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In the past 15 years no European wine-making country has undergone such a leap forward in the variety and quality of its wines as Spain. Barely 20 years ago it was a challenge to find Spanish wines in the US from beyond Rioja; today Spanish wines from over a half dozen regions are available. Today, wine names like Mencia, Penedes, Riberera del Duero, Yecla and more are becoming much better known and appreciated. It's also heartening that this wine renaissance is being achieved largely with native Spanish grape varieties. Among the big changes are improved techniques in vine cultivation and vinification, allowing these formerly lesser known regions bring their wines to a grateful and appreciative international audience.
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As you might guess, we don't sponsor all of the views of opinion pieces and trade secrets stories that we link or introduce to our readers. Nonetheless, we want you to read what ALL sides are saying in order to be able to judge for yourselves what is useful and what might not be.
Now, with that disclaimer established - we link you to a piece in the online magazine Right Side News which examines the ubiquity of Chinese involvement in oh-so-many of the trade secret and industrial espionage cases that become reported.
The piece notes: "But that does not mean these efforts are directed from Beijing. History shows that such espionage activities are not well coordinated. Various Chinese company executives (who are also Communist Party officials) have different requirements for their industrial espionage. In cases where two SOEs are competing to sell similar products, they may both try to recruit agents to steal the same technology. There are also a growing number of private Chinese companies getting involved in espionage. One notable example was when Du Shanshan and Qin Yu passed on technology from GM to Chery Automobile, a private, rather than state-run, manufacturer. In the five trade-secret cases in 2010, most of the suspects were caught because of poor tradecraft. They stored data on their hard drives, sent e-mails on company computers and had obvious communications with companies in China. This is not the kind of tradecraft we would expect from trained intelligence officers. Most of these cases probably involved ad hoc agents, some of whom were likely recruited while working in the United States and offered jobs back in China when they were found to have access to important technology."
We're not recognized experts in theft by Chinese nationals but our continuing review of these reported cases confirms the stated view - rather than a product of directed activities by Chinese government agents, many of the recent reported cases appear to be ones in which the alleged or convicted thief just desires to make a name or money for themselves and are not carried off or perpetrated by expert spies.
Now, this piece we've linked you to also draws some conclusions we don't know what to make of, including: "First-generation Chinese carried out 10 of the 11 publicized cases in the United States last year. Some were living or working temporarily in the United States, others had become naturalized American citizens (with the exception of Xian and Li, who were caught in Hungary). The Chinese intelligence services rely on ethnic Chinese agents because the services do not generally trust outsiders. When recruiting, they also use threats against family members or the individuals themselves. Second- and third-generation Chinese who have assimilated in a new culture are rarely willing to spy, and the Chinese government has much less leverage over this segment of the ethnic-Chinese population living overseas. In the 11 cases in 2010, it is not clear what payments, if any, the agents might have received. In some cases, such as those involving the trade secrets from Valspar and Ford, the information likely helped the agents land better jobs and/or receive promotions back in China. Cash does not typically rule the effectiveness of newly recruited Chinese spies, as it might with Western recruits. Instead, new Chinese agents are usually motivated by intelligence-service coercion or ideological affinity for China."
Where do they get their data or information regarding the motivations and conclusions of Chinese intellegence operatives? To state a conclusion is not the same as supporting a claim. Also, where do they get their data or information regarding the "new Chinese agents"? We have no idea.
Anyway, we thought this piece was of significant interest to our readers to link you up to it.
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US 20060060200 A1
A patient interface that includes a support body having a cushion and cheek interfaces. Collectively, the cushion and cheek interfaces operate to distribute compressive forces exerted on the user's face. The support body of the patient interface is constructed from a flexible material to impart additional adjustability to the cheek interfaces. The support body also has arcuate eyelets designed to provide a hinge between the headgear assembly and the support body.
1. A patient interface comprising:
a cushion having a first aperture;
a support body attached to the cushion having a second aperture in communication with the first centrally disposed aperture of the cushion;
at least one cheek interface attached to the support body; and
a headgear assembly connected to the support body.
2. The patient interface as described in
3. The patient interface as described in
4. The patient interface as described in
a central portion; and
at least one wing extending from the central portion.
5. The patient interface as described in
6. The patient interface as recited in
7. The patient interface as recited in
an inner surface;
a structure extending from the inner surface, the structure comprising a plurality of ribs; and
an outer surface attached to the structure.
8. A patient interface comprising:
a cushion having a first aperture;
a support body attached to the cushion having a second aperture in communication with the first aperture of the cushion, the support body including a central portion and a plurality of wings extending from the central portion; each wing having an elongate slot;
a plurality of cheek interfaces, each cheek interface being attached to one of the wings, each cheek interface having a projecting barb fitted through the elongate slot to provide sliding engagement along each elongate slot; and
a headgear assembly connected to the support body.
9. A patient interface comprising:
a cushion having a first aperture;
a support body attached to the cushion having a second aperture in communication with the first aperture of the cushion;
at least one cheek interface being slidingly engaged to the support body; and
a headgear assembly connected to the support body.
10. The patient interface as recited in
an inner surface;
an outer surface; and
a projecting barb extending from the inner surface.
11. The patient interface as recited in
12. The patient interface as recited in
13. The patient interface as recited in
14. A patient interface:
a means for interfacing with the user;
a means for supporting the interface means, the means for supporting being flexible; and
a strapping means for securely fastening the interfacing means and the support means to the user.
15. The patient interface as recited in
16. The patient interface as recited in
17. The patient interface as recited in
18. A method for delivering a breathing gas to a user via a patient interface, the user having a nasal region and a plurality of cheek regions, the patient interface having a support structure with a central portion and a plurality of wings extending from the central portion, the support structure supporting a cushion, each wing supporting one of the cheek interfaces, the method comprising the steps of:
adjusting each cheek interface to correspond to the user's cheek region;
placing the cushion about the user's nasal region;
abutting the cheek interfaces with the corresponding cheek portions of the user's face;
securing the patient interface to the user; and
administering a breathing gas to the patient interface.
Under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/611,867, filed Sep. 21, 2004.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a respiratory patient interface used to deliver gas to a user and a method for using the same. In particular, the present invention is related to a flexible, cheek mounted patient interface that includes self-adjustment features to enhance the patient's comfort.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of delivery systems are known that provide gas at positive pressure for consumption by the patient. The uses and applications of such systems vary. Some such systems have been developed for the treatment of sleep apnea and other sleep related disorders.
Sleep apnea syndrome results in episodic upper airway obstruction during sleep. As a consequence, there is repeated interruption of sleep in the patient. Positive airway pressure (PAP) devices have been developed to treat this disorder. A typical PAP device comprises a flow generator (e.g., a blower) that delivers gas via a delivery conduit to a patient interface, such as a mask. It is also known to deliver the PAP pressure as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a variable airway pressure, such as a bi-level pressure that varies with the patient's respiratory cycle, or an auto-titrating pressure that varies with the monitored condition of the patient. Pressure support therapies are also provided to treat other medical and respiratory disorders, such as Cheynes-Stokes respiration, congestive heart failure, and stroke.
Mask development has generally involved balancing of two competing goals: secure attachment to create an airtight seal in order to facilitate the required positive airway pressure, and comfort to the user in order to maximize patient compliance. An airtight seal can be achieved by tightening the mask down firmly against the patient's face. However, this solution oftentimes results in discomfort to the user due to relatively high strapping forces needed to ensure a secure seal against the patient and less than satisfactory patient compliance. Alternatively, the mask may be fit loosely on the patient's face to enhance comfort. However, the effectiveness of the mask may be compromised if it is too loose.
A variety of masks have been suggested in the art seeking to address one or both of the above noted issues. In order to enhance comfort and provide an adequate seal, several low contact masks have been suggested which minimize the contact area between the patient and the mask. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,830 (“the '830 patent”) discloses a mask that includes a rigid shell having an aperture and a seal member connected to the shell and adapted to sealingly engage the region about the patient's nose. The seal has an internal cavity in fluid communication with the aperture of the rigid shell. The aperture of the rigid shell, in turn, is connected via a coupling to the distal end of a gas delivery conduit. In order to deliver gas to the patient, the proximal end of the conduit is connected to the positive airway pressure device, i.e., a flow generator. In order to secure the mask to the user, three radially extending ears are spaced about the rigid shell. Each ear provides at least one eyelet sized to receive a strap that encircles the patient's head to secure the nasal mask in place.
Although masks manufactured in accordance with the teachings of the '830 patent have performed well in the industry, such masks can still be further improved upon. To provide an adequate seal with the patient's face, the headgear assembly must be firmly tightened to pull the mask down about the patient's nose region. As the mask is tightened, the force exerted by the headgear is concentrated about the patient's nose and may be deemed uncomfortable by some patients. Moreover, this mask does not provide easy adjustability. The location of contact between the sealing member and the patient is fixed as a result of using a rigid collar and an immovable seal.
In order to further advance the art, other mask assemblies have been suggested that utilize separate regions of contact on the patient's face to distribute the force exerted by the headgear between the patient's forehead and nasal region. For instance, one such mask is described in published U.S. Patent Appln. No. US-2004-0045551-A1 (“the '551 application”). Similar to the previously described mask, the mask taught by the '551 application has a rigid shell with an aperture that engages an end of the coupling. A seal member, also referred to as a cushion, is attached to the shell and engages the region about the patient's nose. Extending from the shell is a pair of ears configured to be secured to the headgear via eyelets.
One distinguishing feature of this mask as compared to the mask disclosed in the '830 patent is that it includes a forehead stabilizer that contacts the patient's forehead. The stabilizer includes an arm that extends radially outwardly from the nasal portion of the mask. A pad support is pivotably attached to the end portion of a mechanically adjustable arm so that the pad can be properly located on the forehead of the patient. The pad support has an inner surface to which a pad is removably attached. The pad is manufactured from a flexible material that is capable of conforming to the contours of the patient's head thus enhancing comfort.
This mask provides several advantages over the prior art. For instance, it disperses the load over multiple locations on the user, i.e., the nasal region and the forehead region. By engaging the patient's face in multiple locations, the force exerted by the headgear is dispersed about the patient's face, thus enhancing the comfort associated with using this device. In addition, having multiple regions of contact with the patient's face is more secure than when the mask only engages one region of the user's face.
Although such devices have substantially advanced the art, addition improvements are still possible. For instance, the rigid construction of the shell, ears, and arm of this mask prevents it from being easily adjusted to fit different patients. The patient, or a caregiver, must manipulate various mechanical features in order to adjust this mask or multiple different sizes need to be constructed. Secondly, although having two separate engagement locations provides superior securement of the device compared with single point engagement, even this mask may move around on the patient's face unless the headgear is firmly tightened thus potentially resulting in discomfort to some patients. In order to properly fit, this nasal mask requires some manipulation by the patient or a caregiver.
Additional masks have been suggested to address the competing goals of comfort and stability. One such nasal mask, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,101 (“the '101 patent”) has a flexible shell defined by a contoured portion circumscribing the nasal region of the patient with a pair of integral side wings designed to extend laterally over the patient's cheeks. A large gel-filled seal is disposed on the interior of the shell to provide a large airtight contact area with the patient's face. Even though this mask operates effectively for its intended purpose, it also has several disadvantages. This mask utilizes a large heavy seal attached to the rear surface of the shell in order to both seal and disperse compression forces about the nasal region of the user. In order to achieve both of these functions adequately, a large thick seal is required. Secondly, the seal is fixed to the shell thus preventing the seal from being adjusted to accommodate different users. Further, the seal abuts the face of the user about the nasal region thus concentrating a majority of the force exerted by the headgear in this region similar to the situation presented by the mask described in the '830 patent.
In light of the above, it is apparent that further advancements in the mask art would be desirable. For instance, it would be desirable to have a mask that provides stable and secure engagement about the patient's nasal region in order to maintain fluid communication with the PAP device. It would also be desirable to have a device that is configured to enhance the comfort experienced by the patient. In addition, it would also be desirable to have a nasal mask which can self-adjust so that a single device can adapt to a variety of different facial contours without manipulation by the user or caregiver. It would be further desirable to have a device that is configured to reduce the number of complex mechanical parts to reduce wear. Still further, it would be desirable to have a mask that avoids providing any structural features near the patient's eyes. This is particularly important for patient's who desire to where glasses while wearing the mask and for patient's that tend to feel claustrophobic when a structure is provided at or near their eyes. Avoiding the ocular area also eliminates or avoids the leakage of gas into the user's eyes, which can cause great discomfort. Finally, it would be desirable to have a mask that accomplishes these functions while also providing a relatively high degree of adjustability, so that a common mask style or configuration can be fitted to a variety of patients with deferent facial characteristics.
In accordance with the broad teachings of the invention a patient interface is disclosed which is configured to deliver gas to a user. The interface includes a cushion having a centrally disposed aperture. The aperture opens to an internal cavity that is configured to receive the nose of the user. A support body is attached to the cushion to provide structural support. The support body also has a centrally disposed aperture in communication with the interior of the cushion via the centrally disposed aperture of the cushion.
The patient interface of the present invention also includes two discrete cheek interfaces attached to the support body. Each of the cheek interfaces are designed to positively engage a corresponding cheek of the user so that it is securely affixed. As discrete components, each cheek interface may be moved independently relative to one another so that the patient interface may be easily customized for use with different users. To hold the patient interface in place about the patient's nose, the present invention also includes a headgear assembly which pulls the mask securely against the face of the user. The compressive forces exerted by the headgear assembly are distributed between the patient interface cushion and the discrete cheek interfaces thus providing three separate points of contact with the user's face.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
To provide an acceptable seal with the user, user interface cushion 34 is constructed from any flexible airtight material capable of being compressed to create a seal. Several materials are commonly used in the art to create a seal such as silicone, gel, or foam. However, other similar materials may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. User interface cushion 34 also includes an aperture 56 with grooves 58 thereabout. Grooves 58 assist in aligning user interface cushion 34 with support body 36, as described in further detail below.
With particular reference to
Each of the wings of support body 36 has elongate slots 70 designed to provide sliding engagement between the support body and the corresponding cheek interface 38, so that the location of the cheek interface relative to the support body may be adjusted to accommodate the facial features of a particular user 100 and properly register on the correct cheek region of the user. Each of the wings terminates at an eyelet 72. Returning to
Headgear assembly 40 includes a lower strap 74 fitted about the user's head 108. Lower strap 74 has a pair of end portions 76. Each of the end portions 76 is threaded through a corresponding eyelet 72 and secured back to a median portion 78 of lower strap 74, thus creating a loop 80 about the corresponding eyelet 72. Headgear assembly 40 also includes an upper strap 82. The upper strap includes a pair of side straps 84 joined to a rear web 86. The side straps are also threaded about eyelet 72 to secure the upper strap 82 to the support body 36. Alternatively, upper strap 82 and lower strap 74 may be formed together as a single member thus reducing the number of pieces used to form the headgear assembly 40. In either embodiment, lower strap 74 and upper strap 82 are threaded through the eyelets 72. The straps can be constructed of any suitable all-purpose strap material such as the multipurpose strap material sold under the trademark VELSTRETCH™ by Velcro Industries B.V.
One unique feature of the present invention is that eyelets 72 are arcuate in shape. This arcuate configuration allows for upper straps 82 and lower straps 74 to easily slide within the eyelet to create a pseudo-hinge or pivot point between headgear assembly 40 and support body 36. As patient interface 30 is secured to the user, straps 74, 82 are permitted to self-adjust relative to the support body by sliding within the eyelets, so that the user does not have to actively adjust straps 74, 82. Instead, straps 74, 82 passively adjust to accommodate the user.
Patient interface 30 of the present invention contacts the user 100 at three distinct points. This is achieved through the use of two discrete cheek interfaces 38 and user interface cushion 34. As seen in
As best appreciated with reference to
Another unique advantage of the present invention is that by virtue of being discrete elements, cheek interfaces 38 can be moved independently relative to one another. In combination with the flexibility of support body 36, the patient interface can be easily adjusted to precisely locate each cheek interface 38 in the optimum location for a particular user 100 to more evenly distribute the compression forces. Because, cheek interfaces 38 of the present invention serve only as load bearing members, rather than both load bearing and sealing functions, cheek interfaces 38 can be appropriately sized and shaped to achieve their intended purpose rather than being oversized in order to adequately achieve both sealing and load bearing functions.
To use the present invention, the user, or a caregiver, will adjust cheek interfaces 38 such that they are properly located to engage the appropriate portion of the user's cheek region. Next the user, or caregiver, can place the mask assembly on the user such that user's nose 102 extends into cavity 50. The user will then position cheek interfaces 38 on the user's cheek regions 106 in place by tightening the headgear assembly. Once the mask assembly is securely affixed to the user's head 108, breathing gas can then be administered to the user.
While the present invention has been described above as having a cushion that encapsulates the nasal region, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates using other types of devices in conjunction with support body 36. For example, larger cushions that encapsulate the nose and mouth can be attached to the support body. Conversely, smaller cushions, or nasal prongs, that seal in or near the nares can be supported by the support body. In short, any interface suitable for sealing against the user can be used in the mask assembly of the present invention.
It should also be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a particular material for user interface cushion 34 or cheek interfaces 38. For example, these components can be formed from a silicone, plastic, rubber, foam, gel, or any other material or combination of materials that provides a sufficiently comfortable interface with the user's skin.
Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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The Water of the Wondrous Isles, by William Morris, , at sacred-texts.com
CHAPTER XIX. THEY BID FAREWELL, BIRDALONE AND THE WOOD-MOTHER
Now April was gone, and May was come with the thorn a-blossoming, and there was Birdalone waxing still in loveliness. And now the witch had left all girding at her even, and spake to her but little, save when she needs must. But to Birdalone it seemed that she watched her exceeding closely.
Birdalone went oft to the wood, and learned yet more of lore: but of the matter of the Departure, how it was to be gone about they spake no more, and great was the love betwixt them.
At last when May was worn nigh to June came Birdalone to the Oak of Tryst, and found the wood-mother there; and when they had talked a while, but ever from the teeth out, spake Habundia: Though thou be now the wiser of us two maybe, yet have I wisdom to wot that this is the hour of our sundering, and that to-morrow thou wilt try the adventure of the Sending Boat: is it not so? Yea, mother, said Birdalone; I bid thee farewell now: woe is me therefor! Said Habundia: And thou wilt deliver thyself into the hands of the witch, wilt thou, as thou saidst that other day? Quoth Birdalone: Is it not wisdom, dear mother, if I trust in my goodhap? Alas, said the mother, it may be so when all is said. But O my sad heart! and how I fear for thee!
My mother, my mother! said Birdalone, that I should make the days grievous unto thee! and thou who hast made my days so joyous! But now canst thou not say of thy wisdom that we shall meet again?
The wood-woman sat down, and let her head fall over her knees, and was silent a long while; then she rose up and stood before Birdalone, and said: Yea, we shall meet again, howsoever it may be. Let us depart with that sweet word in the air between us. Yet first thou shalt give me a tress of thine hair, as I did to thee when first we met; for by means of it may I know to-morrow how thou hast sped.
Even so did Birdalone, and this was the end of their talk, save broken words of lamentation as they said farewell. And therewith for that while they sundered.
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Who would have believed that in the digital age rabbit ears & TV antennas – absolute relics in the high-tech world – would be making a comeback. Strangely enough it is because of the digital age that these relics of days gone by are making a comeback.
More and more TV viewers are tuning into online-video programming. So why then continue to be ripped off by the cable companies who charge way too much for what they offer – 100s of channels and nothing to watch? If you’re embracing online-video programming, get rid of cable, put up an antenna and dust off those old rabbit ears.
