, but his whole life has centered on behaving as expected by his autocratic and often cruel father and by the society in which he lives. He takes his responsibilities seriously, cares for his dependents, is generous with his time and money, and is highly respected by his peers. He has endured over a decade of cold, passionless, and childless marriage to the woman chosen by his father. Now widowed, he hopes to find a new wife and perhaps start the family he has so long desired. He thinks he is finally free to live as he wished to live, to travel, to improve his relationship with his newly reconciled brother, Lord Michael, to become his own person. But, tragically, it is not to be. What does a man do when he receives his death sentence?
Stephen chooses to escape from the confines of his life, at least for a time, to try to come to terms with his fate. One evening, in a small town, he attends a theater performance by a group of traveling players, the Fitzgerald troupe. He is surprised at the high quality of the performance and struck by the presence and beauty of one of the actresses, Rosalind Jordan. The next day as he travels aimlessly, he comes upon the troupe waiting to cross a flood-swollen river. When young Brian Fitzgerald falls into the water, it is Stephen who rescues him.
And so, the duke meets the actress and her family and friends. But no one knows he is a duke; for the first time in his life he is merely a man. Stephen becomes a de facto member of the company, even appearing as the Duke of Athens in one of the plays. He becomes more and more attracted to Rosalind, the Fitzgerald's adopted daughter, whom they had found near the London waterfront nearly twenty-five years earlier.
Rosalind is the calm center of the talented and mercurial Fitzgerald family. She is a competent actress, but doesn't share the passion of her adopted family. Rather, she is the stage manager, the organizer, the psychologist, the caretaker. Rosalind had been married at 18, a decade earlier, but her philandering actor husband had died and she has since devoted herself to her family's well being. Stephen is captivated, both by her beauty and by her personality. Rosalind finds him charming, handsome, kind, and very attractive.
Both Stephen and Rosalind struggle against their growing love, she because she knows he is not of her world and must leave, he because he knows he has so little time. But finally, both decide to grab at happiness, however briefly.
This is a moving book. We may know (or think we know) that Stephen will not really die; after all, he is the hero in a romance novel! But Stephen does not know this, nor does Rosalind, nor do any of the other characters. Such is Putney's talent that, while the reader remains convinced that Stephen simply can't die (and may even figure out what the problem is), we still feel the characters' pain and suffering, as well as their precious love, all the more precious because it will end too soon. And we share in Stephen's growing acceptance of his fate and his growing conviction that one day he and his beloved will again be together.
Putney has created her usual cast of delightful secondary characters. The members of the Fitzgerald company, especially the talented and unconventional parents, add moments of grand humor to the story. Lord Michael and Catherine appear as do other figures from previous books. But this is really Stephen's and Rosalind's story and they are the most likeable hero and heroine that I have encountered in quite some time. One Perfect Rose will go on my keeper shelf along with most of Putney's other books. I know I will want to reread it because it is such a compelling story. Ballantine has certainly chosen wisely when it decided to embark on its new publishing format with this book. I know that I will be haunting the bookstores on June 3 to get my copy. | <urn:uuid:a860d501-cc1a-46ec-9f13-3253373c1481> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theromancereader.com/oneperfect.html | 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 | 0.985655 | 1,015 | 1.546875 | 2 |
At noon Monday, I will be one of those thinking about the Electoral College, as I have the privilege of being one of Connecticut's seven Presidential Electors — one of 538 across the nation — who will finally, officially bring the 2012 campaign to an end.
More specifically I may be thinking about Samuel Miles, a Pennsylvanian who in 1796 ran as a Federalist promising to vote for John Adams but who instead cast his ballot for Thomas Jefferson. It made no difference in the outcome but it enraged the Federalist loyalists, one of whom wrote, "Do I choose Samuel Miles to determine for me … the fittest man for president of the United States? No, I choose him to ACT, not to THINK." Before becoming a professor I was often called upon act, not to think. I generally lived up to the expectation and will do so again tomorrow.
The "thinking" part, for me, actually occurred several months ago when, as a committed Obama-Biden supporter, I asked the Connecticut Democratic Party to put me on the elector slate. I sometimes lecture on the Electoral College, I said, and this would give me a good anecdote. More important, I promised that "no bribes, no torture, nothing — would ever induce me to do anything as an elector other than vote for the Democratic candidates." Apparently that clinched it.
Over the last 224 years about 80 electors haven't been faithful to their pledge. Most cases came in the early years of the republic, but more recently it's become something of a tradition that one elector breaks his commitment each election. The reasons run from ideology to idiosyncrasy: The faithless included segregationist Southerners who couldn't abide Democratic nominees' pro-civil rights stands, Republican conservatives who thought Richard Nixon or Gerald Ford were too liberal, a 1988 West Virginia Democrat who thought Lloyd Bentsen would be a better president than Michael Dukakis, and a D.C. Democrat who abstained in 2000 to protest the district's lack of a vote in Congress. In 2004, a Minnesotan accidentally voted for John Edwards for president instead of John Kerry.
Connecticut law forbids any of us seven from doing that. An elector here must "cast his ballots for the candidates under whose name he ran on the official election ballot." Penalties for non-compliance are not spelled out. It's worth noting that when the General Assembly abolished the death penalty there was no exception made for faithless electors, though some might think there should have been.
Almost from the start there have been calls for the abolition of the Electoral College, usually to have it replaced by direct popular vote. A recent proposal called the "National Popular Vote Compact" would achieve this goal. Still, because this last election wasn't as close as many thought it would be, it's likely that Electoral College reform won't be near the top of the national agenda any time soon.
The late Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee once called the Electoral College "a loaded pistol pointed at our system of government." It's been noted in recent years that the Electoral College makes candidates focus all their time on a few swing states (Connecticut rarely among them), that it gives disproportionate influence to small states, and that it leads candidates to pander to special interests who can affect the outcome in large states. All of this is demonstrably true and cause for concern.
Still, this is the system we've got and it's likely the one that will continue. Despite its faults, it's produced some very good presidents (and, admittedly, a few clunkers). Moreover, it's existed concurrent with one of the world's most stable and generally — recent times notwithstanding — effective governments. And it gives those of us who teach in this area interesting stories to tell.
For all that, I will be honored to be part of the Electoral College system. I will proudly cast my vote for the candidates I pledged to vote for many months ago, and for whom more than 900,000 Connecticut voters expressed support in November.
Ron Schurin is an associate professor in residence in the Department of Political Science at the University of Connecticut. | <urn:uuid:92f24b3d-9899-4fa9-93ba-f867218c1933> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-schurin-electoral-college-still-working-desp-20121214,0,7455709.story | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96879 | 848 | 1.796875 | 2 |
(This article was originally published in Turning Wheel: Journal of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Fall 1999)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written, “…if people are so highly developed spiritually that they can practice their religions effectively by staying in one place, even in some unholy place, then a pilgrimage may not be important for them…. Many ordinary people, however, especially those who find religion difficult to practice in a devout way in their normal lives, set off on long journeys with the hope of communicating virtue and gaining merit.”
Clearly, I fall into the latter category. For much of my life, I have struggled to maintain a consistent meditation practice at home, but will happily go into debt to travel to far-off lands in search of sacred sites. When I learned that my dear friend and teacher Roshi Joan Halifax was planning a journey to Mt. Kailash in western Tibet, I knew I had to join the trip.
For both Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists, Mt. Kailash is the center of the universe, the axis around which the world revolves. In Hindu cosmology it is the abode of Shiva, the god of destruction. For Tibetan Buddhists, it is the home of Demchog, the wrathful emanation of the Buddha. Both Buddhists and Hindus alike consider the pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash and the circumambulation around it (called a kora) to be the pinnacle of their spiritual life. Tradition has it that performing one kora will erase the bad karma of one lifetime, while 108 koras lead to full enlightenment.
My own intentions were less lofty. Over the past five years, my practice with Joan had been in the mindfulness tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and, more recently, as a member of Roshi Bernie Tetsugen Glassman’s Zen Peacemaker Order (ZPO). Tibetan Buddhism was fascinating to me, but I didn’t understand much about the rituals and symbolism. I simply wanted to make the journey to experience whatever the mountain had to teach me, and to try to live out the three tenets of the ZPO: Not Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Healing Ourselves and the World. It seemed especially important to bear witness to the courageous struggle of Tibetans to maintain their culture and religious traditions in their own land.
In May of 1999, on a warm, smoggy day in Southern California, a group of fellow pilgrims from all over the United States gathered at Los Angeles International Airport to begin the journey. When we arrived in Kathmandu two days later, we were joined by others from Denmark, Switzerland, and India. In all, there were 20 of us, ranging in age from 17 to 67.
We would not arrive at Mt. Kailash until nearly three weeks later. Located in a remote corner of western Tibet, there is no fast, direct way to get to the mountain, no major airport for hundreds of miles. The pilgrim has to earn his or her way there with every step. In the old days, pilgrims walked for literally months to reach Kailash. Now, the trip is slightly easier, but still entails either a multiple-day drive from Lhasa in Landcruisers, or walking a number of days overland from Nepal, as we did. Lama Govinda wrote, “Nobody can approach the Throne of the Gods, or penetrate the Mandala of Shiva or Demchog, or whatever name he likes to give to the mystery of ultimate reality, without risking his life—and perhaps even the sanity of his mind.” The mountain exudes supreme bliss, but it is not easily gained. The wrathful energy of Kailash acts like a sword to cut through any illusions—physical, mental, or emotional—that get in the way of directly facing reality. I hoped to use this quality of the mountain to explore my bodhisattva nature and the obstacles that stood in the way of it shining forth.
A large number of our group had never traveled to Asia before, and our first two days in Kathmandu bowled us over. Garbage, urine, and shit mixed together in the streets, diseased children begged for money or food, and diesel fumes choked the air. Suffering and poverty were clearly in view; nothing was hidden. How could we possibly make a difference in the face of such overwhelming despair?
We flew from Kathmandu to Nepalganj, a smaller city in the southern part of Nepal, and then on to the Humla district in the northwest, where our trek would begin. Over the next seven days we trekked 35 miles through the high mountains, following the Karnali River, to the Tibetan border. We began at 9,000 feet and gradually worked our way up to nearly 15,000 feet. The trail was extremely mountainous. When Tenzin, our Tibetan guide, gave us a rundown of each day’s terrain, he would sometimes tell us that the trail was terzo, the Nepali word for smooth. Then he slyly smiled and made a rolling motion with his hands. Terzo meant that the ups and downs were only slightly less steep than mountain passes that would terrify a goat. Day after day, we walked through terraced fields of barley, meadows of wild cannabis and nettles, and pine forests laced with waterfalls.
The morning of the third day, I woke up feeling nauseous. Soon I began vomiting, but there was really no choice except to walk toward the next campsite. I lagged behind everyone else, accompanied by Tenzin and two sherpas who were saintly enough to stay with me the entire day. They carried my pack and stopped with me when I threw up every half hour or so. Ted, a fellow pilgrim and also a doctor, gave me some medication which eventually stopped the nausea. Until then, I just put one foot in front of the other and sweated my way along every inch of the trail. Demchog’s sword was cutting through my illusions of being invulnerable and not needing any help, assisting me in literally purging myself before approaching Kailash.
On our final day before reaching Tibet, we had to cross Nara La, a mountain pass that we affectionately came to call Gnarly La. At altitudes near 15,000 feet, everyone’s breathing was labored and our pace became very slow. I understood why Tibetans use mantras so profusely; the only way to successfully walk in such conditions is to synchronize breathing with walking. My own mantra, with every step, became, “Just this, just this.” We finally reached the top of the pass, and were rewarded by the sight of a cairn of stones and prayer flags flying against the background of a sapphire blue sky. Following the Tibetan tradition, we each added a rock to the cairn and cried out, “So so so!” asking the gods to bless our journey and that of the pilgrims who would come after us.
Having made it to the summit of the pass, I thought the way down would be easy. Another illusion waiting to be skewered! Going down the trail from the top of Nara La to the border turned out to be one of the most difficult and terrifying episodes of my life. After the pass, we skidded down a steep slope for about an hour and then traversed the side of an immense canyon. The slope below us angled down sharply more than 2,000 feet to the bottom. Several sections of this trail were no more than five inches wide, and those inches were not solid ground but rather loose rock and scree. While the sherpas virtually danced across these sections, we inched our way along and prayed we wouldn’t slip. Every so often, a herd of yaks would come from the opposite direction, and we stepped off the trail and clung to the canyon wall to let them pass. Meanwhile, Joan, on horseback because of a broken toe earlier on the trek, was four feet higher off the ground than the rest of us. Her horse’s every step sent showers of rocks cascading down the mountainside into the abyss. After this traverse was finished, we descended an extremely steep serpentine grade, slipping and sliding nearly 2,000 feet back down to the river before ending up in the town of Hilsa, on the border of China/Tibet.
We had barely caught our breath when we realized that we would have to return over the same trail in a couple of weeks. The downhill we had just descended would be even more forbidding on the way back up, and the motivation of getting to Kailash would be gone. But there was no other way to get home. We conjured up ideas about how to fake an illness that would necessitate a helicopter evacuation, thus avoiding the walk back over Nara La. Ted, who had practiced in Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition, lifted one of Thây’s favorite phrases to remind us that “fun is made up of non-fun elements.”
We were allowed to cross the border into China/Tibet with no problems, a blessing considering that the U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia had taken place a couple of weeks before we arrived. We continued over the Tibetan high plateau, a harsh barren country resembling a moonscape, to Lake Manosarovar. Surely one of the most beautiful places on earth, the lake stretches across the vast, empty, brown desert plain as far as the eye can see. We spent five days on the north shore in solitude and silence, preparing ourselves for the kora that lay ahead of us. Most mornings, the water was absolutely calm and still, like the surface of a mirror. By the afternoon, the wind began to rise and waves rolled onto the shore. This land was elemental: extreme sun, unrelenting wind, no trees for shade, and the earth littered with the bones of sheep and yak who had expired here. From a hillside high above the lake, I looked out and marveled at the gradations of color that changed with the water’s depth—turquoise to light green to dark emerald to deep lapis blue—and considered the unknowable depths and mysteries of our own souls.
We finally reached Darchen, the beginning point of the kora, on May 29. The next day, Sagadawa (Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and paranirvana), we emerged from our tents into several inches of fresh snow. From that point on, snow fell on each of the five days we took to circle the 32-mile perimeter of Kailash. By the time we reached the north side of the mountain, the nighttime temperature dropped to about 20 degrees below zero. The daytime temperature was warmer, but still well below freeezing—our water bottles froze as we walked. I turned to my tentmate and good friend Andrea and wondered aloud if we would ever be warm again.
We didn’t sit in zazen very much on the trip; the walk and the trail itself became our meditation. The Kan Ro Man, a Soto Zen service adapted by Tetsugen Glassman to include Tibetan and Jewish elements, was the keystone of our journey. In the ceremony, we chant, “By this practice I sincerely wish to extend all my love to my own being, friends, enemies, family, and community and to all creations for so much done on my behalf… May those suffering on the three paths come to atonement and be cleansed of all their ills. May they be liberated from samsara and arrive in the Pure Land Together.” We are asked to put our whole bodies on the line to feed the hungry ghosts, to heal our suffering and the world. We performed the service twice—once in Nepal at the convergence of two powerful rivers, and then at a sky burial ground at the foot of Mt. Kailash, amidst butcher knives, pools of blood, and fragments of bone and flesh. For Tibetans, a sky burial is a very honored ritual. The body is dismembered and then left for vultures and the elements.
As we circled the mountain, Joan taught us about the mandala of Mount Kailash. Each direction of the mountain, including the center, is home to one of the Five Buddha Families. Perhaps most importantly, we were reminded that Zen is about bringing every element into the mandala of our practice, excluding nothing. Walking around the mountain, we entered this living mandala and reflected on parts of ourselves and the world around us that we had rejected.
On the third day of the kora, we ascended through a snowstorm to the Dolma La pass, the highest point of the route at 18,600 feet. Several hundred feet before the top of the pass, we stopped at another burial ground. Along with other pilgrims, we laid down and visualized our own deaths, meditating on the truth of impermanence. The symbolic meaning of the kora is that we die to our old way of being, and as we cross over the Dolma La, we are reborn. When we reached the top of the pass, faint from altitude, we helped each other to climb up on the Tara rock to leave prayer flags and wishes for peace in a world torn apart by war. Joan had brought the ashes of her father who had died the year before, and Pam brought her brother’s ashes. As the snow and wind pelted us, we chanted to Kanzeon and conducted a ceremony for Werner, who was entering the Zen Peacemaker Order. Overcome with emotions, tears of gratitude and exhaustion washed over me. We tumbled down the trail to our next campsite on the east side of Kailash, weary but renewed.
After the kora was finished, we slowly made our way back towards Kathmandu the same route we had come, back to the Tibetan border, over the dreaded Nara La, and through the mountainous Humla area. Strangely, Nara La no longer seemed so treacherous. I marveled at my lack of fear and ability to walk the trail with strength and confidence.
A few days before the end of our trek, the monsoons set in and rain fell day and night. The last day’s walk was very easy, no more than two hours, descending through lush pine forests, rhododendron groves, and jasmine. Although I had been longing for a hot bath and a dry place to sleep, the sudden realization that I was about to leave the realm of mountains, rivers, trees, and clouds saddened me greatly. I was leaving a world where time is measured by how long it takes for the burning sensation of the stinging nettles to fade away and how many days to walk from one village to another. I wanted to carry some sense of that wildness with me—the raw beauty of the mountain that mirrors our unadorned selves, the fearlessness and complete trust that permeates Nature.
When we finally returned to Kathmandu, I noticed that I did not turn away from the eyes of a hungry child, or avoid breathing the polluted air, as I had done before. Aversion had been replaced by openness and curiosity, by a much greater receptivity to the full spectrum of suffering and joy present in life. And with this openness came a yearning to alleviate the sufferings and celebrate the joys. What a great gift Kailash had bestowed upon me!
I am sure that His Holiness is right when he says that people can practice their religion effectively by staying home. But for me, the Dharma came vividly alive through this journey to a sacred mountain and immersion in another culture that forced me to let go of all that I knew. The words of Milarepa, the great Tibetan yogi and poet, echoed through my mind: “Just to leave home is half the Dharma.”
Maia Duerr is a writer, editor, anthropologist, and founder of Five Directions Consulting. She practices Zen Buddhism and has worked with the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Upaya Zen Center, Parallax Press, and the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. She writes The Jizo Chronicles, a blog on Socially Engaged Buddhism, found at http://jizochronicles.wordpress.com/. | <urn:uuid:0341d905-7f25-4eb8-b0b8-76aa1fc1a7ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jizochronicles.com/writing/journey-to-mt-kailash/ | 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 | 0.966067 | 3,388 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Over at Grantland, Jane Leavy has a long piece on Babe Ruth’s daughter, his last surviving relative:
He was the Babe, the Bam, the Big Bam, and the Great (and Bulby) Bambino (or Slambino); the Barnstorming Babe, the Bazoo of Bang, the Behemoth of Biff and Bust; Blunderbuss, and the Modern Beowulf. He was the Caliph and Colossus of Clout and Club, the Circuit Smasher and Goliath of Grand Slam, Homeric Herman and Herman the Great. He was the High Priest of Swat, and before that the Infant of Swategy. Also: the Kid of Crash, King of Clout/Diamonds/Swing, and, until Roger Maris, Hank Aaron, and the steroid marauders came along, the Home Run King. He was the Maharajah/Mauler of Mash, the Mauling Menace, Mauling Monarch, Mauling Mastodon, as well as the Mastodonic Mauler, Bulky Monarch, and Monarch of Swatdom; the Prince of Pounders, Rajah of Rap, Sachem of Slug, and Sultan of Swat; Terrible Titan, Whazir of Wham, Wali of Wallop, Wizard of Whack. And, not to be outdone, Damon Runyon added: “Diamond-Studded Ball-Buster.”
The priests at St. Mary’s Industrial School, the Xaverian reform school on the outskirts of Baltimore to which he was consigned at age 7, called him George. The parents who didn’t visit called him Little George. The boys incarcerated along with him called him Nigger Lips. The Red Sox called him the Big Baboon and sometimes Tarzan, a name he liked until he found out what it meant. The Yankees called him Jidge.
Julia Ruth Stevens, his sole surviving daughter, calls him Daddy. Odd as it is to hear a nonagenarian refer to a man 60 years gone as Daddy, it is also a tender reminder of the limits of hyperbole, how grandiose honorifics obscure the messy, telling details of an interior life.
To others he is a brand, an archetype, a lodestar. His shape is ingrained in our DNA. His name recognition, 96 percent, is higher than any living athlete. (His Q score, a measure of how much the people who know him like him, is 32 percent compared to 13 percent for today’s average major leaguer.) And yet, as well-known as he is, the most essential biographical fact of his life, one that demands revisiting what we thought we knew, one that Julia assumed everybody knew, remained unknown. | <urn:uuid:1ef8497d-2533-436d-92eb-e656dc716591> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/tag/being-babe-ruths-daughter/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964332 | 580 | 1.65625 | 2 |
One of the latest projects of Occupy Chicago, Occupy Freedom School aims to provide an alternative to the Chicago Public School system, as well as free classes to community members of any age.
One month after the NATO summit, what have we learned? A new generation of youth who did not grow up in the shadow of the Cold War are beginning to ask questions about NATO, and the demonstrations offered them potent answers.
Almost two weeks after the NATO summit, what have we learned? Among a long list, all media coverage failed and the 99 percent fought each other.
When the NATO summit descended upon Chicago with the full weight of the global military industrial complex, what did we learn?
Stand beside her, and guide her, through the night with the light from above. For all who sang that song from the heart after Sept. 11, the Occupy Movement was part of God's answer to that prayer.
While the cloistered glitz of the NATO summit and the publicized gore of the anti-NATO protests left an indelible mark on those who participated in these events, to most the NATO summit was unremarkable. But what have we learned?
At approximately 10:40 p.m. on Saturday, Jack Amico, a supporter of Occupy Wall Street who had traveled to Chicago to take part in the anti-NATO demonstrations was allegedly injured by a Chicago police van.
Since I am confident law breakers will get plenty of coverage during the NATO protests, here is my growing list of independent Twitter profiles you should be following.
Christopher Drew was a real Chicago character -- in the best sense of the word. If Studs Terkel was with us today, Drew's oral history would surely be a chapter in his next book. Drew's work lives on in the struggles for freedom of expression.
Saturday, April 7, 2012 marked Occupy Chicago's official reemergence after a milder than expected winter with a citywide day of action, known as "Take the Spring."
Earlier this week, a team of "99% Citizen Tax Enforcers" started preparing for tax day by delivering "bills" to tax-dodging corporations.
When four Chicago police officers shot a black railroad detective 28 times, it appeared that we would only learn what happened from statements by the cops. But Howard Morgan miraculously survived to tell a different story.
A confluence of events will make Chicago the national and perhaps worldwide hub of the Occupy Movement through the spring. Welcome to the Chicago Spring.
Craig Donohue of CME didn't seem to mind the public spotlight when drumming up support for millions in tax breaks. But he was somewhat less enthusiastic when Chicago's 99% shone a not-so-flattering spotlight on CME from 1,000 miles away.
Just ten miles and one world away from City Hall, Pastor Corey Brooks was spending his 43rd day in a tent atop the Super Motel thinking about how unbelievable it is that he keeps burying kids who never get a chance to grow up.
My family is also one of the millions fighting foreclosure. $350 million for the CME and Sears, while millions of us are fighting just to keep our homes. What a slap in the face. | <urn:uuid:522c6d9a-e79e-4f83-b1b5-194872013207> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/occupy-chicago | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957785 | 657 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Like any new convert, I tended to frame the concepts [of Rand’s philosophy] in their starkest, simplest terms. Most everyone sees the simple outline of an idea before complexity and qualification set in…. It was only as contradictions inherent in my new notions began to emerge that the fervor receded.
One such contradiction I found particularly enlightening. According to the objectivist precepts, taxation was immoral because it allowed for government appropriation of private property by force. Yet if taxation was wrong, how could you reliably finance the essential functions of government, including the protection of individuals’ rights through police power? The Randian answer, that those who rationally saw the need for government would contribute voluntarily, was inadequate. People have free will; suppose they refused?…
I still found the broader philosophy of unfettered market competition compelling, as I do to this day, but I reluctantly began to realize that if there were qualifications to my intellectual edifice, I couldn’t argue that others should readily accept it. By the time I joined Richard Nixon’s campaign for the presidency in 1968, I had long since decided to engage in efforts to advance free-market capitalism as an insider, rather than as a critical pamphleteer.
Greenspan here admits what has been suspected for some time: that he came to believe that Objectivism was flawed and so ceased being an orthodox advocate of Rand’s philosophy. More interesting is his decision to advance free-market capitalism “as an insider, rather than as a critical pamphleteer.” This is really where Greenspan most differentiates himself from his former Objectivist comrades. Objectivists want to change the system without being part of it. Hence their conviction that social change can be brought about through philosophical patter.
But what is the real reason why Objectivists shrink from attempting to make change through action rather than merely talking about it? I can think of two main reasons:
1. Most Objectivists don’t have the ability to make change as an insider. While this lack of ability may be rationalized as an unwillingness to compromise (which all insiders must do), let’s not be naive: if every advocate of the free market adopted the attitude of “I will never compromise, therefore I won’t ever become an insider,” all this would accomplish is to surrender the political realm to advocates of various anti-market nostrums. Greenspan became an insider because he had the political chops to do so. Few people who came under Rand’s orbit have comparable chops.
2. Trying to change things as an insider as risky: one is inevitably competing against people who want to change things in a different direction, and it’s quite possible they will win out. Just look what’s happened with Greenspan: from our current vantage point, his attempts to advocate free market capitalism as an insider do not appear altogether successful. But is that any reason for not trying at all? Either one is willing to fight for one’s ideals on the political stage, or one isn’t. Those who are capable of fighting on political stage but choose not to are cowards—plain and simple.
Objectivists are now frantically trying to rid themselves of the taint of Greenspan’s former association with Rand. Yaron Brook and Alex Epstein have accused Greenspan of being “the voice of government central-planning”—another instance of Objectivists discrediting themselves by over-stating their case. They do nothing but talk and scribble—while attacking the one of the few individuals influenced by Rand who actually had the courage and the capability of trying to affect change within the political realm. Where are such people going to come from if they know ahead of time how they are to be treated if they fail? The hysterical denunciations of Greenspan demonstrate once again why Objectivism will never succeed as an agent of political change. | <urn:uuid:609d0727-edec-456a-b955-070b75537ac5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://aynrandcontrahumannature.blogspot.com/2008/11/objectivism-economics-part-7.html?showComment=1226321100000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977315 | 815 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Think about it: a western MP, denied the right to visit a peer EU country by that country's government, only because of islamic threats. Although there have been numerous indications of the abject manner in which Brown cowardly bends towards islamic demands, there has never before been a clearer statement that the UK has surrendered to the status of a Saudi colony: submission, the prime incentive of Islam, and also the title of the film Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh made with Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
We all know how that ended: Theo was killed and Ayaan was expelled from The Netherlands. She is still fighting the Dutch government over promises related who'd be paying for her protection.
UKIP peer Lord Pearson of Rannoch made a very true but sad statement:
"Indeed, any alleged threats associated with Lord Ahmed of attempts to prevent the showing of the film would themselves be a confirmation of the film's message and the need for it to be shown. The subsequent action by the Home Office to try to deter Mr Wilders from coming to the UK has, we believe, been rightly condemned by the Dutch Foreign Minister, and is a further example of the appeasement policies of the British government in giving in to the threats of militant Islam."He and cross-bencher Baroness Cox also issued a press statement, asking this rhetorical question:
"Would this have happened if Mr Wilders had said 'Ban the Bible'?"Of course not! All this was yesterday, when Brown's government had warned they would not allow Wilders into the country. Nevertheless, Wilders went ("I already have that ticket, so I might as well go") and was indeed denied entrance.
Given the very weak response of the Dutch government (which issued a "serious complaint") it does not really seem to care too much, most of its members despise Mr. Wilders anyway. I would think this matter requires a slightly stiffer response than just saying "Phew".
After the death of Free Speech in The Netherlands this is a new serious blow for western freedom and values in general and European lifestyle specifically.
See this link (pdf alert) for the letter Geert received on expressing his intention to accept the UKIP invitation (hat tip: Het Vrije Volk). | <urn:uuid:507e4044-9cfd-4906-a3d1-5460ff6e5d71> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dutchconcerns.blogspot.com/2009/02/geert-wilders-banned-from-uk.html | 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 | 0.971758 | 466 | 1.507813 | 2 |
One prison doctor after another has diagnosed Marcus Druery as severely mentally ill. Does the Constitution permit the death penalty anyway?
Some things are relatively simple about the case of Marcus Druery, a convicted murderer whom Texas officials plan to execute Wednesday evening at the state's death chamber in Huntsville. The details of the Halloween 2002 crime for which Druery was convicted are horrible, for example, and there is no pending legal claim that Druery is innocent or was wrongly convicted. This time, at least, no one seems to doubt that the police, the prosecutors, the witnesses, and the jurors all got the right man.
But there is one thing about the Druery case that is very complicated, indeed. No one seems to dispute that Druery now suffers from delusions and a psychotic disorder that doctors have consistently labeled as a form of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, despite these diagnoses, and despite United States Supreme Court precedent that precludes the execution of prisoners "who are unaware of the punishment they are about to suffer and why they are to suffer it," Texas still intends to execute Druery.
If the courts permit, that is. Late Friday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed the Druery execution "pending further order." The unpublished ruling means that state appellate judges want to look more closely at defense claims that Druery has shown enough evidence of incompetency to preclude his execution. The central legal question here is: Can a state execute an "Undifferentiated Type" schizophrenic? Put another way, how mentally ill does someone need to be to be too mentally ill to be executed?
If the substance of the Druery appeal has to do with a single man's mental health, the process that led us here is illustrative of the deeply flawed nature of Texas' capital punishment system. We see in this case a judge more angry about delays than he is committed to accuracy. We see prosecutors with risible disdain toward defense counsel. And we see it all in a case in which the condemned man has been judged to be seriously mentally ill over and over again by the state's own doctors.
In 2004, less than a year after Druery went to death row, prison staff concluded that he "may benefit from psychotropic medication." By 2006, Druery reportedly was "hearing things... noises... sometimes I feel people calling me..." By 2009, Druery suffered a psychotic break and was transferred to a psychiatric unit of the prison system. Later that year, a state psychiatrist, Nathan Pradan, examined Druery and concluded that he was suffering from the onset of psychosis. Over and over again since, prison doctors have diagnosed Druery as delusional.
From a recent defense brief:
In 2009 ..., Mr Druery told psychiatric personnel that he 'hear[d] people talking about him all day long' and had been hearing voices for months. He believed that he had a '10-month sentence' despite being on death row, and maintained that he followed the 'directives' of the voices. Of the voices, Marcus said: 'They say insipidus. That is a code... name or catch phrase ... I ask them ... whatever sense it was.' [Prison] mental health staff described Mr. Druery's speech as 'disorganized with looseness of association' and 'illogical' and determined that he required inpatient treatment.
All through 2010 and 2011 Druery continued to do and say baffling things. In March 2010, he told psychiatrists: "I was given option to go home while I was in Brazos county jail." In October 2010, believing his food contaminated, he began to refuse to eat breakfast. In May 2012, at the request of defense counsel, Druery was examined by Dr. Diane Mosnik, a neuropsychologist specializing in schizophrenia. She concluded that Druery, who was exhibiting "at least moderately severe delusional thinking," suffers "from a severe, active psychotic condition." The doctor wrote:
It is further evident that Mr. Druery does not now at this time have an understanding of his own mental state or an appreciation of his experiences as symptoms of a mental illness. In addition, the evidence presented above supports the finding that Mr. Druery has no insight into his mental status and a limited understanding or appreciation of his actual current legal situation.
Here is the link to Dr. Mosnik's diagnosis. You can judge for yourself whether you believe she makes a compelling case for Druery's incompetency. Also, here is the link to a supplemental brief filed by Druery's lawyers, a court filing that offers more detail about their client's current state of mind. In this defense filing you see how often Texas state doctors have diagnosed Druery's mental illness. Five times? Ten times? Yet, so far, Texas has not challenged these findings on their merits.
Not wanting to dispute its own doctors, Texas argues instead that their diagnoses of Druery are legally irrelevant. Whatever mental illness plagues Druery, state lawyers say, has no bearing on his ability to understand his looming fate. Texas argues that Druery's words and deeds over the years have repeatedly met Texas's standard governing whether a prisoner is mentally competent enough to be executed. In a recent brief, state lawyers wrote: "Here, the Defendant is aware that he is to be executed and that it is imminent." Then, in a single paragraph, prosecutors made their case:
The Defendant has a rationale (sic) understanding that he is being executed for committing the murder of Skyler (sic) Brown, notwithstanding any delusions he might possess. This is evident from his written letter, dated November 21, 2011, where he rationally articulates that his punishment is unjustified -- that he "suffers from a wrongful conviction" for shooting Skyler (sic) Brown and robbing him of his property. It is also evident from his statement to the Court during the June 29, 2012 hearing: "The point is, sir, I'm not guilty of the charges. you know, that's my main complaint."
This is all that Texas law requires, state prosecutors argue, to determine that Druery is competent to be executed. His delusions are irrelevant so long as he understands that he's about to be executed. Meanwhile, it's worth noting that the June hearing mentioned by prosecutors evidently was a raucous affair. First, the Brazos County District Judge, a controversial official named J.D. Langley, railed at defense attorneys (more on that later). And then the defendant himself chimed in. From The Eagle (Bryan-College Station):
Despite advice from his lawyers, Druery did decide to go on record, but wasn't addressing issues relevant to the day's hearing and instead attempted to bring up matters from his 2003 trial. "I'm not guilty and I would like to take a lie detector test," he said. "Medical records, a lie detector test, all that could've helped me before we got to this point." Langley -- who was patient with Druery as he tried to interrupt the judge several times to ask about trial evidence -- explained to the shackled defendant that the appeals court had already upheld the guilty and death penalty ruling in his trial and Friday's hearing was Druery's chance to comment about the way his lawyers currently were handling the case.
THE REVIEWING JUDGE
The conduct of the judge in this case, as revealed by court transcripts, is both arbitrary and capricious. At a May 14 hearing, Judge Langley blasted Druery's lawyers-- "Honest to God you people drive me insane"-- while countenancing state violations of a discovery order. In the end, the judge told defense lawyers they didn't need to see all the evidence to make a "threshold finding" of incompetency, then made it harder for them to see all the evidence, and then denied their motion for failure to meet the threshold. If the justices in Washington ever see this part of the record, they will be appalled.
As part of their competency evaluation, Druery's lawyers sought to review approximately 1,800 pages of Druery's medical records. State lawyers were required to provide these documents to the defense but failed to do so. Declaring in open court that they thought such discovery was some sort of "set up" by the defense, prosecutors instead decided to send the documents directly to the judge. Judge Langley, who had earlier ordered the documents produced directly to the defense, agreed to accept the documents.
When prosecutors transferred Druery's records to the court, however, Judge Langley instructed that they be transferred again to the district court clerk with instructions to charge Druery, who is indigent, for copying costs. When defense attorneys asked Judge Langley to have the county pick up the copying costs, he denied the motion. "I don't particularly appreciate the fact that we are wasting so much time and I don't appreciate we're wasting money," Judge Langley said, on the record. That was after he said, "It is possible that defense counsel has caused Mr. Druery to go insane."
It's hard to know what the Texas courts will do. But it's hard to fathom the Supreme Court will countenance this sort of aberrant behavior from a state court judge. In the meantime, Druery and his lawyers are waiting for someone, anyone, in the state's criminal justice system to stand up and say that it isn't a waste of time or money for Texas to accurately litigate whether Druery's psychosis precludes his execution. The estimated cost of those copies is $900. Is Druery's execution really going to come down to that?
All of which brings us to the law -- and perhaps soon to yet another showdown between the Supreme Court, the Texas courts, and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In Ford v. Wainwright, a 1986 decision, the Court ruled that the Constitution forbids the execution of a prisoner who is "unaware" of what is about to happen. "If the defendant perceives the connection between his crime and his punishment, Justice Lewis Powell wrote, "the retributive goal of the criminal law is satisfied. And only if the defendant is aware that his death is approaching can he prepare himself for his passing."
The holding in Ford was limited but clear. If a death row inmate showed signs of incompetence just prior to his execution, the state was required to provide the defendant with a meaningful chance to be heard on the matter. Over the next 20 years, Texas set up a procedure to allow death row inmates to argue their incompetency. But by 2007 the state, its courts, and the 5th Circuit had whittled down the Ford standard to a nub: If a prisoner knew he was going to be executed, and why, he would be found competent.
In Panetti v. Quarterman, a 2007 case decided by a 5-4 vote, Justice Anthony Kennedy ruled that wrote that the Constitution requires a lower standard of proof for establishing incompetency than the one created by Texas. "A prisoner's awareness of the State's rationale for an execution," Justice Kennedy wrote, "is not the same as a rational understanding of it." He continued:
Gross delusions stemming from a severe mental disorder may put an awareness of a link between a crime and its punishment in a context so far removed from reality that the punishment can serve no proper purpose. It is therefore error to derive from Ford, and the substantive standard for incompetency its opinions broadly identify, a strict test for competency that treats delusional beliefs as irrelevant once the prisoner is aware the State has identified the link between his crime and the punishment to be inflicted.
In both Ford and Panetti, prison doctors found their inmates to be competent. There is, as of yet anyway, no such similar finding in the Druery case (much less the due process hearing required under both of those precedents). So can Texas constitutionally ignore the diagnoses of its own prison doctors and refuse to provide Druery with the hearing required under Ford? Can the words and deeds of a diagnosed schizophrenic be used against him for purposes of an execution? A lot is likely to happen here between now and Wednesday.
This article available online at: | <urn:uuid:54f11e8e-bdf1-4cc9-bf54-2fd7b0528d15> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theatlantic.com/national/print/2012/07/will-texas-execute-a-psychotic-man/260449/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977211 | 2,491 | 1.710938 | 2 |
[ 001 ] Dom Felice instructs Fra Puccio how to attain blessedness by doing a penance. Fra Puccio does the penance, and meanwhile Dom Felice has a good time with Fra Puccio's wife.
[ 002 ] When Filomena, having concluded her story, was silent, and Dioneo had added a few honeyed phrases in praise of the lady's wit and Filomena's closing prayer, the queen glanced with a smile to Pamfilo, and said: “ Now, Pamfilo, give us some pleasant trifle to speed our delight. ” “ That gladly will I, ” returned forthwith Pamfilo, and then:
[ 003 ] “ Madam, ” he began, “ not a few there are that, while they use their best endeavours to get themselves places in Paradise, do, by inadvertence, send others thither: as did, not long ago, betide a fair neighbour of ours, as you shall hear. ”
[ 004 ] Hard by San Pancrazio there used to live, as I have heard tell, a worthy man and wealthy, Puccio di Rinieri by name, who in later life, under an overpowering sense of religion, became a tertiary of the order of St. Francis, and was thus known as Fra Puccio. In which spiritual life he was the better able to persevere that his household consisted but of a wife and a maid, and having no need to occupy himself with any craft, he spent no small part of his time at church; [ 005 ] where, being a simple soul and slow of wit, he said his paternosters, heard sermons, assisted at the mass, never missed lauds (i. e. when chanted by the seculars), fasted and mortified his flesh; nay--so 'twas whispered--he was of the Flagellants. [ 006 ] His wife, Monna Isabetta by name, a woman of from twenty-eight to thirty summers, still young for her age, lusty, comely and plump as a casolan apple, had not unfrequently, by reason of her husband's devoutness, if not also of his age, more than she cared for, of abstinence; and when she was sleepy, or, maybe, riggish, he would repeat to her the life of Christ, and the sermons of Fra Nastagio, or the lament of the Magdalen, or the like. [ 007 ] Now, while such was the tenor of her life, there returned from Paris a young monk, by name Dom Felice, of the convent of San Pancrazio, a well-favoured man and keen-witted, and profoundly learned, with whom Fra Puccio became very intimate; [ 008 ] and as there was no question which he could put to him but Dom Felice could answer it, and moreover he made great shew of holiness, for well he knew Fra Puccio's bent, Fra Puccio took to bringing him home and entertaining him at breakfast and supper, as occasion served; and for love of her husband the lady also grew familiar with Dom Felice, and was zealous to do him honour. [ 009 ] So the monk, being a constant visitor at Fra Puccio's house, and seeing the lady so lusty and plump, surmised that of which she must have most lack, and made up his mind to afford, if he could, at once relief to Fra Puccio and contentment to the lady. [ 010 ] So cautiously, now and again, he cast an admiring glance in her direction with such effect that he kindled in her the same desire with which he burned, and marking his success, took the first opportunity to declare his passion to her. [ 011 ] He found her fully disposed to gratify it; but how this might be, he was at a loss to discover, for she would not trust herself with him in any place whatever except her own house, and there it could not be, because Fra Puccio never travelled; whereby the monk was greatly dejected. Long he pondered the matter, and at length thought of an expedient, whereby he might be with the lady in her own house without incurring suspicion, notwithstanding that Fra Puccio was there. [ 012 ] So, being with Fra Puccio one day, he said to him: “ Reasons many have I to know, Fra Puccio, that all thy desire is to become a saint; but it seems to me that thou farest by a circuitous route, whereas there is one very direct, which the Pope and the greater prelates that are about him know and use, but will have it remain a secret, because otherwise the clergy, who for the most part live by alms, and could not then expect alms or aught else from the laity, would be speedily ruined. [ 013 ] However, as thou art my friend, and hast shewn me much honour, I would teach thee that way, if I were assured that thou wouldst follow it without letting another soul in the world hear of it. ” [ 014 ] Fra Puccio was now all agog to hear more of the matter, and began most earnestly entreating Dom Felice to teach him the way, swearing that without Dom Felice's leave none should ever hear of it from him, and averring that, if he found it practicable, he would certainly follow it. “ [ 015 ] I am satisfied with thy promises, ” said the monk, “ and I will shew thee the way. Know then that the holy doctors hold that whoso would achieve blessedness must do the penance of which I shall tell thee; but see thou take me judiciously. I do not say that after the penance thou wilt not be a sinner, as thou art; but the effect will be that the sins which thou hast committed up to the very hour of the penance will all be purged away and thereby remitted to thee, and the sins which thou shalt commit thereafter will not be written against thee to thy damnation, but will be quit by holy water, like venial sins. [ 016 ] First of all then the penitent must with great exactitude confess his sins when he comes to begin the penance. Then follows a period of fasting and very strict abstinence which must last for forty days, during which time he is to touch no woman whomsoever, not even his wife. [ 017 ] Moreover, thou must have in thy house some place whence thou mayst see the sky by night, whither thou must resort at compline; and there thou must have a beam, very broad, and placed in such a way, that, standing, thou canst rest thy nether part upon it, and so, not raising thy feet from the ground, thou must extend thy arms, so as to make a sort of crucifix, and if thou wouldst have pegs to rest them on thou mayst; and on this manner, thy gaze fixed on the sky, and never moving a jot, thou must stand until matins. [ 018 ] And wert thou lettered, it were proper for thee to say meanwhile certain prayers that I would give thee; but as thou art not so, thou must say three hundred paternosters and as many avemarias in honour of the Trinity; and thus contemplating the sky, be ever mindful that God was the creator of the heaven and the earth, and being set even as Christ was upon the cross, meditate on His passion. [ 019 ] Then, when the matin-bell sounds, thou mayst, if thou please, go to bed--but see that thou undress not--and sleep; but in the morning thou must go to church, and hear at least three masses, and say fifty paternosters and as many avemarias; after which thou mayst with a pure heart do aught that thou hast to do, and breakfast; but at vespers thou must be again at church, and say there certain prayers, which I shall give thee in writing and which are indispensable, and after compline thou must repeat thy former exercise. [ 020 ] Do this, and I, who have done it before thee, have good hope that even before thou shalt have reached the end of the penance, thou wilt, if thou shalt do it in a devout spirit, have already a marvellous foretaste of the eternal blessedness. ” [ 021 ] “ This, ” said Fra Puccio, “ is neither a very severe nor a very long penance, and can be very easily managed: wherefore in God's name I will begin on Sunday. ” [ 022 ] And so he took his leave of Dom Felice, and went home, and, by Dom Felice's permission, informed his wife of every particular of his intended penance.
The lady understood very well what the monk meant by enjoining him not to stir from his post until matins; and deeming it an excellent device, she said that she was well content that he should do this or aught else that he thought good for his soul; and to the end that his penance might be blest of God, she would herself fast with him, though she would go no further. [ 023 ] So they did as they had agreed: when Sunday came Fra Puccio began his penance, and master monk, by understanding with the lady, came most evenings, at the hour when he was secure from discovery, to sup with her, always bringing with him abundance both of meat and of drink, and after slept with her till the matin hour, when he got up and left her, and Fra Puccio went to bed. [ 024 ] The place which Fra Puccio had chosen for his penance was close to the room in which the lady slept, and only separated from it by the thinnest of partitions; so that, the monk and the lady disporting themselves with one another without stint or restraint, Fra Puccio thought he felt the floor of the house shake a little, and pausing at his hundredth paternoster, but without leaving his post, called out to the lady to know what she was about. [ 025 ] The lady, who dearly loved a jest, and was just then riding the horse of St. Benedict or St. John Gualbert, answered: “ I'faith, husband, I am as restless as may be. ” [ 026 ] “ Restless, ” said Fra Puccio, “ how so? What means this restlessness? ” [ 027 ] Whereto with a hearty laugh, for which she doubtless had good occasion, the bonny lady replied: “ What means it? How should you ask such a question? Why, I have heard you say a thousand times: 'Who fasting goes to bed, uneasy lies his head.' ” [ 028 ] Fra Puccio, supposing that her wakefulness and restlessness abed was due to want of food, said in good faith: “ Wife, I told thee I would have thee not fast; but as thou hast chosen to fast, think not of it, but think how thou mayst compose thyself to sleep; thou tossest about the bed in such sort that the shaking is felt here. ” [ 029 ] “ That need cause thee no alarm, ” rejoined the lady. “ I know what I am about; I will manage as well as I can, and do thou likewise. ” [ 030 ] So Fra Puccio said no more to her, but resumed his paternosters; and thenceforth every night, while Fra Puccio's penance lasted, the lady and master monk, having had a bed made up for them in another part of the house, did there wanton it most gamesomely, the monk departing and the lady going back to her bed at one and the same time, being shortly before Fra Puccio's return from his nightly vigil. [ 031 ] The friar thus persisting in his penance while the lady took her fill of pleasure with the monk, she would from time to time say jestingly to him: “ Thou layest a penance upon Fra Puccio whereby we are rewarded with Paradise. ” [ 032 ] So well indeed did she relish the dainties with which the monk regaled her, the more so by contrast with the abstemious life to which her husband had long accustomed her, that, when Fra Puccio's penance was done, she found means to enjoy them elsewhere, and ordered her indulgence with such discretion as to ensure its long continuance. [ 033 ] Whereby (that my story may end as it began) it came to pass that Fra Puccio, hoping by his penance to win a place for himself in Paradise, did in fact translate thither the monk who had shewn him the way, and the wife who lived with him in great dearth of that of which the monk in his charity gave her superabundant largess.← PreviousNext → | <urn:uuid:e59abd13-2759-43d5-adad-48cec76ad69a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/texts/DecShowText.php?lang=eng&myID=nov0304&expand=day03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984985 | 2,803 | 1.507813 | 2 |
|Matera's Festa della Madonna Bruna|
|Mark July 2nd on your calendar if you're touring Italy and want to see a spectacular fireworks spectacle.|
This gem of a city in Italy's Basilicata region holds a special celebration on the second of July called the Festa della Madonna Bruna. If you miss your 4th of July fireworks, this may be the place you'll want to visit.
Photos and graphics © 2000 by James Martin, licensed to About.
This is the story of one of the most interesting Festivals in Italy: the Festa della Madonna Bruna.
We found ourselves in Matera on the second of July. It was stiflingly hot. A festa was being prepared; the streets were decorated with festive lights, and by the time the sun squirmed under the last sassi, vendors had begun to set up their wares along the main street.
Yet nothing, exactly, seemed to be going on. Costumed men on horses--the Knights of Santa Maria della Bruna--paraded through town, stopping to chat with locals while television cameras panned for interesting angles. People gathered, but mostly in front of the local gelato shop where the fight to keep the doors closed was lost and the line snaking out into the parade route shuffled defiantly toward their goal, which by this time had become a wilted cone dripping with melted ice cream. The electricity, not able to keep up with the demand the freezers were putting on it, lent a festive air to the proceedings by flickering the naked bulb lights on and off, the off times increasing as the night grew darker but not cooler.
Then a float came by. It was intricately produced, we are told, out of paper maché by local artisans. It made the whole route through town. The people watched it intently; the television cameras rolled. But still, there seemed to be nothing much actually going on.
Then the float appeared again. This time it was surrounded not only by a few knights, but by Basilicata's entire allotment of caribinieri. The crowd pressed closer. Excitement filled the sticky air as best it could.
We had just about given up on this unlikely devotion to the brown madonna and were heading back to the hotel when a crowd of young ruffians in street clothes jumped the float's vigilant guards and a scuffle ensued. This was no faked fight; punches were flying and people had even abandoned their quest for gelato to see it. Now we had the makings of a festival.
Eventually, the biggest of the ruffians made it through the wall of guards and started to pull pieces off the float.
And the crowd....cheered! Yes, as the guards abandoned all hope, young and old flailed away at the float, grabbing souvenir pieces of it until it was reduced to a few flopping wings of chicken wire with tissues stuck to it.
Shaking our heads we headed back to the Hotel Italia, where the staff was watching this festa on the television. They were happy. The television announcer was also happy; in his joy he began to summarize the events that had happened before us. The youth, representing new ideas and rebirth, had torn apart the old, established order. And this sign of rebirth meant that fertility would come to the fields, and the hard life being scratched out of Basilicata's soil would be a little less tedious with the harvest to come.
Satisfied that we had finally seen what we'd come to see we trudged back to our room. After waiting for the advertised fireworks until midnight, we finally hit the sack.
But as the unrelenting church bells struck 2 am, a noise had us bolting upright in our beds like the crack of close thunder. We ran to the window. In the midst of what sounded like bombs bursting in air, the ravine across from us burst into fire. Suddenly there was an explosion in the sky and the sassi below us shimmered with ever changing light. The fireworks had hit with a vengeance and the dry grasses, having lost the struggle to live in the intense Basilicata heat, had become the victim.
It was a fitting conclusion to the Festa della Madonna Bruna and the most amazing fireworks spectacle I've seen.
The Festa della Madonna Bruna happens in Matera, Italy on the second of July. The hotel referred to in this article is the Albergo Italia, Via Ravenna 17, Matera. | <urn:uuid:80b779f9-5dda-4fe7-9eda-a0241779ca7f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://goeurope.about.com/library/weekly/aa062002b.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980676 | 943 | 1.625 | 2 |
In a research letter published online in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association, Boston Medical Center researchers called 943 pharmacies in five big cities across the country and found that 80 percent of the stores kept Plan B in stock - which is a higher percentage than in older studies - but that callers posing as teens were often given misinformation. Some 19 percent of the time, callers who said they were 17 and wanted to get Plan B were told briskly by pharmacy employees that they couldn’t have it.
Unlimited access to BostonGlobe.com for only 99 cents for the first 4 weeks.Sign up
Are you a home delivery subscriber?
Get FREE access as part of your print subscriptionStart Here
Contact us for help | <urn:uuid:87a18ad3-33f6-415f-ac5e-de5f7122267f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2011/12/26/study-some-teens-denied-legal-access-plan/WSwLsiOaeHy3QAbeSyXncM/discuss.html?sort=asc | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965068 | 153 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Joschka Fischer Argues Global Powers 'Condemned to Cooperation'
In talk at UCLA, former German foreign minister sees no future for 'balance-of-powers' geopolitics, defends European expansion within bounds, urges US not to give up on 'the West.' Fischer calls Iranian nuclear program biggest threat in troubled Middle East.
In an April, 24, 2006, talk at UCLA before an audience of more than 200, former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer held up European integration as a model for a global politics based on cooperation and inclusion. A globalized world that faces threats from climate change, economic inequality, and the spread of nuclear arms is "condemned to cooperation," Fischer said, warning against any attempt "to create a new world order on the basis of a balance-of-powers system." Such arrangements have a history of collapse and are spectacularly inadequate in a world of seven billion people, Fischer concluded.
At the same time, Europe's future will be determined on its eastern and southeastern extremes, Fischer said, noting that the shape of those boundaries remains an open question. He lent strong support to the proposed inclusion of Turkey in the European Union. The public lecture, attended by diplomats from Los Angeles' foreign consulates and other distinguished guests, was sponsored by the UCLA Center for European and Eurasian Studies, the International Institute, and the Villa Aurora Foundation for European-American Relations.
With the influence of China and India sure to expand, and with "challenges" coming from Russia and the Middle East, "my mind is not big enough to understand how this [balance-of-powers scenario] will work," Fischer said. He aimed some remarks directly at unilateral impulses in U.S. foreign policy. "I don't believe the 'coalition of the willing' is a fitting structure in the 21st century," he said, alluding to the Bush administration's term for countries that aided the United States and Britain in the invasion of Iraq. "From my view," he said, "it will be very important whether the West will have a future or not." With apologies to allies in the Pacific, Fischer explained that by "the West" he meant the United States and Europe.
As UCLA political scientist Ron Rogowski, interim vice provost and dean of the International Institute, explained in his introduction of Fischer, polls indicate that the former Green Party member of parliament has been Germany's most popular leader "over the long term." Fischer is known for an irreverent and confrontational style, on display at a February 2003 security meeting in Munich. "Excuse me, I'm not convinced," he said to U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld of the case for war against Iraq.
At the lecture he urged "a second try" to reform the United Nations in the wake of divisions over Iraq, and called for a "greener," "more social" World Trade Organization.
'One Europe' Principle
A high-school drop-out, largely self-taught, Fischer said that his reading of history had convinced him early on of two imperatives: never again to the Holocaust, never again to war. The twin injunctions did not come into conflict, he said, until the Balkan wars of the 1990s. At that time, Fischer insisted on NATO and EU intervention in Kosovo and eventually won both battles, as Rogowski pointed out in the introduction.
The long-term solution to Europe's long history of warfare, Fischer said, is integration. With the establishment and expansion of the European Union, he said, it is "impossible" to imagine the 25 member states fighting one another. Along with the United States' strategic decision to keep troops deployed in Europe after the Second World War, he said, this process of integration represented one of the best developments in Europe in the twentieth century.
Brandishing a 20 euro note as his exhibit, Fischer said that the EU and the European Common Market were "revolutionary" developments that had guaranteed stability in a broad, extraordinarily diverse territory in spite of strong nationalistic tendencies. He credited EU integration with economic turnarounds in Ireland and other countries.
The key remaining regional challenges, he said, were to overcome the setbacks of the French and Dutch votes against a European constitution and to organize all of Europe on "one principle," so that the presence of outlying countries such as Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova would not lead to competition between "different political systems" in the region. In these three cases, "Europe must keep its door open, not more, not less," he said. Although the outcome of the countries' own political processes was uncertain, he said, "if we accept a shadow Europe between Russia and the European Union, this will be always a source of terrible trouble to everyone." Fischer distinguished the European approach of "self-determination" for these nations from what he said appeared to be a reversion by Russia to a model of "zones of influence."
However, Fischer said that it had been clear to him since Sept. 11, 2001, that the main threats to Europe in the 21st century would be "based in the Middle East." The terrorist attacks on the United States, he said, convinced him of the need to bring the Turkish state into the EU; his support for the idea had previously hovered around "51 percent," he said. Fischer added that Europe had been extending an invitation to Turkey for decades and would be "foolish" now to rescind it. In response to an audience member's question, he said that he would not wish to make similar commitments in the future.
The Middle East's problems had become so grave, Fischer said, that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict now ranked third on his own list of concerns about the region, right behind the ongoing fighting in Iraq. Topping the list, he said, was Iran's nuclear program. "A nuclearized Iran will be seen by Israel as an existential threat," he said. "This is a fact you must deal with whether you like it or not."
Fischer, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and four other former foreign ministers recently signed an op-ed urging direct U.S.-Iranian negotiations.
Published: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 | <urn:uuid:281f1f4d-1d9d-4d9c-82f7-9bed3bf205f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://international.ucla.edu/euro/article.asp?parentid=44648 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972556 | 1,284 | 1.789063 | 2 |
The Edge Foundation is an organization of science and technology intellectuals. Its main activity is a website, edited John Brockman. The site is an online magazine of sorts exploring scientific and intellectual ideas. The Edge motto is “to arrive at the edge of the world’s knowledge, seek out the most complex and sophisticated minds, put them in a room together, and have them ask each other the questions they are asking themselves.”
In recent years, Edge has posed an annual question to its members. The question and member answers are provided on-line and ultimately collated into a book. As you may have seen, this year’s Edge question is “What *should* we be worried about?” Since most Edge members are scientists, it shouldn’t be surprising that the answers generally focus on science and scientific issues. However, several answers have particular relevance to finance, the markets an investing.
These include Nassim Taleb, Martin Rees (as Tadas Viskanta notes in his answer, he fears or state of denial re catastrophic risks), Seth Lloyd (“Don’t worry about the end of the universe or our sun collapsing into a black hole. But if banks leverage to the hilt again, then you should worry about hearing another big sucking sound.”), David Rowan (who worries about “Big Data” and its impact on markets), Randolph Ness (who fears economic chaos due to “catastrophes caused by our dependency on fragile complex systems”), Victoria Stodden (who worries about data verification), Peter Schwartz (who, like Ness, worries about cascading crises), Satyajit Das, who worries about a world without economic growth), Gary Marcus (who is afraid of unknown unknowns), Daniel Goleman (who worries about our blind spots), Charles Seife (who fears regulatory capture and its consequences) and Aubrey De Grey (who fears society’s parlous inability to reason about uncertainty).
I encourage you to read them all. They are fascinating, engaging and more than a bit troubling.
In a related story, various Wall Street types proffer the charts that most worry them here. However, since I didn’t think that market and finance subjects received sufficient attention in the Edge responses and since I was curious as to what they would say, I asked a number of my friends how they would answer this year’s Edge Question. Their answers appear in the posts that follow. A few required stand-alone posts while others are aggregated.
I hope that additional readers will share their thoughts, fears and worries in the Comments.
The Edge Question series: | <urn:uuid:43dd3f70-61c7-4684-a1a3-b6fae00464b5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rpseawright.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/edge-what-should-we-be-worried-about/ | 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 | 0.954388 | 550 | 1.726563 | 2 |
My Panther Branch acre became a native plant habitat overnight when a thunderstorm encouraged the invasive "native flora" to flourish. I grudgingly sacrificed my air-conditioned comfort for several sweaty hours of toil. Many bushels of compost fodder later, it seemed unthinkable for anyone to prepare an entire garden for a September garden tour - especially after such a blazing summer.
And yet, many hardy gardeners are preparing to open their inspiring gardens in just a couple of weeks.
This year, 11 wonderful landscapes are on the Fuquay-Varina Garden Tour sponsored by the Fuquay-Varina Garden Club.
You'll find American history juxtaposed with updated design ideas at the authentically reproduced Colonial Williamsburg Bracken House with its cottage plantings and courtyard with outdoor fireplace on Falcon Drive, and at the Historic Mineral Springs Inn on South Main Street.
On nearby East Vance Street, a patio garden and white picket fence greet visitors. On Angier Road, see a small in-town garden loaded with Southern charm, and, on Purfoy Road, a butterfly garden loaded with statuary.
Two homes in the upscale Smith Farms subdivision off Sunset Lake Road have very different approaches to backyard havens: one with a swimming pool and massive entertainment area, the other with raised garden beds and great DIY projects for inspiration.
Moving north on Sunset Lake Road to the Breckenridge neighborhood, luxurious architecture at three homes is showcased by fabulous foundation plantings and window boxes, and one includes a serene backyard retreat.
In the Cotton Farm neighborhood, the garden of Chip and Deb Ford is a plant lover's dream that includes a large-scale model train, gorgeous water features and eclectic memorabilia.
I know a few of these gardens very well, having written about them previously in this column. I'm looking forward to revisiting them as much as seeing others for the first time.
Luckily, the Garden Conservancy Open Days Tour falls on a different weekend this year. This tour benefits historic gardens in Raleigh (JC Raulston Arboretum), Hillsborough (Montrose Garden) and Charlotte (Elizabeth Lawrence Garden).
Of the four Wake County gardens, I've written about three of them and can honestly say I'd live in any one of them - providing the creators agreed to maintain them in perpetuity, of course.
Any snapshot taken at the Shuping Garden could instantly become a picture postcard. From the cloverleaf-shaped fountain lined with sky-blue tiles in the piazza, up the stairway past the Victorian-style greenhouse to the secret meditation garden, this landscape is a near perfect balance of line, shape, color and form.
Designer Jere Stevens' inspiring "Lakeside Paradise" on Lake Lochmere is a stunning example of one woman's handiwork resulting in a sumptuous wildlife-friendly paradise.
The Davies Garden mixes a stately Southern-style home with an English-style landscape. Formality in the front garden yields to a vigorous woodland setting with a creek and meandering paths in the rear garden.
In the Olde Raleigh neighborhood, an eclectic mix of rare and fragrant plants grace a Georgian-style home built on a former cattle pasture in a garden known as Twin Pines. Delightful! | <urn:uuid:f441304a-0efb-408d-ad1c-a6cb912de69d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/28/649111/garden-tours-reveal-breadth.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935015 | 673 | 1.554688 | 2 |
I wondered for so many years what it meant to sit with your emotions. Because that’s what people would always say was the way to get through emotional eating, and all I wanted was to stop doing it. But what in the world did it mean to “sit with” your emotions?
I’d try to sit down when I was wondering what there was to live for. I felt squirmy, uncomfortable and like I was doing it all wrong. I felt unbearably awful. What was the point of sitting there and dwelling on it? My mind looped predictably through the downward spiral as I frantically pounded against my mind’s concrete walls, desperate for a way out. Eventually, whipped into a frenzy by my thoughts, breathless with panic, I’d barrel toward an escape, whatever that meant on that particular day.
I did not comprehend the meaning of sitting with my emotions.
Thousands of days later, thousands of dollars spent on therapy later, thousands of pages of reading later, and many hundreds of meditation practices later, I get it. But I’m guessing that if the concept of sitting with emotions was hard for me to grasp, there are other people who don’t get it, either. Here’s how I do it.
To sit with your emotions, you must first of all sit down. Sitting, I should point out, is not required. You may stand, or you may lie down. Sitting works best for me, because it allows me to consciously relax my body while maintaining enough alertness to remember to stay focused and not fall asleep. You may sit with your feet on the floor, or with your legs crossed. In a chair with my feet on the floor is a favorite for me. Rest your hands on your lap, and close your eyes. Take a deep breath, allowing your belly to expand like a balloon, then allow the breath to completely exit your body. Then breathe in again.
Notice the spots on your body where you’re holding tension.
We all hold tension in our bodies differently, and it may be that your entire body is clenched tightly and has been for many years. This is okay. We start where we are. No matter how tightly you hold yourself, there is hope for you to relax and let go and feel better. If you can, allow the tightest spots you notice to consciously relax. If they don’t seem to want to relax, that’s okay. Let there be space for that tightness. You could even say to those particular parts of your body, “It’s okay for you to be tight. You don’t need to release your grip if you don’t want to.” There’s no need to fight against the tightness.
Notice any emotions that you’re feeling.
If you’re in the grips of a hard moment, you might feel panic, or sorrow, or fear. You may be unable to identify any emotions at all because your thoughts are so loud and insistent that you shouldn’t be sitting down right now, because you need to fix your problems right this minute, and sitting here isn’t going to achieve that.
Ask yourself how you know you’re feeling what you’re feeling.
Identify the actual physical sensations of the emotions. This might take a long time to do. It might be that you’re unable to identify the physical sensations until you’ve tried this exercise many times. That’s okay. Anything you feel is valid. Try to trust that you’re feeling your emotions in the way that’s right for you. There’s no wrong way to do this, and you don’t need to tell anyone else what you’re experiencing.
If you’ve been able to identify any of the physical sensations of your emotions, investigate them now.
Do you feel tightness, squeezing, heaviness, stabbing pain, an inability to breathe, or countless other sensations? Can you compare what you’re experiencing in your body to an image you get in your mind? Do the sensations have certain colors to them, or textures, or weights? Continue to investigate what’s happening within your body.
Whenever your mind wanders (or pounds) back to any insistent, panicked, frantic thoughts, refocus your mind on the sensations in your body.
Most likely, your mind will wander back to your thoughts very, very frequently. For me personally, unless I’m doing this exercise with another person, and depending on how upset I am when I do it, my mind wanders once or twice per second. Your work is not to keep your mind from wandering back to the thoughts.Your work is noticing that your mind is returning to the thoughts, and redirecting your focus, over and over and over again, to the physical sensations of the emotions in your body.
Now that you’ve hopefully been able to feel the sensations of the emotions in your body, allow those sensations to be there.
Our goal here is not to make those sensations go away. Quite the contrary: trying to make them go away will only intensify them and hurt us. Allow sensations of pain, allow sensations of tightness, allow sensations of heaviness. If it feels safe to do so, you can even invite the sensations to intensify (but only if it feels safe to you). If it feels hard to allow those sensations to be there, you might say to them, “You’re allowed to be there. You have space. I allow you to exist.” As you do this, the sensations you feel may change location, intensity, or shape. Continue to observe that, and continue to allow that.
Again, when your mind returns to panicked thoughts that are trying to solve your problems rationally, redirect your focus to the sensations of the emotions within your body.
Once you’ve practiced this for a few minutes, shift your focus back to your whole body. Notice where you’re sitting, what that feels like, where your hands are resting on your body. Notice any sounds taking place in the room around you, and outside the room you’re in. If you’re ready, you can gently open your eyes and take in your physical surroundings visually. Allow yourself time to return from your inner world. Perhaps take some more deep breaths.
And that is how you sit with your emotions. Sitting with your emotions refocuses us from the thoughts we have about our emotions and instead allows us to experience their essences. You can think and reason with your emotions all day long, but in my experience, you can’t fully move through them until you’ve felt them without the thoughts attached to them. The way you do this is by returning to the physical sensations of the emotions, and allowing them. This requires a faith that our problems won’t be solved by reasoning with them.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve tried to get rid of your emotions through reasoning for years, and it’s never worked. So you might try this, either by yourself or with the guidance of a teacher, coach or mental health practitioner who is familiar with somatic methods of working with emotions. The worst that will happen is that you’ll spend five minutes in frustration. The best that will happen is that you’ll discover a way to process your emotions that will allow you to step off the treadmill of pain on which you’ve been stuck.
Because I know everyone learns differently, here’s a video of me practicing this technique on myself. Join me if you like! | <urn:uuid:ca8cd636-c988-4c25-9329-6ec57f3f20c6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://effervescence.me/how-to-sit-with-your-emotions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954406 | 1,606 | 1.507813 | 2 |
I grew up in a neighborhood where most of the parents worked in factories or trades. The closest anyone came to a professional occupation was Ann Boyle next door who worked as an executive secretary for Bell telephone and, through the great benefits of that monopoly, was able to retire at age 55. Anne never married, but she had companions and an ample glass of scotch at the ready on the front porch. She lived with her mother and brother, did not have to pay rent, and became rich through stocks. She was my first “student” in so far as I helped her write papers when she decided to return to school and procure a college degree. I can still remember getting slowly sloshed on scotch while helping her structure a ten page paper on Martin Luther King.
Anyway, professionalism which I see as a way of life, almost a religion, never laid a glove on me. Neighborhood aesthetics, especially in that industrial/post-industrial world, were very different. Springsteen, writing of Jungle land, sang: “and the poets down here don’t write nothin’ at all/they just stand back and let it all be.” This ain’t exactly true. It is true they don’t write it down, but the poets in “jungle land” are like signifying monkey, or the Irish barroom philosopher, or the folk story teller. They talk shit. They keep things lively on the corner. They are known for being “characters.” They often survived the factories and , earlier, the chain gangs, by being the tricksters–the comics, and poets, and, occasionally, the scapegoats, of the neighborhood. I was one of these people. I was the guy who told whacky stories on the front porches, or on car hoods, or in back yards on my block. I was known for being crazy. I was known for being smart. One of my many knick names was “Wild man Weil.” Another was “Mr. Encyclopedia” A third, due to my always mildly disheveled appearance, was “Scurvy Joe.” I was known as someone who could talk shit. I also played songs and wrote my own. When I was 18, on my birthday cake they wrote: “future songwriter.” This is how art is expressed where I came from:
1. You are one among others, and you assume the role of poet only by their general proclamation–not by awards, not by standards, not by credentials, but by popular acclamation from the people around you.
2. This does not give you special privileges. You serve a valuable role, but, sometimes, you are the big mouth who gets clobbered, or the nut job who is singled out and mocked. This is the double face of the trickster–half god, half animal, and very rarely allowed to be fully human. You are coyote, signifying monkey, the prophets who says the truth, even at the wrong time, the one who does not “fit” perfectly.
You are rewarded in the following ways:
1. People will keep you around even when you are not very good at your job, or very strong, or even when you are a bit of a scoundrel. They will keep you around because you provide a cathartic safety valve to blow off the steam for their frustrations, their sufferings, and their sense of drudgery. You make life a little more than it is in opposition to those forces which make life far less than what it should be.
2. You are holy. You are marked with a sign. You are holy in the sense that you are ground set apart–again, not by “achievements” (the way of the professional and the middle class) but by your role in the life of your community. The hero leaves the village to bring back fire. Unlike the hero, the neighborhood poet never leaves. You are the trespass that stays behind, that affirms but also confronts the community by being an “affront,” a difference within it, an aporia within it. To an industrial and post-industrial rust belt city, this character is on every loading dock, in every barroom, on the street corner. He or she keeps things lively and also keeps things real, and this bears absolutely no relationship to the tenets of professional art or poetry–and that includes slam. Slam will never take the place of the trickster because it has already become too coded, too fixed, and too much a part of the professional commodity machine. It is as immured in the slick and the packaged as academic work. It will never speak for those who have no real voice. It will never be the barbaric yawp. It has destroyed spoken word which had such promise, but all that has promise is constantly destroyed that it might be born again.
And so, my final, and truest distinction between the aesthetics of neighborhood and those of the professional: the professional is incapable of sacrifice in the sense of dying and rising from the dead. He does not share in mythos. His sense of success is not about glory after death; it is also not about being “present” to his community. It is about prosperity and achievement now. All is meant to be measured towards a sort of prosperity. The “Event” of death, and, more so, the event of resurrection are to be avoided at all costs. These are tacky to the professional. The professional is post-mythos, post-seasonal. It can never die and it can never be re-born. It is established. It has a process. That process recognizes “excellence” and achievement in an utterly different way. There are gatekeepers and they decide who is and who is not “good enough.” They act as a priesthood. They are the intermediaries between the professional poet and his
professional audience–most of whom, if not all of whom are fellow practitioners. There is no life here, but there is process. Occasionally, this process takes on the intimacy of the neighborhood and a certain true communitas is possible. This is rare. It is even frowned upon. To “profess” in the ancient sense was to be one who was paid for his rhetoric–his professing. He evolved from the neighborhood poet and rhetorician, but, with the rise of printing, rhetoric and form were downplayed and speechifying became frowned upon.
I am a speechifying, rhetorical, neighborhood poet. I am not a professional. Professionalism seems morally wrong to me–spiritually sinful, not because I think professionals are wrong, or sinful, but because I believe I was called to bear witness to something other than professionalism. This witness may now be only to some extinct community of factory workers and the children of factory workers, but I don’t think so. I believe I served this function for my students. I also served it for my factory workers. I cannot serve this function in the realm of professional poetry because it is exactly this function they detest. Professionalism is based on a standard, on a decorum, on a series of measures. It is based on “Schools” and patterns of networking and schmoozing. It is Ivan Ilyich over and over again. It is making me sick. It is killing my soul. I am very grateful for a job. I am grateful to support myself, but I wish it did not come at the price of being who I am. It is very different than the raucous form of being that made me love poetry. I never confined poetry to poems. Poesis exists in how you talk, how you move, what you say when you teach. My whole being was poesis, but in both the professional academic realm, and the faux- populist realm of slam, I am not allowed to exist. In these realms, the
poets have no season, no earth, no wind, no element. When these things appear, and threaten to make a perhaps event (in the sense Derrida used “perhaps” and “event”) this perhaps and this event are immediately framed in such a way as to convert them to the purpose and use of the very professionalism to which they attempted to act as exception.
Post-industrial poesis, neighborhood aesthetics
Poetry is real value labor. It does not see itself as set apart from the life and work of the community from which it arises. The poet has other jobs, most of which he usually performs indifferently because his or her true job is to express and bear witness to the community in which he or she suffers and lives.
This real value labor does not accept perceived value aesthetics. There are no gate keepers deciding who and who is not worthwhile. The poet of the neighborhood rises from the open reading. If he or she is singled out, he or she is singled out not by experts, but by those among whom they have lived. It is a word of mouth kind of thing.. It is what is sought in the midst of seasons and in the weather and the truly local–not by national presses, or awards, or credentials, but by a local sense of that poet’s inner necessity. That poet was created by his or her community. He or she can only be destroyed by that community, and he or she can only live if he or she remains in contact with the principle of that locality, that membrane of being.. This locality is rooted in purpose–in, as I said, real value labor. As such it is far more malleable, complex, and shifting than the typical definitions of poetry. It may be the right word at the right time in a crisis. It may be the perfectly apt joke, the comeback, the story told at the right time to the right person. Unlike poetry proper, it is far more situational. It fits the occasion of its utterance, but remains pure in a sense by “talking shit”–talking and speechifying, and inventing verbal worlds for the sheer hell of it, beyond the immediate purpose. It is born of purpose, but deviant from purpose in so far as it seeks life, joy, energy beyond the merely functional. It tends to be flamboyant and hyperbolic rather than understated. It tends to be rhetorical and mythic rather than factually informative and understated. It tends toward the ecstatic, the brutal, the ferocious, the beautiful, the sentimental. It is more invested in brio than in nuance. It does not trust the flawless because its chief moral purpose is to expose the falsely perfect.
This is the closest I can come to explaining the world I grew up in. I do not flourish on the professional poetry scene.. I can’t get by on my “talk” because only Irishmen from Ireland are allowed by professionals to get away with that, and even then, the Irish poets they admire are most often somber. What can I say? I feel lost. To exist in the kudos section of the universe is, for me, a construct of hell. There are no street corners, no barber shops, no factories, no true places to bear witness. The professional has triumphed. God fucking help us. | <urn:uuid:4a45eb00-d8d0-49c1-b2e2-8f6181b8233e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thethepoetry.com/2012/05/neighborhood-post-industrial-as-opposed-to-professional-aesthetics/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983829 | 2,356 | 1.585938 | 2 |
What does property damage liability coverage do?
Property damage liability (PD) pays, up to your policy limits, for damages to someone else’s property that you (the policyholder), or other drivers covered by your car insurance policy, are found responsible for after a motor vehicle accident.
Property damage typically is damage to another car, but property damage liability also covers damages you may cause to someone’s house, tree, fence, guardrail, pole, etc.
Property damage liability provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you regarding property damage that resulted from an auto accident.
Property damage liability does NOT cover in any way damages to your own vehicle. For such coverage, you need physical damage coverages of collision and comprehensive.
Is property damage liability coverage mandatory?
Yes, in most states property damage insurance is required as part of the minimum auto insurance coverages you must carry as a car owner. (See minimum required coverages by state.)
Car insurance companies normally require that you carry the same level of liability coverage on each vehicle listed on your policy. In some states, you must carry the same liability limits on all cars that you own.
What happens if I don’t have property damage liability coverage?
If you don’t carry property damage liability and the state requires it, then penalties can be handed out, such as fines and suspension of your license, and/or vehicle registration.
Also, without property damage liability coverage on your car insurance policy, you will be held personally responsible for any property damage you cause to others in an auto accident. This could mean you are forced to liquidate property, savings and other assets in order to pay for a judgment against you.
If you do carry property damage insurance coverage, but with low limits you still could be putting yourself at risk financially, since if you cause a serious accident where damages exceed your limits you can be held responsible for the amount above your limits.
Recommended limits for property damage liability coverage
The coverage limits refer to the maximum amounts that will be paid per accident. The higher limits you carry the better protection you have for your assets.
The Insurance Information Institute (III) and other insurance industry experts recommend you carry property damage liability limits of $50,000 or above. | <urn:uuid:e7024e9b-2a0a-4381-bb98-923ef0a1622d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.carinsurance.com/coverage-definition/property-damage-liability.aspx?WT.qs_osrc=fxb-152233010 | 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 | 0.94345 | 467 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Skip to: Main Navigation | Main Content
or try the A-Z Library
Take an in-depth look at health issues that affect your life. Read up on the latest diet, fitness, mental health, relationship, pregnancy and birth, and natural therapy debates.
September 23, 2010
You spend a lot of time at work, so it's important that your health is a priority while you are there. Here are some tips to help you make your work life healthier.
July 15, 2010
Most of us have had to deal with stress in the workplace at some point. But how do you manage it and what are the warning signs that you need help?
June 3, 2010
Can't remember what you did yesterday, let alone last week? Forgetfulness is relatively common, but how can you prevent memory lapses and when are they a sign of something serious?
March 11, 2010
Chronic pain can't usually be cured. But with the right help, there are good odds you can learn to manage this pain and minimize its impact on your life. | <urn:uuid:947b463a-ed19-4b50-acc1-e6305a9dd80e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/archive_2010.htm?_page1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962689 | 219 | 1.625 | 2 |
Posted by trail user, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Jan 29, 2013 at 4:30 pm
There's a bathroom at Shoreline Park and more at some of the parks along the trail near downtown.
The most important consideration for the trail extension is safety from cars. The existing trail has zero car intersections. There used to be one intersection at Moffett, but that was replaced by a bridge because cars kept running the red lights and hitting or almost hitting trail users in the crosswalk. The new section of trail has to be designed to be just as safe as the current trail if we want it to be successful. This includes nighttime trail use, since many people use the trail to commute to work and it is dark during rush hour in the winter.
Posted by Trailer, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Jan 30, 2013 at 9:29 am
If you have an urgent need to use a restroom along the trail, odds are you'll be out of luck unless you are near a restroom. This is how most of the world is. Plan ahead and know where the current bathrooms are if you think you might need one.
Posted by AC, a resident of another community, on Jan 30, 2013 at 1:52 pm AC is a member (registered user) of Mountain View Online
Makes a lot of sense in principle. But I've seen several articles about indecent exposure and other shenanigans on the trail. It's not a trail that's out in the wilderness, where common sense must prevail. It's a trail in a suburban setting. People may use it at any time of day or night, for exercise or recreation or commute or whatever reason. So I think the "normal" rules don't apply.