Are consumers “getting with the program”? You bet they are. Antenna sales are through the roof, or should it be on the roof. Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Costco are now selling antennas. How much money can you save? The average antenna costs between $50 and $150. The average consumer cable bill is $91.44/month without the bells and whistles like premium channels and high definition. The savings are staggering.
It just goes to prove that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
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It may still be winter, but local lawmakers are already taking a closer look at the health of beach-goers.
Lawmakers are reviewing a proposal by state Rep. Richard Morrison to extend the state's smoking ban outdoors, reports The Providence Journal.
If approved, the ban would prevent smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds and other outdoor, recreational locations. A vote on Morrison's proposal has not been scheduled at this time.
According to Town Hall employees, there are no ordinances banning smoking at Portsmouth beaches, including Sandy Point Beach.
We wanted to know what you thought about this state proposal. On Portsmouth Patch's Facebook page Wednesday, we asked users if smoking should be banned on beaches.
Here are only a few of the comments posted:
Yes I can hear people saying smokers have rights but so don't the rest of us that don't want to breath their smoke or have to move to another spot or leave the beach because we are allergic to the smoke or have young children with us that we don't want breathing their smoke — Claudette Souza Cottle
No it shouldn't we don't need more laws we need more liberty!! — Kevin Cottle
I don't thnk it needs to be a law, but people should respect beach rules if individual beaches choose to ban smoking. — Melinda Wardell Weldon
Yes or have a special spot they can smoke. — Claire Alba Arrico
What do you think about this issue? Should smoking be banned at the beach? Tell us your thoughts in the poll or comment section below.
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The heaviest endgame book on my shelf is Laszlo Polgar's seemingly rare Chess Endgames (1999). In the United States, Amazon.com lists one copy available from a vendor for $574.53, but Amazon.de lists seven used copies starting at 15.00 EUR and three new from 23.90 EUR. The text is out of print, and appears more readily available in Europe than in the United States. Fortunately, I bought my copy eight or nine years ago for something close to the list price of $29 plus shipping.
It is a daunting book that I use mostly for reference. On the other hand, from time to time I resolve to work through in a short period of time the first 318 problems--called "elementary positions".
This resolution always leads to failure because these elementary positions include quite a few that present difficulties. Consider number 42 for instance:
White to move +-
White has a decisive advantage, but how?
This position is attributed to Crum, 1913, probably John Crum--Polgar's source gives no more than last name and date. Irving Chernev's Practical Chess Endings (1961) also has this problem (61), as well as another by Crum from 1913. Polgar has at least one more Crum composition, number 443, dated 1921.
White to move +-
A Google search for chess and Crum turns up in Google Books a J. Crum who was a "First-Class amateur" that lost game number 2659 published in the British Chess Magazine (October 1905). There is also a reference in Edward Winter's Chess Notes 4744 to a Mr. Crum who offered a suggested improvement in a game lost to Joseph Henry Blackburne, who won blindfolded. Crum was also the contact for entries to a problem composition contest sponsored by Chess Player's Chronicle, and open to all the world according to the announcement in the Westminster Papers 1 November 1878 (150).
The website Chess Scotland offers more information: John Crum was the first Scottish Champion, winning the title in 1884, and was a noted endgame composer. Tim Harding's Chess Cafe column The Kibitzer mentions the role of Crum in a postal match between the Glasgow and Copenhagen chess clubs that took place in 1879-1880 and was reported more fully in the Danish magazine Nordisk Skaktidende than in a Scottish publication where he had found part of the game.
47 minutes ago
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I am a survivor of many things. Early in life I learned that faith in God was the single most important element in surviving this journey through life. One of my favorite quotes is- " Someone was hurt before you; wronged before you; hungry before you; frightened before you; beaten before you; humiliated before you; raped before you; yet, someone survived. - Maya Angelou"
I enjoy all types of music with blues, jazz and classical being my foundations in life. Some of my favorite authors are: Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Malcolm X, Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Jeffery Deaver, Iyanla Vanzant, Edgar Allen Poe, Kahlil Gibran just to name a few. My current favorite novel is "Graceland" written by Chris Abani, a definite must read.
Other favorite sayings:
Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart, don't know how to laugh. - Golda Meir
The ruin of a nation begins in the home of it's people. - Ashanti proverb
When one door closes, another one opens. - African-American folklore
A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything. -El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
In the solitude of your mind are the answers to all your questions about life. You must take the time to ask and listen. - Bawa Mahaiyaddeen
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The recent revival in monsoon has pulled down the rainfall deficit significantly but is unlikely to improve the GDP growth forecast for this fiscal, which is likely to be around 5.6 per cent, says a report.
According to a research report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, despite better rains the growth forecast for this fiscal is likely to be around 5.6 per cent.
"The upside risk of 50bp to our 0.5 per cent agricultural growth projection, on account of revival of rains, is effectively neutralised by a 50bp downside risk to our 4.7 per cent industrial growth forecast, with the RBI delaying monetary easing," the report said adding that it is retaining the FY'13 growth forecast at 5.6 per cent.
In June, the country received 31 per cent deficient rains than normal while July saw a monsoon deficiency of 13 per cent and riding on surplus August rains, the south-west monsoon touched the near normal level with the rainfall deficit narrowing down to 9 per cent of the seasonal average.
The report by Indranil Sengupta, India Economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch further said that the RBI is likely to go for a 25bp CRR cut in the September 17 policy.
It added that unless lending rate cuts come off by another 50bp, FY13 growth will find it difficult to do our modest 5.6 per cent, let alone the RBI's 6.5 per cent.
The recent revival in monsoon is likely to better the winter crop prospects and this could lead to 6.5 per cent GDP growth in the March quarter on the back of base effects and lending rate cuts.
But at the same time, a poor autumn harvest will likely pull growth down to 5 per cent levels in the September and December quarters.
Revival of rains should save Rabi crop but much of the damage done to Kharif crop may not be recouped, the report said.
Inflation is likely to stabilise around 7 per cent levels.
The August inflation levels which is scheduled to come on Thursday is likely to be 7 per cent, the report said, adding that oil price hikes are likely to get deferred till the winter Gujarat polls, the report said.
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Weston, Co. is a sleepy village near the southern border of the state on scenic Colorado 12. Once considered a rough and rowdy town in the late 1800s, Weston boasted five saloons, general stores, and a jail that was apparently, well, crowded. Local legends also include famed lumber disputes and bank robberies.
Today Weston is a much tamer place. One interesting way to visit the village is on a driving tour. The town is just one historic stop along the 82-mile Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway between Walsenburg and Trinidad. Tales litter this route once traveled by Native Americans, Spanish explorers, and Hispanic and Anglo settlers. The remote byway also features views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Spanish Peaks in addition to inspiring geologic formations like Dakota Wall and Devil's Stairstep.
The town of Weston offers few amenities for the traveler, but its surrounding natural areas provide some areas for hiking and hunting. Recreational outlets are also available along the county road through Wet and Jarosa Canyons, which eventually winds back to I-25. On the opposite side of town is the Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area. At the gateway to 30,000 acres of elk habitat, visitors will find camping spots, hunting grounds, and access to fishing along the Purgatoire River.
Region: Southeast Regional Information
County: Las Animas
Proximity to other towns: Located 77.6 miles from Pueblo, 116.5 miles from Colorado Springs, 23.4 miles from La Veta, 27.9 miles from Trinidad, 31.9 miles from Walsenburg
Elevation: 6849 feet
WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT...if you have additional information or photos about this town you would like to share PLEASE LET US KNOW
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Virginia has announced that effective January 2013 the state will provide all tax refunds electronically. In other words, receiving a tax refund in the form of a paper check will no longer be an option for Virginia residents. Instead tax filers will have the option of having their refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts or receiving their refunds on a prepaid MasterCard called the “Way2Go Card.”
The movement away from paper checks and towards electronic benefits payments is not surprising. In 2010 the federal government announced that effective March 2013, but for a few exceptions, everyone receiving federal benefits (such as Social Security and veterans benefits) will receive their benefits electronically either by direct deposit or on a MasterCard prepaid card called the Direct Express Card. As discussed in a recent Clearinghouse Review article, the new federal electronic payment requirements are just the next step in an evolving movement.
The Virginia prepaid card has a fee structure similar to that of the Direct Express card. If used properly, a cardholder could avoid all fees associated with the card. If not, however, cardholders could rack up fees. With the Way2Go Card, cardholders receive one free ATM withdrawal per month at any MoneyPass ATM; additional withdrawals cost $2.50 each plus any additional ATM surcharges. Cardholders who overdraft their accounts face an overdraft fee of $0.50. Since cardholders are charged $2 to talk to customer service representatives on the phone after the first two calls, cardholders need to use the Internet if they want avoid fees to check balances and transaction histories. While the State of Virginia claims that these prepaid cards will allow the unbanked to avoid check cashing fees, many consumers may incur card fees that end up equaling or even surpassing check cashing fees.
Virginia is not the only state to contract with credit card companies in order to distribute tax refunds; Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Connecticut have similar programs. Although these programs may save the state money, they may not be the best for unbanked/underbanked tax filers. These cards are meant for people without bank accounts, but they do little actually bring these individuals into mainstream banking. Instead, a more productive approach would be to use these accounts to initiate savings or checking accounts for un/underbanked people.
The U.S. Treasury developed this idea in 2011 and piloted a program where people could have their tax refunds placed on a debit card that allowed for checking and savings capabilities. According to the evaluation of the pilot, this type of program could be feasible on a large scale. Moreover, in addition to still saving states money, it would address the problem of the 34 million Americans who are un/underbanked. It is these kinds of win-win situations that we should be pursuing.
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Have you ever tried Pop Rocks and Coke?
No, it won't make your stomach explode. That's just an old wives' tale — I hope. That combo isn't fatal, but I hear it can feel like a mule kick to the gut.
I know the feeling. I checked into the Marin General Hospital emergency room in 2010 with what I thought was food poisoning. My wife had to help me from the car to the lobby because I could barely walk.
The doctors at first weren't sure what the problem was, but they knew it wasn't a simple case of bad sushi. Turns out, a large carcinoid tumor was strangling my appendix and lower intestine.
There were probably signals before then, but I didn't know enough to recognize them.
The lesson? Listen close to your gut because all those twinges, strange gurgling sounds and pressure might be an urgent message.
Marin General's Center For Integrative Health & Wellness can help you interpret that message with the free class "What's Your Gut Telling You?" The session meets Thursday, March 29, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Marin Cancer Institute. Call 1-888-996-9644 to register.
Sure that half-pound burger with bleu cheese sounds great. Add some beer-battered onion rings and a chocolate shake and your taste buds will be singing. That's fine every once in a while, but eat it too often and your stomach will be groaning.
An unhealthy diet can do more than just add inches to your waist. It can kill you.
Marin Gastroenterology physician Tim Sowerby, M.D. and nutrition counselor Sharon Meyer will lead Thursday's presentation and help us find digestive health through a better diet.
Food that tastes good and is good for you has been a regular theme in the Center's lecture series. Meyer revealed last week the amazing healing power of spices.
One Bite At A Time by Rebecca Katz is an incredible cookbook loaded with cancer-fighting dishes. There's a recipe for almond chocolate chip cookies that I'm saving for my next snack attack.
Using advice from nutritionists at the Marin Cancer Institute and the local abundance of organic foods, I've tried to change my diet over the past year. I've found some great recipes for beef fajitas, chicken potpie and pizza — all tasty and all healthy.
So don't worry, eating healthy doesn't necessarily mean a plateful of lentils, tofu, or beans. It is possible to enjoy what's on your plate and enjoy a healthy life.
For more information on cancer and carcinoid cancer, consider these sites:
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There is no doubt that rowing is beneficial to your health. It is no wonder that many marathoners turn to rowing as part of their off season conditioning. Outdoor rowing has the added benefit of being outside, but there is much to gain from using an indoor rower, as well.
To be clear, participating in any safe exercise is a step in the right direction. However, rowing may have some distinct advantages over some other forms of exercise. Some aspects that set it apart:
- It is an overall body workout. Many other machines do not offer the level of body involvement that rowing does.
- It burns MUCHO calories… for most, it is somewhere between 500-800 per hour.
- Even with all of that moving, it is a very low impact exercise. This is perfect for those with sensitive joints.
- Your arms move repeatedly back and forth. This is terrific for heart and lung health.
While a rower is one of the most underused pieces of equipment at the fitness center, it is arguably one of the most valuable. With regular use, you WILL experience toning… and have the added benefit of a cardio workout. If performed correctly, the majority of the effort is exerted by the lower body. Only 15-20% of the exercise is performed by the upper body, but that is enough to see results. The core stays engaged throughout.
savour... still waters
Get the rest after the jump...
If your current goal is weight loss, you are in luck. A regular rowing routine as part of your overall exercise program paired with a good food plan can be a great way to lose weight. Try rowing with lower resistance for 20-25 minutes, 3 times per week. If you enjoy it, increase your time to 30 minutes or consider an extra day or two. Although I cannot guarantee your results, I can tell you from personal experience that this. thing. works.
If you plan to use the rower at your local fitness center, you have an advantage over the other gym-goers. This piece of equipment is often available. If you are planning to purchase one for your home, you will find that with regular use, they are worth what they cost. You can find good deals on rowers online, and may even find one used as they have fallen out of favor with many people.
As with any other exercise equipment you will have to actually use it. It is worthless if you are not motivated. Make a commitment to the same time, every time, and stick to it. Your body will thank you.
Before you start:
As with anything you see here, if you have further questions, please let us know.
If you have any concerns, be sure to contact your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
Before you purchase a rowing machine, do plenty of research. There is a load of information out there including product reviews to help you make an informed choice.
Never sacrifice form. It is better to take a break than to break form. For this (and most) exercise to be beneficial and reduce risk of harm, it must be done correctly.
TrackBack URL for this entry:
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Today's Fitness: Benefits of Rowing:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns Vietnam’s government for taking Father Nguyen Van Ly, a Roman Catholic priest and religious freedom advocate, from his home in Hue Monday, despite his ill health which requires treatment for several strokes and an apparent brain tumor. Since March 2010, Father Ly has been on medical parole from a sentence he received in May 2007.
“Father Ly should be immediately and unconditionally released, said Leonard Leo, USCIRF Chair. "Less than one week after the United States helps to mediate Vietnam's dispute with China over the South China Sea, Vietnam ignores our government's consistently stated concerns about the treatment of Father Ly - a frail Catholic priest who has peacefully advocated for the fundamental right to freedom of religion - by seizing him without any warning and despite being told by his caretakers that he is not well enough to travel and to be taken back to prison. The Obama Administration cannot maintain a strategy that advances Vietnam’s security and economic interests without seeking concrete improvements on U.S. interests in religious freedom and the rule of law. It’s time for the Administration to re-designate Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).”
The CPC designation is applied to countries with “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.” Vietnam was designated as a CPC from 2004 to 2006 along with such nations as China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Sudan. USCIRF has consistently recommended Vietnam be re-designated as a CPC.
Father Ly is one of Vietnam’s most prominent advocates for religious freedom and related human rights. In October 2001, the government sentenced Father Ly to 15 years in prison after he submitted testimony to USCIRF on religious freedom abuses. He was released in 2005 after Vietnam was designated as a CPC and re-arrested in 2007, several months after the Bush Administration lifted the CPC designation. A USCIRF delegation visited Father Ly in prison in May 2009, where he spoke of being held in isolation for more than two years. Father Ly was released on medical parole in March 2010 after suffering several strokes.
The 2011 USCIRF Annual Report found ongoing and severe violations of religious freedom in Vietnam, including the detention of many individuals, in prison or under administrative sentence, for their religious activity, religious freedom advocacy, or legal defense of religious communities. Those detained include individuals from the Hoa Hao, Khmer Buddhists, Cao Dai, Montagnard Protestants communities and human rights defenders Le Cong Dinh, Cu Huy Ha Vu, the Most Venerable Thich Quang Do, Father Phan Van Loi, Le Thi Cong Nhan, Nguyen Van Dai and now, reportedly, Father Nguyen Van Ly.
“Re-designating Vietnam as a CPC is not only the right thing to do; it has proven in the past to produce tangible religious freedom improvements on the ground without hindering other bilateral interests,” said Leo. “Most importantly, it will clearly signal that the United States sides with those in Vietnam who peacefully advocate the cause of human freedom.”
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF’s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at
, or (202) 523-3257.
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Target is also in the business of predicting what a person will want. So the marketing company decided to try to use costumer shopping habits in order to predict pregnancy. If they could start sending the woman baby-related before she started shopping for them in earnest, the company figured, she might end up always thinking of Target when she needed to spend money on the baby.
Using an algorithm that considered the purchasing patterns typical of newly pregnant women -- e.g., prenatal vitamins, scent-free instead of scented lotion, a sudden uptick in the acquisition of cotton balls -- they were able to make a pretty good guess as to whether a female customer was expecting. Suddenly these women were getting coupon books full of baby-related discounts.
This caused two problems.
First was the father of the teenage girl who started getting coupons for diapers in the mail. This led to an angry phone call to Target and, later, a chagrined apology by the stunned grandpa-to-be (story here).
The second was the reaction of the intended target, the expectant moms. Some were pretty freaked out that Target knew they were pregnant! It's one thing, it turns out, for Target to know you like vanilla better than chocolate ice cream, or you fancy scented candles; it's different, perhaps, to suddenly realize that it knows your having a baby. That could feel like a serious invasion of privacy.
So Target learned that the ability to predict our needs and desires comes with the need to do some psychological management as well. Accordingly, they began sneaking baby-related coupons into coupon books that also included other things. So far, Target reports, these women are none the wiser... and thinking of Target as their one-stop baby shop.
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Speaking for Your Business or Organization
"Nothing so conclusive proves a man's ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself."
Thomas J. Watson
"In the Name of the Best Within Us"
Dave as Your Keynote and Kickoff Speaker
A great Keynote Speech can mark the beginning of a great conference or the start of a new business program.
It will set the tone for your entire event by generating a sense of purpose and anticipation for every effort your organization will be making during and after the conference.
Dave will build a great rapport with your team, galvanize them and inspire them so that their attention will be focused on the putting forth their best effort to whatever field of endeavor you direct them.
Developing Leadership Skills and Increasing Your Manager's Productive Lifespan
This talk is one of Dave’s favorites. It is based on the research of Carol Dweck, Ph.D., which provides new insights into what we’ve learned about ability and achievement in the last 100 years.
Dave will help you and your team gain productive, profitable understandings of these questions:
- How do you identify productive leadership? How it can these skills be shared with everyone in your organization?
- Why can some of us can step up to a challenge and work through it when others begin to fade and lose their drive? Can this tendency to fade in the stretch be reversed?
- Are your managers leading or driving?
- Which of them gets the most and the best out of their team?
- How can their talents and attitude be acquired by the rest of your team?
- What are the key the absolutely essential things to look for when you recruit and hire someone?
- What can you and your organization do to keep even your long-term team members fresh and productive their entire careers? Dave calls this "Extending Our Productive Lifespan" and it can be one of the most powerful tools in your managerial tool box.
"Working with the Talented Procrastinator"
Beating Procrastination and Building Productivity Skills
"Never put off 'till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow!"
Mark Twain gave us sound advice on procrastination unless you need to worry about little things like meeting a deadline or making a profit.
As a manager, few things are more frustrating than to work with someone who has all the brains and talent you could hope for, but who just can't get the daily tasks done.
Dave will show your team and YOU how to understand the problem and how to overcome it. Let Dave show your talented people how to make the best possible use of all of their skills.
"Starting Off Strong Fading in the Stretch"
Understanding the "Iacocca Trend"
Even the best managers slow down and lose their edge. Why?
What keeps a great manager great sharp, alert, empathetic, deft, inspirational, and not afraid of change and challenges?
Why do so many of us start to lose our creativity and become inflexible, territorial, and even suspicious as our careers advance?