People use it with great lack of "common" sense. No water bottle, no flashlight, don't look over their shoulder, have their iPod on loud and can't hear people sneaking up behind them, don't notice the sun going down, etc. Many folks treat it more like a hidden sidewalk than a trail.
If you go hiking in the woods and the call of nature comes, you do your business as discretely as possible, and most people have the common sense to not freak out about that. A golf course is 5 miles walking, and people don't freak out if they see someone in the trees off to the side.
But Stevens Creek trail caters to more than outdoorspeople. So for the same reason a bus station or an airport or a train station should have restrooms, so should the trail.
That said, maybe the ones we already have are enough. I personally have never had a problem.
Posted by noneckjoe, a resident of the Gemello neighborhood, on Jan 31, 2013 at 3:11 pm
@AC: Yes, I carry a water bottle - one when I run and a couple when on my bike. For long runs/rides...I still run out. I have a Camelback too which I sometimes take on bike rides but prefer not to use it for runs. The hotter the weather....the more I wish there were more fountains. Sounds like I may be alone on this though ;-)
Posted by Dick Youlus, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Jan 31, 2013 at 7:01 pm
What we need on the trail is a grocery store or farmers market that serves fresh fruit, that can not be accessed by cars, but is at the intersection of the trail and the high speed rail, that has small rental units for several floors over it, and a bike shop that fixes flat tires.... and a pizza parlor... and a segway rental place.... and a place to charge your ipod.... and wifi the whole length of the trail....and shelters for the homeless people... and Park and Rec programs for child care.... what am I forgetting? There must be something else the government can do for us?
Posted by Permanente Creek, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Jan 31, 2013 at 11:19 pm
Don't forget about Permanente Creek! It should be another main bike path through the middle of Mountain View, but City Council is allowing it to be built over the top of along El Camino and Mariposa! Bet you did not even know there was a creek there! It is trapped inside a pipe, and most of the water is diverted into Stevens Creek at Fremont Avenue. Without the diversion, Permante Creek is a nicer creek than Stevens Creek.
We already have the North End of the trail from Middle-field over 101 to the bay! Wake up City Council! Don't let big business apartment builders use our creek for parking lots and private landscape space! | <urn:uuid:5a6ff0eb-087b-42b8-a63e-e07d36266e4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mv-voice.com/square/index.php?i=3&d=&t=5134 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964294 | 974 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Mormon Handbook To Use Softer Language On Gays
The guideline changes in the handbook will be announced today during a large get-together of Mormon leaders. The Salt Lake Tribune reports:
The book, known as the Church Handbook of Instructions, lays out Mormon policies on everything from baptism to running a worship service to counseling troubled marriages.
The updated reference book, scheduled to be presented to thousands of Mormon leaders in a giant televised training session Saturday, will set the tone for church interactions for years to come.
The new handbook makes a clear distinction between same-sex orientation and behavior. It eliminates the suggestion, mentioned in a 2006 edition, that same-sex relationships "distort loving relationships" and that gays should repent of their "homosexual thoughts or feelings."
It also says that celibate gay Mormons who are "worthy and qualified in every other way" should be allowed to have "callings," or church assignments, and to participate fully in temple rituals.
The handbook simply repeats what top LDS leaders have been trying to say, but in more explicit terms that many members will understand, said David Pruden, president of Evergreen International, a support group that helps gay Mormons live by church standards.
Joanna Brooks of the website Religion Dispatches looks at the impact of the changes: "The new CHI does not offer institutional welcome or affirmation to LGBT people who want to live full lives as LGBT people. It maintains that 'homosexual behavior' is sinful. It does not create space for LGBT Mormons to attend church on Sunday with their partners, as I am able to do. But it does show institutional LDS movement on LGBT issues, most crucially—one hopes—for LDS LGBT young people who may have been brought up to despise themselves simply for having homosexual thoughts and feelings."
The changes in the guidelines are a start, but a very small one. You may remember that just last month the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Boyd K. Packer, reiterated the church's anti-gay stance by declaring that "to enter into any relationship that is not in harmony with the principles of the Gospel must be wrong." | <urn:uuid:56613dca-2b4e-4715-8e98-c8c404e9e534> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.towleroad.com/2010/11/mormon.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953874 | 451 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Q-According to you what kind of impact will it have if every single person in the prison meditates?
Dushyant Savadia - Firstly the prisons will get emptier sooner than expected and secondly, the society will have stronger, more empowered individuals reintegrating into the community. They will be more aware, more responsible and more committed individuals with a zest to serve and contribute. Meditation gives you the gift of wanting to help and serve the environment around you.
Without these tools and techniques for rehabilitation, the prisoners who come out of a correctional facility, are going to carry the resentment of the past and the anger, and violence. Reoffending becomes a vicious cycle thus keeping the prisons occupied. They miss out on the unique opportunity of healing themselves and the people around them.
The biggest gift they have inside the prison is time! Meditation strengthens their mind and emotions and they learn about the value of life. They then can spread goodness into the society, thus becoming an inspiration to others around them.
Q-We also heard that you in collaboration with the famous grammy award singer Shaggy from Jamaica are planning to bring transformation through music and meditation in prisons. Could you talk a little more about this project?
Dushyant Savadia- Well, meditation helps one relax and music helps that relaxation to expand. Shaggy, a popular reggae singer and well known philanthropist, learnt meditation a few months ago, and together, we want to inspire the inmates to move from noise to music, from anger to harmony, from agitation to relaxation. So while we strengthen them individually through meditation, we unite them through music.
Q-You have also taught meditation to people in the inner city communities of Jamaica where violence and crimes are well known fact, could you share some experiences from those participants?
Dushyant Savadia- When I was teaching in the inner city communities where violence is very common, many said that had they learnt these techniques before, they would have chosen peace over conflict and violence.
These people have unfortunately never tasted peace, because their mind is constantly bogged down with stress and anger. A stressed mind chooses violence but a calm mind, which we get from meditation, chooses peace. Meditation gave them the ability to make the right choices in life.
However, there is much work to do in these innercity areas at the grass root level, and we have just begun!
Q-You have shared so much about transformation in prisons & inner city communities. We would like to know your own transformation story too.
Dushyant Savadia- By the time I was 19 years old. I was an alcoholic and a chain smoker. I was violent and an extremely angry individual, and my parents who could not handle the stress any longer,threw me out of the house and that is how my journey began.
I came to Delhi and I did some small odd jobs to survive. I got introduced to meditation on an art of living course where my experience was very powerful and fulfilling. I got out of my addiction with the help of these incredible tools… I quit smoking and drinking effortlessly.
I firmly believe that meditation has been a 100% antidote. Meditation has also enhanced my creativity and tapped into my inner self. My intutive abilites surfaced and I became a stronger, more self-empowered individual.
In 1999, I became an Art of Living teacher. In 2011, I started working in the Caribbean. I went to different islands in the Caribbean such as Curacao, Aruba, St. Maarten, Barbados and now Jamaica, with the vision to create a stress free viloence free soceity. My efforts started gaining popularity and we spread at a very rapid pace. In May 2012, we hosted an “I meditate St. Maarten” event , which was attended by 2500 people and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also came live via Skype to lead a meditation which included the Prime Minister and other cabinet members.
Q-If you could bring 3 or 4 major changes in Caribbean islands through meditation, then what would they be?
Dushyant Savadia- Firstly, a sense of belongingness and connectedness amongst the people which I strongly feel can happen through meditation. When a sense of belongingness is fostered, then care and compassion grows.
Secondly, I would like to enhance the coroporate responsibilty towards bringing social transformation by upliftment of individuals, thus contributing to the society and building a better nation.
Thirdly - reducing anger and violence. True prosperity of a country lies in the happiness of its people. We need to see people combating stress better.
Fourthly, as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar always says, “We want to bring a smile on every face and we won’t stop until we have achieved it”. This has become my personal goal and I shall not rest till I have done so! | <urn:uuid:de4f76dd-0bc9-438b-b2c1-089bcb1eee62> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.artofliving.org/fr-fr/meditation/meditation-experiences/Dushyant-Savadia-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971182 | 1,011 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Beyond the Edge: Fly or Die: Dean Potter
Flash Player Upgrade Required.
You must download and install the latest version of Adobe Flash Player to view this content. Click here to download.
Coming up next in 10 seconds
© Sender Films
Fly or Die: Dean Potter
On a sunny afternoon in August, Dean Potter stepped onto a tongue of rock just below the summit of Switzerland’s Eiger and jumped off. At first he plunged toward a ledge 600 feet below, then air gathered in his wingsuit, his forward trajectory kicked in, and he began to fly. By the time he pulled his chute and drifted to earth, Potter had spent two minutes and 50 seconds in flight. It was the longest BASE jump ever, covering some 9,000 vertical feet and nearly four miles. | <urn:uuid:21978103-a325-4c06-96a4-2c326ccea24a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/adventure/video-extreme/beyond-the-edge/adv-beyond-the-edge-potter/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943479 | 164 | 1.554688 | 2 |
By MICHAEL STRAND
There's a deadline looming for people who have started taking the series of five tests that lead to earning a GED.
If they're not finished by Dec. 31, they have to start over.
Kelly Mobray, director of the Salina Adult Education Center, said the current GED test, which was released in 2002, is set to be replaced on Jan. 1, and "once the new test hits on Jan. 1, we switch over, and that's that."
What that means, Mobray said, is that anyone who has taken some of the current tests, but not yet passed all five, must take and pass all of the new tests to earn their GED.
"If you need any kind of studying, now's the time to do it," Mobray said. It typically takes 18 to 24 weeks for a student to get ready to take the GEDs.
"Some people get started and then slow down, and we're trying to reach as many of them as we can to let them know," Mobray said.
The new test will cost $120 instead of the current $85, Mobray said.
Also, she said, the new test is being developed to align with the new national "Common Core" curriculum that states are in the process of adopting for their K-12 schools.
"It's losing a separate reading test, and combining reading and writing tests into one language arts test," Mobray said. "There will be more essay writing, and the math standards will be higher."
The next round of GED classes begins in March, Mobray said.
The sign-up period is Feb. 25 to March 8 at the center, 410 W. Ash; preorientation will be March 13 and 14, and orientation is set for March 25 to 28. After orientation, instructors will develop a class schedule that meets each student's needs.
The class costs $45, and Mobray urges people to enroll as early as possible.
"I envision us getting pretty busy with this," she said. "We might be full, so the sooner people sign up, the better."
-- Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by email at email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:d1cd117f-bbbf-4d4d-9eac-6905e2454a01> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.salina.com/Print/new-ged-test | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970988 | 473 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Asked by Aqila, Minnesota
My 4-year-old son has a gray hair. He was born prematurely and weighed 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Now he is around 29 pounds. He had a gray hair few months back (I guess it fell off after couple of months), and now I see another one (different area). Does that imply any deficiencies in his diet?
Living Well Expert
Dr. Jennifer Shu
Children's Medical Group
Thanks for your question. It can be perfectly normal for children to have a gray hair every now and then. However, as you mention, a dietary deficiency may sometimes be to blame.
The most common nutritional problems that cause gray hair in children include anemia (such as from not getting enough iron) and vitamin B-12 deficiency (for example, from a strict vegan diet or poor absorption of vitamin B-12 by the intestinal tract).
Medical issues such as abnormal thyroid levels, problems with the immune system and genetic conditions can also cause premature graying. Treating the medical condition may help prevent more gray hairs from developing.
Your son's prematurity may or may not have anything to do with his gray hair. Without knowing more about his medical background, I can only say that although he started out on the early and small side, his weight is considered to be on the lower end of the normal range for a 4-year-old.
Your pediatrician can advise you whether blood tests or an evaluation by a dermatologist or other specialist might be helpful to determine a potential cause for your child's gray hair.
If your son's health is otherwise good, however, it may be fine to wait and just keep an eye out for more gray hairs before doing any testing -- it's quite possible that there won't be any more for the next several years or decades to come.
|Most Viewed||Most Emailed||Top Searches|
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
The information contained on this page does not and is not intended to convey medical advice. CNN is not responsible for any actions or inaction on your part based on the information that is presented here. Please consult a physician or medical professional for personal medical advice or treatment. | <urn:uuid:a3f0ca5c-c794-4179-8e93-cec68f4ed163> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/expert.q.a/07/04/infant.gray.hair.diet.shu/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957049 | 617 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Image via Wikipedia
2010 September 26
by Lisa Graas
Read the original post here…
Though the Crusades were fought centuries ago and are rarely, if ever, mentioned in Catholic classrooms, Muslims today who want Jihad continue to flaunt them in vengeful tones and wallow in hatred for Catholicism. So it was when Pope Benedict XVI visited the United Kingdom and was met on his itinerary by a group of angry Islamists urging for his death and calling him “responsible” for the Crusades.
Muslim demonstrators shouted “Pope Benedict, you will pay, Islam is on its way”, “Sharia is on its way”, “Justice is on its way” (a lot is coming our way, it seems) and threatened that Sharia would be “declared” against all who insult Muhammad. They shouted to the Pope, “Watch your back,” swore that he will “burn in hell” and claimed that he “deserves the death penalty.” Continue reading
January 24, 2010 at 3 p.m.
SAN ANGELO, Texas — In 2001, the monumental sixth century Buddhas of Bamiyan were dynamited on orders from Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. The United States and other Western governments issued protests. Afghanistan’s Islamist rulers shrugged them off.
In 2010, Al-Kifl, the tomb of the Prophet Ezekiel, near Baghdad, is being desecrated. On the tomb are inscriptions in Hebrew and an ark in which a Torah was displayed centuries ago. Iraq’s Antiquities and Heritage Authority, under pressure from Islamists, is erasing the Hebrew words, removing the Hebrew ornaments and planning to build a mosque on top of the grave. Continue reading
From Times Online
January 2, 2010
An intruder who was shot and wounded by police after breaking into the Denmark home of Muhammad cartoonist Kurt Westergaard has links to Islamic terrorists, according to Danish intelligence.
The 28-year-old Somali man is connected to the radical Islamist al-Shabaab militia and al-Qaeda leaders in East Africa, claims Denmark’s PET intelligence service.
Police say the intruder entered the property by smashing a window and was carrying a knife and axe.
He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after a court hearing today in Aarhus, Denmark. The 74-year-old, whose cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad sparked riots five years ago, has had numerous threats on his life and his house in Viby, near Aarhus, is heavily fortified with security modifications. Continue reading
A young airline employee has been sentenced to five years, 1,000 lashes for talking up his sexual prowess on a controversial Lebanese TV show.
By Caryle Murphy – GlobalPost
Published: October 7, 2009 07:03 ET
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A young airline ticket agent who scandalized Saudi Arabia’s ultraconservative society by bragging about his sexual prowess on television was sentenced today to five years in prison and 1,000 lashes.
Mazen Abdul-Jawad, 32, who has been in jail awaiting trial since late July, was found guilty by a Saudi court of publicizing vice. Continue reading | <urn:uuid:035918e7-1c0c-4ea5-a602-297231929fa6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://unityconquer.wordpress.com/tag/sharia/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970204 | 675 | 1.71875 | 2 |
God is determined to punish the Jews for their sins. The prophet's complaint, and God's promise to him.
And the Lord said to me: If Moses and Samuel shall stand before me, my soul is not towards this people: cast them out from my sight, and let them go forth.
And if they shall say unto thee: Whither shall we go forth? thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Such as are for death, to death: and such as are for the sword, to the sword: and such as are for famine, to famine: and such as are for captivity, to captivity.
And I will visit them with four kinds, saith the Lord: The sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.
And I will give them up to the rage of all the kingdoms of the earth: because of Manasses the son of Ezechias the king of Juda, for all that he did in Jerusalem.
For who shall have pity on thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go to pray for thy peace?
Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward: and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will destroy thee: I am weary of entreating thee.
And I will scatter them with a fan in the gates of the land: I have killed and destroyed my people, and yet they are not returned from their ways.
Their widows are multiplied unto me above the sand of the sea: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young man a spoiler at noonday: I have cast a terror on a sudden upon the cities.
She that hath borne seven is become weak, her soul hath fainted away: her sun is gone down, while it was yet day: she is confounded, and ashamed: and the residue of them I will give up to the sword in the sight of their enemies, saith the Lord.
Woe is me, my mother: why hast thou borne me a man of strife, a man of contention to all the earth? I have not lent on usury, neither hath any man lent to me on usury: yet all curse me.
The Lord saith to me: Assuredly it shall be well with thy remnant, assuredly I shall help thee in the time of affliction, and in the time of tribulation against the enemy.
Shall iron be allied with the iron from the north, and the brass?
Thy riches and thy treasures I will give unto spoil for nothing, because of all thy sins, even in all thy borders.
And I will bring thy enemies out of a land, which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in my rage, it shall burn upon you.
O Lord, thou knowest, remember me, and visit me, and defend me from them that persecute me, do not defend me in thy patience: know that for thy sake I have sufferred reproach.
Shall iron be allied: Shall the iron, that is, the strength of Juda, stand against the stronger iron of the north, that is, of Babylon: or enter into an alliance upon equal footing with it? No certainly: but it must be broken by it.
Do not defend me in thy patience: That is, let not thy patience and longsuffering, which thou usest towards sinners, keep thee from making haste to my assistance.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was to me a joy and gladness of my heart: for thy name is called upon me, O Lord God of hosts.
I sat not in the assembly of jesters, nor did I make a boast of the presence of thy hand: I sat alone, because thou hast filled me with threats.
Why is my sorrow become perpetual, and my wound desperate so as to refuse to be healed? it is become to me as the falsehood of deceitful waters that cannot be trusted.
Therefore thus saith the Lord: If thou wilt be converted, I will convert thee, and thou shalt stand before my face; and if thou wilt separate the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall be turned to thee, and thou shalt not be turned to them.
And I will make thee to this people as a strong wall of brass: and they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail: for I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the mighty. | <urn:uuid:ce1053fd-5bd5-49a0-90a9-c1698b094b35> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://drbo.org/x/d?b=drb&bk=28&ch=15&l=21 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951684 | 990 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Conditions of detainees in Al Khatib security branch in Damascus
Detainees in prisons are literally suffering from tragic conditions. Witnesses have reported a fraction of what happens in Al Khateeb state security branch located in Baghdad street in Damascus.
Detainees there are suffering from an extremely suffocating crowd-ness as double the number of detainees that could fit in a room are packed in each to the extent that no one is able to sleep or comfortably sit. Some of them are forced to stand all day without resting. Days could pass with detainees getting no sleep at all. The detainees also have no access to medicine and those who get ill are left to die slowly. Sun rays do not enter the dungeons at all. Food is extremely scarce. And of course, the daily psychological and physical torture the detainees are subjected to by means the human mind cannot bear to imagine worsen the conditions drastically.Consequently, detainees began to suffer from several diseases and fatal conditions including:
1] hallucinations caused by the lack of sleep
2] malnutrition because of the scarcity of food
3] skin diseases and rashes because of the crowds, the lack of sanitation, and the continuous perspiration
4] diseases caused by the extremely appalling means of tortureThe witnesses confirmed that 5-7 detainees died during the month of Ramadan (August) only because of the crowded dungeons. This death toll is only from few dungeons and no one know the exact death toll in all the other dungeons. | <urn:uuid:66d093a5-490e-455f-a4b5-f7d24b48f8c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bandannie.com/2012/09/03/conditions-of-detainees-in-al-khatib-security-branch-in-damascus/ | 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 | 0.965678 | 297 | 1.726563 | 2 |
AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) strengthens communities and develops leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with non-profits—secular and faith based—local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national and state parks, Indian tribes, and schools, members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned.
AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18-24. Members are assigned to one of five campuses — Denver, CO; Sacramento, CA; Perry Point, MD; Vicksburg, MS; and Vinton, IA.
Drawn from the successful models of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and the U.S. military, AmeriCorps NCCC is built on the belief that civic responsibility is an inherent duty of all citizens and that national service programs work effectively with local communities to address pressing needs.
AmeriCorps NCCC serves communities in every state. Sponsoring organizations request the assistance of AmeriCorps NCCC teams by submitting a project application to the regional campus that covers that organization’s state. The campuses provide assistance in completing the application, developing a work plan, and preparing the project sponsor for the arrival of the AmeriCorps NCCC team.
Becoming an AmeriCorps NCCC Member
AmeriCorps NCCC members serve for a 10-month commitment in teams of 8 to 12 and are assigned to projects throughout the region served by their campus. They are trained in CPR, first aid, public safety, and other skills before beginning their first service project. Members are based at one of five regional campuses and travel to complete service projects throughout those regions.
AmeriCorps NCCC is open to all U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent resident aliens between 18 and 24 years old, and members serve full time during a period not to exceed 12 months. Members are given a living allowance of approximately $4,000 for 10 months of service; housing; meals; limited medical benefits; up to $400 a month for childcare, if necessary; member uniforms; and become eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program.
To strengthen the nation’s disaster response capacity, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service have established FEMA Corps, a unit of 1,600 service corps members within AmeriCorps NCCC solely devoted to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
This innovative partnership builds on the historic collaboration between the two agencies and enhances the federal government’s disaster capabilities, increase the reliability and diversity of the disaster workforce, promote an ethic of service, expand education and economic opportunity for young people, and achieve an estimated cost savings of more than $350 million in the first five years.
Learn more about: | <urn:uuid:57c10555-d55c-4bb1-b6a4-f7a95d11713e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-nccc | 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 | 0.943047 | 603 | 1.742188 | 2 |
In this post Nathan Pask takes a look at a technique to get HDR Style Images Using Layers in Photoshop.
There currently seems to be a lot of interest in HDR or similar processes. What is HDR? Essentially, it’s about collecting a series of shots taken on a tripod at different exposures and allowing über clever software to merge them together to make one supposedly perfectly exposed image. There are various types of software or plug-ins such as Photoshop, Photomatrix or FDR Tools that make producing a HDR image fairly straight forward.
Does the final result look pleasing to the eye? The jury is out for a majority of it as far as I’m concerned. Some images I think look fantastic, but others I feel have done nothing to enhance the subject. It’s using process for processes sake. Being a professional retoucher for quite a few years, working for many demanding clients such as Condé Nast on Vogue, Bride & Traveller magazines, the idea of retouching is about making an image more beautiful than it was to begin with. For the retouch to be successful, it needs to look seamless. It wants to look amazing, almost too good to be true, but with no tell tale signs of it having been manipulated. Granted, there is a place for ‘artistic’ imagery, and perhaps some people who are producing HDR are just doing it for an artistic result, but I personally tend to lean towards the ‘too good to be true’ style when producing an image like this. If you are not a fan of the results HDR give, but like the idea of it, read on. The process I am about to talk you through has essentially the same premise, but will give a more realistic finished result as per the example above.
So to begin, you need to a good sturdy tripod. This is a little easier if you have an SLR camera, but it can also be done with a point and shoot if you can manually adjust your exposure. Mount your camera on the tripod and compose your image to your liking. It is important that when you take your images, your camera doesn’t move. A handy tip if you don’t have a remote control is to set your camera to it’s inbuilt timer and shoot with this as when you press the shutter you are shaking the camera ever so slightly and you will get a slightly blurry result. Every situation is different because your subject and light is different, but for the image above, I took a shot exposing for the water which was 4 seconds at f22, I then took another shot exposing for the rock face and the trees which was 1 second at f22 and I then took another exposure for the sky which was 1/4 of a second at f22. Ideally keep your f-stop constant in this process and as you have it on a tripod you can afford to close down your f-stop/aperture to give you maximum depth of field throughout your image.
The following process is using Adobe Photoshop. I am on a Mac using Photoshop CS3, but it doesn’t matter which version you have. As long as it has layers, you are sorted. Download your images from your camera onto your computer. Once you have chosen your exposures you want to use, in my case 3, open them all in Photoshop so you can see them all side by side with your layers palette open on the side like this (click images to open larger versions).
It doesn’t really matter, but I tend to use my darkest layer as my base just because it’s logical. With this in mind, select the middle exposed image. Head over to your layers palette and click and drag your layer icon and drop it on your darkest image. Then select your lighter image and repeat the process. Obviously, you can have as many images/exposures as you like and continue this process till you have dragged all your exposures onto the one image. The more you have, the longer it will take to combine and the more complicated it will become, so choose your number of exposures wisely. You shouldn’t really need any more than 3 or 4 exposures unless your subject is particularly complicated.
Click back on your darker image that you have been dragging the layers on to. You should now have 3 layers in your palette and should look like this. You can close the other 2 images as these are no longer required. What you have left is one image open with your multiple layers, in my case 3, each layer containing exactly the same shot just taken with a different exposure all sandwiched on top of each other.
You can’t fully manipulate the bottom layer called ‘Background’, so select this layer, go up to the options at the top of the Layers palette and duplicate the layer. It’s not essential to do this on this particular retouch, but it’s good to get into the habit of duplicating your original layer so you always have an untouched original just in case it all goes pear shaped or you want to refer back to it for some reason. Safety first!
Click on the little eye icon on the left hand side of the ‘Background’ layer so it makes this particular layer invisible. You wont be needing this layer. It’s just there as a back-up. I tend to rename all my layers at this stage so it makes it easier to manage. Again, it’s not essential for this retouch, but getting into the practice of naming your layers appropriately is a good habit to get into. When you work on more complicated retouches that might have dozens of layers, it makes it much quicker when you can see easily which layer is which.
So what are we going to do with these 3 layers? We are going to mask out portions of each layer to allow elements from the layers underneath to show through eventually giving us 1 image formed out of 3. Let’s start with our lightest exposed layer. In my case, I want this layer for the water and reeds only. Most of the trees and the sky are way too overexposed. Over to your Layers palette again, select your top layer (your lightest layer) and we want to add a layer mask to this layer. Go to the Layer menu at the top of your screen and select Layer mask/Reveal All. As a shortcut, you can also simply click on the little icon circled and it will do the same thing.
For this particular layer mask I don’t want to create a hard edge so we are going to use the brush tool to manually create our mask. Over to your layers palette again, make sure you have the mask part selected (not the image icon) when you click on the mask, it should have the broken black frame around it indicating that you have selected the mask. Making sure your colour is set to black (if it’s not, click on the top colour square and change this 100% black) and select your brush tool. We are ready to mask!
We are now going to paint with this tool creating a mask revealing some of the image below. In this case we want to get rid of the sky, rocks and most of the trees. Make sure the opacity on the brush is at 100%. Use an appropriate sized large brush to get rid of a majority of it and when it comes to going around the water line I used a small brush and zoomed in so I could see a little better as I was masking.
You should be able to see your middle exposure layer below coming through. You will also see your little mask icon on your layers palette will give you a preview of what you have just masked out. Keep going until you are satisfied. I will show you how to do a more accurate mask on the next layer. But this method we have just performed is a great way to do a quick mask. Once you are happy with your mask, select the layer below. Create a new layer mask as before but instead of using our brush tool on it’s own, this time we are going to make a selection first as we want the mask to be a little more defined around the edge of the cliffs. We want to mask out the sky on this middle layer to reveal the nice rich sky on the darkest layer below. To make a selection you can do this a few ways. As there is quite a good difference in colour and tone between the sky and the rocks in my case, so I am going to use the magic wand tool at a tolerance of about 25 and with my shift key on my keyboard held down, select different pieces of the sky till I have an unbroken line of ‘marching ants’ around the cliff face. (Note: Make sure your image icon is selected in your layers palette, not your mask icon otherwise your magic wand will select your whole image). I won’t have every little piece of the sky selected, but I don’t need to worry about that at this stage. The most important thing is that I have an unbroken line around the cliff like this.
Any easy way to select the rest of the sky is to use the lasso tool and holding down your shift key, quickly go round the parts that aren’t selected so you end up with a lasso selection all around the area we want to mask. In this case I want to put a small feather on the selection before we mask as even though I want a crisp line, it’s very rare that you don’t need at least a small amount of feathering. So go up to your Select menu at the top of your screen and select Modify/Feather. In my case I want to use about 3 pixels of feather. Maybe use this as a starting point for your image, if you find out in a few minutes when we start masking this layer that it is too much or not enough feather, just go back in your history palette to this point and alter your feather amount. Every image is different and the amount of resolution in your image will play a part in your feather amount required.
So we now have the marching ants selection around the sky with a 3 pixel feather. Select the mask icon back in your layers palette on the middle layer. There are a number of ways you can go from here, but I like to use my brush tool again as it gives me more control. Select this tool again and we are going to do the same as before, however the selection has made it much easier. Like bowling with the rails out over the gutters! You cant go wrong.
It’s at this point that you can begin to see the whole picture forming with elements from all 3 layers playing their parts in your overall final result. Continue masking until you have filled your entire area selected. As we have a small feather on the lasso selection, if you keep going over certain areas around the edge of your selection with your brush tool it will creep your mask out a little more if you feel your selection didn’t quite go far enough. When you are happy, deselect your marching ants by going back up to your Select menu at the top of your screen and choosing Deselect.
You should now have a pretty much final image visually. You may want to touch up here and there to be completely satisfied. In my case I need to get rid rid of some nasty little sensor marks using my Spot Healing tool on the bottom dark layer. *Note to self – must clean my sensor!* You can alter other things at this stage such as the contrast, hue and saturation. Clone out elements you don’t wish to be there (Cloning is a whole OTHER tutorial on it’s own) in my case, a plastic bag caught in the reeds and using my burn tool, just going over the edges of the cliffs a little for effect.
Once you are completely satisfied, you need to save it. I like to keep a copy of the layered file just incase I decide to alter it slightly in the future, so save it as a .psd or .tif with your layers intact and make it obvious in your filename that it’s the layered file. Save on your computer wherever you wish. Once you have done this, back over to your layers palette for the last time. In your layer options, select Flatten Image.
You can now save your final image in whatever format you wish to use. Probably a .jpg to save on hard drive space. You have now completed a manual version of HDR using layers. HURRAH! I hope this was of some use. I encourage any comments on this method. I don’t think anyone knows everything there is to know about Photoshop and as my Grandpa always used to say, “there is more than one way to skin a cat!”. But this is a method that has served me very well over the years in coping with shooting an image that required different exposures to fully recreate what I saw with my own eyes. | <urn:uuid:e257a901-a785-4af1-aa6a-424a97708b49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://digital-photography-school.com/hdr-style-results-using-layers-in-photoshop | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94783 | 2,695 | 1.695313 | 2 |
The big reverse osmosis machine at Vinovation
is just one way winemakers cut alcohol levels
in their wines.
Napa Valley (AVA)
Cutting the Alcohol in Wine: What Wineries Don’t Want You to Know
The people who remove the alcohol insist that the flavors of the wine remain intact. The winemakers who send their wine to be dealcoholized, say that the procedure – one which is being utilized by a vast majority of California wineries – is just another tool to help them make better wine.
January 30, 2007
arge, gritty tanker trucks seem to pull up to the gray, nondescript warehouse all day long. The building, which resembles a chemical plant, is hunkered down inside a fenced-off area at the end of a cul-de-sac in an industrial wasteland. Perhaps most astonishing, this bleak location is smack in the middle of the otherwise bucolic Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. It is here, behind closed doors, without a wine label in sight, that , millions of gallons of anonymous wine are pumped through machines that, in another guise, can be used to extricate salt from seawater. What happens here, every day, is one of the wine industry’s dirty little secrets. | <urn:uuid:f4f536bc-b1a8-4b59-a0e6-5e014fc7d32e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-review/305/Alcohol-Reduction-in-Wine.html | 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 | 0.932691 | 267 | 1.84375 | 2 |
The Lighthouse is the weekly email newsletter of the Independent Institute. Subscribe
now, or browse Back Issues
Volume 10, Issue 38: September 22, 2008
- Forensic Evidence Must Be Improved
- How to Defeat Al-Qaeda and Neutralize the Taliban
- Entrepreneurs in Poor Countries Offer a Truly Shining Path Out of Poverty
- Change Congress, Urges Donald Downs
- This Week in The Beacon
1) Forensic Evidence Must Be Improved
A Mississippi judge recently allocated public funds for a murder defendant to hire a forensic expert in his defense. In the name of justice, courts elsewhere should emulate this example, according to Independent Institute Research Fellow Roger Koppl and Wright State University biology professor Dan Krane.
Although forensic science plays a growing role in deciding whether a defendant is found innocent or guilty, forensic evidence often is flawed, write Koppl and Krane in a new op-ed. So, in fairness, defendants should have a right to forensic expertise, just as they have a right to an attorney.
Koppl and Krane cite a 2007 University of California study that found that DNA tests sometimes produce ambiguous results subject to multiple interpretations. The consequences are serious: Josiah Sutton, for example, served four years in prison for a rape he didnt commit before mistakes in DNA testing came to light and led to his exoneration. If the court had put a forensics expert in Suttons corner, he might never have suffered that injustice. Koppl and Krane also urge that crime labs be kept independent of law enforcement agencies. These reforms, they argue, would likely create checks and balances that over time would improve forensics. Each side in a case would have incentives to inform the court of flaws in the forensic evidence offered by the opposing side. Slowly, case by case, the system will improve.
Potentially Flawed Science Deciding Many Cases, by Roger Koppl and Dan Krane (Athens Banner-Herald, 9/14/08)
More on crime
Back to Top
2) How to Defeat Al-Qaeda and Neutralize the Taliban
Because Osama bin Laden and some of his al-Qaeda brethren have long been suspected of hiding out in Pakistans western frontier region, the recent step up of U.S. Special Forces in that area is long overdue. Unfortunately, according to Independent Institute Senior Fellow Ivan Eland, that new counterterrorism campaign also has a major strike against it: along with the presence of U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan, it is making the Taliban increasingly popular. In his latest op-ed, Eland offers a strategy for solving this problem.
To deflate the Taliban ascendancy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, writes Eland, the vast majority of U.S. and allied forces should be withdrawn from Afghanistan, leaving only a small contingent of clandestine Special Forces and Predators to take advantage of any window of opportunity, should bin Laden or any other leadership targets be located.
Eland also recommends that the U.S. military implement in Pakistan and Afghanistan a strategy that seems to be working in Iraq: paying off the enemy. Allegiances in that part of the world, according to Eland, can often be bought with cold, hard cash, so the U.S. should offer a lot of cash. The amount will no doubt be much more than the measly $50 million sum the U.S. government currently has on bin Ladens head, continues Eland. Such a sum seems like a lot, but is chump change for countries and political movements, such as the Taliban.
The U.S. Should Worry About Bin Laden, Not the Taliban, by Ivan Eland (9/22/08) Spanish Translation
The Empire Has No Clothes: U.S. Foreign Policy Exposed (Updated Edition), by Ivan Eland
Center on Peace & Liberty (Ivan Eland, Director)
Back to Top
3) Entrepreneurs in Poor Countries Offer a Truly Shining Path Out of Poverty
An enduring myth of economic development is that lifting poor countries out of poverty requires transfers of wealth from rich countriesusually through grants, cheap credit and subsidies. In a recent op-ed for Barrons, and based on his recent book Lessons from the Poor: Triumph of the Entrepreneurial Spirit, Independent Institute Senior Fellow Alvaro Vargas Llosa argues that government transfers have little to do with economic success.
Two examples from Peru illustrate his point. The Añaños family lived on a small farm in Ayocucho, an impoverished area terrorized by the Maoist militant group Shining Path. Sensing opportunity in the chaos, they hatched a plan to grow their family business by creating a new product for the Peruvian marketall without any government assistance. Thus was born a new soft-drink, Kola Real. The Añañoses invited unemployed Peruvians with old vehicles to buy Kola Real at the bottling plants and resell it in their neighborhoods, writes Vargas Llosa. They created a second tier of entrepreneurs who would prosper from Kola Reals success. Today, the familys company manufactures the leading nonalcoholic beverage from Latin America, with 8,000 employees and an estimated $1 billion in annual sales.
Similarly, Aquilino Flores moved from the dirt-poor Huancavelica region of Peru to Lima and began to wash cars for a living. A clothing merchant urged Flores to sell his cotton t-shirts, eventually putting Flores on the path to making and selling his own line of clothing. Today, the company he startedTopy Topis Perus leading textile exporter, earning more then $100 million annually and employing about 5,000 workers.
The Añaños and Flores families stories are not isolated cases, writes Vargas Llosa. Similar entrepreneurial, free-enterprise successes are occurring all over the world.... These stories should remind us of something many people in rich countries have lost sight of, perhaps because they started their successful journeys so long ago: Free-enterprise capitalism, embodied in entrepreneurialism, is all about the little guy. Big companies exist because some little guys some time in the past beat the odds.... People who start and grow businesses dont need a governments help; they need assurances that government will not destroy their efforts through taxation or regulation orworse and most common of allby bestowing favors on their competitors.
Lessons From the Poor, by Alvaro Vargas Llosa (Barrons, 9/8/08)
Purchase Lessons from the Poor: The Triumph of the Entrepreneurial Spirit, edited by Alvaro Vargas Llosa.
Purchase Liberty for Latin America: How to Undo Five Hundred Years of State Oppression, by Alvaro Vargas Llosa.
Center on Global Prosperity (Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Director)
Back to Top
4) Change Congress, Urges Donald Downs
Both McCain and Obama claim to promote change. Skepticism comes not only from doubting their willingness to implement meaningful change, but also in their ability to do so. Echoing Will Rogers, Independent Institute Research Fellow Donald Downs argues that few fundamental improvements can occur in Washington, D.C., so long as Congress is in session.
Three examples of Congresss intransigence are enough to illustrate this claim, according to Downs. First, independent economists told Congress for years that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac needed a major overhaul. Yet consider its recent bailout of those government-sponsored enterprise. Congress has left Fannies and Freddies lobbying machine intact, while increasing their power and lending authority. Second, Congress has done precious little to loosen the bottleneck in the energy supply line. Third, the House of Representatives has made itself an increasingly safe place for politicians running for reelection, with 94 percent of the incumbents who sought reelection in 2004 holding on to power.
Unfortunately, for Washington, D.C., to change for the better, change must occur at the congressional level. Downs urges voters to keep that in mind when they enter the voting booth (or mail their absentee ballot) this November. Reelect those who truly stand for constructive change, and throw out those dedicated to maintaining the perquisites of the political class, Downs writes. The incumbency protection racket makes this an unending struggle, but Congresss 15 percent national approval ratinghalf that of one of the most unpopular presidents on recordprovides a measure of hope.
A New Congress Would be Change to Believe in, by Donald Downs (9/2/08)
Also by Donald Downs: Restoring Free Speech and Liberty on Campus
Back to Top
5) This Week in The Beacon
Here is the latest from The Beaconthe weblog of the Independent Institute:
As always, The Beacon is open for your comments.
Back to Top | <urn:uuid:40a9c2df-5021-411d-9c57-7d52df7a19ea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.independent.org/publications/the_lighthouse/detail.asp?id=252 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937239 | 1,805 | 1.515625 | 2 |
reviewed by Toronto Media Co-op editors. copyeditedfact checked
Why is Jim Manly sailing to challenge Gaza blockade? - by Eva Manly
Blog posts reflect the views of their authors, and are not subject to Media Co-op journalistic standards.
Eva Manly of Nanaimo B.C. is married to retired NDP MP and United Church minister Jim Manly who is sailing to challenge the Gaza blockade.
Why did Jim accept the invitation to be the Canadian on board the Estelle, the Freedom Flotilla boat sailing for Gaza to break the blockade?
Our decision was a joint one, a result of 53 years of working together as a team and supporting each other in both individual and joint pursuits. I have always been attracted to Jim’s sense of humour, his ability to think “outside the box” and the fact he did not fit my stereotype of clergy! After all these years we still make each other laugh and are still able to surprise each other.