This program will help you understand the causes of what Dave calls "The Iacocca Effect" and most importantly how to prevent it and how to cure it when it develops.
"But He Looked So Good on Paper!"
Taking the Risk Out of Recruiting and Hiring
This program helps every recruiter and manager understand the most common mistakes made during the recruiting, hiring, and training processes and how to keep them from becoming part of your organization's profile.
The tools and resources Dave will bring to his workshop with you and your team will help you understand what the talented and productive recruits are looking for and need.
Dave will help you understand how you can be sure that this very expensive part of running your business or an organization will give you the return on your investment you are striving to achieve.
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Kim O'Hara wrote:Thanks for the responses so far, folks.
Well, I haven't replied so far, but now I shall!
I think I can say Ingram is not my ideal teacher
but that his divergence from traditional Buddhism is quite different from Eric Harrison's.
Harrison does take the meditative practices seriously and also (though he says less about them) the 'morality' practices that support good meditation. But he finds that Asian teachers and Western students - in Asia or in the West - are not a good combination. Summarising him (I'm not
saying I agree with everything!):
Think I may give Mr Ingram a miss myself. I'm on my twelfth year full time Dharma study, so maybe I missed something last year?!
It's an interesting point - for some, I am a professional, with all that comes with it. For others, I am still a beginner, with all that comes with that!
A nice middle ground, good for reflection.
It is interesting that "meditation" seems to be often the first word mentioned in connection with Buddhism in the west.
The Asian teacher + Western student thing is something I can maybe comment on. Though, for myself, I can also comment on some basics of Western teacher (myself) + Asian student, too. (Though the latter is a basic relationship, I am nobodies "preceptor" or "shifu".)
Asian teachers tend to see lay students as incapable of making much progress, because the high achievers in their own community are all monastics, and therefore tend to give them limited instruction; that goes double for women.
I think that the "making much progress" thing is definitely something relative. It depends where we are setting a standard, to then comment whether or not person X can "make much progress" or not. And Dharma practice is not a single linear thing, there are a range of factors and so on that something take place synchronously, sometimes diachronically. Not easy to lump it all together.
Rather than "lay students", I think that sometimes it may help to distinguish between "householders with families", particularly those married with children; and also "laity" who are young, single and have time and energy.
For my own Buddhist community, I can maybe give some examples:
All monastics are full time. First, they complete 3-4 years of Buddhist College, full time study and practice, with all it's rules and whatnot. Then, most will have another 6+ years as regular junior monastics, before they are in a position to be called "teacher" by anybody at all. Some exceptions, though. Some monastics really never become "teachers". Those who are the specialist teachers of doctrinal, meditation, ritual or other areas, usually have about 15+ years full time experience in that area.
There are also non-monastics, single lay practitioners, who are still full time. For example, when one starts at the Buddhist college, they are not monastics. Some decide to become monastics, others do not. So, there are quite a few lay students (single, not married or even in relationships) who complete 3-4 years full time study there. They may then go on to work in some area or another at the monastery. A small amount of them may become "teachers", but not usually of doctrinal, meditational or similar areas. Maybe areas like Buddhist arts, charity work, or the like.
In addition to the Buddhist college at the main monastery, some of our larger branch monasteries also have Buddhist Colleges on a smaller scale. For instance, here in HK, we have a program which runs for 4 months - every weekend. (At present, this is women only, so, so much for the gender discrimination issue!) They are single, unmarried, and during those weekends, live a pretty strict monastic lifestyle. They may then go to the main college in Taiwan, if they like.
Most of the lay students who have gone through the buddhist college training become very dedicated practitioners. They may be at the monastery 1-4 nights a week, helping out with this or that. Or even more. For example, we have three ladies who have gone through this training here, who are now full time at the monastery working with the lay organization that is parallel to the monastic organization. In the last week, they are organizing a family sports day for Dec 27th. And, for our weekend Children's Buddhist class, we have a couple of other ladies who have gone through the college, who lead the class as the teachers.
The childrens class is for 8-12 year olds. We also have Buddha Light Scouts group, and a Youth Group, too. They have their own programs, and most of it is led by the people who have gone through the Buddhist college - all of them are laity. With a bit of help from some monastics.
We also have a large number of activities for the laity in general. This includes classes, Dharma services, meditation retreats, charity events, etc. The dharma classes are all taught by monastics, as are the Dharma services and meditation retreats. The classes are graded from elementary to advanced, so over years, the students can learn a huge range of material. We also have programs at Universities, too, which go further. The other activities are mainly organized by the laity themselves, but with supervision and guidance from the Abbess.
So, coming back to the question of "progress" - some of the lay community are recognized throughout the whole of Hong Kong as community leaders for their efforts. A couple of them have written books on Buddhism, too.
In Chinese Buddhism, most people will acknowledge that as far as meditative practice goes, one needs to lead a very renunciate lifestyle. So, rather than being ousted by monastics, they themselves will think that comparatively speaking, having a full time job, spouse, children, etc. is definitely not very conducive to being a meditation expert.
This is less so for doctrinal issues. As I say, we have a couple of lay teachers who are Uni profs, who will teach to the monastics as well as laity.
So, I don't know what Asian community those initial comments were made wrt, but they don't really apply here. And HK is still Asia, from what I remember!
They also tend to be conservative, authoritarian and elitist in personal and pedagogical relationships and don't handle western-style egalitarianism at all well, and their teaching skills per se are usually so poor as to make any western-trained educator wince.
hmmm.... maybe, maybe not. Hard to generalize.
The wording here, though, seems to imply that these qualities are qualities in the Asian teacher. However, many of them are relational qualities. In an Asian student Asian teacher relationship, it may just work perfectly well.
The issue of egalitarianism is tricky, in that making it a criticism implies that the Asian teacher should conform to the norms of the student. Why?
Likewise for the "teaching skills".
One could easily flip it around and assess it from the position of the Asian teacher. Probably they too cringe at the lack of respect in those students, and the demand that somehow the student is the equal of the teacher!
The problem is not on either side - the problem is when the two sides come together, both expecting that the other side has a similar mode of relationship to their own, and thinking that the other should conform to their own. (Similar thing in Asian Western marriages, but that is another story!)
The very idea of what a "teacher" is, and what a "student" is, can be quite different.
Harrison doesn't talk much about individual cases but I have read elsewhere about some very destructive behaviours in (particularly) American Zen communities.
Yes. Taking things out of context - teaching style X in social context Y.
One of the interesting things about culture, is that people tend to automatically believe that their own cultural norms are universal, until clearly shown otherwise. So, for these first east-west relationships, both sides often go crashing into it like a bull in a china shop. Can get ugly. I have my own stories, but I'll leave them for my memoirs!
To me it seems clear that 'western Buddhism' is a work in progress. People like Harrison, and like us, are shaping it through our practice and our conversation. I am curious about where it is headed.
Almost coincidentally, the Asian traditions are dealing with potentially radical upheavals. the Tibetan diaspora is a really obvious example, but the major schools' ability to communicate freely with each other is a new thing as of (say) the last fifty years and coincides with Asian Buddhists' large-scale exposure to secular scientific consumerist Western culture, and to Christianity. My feeling is that if Asian Buddhism won't bend in response to those pressures, it will break - what has happened to Christianity in Europe and Australasia in the last hundred years may be a fairly good analogy.
Often, I think that as westerners, we seldom have any sympathy for the incredible amount of influence that the west has already had on Asia. Yet we still make such high demands! (eg. in a non-Buddhist setting, expecting China - which was an empire only 100 yrs ago, and had communist purges just 40 yrs ago - to suddenly become a full on western style democracy!)
I also think that many of the changes taking place are not necessarily "western culture", either, because often they are elements which are also very new to the west. I tend to think of it more as simply "modern culture", post industrial, high tech, etc.
Okay, enough blather from me.
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Re: The 1-2 rule or How Jordan revolutionized the Game
My point is clearly written. You understood it too. So I don't get your nonsensical first lines.
It seems to be that there was an existing pattern before Jordan arrived and made the NBA the super sport it is today. 1 generational player, then two, then one, then two then one. That last one contributed to make the NBA explodes. It got us an array of generational players (4 for this past generation) that was never seen before.
Even though Wilt played in the 70's, he was the generational player from the sixties. Likewise, Kobe, Lebron and Duncan are playing in the 10', and yet they are generational player from the 00'.
And, the last point I made was that Jordan is the biggest superstar the world sport has ever seen since he contributed to make so many generational players appear. This is something that, as far as I know, hasn't been done anywhere else, in any other sport.
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Beautifully designed and expertly edited, just published in the US, the Cardboard Book is an absolute must for eco-conscious, design-savvy folks. Look for pages 094-099 and find Karton Art Design Archeo furniture.
Cardboard Book by Gingko Press
“Cardboard! It’s low cost, readily available, familiar, portable, and recyclable, but something that’s better than all of those qualities put together is the ease with which it can be used. No special tools or skills are required to cut, bend, fold, stack, glue, or tape it. All you need is a keen sense of imagination.
This amazing new book is packed with examples of the ingenious ways architects, designers, artists, and craftspeople have put cardboard to the test and successfully harnessed its amazing qualities of strength and sound absorption.”
We built a stand for a client who makes colourful paper products.
Both the company and the public was very impressed by the booth.
We created special units for their hand-made paper sheets. These units were so successful that they will form part of our shop fitting and exhibition system.
Compliments emphasised that cardboard served as a perfect backdrop for all these many colours.
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Below is a letter from a teacher at Austin Peace Academy. They are a Title I charter school in east Austin. We were able to give their 9th grade students free tickets to our production of To Kill a Mockingbird. For many students, it was their first time attending live theatre. I’m glad we were able to give them this educational opportunity.
March 18, 2009
Dear Paramount Theater,
Thank you so much for the free tickets to the play To Kill a Mockingbird. My students thoroughly enjoyed the experience. For many, it was their first experience in a fine arts venue. My hope is that this wonderful opportunity will encourage the students to become life-long patrons of the arts.
As a result of watching the play, several students expressed an interest in the Theater Arts. They were amazed by the actors’ ability to put on a completely different persona for the course of a few hours. Also, the play was an excellent resource for providing further perspective on our reading of To Kill a Mockingbird. Maycomb was truly brought to life before our eyes!
Please continue to support schools and students throughout the Austin area by providing free tickets. We sincerely appreciated the opportunity to attend. Thank you again.
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Volume 39, Number 3
Richardton, ND 58652
Assumption Abbey Wine
People often ask why we sell sacramental and table wines at Assumption Abbey. European monasteries have a long history of selling alcoholic beverages, beer in Germany for instance, but in most of the monasteries of the United States this is not the case.
In 1959 Abbot Ignatius Hunkler was looking for ways to provide ongoing funding for
our schools. At the same time, Philo Biane of Brookside Vineyards, Guasti, California,
was looking to name his premium table wines. Through a mutual friend -
Besides these table wines, Brookside also bottled Assumption Abbey sacramental wines, sometimes called altar wines. To be used for the celebration of the Eucharist, wine must have the approval of a bishop, which our wine has. We began ordering wine by the truckload and then selling this sacramental wine to area churches. We gradually built up a customer base of many Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Episcopal churches in North Dakota, as well as in neighboring states. Because of freight costs involved, Assumption Abbey sacramental wines are not sold far from North Dakota any more. We sell about 700 cases of sacramental wines per year, and we feel this is an important service that we offer for churches, many of whom pick up wines at the Abbey to save on freight charges.
In the early 1970s, Abbot Robert West decided that we should carry a line of Assumption
Abbey table wines here in Richardton. He appeared before the Stark County Commissioners
with a few bottles of wine and applied for a restricted county license to sell wine
as an “off-
In 1982, Assumption Abbey found San Antonio Winery/Madallena Vineyards near Los Angeles, California to do private labeling for us. The labels are printed with our name and information, and San Antonio bottles and labels as many cases as we order for Richardton sales. The label indicates that the wine is California wine.
For about 35 years now, we have been ordering one truck load of about 1,000 to 1,100 cases per year. The monks have unloaded these heavy cases of wine from the truck by hand. Just this past year, through the generosity of our donors, we are widening doors in the basement of the cafeteria building so we can unload pallets of wine with a skid steer and move these pallets directly into the storage room without relying on a large amount of hand labor. We thank our many donors who have made this and many other projects possible. Thanks to you all!
Br. Elias stacks cases of wine for display in the Abbey Wine Cellar.
418 THIRD AVENUE WEST
RICHARDTON, ND 58652
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Tri-County to Kick Off Twenty/20 Program This FallJun 19Read more
Chapter 33: The Post-9/11 GI Bill (New - begins Fall 2009) The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. The portion of the program maximum amounts to be received is determined by the length of the aggregate service and/or disability status. This program will pay eligible individuals:Tuition & fees are paid directly to the school. Payments are simplified for those attending public schools, and a national yearly maximum is created for those enrolled in private or foreign schools (effective August 1, 2011).
- Monthly housing allowance benefits are pro-rated based upon rate of pursuit, rounded to the nearest multiple of 10 (effective August 1, 2011).
Monthly housing allowance benefits are payable to students (other than those on active duty) enrolled solely in distance learning, at one-half the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents (effective October 1, 2011).
Annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment. The books and supplied stipend can be paid to students attending school while on active duty (effective October 1, 2011).
- Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike (effective August 1, 2011).
Chapter 30: The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
Chapter 1606: The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Chapter 1607: REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
Chapter 32: VEAP is available if you first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985 and you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Department of Defense. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Section 901: An Educational Assistance Test Program created by the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1981 (Public Law 96-342) to encourage enlistment and reenlistment in the Armed Forces. Benefits are available to individuals who entered on active duty after September 30, 1980, and before October 1, 1981 (or before October 1, 1982, if entry was under a delayed enlistment contract signed between September 30, 1980, and October 1, 1981).
Chapter 35: This program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Application for Benefits
- To apply at the College, the Admissions Office should first accept veterans into a program of study.
- A veteran would then see the Veterans Coordinator in the Financial Aid/VA Office located in Miller Hall with a copy of his/her DD214 if application is based on active duty service, or Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) if application is based on current Reserve or National Guard service. Additional documentation may be needed in the case of "Kickers" or to document activations or mobilizations.
Veterans also must provide the Admissions Office with an official transcript from the high school of graduation and official transcripts from all colleges attended. An evaluation of all college transcripts must be completed by the end of the second semester in a new program of study. This evaluation is necessary to determine what credits will count toward graduation in the veteran's program of study and must be reported to the VA when enrollment is certified. Enrollment cannot be certified beyond the second semester until this is accomplished. The veteran is responsible for making sure this has been completed.
- eBenefits is a portal for veterans, service members, and their families to research, find access and manage their benefits and personal information. It offers students a personalized 'Dashboard' that provides quick access to eBenefits tools. Students can apply for benefits, download DD 214s, view your benefit status, check Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement and check enrollment status.
- Please visit the eBenefits website to explore this great resource further!
Change of Program of Study
To change programs of study, the same admissions and evaluation process must be followed and a Change of Program or Place of Training Form (22-1995), or (22-5495 for Dependents) filled out with the Veterans Coordinator. For information, contact the Veterans Coordinator at (864) 646-2026.
In 1976, the Congress amended the "GI Bill" in such a way as to encourage veterans to move toward the attainment of educational career goals. The law now provides that no payment will be made to an eligible veteran for auditing a course or for taking a course in which the grade assigned is not used in computing graduation requirements
To comply with this law, the following rules apply to veterans or other individuals who receive veterans' benefits:
- The "I" grade is not a permanent grade and carries only a message of a temporary condition that will be changed to a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F. The "I" defaults to "F" automatically after 20 instructional days into the succeeding term if course requirements are not completed by that time. In the event a veteran receives an "I" grade at the end of a semester, further enrollment in that course cannot be certified to the VA.
- In all cases, an "F" grade is defined as a punitive grade for purposes of computing eligibility for and receipt of veterans' benefits.
- Veterans cannot be certified for an "AU" grade
- Veteran's enrollment cannot be certified for any course not listed in his/her curriculum as a graduation requirement. If there are electives listed as part of the curriculum, veterans must not exceed the total number of elective hours designated by the program and should take only electives listed as approved electives or electives approved in writing by their department head.
Conditions for Interruption of Benefits
Each veteran certified for benefits will have an evaluation of his/her progress done at the end of each semester. If a program GPA of 2.0 is not maintained during any semester, the veteran will be placed on "VA Probation" for the following semester.
If a 2.0 program GPA is achieved during the probationary semester, VA Probation status will be removed.
If a 2.0 program GPA is not achieved during the probationary semester, termination of veterans benefit certification will result at the end of that semester for "Unsatisfactory Progress". Certification is suspended and the veteran will need to go through an appeals process. Appeals can be downloaded through the website under Financial Aid forms.
Change of Status
All recipients of veterans' benefits must immediately notify the Veterans Coordinator of any changes that may affect their pay status. Such changes include change of program, change of schedule (dropping/adding classes), change of address, and withdrawals.
In order to meet Veterans Affairs (VA) certification requirements the College acknowledges that off-campus courses, such as courses offered via the Internet or other modes of distance learning, are part of the College's approved curriculum. These off-campus courses are directly supervised by the College, are measured in the same unit as other courses, are required for graduation, and are part of a program of study approved by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (State Approving Agency). The College requires that the faculty teaching these courses use a grading system similar to the grading system used in resident courses. Also, they must include statements in the course syllabus that indicate that appropriate assignments are needed for the completion of the course, and the student is expected to demonstrate, at least once a week, that he/she is actively involved in the class. Examples of activities that can be used to demonstrate this involvement include, but are not limited to, the following: posting/receiving emails, participating in online class discussions and class chat rooms, and completing and submitting course assignments. Further, the College requires that these courses have schedules of time for training and instruction which demonstrate that students shall spend at least as much time in preparation, instruction, and training as is normally required by the College for its resident courses.
Veterans Coordinator - Wanda Pickens
Phone - (864) 646-2026
Or 1-866-269-5677 ext. 2026 within the 864 area code
Miller Hall, Room 161 - Sign in at the Financial Aid Office Reception Area, Room 150
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A warning from California's Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) is causing concerns among some small wineries and the firms that help them sell wine online. The advisory, issued last month, could hamper the growth of online sales and direct shipping. And it could further complicate and delay Amazon.com's long-awaited entry into wine sales.
The decision could also prevent consumers from buying many of their favorite wines. With the growth of Internet retailing and the loosening of restrictions on direct shipping, more and more wineries are selling online. During the recession, distributors are scaling back the number of brands they carry, focusing on their best sellers, and wineries are looking to the Internet to reach more consumers.
Many have turned to third-party marketing agents to help them. Such organizations facilitate sales and help wineries navigate the confusing array of regulations in each state, but never touch the actual bottles. Because they don't handle the wine, many have assumed they don't need a license.
On June 5, the California ABC issued an industry advisory warning that third-party service providers require a license if they facilitate the sale of alcoholic beverages and share in the revenue. While the ABC says it has not passed judgment on any of the programs offered by these providers, wineries working with unlicensed businesses could potentially lose their liquor licenses, a devastating blow.
The advisory describes third parties as, "persons or businesses operating Internet websites for the purpose of promoting, marketing or selling alcoholic beverages."
The advisory sent a tremor through the industry. Wineries that have found it easier to sell their wine online by working with marketing agents, such as Snooth, AmericanWinery.com and Bottlenotes, may have to change the way they operate on the Internet.
"We've had to change one relationship with a company because of the advisory," said Stephen Bachmann, CEO of Vinfolio, an online wine store. Vinfolio, which has a liquor license, had to terminate an agreement with a third-party provider. The third-party firm was referring business to Vinfolio, taking a percentage of sales profits, and did not have a license.