Another thing drew me to Jim: he has the courage to follow his convictions and the guts to act on them – even when these actions are unpopular. He is also one of the least confrontational people I know.
Jim and I have worked together on many human rights issues. We are grateful to the Haisla people of Kitamaat, with whom we spent the first four years of our married life and whose friendships and influence we still cherish, for opening our eyes to the issues facing First Nations people and other indigenous peoples. This led indirectly to our involvement with other human rights struggles: Mexican American farm workers, refugees from the coup in Chile, the people of Nicaragua and El Salvador, the Maya of Guatemala, and refugees from Colombia and Nigeria among other places. It also led to our involvement in Church Sanctuary for refugees and accompaniment of people facing death threats. Through all this we avoided the issue of Palestine/Israel, accepting the line that “it is too complex”, too divisive and likely to alienate friends.
So, people ask, when and how did that change? We read Drinking the Sea at Gaza by Amira Haas, the Israeli journalist who lived in Gaza and reported for the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz. We heard Jeff Halper, founder of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, and for the first time we began to understand the true nature of the “Separation Wall”, known among Palestinians as the “Annexation Wall”. We learned all we could on the issue (much of it written by Jewish Israelis) and helped form Mid-Islanders for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, and more recently in the United Network for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel. We participated in a Pilgrimage of Solidarity, visiting Israelis and Palestinians who work together for a just and peaceful future. They inspire us to work with them.
Jim has always avoided the limelight (strange for someone who went into politics). It was only his strong engagement with this issue that led him to agree to sail. He is on the Estelle to bring attention to the suffering of the Palestinians of Gaza.
He is there out of a commitment to human rights and social justice. He hopes to bring awareness to Canadians about what is being done to the Palestinians in the name of Israeli security.
He is there in the hope that his actions may bring Canadian MPs from all parties, but especially the NDP and particularly the younger generation of NDP MPs who were elected with the hope for change, to break the walls of silence and speak out.
If there was room for another Canadian I would be there with Jim. There is no other place I would rather be now. May he come home safe.
About the poster
Member since December 1969 | <urn:uuid:8036b759-3687-4945-bf36-8455ce78e963> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://toronto.mediacoop.ca/blog/anonymous-toronto/13737 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974795 | 770 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Syria asks U.N. to look into alleged chemical attack
Published : 2013-03-21 19:44
Updated : 2013-03-21 19:44
UNITED NATIONS (AP) ― Syria asked U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday to appoint an independent mission to investigate an alleged chemical weapons attack that the regime has blamed on rebels in northern Syria.
The rebels have denied the government claim and blamed regime forces for Tuesday’s missile attack on Khan al-Assal village in northern Aleppo province. The Syrian National Coalition, the main opposition group, also demanded an international investigation Wednesday.
France’s U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud, who raised the issue in the U.N. Security Council late Wednesday, said the Syrian National Coalition has alleged that there was a second chemical weapons attack Tuesday in the Damascus area and it should be investigated.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, whose country has close ties to the Syrian government, accused France and its Western supporters of “launching propaganda balloons” and trying to delay an investigation of the Aleppo incident.
Syria’s U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari said he was “not aware of a second attack.” He said the allegation was “set up to torpedo the investigation of the real use of chemical weapons” in Aleppo.
Even though there was no Security Council agreement, the French and British said they plan to send a letter to the secretary-general asking him to investigate both alleged attacks, signed by as many of the 15 council members as possible.
The dispute reflected the deep divisions that have prevented the Security Council from taking any action to end Syria’s violence.
Ja’afari told reporters Wednesday morning that the Syrian government asked the secretary-general “to form a specialized, independent and neutral technical mission to investigate the use by the terrorist groups operating in Syria of chemical weapons yesterday against civilians in the town of Khan al-Assal in Aleppo.”
U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Ban has received a written request from Syrian authorities and it is being studied.
The U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, said Wednesday the Obama administration has no evidence so far to support Syria’s accusations, or that a chemical weapons attack occurred at all.
If confirmed, the attack would be the first time a chemical weapon was used in Syria’s two-year-old civil war.
The Syrian government, which refers to the rebels as “terrorists,” said 31 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in the missile attack in Aleppo.
Ja’afari called the attack “very serious and alarming and unacceptable and unethical.” He said Syria asked the secretary-general for assistance “in a sign of good faith, good will, good intentions” to the international community and the Syrian people.
He reiterated earlier that the secretary-general remains convinced that the use of chemical weapons by any party under any circumstances would constitute “an outrageous crime.”
Ban spoke to Ahmet Uzumcu, director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, on Tuesday and both expressed deep concern at the allegations of chemical weapons use. He said the organization is monitoring the situation.
Ja’afari recalled that Syria sent a letter to Ban and the U.N. Security Council in December warning that rebel groups might use chemical weapons and then blame the government.
“The Syrian government, if it has such weapons, will never use it against its own population,” Ja’afari said.
He said that Syria had proposed a Security Council resolution in 2003 when it was a council member that would have required the Mideast to be free of all weapons of mass destruction. He said it was blocked by the threatened veto of an “influential member,” an apparent reference to the United States, Israel’s closest ally.
Ja’afari said Syria is a party to most U.N. conventions dealing with weapons of mass destruction, but it is not a party to the chemical weapons convention. | <urn:uuid:dff5ab98-7a5e-4ae1-9261-0b9a5739affe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130321000548 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963185 | 870 | 1.5 | 2 |
Publications (2)0 Total impact
Article: Pedicle screw instrumentation plus augmentation vertebroplasty using calcium sulfate for thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic deficits.[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To evaluate the efficacy of posterior instrumentation plus vertebroplasty and posterolateral fusion using calcium sulfate for thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic deficits. Between July 2005 and January 2008, a total of 45 patients who had been diagnosed as having thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurologic deficits were treated with pedicle screw instrumentation plus vertebroplasty using calcium sulfate in our unit. The Cobb angles and loss rates of anterior-middle columns height at different time intervals were measured on lateral radiographs, and the preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The Cobb angles and loss rates of anterior-middle columns height postoperatively period were restored significantly compared with those noted preoperatively. The angles and heights were well maintained for at least two years using this technique. The mean postoperative VAS (back pain) score was 2.1 ± 0.8, which was significantly better (P < 0.001) than the mean preoperative VAS score 7.9 ± 1.1. The average preoperative ODI was 66.6 ± 8.1% and this had improved significantly to 15.5 ± 4.5% by the latest follow-up (P < 0.001). No instrumentation failure was detected in this study. The calcium sulfate had been absorbed completely by 3-6 months postoperatively. Pedicle screw instrumentation plus augmentation vertebroplasty with calcium sulfate is an economic, efficient and reliable technique for treating unstable thoracolumbar fractures without neurologic deficits.Orthopaedic Surgery 02/2011; 3(1):1-6.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To analyze retrospectively the clinical outcome of surgical management for upper cervical spine injury caused by trauma. From January 2005 to March 2007, 16 patients with injury of upper cervical spine were treated by different management. There were 11 males and 5 females with an average age of 44 years ranging from 24 to 75. Of all, 5 cases were the odontoid fracture, 3 were atlas fracture, 5 were Hangman's fracture, 3 were atlanto-axial dislocation. MR imaging of cervical spine showed cervical cord compression and changes of T2 high signal in 5 cases. According to the injury mechanism, the imageological appearance, fracture classification, the methods of treatment were selected. Seven patients received non-operative treatment and nine patients underwent operation. Sixteen patients were followed up for 7 to 34 months (means 10.5 months). All fractures were healing or bone graft fusion and no internal fixation was lossing. There were no injuries of vertebral artery, nerve root or spinal cord. CT and MRI are required in the course of diagnosis for the traumatic injury of upper cervical spine. The optimal modus operandi should be choose to retain upper cervical spine, meanwhile, can reserve the cervical movement.Zhongguo gu shang = China journal of orthopaedics and traumatology 06/2009; 22(5):387-8. | <urn:uuid:3bafa5b9-5b94-4c93-b3b7-14485c8aa53e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.researchgate.net/researcher/31036387_Liu-bing_Li/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937922 | 693 | 1.5 | 2 |
It's time to read and vote for your favorite article in the 2013 Write-Off Contest! The four finalist's articles are featured in the May 13 newsletter and can be found through this link. Hurry! Voting ends May 18.
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
HELP! I live in the UK and have a section of garden (20ft x 6ft) that is being taken over by a dwarf size bamboo like grass. Despite our best efforts - using the regular type weedkillers from the DIY stores - we can't seem to get rid of it. It is on one side of a pathway, and is showing signs of 'popping up' on the other side of the pathway too. We want to kill it, it looks unkempt, it's just in the wrong place. How can we do this?
A picture would be the best way of getting help identifying the grass / bamboo, there are several types of grass that grows the way you describe what you have and also, there are small Bamboo as well but until you know what your treating, weed killers can be an expensive waist of money and time,
Some type of plants need a special type of killer OR a different type of treatment to get rid and even then, It could be a very long intensive job to try rid your garden of this pest BUT, until we know what the problem plant is, then maybe just getting the RIGHT help could save you time and money.
Im also here in UK and one type of weed / grass we have everlasting problems with is called Couch Grass, it is tough and has long white rots that creep underground and if you try dig it out, any tiny bits of root left sends up a clump of new plants. maybe this is what you have too.
Good luck, Weenel.
Thank you Kwanjin and WeeNel for your responses. We know it isn't couch grass - had that before at a previous home. It is definitely a small bamboo. Here is a photo of the offending plant, against a tape measure to help give a perspective of size.
Hi again BeltonRose, I have tried all sorts of research for your Bamboo and so glad you sent a picture as it made the task so much easier.
What I have found is regarding your invasive plant is you have, I'm sure, Nepalese Browntop, (Microstegium Vimineum X A.camus.
It's also known as Japnese Still Grass, this is an annual grass that can flower and make between 100-1000 seeds per plant, you right when you said it is very invasive, in it's homeland it is or was used as packing material for all the pots and china that was arriving by ship into Britain, Europe and USA at the time where we shipped all our things from the East, the other way it has escaped is via water, the seeds escaped into rivers, dockside areas and the birds and other animals carried these seeds around the country, it was as far as I know, ever a plant that came here for sale or propagation but like some other invasive plants like japanese knot weed, once it takes hold, it is very difficult to get rid off and some places these invasive plants are reportable to the local authority.
What I have found out for removal is the use of the Herbaside to spray is Glyphosate.
However, IF you are going to spray, I would walk among the plant as as you go, give it a good whack with either a broom handle or stout garden cane to bruise
the top growth so that the spray gets taken in quicker, you wont see any signs of the plants being killed off for several weeks as the killer needs to be taking in through the foliage and then carried down to the roots, you may have to do this several times in a season and perhaps now we are into Autumn, it may be too late as the plant being Annial, it will begin to die off end of summer anyway.
Perhaps the best time to spray would be next spring when the top growth is new and not as tough, emerging and about 4-6 inches tall and in full growing mode.
Also remember IF you spray, make sure you do it when there is no wind or even breeze as this will cause the killer to be blown into and onto some of your other plants, any small plants that are in among this weed could be covered with an upturned plant pot till the spray has dried where you spray.
if you can, go onto Google and type in the name give above and you will find more info.
Hope this helps you out. Good Luck. WeeNel. | <urn:uuid:e0397260-14d5-4c81-8db7-e6517157770e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1285494/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974414 | 1,012 | 1.523438 | 2 |
McFARLANE'S MONSTERS 3: REAL EVIL ON YOUR SCREEN
Six Faces of Madness Action Figure Photographs Unveiled
Friday, March 05, 2004
We've been counting the hours and days, mumbling and cursing, waiting for the arrival of the official McFarlane's Monsters 3: Six Faces of Madness photography.
It's here. Let the, uh, madness begin.
The third series of the McFarlane's Monsters action figure line focuses on the past: A historical -- if artistically fictionalized -- look back at some of the human race's most notorious blood-letters and miscreants. Incredibly detailed and fully accessorized, McFarlane's Monsters 3 gives new meaning to the term monster. Here's the lineup:
Jack the Ripper
One of the world's most notorious serial killers, noted more for the mystery surrounding his identity than his body count. Brutally killed and mutilated at least five ladies of the night with a straight razor on the dark, foggy, dangerous streets of 1888 London. Although it's the subject of much speculation, to this day, Jack the Ripper's true identity remains unknown.
Vlad the Impaler
The true Prince Dracula, known as Vlad Dracula (translated as Son of the Devil), Vlad Tepes and Vlad the Impaler. An important figure in 15th-century Romanian history, Vlad Dracula is known as a patriot, but he was also bloodthirsty, slaughtering between 40,000 and 100,000 of his subjects -- usually by impalement -- during his reign.
The Blood Queen of Hungary, who struck terror throughout that region in the late 1500s and early 1600s, and is said to have killed more than 600 young women. A member of the ruling class, Bathory tortured servants throughout her life. Later, with concern for her fading beauty, she began bathing in the blood of slaughtered young girls as a perverse form of a fountain of youth.
A debauched, illiterate Siberian peasant who turned his sinful life into that of a quasi-religious faith healer and fortune-teller in 19th-century Russia. By "curing" Tsar Nicholas II's son of hemophilia, the "mad monk" became a powerful political and social force in St. Petersburg. This led to an assassination attempt in which Rasputin was poisoned, shot, beaten and eventually drowned.
Billy the Kid
One of the most noted gunfighters of the American Wild West, Billy the Kid is described as both a cold-blooded murderer and a modern-day Robin Hood. Billy was at the epicenter of the New Mexico-based cattle wars and saw a lifetime of violence before his own demise at age 22. He's said to have killed more than 20 men in his short life.
Attila the Hun
Infamous leader of the bloodthirsty Huns, fifth-century inhabitants in modern-day Hungary, who led devastating plundering raids into western Europe. Known as the Scourge of God, Attila led a vast and merciless mounted army, which left a swath of devastation and death across much of Europe. Attila is said to have died of a nasal hemorrhage on his wedding night.
That's the official lineup and photography, but you might want to keep your eyes peeled for a little surprise addition. McFarlane's Monsters 3 is scheduled for a June release. Until then, enjoy the pictures. | <urn:uuid:715bfc1e-a94f-4665-8fcd-6bc88ee5c292> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mcfarlane.com/news/print.aspx?id=12320 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970352 | 704 | 1.835938 | 2 |
It’s about that Russian plan to poach some of our young curlers and try to buy an Olympic medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The whole thing smells like a bad bowl of borscht.
A very lucrative bowl for the local guys, mind you.
Word is Winnipegger Jason Gunnlaugson, 25, and two of his teammates, Justin Richter and Tyler Forrest, are to earn $100,000 US each per year, plus expenses, throwing rocks with two Russian players, under the Russian flag, for the next four years.
The plan is to have the boys spend the bare minimum of time living in Moscow each year — two months does it, apparently — in order to become Russian citizens and obtain passports.
They’ll spend the rest of the time in Canada, competing on the World Curling Tour, at World Championships and, if all goes according to plan, at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia — trying to knock off the Canadians.
Oh, and they’re to help grow the game in Russia, too.
You can’t blame Gunnlaugson and Co. — who wouldn’t want to curl for that kind of money? If the deal goes through, they’ll instantly become Canada’s highest-paid curlers.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for those guys,” Alberta veteran Randy Ferbey said from Edmonton, Thursday. “They’re young. How many people in this country get paid to curl?”
But Ferbey can’t help but wonder, too, if there’s a Russian devil in the details.
If the Russians, who had an overall disastrous showing in Vancouver, are that determined to become better curlers, why did they go after Gunnlaugson, and not one of this country’s top skips? Or a veteran teacher?
“How this helps Russian curling, I have no idea,” Ferbey said. “No offence to Jason, but they’re a little raw. They don’t know how to develop programs. There’s a lot of curlers in Canada that could do that. So something’s funny that way.”
I think it’s obvious. The Russians, like the Chinese before them, don’t give two hoots about developing the sport — they just want to bolster their medal count by creating one, world-class team. Convince a grumbling populace that the Russian government knows what it’s doing in the athletic department, if nowhere else.
I doubt they’re going to succeed.
Again, you can’t blame the Manitobans for biting.
But it sounds like they’re being used by a country that doesn’t really know what it’s doing, yanked through loopholes in the IOC rules that only ask for a passport, and not real heritage, to determine national identity.
Who hands out passports? The same governments that are trying to win medals.
But since when can you use ringers from other countries?
Imagine if it happened in reverse — the Canadian government making it ridiculously easy for, say, Bulgarian weightlifters to compete as Canucks, then recruiting a few and pushing aside our own aspiring Olympians in the process.
We’d scream bloody murder.
“You start getting that kind of interloping between countries, everything can get out of whack pretty quick,” the Canadian Curling Association’s Warren Hansen said.
Interestingly, the whole idea of player poaching actually started within Canada, as top skips like Jeff Stoughton and Brad Gushue have recruited players from other provinces to compete in provincial playdowns and Briers.
“It’s no different than Kevin Park coming to play for Manitoba,” Les Harrison, former World Curling Federation president, said. “This is the international scale. So it’s hard to chastise when we do it within Canada.”
Yeah, but paying players to ditch their flag?
I can see it now, a proud Winnipegger on top of the podium, singing the Russian national anthem. | <urn:uuid:3d425ccf-f9dc-4bfe-9c54-24fa5b2e46c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Friesen/2010/04/29/13770061.html | 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 | 0.943354 | 885 | 1.5625 | 2 |
The search industry, including our very own 15miles blog, has been buzzing this week with commentary on Google’s “Search Plus Your World” release, which is being touted as one of the most radical changes to search engine results pages ever made. In a nutshell, users signed into their Google+ accounts, while searching, are likely to see a blend of both personal and public content displayed in the results. The personal content, being primarily things shared by you or your connections in Google+, is being said to be given some priority over public content, which can include typical website organic listings, content from Twitter, Facebook, or other such sources. The search giant says these changes are in response to user feedback wanting search results to be more personal.
The outcry this week has been tremendous. Twitter was among the first to respond, and seems to encompass much of the opinion that I am seeing out there, emailing the following statement to the press:
“For years, people have relied on Google to deliver the most relevant results anytime they wanted to find something on the Internet.
Often, they want to know more about world events and breaking news. Twitter has emerged as a vital source of this real-time information, with more than 100 million users sending 250 million Tweets every day on virtually every topic. As we’ve seen time and time again, news breaks first on Twitter; as a result, Twitter accounts and Tweets are often the most relevant results.
We’re concerned that as a result of Google’s changes, finding this information will be much harder for everyone. We think that’s bad for people, publishers, news organizations and Twitter users.”
Interestingly, Twitter did not renew an agreement with Google in the summer of last year, which made it’s content less prevalent in Google’s search results anyways.
More recently, the NY Times reported that the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a research and advocacy group on internet privacy, has sent a letter to the FTC, asking them to investigate whether the new product violates the terms of a privacy settlement in which Google was penalized for privacy violations within its Buzz social network.
In what might be an unpopular opinion at the moment, I will venture to state that much of the outcry is stemming from a fear of change, and that Google’s “Search Plus Your World” feature is actually not that different from what other social networks do as far as content personalization.
Considering that the integration of personalized results appears to only those users who are signed into their Google+ accounts, we may need to separate Google the search engine vs. Google the social network in exploring the change. Google the search engine is not any different for those users who aren’t signed in. Google the social network isn’t doing anything different than what Twitter and Facebook are doing. When we log into Twitter, we don’t see Google or Facebook results being displayed, even if perhaps they are more relevant on trending topics. We see a tweet stream from those we follow, and occasionally promoted tweets to catch our interest in something new. Similarly, when we log into Facebook, we don’t see Tweets or Google results. We see the streams on our wall, content that we follow on Facebook, and often times ads… from advertisers who place through Facebook, and Facebook alone. Similarly, Google the social network, is giving priority to its own content that originates with what it’s users have shared.
The challenge in this scenario, is separating the search engine from the social network. Facebook was always a social network, first for college kids only, and then a wider audience. Twitter was always a platform for user originated content sharing. Whereas Google was founded under a mission of organizing the world’s information, and that’s what it is known for today. So the idea that it’s becoming something different is scary to many, particularly based on the amount of information that it has stored.
From a user perspective, the outcry to Google’s latest feature seems to be a negative response to change. Not at all dissimilar to some of the backlash Facebook received for its Timeline format rollout. It’s a different organization of content than users were used to, and therefore, initially uncomfortable for some.
Understandably, a company the size of Google, will be more formally investigated amidst the buzz, and I leave the anti-trust or legal rulings to the experts. | <urn:uuid:7b46cf4f-e75f-4467-bdb5-a31cf272291e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.15miles.com/blog/2012/01/13/googles-search-plus-your-world-a-fear-of-change-or-something-more-sinister/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954662 | 925 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Five…..four…..three…..two…..one…….WOO-HOO!! This past weekend was the official grand opening of the Baghnazargah School in Afghanistan!!!! Afghanistan education has notoriously been an issue, and now thanks to Film Annex- they are helping change schooling in Afghanistan. It is finally becoming a true reality, and with this reality comes a future for Afghan children.
I have been teaching for over seven years, my students are ten years old. I educate, protect and love each and every one of them and I have done this for each and every student I have stood in front of in the classroom. War in Afghanistan has not allowed their children to be educated, protected and loved like American children. Especially for Afghanistan women and girls who have the least support for their education. Film Annex is trying to change the education system in Afghanistan one school at a time.
I have viewed some of the pictures on the construction of the internet classroom that Film Annex has created for Afghanistan education. The final picture is a complete classroom with computers. This classroom looks NO DIFFERENT than the computer lab in my school. It is a beautiful thing for me to see, because I know how much computers and desks mean to each child. Many children in Afghanistan may not have their own personal space, something that they can call theirs. This newly built classroom may be a full blown sanctuary for them. The opportunities that this has given them are endless. It will truly become a beacon of light in their lives.
Film Annex will continue building schools in Afghanistan, with construction of their second school underway. I spend forty hours a week with children, teaching them not only subjects- but life lessons that will help them become successful adults. I see their faces light up when they learn something new, and they comfort in knowing that I protect them. ALL CHILDREN DESERVE THIS. Thank you to Film Annex, for allowing the children of the Baghnazargah School to have that same feeling. | <urn:uuid:08eb01b2-ca1d-4530-ab71-f54eddfd3f71> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.filmannex.com/webtv/danadecon/blog_post/grand-opening-of-baghnazarah-school/51395 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97415 | 407 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Written by Vickie Valadez
This morning, on the day that I intended to write this story about dominant Eurocentricity on campus, I woke up with Alanis Morrissette’s “Ironic” playing in my head.
Not really related to the subject matter at all, but I thought it would serve a good introduction;
Isn’t it ironic that we support multiculturalism, but still the vast majority of students and faculty here are white?
Isn’t it ironic that we embrace diversity, but most of the artistic events on-campus were made by white people and/or have a white audience in mind?
I can’t help but ask myself these questions when I see events like etiquette dinner, most of the Cove and FNL events, The Country Wife and many other theatrical productions (at least those from this and last year). There are obviously attempts to break this pattern, with performances from Overlord, Locos por Juana and probably others. I am not trying to blame any of these organizations or departments, as I personally know and respect people from all of them. But it’s important for me to point out these observations.
I can guess what you’re thinking. Oh no, not race talk again. We’ve already gone over this. I know I’m bringing out skeletons from the closet. We all had this talk last year in the discussion groups, and since we’ve talked it all out it should be better now.
What was wrong about these groups was that we were not prepared in any way to discuss race. I know a lot of people left feeling disappointed. I think I know why; we’re all too afraid to offend one another. We’re afraid to express our naivety and ignorance, because we’re educated and not supposed to be ignorant. We’re too afraid to even acknowledge difference, as if it’s not really important and we are all treated equally.
I would like to make a few points clear:
First, racism is NOT over. It never ended at any point. I just wanted to eliminate that thought that may be lingering in anybody’s mind. I mostly say it because of dumb advertising for news stations covering the Jena 6 as if it is an isolated incident, as if racism had died and now come back from the grave, hungry for more oppression. No. Racism never went away. The fact that it is regarded as such shows how ingrained it is in our society; that it can perpetuate without us even noticing its existence until a very blatant act occurs.
Second, not everyone is treated as equal. We are in a society that favors some people over other for very specific attributes. Those that are not favored have felt the repercussions of an oppressive society. Think about it; they probably want those pains understood by others, and that means acknowledging difference in the first place.
Third, education does not necessarily equal understanding. I’ve heard very educated people say very ignorant things. Education should expand our understanding, but such is not always the case. I, for example, would not be writing this article were it not for the fact that I am a Communications major and content about race/gender/class/orientation/ability/etc. has been drilled into my head. You’ve probably learned something about the diversity spectrum too, assuming that you are a student at our fine liberal arts university. But you and I can choose to take other classes, or simply not subscribe to the information that widens our understanding. At the least, we can still be ignorant because we are all at least middle-class, likely upper class, because we (or should I say our families?) can afford the tuition here. We likely do not understand what it feels like to eat aging food or otherwise go hungry (no, the Commons doesn’t count).
Lastly, it’s okay to offend/be offended if it is for a good purpose. One of good things that did come out of the discussions was the point that we are all racist and prejudiced. I didn’t point out all those specific examples of performances and events to lay blame on any particular people. Ignorance is everyone’s problem, whether or not you perpetuate it. It is something always present in our society and we should be aware of it, in order to attempt any change. From what I have learned, the only way we will overcome ignorance is to openly talk about and learn of the experiences of the less privileged. If this discussion is to be useful, some people
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. | <urn:uuid:9754389f-5140-4c6b-aa73-5355833e2f2b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://southwestern.edu/su_blogs/megaphone/2007/11/19/racism-is-alive-and-well-and-here-at-su/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971903 | 970 | 1.679688 | 2 |
‘Twas the week before Christmas and across the Big Lake, no other boat stirred—not one other wake. No freighters, nor charters, nor sails did we see. Just six-foot waves on the inland sea. Baleful dunes hung over the shore. Spray became ice on the fighting deck’s floor.
Mark Chmura of Pier Pressure Charters, netting the steelhead above, is the only captain I know that will take you out on northern Lake Michigan any month of the year. So don’t ask unless you really want to go. Though frigid outside, the cabin of his 33-foot Tiara is sitting in a lakeside condo. Nice and cozy.
Fighting a fish is another matter. We went out four miles, over depths of 250 feet. Out there is where Mark finds the “Stability Zone” we wrote about years ago—a buffered, encased body of water that resists change year ’round. But the rugged weather did drive the fish down. Where Mark used boards and high-running spoons to put over 50 steelhead in his net the week before, six-foot waves seemed to push the fish into the heart of that stable zone, and we had to break ice off the downriggers. On this day, all of the fish came from 60 to 80 feet down.
Mark was pulling orange-and-gold or orange-and-silver, 3- to 5-inch Michigan Stinger Spoons on every line. Obviously, orange has been the color. Who would know but Mark? Over the radio came a small-craft warning issued by the Coast Guard. What’s the point? Mark’s the only one out there. Even the shipping lanes are closed.
No matter what season it is, Mark prefers a rolling deck—but most of his time is spent guiding via jet boat on the Big Manistee River between November and March.
The highest surface temperature we found was 44°F. But most of the way out, his Fish Hawk temperature gauge read 39°F or less. Mark knows where the stable water is. He checks on it periodically, year ’round and, over the years, he’s developed a knack for knowing where it should be, based on conditions like recent wind and weather patterns.
Mark ran upwind of waypoints established the week before, then began eyeing that Fish Hawk. As temperatures broached 40°F, we began setting lines, drifting as much as trolling downwind through a bank of warmer water trapped miles offshore.
In years gone by, we trolled Michigan’s unique drowned river mouth lakes for steelhead in November and early December, pulling gold or blue-silver Worden’s FlatFish on flat lines most of the time. Those lakes were created thousands of years ago by ancient storms that sealed up the river mouths with mountains of sand—which still stand there, protecting us from the westerlies that will freeze you to the marrow this time of year. It was cold duty—with no warm cabin to retreat to. Even with the creature comforts, people aren’t breaking Mark’s door down to troll big water during winter.
But if you call to book a steelhead trip during winter, don’t be surprised if he asks which way you’d rather go—up the river or out into the lake. “You won’t see anybody else out here this time of year,” he said, gesturing to the blue horizon. “The fish are all ours. And that’s the way I like it.” | <urn:uuid:bdf6ec22-41c6-4695-a39c-298a6731955c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.in-fisherman.com/2012/12/26/offshore-winter-steelhead/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954768 | 756 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Mexicans Vote to Return the PRI to Power
|Dan La Botz||July 3, 2012|
Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has won the Mexican presidential elections with a plurality of 37 percent of the vote, returning to power the party which ruled Mexico as an authoritarian one-party-state for decades. Peña Nieto defeated the left-of-center Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) who got 31 percent of the vote and Josefina Vázquez Mota of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) who received about 26 percent.
Peña Nieto, who had the tacit support of the powerful Televisa network and of the PRI’s powerful political machine, faced a rising challenge in the month before the election from a new student movement which criticized his links to the mass media and his record of political repression in Mexico State where he had been governor. But the student movement, known as “I am #132,” which grew rapidly and attracted attention from throughout the country, was still too little and too late to change the election victory for Peña Nieto and the PRI which had been predicted for months by the polls.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who claimed to have won the presidential election in 2006, abandoned the more radical rhetoric of that campaign which led the media to compare him to Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, this time portraying himself as a moderate reformer who would follow the example of Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, the former president of Brazil. López Obrador sought to win the confidence of the Mexican business establishment and of Mexico’s middle classes, as well as of his traditional base among working people, peasants and the poor. The move to the right clearly failed to improve on his 2006 performance.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party has its origins in the Mexican Revolution, created in 1929 by President Plutarco Elías Calles as the party of government functionaries and transformed by President Lázaro Cárdenas in the 1930s into a mass party of workers and peasants. By the 1940s the PRI had become an authoritarian and corrupt party with a nationalist economic program; it oversaw the state banks and industries, encouraged private capital and used its control of the labor unions and peasant leagues to ensure labor peace. During the 1980s, however, the PRI abandoned its nationalist economic program and adopted neoliberal policies to encourage foreign investment, open markets to free trade, cut the social budget, and weaken labor unions. Since the 1970s, the PRI had loosened its hold on the political process and by the 1980s there were growing political parties left and right.
In 2000 Vicente Fox, a Coca-Cola Company executive, businessman and rancher, ran as the National Action Party’s candidate for president and won, ending over 70 years of rule by the PRI. In terms of political program, Mexicans could find little difference between the PRI and the PAN. Presidential candidates Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas and López Obrador of the left-of-center Party of the Democratic Revolution offered an alternative, but the PRI and the PAN used their political power, corruption, and—many believe—electoral fraud to keep the leftist candidates from winning.
For the last six years, Felipe Calderón, also of the conservative PAN, has held office, overseeing Mexico’s economic crisis and pursuing a war against drug dealers that saw the deployment of 40,000 soldiers and thousands of police officers, widespread violations of human rights, 50,000 killed, 10,000 disappeared, and thousands forced to leave their homes for other states. Tremendously unpopular with the Mexican people, PAN candidate Vázquez Mota faced an uphill battle in the attempt to represent her rightwing party, and she was ultimately defeated by the legacy of Calderón.
With the PRI back in power, many Mexicans will be asking themselves is this a case of back to the future? Will Mexico become once again a one-party state ruled by an authoritarian party? Mexico’s left, which invested so heavily in the rightward-moving López Obrador must ask itself whether it made a mistake and might not have done better pursuing some other alternative. The Mexican right, the National Action Party, will find it hard to compete with the nearly equally conservative PRI and overcome the legacy of Calderon’s military policy. The question of the moment, for most Mexicans, is what will the PRI be able to do about the economic crisis and the drug war? The PRI may have its honeymoon period, but one suspects that the honeymoon will be short. | <urn:uuid:4651a195-6bfb-46da-8f6a-470cf2bf88f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newpol.org/content/mexicans-vote-return-pri-power | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967708 | 995 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Let’s hope that President Obama has learned a lesson this week: do not pick unnecessary political fights with Prime Minister Netanyahu. As Jonathan has pointed out, Netanyahu will return home the clear winner of the 1967 border controversy, a public-relations victory for the Israeli leader.
If Obama expected his preemptive statement on Thursday to put Netanyahu on the defensive, he bet wrong. The prime minister couldn’t have been more relaxed as he walked in to address Congress earlier today, joking with Vice President Joe Biden that he remembered when the two of them were considered the “new kids in town.” Whether intentional or not, Netanyahu was sending an implicit message to Obama that he and Biden have been in this game for a long time, and are more seasoned than the president when it comes to Middle East politics.
Netanyahu didn’t make news during his address, but he didn’t need to. The image of the joint Houses of Congress rising up and down in their seats (I lost track of how many times) for standing ovations was powerful enough on its own. They applauded his assertion that “the Jewish people are not foreign occupiers” in Judea and Samaria, and his declaration that the borders will not return to the 1967 lines.
Contrast this with the reception to President Obama’s argument that border negotiations should be based on the 1967 lines. Not only was his suggestion rebuffed by two of the most prominent Democrats in congress during AIPAC, but other members of his party also released statements harshly criticizing him.
The past week highlighted the massive bipartisan support that Israel enjoys in Congress. This may not be the last time Obama tries to promote anti-Israel policies, but it has certainly shown us that the Democratic Party will not be there to support him if he does. | <urn:uuid:389cb0cd-ad57-4b1c-b882-23206e28244e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/05/24/obama%E2%80%99s-bad-bet/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981622 | 371 | 1.625 | 2 |
The Occupy Wall Street protests are highlighting the vast wealth inequalities in the U.S. And while almost everyone involved in the protests probably doesn't care if the wealthiest people in the country lose their cash, it's important in many cases that they don't--what would happen, for example, if Steve Jobs's kids squandered their money and lost the opportunity for large-scale charitable investing?
That's why portfolio reporting platform WealthTouch and TILE Financial (a company that helps young adults ages 15 to 25 better manage their money) have teamed up to teach future wealthy adults how to successfully manage their cash--because in the next decade, $1 trillion will transfer to the next generation of the wealthy, and those kids might just spend it all on XBoxes. Instead, what if that easily squandered money could be managed so that, say, the next Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation could thrive?
"Watching my husband, who has four kids from his first marriage, I could see it was easier for him to talk about sex than talk about money," says Amy Butte, CEO of TILE. WealthTouch and TILE's solution is simple: a Mint.com-like platform developed specifically for wealthy young adults. The platform features digital shorts, videos, interviews, and easy-to-understand explanations of everything from bankruptcy to philanthropy.
"Everything is short, engaging, and at the end of day [users] have a financial identity profile that tells them anything they want to know about themselves," says Butte.
The pilot partnership between TILE and WealthTouch has gone well so far; Butte says she is receiving positive feedback. "We needed to retranslate the way a lot of this financial jargon is spewed out at them," explains WealthTouch CEO Norman Jones.
TILE's services are already available through UBS and Citi Private Bank, but they will be rolled out to all WealthTouch customers--that's 1,000 families with $23 billion in assets--in the first quarter of 2012.
It's hard to care about successful wealth transfer when the economy is so bleak--and hard to totally buy the argument that helping rich people manage their money so they might give it away is a noble cause--but the potential philanthropic opportunities still can't be ignored. "If you're going to make young people responsible, there's a responsibility to help equip them," says Butte. | <urn:uuid:b3577ab3-f324-406e-ab70-7ca0f709298e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fastcompany.com/1786778/wealthtouch-tile-will-teach-rich-kids-how-responsibly-manage-their-wealth | 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 | 0.965499 | 495 | 1.742188 | 2 |
For Immediate Release | Jan 8, 2013
Michelle Rhee’s Statement on U.S. DOE Conclusion of Investigation Into DC Testing Allegations
"Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General announced that their investigation found no widespread cheating on the DC Comprehensive Assessment System tests from 2008-2010. This conclusion supports previous investigations and findings of the DC Office of the Inspector General and others. At StudentsFirst we believe it is incredibly important to take all allegations of wrongdoing seriously and we thank both offices for doing so. The results confirm what we've long believed, that the vast majority of educators would never compromise their personal or professional integrity to cheat on a test, thereby cheating children. With six separate, consecutive tests (both DC CAS and NAEP) showing significant improvements in academic achievement, we congratulate the children and educators in DC for their hard work and accomplishments."
Every past analysis conducted by independent investigators also uncovered no evidence of widespread cheating on the DC-CAS from 2008-2010:
DC Inspector General Investigation “Did Not Reveal Evidence” Of Widespread Cheating. “The investigation did not reveal evidence of criminal activity or widespread cheating on the DC CAS exams. ... The OIG found insufficient evidence on which to conclude that there was widespread cheating on the DC CAS exams for the period in question.” [District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General, “Report of Investigation Into Cheating on the DC Comprehensive Assessment System’s Standardized Exams Administered By the District of Columbia Public Schools” OIG No. 2011-0318, August 8, 2012]
Caveon Independent Analysis in 2009 Found No Evidence of Cheating. According to a memo from independent investigation firm Caveon, “Caveon did not find evidence of cheating at any of the schools. For one school, we suggested further follow up by DCPS, but even in that case there was no definitive evidence of cheating.” [Caveon Memo Clarification Statement, March 28, 2011]
Alvarez & Marsal Independent Investigation Found Cheating in Fewer Than 0.0006% of Classrooms. According to the Washington Examiner, “The D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, which oversees both the traditional school system and the citys public charter schools, hired Alvarez & Marsal to analyze test results for cheating and interview more than 300 students, teachers and administrators… Of the 5,089 classrooms tested on the 2011 standardized exams, there were just three confirmed cases of teachers cheating to enhance their students' performance.” [Washington Examiner, June 23, 2012]
StudentsFirst is a bipartisan grassroots movement of more than 2 million members nationwide, working to focus our education system on what's best for students. Today, too many of America's children are not getting the quality education they need and deserve. StudentsFirst is helping to change that with common sense reforms that help make sure all students have great schools and great teachers. We are working to ensure educators are valued for the critical role they play in kids’ lives, families have high-quality school choices and a real say in their child's education, and our tax dollars are spent wisely on what works for kids. Launched by former Washington D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee in December 2010, StudentsFirst has successfully helped pass more than 110 student-centered policies in 17 states, and our movement continues to grow. For more information visit www.studentsfirst.org. | <urn:uuid:19ce3844-9fdf-4ca8-8ddb-6265b7249025> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.studentsfirst.org/press/entry/michelle-rhees-statement-on-u.s.-doe-conclusion-of-investigation-into-dc-te | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953487 | 717 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Reducing False Alarms
- All systems are susceptible to false alarms, but to minimize these, there are a number of measures you can take:
- Check that your system configured to suit building use.
- Do detector type and or sensitivities need to be changed?
- How is the movement of contractors and trades people managed?
- How are tenants, staff and occupants advised of procedures and guidelines?
- Is your system maintained adequately? Fire Services recommend at a minimum that your system is maintained to the conditions of your occupancy permit of Aus Standards AS 1851-2005
- Do you have a responsible person on site?
ADT in the NewsAll News
© Copyright 2013 ADT Services AG. All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:34336ca2-3082-4200-8157-59d59e5a6026> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.adtsecurity.com.au/more/firemonitoring/why-choose-adt/reducing-false-alarms | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930311 | 150 | 1.742188 | 2 |
BPS Newsletter cover essays are short (1-3pp.) essays by Bhikkhu Bodhi that offer crisp and illuminating reflections on a wide range of Dhamma topics of immediate relevance to Buddhist practitioners. Drawing on scholarship and scripture, each essay addresses a specific theme concerning basic Theravada Buddhist principles and concepts. Many of these essays serve to clarify and disentangle some crucial points of Dhamma that are frequently misunderstood within the world of popular Buddhism.