Amazon, one of the largest online retailers in the world, is attempting to create a wine division but continues to run into delays. The company had announced it would partner with New Vine Logistics, a Napa-based direct-shipping service, so it wouldn't have to directly handle the wine. Amazon could make sales without having to acquire a license in every state. (New Vine Logistics was saved from bankruptcy recently after rival Inertia Beverage Group stepped in; Inertia is selling off many New Vine assets and has made no comment on the future of the Amazon deal.)
According to Mathew Seck, chief of the California ABC's trade enforcement unit, the advisory was released to address confusion surrounding Internet regulations. Consumers and licensed businesses had been calling in with questions pertaining to unlicensed marketing agents and websites. Seck admitted that the ABC doesn't have time for its employees to be scanning the Internet, and relies on complaints.
Seck also said the ABC has wine drinkers in mind. Unlicensed businesses that sell alcohol are unregulated. If a consumer receives a damaged product, they may not be able to pursue compensation. "[It's] a very complicated issue," said Seck. "The department is concerned about consumer protection. It's really a buyer beware situation when they purchase from non-licensed sources."
The ABC only has jurisdiction over licensed businesses in its state. It can stop wines coming into California but cannot pursue the original sources. "If wine enters the state illegally it could be seized. [It] comes down to whether we have jurisdiction," Seck said. But the agency can punish California wineries.
Despite the risk, few wineries have reacted strongly to the advisory. Only a handful of wineries contacted by Wine Spectator were concerned and some had not heard about the warning. "Obviously if we are non-compliant in any way we would work to correct that," said Michael Doilney, general manager at Parallel wines in Napa. Parallel uses several services to sell wine online.
Many involved in the industry believe the growth of direct online sales is inevitable and new regulations will have to be developed. "[The advisory] won't stop the wave that is occurring with marketing agents," said Paul Mabray, chief strategy officer at VinTank, a digital think tank for the wine industry. The question remains whether the ABC will slow that wave down.
Gene W Oster — Fort Collins, CO — August 6, 2009 5:30pm ET
John Albritton — Irvine, CA — April 21, 2010 12:32am ET
Sips & Tips | Wine & Healthy Living
Video Theater | Collecting & Auctions
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State officials are set to auction tens of millions of dollars' worth of carbon-emission allowances to scores of oil refiners, cement manufacturers and other large industrial polluters.
The computerized auction marks the beginning of California's "cap-and-trade" market. The market is the centerpiece of Assembly Bill 32, the state's 2006 law aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, and Wednesday's kickoff is being closely watched.
"A lot of eyes are on us," said Harold Pestana, a senior manager at Pacific Gas and Electric Co., one of the companies affected by the state law.
Cap and trade will force affected companies to scale back their carbon pollution or purchase allowances to get into compliance.
State officials and environmentalists say the market-based approach gives companies flexibility in how they reduce emissions.
Many affected businesses call it a cleverly disguised tax that will cost them upwards of $1 billion in the first year. The expense will balloon in 2015, when refineries will have to buy more credits to cover greenhouse gases spewed by cars and trucks.
"It's going to be a huge burden," said Shelly Sullivan of the AB 32 Implementation Group, a business coalition. "That turns into a multibillion-dollar energy tax on the state's economy."
Her group, which includes the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Manufacturers & Technology Association, has petitioned Gov. Jerry Brown to abort the auction.
But the auction is expected to proceed.
"Everything is still on schedule; we're moving forward," said spokesman Stanley Young of the California Air Resources Board, the agency running the auction.
Carbon trading isn't new. Polluters in the European Union have been subject to a greenhouse gas market since 2005, and a similar program covers power plants in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.
But until Wednesday, when carbon trading comes to California, it's never been tried on a large scale in America.
More than 62 million allowances each representing the right to emit a ton of carbon will be offered for sale in a three-hour window starting at 10 a.m. The minimum bid price is $10 a ton.
The auction will be a low-key affair. It will be run electronically, with a half-dozen staffers monitoring the bidding behind closed doors at agency headquarters in Sacramento.
"This happens in a sealed room with no windows," said David Clegern, another agency spokesman.
The agency says potential buyers aren't allowed to publicly discuss their purchasing plans, out of fear that disclosure could skew the market. Results of the auction, including pricing and volume, won't be revealed until Monday.
Some analysts believe many potential bidders will sit out Wednesday's auction. Another auction is set for February, and there will be regular auctions each year. Besides, companies needing carbon credits will be able to buy them on the open market and don't have to go through the state.
Uncertainty could dampen bidding in the first auction as well. Jon Costantino, head of the Association of Carbon Market Participants, said bidders might be dissuaded by rumors circulating that an industry group could file a last-second lawsuit to block the auction.
Analysts say the uncertainty has caused prices to drop on private futures markets where California carbon credits have been traded for months. The per-ton price, which had been around $20 over the summer, has fallen to around $12, according to Bloomberg business news.
Low prices could undermine the state's goal of curtailing emissions. If carbon is cheap, there's less incentive for industries to reduce their pollution. That's why the Air Resources Board has set a $10 minimum on bidding in the state's auction.
While businesses complain about costs, environmentalists say a strong carbon price will pay dividends for the economy: It will give polluters an incentive to invest in green technologies to clean up their smokestacks.
The market will work like this: California has set an overall ceiling on the amount of carbon that can be emitted. The cap will decline by 2 percent to 3 percent a year. By 2020, emissions are supposed to fall to 1990 levels.
The affected companies include more than 400 of California's industrial heavyweights. They will get 90 percent of their emission allowances free in the first two years, but the percentage of freebies will decline in future years.
Business groups say California could achieve its goals of curtailing carbon without holding an auction. The state, they say, could simply give away all of the emissions allowances for free, and then enforce the cap. As companies move toward compliance, they will buy and sell the allowances among themselves and a price will emerge for carbon.
But state officials reject that argument. The Air Resources Board says an auction is needed to jump-start the market and make sure a competitive price for carbon is established.
California was hoping the market would cover multiple Western states. But only the Canadian province of Quebec is linking its carbon with California's, starting next year.
As a result, businesses in California say this go-it-alone approach leaves them at a cost disadvantage against companies in other states.
"Our California operation is certainly exposed to out-of-state competition that does not have to comply," said Bruce Ray of Johns Manville, which runs a fiberglass insulation plant in Willows.
Bill Klesse, the chief executive of Valero Energy Corp., owner of two California refineries, ripped the upcoming auction during a recent conference call with investors. "They're coming up with regulations that are totally not workable," he said.
The big utilities are being treated differently than most participants. The state has crafted a complicated scheme designed to buffer their customers from major rate shock. How well the buffer works isn't yet known, however.
"We can't really say what the cost impact to our customers is going to be," said Lynsey Paulo, spokeswoman for PG&E, which supports the auction plan. "We know there's going to be one."
Cap and trade should be pain-free for customers of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. SMUD said it has enough hydroelectricity and renewable energy that it won't need to buy any carbon allowances for at least several years, meaning there will be no cost to customers.
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Posts Tagged minded world
One of the sweetest compliments a writer can hear is ‘I loved your book, please write the sequel’. And we live in a sequel-minded world. If there are any sure-fire ways to build a readership, a series is one of them.
So if people are asking for a sequel and you hadn’t planned one, should you consider it?
Certainly, a lot of hard work has already been done. You know the characters. Indeed, you may have had trouble shutting them away once edits were done. The chance to shake them awake again may be hard to resist.
You might have plenty of material. Outtakes that you pruned from the original novel, back story you wanted to work in but, mindful of pace or the reader’s attention, you cut. They could all be used, couldn’t they?
These are strong temptations, but they do not mean your novel should have a sequel.
Neither should you write a sequel because the reader has unanswered questions. At the moment, those are part of the novel’s resonance. If you answer them, would the magic disappear? Would your answers, in fact, be wrong now that this dimension of the book belongs to the readers?
What will create a story in your sequel?
Stories need a crisis. If you wrote a sequel, where would this new crisis come from?
In some genres, crisis comes with the territory. It’s a natural hazard of the characters’ job, heritage, world, race, DNA and dynasties etc. With those ingredients, your characters will have stories for ever more. Write them, and enjoy their rich variety.
Other novels, particularly non-genre, tend to be self-contained. The arc of the book was the defining experience of the characters’ lives. You wrote ‘The End’ when this was resolved, as much as possible. If you then put those characters through another story with a shift of similar magnitude, will that be hard to believe? And if the characters don’t have a fundamental disturbance, will they be interesting to read about? Remember, they’ve got to match up – or even surpass – the frisson of the original. But it can be done. Think Toy Story 3.
Should you reassemble the original cast? In a genre novel you might have a team who will always be thrown together. Indeed they might create a pseudo-family who give each plot an emotional core while they deal with the crisis du jour. At the end, they reassemble, tested, battered and wiser.
But in other novels, it may be better if the characters disperse. Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca has some perfectly ghastly sequels. Obviously licensed by the estate in an attempt to milk the fans, they squeal a warning for all would-be sequelers. They’re novels constructed by tick-boxes, contriving to drag the scattered characters out of contented retirement and flogging them onto the same treadmill again. In most cases they’ve already given their best, first time round. Leave them be.
So straight sequels may be dodgy, but you might have good mileage in a spin-off. While the principals from book one may be living a better-adjusted life, others could take centre stage. The original characters could be cameos to advise, steer, perhaps muddle everything up because the new crisis is not like the thing that happened to them.
Another possibility is to write the ‘missing years’ or a prequel. Perhaps one of your characters had an interesting interlude from far earlier in their life. Or if your original narrative was first person, perhaps there were other good stories happening around the corner.
Just one character
You might have a central character who still has a lot to offer. This is particularly true of catalyst characters, who stir up trouble but don’t change very much themselves. Throw them into a new situation and they will cause another maelstrom, just because. I get regular requests to write more about a certain catalyst character, who seems to inspire much speculation.
Not wanting to leave
Sometimes we writers want a sequel just as much as the readers do. But we have to take a look at what we would offer. After I finished with My Memories of a Future Life, I spent weeks doodling with aftermath scenes. They were indulgences, from a writer trapped in the deep end, struggling to surface. At the time, I intended them to be a continuation of the narrative but they went nowhere. The characters had stopped opening their hearts, as if what happened next was none of my business. Or perhaps I hadn’t found the right things for them to do.
It’s certainly possible that some of the Future Life people will rear up with a new urgent story. If they convince me that a lot more must be said and done, I shall write it without hesitation.
Until then, there are other stories I need to tell.
Are you tempted to write a sequel to your novel? If you’ve read sequels, what have you liked and what has made you wish the original was left alone? Share in the comments!
If you’re working up an idea for a novel, you might find some useful tips in my book Nail Your Novel: Why Writers Abandon books and How You Can Draft, Fix and Finish With Confidence. And in that case, I find I have plenty more to say and so a second Nail Your Novel is under construction. If you’d like information, sign up for my newsletter.
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TARC was founded in 2009, and it includes an outstanding research team (Doctorate, Master and Bachelor degrees) in different fields of specialization.
D r. Mazen Salman/ Director
Dr. Mazen Salman: Assistant Professor in Phytopathology. He has been working on biological control of plant pathogens since 1997. His main interest is the use of biocontrol agents, including bacteria and fungi against plant diseases, pests and weed plant parasites, as well as biotechnology and plant tissue culture. Dr. Mazen Salman has many research articles published in peer-reviewed journals. His research and teaching interests include plant pathology, plant-pathogen-interaction, molecular plant pathology, plant biotechnology, biological control, plant health, crop protection and pest management, integrated pest management (IPM), applied crop health, and plant tissue culture.
Dr. Basel Natsheh (CV)
Dr. Basel Natsheh: Assistant Professor in Agricultural Science in the area of Land and Water Resources Management. He obtained his Ph.D.degree from Ein Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, in 2009; his M.Sc. degree in Agricultural Science (Land and Water Resources Management - Irrigated Agriculture) from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, CIHEAM, Bari, Italy, in 2004; and his B.Sc. degree in Soil and Irrigation from the Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine, in 2002. His research and teaching interests include the use of unconventional water techniques in agriculture, saline water management, wastewater management, soil remediation using phyto-remediation, bio- and chemical remediation, environmental assessment and monitoring, ecology, and natural resources management.
Dr. Saed Khayat
Dr. Saed Khayat: Assistant Professor in Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry. His work is focusing on various aspects of climate change and its potential impacts on recharge, groundwater shortage, and groundwater-surface water interactions. The tools of his research topics include using isotopes (stable and radiogenic: Deuterium, 18-O, 34-S, 15-N, 13-C, Tritium) in tracing the mechanisms and sources of pollutants and salinity in groundwater. He conducted other research on the impact of lowering of the Dead Sea level on the surrounded freshwater resources. During his work at the University of Goettingen, Germany, he got also a good experience in GIS based groundwater modeling.
Dr.Nawaf Abu Khalaf
Dr. Nawaf Abu Khalaf: Assistant Professor in Biochemistry/Biotechnology.He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Engineering and Technology in 1995 from the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. He obtained his M.Sc. degree in Agricultural Sciences/Agricultural Engineering at University of Copenhagen, Denmark in 2001, and his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry (Biotechnology) at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark in 2006. He worked at universities as a research assistant and post-doctor. He has also experience, working in research and industrial companies. His professional interests include biological and agricultural engineering, biotechnology, environmental technology, multivariate data analysis (i.e. chemometrics), and sensors (e.g. near infra red (optical), chemical, etc.).
Dr. Tahsen Sayara
Dr.Sayara is an assistant professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Palestine Technical University-Kadoorie. He received a B.S degree in Civil Engineering from Birziet University in Palestine, and M.S and Ph.D degrees in Environmental Science and Technology from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. His principal research and teaching interests are in the areas of soil remediation, solid waste treatment and management, wastewater treatment and reuse and air quality monitoring. He has many research articles published in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.
Short Bio of Dr. Yamen Hamdan:
Dr. Yamen A. S. Hamdanis an Assistant Professor and Researcher in Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding employed since 2011 by Technical and Applied Research Centers (TARC)/ Palestine Technical University - Khadoorie (PTUK). He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Plant Science (Plant Production and Protection) from Hebron University-Palestine in 2002. Then, he got his High Diploma (DSPU) of Specialized Postgraduate Studies in Plant Breeding from International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (IAMZ-CIHEAM-Spain) in 2004. Consequently, he completed his M.Sc. (Spanish DEA) and PhD in Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding (Plant Biotechnology) from the University of Córdoba (Spain) in February 2009. From March 2009 to June 2011 he has been working as a post-doc researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Cordoba, Spain (IAS-CSIC)). Dr. Hamdan has published numerous articles in peer reviewed journals.
Eng. Mohammad Jawabreh
Mohammed Jawabreh holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering from Najah National University, 2003. recipient of numerous courses in technical agriculture local and international experts in this area worked as coordinator of the project to develop land in the Joint Services Council /alsharawya Tulkarm for four years and then worked in the Federation of Associations Palestinians farmers four years an expert in the development of productive olive trees within the program to develop capacities of small olive growers Palestinians in the West Bank and also worked at the Institute of Applied Research Arij 6 months an expert in the development of productive olive trees and then joined the University of Palestine Technical Kadoorie to work in the research center technical and practical.
Eng. Othman AbdulRahman
Mr. Othman Abd Al-Rahman: He is a Mechanical Engineer. He obtained his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Palestine polytechnic university, Hebron, Palestine in 2002. He worked for six years as mechanical technician and supervisor. Presently he works as a Research Assistant at TARC). His areas of interest include environmental and air pollution monitoring, mechanical operation and maintenance, and mechanical design.
Mrs. Natasha Taneeb
Mrs. Natasha Taneeb:She got her Diploma in Office Automation from Palestine Technical College – Kadoorie, Tulkarm, Palestine. Then she worked as a Secretary at the same college; first in the Faculty of Economics, Business and Management, and presently as the Secretary of TARC. Mrs. Taneeb has an outstanding experience in secretarial work, and also professional computer skills.
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John Keaton was inspired by Samuel F. Pickering Jr., an English professor of the University of Connecticut. DPS writer, Tom Schulman, was a former writing student of Pickering's and he drew on many of Pickering's unusual teaching techniques to create the Keating character.
More Trivia from Dead Poets Society
Deep in the crevices of New England are several pre-Ivy league facilities. They are an old tradition, generally populated by young men who are being forced to live out their parent's expectations and dreams.
Going to one of these elite institutes of education (to call it a mere school would be insulting) ensures a grand future, if not least a chance to attend the likes of Harvard or Princeton.
Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke at his weepy eyed best) is worried. His brother had been a Valedictorian at Welton, the fictional Vermont Prep school the movie centers around. Shy and withdrawn, he feels shadowed by his brother's former glory, and is nothing like his handsome, infectiously friendly roommate, Neil Perry.
Neil is one of those people who can be described as a generally good person. His life is mapped out by his domineering father, yet he has a twinkle of freedom in his eyes and has spent his life trying to please his strict parent. Now he is finding he wants the kind of joy one doesn't get from following orders and pleasing others.
Neil introduces Todd to his circle of friends; puppy-eyed Knox, buddies Steven, Gerard, and Charlie. Also, for some inexplicable reason, weasel Richard Cameron - the token Judas in a band of friends.
John Keating (Robin Williams) is the new English professor (you see, in College Prep, you just don't call them teachers). He is different than the other teachers. Young, a former student and not very traditional, he stands out, but in a proud way. Being himself seems to be the reason he decided to teach at Welton, to save the young men he is teaching from the destructive jaws of conformity. He innocently leaves a copy of a book from back in his days, a secret club; 'The Dead Poets Society'- in the desk of Neil, hoping that the boys will carry on the society and become something far more important than a grand lawyer, or doctor - themselves.
You will cheer quietly as you see the boys embark on this journey, however, as in any path to discovery, there are rocks. Neil forges his father's signature on a permission slip so he can experience acting in a play, Knox sneaks away from school to pursue a girl who is dating a family friend's son, and the boys meet in the dark of night for their meetings. Massively forbidden behavior at Welton.
Then things get very dark. A confrontation between Neil and his father results in severely tragic events and the dismissal of Keating as a professor. The friends find themselves forced to betray their beloved mentor and then you sit and wonder what the point is?
The point of the entire movie is summed up in a few words 'oh captain, my captain' and stand for (literally) what Todd and what the Society had learned. And then you realize, that despite the tragedy, these boys will be better for the experience.
Robin Williams's portrayal of John Keating proved that he was more than a one trick pony. Ethan Hawke playing the unpopular boy, was interesting; the way he quietly emotes must have been perfected in this film-he always seems to be bursting with things to say, but lacks the courage to speak.
I have read that some were disturbed by the blind faith with which the boys follow their teacher in this film; however keep in mind, this was in the early 60's it took place and at an extremely stuffy school. I find it ironic they really go from conforming from one way to another way, albeit an extreme opposite, they are almost forcing each other to embark upon being different. This was a time when following your teacher was unheard of. Neil's independence, which ultimately ends his life, is tragic, although they pin the suicide on Keating, it is obvious that had the boy's father tried to listen more and dominate less, undoubtly he would have lived.
I saw this movie when I was 15 years old, in the throes of teenage angst, and I loved it. Watching it when I was 20, I still got the warm feeling when I knew that the boys had learned something, although the cost was great. My personal favorite part of the movie is the side story of Knox chasing after this girl. She is dating a friend of the family's son and that guy is so unworthy of this pretty, intelligent girl-you realize she may be with him just to be popular, and Knox saves her from that when he woos her.