Most of these essays are eminently suitable for newcomers to Buddhism and to meditation. A few will be primarily of interest to readers who are closely associated with the BPS and the Sri Lankan Buddhist community. | <urn:uuid:e7ff11f2-4efd-4827-b426-1ad3186539c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jendhamuni.com/handful_leaves/website/lib/bps/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934908 | 135 | 1.609375 | 2 |
NEW DELHI (AP) — Police in India's capital used tear gas and water cannons Saturday to push back thousands of people who tried to march to the presidential mansion to protest the gang rape and brutal beating of a 23-year-old student on a moving bus.
Several protesters suffered injuries when they repeatedly tried to break through steel barricades in a high-security zone in New Delhi. Police fired tear gas and chased the protesters with sticks, and some of the protesters attacked police with stones during sporadic clashes throughout the day.
The see-saw battle became fierce in the evening as a large number of protesters ran toward the nearby parliament building and again targeted police with stones and sticks. Hundreds of police deployed in the area chased them away. The demonstrators later regrouped and lit candles as the dusk fell.
The protesters were demanding the death penalty for all the six suspects who have been arrested by police following the Dec. 16 attack in New Delhi.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that the government would examine this demand expeditiously and announced an official inquiry into last Sunday's rape attack and to suggest measures to improve safety and security of women.
Shinde said five New Delhi police officers have been suspended for lack of prompt action following the rape attack.
He also met a delegation of student demonstrators and urged them to end their protest.
The attack last Sunday sparked days of protests across the country from women demanding authorities take tougher action to protect them against the daily threat of harassment and violence. On Friday, Indian officials announced a broad campaign to protect women in New Delhi.
Some of the protesters Saturday carried placards reading "Save women. Save India" and "Hang the rapists."
V.K. Singh, a retired Indian army chief, joined the protesters and blamed "political and bureaucratic apathy for crimes against women." He demanded immediate police reforms to train and arm security forces.
C.P.N. Singh, a junior home minister, appealed to the demonstrators, who were mostly students, to protest peacefully and avoid vandalizing government property.
"The government is hearing you and taking steps necessary to ensure the safety of women," Singh told reporters.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, a spokesman for the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, however, condemned the police action against the protesters and asked government leaders to talk to them.
The home minister also announced that GPS units will be installed in government buses to prevent them from straying from their allotted routes. Also, bus drivers in New Delhi will be required to display their identification prominently in the vehicles and remove tinting from their windows.
Police reinforcements rushed to the high-security area as the crowds of protesters swelled Saturday morning on the lawns near Parliament House. The area is a high-security zone, with the presidential mansion, the prime minister's office and various ministries located there.
The victim and her companion were attacked after getting a ride on a chartered bus. Police said men on the bus gang-raped the woman and beat her and her companion with iron rods as the bus drove through the city for hours, even passing through police checkpoints. The assailants eventually stripped the pair and dumped them on the side of a road.
The victim is recovering from injuries in a New Delhi government hospital. | <urn:uuid:fdace0ca-307c-4075-9fd2-f996fbd393e1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nwcn.com/news/world/184524361.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968043 | 673 | 1.65625 | 2 |
The cost of doing business in Indiana is among the lowest in the nation, making it one of the most attractive states for operating a business.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has developed comparisons demonstrating just how competitive Indiana's costs are in relation to other states and regions. The reports, available for PDF download at left, compare expenses such as corporate income tax, worker's compensation rates, unemployment insurance, annual wages, and electricity costs.
Indiana is consistently ranked as one of the best states for business by CNBC, Forbes, Chief Executive, and the Tax Foundation.
- The 2012 CNBC rankings list Indiana as the 5th best state for "Business Friendliness", 7th best state for "Cost of Living", 11th best state for "Economy", and 14th for the "Overall Top States for Businesses".
- The 2012 Chief Executive's "Best Place for Business" rankings show Indiana jumping another spot to 5th place nationally from 6th in 2011 and 16th in 2010. Indiana ranks 1st the Midwest making it the only state in the Midwest in this publication's top five states.
- The 2011 Forbes "Best States for Business" rankings list Indiana as the 14th best state for "Cost of Doing Business," making it the 3rd best ranked state in the Midwest.
- The 2012 Tax Foundation "State Business Tax Climate" ranking rates Indiana as the 11th best state in the nation and 1st in the Midwest.
- The 2011 Site Selection magazine "Business Climate" rankings reported Indiana moving to 6th best in the U.S. up from 8th in 2010.
- The 2012 Area Development magazine rated Indiana as the 8th "Top State for Doing Business" in the U.S. In addition, the state ranked 1st in rail and highway accessibility, and in the top 5 in several other categories, including 3rd for states leading in the economic recovery.
Local Tax Rates
Real and personal property tax is assessed at 100 percent of market value. Statewide tax reform occurred in 2008 which significantly cut property taxes and provided permanent protection for both homeowners and businesses. Beginning in 2010, homeowner property taxes were capped at 1 percent of assessed value, and business property taxes were capped at 3 percent of assessed value. The local tax rates listed below are for both real and personal property for the year 2011 payable in 2012. Taxation is charged on each $100 worth of assessed value.
| 2011 Property Tax Rates
| Cities and Towns
| Plymouth (Center Township)
| Plymouth (West Township)
| Argos (Greene Township)
| Argos (Walnut Township)||2.9180|
The median tax rate in Marshall County is 1.45, as compared to 1.95 for all taxing districts in Indiana. Marshall County's tax rate is among the lowest in the state.
Indiana Gross Receipts and Inventory Tax
The state has no gross receipts tax and no inventory tax.
Corporate Income Tax
Indiana's 2012 corporate adjusted gross income tax is calculated at a flat rate of 8.0 percent of adjusted gross income. Adjusted gross income is a company's federal adjusted gross income with certain adjustments. This method of determination simplifies tax calculations for corporations and does not apply to S corporations and nonprofits.
Legislation was approved in early 2010 to reduce this rate 0.5 percent annually starting in 2012 and ending in 2015. This will bring the rate down to 6.5 percent by 2015.
Indiana is phasing in the single-sales factor for apportioning corporate income tax. Indiana had determined its share of an interstate or international corporation’s taxable income by weighing the Indiana portion of a company’s property and the proportion of its employees in Indiana. The single-sales factor will calculate the Indiana portion based solely on the portion of a company’s sales in Indiana. This change is being phased in and will be complete by 2011.
Sales and Use Tax
Indiana’s Sales and Use Tax is tax is calculated at a rate of 7 percent. In manufacturing, the following are exempt from the sales tax: raw materials, equipment, power, electricity, and utilities. Wholesale sales, items used directly in production, and sales made in interstate commerce are exempt. In addition, the purchase of research and development equipment is exempt from the tax.
Individual Income Tax
Indiana’s personal income tax is 3.4 percent of federal adjusted gross income (with certain exemptions and deductions).
1.25 percent resident / 0.25 percent non-resident
In addition to low tax structures resulting in one of the lowest cost states in the nation to operate a business, there are further facts and figures that demonstrate Indiana has cultivated a business environment where companies are poised for success.
Indiana Ranked 3rd in the United States for 2010 GDP Growth
The state Gross Domestic Product grew 4.6% in 2010, which is nearly two times the national rate of 2.6%. Only two states in the nation had a higher growth rate. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
AAA Credit Rating
Indiana's fiscal policy has resulted in the top bond rating from all three major credit rating agencies. Only nine states in the nation have such a rating.
A Right-to-Work State
In early 2012, Indiana became the 23rd right-to-work state in the nation, making it the only right-to-work state in the Midwest. | <urn:uuid:205d633b-eaed-4241-88d4-a8158fbe7925> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marshallcountyedc.org/why-us/cost-of-doing-business-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937937 | 1,110 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Woman who lost grandson saving lives with smoke detectors
There were no smoke detectors, and by the time the fire awakened Mia, it was too intense for her to save her son sleeping at the opposite end of the home. Tyler died of smoke inhalation.
| Messenger photo by Dianne Garrett
|Audrey Watts (right) received the first free smoke detector installed by volunteers accompanying Carolyn Syx (left) canvassing east Columbus neighborhoods June 23. Syx's only grandchild perished in a mobile home fire April 9, 2005. Her goal is assure that no one else loses a life in a home without smoke detectors. The group are members of Christ United Methodist Church.
The grandmother was devastated by her loss, but determined to make an effort to avoid such a tragedy for another family. She has become driven by the memory of the child she describes as a thoughtful, affectionate boy.
"I don't want to see another person die because there was no smoke detector in the home. I miss him so much, and is the only grandchild I will ever have," Syx said.
Syx enlisted the assistance of her fellow members at Christ United Methodist Church on Zettler Road. Earlier in the year they hosted a fundraising spaghetti dinner to purchase smoke detectors for anyone who needed one in the area.
Twenty volunteers gathered on June 23, and took the streets canvassing the neighborhood armed with the life saving devices.
Audrey Watts received the first installation. Her daughter, who was a young mother herself, died this month due to an ailment, not fire related. The two women shared in each other's grief and joys of parenting and grandparenting.
Watts shared that when she was a teen, she escaped a house fire from the third floor. There were no smoke detectors, and fortunately, everyone got out safely, but she agreed that they all would have got out sooner had they been alerted.
"I think what Carolyn is doing is wonderful! I'm appreciative for her gift. If one or two lives can be saved, then it is worth it," Watts said.
Anyone who would like to donate funds or smoke detectors to be given free of charge to those in need, or anyone needing a smoke detector, can call the church office at 231-4568.
Syx and her group are planning another neighborhood canvass during fire prevention week in October.
^ back to top | <urn:uuid:75e2c31a-e7bf-4be6-a4e2-ea96718fef96> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.columbusmessenger.com/print_edition.php?id=59 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981607 | 491 | 1.648438 | 2 |
|Death toll rises to 41 in Venezuela refinery blast|
|Updated 8/27/2012 8:56 PM ET|
Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said a third tank ignited at the Amuay refinery, which has been in flames since Saturday's blast.
Government officials had previously said they had the blaze contained, and the spread to another tank was an apparent setback to their plans to quickly restart the refinery. While a thick column of smoke blew in the wind, Ramirez told reporters the fire was still contained.PHOTOS: Refinery explodes in Venezuela
"There is no risk of a bigger event," Ramirez said, without specifying how much longer it might burn.
Officials have said a gas leak led to the blast, but investigators have yet to determine the precise causes. Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega said at a news conference that 151 people were injured, 33 of whom remain in hospitals.
A 9-year-old girl was missing in the area, Health Minister Eugenia Sader said on television.
Criticisms of the government's response to the gas leak emerged from local residents as well as oil experts. People in neighborhoods next to the refinery said they had no official warning before the explosion hit at about 1 a.m. on Saturday.
"What bothers us is that there was no sign of an alarm. I would have liked for an alarm to have gone off or something," said Luis Suarez, a bank employee in the neighborhood. "Many of us woke up thinking it was an earthquake."
The blast knocked down walls, shattered windows and left streets littered with rubble.
People who live next to the refinery said they smelled strong fumes coming from the refinery starting between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, hours before the blast, but many said they weren't worried because they had smelled such odors before.
Then, a cloud of gas ignited in an area with fuel storage tanks and exploded.
President Hugo Chavez visited the refinery on Sunday. In a televised conversation with the president, one state oil company official said workers had made their rounds after 9 p.m. and hadn't noticed anything unusual. The official said that at about midnight officials detected the gas leak and "went out to the street to block traffic."
"And later something happened that set (it) off," Chavez said. "A spark somewhere."
The disaster occurred little more than a month before Venezuela's upcoming Oct. 7 presidential election. Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said the disaster shouldn't be politicized, but he also strongly criticized a remark by Chavez, who had said "the show should continue, with our pain, with our sorrow, with our victims."
"It seems irresponsible, insensitive… to say 'the show should continue,'" Capriles told reporters in Caracas. The opposition leader also repeated past criticisms about the number of accidents at the state-owned oil company.
"Accidents occur for a reason, and we Venezuelans are expecting there to be a conclusive response, a serious, responsible and transparent investigation, in order to see what the situation was," Capriles said.
Energy analyst Jorge Pinon said the accounts of the hours leading up the explosion raise concerns.
"The fact that the gas leak went undetected for a number of hours and that there was no evacuation alarm (or) order indicates to me that there is a lack of safety related planning and behaviors throughout the complex, and most important in nearby communities," Pinon said.
"The key to refinery safety is not only equipment and maintenance but processes and behaviors," Pinon added, "not only within company employees but also contractors and surrounding communities."
U.S. refineries have also had their share of serious accidents, most recently the destructive blaze at Chevron's refinery in Richmond, California.
Some experts say that U.S. refineries have increasingly used more sensing systems to alert workers to gas leaks, and also have established safety protocols.
In the Houston area, for instance, "there are 10 or 11 different community groups that the various industries meet with frequently. They stay pretty well connected, with a set agenda," said Alex Cuclis, a research scientist at the Houston Advanced Research Center who used to be a refinery engineer.
"They have a phone number to call. And the industry can and occasionally does set off alarms to 'shelter in place,' and most who live in the communities know that means shut off air conditioners so that they aren't bringing in outside air," Cuclis said.
Amuay is among the world's largest refineries and is part of the Paraguana Refining Center, which also includes the adjacent Cardon refinery. Together, the refineries process about 900,000 barrels of crude per day and 200,000 barrels of gasoline.
|Posted 8/27/2012 5:08 PM ET|
|Updated 8/27/2012 8:56 PM ET| | <urn:uuid:a29b8257-b418-46d2-bf93-efd0b500f348> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://content.usatoday.com/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=floridatoday&sParam=57353304.story | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974695 | 1,006 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Here's what may sound like a dumb question but..say I have a project called xxx and then export it as yyy does that mean that xxx project should still be there? IOW is it like doing a "save as" where you now have the original and the saved as one?
Yes and no
, if I understand you correctly.
Aperture is completely non-destructive. It's actually moderately difficult to remove things, particular Images. Conceptually, Aperture is a place for storing, developing, and publishing digital photographs. When you publish (export, print) you in no way change anything inside Aperture except that some actions are recorded as having been done (viz.: "emailed", "exported", "printed", "ordered as print", "ordered as book") -- but you are creating a file or set of files outside of Aperture. ("Export" means "make me an image-format file".)
The answer to your first question is: when you export you must name the files and Finder folders being created, but those names are not applied to any Images or Folders (or Projects or Albums) inside your Aperture Library.
The genius of Aperture is that your Image Adjustments (a/k/a "edits") are saved as text instructions to be applied on-the-fly to your never-altered Master file in order to produce Images as needed. This uses computational power to minimize storage space needs. It is only when you need to share your adjusted Images with other programs (what I refer to as "publish"), that Aperture creates and saves to disk a full-size image-format file.
So, going back your metaphor, it's not so much "Save as ... " as it is (again) "Make me a sharable image-format file" from this pair of digital negative (Master) and adjustment instructions (Version)". | <urn:uuid:703ae15b-52a8-4853-9b3b-c4792e11ef6e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=57717.msg466728 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955926 | 396 | 1.53125 | 2 |
The Power of Pink!
It’s back! The Power of Pink Challenge! I started this challenge last year as a way to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. It seems that now everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer. In honor of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness month, I present this challenge to you:
make something PINK
It can be anything as long as it’s pink. While you’re doing it, think of the people in your life who have been affected by this disease. Do your monthly self-exam or your mammogram. This disease can be beaten especially with early detection and increased awareness.
Here are the rules:
1. Make something, anything, that comes out pink – use any ingredients you want (you can double this up for another Breast Cancer blogging event if you’d like, but it does need to be a new post)
2. Post your pink food by Midnight EST on October 31
3. Include the logo and link back to this post in your post
4. Email me at Jen[at]beantownbaker[dot]com – include:
- Your name and location (city/state/country)
- Name of your blog
- Link to your post
- Picture (or permission to pull one out of your post)
If you don’t have a blog and would like to participate, just send me your information as well as the recipe used and I will post it here for you.
As an added bonus, I will be providing one lucky participant with some fun pink kitchen gear. I will choose a participant at random (using Random.org) to win this prize package: The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book Celebrating the Promise AND Pink Kitchenaid measuring cup/spoon set (sorry international readers, prize is only valid for US shipping addresses). | <urn:uuid:26fed2f1-e560-484b-a7de-b86a315a8466> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.beantownbaker.com/2009/10/power-of-pink.html?showComment=1254518067676 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952879 | 386 | 1.625 | 2 |
The beef check-off program stirred the emotions of many in the livestock industry. It also stirred Madisonville High School's Future Farmers of America to debate the topic as part of their yearly competition.
"Madison County, being such a big farm and ranch county in the state of Texas, we knew we would be affected greatly by the decision, so that's why we chose that topic," said Lindsey Gilmore, one of the team members.
"As a part of our presentation, we tried to come up with a creative way of presenting the arguments in favor of and against the beef check-off program," said Jarrod Reese.
Quite the meaty issue for seven teens to tackle, but in the vein of a courtroom debate, Madisonville's FFA sliced through the competition at the district, area and state levels, carving through dozens of schools. For four of the seven now at Texas A&M, it also consumed a lot of their time.
"We had just left for college, and we had to go back every Sunday," said Wes Bailey. "Every now and then, we'd go back on Saturday and Sunday. It wasn't too bad. The gas prices got really high. We had to start carpooling a lot."
"Our sophomore year, we made it to state, and we got sixth," said Gilmore. "We thought that was the best we could ever do. And this year, when we got first at state, we were really excited."
"Getting to nationals and then winning first place at nationals was almost like a dream state that we were looking up to," Reese said.
But last week in Louisville, Kentucky, the Agricultural Issues team served up a winning presentation, bringing first place back to their small town.
"They're all just really proud of us and what we've done," said Victoria Jackson. "They put it in the paper. We have a little radio station there and it's all over the radio. And if I go back there, there will be tons of people coming up to me telling me how proud they are of me."
For a town their size, a win like theirs is rare, but deserved for a job well done.
Christina Taylor, Randi Standley and Landon Reed are the other three members of that winning team. | <urn:uuid:eb319c21-2ea8-4ac5-97a6-3ac3ee29a23b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/1940267.html?site=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98556 | 471 | 1.539063 | 2 |
- Development & Aid
- Economy & Trade
- Human Rights
- Global Governance
- Civil Society
Monday, May 27, 2013
- Jacob Zuma, the South African president, has acknowledged that corruption and violence have marred the image of the African National Congress (ANC) under his watch, but called on members to again support him to be the party’s leader.
The ANC, once a liberation movement that started a century ago to fight apartheid, has been governing South Africa for 18 years and faces increasing criticism in this nation of 50 million people that’s the continent’s top economy.
Some 4,000 delegates gathered on Sunday for the start of the party’s Mangaung conference, being held in the city also known as Bloemfontein, and listened to Zuma offer occasionally candid comments about the party’s issues.
Still, Zuma made promises and said his government remained on track to change South Africa, attempting to appeal to delegates who will decide whether Zuma or his quiet deputy Kgalema Motlanthe should take charge of the party.
Beset by problems
In his opening address at the ANC conference to choose its leadership for the next five years, Zuma said two downgrades by international ratings agencies this year did not mean South Africa was in trouble.
“We want to dismiss the perceptions that our country is falling apart because of the downgrades,” he said. “We continue to do our development work, we continue to plan for a recovery.”
At the conference, Zuma, 70, is expected to garner enough support to head off the challenge to his party chief post from Motlanthe.
Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from Bloemfontein, said that Zuma’s opening speech on Sunday and the commencement of the conference had been delayed to discuss member grievances of vote-rigging and other irregularities.
Party members raised issues of bogus delegates and were concerned that people were being given entry tags that gain them access to the conference, an invitation only event. These problems had not been resolved, said Mutasa.
Zuma arrived to a warm welcome from his supporters and some calls for change from the periphery of the gathering. He opened the conference with song in which he praised the country’s ailing former president, Nelson Mandela.
“Public spats, shouting from podiums, if one partner is unhappy with the other, will do little to build alliance,” he told the crowd.
The conference which will run over five days and ends on Friday, will primarily determine the top leadership of the party, and the likely president of the country due to its party-election process.
On Sunday night, delegates are to nominate their preferred candidates for the ANC top six officials. The electoral commission is to then officially reveal who had accepted nomination.
Preliminary voting has put the incumbent well ahead of his rival in the leadership stakes to remain in power after the country’s 2014 elections, but he is expected to face tough criticism for failures in his term.
*Published under an agreement with Al Jazeera. | <urn:uuid:e416d457-5444-4467-abdc-7c1bd4719bc3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/12/zuma-seeks-anc-leadership-at-party-summit/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971872 | 657 | 1.742188 | 2 |
President Barack Obama's supporters, incredulous at their candidate's defeat in last night's debate, and worried about the September jobs report, are reaching for phony economic arguments across the networks and social media today. Some are familiar arguments from Obama's own talking points in 2008 and again in 2012, and it would seem Obama himself actually believes them. There is only one problem: they are completely false.
John Merline of Investors Business Daily tackles the top five--and, with a bit of paraphrasing, here they are:
5. The Bush tax cuts caused the recession/deficit. This is what Obama means when he warns voters about the "policies of the past." But the recession was triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis, in which Democrat policies going back to Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were major factors. In fact, after 2005, during the height of the Bush expansion (2002-6), tax revenues were up from their pre-tax levels. And after 2003, deficits declined until the recession--and the return of Democrats, and their high-spending ways, to positions of power.
4. Obama stopped a second Great Depression. The worst was over when Obama took office, and the rebound was under way--until Obama stopped it with the heavy hand of Obamacare and other interventions. The stimulus failed, the auto bailout was a wash, "green" jobs sputtered, and Obama's enormous debts created new economic threats. Those sectors of the economy that are performing best--such as the booming shale natural gas and domestic oil industries are those in which Obama has been unable to intrude very far. (Yet.)
3. A slow recovery was inevitable. Well, yes, if you consider that we elected a left-wing Democrat who wanted to "spread the wealth around" rather than focusing on jobs and economic growth. But the jury is still out on whether financial collapses are followed by slow recoveries. And one thing is clear: the Obama administration predicted rapid economic growth, including an unemployment rate that would not rise above 8% with Obama's policies. The Obama campaign only adopted its new line once its record of failure had become clear.
2. Obama's policies are working. The only one President Obama dares mention is the auto bailout--which is working so well that General Motors is laying off thousands of workers and the government refuses to sell its shares lest it absorb a massive loss. Meanwhile, the non-union workers who were cheated out of their pensions while Obama gave the unions a big piece of the pie before sending the company to bankruptcy court may beg to differ. Household incomes have dropped, joblessness is alarming, dependence on government is increasing.
1. Nobody could have done better. This is the line that Clinton--who certainly did better--is being wheeled out to promote, though he knows the truth. No recovery from a deep recession has even been this weak, or this slow. In fact, nearly everyone has done better than Obama since the Second World War. With all the positive spin on bad economic data he could possibly have hoped for, with a (now disbanded) dream team of economic advisers, Obama still could not make the right choices. The truth is that no one could have done worse. | <urn:uuid:ccc7eed2-a596-4197-8072-023d606090e9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/04/Top-5-False-Economic-Ideas-Believed-by-Obama-and-His-Supporters | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975682 | 656 | 1.601563 | 2 |
The IRS made another stop at the plant today to take a sample of material from a batch they had sampled before but had failed their initial test for oxidative stability.
I have spoken numerous times before on the importance of fuel quality. Quality concerns border on obsession in our plant. We are engaged in the work of building our quality and environmental management systems as I write this.
We were able to correct this particular fuel quality problem by dosing with a commonly used oxidation stability agent. Of the many issues that can arise in commercial-scale biodiesel production, oxidative stability is easiest to solve.
But the issue I am struggling with is not the ease of solution but our curent lack of a lab equipped with a GC or gas chromatograph. Gas chromatographs are generally used to test the purity of a substance, and generally are thought of as required devices for any mature biodiesel lab.
And so as I stood witness to the sample being taken I also made a vow to work hard on maturing our lab in the form of better equipment to match the incredible set of processes that are evolving and taking root in the plant itself.
Make it a better place, | <urn:uuid:d52dbd01-03af-4cd4-a20d-cdb5db4b218c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://prometheanbiofuels.com/blog/?m=200906 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965376 | 240 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Annual Report 200102/01/2002
- 1. Introduction
- 2.1 Priorities of Inspections Performed in 2001
- 2.2 Overall Surveys of Results of Control
- 2.3 Results of Controls of the Microbiological Requirements
- 2.4 Results of Analyses for Contaminants
- 2.5 Controls of Labelling and Quality
- 2.6 Thematic and Extraordinary Inspections
- 2.6.1 Inspections focusing on food safety
- 2.6.2 Inspections focused on adulterations
- 2.6.3 Complex and other inspections
- 2.7 Inspections in production
- 2.8 Inspections in trade network
- 2.9 Suggestions
- 2.10 Penalties
- 3 Laboratory Activities
- 4 Certification Activities
- 5 Internal Information System
- 6 Personnel Training
- 7 Activities in the Field of Legislation
- 8 Cooperation with Other Authorities and Institutions
- 9 International Relations
- 10 Public Relations
- 11 Conclusion
- 12 Abbreviations and Explanations
In 2001 the CAFIA inspectors carried out altogether 8,080 inspections of the producers, in which the total of 4,450 premises (places of production) were inspected, of which some repeatedly. From the perspective of commodities, the highest number of inspections took place in bakeries, producers of cold meals and pastries. This corresponds with the number of registrations made by CAFIA: at the date of December 31, 2001, the total of 2,364 producers of bakery products; 1,414 producers of pastries and 1,369 producers of cold meals were registered.
In most cases the inspections focused on the determination of critical points, i.e. the identification whether the producers complied with the requirements laid down in the Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture No. 147/998. Furthermore, the inspections focused on the control of food safety, quality, implementation of the imposed actions and compliance with the requirements for hygienic conditions.
The number of inspections focusing on the food safety and carried out in production reached the total of 2,745. The breached requirements for food safety were identified in 204 inspections (i.e. 7.4 %), most frequently relating to pastries (49 inspections), followed by cold meals (29 inspections) and bakery products (13 inspections).
The HACCP system verification was carried out in 6,042 inspections. It is clear from the obtained results that 68.2 % of the assessed production premises fully complied with the requirements of the implementing provision relating to the HACCP system. Some non-conformances were identified in the remaining 31.8 % (the system was either missing completely or was in different phases of progress). The commodities such as beer, edible salt, fresh fruit, soft drinks, foodstuffs for special dietary uses and cereals were classified among the lines of business with the highest share of compliances in the production processes. On the contrary, the commodities such as the production of chocolate, sweets, pastries, ice cream and bakery products were included among the lines of business with the highest share of non-conformances identified in the production process.
When a non-conformance was identified within the scope of inspections of critical points the adequate actions were imposed. The periods given to remove the non-conformances were set with respect to the specific situation so that they could be feasible for the producer. The priority objective was to provide for the adherence to requirements laid down in the implementing provision and for the improvement of the overall situation, not to impose a penalty.
It is evident from the results of HACCP control obtained at the date of December 31, 2001, that the situation notably improved compared to the previous period, i.e. at the date of 31 December 2000, when the same inspections identified 26.1 % of productions without problems and non-conformances in 73.9 % of production processes. | <urn:uuid:717c9f76-169a-47d5-a2eb-2f0c60b029cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.szpi.gov.cz/en/docDetail.aspx?docid=1004739&docType=ART&nid=11820&chnum=11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94588 | 814 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Bring the babykillers home
This site keeps getting shut down
by the CIA/Mossad/MI5,6 axis of evil
( or whoever the powers are ).
It will not last long so if anyone
who likes this excellent site has
the capability or time to copy the whole
site soon before it gets axed forever
please do so. rushdoony
American Terrorism is American Tradition
HOME • Chronology of Terror • Bibliographies • Valuable Websites • About This Site • SITE MAP
ACTION • NEWS • Solutions • Candles in the darkness • Revealing Quotes 1 2 3 4 • Letters • SEARCH
Support our troops?
To HELL with the
Bring the babykillers home —
to face war-crimes trials.
The greatest acts of terrorism are not committed by furtive gangs of masked desperados in foreign lands. The most horrific acts of terrorism in world history have always been committed by governments and their militaries.
The totally satanic military-government of the United States of America has committed massive acts of international terrorism and brutal genocide — from 1899 to the present day.
Official FBI definition of terrorism:
“Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”
Even by its own definition the hypocrite U.S. government is guilty of terrorism — on a massive, international scale. And for over 100 years!
The U.S. government has broken international law and the Geneva Convention many times with its brutal use of force and horrific violence against persons and property, to intimidate and coerce governments, civilian populations, and many segments thereof, in furtherance of political, social and especially economic objectives.
“If ‘terrorism’ means ‘intimidation by violence or the threat of violence,’ and if we allow the definition to include violence by states and agents of states, then it is these, not isolated individuals or small groups, that are the important terrorists in the world.
“If terrorist violence is measured by the extent of politically motivated torture and murder, ...it is in the U.S.-sponsored and protected ‘authoritarian’ states — the real terror network — that these forms of violence have reached a high crescendo in recent decades.”
— Edward S. Herman
The Real Terror Network
“If certain acts of violation of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or whether Germany [or Israel] does them, and we are not prepared to lay down a rule of criminal conduct against others which we would not be willing to have invoked against us.”
— Robert Jackson
Nuremberg War-Crimes Trial
If another Nuremberg war-crimes trial could be held today, America and its partners in crime would be the primary defendants. But America rules the world like a mafia, so there will be no justice until it is defeated. In the meantime, total hypocrisy and blatant double standards are the order of the day. The utterly lawless U.S. government is the biggest rogue state on Earth. Every crime of terrorism American politicians accuse other nations or groups of committing, America is itself guilty of committing, and ten thousand times more so. The genocidal United States is the hub of the real “axis of evil”.
The United States Government
Committed the September 11 Attacks
In fact, our own evil government would have borne the ultimate responsibility for the disaster even if foreign terrorists actually had carried it out.
If the homicidal psychopaths of the United States military-government didn’t have the nasty habit of mass-murdering innocent civilian men, women and children around the world, there wouldn’t be anybody who wanted revenge.
But if foreign terrorists had planned and perpetrated the September 11 attacks they would have to be the best friends the U.S. government ever had. Who benefitted enormously from the carnage of September 11? The American plutocracy, the oil and weapons industries, the criminal Bush regime and its allies in the terrorist state of Israel. They had everything to gain and nothing to lose from this act of barbarism against the American people. And the evidence which has emerged since then makes it absolutely certain that the ruling elites within the U.S. military-government were indeed the ultimate authors of the September 11 attacks.
This will come as no great surprise if you are familiar with the true history of the United States. The U.S. military-government has committed several brutal genocides around the world since 1899, totalling millions of civilian men, women and children.
America’s rulers are inhuman. They have never had the slightest remorse for these horrific crimes against humanity. Once you know these basic (but heavily censored) historical/political facts of life, you will also know that America’s ruling elite have more than enough ruthlessness to slaughter thousands of American people too. The 9-11 carnage has provided the overwhelming mass-media propaganda needed by the ruling elite to sell American taxpayers on the idea of unending wars for world domination — and a police-state at home which will crush all domestic opposition.
The criminal Bush regime needs endless war to neutralize steadily growing opposition to its lawless behavior, and to carry out a long-planned military/economic takeover of the oil-rich Caspian Sea basin, Central Asia and the Middle East. This could never be accomplished without a massive corporate-media propaganda campaign to fool Americans into supporting an unending, hypocritical and utterly phony “war on terrorism”.
There is no “war on terrorism”. There is only the U.S. military-government’s perennial war of terrorism, state terrorism, which slaughters innocent people all over the world, outside the U.S. and within it. The thousands of American people in the World Trade Center towers joined the ranks of the millions of people whom our government and military have brutally butchered for over 100 years.
The ruling elites within the U.S. military-government planned, ordered and supported the September 11 terror attacks.
Here are eleven facts, among many others, which support this conclusion:
Some very revealing criminal insider trading took place on Wall Street the week before September 11, 2001. Somebody actually made millions of dollars from the death of thousands of people at the WTC. The specific type of insider trading, and the people and banks involved, provide very strong circumstantial evidence that wealthy individuals allied with the CIA had prior knowledge of the World Trade Center attack.
Most revealing of all is the fact that not a single U.S. Air Force jet fighter was scrambled from Andrews Air Force Base — which is only 10 miles from the Pentagon — even a full hour after the first WTC tower was hit. Andrews AFB is charged with defending Washington D.C.’s airspace. Yet the U.S. Air Force allowed an aircraft to fly freely on an unauthorized flight path through tightly controlled airspace, descend rapidly in a tight spiral, and finally come screaming in over the treetops to slam into the Pentagon.
Definitely not acceptable behavior for an aircraft in controlled airspace over Washington D.C.
It was absolutely established, standard procedure for the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard to rapidly intercept any off-course aircraft within controlled airspaces, and to shoot them down if necessary. Therefore, somebody at the highest level of the U.S. government ordered Andrews AFB — and all the other U.S.A.F. and National Guard fighter squadrons from Boston to New York to Washington D.C. — to stand down and allow the WTC and the Pentagon to be hit. On the Army side, interestingly.
The Bush regime is suppressing evidence and testimony which links the terrorist state of Israel to the 9-11 attacks.
“Evidence linking these Israelis to 9-11 is classified. I cannot tell you about evidence that has been gathered. It’s classified information.”
— U.S. official
quoted in Carl Cameron’s Fox News report
on the Israeli spy ring and its connections to 9-11
Not only did the Israelis have prior knowledge of the 9-11 attacks, they were closely involved in their implementation as well. Mossad is skilled in carrying out what are known as “false-flag operations” or “false-flag recruitments”. These are terror attacks which the Israelis covertly sponsor or directly commit while making it look like the work of Arabs. False-flag operations create enormous propaganda benefits that could never be acquired in any less ruthless way.
The U.S. military-government is well aware of these facts. It is also aware of the fact that the Israeli Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies have had an extensive spy network within the United States for as long as Israel has existed. Jonathan Pollard was just one of the few who were caught and punished.
Referring to Israel as “country A”, a General Accounting Office investigation stated:
“According to a U.S. intelligence agency, the government of country A conducts the most aggressive espionage operations against the U.S. of any U.S. ally.”
A very important four-part Fox News report was aired on December 11-14, 2001. It revealed that in the months prior to September 11, “as many as 140 Israelis had been detained or arrested in a secretive and sprawling investigation into suspected espionage by Israelis in the United States.” Immediately after September 11, at least 60 more Israelis were arrested or detained for questioning. The report stated:
“A handful of active Israeli military were among those detained, according to investigators, who say some of the detainees also failed polygraph questions when asked about alleged surveillance activities against and in the United States.”
The Fox News report said the investigation just prior to 9-11 found that some Israeli spies posed as “art students” who targeted and penetrated military bases, the DEA, FBI and dozens of government facilities, and even secret offices and unlisted private homes of law enforcement and intelligence personnel. The majority of those questioned stated they served in Israeli military intelligence, electronic surveillance intercept and or explosive ordnance units.”
In the first part of the report, Brit Hume asked reporter Carl Cameron:
“Carl, what about this question of advance knowledge of what was going to happen on 9-11? How clear are investigators that some Israeli agents may have known something?”
“It’s very explosive information, obviously, and there’s a great deal of evidence that they say they have collected — none of it necessarily conclusive. It’s more when they put it all together. A bigger question, they say, is how could they not have known? Almost a direct quote.”
Comverse Infosys is an Israeli telecommunications company with offices throughout the U.S. Comverse provides wiretapping equipment for American law enforcement agencies. U.S. government investigators strongly suspect, however, that Comverse has placed a “back door” in the equipment through which U.S. government wiretaps can be intercepted by the Israeli government. And incredibly, the FBI and other agencies are forbidden to do anything about it! The Fox report stated:
“But investigators within the DEA, INS and FBI have all told Fox News that to pursue or even suggest Israeli spying through Comverse is considered career suicide.
“And sources say that while various FBI inquiries into Comverse have been conducted over the years, they’ve been halted before the actual equipment has ever been thoroughly tested for leaks.”
That is a very clear indication of the supreme power of the Zionist segment of the American plutocracy. They can prevent and even halt an FBI investigation of the highest importance, one that is critical to national security. The Zionist plutocracy rules the U.S. government at the highest levels.
Cameron reported further:
“And what troubles investigators most, particularly in New York, in the counterterrorism investigation of the World Trade Center attack, is that on a number of cases, suspects that they had sought to wiretap and surveil immediately changed their telecommunications processes. They started acting much differently as soon as those supposedly secret wiretaps went into place.”
So certain people who were being investigated by the U.S. government in relation to 9-11 knew they were being wiretapped. And the wiretap equipment is essentially bugged by the Israeli government. And the FBI is not permitted to debug the equipment!
It couldn’t get any more obvious — unless Ariel Sharon, Alan Greenspan and “Lord” Rothschild were to march into the White House and give ol’ G.W. the bum’s rush out the front door, live, on prime-time T.V. No wonder people call the U.S. Congress “Israeli occupied territory”. It’s beyond disgusting.
As the FOX News report aired there was the predictable, indignant, self-righteous outcry from the all-powerful Zionist lobby in America. On Dec. 21, 2001, Forward, a Jewish community newspaper in New York, reported gleefully that FOX News and Cameron were “under fire”, and it bragged that the FOX story had been buried by the mainstream media.
“There are no important media outlets in the U.S. that are not owned or controlled by Jews.”
— Israel Shamir
in his article “Midas Ears”
(Note: Israel Shamir is a decent, conscientious man. His statement, unlike those of Forward, is meant not as an ethnocentric boast, but as a wake-up call.)
Put in his servile place by the overwhelming political power of the Zionist plutocracy, Rupert Murdoch of Fox News obediently dropped the story and pulled the transcript of Cameron’s broadcast reports off Fox’s web site. The transcript was replaced with the message: “this story no longer exists”.
All the Israeli spies who were caught were eventually allowed to leave the country and go back to Israel — even though they were under suspicion for being involved in some way with the terror attacks of 9-11! Who controls this country? People who protect Israeli spies. People who don’t care about American lives. That can only mean the Zionist-Jewish plutocracy.
Meanwhile, powerless brown-skinned people all over America who had absolutely nothing to do with 9-11 were terrorized and even murdered by psychotic flag-wavers, just for being Arab, or for looking like Arabs, or even, as with Indian Sikhs, for wearing a turban. And the brain-dead, racist flag-wavers were egged on by the racist, Zionist-Jewish controlled media.
Powerless people in Afghanistan and prisoners in the U.S. Navy concentration camp at Guantanamo who had absolutely nothing to do with 9-11 have been tortured and beaten to death by brainwashed U.S. Marines, Army soldiers and soulless CIA agents.
And the whole nation of Iraqi people — half of them under the age of 15 — who also had nothing to do with 9-11, are now being terrorized and murdered under imperial American military occupation after the invasion, because America wants their oil and their servitude and they refused to grovel before the American Beast. And because racist, terrorist Israel wants them enslaved or dead. Forget justice. Forget truth. Forget human decency. Zionist-Jewish power is what rules America. Even Ariel Sharon openly admits it. And brutal power is how America rules the world. Bestial, satanic power.
All these outrages are by no means the only major 9-11 stories linked to Israelis, stories that have been suppressed or ignored by the Zionist-Jewish owned-and-controlled “news” media in America. Consider the following:
On September 12, 2001, The Jerusalem Post printed an article titled: “Thousands of Israelis missing near WTC”.