DPS is a cult favorite of mine and I would recommend anyone adding it to his or her collections.Notice any mistakes? Review
Shows powerful acting and the growth of the boys as the mpovies progresses is inspiring
The hero worship factor everyone complains about, Neil kills himself as a stand, rather than deal with it like a manOur rating:
9.3 out of 10Review Written by Chris Peterson: Contact | More Reviews by Chris Peterson
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The New Cheap - Why your stocks may be more expensive than you think…
Famously, people aren’t too good with statistics. Every day in the newspaper you can read stories where journalists distort the nature of the numbers. But when it comes to the stock market it gets worse. It doesn’t appear that anyone has even looked them up. So just to grind my axe early, I’ll take an example that I read in a popular shares magazine very recently.
“If [so and so] hits earnings of 20p it will still only be on a PE multiple of 18x earnings.”
Phrases like this are astonishing. They imply that the author thinks a PE of 18x is normal. It isn’t. Get the idea out of your head right now. Your mind is still stuck in a foregone era. You may be anchoring yourself to the kinds of valuation levels that were normal in previous market environments, before the current wave of deleveraging took hold. Its a mode of thought that could be seriously hazardous to your financial health. Thoughts like these can lead investors to blindly buy significantly overvalued stocks, or hold onto winners way past their sell by date.
I am not for a moment implying that a stock can’t be worth 18x earnings and far beyond (of course it can), so before anyone jumps down my throat its worth asking a question…
What is the average PE ratio in the stock market?
Most investors who have any history in stocks will remember that forecast PE multiples of 30x and greater were pretty normal back in 2000. And back in 2007 20x was still seen as standard for a stock showing any sign of growth. Even today one hears rather inflated ‘average’ PE ratios bandied about in the press perhaps because journalists read a lot of American press where PE ratios are routinely higher.
But the truth is that the median forecast PE ratio of a stock on the UK market is 10.9 . Yes - 10.9. Even after what many publications are calling ‘one of the greatest bull runs of all time’. There are only 17% of stocks that trade above a forecast PE Ratio of 18x earnings. Classifying such stocks as cheap may be wildly optimistic unless they have an extremely hard to breach economic moat and/or extremely sustainable growth prospects.
It should be noted that using the median instead of the mean is far more representative of the average for stocks. One must be extremely careful when using the mean as the set of PE ratios is so inherently skewed to the upside by occasional massively high outliers such as Torotrak (on a consensus fwd PE of over 2000) and the 25 other stocks on a fwd PE of over 100! As a result the mean of the UK stock market is currently 22x forecast earnings which is extremely and entirely misleading as 90% of stocks have a PE ratio less than 22x! What kind of average is that? It’s just Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics.
In this environment many other standards of valuation need rethought too. There are reams of investors who started out by reading Jim Slater and Peter Lynch and learnt to salivate over stocks that trade on PEG Ratios of less than 1. But now a PEG 0.8 appears to be average for the market? What’s going on are stocks enormously cheap or are we out of our depth?
The new reality of Sideways Markets
I’ve been reading a great little book called “The Little Book of Sideways Markets” by Vitaly Katsenelsen. The book explains the real nature of long term stock market returns and the current environment we are in very well. He shows how the majority of long term secular bull market returns are driven by PE expansion (such as the bull that peaked in 2000). But the market environment for 15–20 years after these bull market peaks are necessarily ‘sideways’ in character as the PE multiple contracts back to normality and then lower.
The market doesn’t need to fall in order for the PE ratio to fall - earnings per share can rise while the market stays flat - which is entirely what we’ve seen since 2000 (with some hairy rides in between!). Kitsanelsen expects the current sideways market to continue for up to another 10 years. Sideways markets such as the one we are in radically reduce valuations across the board until they reach such lows that broadsheets and business journals end up printing headlines such as ‘The Death of Equities’. Normally the stock buying public quits in disgust. Perhaps we aren’t at that point yet - but what this means is that throughout a sideways market you need to constantly recalibrate your expectation of what 'cheap' means especially as PE multiple expansion is rarely a key driver of returns.
Where can you measure your stocks against genuine market averages?
We rank every day the valuations, yields and growth rates of every stock in the market against both their sector peer group and the market as a whole and publish accurate and objective medians alongside these statistics. The kind of visibility this gives investors as to the true nature of their stock valuations is unparalleled on UK websites. Not only that but our ‘traffic light’ system for ranking stocks gives an immediate colour coded visual clue to the relative valuation of these statistics. You can learn more about our traffic light system here. So the next time you are feeling itchy to buy a stock that is looking ‘cheap’ on 15x earnings it may be time to recalibrate your mental counterbalance!
PS - If you are a journalist and you want some free access to genuine UK stock market statistics, get in touch with me through the messaging system or on twitter . Otherwise if you want to learn more we are offering a 14 day free trial.
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On Holy Ground:
Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Lands
by Leilani Birely & Luisah Teish
To Our Kindred Spirits
This is an announcement to all Earth Lovers of the birth of “On Holy Ground: Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Lands,” a new book by Leilani Birely and Luisah Teish.
From the Introduction:
The decision to write this book is born out of 20-30 years of experience. We are blessed to be two women of color who have grown up in a spiritual culture that has survived centuries of oppression and kept its regard for the sacredness of Land in tact and in the forefront of our behavior and rituals.
However, we also recognize that ritual protocol is not taught in school and is not available even in schools with Spirituality Departments and in only a few of the books presently on the shelf.
We long for the reconstruction of a culture that respects the Earth and Her people. Our present ecological crisis: global warming, water and air pollution, starvation and war are all manifestations of our disregard for the Earth, Her gifts and Her children.
The world needs leadership that emphasizes Reverence, Community, and Peacekeeping. And this can only happen in an atmosphere of mutual respect and sharing. We must do this without arrogance and we must overcome our ignorance.
So we decided to write this book as an offering of guidelines and protocols to heal our relationship to sacred lands and to each other. We encourage its use as a means to insure the re-creation of our Earth-centered traditions and the evolution of a global and authentic spiritual practice.”
On Holy Ground is a self-published, quality paperback. It contains our personal stories, cultural myths and folktales, prayers, chants, rituals and exercises to help you define your relationship to Mother Earth and Her Children. It also contains photographs from our travels to several sacred sites and our original artwork. This book will be useful to those wishing to travel as kindred spirits, to address ecological and environmental issues, and to experience the joys of rituals in nature.
Pre-order Your Copy. You can pre-order your autographed copy for $17.95 plus $2.50 for shipping and handling. Those ordering 10 or more copies may have a 5% discount on the list price of $17.95, those ordering 20 copies or more may have a 10% discount.
Make checks payable to: Daughters of the Goddess, 3527 Mt. Diablo Blvd. #353, Lafayette, CA 94549
To download a PDF of the order form click here
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The Changing Face of Marketing?
Posted by Adam Benforado on May 15, 2009
Last week, in a guest blog post at the Faculty Lounge, I suggested that corporate America has been behaving rather strangely recently. Oil companies have been touting investments in wind technology. Investment firms have been urging caution. Agriculture behemoths have been talking about conserving earth’s precious resources. And clothing companies, known for trading on sex, youth, and hipness, have been focusing their advertisements on the benefits that they provide to their workers.
In the post (part of which I excerpt below) I considered whether this recent shift might reference a genuine change in corporate culture or if it might just be the latest marketing fad (comparable, in certain respect, to playing up swine flu fears to sell hygiene-related products).
* * *
Over the course of this term, I’ve encouraged students in my Business Organizations class to consider whether, in the wake of the current economic disaster, the role of corporations might be reconceptualized. As we’ve discussed the history of shareholder primacy, stakeholder statutes, fiduciary duties, director incentives, and the like, I’ve pushed the class to think about whether we are on the cusp of change.
What, if anything, are we to make of business school deans, like Yale’s Sharon M. Oster, arguing recently for a new emphasis on social commitment in B-schools and indicting the blind pursuit of profit? How should we view Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner asserting that the financial industry needs “[n]ot modest repairs at the margin, but new rules of the game”? Are we perhaps entering a new era in which corporations will forsake profit in favor of good works—or, at least, only seek to profit from doing good?
Certain corporate managers—like Timberland CEO Jeffrey Schwartz—have been publicly embracing a compatible vision for a number of years (according to the company website, the Timberland “mission is to equip people to make a difference in their world. We do this by creating outstanding products and by trying to make a difference in the communities where we live and work.”). John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, has gone as far as to state that
[l]ong-term profits are maximized by not making them the primary goal. A business is best not thought of as a machine with various factors of production working in tandem to maximize profits. A business model more in touch with our complex, post-modern, information-rich world is a complex self-adaptive system of interdependent constituencies. Management’s role is to optimize the health and value of the entire complex, evolving, and self-adaptive system.
Has the recent recession and resulting public outrage caused other companies to change their practices? It’s hard to tell, but they do appear to have changed their tune. Flipping through the New York Times yesterday morning as I waited for copies of my exam to print, I was struck by a particularly revealing full-page Starbucks advertisement—and it wasn’t solely because the somniferous drone of the copier left me in dire need of a little caffeine.
What is Starbucks selling?
Well, “[i]t’s not just coffee.”
Coffee, Hummers, diamond-encrusted purses, alligator cowboy boots . . . Those things are so 2007! Americans aren’t into blind consumerism anymore. People are no longer satisfied feeding on a never ending buffet of disposable products and easy comforts. Starbucks understands: “It’s not just what you are buying. It’s what you are buying into.”
And what is that exactly?
“[A] coffee ethic.”
As the advertisement explains, Starbucks “ensur[es] that the farmers who grow . . . [coffee] beans receive a fair price for their hard work” and that employees “receive full healthcare coverage.” Even the beans are taken care of—“nurtured from farm to cup under our watchful eye.”
And who is the final stakeholder?
It’s you, the valued consumer. The profit from your Frappuccino isn’t going to enrich some fat-cat Wall Street type; no, Starbucks is going to use it to better serve your needs: “[A] little bit of the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee helps furnish the place with comfy chairs, good music, and the right atmosphere to dream, work and chat in. We all need a place like that these days.”
One might be skeptical of the company’s motivation in all of this, were it not for the reassurance in the ad itself: “We continue to do this, even in hard times, because it’s the right thing to do.”
You know, I’d really, truly love to believe that. It’s just that the friends and colleagues of Mr. Starbucks have a long history of playing up their commitments to their customers and the broader community for the sole reason that doing so helps them sell more products. Could this time be different? Could the new wave of advertisements reference a real shift in corporate behavior—a genuine and lasting response to public concerns? Maybe.
But maybe it’s just the best way to get nervous consumers to open their pocketbooks in a sick economy.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington is permanently banning the sale, possession, and use of the dangerous chemicals in products such as Spice, K-2, “bath salts”, “plant food”, Ivory Wave, and White Lightening. The chemicals in these products mimic the effects of cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, and/or methamphetamine. Products containing synthetic marijuana (cannabinoids) or synthetic stimulants (substituted cathinones) are illegal under a ban by the state Board of Pharmacy.
The substances are classified as Schedule I controlled substances. They affect behavior and judgment and have a high potential for abuse and harm to human health.
In April the Board of Pharmacy adopted a temporary emergency ban; before it expired, a second emergency ban was approved. The board unanimously approved a rule to permanently ban these substances. The rule will go into effect no later than November 3.
The ban gives clear authority to law enforcement to prosecute for the manufacture, distribution, sale, and possession of these substances. The board will continue to work with prosecutors and the Washington State Patrol Forensic Laboratory to update the list of banned substances, as needed.
Based on complaints and reports to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) from poison centers, hospitals and law enforcement, the DEA recently announced a yearlong, nationwide ban. Several countries and 30 states have already taken action to make these substances illegal.
More information is on the Washington State Board of Pharmacy website (www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Professions/Pharmacy/default.htm).
The Department of Health website (www.doh.wa.gov) is your source for a healthy dose of information. Also, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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To Prospective Parents:
College is one of the biggest emotional and financial commitments a family will make. That's why it's important to support and encourage your child during the extensive, and sometimes difficult, college search and admission process.
The more pertinent information you have about Suffolk University and the college admission process, the better the advice you will be able to impart to your son or daughter. So we invite you to explore the Suffolk Admission website with the help of these quick links:
As you prepare to send your child off to college, I would like to recommend the book Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years by Coburn, Treeger, and Madge (Harper Collins, 2003). I think you will find that your concerns and experiences are shared by many other parents.
If your son/daughter is applying to the University, we encourage you to include your email address in the application. We do send parent-specific email communications to update you on the latest news, announcements, or changes at Suffolk.
Please know that we are here to help with any questions or concerns you might have during the application process. I look forward to helping and working with you during this important time.
Assistant Vice President for Enrollment
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Strawberry B i t c h
By Daniel P. Rice- Pilot- 512th Squadron, 376th Bomb Group
The airplane which became named the Strawberry #%&*$# and later was placed on exhibit at the United States Air Force Museum was assigned to our crew at Herington Air Force Base, Kansas, in late August, 1943. I signed an issue ticket for it there. At that point it was merely one of many B-24Ds off the assembly line at San Diego, distinguished from all the rest of its model only by its serial number — at least until it had received its coat of camouflage pink paint. At that point it became one of a much smaller 'group....
The rest of the pilots recollections are here:http://www.376hbgva.com/memoirs/rice.html
Yeah, she sure is pink!
My 3 yr old Granddaughter has claimed it for her own, because "It is the only pink one."
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Good health. Now there's something people often take for granted. Anyone who has suffered ill health knows there is no greater blessing than to actually get a good night's sleep or to be able to do everyday tasks without pain. You don't miss it until it's gone.
One question: If good health is the most important thing God has done for you, would losing it be the worst thing He could do to you? If you thank God for the good things, what are you going to do when things get bad?
That's what happened to Job. He was a wealthy man with a great family. Then a horrible sequence of events took it all away -- and he was struck with a disease that covered his body with oozing boils. He's sitting in the ashes, scraping his sores with a piece of broken pottery.
How much worse could it get?
His wife's advice was right to the point: "Curse God and die." But Job understood a deeper truth. His reply: "Shall we accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2.7-10)
What would you do? Could you still believe He loves you and wants only the best for you? Would you be angry with God for letting you get sick?
That's exactly what most people do: They blame God for the bad things that happen to them.
But God sees things differently. The truth is, God "causes ALL things to work together for good" in the lives of His children (Romans 8:28). His Word even tells us to be happy when life gets hard, because those difficulties make us "perfect and complete" (James 1:2).
Is that hard to understand? Good is good, and bad is good too? In God's way of looking at things, the "bad" things that happen to us can actually be good -- if we let God use them to pull us closer to Him and to make us more like Jesus.
Does that seem backwards to you? It certainly goes against the way our world thinks. In fact, the Word says it's impossible for someone to accept the "foolishness" of God's ways if they haven't ever experienced the radical change of being reborn into His kingdom (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).
Enjoy your good health while it lasts, because it won't last forever. And seek God now. Better to understand God's ways and have Him walk with you through the hard times, than to go through life angry with the Creator of the universe because things didn't go like you wanted.
Mon, February 22, 2010
by D. James Kinnaird
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Ok, a double post today.
One of my mates invited me out this afternoon for a walk along the Kangaroo Point Cliffs with the words ” you never know what you will see there” – well we saw Zombies – exceptional makeup – some really convincing Zombies
A few photos posted here, and the rest I will put up progressively on my facebook page
One of the most beautiful things about a place like this is the nature – and trees from a big part of that.
The was some very impressive tall trees here – and that in it self became a challenge to show off their majestic height.
Below is my attempt to capture this.
Some of the trees had interesting trunks.
I used to grow palm and cycads – and had quite a collection – but doing a lot of travelling and now living in a unit, that is a thing of the past.
I have not lost my interest in these plants – and love finding and seeing them grow in the wild.
So to see the vast number of Cycads (Macrozamia moorei) growing in this National Park was awesome – and most were in seed – big bright orange/red seeds – deserves a second awesome for that.
Ok usually each Blog post only has three photos – but some of these were too nice not to post.
I took a lot of photos of these plants – cutting it down to five was very hard .
How old must this plant be – 100s of years maybe.
Pretty coloured seeds against the green of the plant – beautiful.
Rows of them – thousands of them in this park.
Still on a buzz from being in this awesome place – need to go back and explore more.
A few more photos tonight, this time from part of the Gorge itself – a magic place.
Have so many more photos to go through.
Part 2, to my posting of photos from my weekend in Carnarvon Gorge – a collection of some of the bird photos I took out there .
First up some Emus sighted on the way in, was great to see them in the wild.
A Kookaburra near the camp.
I was standing next to this tree trying to get another photo of the Kookaburra, when this parrot landed only about a metre away.
A Kookaburra in flight
I was lucky to get out to Carnarvon Gorge last weekend – after a short 9 hour drive got there Friday just after lunch, do the maths backwards – was an early start.
Awesome is the only way to describe it.
Everything from beautiful nature, wildlife, and the Gorge itself is stunning – long bushwalks with so much to see – the 3 nights, 2 full days we were there was definitely not long enough.
First up just some random photos, and then I will get more organised and break it up into different themes for some more posts over the coming weeks.
One of the night time photography projects at Lake Maroon was Fire Twirling (actually burning steel wool)
My good friend Steve – was the twirler – and he has practised and makes it look easy, the third photo is my attempt at “twirling” – he has good circles and shapes – I end up with something resembling an evil pumpkin.
Certainly was fun, and will try again sometime soon hopefully.
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“Quiet Asian kid.” Someone called me that while I was in university in Canada. I hate that term, that stereotype. I am introverted, yes. I am Asian, of Chinese descent, yes. But must one necessarily follow the other?
I like this.
I consider myself an introvert, but I can be really confrontational (evidence: loudly calling a young, tall, drunk white kid in a crowded elevator in New York City a racist, in front of all his friends). I think part of it has to do with my mom (never one to not speak up about bad customer service) and my dad (who had come to the US from rural China at the age of 11) regularly encouraging me: “Don’t be a typical Chinese! Speak up!”
So yes, he encouraged me by both enforcing stereotypes and convincing me to break them!
I think if you are Asian and you happen to be quiet, people may attribute it to the culture of your upbringing. A quiet white kid is just a kid who is quiet. And white. A quiet black kid is just a kid who is quiet. And black. But a quiet Asian kid is The Quiet Asian Kid. It just plays well into stereotypes.
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On 9/11/12, my dear father Corrado Salvemini lost his battle with Alzheimer's. He was 81 years old. Alzheimer's is a cruel disease that ravages the brain and slowly robs its victims of their memories and cognitive function. Eventually, victims loose their ability to walk, talk and swallow/digest solid food and liquids. The specific cause(s) of Alzheimer's remains illusive and there is currently no known cure. An estimated 5.1 million Americans have it and of those, roughly 500,000 are under age 65. Alzheimer's does not discriminate and is among the top 10 leading causes of death in the US.
In honor of my dad, I'm mounting a campaign to raise awareness of this insidious disease. Please go to www.alzfdn.org to learn how you can help. Thanks and God Bless.
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Apartment Hunting Tips
Finding an apartment in New York City is always difficult, for people of all income levels. Be sure you know all there is to know about looking for an apartment before beginning your search.
Get apartment hunting tips
The City's housing agencies maintain lists of apartments and homes developed using City or state subsidies and financing. When the apartments and homes are ready to rented or sold, they are advertised in both local and major newspapers and can also be viewed online. Beginning June 5th, you will be able to fill out an online application on NYC Housing Connect and apply to two new affordable housing developments as the pilot phase for the system begins.
Search the current lottery listings
Register for online lottery applications via NYC Housing Connect
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) provides decent and affordable housing in a safe and secure living environment for low- and moderate-income residents throughout the five boroughs. Families pay no more than 30% of their family income for rent. The rent difference is subsidized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is virtually impossible to establish an average waiting time for a family to enter conventional public housing. Some applicants can be matched up with an available apartment in months, while others often have to wait years.