“The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem has so far received the names of 4,000 Israelis believed to have been in the areas of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon at the time of the attack.”
4,000 was the number compiled from reports by Israeli relatives who contacted the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the first few hours after the attack. They gave the names of their Israeli friends and relatives who worked in the WTC or who had business scheduled in it or its adjacent structures on that day.
So how many Israelis actually died in the World Trade Center on September 11?
Out of over 2,800 people killed, not one was Israeli. Zero, out of 4000 possible Israelis working in or near the WTC as reported by The Jerusalem Post. Zero Israelis, in the greatest center of worldwide Zionist-Jewish financial power, when over 80 different nationalities were among those killed.
The Israelis were warned ahead of time, by Mossad.
One of the means was through Odigo, an Israeli instant-messaging company that had offices in both the World Trade Center and Israel. The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported that two Odigo employees received anonymous text-message warnings about a World Trade Center attack two hours before it happened.
How about that? In all the 9-11 hysteria another bit of actual news got past the censors. Shucks, can’t win ’em all, eh? No problem though, the corporate mass-media just buried the story in the back pages or ignored it altogether. Like all the other stories which didn’t fit the Official Version. Damage control is so easy when you own the mass-media. All the more so when the dumbed-down, brainwashed, flag-waving masses of “goyim” couldn’t connect the dots if their lives depended on it.
If a story got past the censors about two Odigo employees being warned, you can bet that many, many others were warned also.
Zim Israel Navigational, for instance. This is the 9th largest shipping company in the world, with over 80 vessels. It’s an Israeli government run company which had 200 employees in the World Trade Center. One week before 9-11, Zim Israel Navigational moved all its employees out of the World Trade Center. “We felt so lucky!” said company spokesman Dan Nadler.
No kidding! Gosh, an amazing number of Israelis got “lucky” on September 11.
Another 9-11 outrage buried in the Zionist-Jewish owned-and-controlled media is the story about the five Israeli men who were seen laughing and cheering on a roof top as they watched the World Trade Center burn. They worked for a Mossad front company in New York called “Urban Moving Systems”. Witnesses reported them to the local police and the Israelis were soon found driving their van and stopped. Inside the van were box cutters, $4,700 in cash stuffed in a sock and multiple passports.
Assuming the American police were retarded “goyim”, the Israeli driver of the van tried to deflect police suspicion from his group:
“We are Israelis,” he said. “We are not your problem. Your problems are our problems. The Palestinians are your problem.”
His lame ploy didn’t work. At least not with the police, who arrested the formerly ecstatic Israelis. Geez, what a come down. From the exalted heights of Zionist victory to the pits of a New York jail cell in just an hour or two. Bummer. Scary to be on the powerless side for a change, isn’t it? But not to worry! The Zionist cavalry came to the rescue. Somebody with a lot more power than the police pulled a few strings, and the five Israelis were eventually released and allowed to return to Israel.
The owner of “Urban Moving Systems” was a Mossad agent named Dominik Suter. He was never arrested, refused all comment, and was allowed to leave the United States and flee to Israel.
All of this screams the fact that the Zionist-Jewish plutocracy is in control of the United States government, just as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon boasted:
“Every time we do something, you [Shimon Peres] tell me America will do this and will do that... I want to tell you something very clear: Don’t worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it.”
— Ariel Sharon
Israeli Prime Minister
Knesset, Tel Aviv, October 3, 2001
The Zionist-Jewish plutocracy that rules America is basically treasonous, being more loyal to the state of Israel than to America. They are perfectly happy to sponsor terrorist attacks in the U.S. in which thousands of Americans are killed. Particularly when that terrorist attack has incalculable propaganda value in support of Israel and its state terrorist policies.
Here’s another critically important little news item buried and ignored by the Zionist controlled mass-media:
The very day before 9-11, on September 10, 2001, The Washington Times ran a story about a 68-page study issued by the U.S. Army School for Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), an elite Army officer’s school. The study detailed the dangers that would be faced by a U.S. Army occupation force in the Middle East. The Washington Times article stated:
Of the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, the SAMS officers say:
“Wildcard. Ruthless and cunning. Has capability to target U.S. forces and make it look like a Palestinian/Arab act.”
If Zionists didn’t control the American mass-media, this story would be front page news from coast to coast. If Zionists didn’t control the U.S. government, the SAMS study would be the subject of a major Congressional investigation.
The U.S. Army SAMS assessment is confirmed by Andreas von Bülow, a high-ranking German government official involved in overseeing the German secret service. He too believes that Mossad and the U.S. government are behind the September 11 attacks. Von Bülow said the attacks were carried out to turn public opinion against the Arabs and to boost military and security spending.
But Mossad isn’t the only state terrorist organization that has a lot of experience with false-flag operations. The CIA also uses this tactic for purposes of propaganda. As von Bülow said:
“Ninety-five percent of the work of the intelligence agencies around the world is deception and disinformation.”
And in America this CIA disinformation is always widely propagated in the Zionist-Jewish controlled corporate media, routinely creating totally illusory but widely-believed versions of events.
On the day of the WTC attacks, while Americans were shocked and mournful, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a hard time hiding his glee. (Although he did a lot better job than his five compatriots in New York.) Asked what the attacks would mean for U.S.-Israeli relations, his quick reply was a bit careless:
“It’s very good... Well, it’s not good, but it will generate immediate sympathy [for Israel].”
Of course it’s very good! No need to correct yourself, Benjamin. Who cares about the death and suffering of thousands of Americans? They’re nothing but goyim! Israelis are all that count.
And the Zionist corporate/banking plutocracy which rules America is composed of violently evil, racist slime just like Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon.
The Israeli Connection To 9-11
Fox News Special Report: Israeli Spying on the U.S.
Massive Israeli Spy Ring Linked to September 11
9-11, Mossad, the CIA and “False Flag Operations”
9-11 Was a Mossad “False Flag Operation”
The U.S. Air Force does have the technological ability to electronically hijack large jet aircraft and guide them by remote control — if the necessary hardware and software are pre-installed in the target aircraft.
The alleged “suicide hijackers” were not flying the four jets. Their names and photographs were merely used as part of a false-flag operation for propaganda purposes. All the hijacked jets were flown with a far higher level of skill than the alleged hijackers possessed. In particular, whoever was actually guiding the aircraft that hit the Pentagon had the skill of a military jet fighter pilot.
Here’s how world-renowned author Gore Vidal describes it:
“At 9:35, this plane conducts another turn, 360 [degrees] over the Pentagon, all the while being tracked by radar, and the Pentagon is not evacuated, and there are still no fast-movers from the Air Force in the sky over Alexandria and DC.
“Now the real kicker: a pilot they want us to believe was trained at a Florida puddle-jumper school for Piper Cubs and Cessnas, conducts a well-controlled downward spiral descending the last 7,000 feet in two-and-a-half minutes, brings the plane in so low and flat that it clips the electrical wires across the street from the Pentagon, and flies it with pinpoint accuracy into the side of the building at 460 knots.”
The Bush regime is lying about what hit the Pentagon. It has something to hide here too.
Not only was the aircraft that hit the Pentagon flown in the tightly maneuverable manner of a jet fighter, it was also about the size of one, or smaller. Whatever it actually was, it was definitely not a big commercial jet airliner like a Boeing 757.
Immediately after impact, the damage to the side of the Pentagon was quite narrow compared to the wingspan of a 757, and there was relatively little debris outside. The wide green lawn looked almost spotless in aerial photos. The photographic evidence indicates that the initial hole punched in the Pentagon was only about 10 ft. high with a similar width. (See photos and diagrams at links below.)
Whatever hit the Pentagon not only punched a relatively small hole, it went inside only as far as one ring. Each ring at the Pentagon is 50 ft. wide, measured from the outer wall toward the inside. This is quite a bit less than the 155 ft. length of a 757, and yet there was no tail section or mass of aircraft debris outside the Pentagon. Of course there must have been some degree of compression of the aircraft on impact, but even so I would think that with a 155 ft. long jet airliner penetrating only 50 ft. into the building, there should still be a lot more aircraft debris visible outside. And most inexplicable of all, there was very little aircraft debris inside the Pentagon!
Some try to at least explain the narrow hole by saying the wings “folded back” against the fuselage on impact. But others say that is a structural impossibility. And even if one imagines that the “folded” wings and fuselage could penetrate through such a narrow hole, then where was the great mass of aircraft debris inside the Pentagon?
At a September 12 press conference held at the Pentagon, Arlington County Fire Chief Ed Plaugher was asked by a journalist:
“Is there anything left of the aircraft at all?”
Chief Plaugher replied:
“First of all, the question about the aircraft, there are some small pieces of aircraft visible from the interior during this fire-fighting operation I’m talking about, but not large sections. In other words, there’s no fuselage sections and that sort of thing. You know, I’d rather not comment on that.”
When asked by a journalist: “Where is the jet fuel?”, Plaugher said:
“We have what we believe is a puddle right there that the — what we believe is to be the nose of the aircraft. So —”
A huge, fuel-laden, commercial jet airliner flying at hundreds of miles an hour would have knocked out a much bigger hole, penetrated much farther, left a great deal of aircraft debris inside and outside the Pentagon and created a lot more fire damage.
See http://www.bosankoe.btinternet.co.uk/ and http://www.asile.org/citoyens/numero13/pentagone/erreurs_en.htm
for compelling photographic evidence that the Pentagon was obviously not hit by a large, commercial jet airliner. Whatever actually hit the Pentagon was definitely much smaller, like a jet fighter or a missile.
The criminal Bush regime is lying to us about what hit the Pentagon, just as it is lying about everything else connected to 9-11.
Along with the Israelis, the Bush regime had prior knowledge of the impending 9-11 attacks.
Even the mainstream mass-media, FBI agents from Minneapolis, Minnesota like Coleen Rowley, FBI agents in Phoenix, Arizona, and a few members of Congress like Rep. Cynthia McKinney have publicized evidence and testimony that the criminal Bush regime had plenty of prior knowledge of plans for the September 11 attacks. They revealed that the Bush regime brushed off warnings from the intelligence services of foreign governments and even suppressed investigations by FBI agents.
When this bombshell was finally made public, desperate defenders of the indefensible entertained the world with laughable spin, portraying America’s criminal rulers as innocent children with coloring books who simply failed to “connect the dots”. Of course it’s true that Unpresident Gee Dubbya would certainly prefer a nice, simple, non-verbal, connect-the-dots coloring book rather than struggle with all those big words in some boring ol’ FBI report. But the war criminals who are actually running this country are a little more competent than that.
Their absurdly lame excuses may be entertaining, but the implication of their foreknowledge and their suppression of an FBI investigation is as deadly serious as it is obvious: the ruling elites within the U.S. government were the ultimate authority behind the 9-11 attacks.
Even with the above revelations, some people still can’t believe the Bush regime would be so bold as to carry out the attacks itself. They figure the regime merely saw the attacks coming and did nothing to stop them since it had so much to gain. This is no more credible than the “connect-the-dots” spin, however. The fact that the Bush regime suppressed an FBI investigation and brushed off international warnings indicates that they are a lot more than passive spectators. America’s criminal rulers are a very aggressive bunch. They didn’t get control of The World’s Lone Remaining Superpower in the first place by being passive spectators of world events. America’s genocidal foreign policy and the hijacked election of 2000 are evidence enough of that. Since these war criminals are actively suppressing public investigations of the subsequent hijackings committed on 9-11-2001, it is highly probable that they were actively involved in planning and executing them also.
The attacks were just too overwhelmingly beneficial to the Bush regime, and indeed, critically needed, for them not to be intimately and aggressively involved. The 9-11 attacks came at just the time the unelected Bush regime needed them:
to neutralize the growing political challenges within the U.S. to its criminality and illegitimacy;
to stimulate the failing American economy with infusions of blood-soaked cash through U.S. military-government spending — paid for with the lives of innocent people in America, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Colombia and many other parts of the world;
most essential of all, to provide the propaganda excuse for the military conquest of oil-rich Central Asia, which the American plutocracy had been planning for at least ten years. The bogus “war on terrorism” will also be used to attempt the final enslavement of the Iraqi people and the entire Middle East in order to get total control of its oil.
Bush & 911 Foreknowledge
The illegitimate Bush regime is very publicly, aggressively covering up all evidence and testimony which points to its complicity in the 9-11 attacks.
Revelations of the Bush regime’s complicity would not be particularly helpful to their campaign of hysterical, flag-waving propaganda, used to mindlessly “justify” the unjustifiable — the obscenely hypocritical state terrorism which has followed 9-11. Particularly since that American state terrorism has been committed against innocent Afghan and Iraqi civilian men, women and children who had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the September 11 attacks.
So the lapdog U.S. Congress stalled the beginning of their official “investigation” until June 2002 — for almost nine months — while thousands of Afghan men, women and deadly terrorist children were slaughtered by the heroic U.S. military to make the world safe for Hypocrisy. At last the ravaged Afghan nation was happily enslaved to The Land of the Free, and the Stars n’ Stripes waved triumphantly in the breeze above the dismembered bodies of terrorist Afghan infants.
Once America’s latest service to mankind was accomplished, however, even some of the patriotic sheeple were becoming increasingly curious as to how the supreme military power of the world could have been shaken to it’s very foundations by a little group of men armed with plastic knives and boxcutters.
By 2002 the initial mass-orgy of patriotism and self-righteous intoxication was definitely waning, like all those cheap little American-flag stickers on cars and trucks and gas-guzzling SUVs, steadily fading in the sunlight of reality. America was beginning to feel the souring effects of a national hangover, and it was essential therefore to refill the hollow spaces of the flag-wavers’ simian skulls, to inject their All-American veins with renewed doses of the Official Version of unreality. Congress, at last, had to risk some semblance of hearings — which are nevertheless being held mostly behind closed doors, with the evidence kept secret, the testimony kept secret and even the findings to be kept secret. Really inspires confidence, doesn’t it?
In the meantime, people who are still stupid and corrupt enough to take the corporate mass-media seriously at all have had their compliant little minds thoroughly programmed by the unceasing farce of hysterical, propagandistic trial-by-media, and of course this will continue. The long-delayed Congressional hearings will be used merely to reinforce the official coverup of U.S. government complicity in the September 11 attacks.
After the Pearl Harbor attack there was an immediate, well-publicized, sham investigation which scapegoated the two commanding officers, an Admiral and a General, blaming them for “negligence”. (They were posthumously exonerated, long after the damage was done.) So it’s the standard M.O. of the criminal U.S. government to have at least the appearance of a big, public “investigation” of something as monumental as the 9-11 attacks. And yet they can’t do even that. Thanks to information made available worldwide all over the Internet, the official coverup has been such a challenge that they had to stall for almost nine months to begin even secret Congressional hearings. Pathetic.
If foreign terrorists had been responsible for the September 11 attacks it would have been the greatest intelligence failure in U.S. history. Yet, after all this time, no U.S. government officials or agencies have been held responsible — even though somebody at a very high level ordered Andrews and several other Air Force bases to stand down and allow the WTC towers and the Pentagon to be hit. The official Congressional “investigation” will, in all likelihood, scapegoat a few hapless mid-level officials, while letting the highest-level criminals go free, as always.
There will never be any honest, public, official investigation of the September 11 attacks. The criminals in control of this country have too much to hide.
Criminal hoaxes have been planned and perpetrated several times before to provide the essential propaganda to launch a U.S. war:
In 1962, following the “Bay of Pigs” debacle, U.S. military leaders had a plan for committing terrorist acts against Americans in Miami and elsewhere, while making it look like Cuba was responsible. Codenamed “Operation Northwoods”, the plan was intended to provide the propaganda necessary to create popular sentiment for an invasion of Cuba. (See Body of Secrets, by James Bamford.)
The September 11 attacks were a modern-day “Operation Northwoods”. Instead of Cuba, however, Moslems were blamed this time — because Moslem countries are sitting over most of the world’s oil reserves.
“Operation Northwoods” wasn’t the first time Cuba was set up to be the fall guy. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, “Remember the Maine!” was a propaganda refrain chanted by crooked newspapers from coast to coast. Contrary to the deceit of jingoistic journalists, however, the battleship Maine was not sunk by “Cuban terrorists”. But of course the lie was eagerly believed by Americans, and it provided the needed propaganda to launch the war. The Spanish-American War was instigated by the piratical American plutocracy in order to seize Spanish territory and assets in the Caribbean and the Philippines.
Until the 9-11 attacks, the greatest case of U.S. government fraud involving an assault on Americans was the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Like 9-11, the Pearl Harbor attack was known about in advance. It was allowed to happen because it provided the overwhelming propaganda needed to launch a war against the German and Japanese imperialist competitors of the growing American Empire.
The 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident was a hoax that provided the propaganda needed to massively escalate the Vietnam Genocide.
The Kuwaiti hospital incubator hoax provided propaganda for the Desert Storm terror campaign and genocide of the Iraqi people in 1991.
The Bosnian “concentration camp” hoax of 1992, and the “Racak massacre” hoax of 1999 provided the needed propaganda for the U.S./NATO terror campaign against the Yugoslavian people.
These and other examples are described in more detail in “Fake Terror: the Road to Dictatorship”.
The brutal terrorism of September 11 against the American people is a propaganda gold mine without precedent for the brutal terrorists of the U.S. military-government and their obedient “news” media. This propaganda is absolutely essential to the U.S. military-government’s geopolitical strategy for world domination. Without the backing of a thoroughly brainwashed, taxpaying American public, that strategy would be unsustainable.
America’s genocidal history makes it abundantly clear that the U.S. government and military have more than enough barbaric ruthlessness to commit such inhuman acts as 9-11. History proves conclusively that they place no value whatsoever on human life. That’s what this whole website is about. Any government and military that will murder people by the millions for profit is not going to have any problem with murdering a few thousand Americans — if there is a major profit motive for it.
Underlying it all, the corporate/banking plutocracy and its servant, the U.S. military-government, have the profit motive: oil and empire.
Beginning in October 2001, the U.S. military brutally mass-murdered at least 4000-5000 innocent civilian men, women and children in Afghanistan — people who had absolutely nothing to do with the September 11 attacks.
That should be a very disturbing fact to anybody with a human conscience. Unfortunately, that rules out the entire leadership of the U.S. military-government. A few thousand violently murdered women and innocent children doesn’t bother them in the slightest. Mass murder of innocent civilian people is just standard operating procedure for the U.S. military. History proves that conclusively.
Now American/British war criminals are once again mass-murdering and terrorizing the Iraqi people — who also had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the September 11 attacks.
The U.S. military and government are the greatest terrorists in the world. They have no interest in stopping all terrorism, only that which competes with their own. The Taliban were indeed a brutal, terroristic regime — one which the U.S. government covertly supported in the first place. But negotiations with them over oil pipelines through Afghanistan finally broke down in August 2001, and only then did the U.S. government resolve to replace them with a more compliant regime. There were news reports as early as February 2001 that the U.S. was planning to invade Afghanistan, perhaps leaked in order to pressure the Taliban during the negotiations.
The American oil industry, Unocal in particular, had long sought to establish oil and gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea basin through Afghanistan to the Pakistani coast on the Indian Ocean. But after the war with the Soviets, Afghanistan became a very anarchic place, one in which the physical security of a pipeline could not be guaranteed.
In the early to mid-1990s the U.S. military-government, through its puppets in Pakistan, covertly armed and supported the Taliban in the hopes that they could enforce sufficient order in Afghanistan to protect future American oil pipelines. Even with U.S./Pakistani support, however, the Taliban were never able to completely control Afghanistan’s multi-ethnic warring tribes. So the U.S. began to turn on them. During the negotiations the bullying U.S. representative actually told the Taliban that they would have to choose between “a carpet of gold, or a carpet of bombs.” The Taliban had too much self-respect to cave in to American bullying and they stuck by their principles, preferring to take their chances with American bombs rather than dirty their souls with American gold.
The subsequent American state terrorism, invasion and occupation of Afghanistan allowed the U.S. military-government to install a fully obedient puppet regime and get control of the country at last. As an added bonus, the U.S. military now has bases in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as well.
America’s brutal state terrorism of the Afghan and Iraqi peoples is an essential part of a long-term, pre-planned, geopolitical strategy to strengthen the U.S. grip on Middle East oil and get total control of Caspian Sea oil.
The September 11 attacks provided the essential propaganda pretext for a complete military, political and economic takeover of the entire Middle East and Central Asia.
Control of Middle East and Central Asian oil reserves will give the Zionist plutocracy and its puppets in the U.S. government a fatal military/economic advantage over all of Europe, Russia and China. This will assure the supremacy of the genocidal American Empire for many dark years to come.
9-11: America’s “Reichstag Fire”
The September 11 attacks are America’s equivalent of the Reichstag fire. In 1933 Adolf Hitler’s thugs burned the German parliament, blamed it on “Communists” and used it as a pretext for mass arrests and the creation of a fascist police state to destroy all remaining opposition to Nazi rule. Destruction of all resistance within Germany made it possible for the Nazis to embark upon their brutal campaign to subdue all of Europe.
It’s interesting that Unpresident G.W. Bush’s grandfather, Prescott Bush, was one of many people in the American corporate/banking plutocracy who quietly supported the Nazis’ rise to power. In Prescott Bush’s case it was through the Union Banking Corporation. A covert affection for Nazi strategies runs in the family to this day. This makes them equally comfortable as vassals of the Zionist plutocracy. As over a half-century of bestial Israeli state terrorism proves, Zionism is a mirror-image of Naziism. The American plutocracy are Zionazis.
Thanks to the September 11 “Reichstag fire”, the state terrorists of the U.S. military and government can now affect public postures of patriotic defense. Immediately after 9-11 they began speaking of America as “the Homeland”, just as the Nazis spoke of “the Fatherland”.
In another historical parallel, it’s interesting that U.S. government officials had the nerve (or stupidity) to invoke the memory of Pearl Harbor. It’s quite an appropriate comparison, actually, more fitting than they would care to admit publicly. Both 9-11 and Pearl Harbor are instances of U.S. government complicity in an attack on Americans.
So now it’s all about “patriotic defense of The Homeland”. Sieg Heil! Gone are the days when their PR propagandists had to cobble together absurd conceptual Frankensteins — such as the massive bombing of people all over Yugoslavia portrayed as “humanitarian intervention” — to sell the Pentagon’s latest butchery to the American taxpayer.
With smiles well hidden, U.S. government fascists are steadily ratcheting up their police-state repression of Americans. Using their falsely-named “USA Patriot Act” they’ve tossed the Bill of Rights out the window. Doesn’t sound too patriotic to me. The U.S. Constitution is now effectively suspended, and it’s never coming back.
Once you surrender your freedom to tyrants, you don’t ever get it back — not without a revolution. Until then, democracy is officially dead in America, while the FBI tells us of its need to torture prisoners.
Americans who continue to tolerate and support this blatant evil will help to bring a fascist hell down on everybody’s heads. Such people need to understand that the Zionazi plutocracy and its U.S. military-government war-criminals are totally inhuman. They don’t honestly care about Americans any more than they care about the millions of people around the world America has butchered. As far as America’s rulers are concerned, American citizens are just cash cows to be psychologically herded this way and that, and perennially lied to. Keep ’em stupid and keep those tax dollars pouring in.
The next major terrorist attacks on the American people will also be the covert work of the U.S. military-government. Look for new attacks at a time when massive domestic opposition to the whole evil establishment begins to intensify sufficiently — particularly when enough Americans begin to demand honest answers as they face up to the evidence of U.S. government complicity in the September 11 attacks.
As for our fellow human beings around the world, they are seen by the American Zionazi plutocracy as powerless slaves and whores to be exploited to the maximum extent possible. If they dare attempt to be free of the American Empire, bomb them back into submission. America’s evil rulers care only for preserving their own wealth and power, nothing more.
The American plutocracy and its vassals in the U.S. military-government have cruelly abused the world with genocidal campaigns of state terrorism for over 100 years. Now they are thrilled with the prospect of total world domination through unending campaigns of terror and mass-murder. If the people of America do nothing to stop it, they will pay a terrible price. Their cowardly support of the plutocracy’s greed and power lust will only lead to a downward spiral of carnage and suffering, until we’re all enslaved or dead.
If we want to live in peace and freedom, people must turn off their mind-controlling T.V. sets, wake up from their mass-media brainwashing and get a clue:
The greatest enemy of the people in America — of all the world’s people — is America’s parasitical Zionazi plutocracy and terrorist military-government.
Millions of Victims:
The Bloody “American Century”
Altogether, the terrorist U.S. government and military have directly slaughtered literally millions of civilian people in the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Russia (invasion during the civil war of 1918-1920), Japan, France, Germany, Korea, Thailand, Panama, Grenada, Iran, Libya, Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Bosnia, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.
In addition, the U.S. military and CIA have trained, armed, funded, provided intelligence and direct military support for fascist puppet-regimes and right-wing death-squads around the world.
U.S. government-supported death squads and servant-states have carried out appallingly vicious campaigns of state terrorism. Under the direct control of the U.S. government they have committed the torture and genocide of additional millions of helpless, civilian people in Indonesia, East Timor, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Guyana, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, China, the Philippines, the Congo/Zaire, Angola, Mozambique, Italy, Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Iraq, Pakistan and Iran.
This page gives you summaries of America’s greatest campaigns of genocide and international terrorism, with links to pages giving more information. Numerically more complete listings of American terror campaigns are on the Chronology of Terror pages.
The Site Map includes sections on:
The History of American State Terrorism
U.S. Government Terrorism of the American Peoples
The Weapons of American State Terrorism
The American Plutocracy
The CIA, Nazis and Neofascism
Important books on American state terrorism and closely related subjects are reviewed on the Main Bibliography page, and also listed by author, subject and title.
The Philippine Genocide
It was just nine years after the United States Army Seventh Cavalry mass-murdered 300 helpless Lakota children, women and men at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in 1890:
Immediately following the Spanish-American war, all branches of the U.S. military committed the genocide of 200,000 civilian men, women and children in the Philippines during the Philippine-American war. This slaughter was accomplished by a viciously racist United States Army, Navy and Marines, from 1899 to 1902.
$$ Why? Corporate profit. The Philippine islands were a profitable part of the old Spanish Empire. They also provided a valuable base of operations for the exploitation of China — which was far more profitable.
When the Filipinos resisted us — with the curious idea that they had a right to control their own country — American soldiers, sailors and Marines slaughtered and tortured them. Heroic American soldiers even murdered ten-year-old Filipino boys.
Thus was the American Empire born, consecrated with the blood of Philippine children, men and women. This was the point in American history when the emphasis shifted from the domestic terrorization and exploitation of Indians and Africans to the even more profitable pursuits of imperialism and international terrorism.
Mark Twain condemned the genocide in scathingly cynical terms. So did others among that small percentage of Americans possessed of a human conscience.
President William McKinley, however, was of the Official Opinion that the cruel bloodshed was “God’s Will.” Teddy Roosevelt revelled in bloodshed and thought it was all just “Bully!” Both of them echoed the mass-media of their day: the openly racist, nationalistic, “jingoistic” “yellow journalism” of the corporate press.
Just as they do today, most Americans preferred to ignore the gory, heartbreaking details. They joined their leaders and the press in hearty applause of the genocide.
“Public opinion” was led by the nose then — as it is today.
The Dresden Holocaust
It was the greatest single massacre of World War Two, a genocide which surpassed the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. Approximately 130,000 to 500,000 German civilian men, women and children were burned to death in Dresden on the night of February 13, 1945 by two massive firebombing attacks. This was a horrific and unprecedented war crime, carried out by the U.S. Army Air Force and the British Royal Air Force.
The next morning a third firebombing attack was carried out, during which sadistic American fighter pilots even strafed helpless crowds of injured and terrorized refugees as they tried to flee along the banks of the Elbe River.
Dresden had no military significance whatsoever as a target. It was one of Europe’s greatest cultural centers, and its primary industries were the production of cigarettes and china. By February 1945 it was filled with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the atrocities being committed by advancing Soviet armies.
The attack on Dresden was ordered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The primary motive appears to have been bestial revenge for the bombing of English cities — revenge on innocent civilian men, women and children — for the crimes of the German military. And yet nothing the German Luftwaffe ever did in England even remotely compares to the Dresden Holocaust.
Churchill and Roosevelt proved themselves to be every bit as degraded as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, as far as callous indifference to innocent human lives is concerned. Even long before the war, when Mussolini was carrying on the genocidal Italian occupation of Libya and state terrorism of the Libyan people, he was praised by Churchill and Roosevelt. (Mussolini was also highly praised by British, French and American business leaders and their corporate press.) On a visit to Mussolini in 1927, Winston Churchill told journalists that Italian fascism “has rendered a service to the whole world”. In 1933 Roosevelt referred to Mussolini as “that admirable Italian gentleman”.
During WWII the American and British air forces actually proved themselves to be far more genocidal and inhuman than their German counterparts in the Luftwaffe. But of course history is written by the victors, so most people in America know little or nothing of the Dresden Holocaust. And English and American war criminals are portrayed as spotless heroes to this day.
The Japanese Holocaust:
Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Tokyo
In August 1945 the United States Army Air Force committed the truly unnecessary atomic-bomb holocaust of hundreds of thousands of Japanese CIVILIAN men, women and children in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In March, 1945, less than a month after the Dresden Holocaust, the U.S. Army-Air Force burned alive 80,000 civilian men, women and children in a massive firebombing of Tokyo.
Revenge was a secondary reason for committing these war crimes — revenge on helpless Japanese civilian people for the crimes of the Japanese military.
$$ Long term anti-Soviet military-economic strategy was the primary reason the U.S. military-government abused their newfound nuclear power just as soon as they got their hands on it. By slaughtering the helpless people of Hiroshima the U.S. military took effective control of the islands on August 6, two days before the Russians had agreed to enter the war against Japan, on August 8.
The Red Army was a formidable war-machine in WWII. It was the Soviets, not the Americans, who fought the greatest land battles in history against the Nazis. Even before the war ended, therefore, the U.S. government was plotting ways to neutralize Soviet power and influence in the post-war world.
The use of this genocidal weapon was the greatest “psy-op” of all time, an act of psychological warfare without equal for sheer depth of criminal ruthlessness. By dropping The Bomb the U.S. Corporate Mafia Government was introducing the world’s governments to their new Master — with “an offer they couldn’t refuse.”
Such a persuasive introduction did wonders for American corporate profits in the post-war era. It won America lots of venal “fair weather friends”, and justifiable contempt from all the decent people in the world.
The era of “The Ugly American” was announced on August 6, 1945. It continues to this day:
“The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist — McDonald’s cannot flourish without McDonnell-Douglas, the designer of the F-15.”
— Thomas Friedman
columnist for the New York Times
The blowhards of American Empire have no shame. Bullies never do.
The Greatest American Genocides:
Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia and Laos
From 1950 to 1953, and from 1965 to 1974 the United States of America committed the brutal genocide of literally MILLIONS of civilian men, women and children in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Korea.
Unarmed women and old men were bayoneted, helpless children and even babies were blown away with M-16s and grenades, countless women and young girls were sodomized, raped and murdered by U.S. Army soldiers. These horrible things happened in many massacres like the ones at My Lai and Thanh Phong in Vietnam and No Gun Ri in Korea — while U.S. Air Force bomber crews spent years in wholesale slaughter of civilian people from the air.
For sheer magnitude of evil sadism and bloodlust, the Korean Genocide and Vietnam Genocide rank as America’s greatest, most vicious campaigns of large-scale international terrorism ever.
The U.S. Corporate Mafia Government and military want very much for you to believe that My Lai, Thanh Phong and No Gun Ri were “isolated incidents”. But the testimony of the Vietnamese and Korean people who survived, and even the admissions of American soldiers, are that these were far from isolated incidents. There were thousands of such horrible massacres all over Korea and Vietnam.
During the Vietnam Genocide there was even an official CIA program of systematic terror, torture and mass-murder called Operation Phoenix.
Any politically honest psychologist in the world would diagnose the American troops who committed these crimes as racist, homicidal psychopaths. But to the U.S. Corporate Mafia Government and military they’re just “our boys” and “our buddies”.
The U.S. government, the U.S. military — and many of the American people — protect and excuse these war criminals to this day. They live among us. Sadistic American war criminals like Lt. William Calley and Capt. Ernest Medina walk the streets of America as free men. But of course they are free in body only. They have hell to pay.
Why did it all happen?
$$ Maoist China and the Stalinist Soviet Union represented a limitation on greedy corporate capitalists’ huge international profits. They were gargantuan markets that couldn’t be controlled. But the most serious threat by far was the international socialist ideology itself. Nothing undermines capitalism’s sacred creed of selfish, venal competition more radically than the “Godless” ideology of social sharing and caring.
Meanwhile, the Chinese and Korean peoples themselves deeply resented American use of Japanese collaborators in the post-war Korean puppet government. That government brutally terrorized its own people, with America’s blessing. The majority of Korean people wanted the fascist Americans out of their country. The Chinese people had also suffered horribly at the hands of the Japanese and had likewise been betrayed by the U.S. government after the war. It was very natural for them to sympathize with their Korean neighbors against the foreign oppressor.
Exactly the same pattern was followed in Vietnam. After the war, the American and French governments covertly allied themselves with Japanese collaborators against the Viet Minh, even though Ho Chi Minh had worked closely with Americans during the war. When he discovered the true diabolical nature of Uncle Sham, he was forced to ally himself with the only nation that would help his people — the Stalinist Soviet Union.
Corporate America knows very well that even the very idea of popular, international, democratic socialism (which the Maoists and Stalinists pretended to champion), absolutely must be suppressed. They intend to erase it from the consciousness of the world’s people. They’ll never succeed, of course. But the humanitarian socialist ideology is a direct threat to the profits of inhuman corporate capitalism. To survive, capitalism must slander and silence international socialism by any and all means.
The massive American propaganda machine has relentlessly slandered humanitarian socialism by equating it with the genocidal dictatorships of Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin. The U.S. Corporate Mafia Government lie-machine trains ignorant Americans to dismiss it all under the label of undifferentiated “communism”. Corporate America is determined to crush the hope and dream of popular, worldwide, democratic socialism — at any cost.
Any human cost, that is. For corporate capitalist America the well-being of millions of Asian people was (and is) not a high priority.
If Asians refused to be controlled and exploited by America — then kill ’em all! “Better Dead than Red!” was the battle cry of Americans in their genocidal wars against the Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian and Korean peoples.
The Crucifixion of Latin America
In Central America, South America and the Caribbean the U.S. Corporate Mafia Government’s genocidal policies were executed throughout the 20th century, and are now continuing into the 21st century. The U.S. military, the cocaine-smuggling CIA and its fascist puppet-governments have relentlessly terrorized, tortured and murdered hundreds of thousands of civilian men, women and children in those persecuted lands. Some of the most horrific genocides and terror campaigns have occurred in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Colombia.
$$ Why? Corporate profit, as always. Huge markets for American products, ultra-cheap labor to exploit and a whole hemisphere of natural resources under the exclusive domination of the United States. “Chiquita” bananas for the United Fruit Company. Coffee. Sugar cane. Cocaine.
Hard to believe? Can’t be that simple? Not what they tell you on T.V.? The first thing to know is that the United States government is a plutocracy — the rule of the rich. The U.S. is not now, nor has it ever been, a genuine “democracy”. It sells itself to the world as a “democracy”, of course, but in actual practice the plutocratic United States government is a corporate mafia.
And a mafia will stop at absolutely nothing to protect its profits.
Why do you think the U.S. government has always strongly supported bloodthirsty, fascist dictatorships throughout Latin America? Fascist dictatorships are “corporate friendly”.
Freedom-loving democracies, on the other hand, are very hard to control. In a democracy people can demand outrageous things — like decent working conditions and living wages.
The economic interests of the majority of Central American, South American and Caribbean peoples are naturally opposed to the economic interests of American corporations.
Therefore, for over 100 years, the United States Corporate Mafia Government has done everything in its power to destroy democracy in Latin America.
Genocide of the Iraqi People
From 1991 to 2003 the United States Air Force and Navy slaughtered over 200,000 civilian people in Iraq with Depleted Uranium missiles, cluster bombs, cruise missiles and other so-called “smart bombs”. During the “Desert Storm” terror campaign the arsenal also included fuel-air bombs and napalm. U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army pilots even slaughtered Iraqi soldiers who were in full retreat. American pilots joked that it was like “shooting in a sheep pen”.
Of course, slaughtering defenseless people with overwhelming force is a hallowed American military tradition.
$$ Why the carnage? Persian Gulf oil, of course. It had absolutely nothing to do with “Kuwaiti independence.” Nor has it ever really been about “weapons of mass destruction” — the American biological and chemical weapons supplied by the U.S. government to the Iraqis for use against the Iranians.
Total control of Middle East oil is always a top priority for the U.S. Corporate Mafia Government. They’ll stop at absolutely nothing to keep that essential oil flowing into the vast murder-machine of the U.S. military-industrial complex.
With the “Desert Storm” terror campaign, America entered a new high-tech phase of its perennial international terrorism.
American State Terrorism
of the Yugoslavian Peoples
In 1999 Uncle Sham treated the world to yet another ugly spectacle as America, with its 18 NATO whores, butchered over 3000 civilian people all over Yugoslavia. This state terrorism lasted for 78 straight days and nights, with NATO war criminals flying over 40,000 sorties. Once again, these great military heroes mass-murdered helpless women and children using cluster bombs, depleted uranium missiles, fuel-air bombs, napalm, cruise missiles and other so-called “smart bombs”.
These horrible weapons of mass-destruction used by cowardly American/NATO pilots literally butchered and burned alive thousands of innocent people — children, old men and women in market squares doing their shopping, people in trains, people in cars and buses, people in television stations, people in schools, doctors, nurses and patients in hospitals, people in private homes and apartment blocks — even people in remote villages were napalmed and
|All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:40 PM.|
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.12
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. | <urn:uuid:628efa8e-a1b4-4ee0-abe9-ee26d700bf69> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.clubconspiracy.com/forum/printthread.php?t=925 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95563 | 13,796 | 1.734375 | 2 |
A new report by media agency Initiative may have a profound effect on the way media companies look at mobile media. Its conclusion, that because of way consumers use their new mobile devices, consumers are constantly connected to the Internet, and therefore constantly in communications with media.
new ways to constantly communicate with customers. →
According to the new report, 49 percent of U.S. smartphone owners start their day online, and slightly more than that end their day that way. That means that those who have downloaded media apps with push notification built-in are in constant touch with their media apps. While the obviously impact would involve major news apps that push major news stories, the same could be said of B2B apps that are capable of pushing bid news, pricing information, and other vital data of use to business people.
Data driven business would seem the most to gain from using mobile apps to drive what I would call connectiveness (no such word, but so what?). Using this'always on' trait to push minor news updates would probably be unproductive. Location aware bidding, in particular, would seem a natural development. | <urn:uuid:da014492-2363-4206-aa7f-ae2e57c5aa4f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://talkingnewmedia.blogspot.com/2010/06/mobile-phone-is-becoming-always-on.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971639 | 226 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Venting is a case by case situation. It can be uncomfortable to hear a client, coworker, candidate or friend go on and on about a problem you cannot fix. Aside from the discomfort, venting is actually a healthy thing to do when need be. Sometimes letting someone talk out their problems or frustrations aloud can lead to a thoughtful solution.
Mark Goulston M.D. gives this series of three effective questions to help coach a person through a venting session:
- What are you most frustrated about?
- What are you most angry about?
- What are you really worried about?
For an in-depth lesson, read Mark Goulston’s full article How to Listen When Someone is Venting
I know, another list of “5 Things You Can Do To ____”, but trust me this one is worth it. Jillian Goodman of Fast Company spoke with creative mastermind Simon Rich on his tips for being most productive. They’re excellent, take five minutes to read through “5 Things You Can Do Today to Make Yourself More Creative and Productive, Tomorrow” and reflect on your personal work style.
Self-care seems to have gone by the wayside these days because we are running ever shorter on time. Most of us are constantly working on overdrive, running from one thing to the next without any time to relax and reflect. This way of life can be the express train to a Burnout when not managed properly. Are you feeling any of the following lately?
-Exhaustion: feeling over-extended by your work
-Depersonalization: feeling alienated from your work
-Personal accomplishment: feeling like you can never get enough done
Read on to Drake Baer’s article “4 Ways To Prevent Burnout Before It’s Too Late” for advice on preventing and dealing with breakdowns.
When you ask someone how they are doing, how often do you get the response of: “good, but so busy!” More often than not, people tack on an “I’m busy” to any inquiry about their status. Unfortunately, it might not convey what message we intended it to “…we’ve begun to regard busyness as a virtue. It’s maybe second to exhaustion when it comes to being cool at work.” Are people really always that “busy” though? Drake Baer’s recent article based off of Janet Choi’s blog post “Busyness is Not a Virtue” focuses on getting to the bottom of what all this busyness really is and what we are really saying to people when we give that response. “When we fill our schedules with appointments and hands with phones, we divest ourselves of downtime. When we’re endlessly doing, it’s hard to be mindful of what we’re doing.” How truly focused and “busy” can you be, when you never take a break?
It is never too late to start something new. Many of the world’s most innovative people began companies, wrote books, or tried something new for the first time much later in life. Your 20’s and 30’s aren’t the only time available to embark on something new. It has been found that midlife might in fact be “our brain’s golden age of complex reasoning – studies show that’s when we peak in inductive reasoning, spatial orientation, vocabulary and verbal memory.” It might not be a bad idea to take a note from Martha Stewart’s playbook (who, by the way, began her catering business when she was 40, which was the beginning of her ascent to being one of the most powerful women in the world at age 71). Never Too Late to Bloom by Martha Stewart
Our own Pat Welch has been included in Tam Jenkins “Listmakers: top women execs share second-career dreams and more” in the Portland Business Journal this month. Click here to view Pat’s words of wisdom along with her fellow Listmakers.
This week The Huffington Post published an article entitled Ethnographic Animation: How Reality and Animation Collide coauthored by Vanessa Van Edwards, Author and Professional People Watcher and Kate Ertmann, President and Executive Producer at Animation Dynamics endeavor here in Portland. They explore the massive strides that animators are making using Ethnographic Animation. This body language animation mimics natural human expressions and gestures, leading viewers to a very realistic experience.
When considering your next interview it’s important to take into account not just the verbal answers you provide but the nonverbal answers as well. Check out this great article by Vanessa Van Edwards, “How to Ace an Interview With Body Language” to learn how you can ace your next interview! | <urn:uuid:0f7f68ce-e1d9-4278-a691-83d1fbb6af5d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bolywelch.wordpress.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94045 | 1,011 | 1.773438 | 2 |
This is the twentieth in the series on the Presidents of EWGS leading up to the 75th anniversary in 2010. See the previous posts on Samuel Pool Weaver, Leora Cookingham Thiel, Susan Marie West Jack, Ruth Churchill Austin, Alfred Denman, Florence Ballou Brown, Harriet Jefferson Pinkham, Mary Elizabeth Dow Maltbie, Achsah Maltbie Rawlings, Lee DeGolyer Patchen, Susie Elliott Faubion, Edith Webb Nelson, Carrie Teats Lartigue, Guy Alfred Clumpner, Grace Ellis Woodward, Mabel Rue Frederick, Nell Hartman Peel, Edwin Allan Poole and Mabel Enid Rice Conrad.
Helen Elizabeth Osborne was born in Denver, Colorado May 2, 1909, the only child of George Washington Osborne and Nellie Drucilla Hardenbrook. Helen was living in Medford, Oregon when she met Newton Dow Rowe. They were married in Yreka, California July 8, 1939. Dow was a food broker in Medford and Helen served as bookkeeper. They continued their business after moving to Spokane in 1948. They owned and operated Empire Cheese Company, a distributorship for Borden Products. Dow died August 18, 1984 and was cremated.
Helen was EWGS President in 1966 and 1967. She organized the Library Helpers at the library and was vitally concerned that assistance be available to researchers there. She served as a Regent of Spokane Garry Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution, was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century, the Order of Eastern Star, the Klix Kamera Klub, and the Dean's Guild of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. In the Spokesman-Review's December 30, 1979 Today's Living Section is a big article on Helen and her helping out at the library.
Helen died July 31, 1988 at Alderwood Manor and was cremated.
Comments by Carrie Lartigue: "1966 Mrs. Newton (Helen) Rowe. Helen was always vastly interested in Patriotic Organizations and became enthused with genealogy through work on lineage charts. She has helped dozens to join the DAR. It was she who started the HELPERS program...some experienced people to be at the Genie Room at the library each Wednesday (later changed to Thursday). They are to assist beginners in getting started, learn sources, etc. Now this service is still being offered. Carrie was one of the early helpers...and worked for nine years. A beautiful way to meet others of the same hobby and great satisfaction when you hear them exclaim, 'Eureka! I found it!'"
Editor Note: I started as a "Gene Helper" in the library in 1993. The library was in temporary quarters then in the old J.C. Penney's building kitty-corner from the present library while the new library was being built. My sister and I manned the second Thursday evenings each month from 6 to 9 PM when the library closed. In 1994 when the new library building opened, we moved across the street to the third floor of the new library building. I continued as a "Gene Helper" for five years and then got a chance to do research for EWGS. | <urn:uuid:30335fa9-4d09-4ba7-ba50-4c30e0487094> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ewgs-spokane.blogspot.com/2010/03/ewgs-presidents-helen-elizabeth-osborne.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964208 | 663 | 1.539063 | 2 |
It turns out that it is extremely easy to demonstrate, by means of logical argument, that the Christian culture in American is dominated by liars and sophists – people who are morally impaired in their respect for truth and reason.
This is not to say that all Christians are liars and sophists, but that those who have a respect for truth and reason are so few and so impotent that liars and sophists dominate the culture.
An example of this can be found in a resolution passed yesterday in the House of Representatives “Recognizing the importance of Christians and the Christian Faith.”
Sophists and liars propose resolutions like this. Those who value truth and reason would condemn it.
The strategy behind resolutions such as this is simple.
Person A asserts a proposition “P and Q”. For example, Person A could say, “The sun is hot and grasshoppers are mammals.” He then asks Person B whether B agrees or disagrees with this statement. If B agrees with the statement, then A ridicules B for saying that grasshoppers are mammals. If B disagrees with the statement, then A ridicules B for denying that the sun is hot.
This demagoguery is nothing that an honest and fair person would ever endorse, let alone perform. The fact that only a morally impaired person would engage in such a trick is blatantly obvious. The fact that the Christian culture celebrates people who would engage in such a trick is proof that liars and sophists dominate the Christian culture – that honest Christians are too few and too impotent to do anything about it.
The resolution states, truthfully, that there are a lot of Christians in the country, and that Christians have done a lot of good. This is without a doubt since – merely because there are so many Christians in the country, if any good is done, then the chances are that it was done by a Christian. No sane person holds that Christians are 100% evil or that it is impossible for a Christian to do a good deed. Therefore, no sane person could reject these claims.
However, the resolution also calls upon its members to support Christianity. Of course, supporting Christianity means that one has a duty and obligation to promote the Christian religion, and to oppose anything that questions the truth of the Christian religion. That, of course, is not something that any Representative has any right to do – insofar as he is a Representative. Because, just as he represents Christians in this country, he also represents non-Christians, and he does so under contractual agreement (called The Constitution) that says that he will not use his political power to establish or favor one religion above others. This is how we keep the peace – compared to other countries torn by religious war.
So, now we have our two propositions, “P and Q”. P = “There are a lot of Christians and they have done a lot of good things,” and Q = “As a Congressman, I will support Christianity.” Furthermore, we know that this resolution has been proposed by liars and sophists that dominate the Christian culture in this country. Consequently, we know that we can expect the following demagoguery:
If a Representative says that this is true, then this will be used in public to say, “All of Congress has recognized that it is the duty of Congress to promote the Christian religion.” If, on the other hand, the Representative rejects this proposition, then the lying sophist will say, “This Representative denies that it is the case that there are a lot of Christians and that they do a lot of good things. This person, therefore, has insulted all of you Christians who vote.”
This is not even a hidden agenda. Those who proposed this resolution did not trip into it accidently. They planned to use lies and sophistry for political purposes to advance the Christian religion. The also fully expected (expect) to get away with it – to be cheered for their use of lies and sophistry, particularly by the Christian community. From this it follows that the Christian culture (and by this I mean the bulk, though not all, of the Christian community) are enthusiastic supporters of a morality of lies and sophistry. Of course, it is a hypocritical endorsement of lies and sophistry. In true hypocritical fashion, they would clearly condemn the use of lies and sophistry by others while, at the same time, cheering its use by those who ‘are on our side.’
If, instead, these same Representatives were working within a culture of respect for truth and reason, then they would not have dared to even try such blatant lies and sophistry. A culture of truth and reason would shun them and terminate their employment at the first opportunity. Since these Representatives are not dealing with a culture of truth and reason, they do not have to worry about the voters terminating their employment.
Technically, according to the rules of logic, the proposition “P and Q” is true if and only if P is true and Q is true. If somebody says, “The sun is hot and grasshoppers are mammals,” formal logic says that this is false – because grasshoppers are not mammals. This is the honest answer. However, the Christian culture in America likes nothing more than to expose honest representatives so that they can replace those honest representatives with liars and sophists. Consequently, the honest politician faces a dilemma – to come out of the closet as an honest politician and lose the support of a large portion of the Christian community, or give up his seat to a lying sophist.
Telling the truth is a virtue. However, helping to elect lying sophists to Congress is not. So, this is a true moral dilemma. No matter what the person does, he is forced to do something wrong. Of course, he is forced to do something wrong by lying sophists who, as a part of their moral impairment, love to force honest politicians into situations where they must do something wrong.
The argument is solid. Christianity in America today is a culture that celebrates lies and sophistry and empowers liars and sophists above all others. Their claim to moral superiority is simply another one of their lies. If they were in fact dedicated to doing the right thing, they would start by condemning lies and sophistry, rather than promoting it.
Of course, it is not the case that the Christian culture is the only culture dominated by liars and sophists. It would seem that the atheist culture (to the degree that there is one) suffers from the same problem. Just as the lovers of truth and reason in Christianity seem impotent when it comes to altering the behavior of their leaders, the lovers of truth and reason among atheists suffer from the same deficiency.
I argued in “Connecticut Valley Atheists: Imagine” that this sign represents lies and sophistry. It commits the informal logical fallacy of hasty generalization. People support the argument by saying, “If not for religion, the towers would still be up.” However it is just as true that “If not for airplane travel, the towers will still be up.” Yet, a sign that says, “Imagine no airplane travel” would quickly be recognized as absurd – a sophist’s assertion. The same is true of the sign, “Imagine: No Religion”.
Many Christians are fond of saying that atheists borrow their morality from Christians. One aspect of Christian morality (or, at least, the dominant form of it) that atheists do not need to copy is the practice of using sophistry to support fiction motivated by hate. The “Imagine: No Religion” sign commits the logical fallacy of hasty generalization to support a fiction (that if one is religious than one is disposed to destroy things such as the World Trade Center) motivated by hate. If the culture of atheism is a culture of truth and reason, than this culture should be strong enough to withdraw sophistry supporting fiction motivated by hate and replace it with something that is true and reasonable.
If atheists who live truth and reason are too impotent to affect these types of change, then the atheist culture itself is borrowing too much from the Christian culture that surrounds us. | <urn:uuid:df5c7de0-9bec-4c0a-b4c3-cbfe5730bf17> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://atheistethicist.blogspot.com/2007/12/house-resolution-recognizing-importance.html?showComment=1197530340000 | 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 | 0.972075 | 1,708 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Obama, in Announcing End of Combat in Iraq, Does Not Credit the Timetable Put in Place by the Bush Administration
September 1, 2010'Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S. troops will leave (Iraq) by the end of next year,' Obama said Tuesday night in his prime-time televised speech. However, he did not give the Bush administration credit for 'our agreement with the Iraqi government.'
“Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S. troops will leave (Iraq) by the end of next year,” Obama said Tuesday night in his prime-time televised speech. However, he did not give the Bush administration credit for “our agreement with the Iraqi government.”
Obama said the official end of combat in Iraq fulfills his campaign promise to bring the war to a “responsible” end. But the vision for ending the war was laid out before Obama took office – in the Status of Forces Agreement.
On Feb. 27, 2009, one month after taking office as president, in a speech at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Obama said, "Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end."
He repeated the Aug. 31 date on Aug. 2 when he spoke to a group of disabled veterans in Atlanta.
“As a candidate for president, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end,” Obama said. “Shortly after taking office, I announced our new strategy for Iraq and for a transition to full Iraqi responsibility. And I made it clear that by August 31st, 2010, America’s combat mission in Iraq would end,” Obama said. “And that is exactly what we are doing, as promised and on schedule.”
But the timeline, terms and the troop drawdown stipulated in SOFA was, in fact, signed by U.S. and Iraqi officials on Nov. 16, 2008. The Iraqi parliament approved the deal on Nov. 27, 2008. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki signed the agreement on Dec. 14, 2008.
The agreement, which had been in negotiation since 2007, set a timetable calling for most U.S. troops to leave Iraqi towns and cities by June 30, 2009, with about 50,000 troops left in place until the final withdrawal of all U.S. military forces by Dec. 31, 2011.
“Today’s vote affirms the growth of Iraq’s democracy and increasing ability to secure itself,” President George W. Bush said of the Iraqi parliamentary vote, in a Nov. 27, 2008 statement. “Two years ago, this day seemed unlikely. But the success of the surge and the courage of the Iraqi people set the conditions for these two agreements to be negotiated and approved by the Iraqi Parliament.”
On Obama’s campaign Web site, Organizing for America, a different date for ending the Iraq war was given -- May 20, 2010. The Web site reads: “Barack Obama will work with military commanders on the ground in Iraq and in consultation with the Iraqi government to end the war safely and responsibly within 16 months."
A Dec. 2, 2008 article in the Christian Science Monitor reported that President-elect Obama told Iraqi officials he supported the SOFA.
“The security pact was the first such agreement since the invasion to outline specific terms for U.S. involvement in Iraq,” the article stated. “It was also the first in the region to be publicly debated and approved. Iraqi leaders backed the agreement after reassurances from President-elect Obama that his administration would not try to change the accord negotiated by the Bush administration.”
The “surge” by U.S. troops in Iraq was announced by President Bush in January 2007 and involved the deployment of more than 20,000 additional soldiers. By mid-June, the additional brigades were in place and the surge began, focusing on al-Qaeda, Sunni and Shia foes in Anbar, Baghdad, Babil and Diyala provinces.
By September, U.S. commander Gen. David Petraeus was able to report to Congress that “the military objectives of the surge are, in large measure, being met.”
At the time Bush announced the surge in January 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said, “I personally indicated that an escalation of troop levels in Iraq was a mistake and that we need a political accommodation rather than a military approach to the sectarian violence there.”
Then, in January 2008, after Bush’s state of the Union Speech and when it was evident that the surge had been successful, Obama said, “Tonight we heard President Bush say that the surge in Iraq is working, when we know that's just not true.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who also opposed the surge, issued a statement on Aug. 2, 2010, giving Obama credit for ending the war in Iraq.
"America's brave men and women in uniform have done everything that has been asked of them in the war in Iraq; they have performed excellently,” Pelosi said. “Soon, our nation will begin a new chapter in this effort, ending combat operations on the schedule President Obama promised.”
But in February 2008, Pelosi said Bush’s military strategy in Iraq had failed.
“The purpose of the surge was to create a secure time for the government of Iraq to make the political change to bring reconciliation to Iraq,” Pelosi said on CNN’s “Late Edition.” “They have not done that.”
In his Aug. 2 remarks, Obama praised the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, which will finally end, according to the SOFA agreement, on Dec. 31, 2011.
“Already, we have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases,” Obama said. “We’re moving out millions of pieces of equipment in one of the largest logistics operations that we’ve seen in decades.”
“By the end of this month, we’ll have brought more than 90,000 of our troops home from Iraq since I took office – more than 90,000 have come home,” Obama said. | <urn:uuid:918df7d9-e14c-4bc3-b8d2-7ed1fd73cd3d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnsnews.com/node/72052 | 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 | 0.97264 | 1,344 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Filed under: character design | Tags: Allen Capoferri, Art, character design, Humor, Illustration
Filed under: Drawing & Painting from Life | Tags: Art, character design, Commentary, Illustration, marginalization, people sketches, quick sketch, sketchbook, sketchbook drawing
Filed under: Photo's | Tags: About Me, America, California, Easter, Ocean, Photography, USA, Wharf
Taken a some time ago, my daughter and I posing on a pier that became one of our favorite places to walk. I know I’ve this said before, but I really like the rustic look of this place.
I’d also like to wish a Happy Easter to those who celebrate it, and to those who do not, it is really a time of rejuvenation.
Filed under: Drawing & Painting from Life, sketchbook | Tags: Art, gesture drawing, Illustration, people sketches, sketchbook, sketchbook drawing
Sketching passerbys from a picture window at Starbucks in center city. I’d forgotten how crazy people could be when given a reason. I saw someone literally lying in he gutter.
Filed under: Drawing & Painting from Life, sketchbook | Tags: About Me, Art, Illustration, people sketches, sketchbook, sketchbook drawing
Yes I’m still alive should anyone have wondered why I hadn’t posted for so long. I may have mentioned, I’ve always been a people watcher as long as I can remember. So it was a natural evolution to sketch people in their surroundings. Lately I’ve had more of an opportunity to draw people from life.
I only really began drawing people in their surroundings, not posing in a room full of people to draw or paint since graduating from Art Center College. I found I prefer it. Although I should say drawing from a posing model, clothed and unclothed, was a valuable ingredient in my education.
Since cafe sketching, I’ve had some interesting communication with people who were hyper aware. But mostly it’s an art of “taking a mental snapshot”, as was the case of the sketch of the intense gentleman above and the subject was none the wiser.
Taken by my daughter while doing one of my favorite things.
I want to thank friends of Allen’s Zoo as we approach the end of the year, the response to my work still amazes me. I also would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year and albeit a belated Merry Christmas. The holidays arrived before I knew it. | <urn:uuid:124bdd2d-e968-4caf-94d9-9b0fb821de92> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://allencapoferri.wordpress.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963549 | 547 | 1.523438 | 2 |
About this blog
The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival from the interns' point of view
Friday, April 5, 2013
Blog posting written by Shawn Steiner '13 & Andrew Ronald '15, Film, Photography, and Visual Arts, FLEFF Interns
New media and an experimental filmmaker? Be prepared for some very unique and inspired thoughts during this next hour of FLEFF Lab Friday. Make sure to stop by Park 220 sometime today as it will always have something exciting going on.
A very good start to the conversation. Everyone is introducing themselves and seeing the variety of interests in the room.
Evan Meaney talks about transmedia and how his method is to destroy everything. He takes apart files and then tries to create something new from the pieces.
QUESTION: What is it to live in a world where media is decaying?
Mansoor Behnam discusses his obsession with images and how the ideals of mystical Persian literature has led him to produce his experimental films. He is experiementing with the idea of god with the help of digital media and technology.
SCREENING: "When You Are Blind" (2001) Short Film By Mansoor Behnam (video embedded below)
"It's the burden of representation."
Mansoor believes that in order to experience the non-representational one must embrace the experimental format. It is necessary to represent the invisible and create mystical work through a lot of abstract effort and imagery.
One major goal of his projects are to bring "new and hidden truth to a body of knowledge."
Another point is that collaboration can bring out new heights and thoughts in each work.
The issues of suppression and public viewpoints are a serious consideration to talk about and unfortunately we need to give some time to Evan Meaney so find Mansoor and ask him questions!
"Art-math high five?"
Evan takes a stab at explaining Null_Sets. It basically is a way of converting text into images, similar to the method of a QR code. And theoretically if you have a camera with a high enough fidelity you could translate these images back into their original data.
QUESTION: "At what point does noise become useful data?"
Now, you can even download the Null_Sets toolkit right here.
QUESTION: How do these works connect?
Mansoor sees it in the images that come out of new media attributed to the presence of the infinity. Also, if anyone has seen Middle Eastern rugs, many people have seen a connection to telling stories through patterns in these carpets to the visuality of the Null_Sets jpegs.
Evan discusses compression and how if something becomes so compressed it becomes something unreadable and unreachable. We don't have access to it. "It becomes invisible." Which is what Mansoor attempts to describe in his work.
Fortunately, a lot of their work is available online. So go watch it, use it, download it and let us know what connections you find.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Blog posting written by Ian Carsia, Cinema & Photography '14, FLEFF Intern, Hamilton, NJ
1) What are you presenting/participating in for FLEFF 2012 and how does this relate to and engage with Microtopias?
"I am teaching a course together with media arts artist and Ph.D. candidate at the Information Science department of Cornell, Nicholas Adrian Knouf.
The course is entitled 'Microtopias Lab' and deals with utopia as a concept and practice in the context of histories relating to the junction of arts and sciences."
2) What is your background with FLEFF? How did you become involved with the festival and why?
"I am a graduate student at Cornell in the History of Art and Visual Studies. My work and interests are situated on the intersections of media arts and activism.
My dissertation work deals with the relationship between play, art, and social change. I look at artists using videogames as activist tools, as contemporary forms of intervention that have deep histories in interdisciplinary strands of arts, sciences, and counter-culture movements.
FLEFF began to include electronic media in 2007 when I first was invited to present at the "Gaming Meme" panel with film scholar Lisa Patty and network theorist Ulises Mejias. I've been part of the festival ever since in various qualities, mostly as a lecturer in the last three years."
3) You have collaborated with new media artist/activist Nick Knouf in the past. What has made this collaboration effective? What skills and attitudes do you both bring to your work?
"We have similar interests and thoughts about media arts and the political imaginary.
Both of our work deals with the histories, transdisciplinarity, and performative aspects of electronic culture conceived in a very broad sense, as a conceptual lens and set of practices."
4) What are you most looking forward to about FLEFF 2012?
"I am looking forward to the films--here is a list of a few films that I am really looking forward to see to begin with:
But the festival is really about the conversations and encounters that happen unplanned."
5) What advice would you give to college students wishing to become involved with new media art as well as activism?
"At present, the new media arts are pretty much tied to creative economies, more so than in the 1990s when the enthusiasm around the internet provided a space for more politicized expressions.
On the other hand, the global activism emerging in the recent year incorporates some of the practices then seen as art-activism. Think of the impromptu beamed projections on the walls in New York in support of the occupy movement making the rounds on youtube, etc..
Artists like Krzysztof Wodiczko made a career of similar interventions in public space, then groups like F.A.T. Lab took this practice over, and finally it appears on the street in the context of large and urgent protests.
Historical consciousness is key to activist and artistic practices, but one makes history by doing.
I think that utopia is an essential energy for those interested in creatively engaging and changing our present condition." | <urn:uuid:46c2b4a8-c401-4f99-ba3a-08bcb6def644> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ithaca.edu/fleff/blogs/fleff_intern_voices/tags/fleff_lab/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956115 | 1,284 | 1.84375 | 2 |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Voter turnout in Duval County was lower than it was in the last presidential election, roughly 72 percent this November compared to 77 percent in November 2008.
Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland said he expected a larger turnout this year because there were more about 23,000 more registered voters, but in reality, about 10,000 fewer ballots were cast compared to four years ago.
"When we say 72 percent turnout, that's about 145,000 voters in Duval County that did not vote at all. That's a lot of people when you consider a race. Had everyone voted statistically, that's bigger than the spread right now between the two candidates," Holland said.
With more early voting sites than ever before in Duval County, Holland said he felt like the county did everything it could to make voting accessible.
"Then you have to say 'why didn't voters come' and a lot of times, it comes back, and we see this over and over again, is how much negative campaigning is done," Holland said. "In reality, it does work, as far as it influences voters, but it also turns off voters and that may be a reason people are not happy with either candidate. "
Looking at early voting numbers, which he expects to carry over to Election Day, Holland said only about half of registered Independents in Duval County voted.
"You often look how many people who don't vote who really could make a difference. Often they say 'well my vote doesn't matter.' As a group, the biggest group that could matter is often those who don't vote, because they could have changed an outcome of an election," said Holland.
Holland said you can count on political scientists to really break down the statistics to see which parts of town people were engaged, what their economic background is and how they are affected by the current economy. All those things, he said, could play a role in helping future candidates campaign differently and get different results.
First Coast News | <urn:uuid:17c020d0-4f3f-4449-b915-71e37e4ffc07> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.firstcoastnews.com/rss/article/281556/23/Voter-turnout-lower-than-expected-in-Duval-County | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988235 | 418 | 1.734375 | 2 |
THe amphibious cars in KotCS are neat, but I don't think they're "Ducks", as most know them, from World War 2. In Pittsburgh there is a tour you can take that goes on land and river by actually riding in vintage World War 2 Ducks restored and used as tour buses basically.
It literally drives from downtown streets right into the Monongehela River. Neat thing to do in Pittsburgh I suppose but I've never done it myself. I'd like to but don't have time it seems.
Here is a converted Duck for touring London:
As you can see, it's REALLY huge by comparison to the amphibious car in KotCS, at least by my recollection of the vehicle. I could be off as I don't have it here to freeze-frame, but it really wasn't much larger than the Jeep-like car that the Erena/Irena (whatever) and her Russian Driver were in beside the amphibious car.
Here's a World War 2 Duck converted by Russia, probably as part of the lend-lease program. Russia got lots of Ford, Chevy, and other U.S. manufacturerd vehicles for use in their war effort.
As you can see, there's no way this is the "Duck" we see in KotCS, even though this is a Soviet converted Duck. The U.S. actually didn't appreciate the amphibious vehicles like the Russians did. Russians faced a greater obstacle in rivers than the western allies faced. Rivers were a problem for the U.S./British/Canadians of course, but the Russians truly faced a myriad of water obstacles from large rivers to small streams, on an almost daily basis of their offensives, so they actually utilized amphibious vehicles extensively, and improved on existing U.S. designs, to suit their needs.
This is a German Schwimmwagen, or essentially an amphibious version of the Kubelwagen which was a mainstay vehicle used by the Germans.
It's much more the size of the amphibious vehicles in KotCS, I think anyway from what I remember of them anyway, but they're not the same shape, and not exactly the same size.
Ultimately, on the Soviet vehicles in the movie, there's a 50/50 chance if they really exist. It's not a design I immediately recognized, but it's definitely smaller than a "Duck" (which I did hear Jones call it that too). Russians had a few amphibious vehicles of various sizes, some they made based on US designs and others I think they whipped up themselves. The vehicle in the movie, if it's real, likely was leftover WW2 stock though. I'd say the same about the cargo trucks and the "4WD" vehicle that Irena was in at the start of the chase.
The tree chopper thing was 100% ficitonal, though very neat I think, and it looked believable the way it was designed. | <urn:uuid:77913877-5f67-4f67-9b9f-44b44f4bfe5d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=16919.msg370424 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984903 | 612 | 1.625 | 2 |
10 Best Games, Card Game, Educational Skills, Travel Item
This is a new and fun new game! There is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any 2 cards in this game. Spot it and you win! Spot it! contains four fast, challenging, mini-party games in which all players play simultaneously. The Tower, The Well, The Hot Potato, and The Poisoned Gift can be played in any order, or you can just play your favorites as you wish. The bottom line is to have fun! With fast action and endless fun, this unique card game is sure to be a splash at party and will become a family favorite. Many skills are developed in this game, including visual perception and matching skills, quick mental processing, and cognitive skills. The symbols are universal and easy to remember, but the variety of imagery will challenge any eye. Play Time from 10 to 20 minutes.
DrToy.com is powered by ToyBase: Dr. Toy's comprehensive online searchable database of children's products.
About Dr. Toy
Dr. Toy, Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, is one of the world’s leading experts on play, toys, and children’s products. With 30 years of direct experience, Dr. Auerbach includes educationally oriented, developmental and skill building products from the best large and small companies in her four annual award programs. Many parents, teachers and toy buyers use Dr. Toy’s guidance in making selections. Continue reading... | <urn:uuid:72d42fb2-b79d-4042-8070-528db7ae4ecf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.drtoy.com/product-view/?productid=592 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942946 | 307 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Already a Bloomberg.com user?
Sign in with the same account.
The Federal Election Commission today said that it would require groups funding issue ads, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Crossroads GPS, to disclose their donors.
The FEC ruling applies only to what are known as “electioneering communications,” so-called issue ads that run before an election and mention a federal candidate without urging viewers to vote for or against the person. “Independent expenditures,” which advocate support or opposition to a candidate, aren’t affected by the FEC decision.
The commission said all groups should report donors of $1,000 or more effective March 30. That’s when a U.S. District Court judge threw out FEC rules allowing groups to hide their contributors. The case was brought by Representative Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, who argued that the 2002 campaign- finance law required such disclosure.
“This lawsuit is one step forward in our fight to restore the integrity of our electoral process, and will shine an important light on some of the shadowy money that has flooded our elections,” Van Hollen said.
In an interview, Paul Ryan, a member of Van Hollen’s legal team, said: “It’s about time that the FEC made clear its understanding of its obligation to enforce the law as it is written in the statute.”
That district court ruling has been appealed, and the FEC said it could reverse its policy if a higher court overturns the decision. A phone calls to the Chamber wasn’t immediately returned.
“The FEC statement is not new policy, but rather reiterates the Van Hollen decision,” said Jonathan Collegio, a Crossroads spokesman. “Crossroads is aware of the rules and is careful to follow them closely.”
Organizations can get around the FEC ruling and continue to hide their donors if they fund “independent expenditures,” which advocate directly for or against a particular candidate.
That’s because when the 2002 law was written, independent expenditures could be funded only by groups reporting donors and spending. Subsequent court decisions allowed corporations and unions to fund such expenditures without disclosing donors.
Crossroads GPS, the nonprofit founded with help from Republican strategist Karl Rove, and the Chamber, the largest U.S. business lobby, have spent millions of dollars to help elect Republicans without identifying the sources of their money. This year, the Chamber has spent $3.3 million and Crossroads $286,810 on electioneering communications, FEC data shows.
Today’s commission action affects all issue ads airing 60 days before the general election or 30 days before a primary election or the national political conventions. The ads typically urge viewers to call their lawmaker and express support or opposition on an issue. For instance, a recent Crossroads ad urges viewers to tell President Barack Obama that “for real job growth, cut the debt.”
Senate Republicans twice this month blocked legislation to require all groups attempting to influence the outcome of elections to identify their donors, no matter what is in their ads.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at email@example.com.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jeanne Cummings at firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:78f968c2-9f32-404b-8201-d29b3c78d90a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-27/fec-orders-names-of-donors-fueling-issue-ads-be-disclosed | 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 | 0.945594 | 699 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Thanks for checking out "Simple Password G&E". This is the smallest but most effective program that I have developed. Click here for demo.
The goal of the application is simplicity and ease of use while managing security. After all this is the program that keeps track of your passwords!
The application uses three inputs - "key", "user id" and "url" and generates a password for that combination, of the desired length. It's that simple. Let's talk about the three parameters:
You will need to consider the following on how to use the program:
Based on answers to the above questions you will need to decide how you want to configure the application. Let me run down some scenarios that will most likely apply to you.
This is the best and simplest scenario. In this case you will set the key permanently in the properties file (webprop.php) so you don't have to enter it. However you can still choose to enter one or even have many different ones to increase your security. You will also most likely specify a default value for the user id.
In this case you will NOT set the key permanently in the properties file (webprop.php). You will just remember your key and enter it each time. This way your key will not be compromised. You will also NOT specify a default value for the user id since multiple people use this and they will all have their own user ids. Since the site is NOT password protected and the key needs to be "enterable", you open up the website for use by anyone. This is not so much of a concern since your passwords are still secure except that you now are serving this program to everyone (should they know your website URL).
This can be a real problem. You run the risk of someone sniffing out your password. The only exception to this is when you and the server are in an internal network and trust the people who are inside. Or if you are hosting this locally on the box you are working on. | <urn:uuid:e1ea85cd-ca4a-47cc-bbf3-53ccafa02875> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://webpass.sourceforge.net/?source=navbar | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953831 | 410 | 1.765625 | 2 |
iCloud rumors is that Apple's upcoming service is a "Cloud iTunes" - meaning a way to access all your music, movies, podcasts and more from any Internet-connected Apple mobile device like the iPhone or iPad. Some think it may be much more than that - imagining iCloud also as the successor to Apple's MobileMe, an uncharacteristically underperforming product that provides email, contacts, calendar and online storage to paying customers. This combination of rumors makes the most sense because it would allow Apple to directly compete with Google's Android operating system, or, perhaps, offer something even better.The most believable of the
What Android Has: Easy Setup, Cloud-Sync
One of the best features of Android devices is the set-up process: you simply sign in with your Google account information, and, automatically, everything is synced to the device from the cloud, including your email, calendar and contacts, and, on newer versions of Android, your apps.
Where Android struggles, however, is on its content offerings - the Android Market is not an iTunes-like store where users can download or rent TV shows, movies, podcasts or educational material (e.g. "iTunes U" type content). In fact, it was only this month that Google launched Android Market's "Movies" service, which provides a limited selection of movie rentals.
And Google Music is nothing more than an online storage site with a music player user interface as its front-end. A fun recommendations feature was thrown in for extra measure, but it's not ground-breaking by any means. To actually get your music into Google's service, you have to download desktop software, and then tediously upload your entire MP3 collection over the course of several days, depending on the size. (By now, most of our collections are quite large - 10s of GBs, if not 100s of GBs).
That said, cloud-based music and video streaming, single sign-in, plus account, email and application sync, are all things that current Apple mobile devices can't do today without the use of third-party applications.
Sounds like an opportunity for Apple!
iCloud: Far More than Cloud iTunes
If Apple truly wanted to best Android, it wouldn't simply build a "Cloud iTunes," it would rebuild the entire back-end of its mobile lineup to be cloud-enabled. What that means is not only would you sign in with your Apple account, and have your Apple email, contacts and calendar information sync down to the device, all of your apps would sync, too. And where you left off in those apps, and the data they contained. And all of your media purchases, whether music or video. And the way your apps were organized. Etc, etc.
Hazarding a Guess: That Twitter and Facebook Integration is Tied into iCloud
But here's where my guessing game goes off course from the known rumors - instead of having your Apple account function as a single standalone account, it would be more like a "profile" where you could register your other social networking accounts, too. Your Facebook account, your Twitter account, and others could be associated with your Apple ID so when you sign into your phone or tablet during the first-time setup process, it's immediately Facebook-enabled and Twitter-enabled with your social networking account information. This takes the "Twitter is deeply integrated into iOS5" rumor for a little spin.
The benefit of having this functionality is so obvious, it's surprising to me that I haven't heard more people talk about this. No, it's not so you can tweet your photos or post them on Facebook (although obviously, that would be included) - it's so you can STOP SIGNING INTO TO YOUR HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS with unique username and password combinations created for each and every app.
Instead, application developers will be encouraged to include Facebook and Twitter login capabilities into their apps, and these would tap into the Facebook and Twitter account information associated with your personal device. Imagine: your whole phone, Facebook-enabled. Or Twitter-enabled. You can just start launching and using apps, no more nagging "sign up for an account" boxes!
This may or may not be presented as a part of the iCloud service, but it would be great if it was. Instead of having to set up this social networking info on each new Apple device, you would only need to sign in with one username and password - your Apple account. Everything else would follow. In doing so, Apple wouldn't just be on par with Google Android's single sign-on offering, it would have trumped it. All that music, video and app syncing would just be icing on the cake. | <urn:uuid:4de12cc4-b79d-4d93-ae5d-9f198ed7c426> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://readwrite.com/2011/06/06/how_icloud_could_be_apples_shot_against_android | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953739 | 968 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Blocked Pipes? Check for a Big Mac Blockage
Pipes and arteries have one definite thing in common: They don’t work right when they’re stopped up. In Dorval, a municipality in Montreal, officials discovered that the local McDonald’s was discharging grease into the sewers. The sewers became clogged and Dorval jumped into action, hiring a contractor to fix the damage. They also filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s for the cleanup costs. Blocked sewers are a serious problem, but so are clogged arteries.
McDonald’s was the most-visited business in March in the United States. Nearly half of Americans bought something from under those golden arches. And nearly half of Americans ingested the same type of grease that congested Dorval’s sewers.
The saturated fat and cholesterol in many McDonald’s products can lead to heart disease, filling arteries with a hard white plaque and inhibiting the flow of blood. Sometimes fast-food customers need to find their own “contractor” to come in and fix the damage with bypass surgery. The cleanup costs are paid initially by insurance companies, with consumers footing the bill through raised rates and premiums.
Even though fast food is easy, cheap, and everywhere, we’re ultimately responsible for what we put down our tubes. There is no legal recourse for getting McDonald’s to reimburse patients for the arteries clogged by their Big Macs and Egg McMuffins. (And fast food doesn’t only affect hearts—the low-fiber content of most McDonald’s meals can result in other blocked plumbing, digestively speaking.)
You can bet that Dorval won’t let anymore grease into their sewers, and neither should we.
Gov. Chris Christie: Try Plant-Based Postop Prescription
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie just announced that he underwent weight-loss surgery earlier this year. Many people who struggle with obesity make the same difficult decision. I empathize with Gov. Christie’s desire to improve his health for himself, his family, and his constituents. In the letter below, I offer him postoperative advice on how a plant-based diet can help him maintain a healthful lifestyle. The same advice can also help those suffering from obesity forgo weight-loss surgery.
May 9, 2013
Gov. Chris Christie
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Dear Gov. Christie:
I understand that you’ve had a procedure to help your weight, and I want to congratulate you on this step. I also wanted to see if I could encourage you to consider some important dietary changes that we have been studying here in our NIH-funded research. We have found that a plant-based diet is remarkably effective in accelerating weight loss and making it permanent. Moreover, we have developed ways to make the transition easy.
As you may know, President Bill Clinton not only lost weight after adopting a low-fat vegan diet, he improved his heart health. Many people who follow a diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes experience significant health benefits, including lowered blood pressure, improved cholesterol, increased energy, and decreased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Plant-based diets can also help prevent and reverse lifestyle diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
To help you try this new healthful way of eating for three weeks, I’ve enclosed a copy of my book 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart. This time frame is long enough to see results but short enough to make it approachable.
My nonprofit organization, the Physicians Committee, also partners with physicians, dietitians, and health educators to promote healthful lifestyles and food choices. Please let me know if you would like me to send updates about our nutrition education programs or about the latest research in diet and health.
I am also more than happy to work with you and your family on customized meal plans.
Neal D. Barnard, M.D.
New York Elementary School Swaps Hot Dogs for Hummus
School cafeterias have the power to not only improve students’ test scores, attention, and mental focus—but also students’ overall health and well-being. Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition education for the Physicians Committee, applauds New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley for the city’s most recent public health initiative: meatless meals in New York City Public School 244. All schools should follow the Active Learning Elementary School’s lead in combating lifestyle disease with nutritious plant-based entrees. Here is the letter she sent to Commissioner Farley urging him to promote the program in other city schools:
May 6, 2013
Thomas Farley, M.D., M.P.H.