Learn more about Public Housing
Mitchell-Lama ApartmentsProspective Section 8 Voucher Information
The Mitchell-Lama program provides affordable rental and cooperative housing to moderate- and middle-income families. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development supervises waiting lists, management issues, and has other oversight responsibilities for 50 Mitchell-Lama developments; an additional 82 developments have shared supervision by HPD and the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Learn more about Mitchell-Lama Apartments
Currently all the Section 8 lists for vouchers are closed. Vouchers are available in special situations, for which referrals are required. The only exception is victims of domestic violence (DV), who with proper documentation may be able to obtain vouchers through NYCHA.
Learn more about Section 8 Rental Assistance
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Million Dollar Words - November
Words, words and still more words! Pick a time period from the end of October through the end of November, including Halloween, Thanksgiving and Black Friday! Determine the correct meanings behind a variety of "big words". Read the question, choose your answer, then laugh when you find out if you were right or not! If you're ready for hours of delightful fun that might teach you a new word or two, have a wonderful time playing Million Dollar Words - November!
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Sami Yousafzai reports: Malala Yousafzai has taken one more step in her very long and difficult journey. Separated from her family for now, the 14-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl arrived today at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Britain’s primary receiving facility for military casualties returning from overseas. Doctors say she still has not regained consciousness since being shot in the head by a Pakistani Taliban gunman who forced his way into a van full of schoolgirls, asked for her by name, and opened fire.
The attack has provoked unprecedented levels of public outrage, both in Pakistan and Afghanistan—even among people who have in the past sympathized with the militants. “First of all, attempting to kill a 14-year-old girl is a low act,” says Mullah Yahya, who was a high-ranking Afghan Information Ministry official back in the 1990s, when Mullah Mohammed Omar’s regime was in power. “Second, claiming responsibility for it is a sign that the [Pakistani] Taliban are not aware of the media’s importance. I have seen more anger against the religious elements in the past week than in all my 40 years of life.” Pakistan’s interior minister, Rehman Malik, says the government has posted a $1 million bounty on Ehsanullah Ehsan, the Pakistani Taliban spokesman who claimed responsibility for the shooting.
So how are the Pakistani Taliban responding to so much public condemnation? By declaring war on individual journalists and the media, of course. “For days and days, coverage of the Malala case has shown clearly that the Pakistani and international media are biased,” says a Pakistani Taliban commander in South Waziristan. “The Taliban cannot tolerate biased media.” The commander, who calls himself Jihad Yar, argues that death threats against the press are justified: he says “99 percent” of the reporters on the story are only using the shooting as an excuse to attack the Taliban. [Continue reading...]
Pakistani Taliban declare war on media
Previous post: Hamas redefines itself after leaving Syria for new allies
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GEN-Africa is the African ecovillage association, promoting social resilience, environmental protection and restoration of nature through the concept of ecovillages as models for sustainable human settlements. We actively support the development of ecovillages and networks in all parts of Africa.
GEN-Africa is a membership organisation that is emerging with the support of GEN - Europe founded in 1996, and open to a wide range of projects regardless of their political, religious or cultural backgrounds.
The European branch of GEN-Europe (GEN) is assisting inthe emergence of GEN-Africa (www.gen-africa.org) as an independent branch of the global network – there is a lot happening. All over Africa inspiration is being offered to the ecovillage network. In the face of climate change and resource depletion, a network that builds bridges in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect deserves respect.
In 2000 five friends purchased land near the coastal village of Haga Haga in the Eastern Cape. The land is about 8 km from the sea (with beautiful deserted beaches) and is just under 300 hectares of rolling ‘bush veld’ with lush greenbelts, bordered on by the Quko River. Geographically it is situated on the southern cusp of the sub-tropical climate region which allows for extensively diverse and year-round cultivation. From 2000 to 2003 the land rarely had more than two people living on it full-time. Then in 2003 two more committed pioneers arrived and the vision started to take shape...
This year, for the second time, GEN collaborated with the Earth Day Network to host our first Ecovillage Day – Earth Day. Sustainable communities, ecovillages and interested individuals from around the globe joined. They invited their neighbours and the broader public to an Open Ecovillage Day in their communities to see, taste and experience aspects of resilience first hand. With communities participating from all around the planet it was a beautiful and diverse expression of collective change towards a more sustainable future.
"A huge thank you to all people making Ecovillage Day 2013 such a special one!"
Umphakatsi Peace Ecovillage, founded by Sarah Tobhi Motha along with friends and family in 2006 as a community based initiative of the local people of Vlakplass, Steynsdorp in the Province of magestic Mpumalanga, bordering both Swaziland and Mozambique, is honoured to invite you to participate on our first for women by women Ecovillage Design Education Training for Sustainability course which will take place from April 28, until May 25th 2013.
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1. CJM 2011 (vol 64 pp. 961)
|Densities of Short Uniform Random Walks|
We study the densities of uniform random walks in the plane. A special focus is on the case of short walks with three or four steps and less completely those with five steps. As one of the main results, we obtain a hypergeometric representation of the density for four steps, which complements the classical elliptic representation in the case of three steps. It appears unrealistic to expect similar results for more than five steps. New results are also presented concerning the moments of uniform random walks and, in particular, their derivatives. Relations with Mahler measures are discussed.
Keywords:random walks, hypergeometric functions, Mahler measure
Categories:60G50, 33C20, 34M25, 44A10
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A grandfather in Tasmania recounts how he saved his five grandchildren by taking sheltering under a jetty in the sea for three hours as wildfires raged around them. ITV's Paul Davies reports.
As "tornadoes of fire" roared toward their home, the Holmes family fled and then jumped into the sea, clinging to a jetty for three hours to escape wildfires that have devastated Australia.
The blaze spread swiftly in the Tasmanian town of Dunalley, Tim Holmes said. "The next thing we knew everything was on fire, everywhere, all around us," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Holmes said he sent his wife Tammy and their five grandchildren -- who are aged between almost 2 and 11 -- to the jetty to seek refuge from the flames, which destroyed three homes owned by the family. "There was no other escape," he added.
Holmes sent a text message to his daughter, Bonnie Walker, showing her children in the water.
"It's still quite an upsetting image," Walker told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "It's of all of my five children underneath the jetty, huddled up to neck deep sea water, which is cold. I knew that that would be a challenge to keep three non-swimmers above water and with only my mom, dad and our eldest daughter.
"I spent a lot of time with good friends and prayed like I never prayed before and I think those prayers have been answered."
Holmes recalled how the fire "raged for three hours" on the shore on Friday, surrounding the family with smoke. "Everything was on fire and it was just exploding all over the place," he added.
They managed to escape after Holmes recovered his dinghy. Walker was reunited with her children on Saturday.
Australia's record-breaking heatwave has sent temperatures soaring, melting road tar and setting off hundreds of wildfires - as well as searing new colors onto weather maps.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has added dark purple and magenta to its weather forecasting map to represent temperatures of 51 to 54 degrees Celsius (123.8 to 129.2 Fahrenheit), officials said.
Temperatures on the map were previously capped at 50 degrees Celsius, represented by the color black.
Tim Holmes / AP
Tammy Holmes and her grandchildren take refuge under a jetty as a wildfire rages nearby in Dunalley, Australia, on Friday.
No deaths have been reported, although around 100 people haven't been accounted for since last week when a fire destroyed around 90 homes in Dunalley, which is located east of the state capital of Hobart. On Wednesday, police spokeswoman Lisa Stingel said it's likely most of those people simply haven't checked in with officials.
Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. Fires in February 2009 killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes in Victoria state.
ITV News is NBC News' UK partner. Reuters contributed to this report.
Cooler temperatures are helping firefighters battle blazes across Australia but forecasters warn of hot temperatures coming this weekend. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
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The Faculty of Pain Medicine events aim to give essential updates and provide information on important advances in pain related issues. The events provide a forum for networking with peers and experts in the field, as well as making an important contribution to your CPD. Please see the Events Calendar page for information on upcoming events.
Each year the Faculty runs two study days, a recent advances day and the Annual Meeting. The Faculty has also recently introduced the FFPMRCA Examination Tutorial series and in 2012 has also recently run 'Developing a UK Clinical Research Forum for Pain'.
The bi-annual study days are themed around specific areas of pain medicine, previous issues covered include cancer pain management, acute pain medicine and spinal cord stimulation. Comments from previous study days:
- Relevant topics to practice - a very useful meeting
- Very good and stimulating. I've learnt a lot
The Faculty holds its Annual Meeting in November each year. As well as a useful updates day, it is an opportunity for pain medicine doctors to get together with other members of the Faculty and the Faculty Board. As well as lectures by highly regarded speakers, there is also a Faculty update, trainee publication prize award and the Patrick Wall Lecture followed by the award of the Patrick Wall medal.
Comments from previous Annual Meetings:
- A good mix of experts and disciplines amongst the speakers
- Very interesting, practical and down to earth topics
- Very informative, highly valued speakers
In January of each year, the Faculty will run a recent advances day (this will run concurrently with one of the study days). These events are a great opportunity for consultants, trainees and anyone else who has an interest in Pain Medicine to spend the day learning about advances in various areas of pain medicine.
- Excellent Programe, superb topics and experts. very impressed with the qualityof the speakers
- Loved it. So good to have most of pain medicine covered by experts so clearly
With the introduction of the FFPMRCA examination, the Faculty will be running bi-annual Examination Tutorials (before each exam) to assis the trainees in preparation for the exam. These are interactive days, covering a wide range of topics through workshops and lectures; where the trainees are expected to pre-prepare for the day to encourage discussion and interactive learning. The next tutorial is scheduled for 7 June 2013.
Dr Sanjeeva Gupta and Dr Sandesha Kothari, the Faculties Educational Meetings Advisor and Deputy respectively, work hard to find the best speakers for the FPM events; the success can be measured by all of the positive comments received.
Your attendance, contribution and feedback are key to the success of all the current and future meetings. If you have suggestions regarding current or future meetings please contact the Faculty (email@example.com).
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One in five faulty wills could lead to big IHT bills
One in five wills contain “basic errors” according to a report from the Legal Services Board today which calls for will-writing to be regulated to improve standards. Writing a will is the first step to make sure you choose who benefits from your lifetime’s work and to keep inheritance tax (IHT) bills to a legal minimum, so it is vital to get it right. By the time you realise there has been a mistake, it may be too late to do anything about it.
But cynical lawyers joke that where there is a will, there’s litigation. Faulty wills are bad news for the families concerned but can be good news for those who seek to profit from the subsequent court case.
Lack of clarity about the will-writer’s intentions can prove difficult and expensive to sort out posthumously but the Legal Services Board claims many will-writers are simply “not listening” to their clients. Its report states: “We found consistent patterns of sloppiness, simple errors and poor communication. This often resulted in an unacceptable service for customers. Too often consumers were subjected to unfair sales practices.”
Worse still, the LSB said it was aware of some “examples of fraud and deception”. Its survey of 100 people who needed a will found that 20 per cent came back with “basic errors” in their wills. A handful of the wills were so bad that they “could not be executed”.
Currently anyone can help to write a will. However under the plans will-writing will become a "reserved activity" for the first time. This will mean that anyone writing a will have to be registered with one of eight professional bodies.
Paul Sharpe, chairman of the Institute for Professional Willwriters commented: “Making a Will is a vital act that too many people never get around to doing. It is scandalous that so many of those that do run the risk of being duped by high pressure sales tactics, inappropriate advice or incorrect documents. We are grateful to the Legal Services Board for this report which is a significant step towards making a will a much less risky process.”
The Citizens' Advice Bureau has warned that increasing numbers of people have been conned by bogus will writers, some advertising wills for around £24 in local papers or offering will writing services door to door. Low-cost or even free wills could prove an expensive mistake, given the sums of money involved in many bequests and most litigation.
But the fundamental problem remains that only a minority of people ever make a will and most of us die intestate. Dislike of paperwork – particularly forms relating to our own death – may be the explanation. Extending regulation to cover will-writing will do nothing about that – unless, of course, the authorities decide to make writing a will compulsory, like filling in a tax return.
Readers, reporters and City scandals since 1986
May 24th, 2013 6:45
House prices quadrupled during the typical mortgage term
May 22nd, 2013 6:45
Millions of savers with £750bn at risk if Scotland votes for independence, according to Treasury
May 20th, 2013 8:47
Why won’t regulators act to end the multi-billion pound scandal of widows without pensions?
May 17th, 2013 7:47
How you can help free 6m young savers with £5bn trapped in zombie funds
May 15th, 2013 6:45
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You are hereHome ›
(CNS Business): Cruise tourism across the Caribbean generated more than US$1.9 billion in direct expenditures, 45,000 jobs and $728 million in employee wages across the region, according to a new report commissioned by the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association. The study by the Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA) analysed spending by passengers, crew members and cruise lines in 21 destinations, including the Cayman Islands, which was in the top five resorts when it came to cruisers parting with their money. Passengers spent US$157.7 million in the 2011/12 cruise year in Cayman (between May 2011 and April 2012). According to the study, this converts to some $66.6 million in earnings for employees locally.
Despite a decline in numbers the Cayman Islands still had the fourth highest number of passenger and crew onshore even without cruise berthing facilities. 1.5 million people visited here, combined with an average per passenger onshore expenditure of $93.70 per visit and an average crew expenditure of $57.50 per visits. The $158 million in cruise tourism spending in the Cayman Islands generated 3,547 total jobs and $66.6 million in wage income during the 2011/2012 cruise year.
The study also showed that across the region cruise lines spent an estimated US$246.9 million in participating destinations for port fees and taxes, utilities, navigation services and ship supplies.
"These expenditures have a direct impact on local employment and wages," Andrew Moody, principal of Business Research and Economic Advisors, said in a release about the report, adding that the industry creates additional jobs and income.
The destinations surveyed included Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Honduras, Nicaragua, San Juan in Puerto Rico, St Kitts and Nevis, St Maarten,St Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, and the US Virgin Islands.
Spending in the Bahamas was the highest, where cruise passengers spent $393.8 million, followed by St Maarten with $356.2 million, the US Virgin Islands with $339.8 million, and Puerto Rico with $186.6 million and the Cayman Islands with $157.7. Combined, these five destinations, with $1.43 billion in direct expenditures, accounted for 72% of the total cruise tourism expenditures among the 21 destinations.
Among BREA's other findings were that 15.44 million cruise passengers spent US$1.48 billion in the participating destinations, with per passenger expenditures ranging from US$185.40 in St Maarten to $27.10 in St Vincent and the Grenadines and averaging $95.92.
An average of 52% of passengers bought shore excursions, generating US$270 million in total payments to tour operators. Other notable purchases include watches and jewellery ($583 million), clothing ($158 million), food and beverage ($106.5 million), and local crafts and souvenirs ($87 million).
Over 2.7 million crew members also spent more than US$261 million in the region, with expenditures ranging from US$138.30 in the US Virgin Islands and $21.40 in St Vincent and the Grenadines and averaging $96.98.
The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of CNS or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by CNS. Read more
- I'm sorry but those exactly 6 days 23 hours ago
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Before you can race, you have to strap in. For most racers, this is a ritual they don't even think about, but it's probably the most important thing a driver does at the track. The safety restraints and protective gear are the final defense systems against the many dangers a driver may face-asphalt, walls, other cars, and fire.
Circle Track wondered what goes through the mind of a driver moments before he starts his engine. To find out, we turned to Todd Bodine to get his thoughts as he prepared to take his #66 Phillips 66 NASCAR Busch Grand National car out for a time trial...
I know it sounds sort of strange, but when I walk to the pit lane to go out for qualifying, I am not really thinking much about the lap. What I mean is I try to stay loose, so I am joking and laughing with the guys.
As my turn gets close, I put on a flack jacket. After I broke my ribs in an accident, I started wearing it. I borrowed it from my brother Geoff, and now I wear it all the time, because it adds extra rib protection. I am the only one I know who uses this. The one I wear is a quarter-back jacket, but new ones are being developed for race drivers. It helps me stay comfortable.
I usually climb into the car when there are four cars ahead of me. First thing I do is get buckled up. When I am securely fastened, the steering wheel is put in place, and then I put in my radio earplugs.
After I strap on my helmet, we check the radio. I also check out all the systems and make sure the gas pedal is free and isn't sticking.
Up to this point, everything I am doing is a habit or a rhythm. It's something that is second nature, and I don't really have to think about it. These steps are locked in my head.
Finally, the window net is locked in place, and I begin to think about the lap I am going to make. I begin to visualize. Everyone has heard that athletes visualize their performance before actually doing it. The same is true for drivers. I close my eyes and paint a mental picture of what I am about to do, beginning with the exit off the pit lane onto the track and ending with the checkered flag flying. I see the entire thing in my mind.
When it's my turn, I fire up and start rolling. I concentrate on making the lap from corner to corner. When the green flag is out, I think about where I need to be, and I put the car there.Todd Bodine
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The Tiree Community Development Trust (The Trust) was formed in March 2006 and is owned, and managed by Tiree’s community. It represents a community led approach to rural development promoting the sustainable, environmental, economic and social development of Tiree.
Our main activities are
- The sustainable regeneration of Tiree’s community;
- Strategic planning and development through community engagement and consultation;
- Local project delivery;
- Partnership working and relevant agencies and organisations;
- Sharing best practice and experience with other similar groups and organisations; and
- Local capacity and skill development.
The Trust is governed by a board of Directors, resident to the Isle of Tiree.
The Directors are elected annually by The Trust members.
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Wind energy has potential to create 30,000 jobs by 2020
05 October, 2012
IWEA policy paper calls on the Government to put in place the framework to allow the delivery of energy exports to create jobs and investment.
The national body representing the wind energy sector in Ireland, the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) today (4 October) launched a new policy paper “Export Policy - A Renewables Development Policy Framework for Ireland” at its autumn conference in Killarney.
The policy paper outlines specific areas of the Irish economy which would benefit economically if Ireland’s domestic energy export potential was realised. In order to realise this potential however, IWEA has outlined a series of recommendations which must be enacted to achieve Ireland’s renewable energy opportunities.
Speaking at the opening of IWEA’s conference ‘Ireland’s Renewables – Answers for Ireland, Answers for Europe’, CEO of IWEA, Kenneth Matthews stated “Renewable energy exporting is a significant national opportunity that needs to be seized. Ireland must create new export-led growth and our policy paper is the first of its kind to clearly outline the framework needed to realise this potential.
“Ireland has the potential and resources to not only meet our own renewables targets but to assist other EU countries in meeting theirs. This could lead to significant job creation, R&D opportunities and greater investment. However, Ireland must be ready to seize the opportunity and IWEA’s recommendations aim to help Government ensure the framework is correct to realise this potential.
1. Government policy to facilitate the achievement of 6GW of energy for export. 4GW of wind energy produced for our domestic market and 6GW for export can deliver up to 18,400 jobs by 2020.
2. To fully unlock the jobs potential, renewable energy divisions need to be created in IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Forfás – if State agencies work in tandem with industry they could attract turbine manufacturers to Ireland, as well as supplying turbines to projects here. An Irish base could then be used as a launch-pad into the European onshore and sizeable UK offshore market. This cooperative approach could unlock an additional 9,000-12,000 jobs, bringing the true jobs total up to 30,400 by 2020.
3. Government must develop a joint Irish-UK government policy. The UK needs 18GW of wind energy before 2020 and a policy should facilitate the achievement of a least 6GW of wind energy for export from Ireland. If such enablers are achieved, Ireland can attract and manage an investment of more than €18bn into our economy.
4. The establishment of a Government-Industry Implementation Group to maximise the opportunities for Ireland from exporting renewable energy by bringing together the necessary private and public stakeholders, agencies and private capital, to determine the goals and then lead the implementation.