Commissioner of Health
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
125 Worth St.
New York, NY 10013
Dear Dr. Farley:
Thank you for launching nutrition initiatives in New York City’s food establishments—from calorie labels and trans fat limits to sodium reduction pledges—that promote health and longevity. Perhaps the most serious, but more mundane threat of our time is what is being served in the lunch line.
The Active Learning Elementary School, Public School 244, and the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food, is taking your lead by purging meat and dishing out healthful plant-based menu options in school lunch lines. As a dietitian, I’m delighted to hear the news. I’m also cautiously optimistic about the future of school lunches.
Science shows fiber-rich, plant-based foods are an integral part of combating obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and various forms of cancer. According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one in four New York adults consumes the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Introducing vegetarian options to city residents at a young age promotes healthful habits that last a lifetime—and influence generations to come.
The shift toward healthful school lunches may be the driving force that is helping to curb childhood obesity rates; let’s be sure these rates continue to decline. Clinicians at the nonprofit Physicians Committee hope to make an even bigger dent in years to come but look to city officials and influential leaders, like you, to spread the word. Resources for parents, food service directors, and principals are enclosed.
This information has proved helpful to others, and we hope you not only share it with schools and institutions in your city, but encourage schools to follow the lead of PS 244. Please let me know if you would like us to create custom meal plans and educational components to advance healthful nutrition in New York City Public Schools.
Susan Levin, M.S., R.D.
Director of Nutrition Education
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine | <urn:uuid:2a952b2f-bb1b-4e86-acb4-5365e07c2060> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pcrm.org/media/blog | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942425 | 1,444 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Government stamp of approval for fake weed
Whaaat? It actually works?
The government's drug advisory board is calling for action on "legal highs" containing synthetic cannabinoids.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommended a ban in a report it has just sent to the Home Office, called "Consideration of the major cannabinoid agonists". It focussed on the brand 'Spice' - which has already been banned in France, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.
The mixture, sold as a smoking blend, is a mixture of herbs which are sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids. The mixture also contains large amounts of Vitamin E, possibly to make detection of the additives more difficult. Reports as to its effectiveness vary widely - drugs information site Erowid has users reporting: "This drug is legal for a reason. It's basically cannabis, minus the fun." while others claimed unpleasant paranoia.
Because of the likelihood that other cannabinoids could be used in place of any which were banned, the ACMD calls for a generic ban to control such substances. Manufacturers could easily move more quickly than legislation seeking to ban the specific ingredients of such mixtures. But they do name five substances which should be specifically controlled.
The ACMD recommends that these mixtures be classified and controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act because they have potential harms commensurate with cannabis. The ACMD makes four recommendations - the fourth of which: "has been withheld on the ground that its publication would not be in the public interest."
The Home Office has yet to respond to the report but told us: "We are determined to crack down on those so called 'legal highs' that pose a significant health risk.
"We will publish our response shortly, along with the proposed controls for a range of other substances, including GBL."
Let's not forget that Jacqui Smith ignored ACMD advice on actual, real cannabis in 2008 and also promised action on stopping the sale of cannabis related items like pipes, bongs and other paraphernalia. Which, should it ever happen, won't leave much but tie-dyed T-shirts and incense for head shops to sell.
Spice is available in several varieties and costs £20 for 3 grams, about the same as an eighth of real weed in the UK... apparently.
The report summary is available here. ® | <urn:uuid:7ee90d8d-a5d2-4808-8d08-a18da154fd6e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/12/synthetic_cannabis_banned/print.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96453 | 482 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Most Viewed Stories
Bill offers textbook relief
Donnelly introduces legislation to exempt sales tax on college books
SACRAMENTO • Assemblyman Tim Donnelly introduced a new bill that, if passed, will exempt college textbooks from California sales tax.
Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, introduced Assembly Bill 479 on Wednesday to remove the tax burden from students purchasing college textbooks.
According to the Board of Equalization, California has a minimum sales tax of 7.5 percent, making it one of the highest taxed states in the country.
A news release from Donnelly’s office states that only three out of 10 students purchase textbooks because rising prices have made them cost-prohibitive, which makes it more difficult for students to follow course-reading schedules and could hinder their education.
“AB 479 recognizes the importance of education in our state and removes an added burden the state currently places on students pursuing higher education,” Donnelly said in the release.
Students from Victor Valley College responded with a variety of opinions.
Shanice Tramble and Keanna Johnson said they would pay for their textbooks; tax or no tax.
“I purchase my books, regardless of what the tax is,” Johnson said. “I need them for my classes so it doesn’t matter to me.”
Tramble shared that sentiment.
“Whatever the price is, the price is,” Tramble said. “No matter what, I’m paying for them.”
Not all VVC students shared that view.
Stay-at-home mom and full-time student Shetera McKinney said every little bit of relief she can get helps her financially, and tax-free textbooks would offer a respite from the high prices on both new and used books.
“My textbooks actually cost more than my classes,” McKinney said. “So I have to borrow my friends’ books, check them out from the library, copy pages and rent them because I can’t afford them.”
Robert Sewell, director of auxiliary services at VVC, said the current tax on textbooks at the college’s bookstore matches the 8 percent sales tax in the High Desert. If the tax were to be eliminated, Sewell said, textbook sales may increase slightly and the college would receive little benefit from the increase, as the mark-up on books is returned to the campus and not considered much of a profit.
Donnelly said eliminating the sales tax will induce talented students from other parts of the country to come to California for college.
“By re-moving the sales tax on textbooks purchased at college bookstores, this measure will help hundreds of thousands of students throughout our state be able to more easily afford the cost of education,” Donnelly stated in the release.
Get complete stories every day with the "exactly as printed" Daily Press E-edition, only $5 per month! Click here to try it free for 7 days. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755, 1-800-553-2006 or click here. | <urn:uuid:dfa093c7-e877-4141-bc49-e5d8a204bd89> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/textbook-39159-bill-offers.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952457 | 666 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Jerwood Contemporary Makers
Inverting Preconceptions of Materials, Ideas and Craft
Challenging the traditional notions of craft through design intervention, the new wave of DIY raises the bar for contemporary making.
Last year Aesthetica interviewed Wayne Hemingway, who shared his hopes for an increased creativity and entrepreneurialism through the coming recession. As the country settles from the upheaval of our new political dawn, it’s timely to assess the successes of this new embrace of Do-It-Yourself, and the established Jerwood Foundation is celebrating the maligned areas of craft and making in a spirit that embraces the creative possibilities of fluctuating mediums with Jerwood Contemporary Makers. Deliberately ambiguous, the term “makers” embraces the plethora of creative possibilities that abound with artistic handiwork and the opportunities presented by the recession that we discussed with Hemingway.
The Jerwood Charitable Foundation was established to celebrate and provide opportunities for emerging talent in all areas of the arts, including literature, theatre and dance, with Jerwood Visual Arts as its most renowned branch. The annual Jerwood Contemporary Painters curates the works of a selection of talented, lesser-known painters in a group show that rejects the competitive emphasis of awards such as the Turner Prize with each exhibitor awarded an equal share of the prize fund. Jerwood Contemporary Makers is now in its final year of a three-year programme, paving the way for a reassessment of the categorisation of makers in years to come.
This year’s exhibition brings together a range of makers practicing in textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, jewellery, found objects and woodwork, with 29 practitioners selected by leaders in the fields of metalwork, ceramics and textiles: Hans Stofer, Richard Slee and Freddie Robins respectively. A successful practising textile artist, with works exhibited in fine art, textiles and design contexts, Robins was excited at the prospect of collecting together such diverse works and challenging the boundaries commonly placed on processes. “There is no distinct line between making and art, but lines are put in place because they protect certain territories and give certain value. For me it’s immaterial, for me it’s about the integrity and quality of the work.”
It’s undeniable that, in spite of its popular explosion in the past 10 years, a certain elitism remains in the world of the fine art gallery, with painting, sculpture and conceptual art the hallowed grounds condescending their “design” and “craft” counterparts. An issue which is not least highlighted by the Jerwood Foundation’s dogmatic and consistent championing of painting while more craft-like works are collected together under the term of “makers”. Robin offers an explanation saying: “Traditionally making is seen as the crafts and the applied arts, but it’s not just craft people that make. I’d like to think that the term making is very open and it’s maybe a less fearsome notion. Because making can be a very simple thing and an extraordinary, complex thing and I like that it can cross across these boundaries. Children make things and I like the idea that adults are free and able and willing to make things too.”
Describing themselves jovially as “the super team of makers,” Robins worked with Stofer and Slee to bring together artists with each concentrating on their own speciality. The result is an organically eclectic range of works representative of creative practice today, all from “people whose work we thought represented the best of making and people who weren’t so well established.” Naturally the gallery setting affected the selection criteria but Robins acknowledges the limitless possibilities of who can be defined as a maker, with architecture, and site-specific art very much a part of the remit, despite its low profile for practical reasons in the exhibition. These exhibiting possibilities for architecture are imaginatively loopholed by David Rhys Jones’ image-pasted ceramics depicting his flâneur-esque observations around our cities. In-keeping with the rejection of fine art’s binaries, each work received uniformly demographic treatment, “every maker has a single plinth that their work goes on or in – that was our way of linking the work together in the space.”
Despite their disparate mediums, a number of common themes can be traced throughout the works, ranging from political and social critique, conceptual explorations, investigations into our surroundings and interrogations of mass media and 21st century hype. Dawn Youll and Lina Peterson’s work play with the boundaries of conceptualism in the more practical arenas of ceramics and jewellery. Youll’s bold abstract forms play with the perceptions that we forge from words and alert us to the inherently arbitrary nature of language, breaking and re-piecing elements of her visual observations to communicate a different message from the same materials. Peterson’s work employs a similar interrogation of the myriad possibilities of material and form, her at first-sight superficial pink brooch belying the effects of the material beneath on our perceptions outside of the brooch, each piece painted a uniform colour that takes on the qualities of the wood or silver or cardboard beneath. Tomoaki Suzuki’s sculptures focus on elements of adolescence, which are employed in the construction of identities in formative years. And so sportswear, designer labels, faux-nonchalant posturing and calculated facial expressions accumulate in non-judgemental observations of youth as Suzuki focuses on his materials rather than his subjects, striving to eschew traditional methods in the creation of new techniques for traditionally figurative works. Laura Ellen Bacon and Nora Fok’s works are both inherently connected to the organic – Bacon colonises the urban landscape with the subjects of child-like interrogations into nature, and Fok’s airy jewels almost frogspawn-like in their delicacy, hinting at a future ahead for the unborn within. Social critique comes to the fore in the work of Marloes ten Bhömer, as the restrictions of women’s shoes become works of art in their own right. Traditionally focused on the image rather than the practical, this aspect of women’s attire showcases the limits of women’s lib over the years. The shoes are deliberately disabling with the creation of a delicate totter to play up to preconceived notions of femininity. Bhömer’s shoes challenge these stereotypes with non-traditional techniques and materials to create both conceptual and wearable works. While Tony Hayward continues the found object traditions of fine art in the creation of grotesque figurines collected from flea markets around the globe, exploring the practice of deliberate decapitation with the marrying of disparate heads with bodies creating Frankenstein’s monsters of craft.
Hayward’s work raises questions of ownership and intellectual property that are particularly pertinent for the textile designers on show, with his own works taken from other makers in a mish-mash of sources and inspirations. As a textiles specialist, Robins is particularly sensitive to these issues of authorship, “obviously textiles can be an end product but more often than not someone else makes it to an end product,” and so the opportunity to bring the unsung heroes of fashion centre stage really appealed. She cites the example of Karen Nicol who, having worked for some of fashion’s biggest names including Chloé, Michiko Koshino, Betty Jackson and Julien Macdonald is well-established, but under the radar for most “she’s been working for a long time and she makes highly skilled work, but you’ll see it on the catwalk stamped under someone else’s name. She is starting to show more under her own name and this was an opportunity to show her so that people can see her work and put her name to it.”
The authority of the artist is clearly important to Robins, as is the continued emphasis among her students on working with the hands as opposed to the machine. “At one time people thought that technology would take over and everything would be done on computers, but with my students, I don’t see that. They want to do things with their hands. They want to be physically making not just virtually making, and involved with the material and the process,” with many artists citing the process as the central element of their work. However in spite of this reliance on the traditional, the exhibitors display virtuosity in their selection and use of materials. Joseph Harrington’s fusing of ice with glass creates a permanent substance from the transient beauty of ice; furthermore, the speed at which he works is significant as his materials rapidly disintegrate around him, reflecting the hectic nature of 21st century existence. Meanwhile, Robert Dawson has manipulated the conservative form of ceramic plates to play with the viewer’s perceptions in phasing the works in and out of focus, so his Willow Pattern with Uncertainty becomes an Op Art object while rejecting the futurist palette of his mid-century counterparts. Nicola Malkin’s absurd charm bracelets make the viewer almost Lilliputian, while blowing up the personal connotations of such trinkets onto a far more public scale, and highlighting the constant evolutions of the art with which we surround ourselves in the form of fashion.
It is doubtless that there has been an explosion in craftwork over the past few years, with “Stitch n Bitch” groups springing up around the UK and barely a week going by without the Guardian bringing one new project or another to nimble-fingered readers’ attention. For many in the echelons of fine art however, the craft counterpart still seems to lack the kudos of its more “difficult” bedfellows: “When things are super popular we start to be suspicious and think that they can’t have any value, I like the idea of dropping all titling, saying everything’s about making and everyone’s an artist.” Jerwood Contemporary Makers certainly brings the gallery potential to the fore, but its very popularity might be the asset that sees it lose funding and acknowledgement in the difficult times ahead. However, the works on show are truly innovative in their conglomeration of the radical and the traditional, reflecting not only the range of issues on the artists’ minds, but also their willingness not to be bound by labels and mediums and to embrace the flexibility of the term “maker” – and so perhaps Robins shouldn’t push for the use of the term “artist” just yet.
Jerwood Contemporary Makers was at the Jerwood Space, London from 17 June – 25 July 2010. www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation.org. | <urn:uuid:8efcc03d-8fdd-4a2a-b0f1-9a97b8ee7a5f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/jerwood-contemporary-makers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956391 | 2,255 | 1.507813 | 2 |
What happened at the University of Notre Dame over the last few weeks will be remembered as an important event in the history of the US Catholic Church and the pro-life movement. It has thrown light on a liberal / traditionalist divide within the Church which must be healed if the Church is to be credible in its pro-life teaching.
On March 20, 2009, President Fr. John Jenkins of the Univeristy of Notre Dame –the USA’s most prominent Catholic institution of higher learning—formally announced that he had invited US president Barack Obama to deliver the commencement address to the University’s graduates on May 17, 2009, and to receive an honorary doctorate in Law. There was only one problem: Barack Obama, according to some in pro-life circles, is the single most pro-abortion president in the history of the United States. The university of Notre-Dame, on the other hand, is nominally Catholic, and thus officially considers direct abortion an intrinsically evil act – an act forbidden under any circumstance whatsoever. Moreover, in line with the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church, the US conference of Bishops had published in 2004 a document entitled “Catholics in Political Life” which outlined how to deal with pro-abortion public persons. In that document the following directive can be found: “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” However, a leaked memo written by Jenkins to the Notre Dame board of Trustees shows that Jenkins had spotted what he believed to be a chink in the directive, in that the latter was meant for Catholics only, given that the title of the document was "Catholics in Political Life"—non-catholics were therefore exempt from this particular prohibition against receiving awards or platforms, Jenkins believed.
The blogospheric reaction to the news of Jenkins’ invitation was swift. Within about a month’s time over 350,000 signatures on a letter demanding that the invitation be rescinded were gathered on a site specially built by the Notre-Dame Cardinal Newman Society. And along with the blogospheric storm crashed down on Notre-Dame a wave of bishopric reaction. According to LifeSiteNews, no less than 79 US bishops firmly condemned the invitation. South Bend’s (and thus Notre-Dame’s) own bishop, the Most Reverend John D’Arcy, even announced he would boycott the event, and chastised Jenkins for failing to consult with him before going ahead with the invitation. Indeed, Bishop John affirmed in a pastoral letter to his diocese that he would have been happy to clear up any ambiguity in the Bishop’s conference document. He remarked that it was he – the local bishop—and not a canon lawyer who had the final say on the application of canon law within his diocese. He noted that he would quite likely have told Jenkins to find another commencement speaker.
As the date neared, a host of pro-life groups from around the US converged on the Notre Dame campus, waiving placards and staging demonstrations and protests. Members of prominent pro-lifer Randall Terry’s “Operation Rescue” trotted baby carriages with plastic dolls covered with fake blood on campus. Randall Terry himself was arrested for trespassing. A local priest, Fr. Norman Weslin, two days before the address, was charged for trespassing and carried away on a blanket when he refused to leave the premises. A plane flying a banner depicting an aborted foetus regularly circled above the campus. Groups within the university organized an alternate commencement and prayer vigils and a Eucharistic procession. Last but not least, the other speaker invited to the commencement ceremony, Mary Ann Glendon, a former United States ambassador to the Vatican whom Jenkins had invited to speak alongside Obama, and to whom was to be bestowed the prestigious Laetare Medal, had suddenly turned down the invitation, citing, in a letter to Jenkins which she made public, her displeasure at being used as Notre-Dame’s cover for disobeying the Bishop’s clear instruction to not give awards to pro-abortion public persons. But Jenkins held his course. And on the big day, with a reported many hundreds of pro-life protestors lining the streets leading into the campus, inside the basketball stadium made commencement hall a rapturous crowd greeted Obama and shouted down with choruses of “Yes we can!” and “We are ND!” and “Idiot!” the few individuals present at the commencement who booed at the start of Obama’s address. In short, it was, as one media source stated, “an Obama love-in.” | <urn:uuid:1851f1f6-f36e-40fe-9186-af585558bd1e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cqv.qc.ca/en/category/tags/obama | 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 | 0.967896 | 993 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Hello ladies. Let me ask you a question.
When you think of women of the “old days” how do you picture them? How do you picture their homes?
Do you think they have it all together? That only today’s “modern” women seem to not be able to balance their daily lives?
I struggled with this thinking for a long time. We look at our grandmothers…their homes always seemed cleaned (I wonder what their house looked like when they were in their twenties and thirties with small kids?! Must be easy to keep a clean home when the kids are grown!) Or what about a lot of the resources we have about women from back then? I remember reading a really old book from the early 1900s that was a home economics book that was taught to girls in school and I just thought how in the world do these women do all of that?
Then I came across an awesome book called “The New Housekeeping Efficiency Studies in Home Management.” This book was written in 1912 and is one of my favorite old reads.
So if you thought they always had it all together…read this excerpt
“A moderate income, two babies, and constant demands on my time, was the situation that faced me several years ago. I liked housework, and was especially fond of cooking; but the deadening point about the whole situation was that I never seemed to finish my work, never seemed to **get anywhere,** and that I almost never had any leisure time to myself.
“I wanted to read a bit, or write out some ideas I had been thinking about, or take a half hour for personal grooming. If I devoted my day to cooking, I was appalled later at the confusion and dirt I had neglected. If I specialized on cleaning, our meals were hurried and ill-prepared. If I tried to do justice to both cleaning and preparing of meals, I quite certainly neglected the babies and myself.”
Did you just read that??!!!! This woman had a hard time balancing all her tasks JUST LIKE US!!! And the fact that she wrote a book tells me that there was a NEED for it. That tells me that women back then struggled with the same problems JUST LIKE US!! Okay, yes, there was no facebook, no computer, no TV, no modern conveniences, nothing like that to steal our time. BUT (and that’s a really big BUT), every chore took forever; cooking was a lot more time consuming…so in the end our “time” was about the same. We just replaced all that time with other stuff. So we still have a hard time balancing it all.
Do you get it? WE’RE NORMAL!!! YOU’RE NORMAL!! Just because you may think that you don’t have it all together or you struggle with balancing all your daily tasks does not mean that there is something wrong with you! If a woman back then struggled with that, what makes you think that biblical women didn’t struggle with that? That was thousands of years ago…imagine what they did NOT have back then that even the 1900s women DID have.
So my message to you today is chill out…you’re fine! We’re all in this together, no one is keeping track of what you did or did not do…you shouldn’t do it to yourself. Yes, having a system or whatever you want to call it is great if it works for ya, but I think focusing our time on keeping a perfect house and having all our tasks perfectly attended to, is darn right unrealistic. So again…CHILL OUT! Lol!!
I hope this message encourages you and lifts you up today.
Lord, I lift up all my readers. Lord fill them with Your love today and show them that they are truly okay. We struggle so much with perfectionism Lord…help us realize that we will never be perfect…only You are perfect. Change our focus to be more mindful of You during our days, give us all peace amongst the chaos that is called homemaking. Help us to laugh at the normal stresses of being a mom (like how my son has fingerpainted and/or played with his poop every day for over a week straight now…God, can You help me with this please?!!!), wife and homemaker. Show each and every one of us what YOU want us to do with our lives…with our parenting, wifelihood (yes I made that up!), homemaking, and just being Your princess! Yes, Lord, we are still women…not just a mom or wife…but our own personal being. I pray You help us balance everything out, toss out what we don’t need and just help us know that we are normal…that we are okay…and that You love us no matter what! In Jesus name…Amen.
Call Me Blessed
Time Warp Wife
Far Above Rubies
Growing Home Blog
A Wise Woman Builds her Home
Woman Living Well
Deep Roots at Home
Flubberbusters and God | <urn:uuid:7d7e6c25-c461-4541-af86-283a63b8ba15> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://passionateandcreativehomemaking.blogspot.com/2012/03/seethey-didnt-have-it-all-together-back.html?showComment=1332958612295 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976913 | 1,059 | 1.578125 | 2 |
All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. 15 You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “ Abba, Father. ” 16 The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. 17 But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him.
A standard Biblical concordance, Young's casts all words in the Bible into alphabetical order and arranges them under their respective original words. This helps the reader to analyze more accurately the various uses of the original Hebrew and Greek words. Includes over 300,000 biblical references.
Need help selecting the appropriate Bible Study Resource?Be sure to check out our BibleFinder to help you find the right resources for your group. | <urn:uuid:725d79cb-1b61-43ca-b663-067606ec7cd2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=528924 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968246 | 215 | 1.84375 | 2 |
5.6 Be rational about responsibilities for nanotechnologies
Be rational about responsibilities for nanotechnologies
Current trends in Communicating Nanoethics
Interview with Dr Nayla Farouki, adviser to CEA, France
Ineke Malsch, firstname.lastname@example.org Interview 22-02-2012, published 27-02-2012
Dr Nayla Farouki is a philosopher and historian of science. She is an advisor to the French Atomic Energy Centre CEA in Grenoble. She calls for analysis of a decade of experience in debate about responsible nanotechnology and ethical expertise. Should policy makers still see a need for more transparency after such evaluation, this could take the form of more structured explanation and response sessions, avoiding emotional confrontations. Under the header of Communicating Nanoethics, ObservatoryNano aims to highlight key findings and developments in current dialogues and public engagement activities at EU level and in Member States and other countries. This way, emerging issues not discussed sufficiently and best practices in communication on ethical and societal aspects of nanotechnology can be identified and brought to the attention of policy makers in the fourth annual report on communicating nanoethics to be published online in the spring of 2012.
Ineke Malsch: The French government just published its response to the public debate on nanotechnology organised by the CNDP from 15 October 2009 until 24 February 2010. What do you think about this debate and about the government response?
Nayla Farouki: I have a problem with the notion of public debate when science is concerned. Irresponsibly, we have placed science and technology in the realm of public debate where it does not belong. Scientists debate among peers in specialised conferences and publications. Scientific – and even technological research - is a process the ultimate aim of which is unpredictable. The public doesn’t care much about scientific demonstration or so-called scientific “controversies”. The major concerns are about health (and therefore potential toxicity), practical day-to-day technologies (and this goes from credit cards to smart phones) and about whatever affects people’s environment and quality of life. These are mostly matters for citizen consumer groups and all those directly concerned with safety in the working place or in the neighbourhoods.
Upstream scientific and technological matters need a competence that can’t be acquired by a lay public in a few hours. Such debates quickly become emotional and the audience gets divided on lines that cannot converge…and the debate goes on and on. It never results in anything efficient. When the French government asked for the public debate, they specifically requested to focus on potential risks and toxicity of nanomaterials. However, the CNDP let the public free to discuss any topic they wanted. The debate was sabotaged by groups that wanted to stop anything proposed by the government. That the debate was a failure was a matter of course because it lacked a specific orientation. It was not just because of the sabotage by some groups. How to engage in dialogue with the public about science and technology? This should be done in a rational and structured way. The government response to the public debate was as well structured as can be, considering the chaotic development of the debate proper.
Ineke Malsch: You are rather critical of the way the discussion on responsible nanotechnology is going on. What are the main elements of your critique?
Nayla Farouki: I don’t have a problem with anything in particular, just with the two terms “responsible” and “nanotechnology”. If by responsible, we mean ethical, the ethics is all about individual responsibility between one and one’s own conscience. “Ethical” is distinct from “political” and from “legal”. From an ethical point of view, any and every person with sufficient awareness is considered free and responsible for his/her own acts. Responsibility of a field (such as nanotechnology) or a community does not exist. A field is too abstract. You can’t discuss the responsibility for nanotechnology as such. And talking about the responsibility of a group of people, as a collective, is dangerous. In history, whole groups of people have been charged instead of the individual who did something wrong (this goes from vendetta to open conflict). The notion of collective responsibility made Nazi’s kill Jews as a collective, for example. Such a tribal form of responsibility is excessively dangerous.
Each individual scientist is responsible for what he does, but not for what other scientists, politicians or industrialists do. Abstract notions must be separated from concrete cases. In the chain from fundamental science to marketed products, a huge number of different responsibilities should be distinguished. Each person in this chain is only responsible for his own actions. Before any allocation of responsibilities, I need to start by analysing the field group by group. A fundamental scientist may, for example, be characterising graphene. Why should he be held responsible for a final product on the market that may not show up before decades?
Nanotechnology as such does not exist. It consists of many very different fields, including nanoelectronics, nanobiotechnology, nanotechnologically developed objects which remain at the macroscopic level, nanomaterials and nanoparticles. The field is too large, it has to be analysed and then we should think about the norms and values related to each discipline. The societal and ethical consequences of nanomedicine on the one hand and nanotechnology applied to building and construction on the other are very different.
Ineke Malsch: Is a shift in focus of the debate needed? If so, in what way?
Nayla Farouki: As I said earlier, I don’t like the idea of a debate. One constructive endeavour could be a shift in reflection, for a start, on the value and efficiency of all of those debates. After one decade of debate on nanotechnology, ObservatoryNano could take a distant view of the debates organised so far and analyse the scene. What have the debates brought to the community in general and to consumers, politicians and scientists in particular? We need a pause in the idea of debating of anything. It is currently too emotional. A time out is needed to make an analysis before the debate – if any – can continue in a different way.
Ineke Malsch: It appears that a wide variety of stakeholder groups and publics has been engaged in dialogue about nanotechnology in France. Have all relevant groups been included? Which if any groups should be engaged in the future according to you?
Nayla Farouki: The notion of stakeholder groups originates from industry and was limited specifically to three types of people: shareholders, employees and the real “stakeholders”, people who live in the vicinity. It was first proposed in the 1980s or 1990s. The idea of a stakeholder was not meant to include anyone who considers themselves stakeholders. The intention was to broaden the community to which industry was accountable from shareholders alone to include employees and neighbours: legitimate stakeholders, those who partake in the risks, not just anybody. Other groups got involved as stakeholders because they pushed themselves with a wide variety of individual interests.
Nanotechnology is too wide and the notion of stakeholder has become too wide. For products on the market, legitimate stakeholder groups are consumer groups, sanitary agencies, workforce representatives and authorities. These groups should be given powers to interact with EU and governments and influence decision making on regulations. But these particular stakeholders should be involved only at that level, not at the level of fundamental research. Laboratories don’t put products on the market and their by-products are recycled in closed environments.
This does not mean that one should deny all responsibility to scientists. Of course, a scientist is responsible if he develops a useless toxic material and does not destroy it or if he transfers a useful but dangerous material to industrialists without attracting their attention to its toxicity. After that, the industrialist is responsible if he knowingly puts this material in a product. Finally, the shop keeper is responsible if he sells products he knows can be harmful without informing the client. As you see, the chain of responsibilities ought not to put all the blame on one single category of people.
This question has appeared with the European Commission Code of Conduct for Nanoresearch. The notion that scientists can be held responsible for future centuries was rejected. Scientists can’t be judged to be responsible for long term unforeseen consequences. E.g. When Nobel invented dynamite, he thought it would be good for demolishing rocks and in construction. He regretted the military uses governments made of it. For responsibility to be ethical it has to be personal. Legal responsibility falls under the judicial powers and political responsibility is a matter to which elected representatives are accountable. Ethical actions can be outside the law and the law can permit what some may consider as unethical. E.g. traditionally, someone was legally dead after his heart stopped. However, surgeons started transplanting organs in brain-dead people whose heart was still beating. There were ethical but illegal actions, which only became mainstream when the law was changed. In war, killing people suddenly becomes legitimate while illegal in everyday life and unethical by nature. These are very important differences, both in terms of the meaning of the notions as well as for their respective consequences on evaluations and value judgements.
Ineke Malsch: Do you see a need for particular new regulation or voluntary measures to govern responsible development of nanotechnology? If so, at which level should such measures be taken (national, EU, global)?
Nayla Farouki: I do not understand “responsible nanotechnology”. Who and what specifically are we talking about? I need a panel including representatives from fundamental science up to distribution centres that sell products with nanoparticles or nanostructured materials inside them. These are around ten different actors. A different notion of responsibility is tied to each one of them. The responsibility towards fellow citizens increases as you go towards real products on the market.
Ineke Malsch: What can the European Commission or other governments interested in stimulating dialogue on responsible development of nanotechnology learn from the French experience?
Nayla Farouki: This experience teaches mostly what should not be done. On the positive and constructive side, I prefer the projects of engagement with the public organised in the UK. In 2006, funding bodies in the UK decided to create a public exchange about nanotechnology for health. They selected a representative sample of the population of five cities and invited them to two days of meetings. The participants were offered a daily allowance. They listened to presentations by scientists on the role nanomedicine can play in the future. Then they deliberated about this and came up with their views, fears and questions. In 2010, the same was done for synthetic biology. People here do not consider themselves as stakeholders. The random public has no a priori ideas about science. In this exercise they reacted in an informed way, not out of ignorance. I advise the responsible persons in the European Commission and Member States, if they want this kind of transparency, not to organise debate but explanation and response sessions. It should be dispassionate and must avoid the sterile confrontation between technophiles and technophobes. It should be organised by an institution, not handed over to private societies or NGO’s that could have their own agenda. Keep it rational, not emotional. Polls systematically show that people are not against nanotechnology, but have reasonable questions and concerns. Such exercises should be repeated every 3-4 years, to find out how progress has been perceived by citizens.
Ineke Malsch: How do you see your own role in or opposed to the continuing dialogue on responsible (nano)innovation?
Nayla Farouki: I can tell you where I do not want to be involved. I don’t want to participate in the delusion that ethics is a matter of expertise. The real expertise – in ethical theory or in the history of ethics - is among academic professors in ethics, and these are usually trained in philosophy and in some countries in theology, but certainly not in sociology or political science. Other people claiming to have expertise should not be empowered to express ethical judgements on someone else’s actions. As a professor of philosophy myself, I can teach philosophy of ethics, but that does not make me an expert on other people’s ethics. Every adult has unique expertise in his or her own ethics. I don’t want to play a role in defining so-called “ethical” issues or in anything that is collectively judgemental. We should use good old analytical methods to identify the issues and the responsibilities at hand. I also don’t want to be part of a chaotic, unorganised and/or instrumentalised debate that lacks clear aims and objectives and is unstructured. I am willing to be part of an analytical, dispassionate and well-structured activity. It should certainly not obey to any individual agenda and should seek the general interest, because otherwise it will be merely confrontational. Concerning research, I don’t want to participate in anything where people with no legitimate expertise allow themselves to be judgemental about what researchers ought or ought not to do.
Another matter: We did not talk as yet about expertise in risk and risk management. I regret that because there are several misunderstandings that are tied to this notion. On the one hand, risk does not come without benefit; and when the impression is given that there is a specific risk with no benefit tied to it, citizens are given the idea of a society divided against itself; the risk is for some and the benefits for others. I do not think that this is a healthy political or pedagogical attitude. On the other hand, and since the inception of the concept of risk, it is evaluated on the probability of something occurring, and this probability is computed on the basis of previous occurrences and in a precise and limited context. The risk-idea in abstracto is meaningless. And, until now, it has very minor meaning related to nanotechnology. Why don’t we also talk about the risk of seeing everything through the prism of risk?
Ineke Malsch: Yet, risk assessment is a discipline taught in universities. It includes methods to deal with uncertain risks, e.g. toxicology.
I do not put in doubt the legitimacy and validity of risk assessment. But the discipline produces security engineers. Risk assessment in a factory, a hospital or an airport is constantly on the experts’ minds and it is perfectly normal to have risk assessment taught in universities. Where nanotechnogies are concerned, risk assessment to reduce uncertainty will take time and may not bring any results in the short term. Nanoparticles in pollution from car combustion represent a far bigger actual risk to human health than nanoparticles that are currently produced in industry. Is it reasonable to talk about the uncertain risk of a new technology while certain technologies we use every day represent a risk that is absolutely certain? Toxicology is a science that can help reduce uncertainty where nanoparticles are concerned. When this starts to bring results, a risk can finally be calculated on a rational basis.
Name: Dr Nayla Farouki
Function: Philosopher and historian of science. Scientific advisor to CEA-Grenoble.
Organization: Centre d’Energie Atomique (CEA)
Role in the debate on nanotechnology, ethics and society: Expert in history of ideas, ethical theories, epistemology and philosophy of science. Dr Farouki is scientific advisor to CEA Grenoble including on nanotechnology issues and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the EU project Time for Nano http://www.timefornano.eu/content/sab. She has contributed to the debate on nanoethics through articles, blogs and participation in panel discussions.
Farouki, Nayla, “Whose ethics in research? Values, expertise and the legitimacy of it all,” Special report in Strategic Watch Nanomedicine No. 4 December 2010. Observatoire des Micro et NanoTechnologies, CEA, Grenoble. p 15-16. http://www.omnt.fr/index.php/en/thematique/index/12
http://www.debatpublic-nano.org/ / http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Les_engagements_du_Gouvernement_sur_les_suites_a_apporter_au_debat_public_relatif_au_developpement_et_a_la_regulation_des_nanotechnologies.pdf
Visits: 858, Published on: February, 27th 2012, 10:00 AM, Size: 18 KByte | <urn:uuid:2de48177-ad03-4c46-be72-73b27cac9f51> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.observatorynano.eu/project/document/3713/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952674 | 3,500 | 1.75 | 2 |
Winsway Coking Coal Holdings, a Chinese importer of Mongolian coal listed in Hong Kong, said its holding company agreed to buy a Russian deposit for $90 million.
The holding company aims to buy 60 percent of the Apsatskoye steelmaking coal deposit in East Siberia's Zabaikalsky region, about 1,000 kilometers from a rail link between Russia and China, Winsway said in a statement Tuesday. The deposit has an estimated 675 million metric tons of resources, it said.
Natural gas trader Itera bought the right to Apsatskoye in 2008, according to the company's web site. The statement didn't give details of the remaining 40 percent, and an official at Itera's press office contacted by Bloomberg News said the company was unable to comment immediately.
"This could become the first purchase of coal assets in Russia by the Chinese," said Dmitry Smolin, a UralSib Financial analyst in Moscow. Russia may approve the deal as, unlike oil, gas and non-ferrous metals, coal isn't strategic, he said.
China is ready to spend as much as $6 billion to double coal purchases from Russia to more than 20 million tons a year by 2016, the Russian Energy Ministry said in September. ArcelorMittal is the only major foreign company that has produced coal in Russia, according to UralSib. | <urn:uuid:248533d6-a10b-42da-a913-7cd644e5c143> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/chinese-buy-first-russian-coal-deposit-for-90m/436226.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966741 | 287 | 1.546875 | 2 |
“What I’m sowing today, I be reaping tomorrow
So here’s some joyful bars, to replace your sorrow.”
--LL Cool J (from Old School New School)
It was very difficult not to laugh when reading Robbie Ettelson’s satirical rant, “Being Positive is for Chumps,” in last week’s online Acclaim Magazine, against celebrity rappers for their inspiration-oriented tweets. In fact, I’ll admit it. Even though the sarcastic tirade was based in large part on a quote from The River of Winged Dreams, the subtitle of the piece almost sent me rolling on the floor:
“If Robbie of Unkut comes across one more inspirational tweet from a rapper he's going to vomit rainbows.”
At the same time, I smiled at the realization that the quotes which apparently have threatened to turn Robbie’s tummy inside out were often, for the rappers who shared them, not just quotes at all. They were testimonials to what it meant to battle the demons that nearly derailed their own lives and which did destroy the lives of some of their peers, relatives, lovers, neighbors, and friends.
Gold and Rainbows
Specifically, Ettelson pointed out in his comical piece tweets from MC Lyte (who is fond of the hashtag #unstoppable), Russell Simmons, and LL Cool J (who is on the March 2013 cover of ESSENCE Magazine). While acknowledging LL Cool J as “the greatest rapper of all time,” he found that title inconsistent with this tweet:
“Dare to love yourself
as if you were a rainbow
with gold at both ends.”
(Aberjhani, from the poem Angel of Healing:
for the Living, the Dying, and the Praying)
Ironically enough (or maybe even intentionally so) the art graphic of LL Cool J with a rainbow in the background and surrounded by pots of gold is pretty inspiring itself.
Take a look at the period Mr. Ettelson focused on––the 1980s–– and you might find yourself tempted to go beyond applauding the performances of the celebrities he named and express heartfelt gratitude that they not only “made it through” but currently thrive in some fantastic ways. Early on into the 1980s, hardcore drugs made their way into American communities like an invisible toxic sludge with chain reactions of cataclysmic results.
The Word “Survivor”
African-American communities were targeted both as dumping grounds for quick mass sales and as profiled scapegoats for arrests made in the subsequent “war on drugs.” The result was an escalated breakdown of stability within Black families, the disproportionate arrest and sentencing of African Americans for the same crimes committed by Whites, increased suicides, higher drop-out rates among high school and college students, and yes, a whole lot more. Add to these the chronically high unemployment and under-employment rates that have plagued African-American communities for decades and an extremely tragic scenario takes shape.
It would be great if everyone could sigh and exclaim with relief,” Man, it’s a good thing all that back-in-the-day crap is over with.” Except that it isn’t. It’s back on this day. As lame as it may sound, a shared positive word has been known to make all the difference between a life destroyed and a life saved.
As for those hip-hop icons who survived to tell their tales and pass on some degree of empowerment: the word “survivor” carries a weight of remembrance that has broken the minds and bodies of more than a few men and women. It also contains a humbling light of recognition that compels many to do whatever they can to help reinforce the efforts of those who might be “at risk” of not just giving up on their dreams, but of giving up on their continued existence. Some take the time to try to make a positive difference that could help swing the balance in a more life-sustaining direction. Some do not.
co-author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance
and ELEMENTAL The Power of Illuminated Love
More on the Positive Vibes of Hip-Hop Icons | <urn:uuid:f0aada43-ecbe-4d2f-940a-5a978ff7bc72> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.examiner.com/article/this-is-why-hip-hop-icons-like-ll-cool-j-tweet-positive-quotes?cid=rss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964582 | 891 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.