5. Government to set 2030 EU targets for wind and marine energy.
Giving the keynote address at IWEA’s Conference, Minister for Arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD stated, “I am delighted to be part of this Conference today particularly when such a valuable policy paper is being launched. Ireland has come a long way in recent years and is working to realise its renewable energy potential. Creating an energy export-led country adds another layer of opportunity and this policy paper provides both industry and Government with a roadmap to achieving this. We cannot underestimate the benefits that wind energy could bring to local economies around Ireland.”
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director of Airtricity and IWEA Chair stated, “All of these benefits are within Ireland’s reach but the approach for Ireland in terms of energy should be much more ambitious than what exists to date. The UK is now a net energy importer and over a fifth of the UK’s existing generating capacity will be coming off stream before 2020. Where energy needs meets ambition Ireland has the answers. The rest of Europe and in particular our closest neighbours the UK need renewable energy, Ireland, has the resources, the comparative advantage and the talent to deliver”
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For Gap, this week doesn't merely mean the close of another frenzied holiday-shopping season of steeply discounted sweaters, last-minute gift-card grabs and hurried post-Christmas exchanges. It also marks the end of a lost decade of sorts for the ubiquitous apparel retailer, which defined casual American style over two generations but since its late-'90s heyday has struggled with a surfeit of stores and a deficit of cool.
Gap sales are on track to come in this year exactly where they were in 2002, at $14.5 billion. That year, Gap's revenue represented 8.3% of what Americans spent on clothes; the figure rose to 9.6% in 2003. Last year, in contrast, sales totaled 7.6% of domestic apparel spending, which actually understates the market-share loss, as Gap's overseas revenue has increased substantially in recent years.
Gap shares (ticker: GPS) have stagnated as well. Trading just above $18 after declining 16% this year, they have gone just about nowhere since the end of 2002.
In the past decade, "people have done to us what we did to others in the '90s," says Glenn Murphy, who was brought in as CEO in 2007.
Upstart apparel chains and discounters expanded rapidly in the past 10 years, adding enormous square footage to the market that Gap once dominated. They also priced their clothes aggressively. The fresh competition has come from such players as Forever 21, a fast-growing privately held brand; Sweden's Hennes & Mauritz (HMB.Sweden); Zara, owned by the Spanish company Inditex (ITX.Spain); and Uniqlo, owned by Japan's Fast Retailing (9983.Japan), not to mention domestic trendsetter Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) and big-box leaders such as Target (TGT). All to some degree have targeted customers of Gap's 3,000 Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic stores.
The long-running battle for America's closets and dressers was made more difficult this year for Gap and its shareholders by a sudden surge in cotton prices in the spring. Gap made some particularly ill-timed cotton purchases for its holiday lines right around the time prices were hitting a high, and then elected to absorb the costs, which punctured margins, especially at value-conscious Old Navy. Cost increases, along with a small decline in same-store sales, are expected to result in a 20% drop in 2011 per-share earnings, to $1.50 a share.
YET, GAP ALSO HAS MADE some smart moves in the past few years, setting the stage for a potential rebound in earnings and the shares. If all goes as Wall Street's bulls expect, the stock, currently priced for no growth, could work its way up to at least $22 in the next year. At that price, Gap would trade for a still-moderate 12.5 times estimated earnings of $1.76 for the fiscal year ending January 2013. Add a 2.4% dividend yield, and investors could see a total return of 21%.
For one thing, Murphy and Chief Financial Officer Sabrina Simmons, who was elevated to the post four years ago, have done an excellent job of enforcing financial discipline, raising profit margins where possible, harvesting free cash flow and buying back mounds of stock, all while investing heavily in the faster-growing parts of the company, which reside online and overseas.
Murphy and Simmons are executing a well-articulated strategy of domestic retrenchment paired with international expansion, with plans to close or consolidate 200 or more Gap specialty stores to 700, while adding around 50 more outlet stores, bringing it to 250. By the end of 2013, outlets would account for a quarter of the projected 950 stores in the Gap store fleet. Outlets typically are more profitable than full-price stores because both overhead and the cost of merchandise are lower. The company also is folding some GapKids locations back into Gap stores.
Gap has done a remarkable job of improving store-level profitability. While employee levels and sales per employee have been stable the past few years, cash flow per employee rose 66% in 2010 from 2007 levels. This has embedded powerful earnings leverage in the business. Gap managed an increase last year, for the first time since 2004, in sales at stores open at least a year. So-called comparable-store sales rose 1%, and total sales, 3%. But operating income jumped 8.4%.
THIS LEAVES ONE CENTRAL CHALLENGE—revitalizing Gap's merchandise mix and store designs to excite shoppers again, a goal that has confounded and eluded management in recent years. The Street is skeptical of the company's ability to pull off a merchandising transformation, which goes a long way toward explaining why only six of the 32 analysts who follow the stock recommend buying it. Pervasive skepticism is often a bullish indicator, but in Gap's case, only better results at the cash register will make the stock fly.
Third-quarter results weren't encouraging. Murphy deemed a 5% decline in comp-store sales "unacceptable," and the aggregate slide masked a 10% drop in women's apparel. Gap North America shops clearly stumbled, doing well in jeans but pushing bright color schemes and designs in women's tops that failed to resonate with customers. Banana has held its own, but Old Navy—the biggest division by far—has been struggling not only with high input costs but the continuing financial squeeze on its core value-oriented customer.
Murphy strongly signaled that Old Navy would be highly promotional for the holiday season, and has backed it up with "every sweater under $15" and 40% off the entire store. This suggests the holiday season didn't save Gap's bacon, making an investment in the stock all about 2012.
Stacy Pak, an analyst at Barclays Capital, says the "Gap brand is losing its relevance," but that might be old news. Its jeans-and-oxfords formula is a bit too familiar and the stores too cluttered, with their towering piles of sweaters and walls of denim. Some think Gap was a beneficiary in the 1990s of a one-time societal shift toward casual dress in the workplace, but it has failed to keep up with fashion as well as shifting styles.
Industry consultants say Gap-brand merchandising should be streamlined and the stores given a cleaner look. But that's easier said than done with a vast store network built to offer most things for most people.
Banana Republic has a well-defined brand for classic, urban work or weekend wear, and Old Navy is especially well positioned in children's wear, with stylish but inexpensive staples that kids will outgrow before they wear out. But the typical Old Navy is cluttered with inventory and laid out like a huge maze, which helps explain why the chain has struggled. The company is redesigning select Old Navy stores to make them more compact, and stocking more third-party merchandise, such as licensed superhero and cartoon-character T-shirts. Both moves make sense, but they haven't made enough of a dent yet in the 1,000-store chain to impress shoppers—or investors.
EVERY FEW YEARS, GAP undertakes a new initiative or hires a new design director to quicken its brands' fashion metabolism. This year, Murphy launched the Gap Global Creative Center in New York rather than at the company's San Francisco headquarters to centralize product design. The 1969 denim brand, created to commemorate Gap's 40th anniversary, has been well received. According to company research based on a sample of thousands of women who shop high-end jeans brands, Gap jeans ranked No. 1 or 2 for best fit, alongside expensive specialty brands such as Seven and Joe's Jeans.
Dana Telsey, of the retail-stock research firm Telsey Advisory Group, says that on a recent 10-city "shopping tour" she ran for clients in the U.S. and London, she detected "continued improvement in the women's business," with enough freshness in Gap-brand goods that they're showing "an ability to move merchandise." She describes the Gap target, "basics with a flair," as still a work in progress, yet sees Old Navy's value offering as intact.
Gap is in a tricky position with regard to fashion trends. While chains such as H&M and Uniqlo have become popular by churning out cheap versions of the newest looks from the runways and pages of celebrity magazines, the Gap empire is too far-flung and beholden to the tastes of Middle American mall walkers to be aggressive in this regard. Murphy says Gap will never "chase into" trends," but must "interpret" them. Yet, the CEO, who got high marks for operational efficiency as chief of Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's largest pharmacy chain, has quickened the speed of Gap's development pipeline by 30%.
WHILE INVESTORS WAIT FOR Gap designers to "get it right," they might be missing the rapid growth in the company's online sales and franchised stores overseas. Both are now big enough to begin driving overall growth, as well as the stock's valuation.
Connor Browne, co-manager of Thornburgh Value Fund and a Gap shareholder, says he sees "tremendous optionality," or the potential for a large move up, in the stock. With cotton prices down some 60% from their 2011 peak, profit margins could expand next year even without a positive turn in domestic comp-store sales, he notes. Direct online sales, 15% of operating income in 2010, could rise to 24% this year, and are growing by 20% a year, he says. Gap aims to generate 30% of sales from online and overseas by 2013. A Glamour.com survey of the most popular Internet searches for fashion brands in 2011 had both Gap and Old Navy in the top 10.
Browne calculates that merely flat comps, stock buybacks and declining cotton costs could spell a 50% rise in per-share earnings in 2012, dramatically higher than the prevailing consensus forecast of a 17% advance. And that's without margins returning to their 2010 peak above 10%. In this scenario, the shares would be expected to appreciate at least in line with profits.
Simmons earns praise for using Gap's copious free cash flow—it has averaged more than $1 billion in each of the past seven years—to fund a mix of share repurchases, dividend increases and investments in growth. The company has reduced share count by 40% since 2004. "We allocate capital to the divisions that are growing and that have earned it the most, which means outlets and online," Simmons says.
Gap has unified its brands on a single online platform. Between the company's Website and overseas franchises, its products now are available in 90 countries, up from only eight in 2006.
In addition to the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic brands, Gap.com also features Piperlime, which sells contemporary fashions and offers commentary on dressing tips and trends. The company also owns Athleta, a premium seller of women's high-fashion activewear that has drawn favorable comparisons with Lululemon Athletica's (LULU) "yoga chic." Gap acquired Athleta, primarily a catalog operation, in 2008, and now is rolling out brick-and-mortar stores. Fifteen stores are set to open by year end, bringing the total to 50 in 2013. Once stores are opened, the company says, sales quadruple relative to online sales in the same territory.
As with many companies, much of Gap's success will hinge on how it plays its hand in China. After intensive study of Chinese shopping habits and preferences for fit and service, Gap opened in China 13 months ago, and will open 30 more stores in China next year. Murphy notes that only two companies have expertise in the popular outlet-center business in China—Gap and Nike (NKE).
"The global apparel market is huge, $1.4 trillion a year, and four companies are now competing for a good share of it: Inditex, Fast Retailing, H&M and Gap," he says. "The only equal ground we've met on is China."
Murphy feels Gap's advantages include multiple brands, multiple channels and its status as an exemplar of casual American style. One encouraging sign: In China, the strongest demand is for clothes with a Gap logo. "Our runway, geographically, is longer than most," he says. "We're not at capacity in any country" besides the U.S.
GAP HAS PAID INVESTORS, via dividends and share buybacks, to await the growth of international and online into more material parts of the business. It has even been suggested that the company could be a candidate for a leveraged buyout, given its cash flow and sturdy balance sheet, with $1.4 billion in cash and the like almost equivalent to $1.6 billion of long-term debt. Gap executed a partial LBO with its buybacks, some funded with a new, low-cost $1.2 billion debt issue early this year.
While there haven't been indications of a move to privatize, some investors note that co-founder Donald Fisher's family owns 37% of the stock. Hedge-fund manager Edward Lampert's investment funds own 36.3 million shares, or about 7% of the company. And one of the two Fisher sons on the board works in the private-equity business. Estimates on Wall Street of a potential takeover price run into the high $20s per share, or some 50% above the current quote.
Again, there are no indications Gap is planning to sell. But the fact that the buyout math works, even assuming a moderate amount of debt, shows there is plenty of value for public shareholders. There will be even more if Gap wows shoppers next spring.
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Local Schools Salute Veterans with Planned Programs | Events
Houston County, GA – In recognition of Veterans Day, several schools have planned special programs. Eagle Springs Elementary, Perry Primary, Huntington Middle and Veterans High will hold programs to honor members of the armed forces who have served or currently serve our country.
Eagle Springs Elementary will hold a ceremony on Nov. 9. The event will begin with doughnuts and coffee for the veterans at 8:00 a.m. in the media center. A program will be presented in the gym at 9:00 a.m. featuring the younger children in grades Pre-K through second singing patriotic songs. A second program will begin at 10:15 a.m. with the third through fifth graders performing. Eagle Springs Elementary is located at 3501 Highway 41 North in Byron. Principal Dr. Andrea McGee may be reached at 478-953-0450.
Perry Primary’s Kindergarten students will present a “Salute to Veterans” musical on Nov. 9, at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. A reception will be held in between programs at 9:30 a.m. in Room 18 for the honorees. Refreshments will be served and veterans will be presented thank you cards made by the children. Kindergarten students and staff will dress in red, white, and blue. The school is also planning a Wall of Honor board to recognize their veterans and military service members. Perry Primary is located at 1530 Sunshine Avenue in Perry and Dr. Elgin Mayfield serves as principal. For more information, please contact Music Specialist Sheila Clopton at 478-988-6160.
Huntington Middle’s Veterans Day program will be on Nov. 9, at 7:45 a.m. in gym. Huntington is inviting their parents and any veteran who would like to attend. Huntington Middle is located at 206 Wellborn Road in Warner Robins. Dr. Gwen Taylor serves as principal and James Christiansen is the band director. They may be reached at 478-542-2240.
Veterans High School bands and choruses will present its third annual Veterans Day concert Nov. 12, at 11:00 a.m. The “Veterans for Veterans” concert is a small way to show appreciation for the patriots for whom the school is named. The public is invited to attend this free, patriotic event. Veterans High is located at 340 Piney Grove Road in Kathleen. Lionel Brown serves as principal, and Tom Brown is the band and choral director. For more information, please call 478-218-7537.
The Houston County School System will be closed Nov. 12, 2012, in observance of Veterans Day.
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|Birthname||Paul Frederic Simon|
|born on||13 October 1941 at 02:33 (= 02:33 AM )|
|Place||Newark, New Jersey, 40n44, 74w10|
|Timezone||EST h5w (is standard time)|
|Astrology data||19°34' 17°03 Asc. 06°42'|
American singer, song-writer who teamed up with Art Garfunkel to become folk-rock music icons of the 60's with songs such as "The Sounds of Silence," Homeward Bound," "America," "The Boxer" and "Scarborough Fair." The troubled duo broke up in 1970 after winning six Grammy awards for their album "Bridge Over Troubled Water." After a slump in the early '80s Simon came back in 1986 to win several Grammy's for "Graceland."
Simon's parents, Louis and Belle, were a happily married couple who produced a secure home environment for him and his brother. Simon's first love was sports, particularly baseball, and he claims it gave him confidence and a certain male image. He began writing songs at 13 while growing up in Queens, NY, listening to Gospel and rock 'n' roll. In sixth grade Simon met Art Garfunkel, also a pretty good ballplayer, who later became the other half of the singing duo. At 15 they recorded "Hey Schoolgirl" under the name of Tom and Jerry and when it was released in 1957 it became a top-50 hit. After two more records flopped Simon went on to Queens College and Garfunkel to Columbia University. Later an accidental meeting would find them auditioning for and being signed up with Columbia Records.
In 1964 they released the album "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." but got nowhere. When Columbia saw the success of Bob Dylan's folk-rock records, Columbia took a song from the "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." album, over-dubbed the acoustic version with electric guitar, drums and bass and re-released "The Sound of Silence," 1964. It became a No. 1 single which Simon calls a turning point in his life. The duo continued to create hits including "The Boxer," "America," and "Mrs. Robinson," which was in the soundtrack of the movie "The Graduate" starring Dustin Hoffman. Simon and Garfunkel had a turbulent relationship and in 1970, after winning six Grammy's for the album "Bridge Over Troubled Water," they spit up. They had a reunion concert in New York's Central Park in 1981.
Different styles of music have always influenced Simon's song writing. In the early '60s, while living in England, he was drawn to folk ballads from the north country where he learned "Scarbourough Fair," and the Bolivian group, Los Incas, influenced "El Condor Pasa." Ska, the bouncy two-beat Jamaican style that preceded reggae strongly influenced his 1972 hit "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard." A downward trend in the early 80's brought him several flops including an autobiographical film he starred in, "One-Trick Pony," 1980, and the LP "Hearts and Bones," 1983, was a disappointment. After retreating for three years he reemerged with the critically acclaimed LP, "Graceland," inspired by the music of South Africa. In the early 90's he released "The Rhythm of the Saints," a mélange of Brazilian drums, West African guitars and American pop. In 1987 Simon co-founded the Children's Health Fund, a program that uses mobile medical units to provide health care for the homeless kids of New York City with pediatrician Irwin Redlener.
His first marriage to Peggy Harper produced a son, Harper James. After years of living with his significant other, novelist, screenwriter and actress Carrie Fisher, their relationship fell apart in three months after they married in 1983. In 1992 he married, Edie Brickell, the lead singer of New Bohemians and had a son, Adrian.
Edward, born on 12/28/1992, New York City.
Simon and Garfunkel have reunited for a tour, beginning with a performance in Wilkes-Barre, PA on October 16, 2003. This is only the second time they’ve officially toured together since their break up in 1970; their subsequent tour in 1983 ended badly. They’ve since publicly performed together only a few times in the intervening years: at the 1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony when they were inducted; in 1993 at some of Simon’s shows in New York and at some charity events that year; and at the Grammy Awards in February 2003 where they were given a lifetime achievement award. The current tour is aptly entitled, "Old Friends in Concert."
- business associate/partner relationship with Garfunkel, Art (born 5 November 1941)
- spouse relationship with Fisher, Carrie (born 21 October 1956)
- Relationship : Marriage 1983 (Carrie Fisher; split after three months)
- Relationship : Marriage 1992 (married Edie Brickell)
- Work : Begin Major Project October 2003 (begin first tour with Garfunkel in years)
chart Placidus Equal_H.
B.C. in hand from Steinbrecher
(Formerly, E. Houldson gave 00:30 AM in DELL 10/1970)
- Family : Relationship : Number of Marriages (two)
- Family : Parenting : Parenting late more than 40
- Vocation : Entertain/Music : Instrumentalist (Guitar)
- Vocation : Entertain/Music : Song writer
- Vocation : Entertain/Music : Vocalist/ Pop, Rock, etc.
- Notable : Awards : Vocational award (English Record Industry award)
- Notable : Famous : Top 5% of Profession
- Notable : Book Collection : American Book
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Collateralized Mortgage Obligations Questions on the Series 7 Exam
CMOs, or collateralized mortgage obligations, are annoying little (or big) debt securities backed by pools of mortgages and are covered on the Series 7. What makes matters worse is that you probably won’t sell one in your entire career. However, CMOs are asset-backed securities covered on the Series 7 exam, and you need to know the basics in order to answer these questions correctly.
CMOs don’t have a set maturity date and are subject to things called extension risk and prepayment risk. Take a look at these terms:
Average life: The average amount of time until a mortgage is refinanced or paid off; for example, a 30-year mortgage may have an average life of 17 years
Prepayment risk: The risk that a tranche (slice or portion) of the loan will be called sooner than expected due to decreasing interest rates; more people refinance when interest rates are low
Extension risk: The risk that a tranche will be called later than expected due to a less-than-normal amount of refinancing; extension occurs when interest rates are high
CMOs are also broken down into tranches (slices) of varying maturity dates. The basic type of CMO has tranches that are paid in a specific sequence. All tranches receive regular interest payments, but only the tranche with the shortest maturity receives principal payments.
After the shortest tranche is retired, the second-shortest receives principal payments until that tranche is retired, and then the principal is paid to the next tranche. This type of structure is known as a plain vanilla offering. The following list describes other types of CMO tranches:
Planned amortization class (PAC) tranches: This type of CMO is the most common because it has the most certain prepayment date. The prepayment and extension risk can be somewhat negated by a companion tranche, which assumes a greater degree of the risk. Because of the relative safety of PAC tranches, they usually have the lowest yields.
Targeted amortization class (TAC) tranches: This CMO is the second-safest. TAC tranche-holders have somewhat less-certain principal payments and are more subject to prepayment and extension risk. TAC tranches have yields that are low but not as low as those of PAC tranches.
Companion tranches (support bonds): Companion tranches are included in every CMO that has PAC or TAC tranches. Companion tranches absorb prepayment risk associated with CMOs. The average life of a companion tranche varies greatly depending on interest rate fluctuations. Because more risk is associated with companion tranches, they have higher yields.
Z-tranches (accrual bonds): Z-tranches are usually the last tranche (they have longest maturity) in a series of PAC or companion tranches. Z-tranches don’t receive interest or principal until all the other tranches in the series have been retired. The market value of Z-tranches can fluctuate widely. Z-tranches are somewhat similar to a zero-coupon bond (which is bought at a discount and does not receive interest along the way).
Principal-only (PO) tranches: Principal-only tranches are purchased at a price deeply discounted below face value. Investors receive face value through regularly scheduled mortgage payments and prepayments. The market value of a PO increases if interest rates drop and prepayments increase.
Interest-only (IO) tranches: All CMOs with principal-only tranches also have interest-only tranches. IOs are sold at a deep discount below their expected value based on the principal amount used to calculate the amount of interest due. Contrary to PO tranches, the market value of an IO increases if interest rates increase and prepayments decrease.
Floating rate tranches: These tranches appear with CMOs in which the interest rates are tied to an interest rate index (for instance, London Interbank Offered Rate/LIBOR). Investors can use these investments to hedge interest rate risk on other investments.
Although there are several types of tranches, the most important ones on the Series 7 exam are the PAC, TAC, companion, and Z-tranches.
The following question tests your understanding of tranches.
Companion tranches support
I. PO tranches
II. PAC tranches
III. TAC tranches
IV. IO tranches
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) II and III only
(D) II, III, and IV
The answer you’re looking for is Choice (C). Companion tranches absorb the prepayment risk associated with CMOs. All PAC and TAC tranches are supported by a companion tranche.
This information is a lot to take in and may be a little confusing. Remembering the basics can help you get most of the questions correct: PAC tranches are the safest; TAC tranches are the second safest; companion tranches support PAC and TAC tranches; and Z-tranches have the longest maturity.
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Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 2:00 PM
I was asked this interesting question the other day [specifics changed]:
What is the typical percentage discount on a property’s price in order to achieve a quick sale, i.e. liquidation or disposition value versus market value?
There is no rule of thumb for a “quick sale” value since it is always changing and depends on the property type, location, supply, demand etc. but here’s the logic:
The quick sale value is a function of the marketing time that is required by the owner/client which is often faster than the current market can achieve.
Translation: sell it faster than competing properties in the same market i.e. compress it’s marketing time.
For example: The average days on market might be 6 months in the subject neighborhood – the number of days from the original listing date to the contract date – but the client wants to know what the value would be if they had to sell it in 30 days. This comes up in a foreclosure transaction (and can sometimes explain the “discount” mistakenly identified with such sales), a corporate relocation sale (when a company is buying the home when relocating an employee) or even a seller is under duress who has to sell quickly.
If someone has to sell a property much faster than typical market conditions, then the price must stand out among the competition to allow the property top sell first. This doesn’t mean that a lot more marketing is required – you’ve usually got plenty of competition – it means the price needs to be lower.
The larger the difference between the two periods of time to market a property (quick sale and typical), the larger the discount needed to move the property faster.
Unfortunately if the market is declining, the seller has to price the home ahead of the declining conditions and not “chase the market”. A simplistic example might be something like this:
If the conditions show a 10% annual decline and the average house is usually on the market for 6 months, that means the average house would be expected to sell for 5% less 6 months from now (this is an example – I’m ignoring seasons). Since that is what the average house does, one way to sell the home faster is to outpace the expected decline. This is a significant problem in areas with a lot of distressed property since everyone does this and forces the market to fall faster.
In a rising market such as during the frenzied market in 2004, there was no difference between “normal marketing time” and a “quick sale” since all properties sold almost immediately.
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 10:00 AM
The New York Fed publishes a coincident index using data on employment, real earnings, the unemployment rate and average weekly hours worked in manufacturing and its beginning to show nominal weakness. This comes out monthly so I’ll keep an eye on it.
It’s not a lagging indicator like consumer confidence or a leading indicator like building permits. Coincident is closer to what is happening now, or it least that is what my economist friends tell me.
In October, the New York City Index of Coincident Economic Indicators (CEI) decreased at an annual rate of 0.4%, following a 0.1% increase in September. The index has risen 2.4% over the past year.
Since NYC housing’s future in the region partially depends on where the regional economy is going (it’s not all about foreign buyers), this suggests the NYC economy slipped a bit last month but is better than last year.
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 7:00 AM
Last summer I wrote an article for the now defunct Live Valuation Magazine. I attempted to explain to both appraisers and non-appraisers why our appraisal industry is so screwed up.
It was the cover story for one of the last issues – nearly a think tank of new ideas, the loss to the industry was a real setback.
In light of this change and the importance of the message to the industry, I have allowed Appraisal Buzz to republish it. Hope you enjoy it.
Neutral Valuation: Allowing appraisers to provide the service they were built for
As a real estate appraiser for the past 25 years, I’ve always viewed my role as a provider of a neutral valuation benchmark for clients to become empowered to make more informed decisions. Of course this is a fantasy-based, in-a-perfect-world depiction rather than an actual practice. In mortgage lending, residential real estate appraisers are not able to provide an independent market value without some sort of reprisal if the results do not match the client’s needs.
Since the credit crunch began with the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy that roiled the world economy in September 2008, our profession has actually strayed farther from being any sort of neutral valuation benchmark….[read more]
Like in the original publication, the comments on Appraisal Buzz reflect the fact that the article really touched a nerve.
- Neutral Valuation: Allowing appraisers to provide the service they were built for [Appraisal Buzz]
- Neutral Valuation: Allowing appraisers to provide the service they were built for [Live Valuation Magazine]
- Neutral Valuation: Allowing appraisers to provide the service they were built for [Miller Samuel [pdf]]
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Monday, November 28, 2011, 4:30 PM
Reading to keep you from thinking about how much weight you put on over Thanksgiving:
- Is American dream fragile? History says it’s strong. [CSM]
- Lost in Krappetown [City Journal]
- Worst. Congress. Ever. [Foreign Policy]
- Mortgage Principal Can Be Cut Without Moral Hazard [BankThink]
- Turn On the Server. It’s Cold Inside. [NY Times]
- Penzance lands Watergate offices for $76 million [WaPo]
- Is home ownership really a smart investment? [Toronto Star/Moneyville]
- Buzzonomics: Why a housing bubble won’t surface until at least 2013 (Canada) [Buzz Home]
- Utah among highest home-ownership rates in the country [Deseret News]
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Monday, November 28, 2011, 2:30 PM
[click to expand]
Census released their October New Residential Sales report today.
Sales of new single-family houses in October 2011 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 1.3 percent (±19.7%) above the revised September rate of 303,000 and is 8.9 percent (±17.2%) above the October 2010 estimate of 282,000.
The median sales price of new houses sold in October 2011 was $212,300; the average sales price was $242,300. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of October was 162,000. This represents a supply of 6.3 months at the current sales rate.
Two things I get out of this report:
1. No context
The chart and the ups and downs of the past 2 years seem wildly out of scale with the past.
2. No reliability of the data
Let’s take this sentence:
“This is 1.3 percent (±19.7%) above the revised September rate of 303,000 and is 8.9 percent (±17.2%) above the October 2010 estimate of 282,000.”
and translate it (bad grammar aside):
“October 2011 new home sales were anywhere from 18.4% less than last October to 21% more than last October. October 2011 new home sales were anywhere from 8.3% less than September 2011 to 26.1% more than September 2011.”
Not very useful or reliable but easy to make fun of.
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Monday, November 28, 2011, 2:00 PM
Here’s an info graphic making the case for solar energy for central air conditioning. What caught my attention was the lack of disparity between people that ran their CAC with grid and solar power.
No matter what the power source is…
guilt is the gift that keeps on giving.
[click to expand]
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Monday, November 28, 2011, 12:30 PM
I was emailed this thank you note from a very nice real estate reporter covering Washington, D.C. recently:
Thanks so much-you were a dream source-knowledgeable AND spoke in complete sentences-truly a winning duo for a reporter.
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Monday, November 28, 2011, 10:00 AM
[click to expand]
Knight Frank’s research of high end housing markets across the globe shows many of the markets are expected to cool in 2012. They produce an impressive amount of great research on real estate across the globe. I provide some insights within this report.
This process (report) highlights a key risk –
that prime markets will ultimately be undermined by domestic economic reality, with a convergence between prime and mainstream market performance. If the euro was to collapse, or a similar catastrophe was to strike, all bets really would be off and we would expect much weaker performance across all of our prime markets.
- After two years of growth the world’s prime markets look set to cool in 2012
- Our forecast for 2012 is evenly split with 44% of the cities monitored forecast to see price falls, 44% likely to experience price rises and 12% expected to remain unchanged
- Given the global economic turmoil it might seem surprising we are forecasting price rises in 44% of the cities monitored. In many of these cities the critical factor is a lack of quality new supply. We expect this to be particularly evident in London, Paris, Moscow, Nairobi and Kuala Lumpur.
- In those cities forecast to see price growth this will be underpinned by the flow of capital from the world’s troubled regions and a desire amongst the wealthy to target property and other real assets over financial products
- Over 60% of the Asian cities monitored are forecast to see price falls in 2012 as government measures aimed at dampening speculative demand start to take effect
- The Eurozone crisis is considered a high risk for 60% of the cities covered. Political and security issues present the greatest risk to the housing markets in the Middle East and Africa.
- Interest rates, high inflation and consumer debt represent the smallest risk to the world’s luxury housing markets reflecting the affluent, more equity-rich buyer profile for this market.
Prime Global Forecast [Knight Frank]
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Monday, November 28, 2011, 7:00 AM
[click to open]
Real estate agents have long been teased about questionable babble in their listing ads. But is the teasing still justified? Or has the shift to online advertising reduced the problem?
I was sent this “broker babble” generator by a soon-to-launch online rental company that doesn’t need real estate agents (an assumption based on the “sick of brokers?” link on the bottom of the web page). Besides the generator not being very good (but looks very cool), I feel like the language of real estate agents has actually been improving over the past decade and this attempt at humor was out of sync with today – designed to “buddy up” with consumers directly.
Does the industry still use silly language in some of its listing ads? Of course! Descriptions that include “triple mint” and “fab vus” are still used to excess. Then why did this attempt at low brow humor seem so hollow?
Perhaps it comes down to the decline of classified print advertising for real estate listings. Limitations on print space back in the day cried out for choice words to get the attention that would drive the sale.
Since listings are shifting to the web whether it’s with the online classified ads of the New York Times, online services like Trulia or StreetEasy or brokerage firms, whose space constraints are less daunting for agents.
Perhaps the modest upgrade in the qualifications of people entering the industry and the rising emphasis on professional development has played a role?
Or it is still just as bad and because I’ve been involved in the real estate industry for too long and it’s become white noise.
Whatever it is, this sort of promotional stunt is just a silly.
Posted by Jonathan J. Miller -Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 1:46 PM
I must say I was skeptical about the new debate format but was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the event. I also liked the creativity of the intro video – swingin’ around that camera.
At some point TRD pulled me aside to talk on camera, but only after web editor Lauren Elkies talked Lincoln Center security into letting TRD film outside the venue. You’d think it was #occupylincolncenter
Incidentally, The Real Deal had me on standby as they tried hard to get Lawrence Yun, chief economist of NAR to debate me (I’d love to!) but he is too protected by his trade group. He never seems to appear in public in a forum where it is understood that his views would be challenged/debated. This gatekeeper mentality is a vestige of the past. Still, he’s a smart guy who I am sure would have something to contribute. NAR has access to wonderful information – they just need to work on the “building a sense of trust” part – something not conveyed through their press release linguistics.
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In memory of those who perished senselessly. You will never be forgotten.
One cannot even begin to explain the feelings that tear at the heart when witnessing such senseless violence as seen on the television, on September 11. And to experience it first hand is something far beyond comprehension. Who can possibly imagine what those moments must have been like for those innocent victims? We are sickened and angry that life can be so meaningless to those who were behind these acts.
Not only did they attack the United States, but all free people's of the world. As nation's mourn the losses, please light a candle in the memory of those who fell victim on this day.
~Star Spangled Banner~
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Francis Scott Key
Our Father who art in Heaven, we lift up our voices in prayer. The forces of darkness walk the face of this earth, and we ask that you shelter us in your loving embrace.
A great tragedy has fallen upon innocent men, women, and children. Lives were forever changed, and hearts broken. But, Father we know that your spirit fills us with hope and courage, and united we stand.
We lift up the families who have suffered great loss on this day. Their lives have been shattered, and we pray that a healing can begin.
There is not a single human being in this country that has not been touched in some way by these horrible events, not one. We stand in support of one another, and of this nation. And we ask Father, for your guidance in the days to come.
Buildings may shake and fall, but our spirits stand on solid rock. We place ourselves in Your hands.
In Jesus' name.....Amen.
The Lord is my shepard, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I wil fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of ine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Thank you for this gift.
The WTC photo used in making this background set, as well as those that have been placed on these pages, are courtesy of
Midi "Rainbow" used with permission and is © 2001 Bruce DeBoer
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While Intel's the only major graphics hardware vendor to provide a fully open-source and officially-supported Linux graphics driver stack that's accompanied by extensive programming and register documentation
, there is still a binary blob -- similar to AMD and their Radeon firmware blobs within the kernel -- when it comes to their video BIOS on the latest Intel hardware.
While some still take issue with binary video BIOS, to most it's really not a problem. However, within the Coreboot project there's been interest in creating a source-based replacement for the video BIOS on Intel's latest-generation Ivy Bridge hardware, such as what's found in the new Samsung Chromebox/Chromebook.
Coreboot developers want minimal graphics support plus source-based start-up code in Coreboot for Ivy Bridge so they can "avoid the issues that come with binary video bioses."
The Intel kernel DRM driver does work fine without a video BIOS having been run to initialize the hardware. A Coreboot developer has now been extracting the kernel driver functions and executing them in user-mode for prototyping Coreboot hardware drivers. This approach has worked for other hardware and now it's almost working for graphics hardware.
Ron Minnich, the developer working on this source-based video BIOS replacement for Ivy Bridge, says I2C is working and he's able to recover the display's EDID and mode. The panel back-light control is working and the GTT can be programmed along with other simple functions, but now he's still working on link training and other functionality. Right now he's troubleshooting these last bits for his source-based video BIOS replacement. "This thing is close, and I feel it is possible, but I've obviously got something wrong."
Details on the work are shared in this Intel mailing list post
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America’s failing monetary policy
Shahien Nasiripour has delivered a massive 4,000-word article on the Fed’s monetary policy, laying out with great clarity just who’s benefiting (big banks, corporations, and the U.S. Treasury) and who’s losing (the public at large, and especially retired savers and the unemployed).
To some extent, monetary policy always works like that: savers get hit when interest rates fall, while banks love it. But this time it’s even worse than usual, since businesses aren’t borrowing or investing — and insofar as they are borrowing, they’re using the proceeds to buy back their stock, rather than to employ more people.
The net result is that the banks — whose collective cost of funds is now less than 1% — are now lending overwhelmingly to just one borrower:
U.S. banks now own more than $1.5 trillion in Treasuries and taxpayer-backed debt issued by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to the latest weekly data provided by the Fed. It’s a 30 percent increase from the week prior to the Fed’s Dec. 16, 2008, announcement that it was lowering the main interest rate to 0-0.25 percent.
Outstanding commercial and industrial loans at U.S. banks have fallen from $1.6 trillion in October 2008 to $1.2 trillion this past September, Fed data show. The $390 billion drop is equivalent to a 24 percent reduction in credit to businesses.
It’s truly outrageous that banks are lending more money to the U.S. government than they are to all commercial and industrial borrowers combined; well done to Nasiripour for connecting these dots and for providing a much-needed dose of outrage at the way in which Bernanke’s monetary policy simply isn’t helping the broad mass of the U.S. population.
Is there something else that Bernanke could be doing, and isn’t? Nasiripour doesn’t address that question in this piece. But simply framing the problem is important enough: with fiscal policy in gridlocked Washington a non-starter, monetary policy is all that we have. And it clearly isn’t having the desired effect.
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MONTREAL (AP) - The World Anti-Doping Agency wants the IOC to test athletes earlier before future Olympics to catch drug cheats.
A WADA panel that monitored the anti-doping program at the London Olympics suggests the IOC adopt "more intelligent testing as far in advance of competition as possible" instead of simply conducting more tests.
The panel's 13-page report published Tuesday says it "expected" the IOC to reanalyze some London samples during the eight-year period they are stored.
The WADA-appointed observers praise the anti-doping program run by the IOC, London organizing committee and UK Anti-Doping.
Eight athletes tested positive, two from in-competition samples, from an Olympic-record 5,132 tests conducted after the athletes village opened.
Women's shot put winner Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus was the only medalist disqualified.
|There are currently no active polls at this time.
Click here to view other polls on our site and past poll results.
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Large for me, at least!
A writeup on the piece:
Near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River in a densely forested area, Singapore was founded in 1836 with the intention of becoming a port city on par with Chicago. As a lumber industry was birthed and developed over the next four decades, the destruction along the shores of Lake Michigan in October of 1871 became a turning point in the fate of Singapore.
For three days in early October of 1871, fire eradicated over three square miles of Chicago; the predominantly wooden architecture lending itself to the widespread damage. Less commonly known are the three other major fires occurring on the same days which destroyed large portions of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and both Manistee and Holland, Michigan. In total, thousands were killed, miles of city and thousands of miles of forests were leveled by the same fire that took Chicago.
Singapore and the natural resources harbored by their lumber industry were quick to act, assisting several different communities with materials for rebuilding. As an oversight of limitation, Singapore's supply was exhausted less than a few years later. With the key industry having run out of fuel, the town was almost completely abandoned. Because the forests around Singapore were cleared, winds from the lake began to push the sand dunes on the shores back into the town, covering it completely less than five years after the last person left. Nothing remains visible of the town today.Daniel Danger had wanted a piece for his collection ever since I did one for his Devil Town show out west. While this isn't a direct response to that work, it is under the same roof as anything in my Arbor series at my portfolio site. I heavily document pieces for a few reasons, so here's some behind-the-scenes on this particular work:
worked up surface, a lot of layers.
deep and meaningful shot (slow studio day)
"Color was added in blossoming formations on isolated portions of the panel, and then chained together by a sequence of color shifts that considered the underlying layers of grid and markmaking."
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The main attraction of this Lake is, it is one of the fresh water lakes in Kerala, and is fully surrounded by Evergreen rain forests and Sugandhagiri Hills. It is the one and only one of its kind in Kerala too…! The lake covers nearly 8 Hectors of land. The area is fresh and always be filled with breeze air and sounds of forest. The view of the hill and forest from this lake make the area, unforgettable.
This place can be visited throughout the year, and freshness never gets reduced because of the evergreen forests. The famous Kabani River originates from this Lake. This lake is home for many fresh water fishes (known and unknowns) and the fresh water aquarium is surely a wonder too.
This lake and the surroundings are home for Migrating birds and opens great opportunities for bird watchers.
Boating facility is available in the lake. A children’s park and a Shopping Complex for Handicrafts and Spices of Wayanadu are arranged here by the District Tourism Promotion Council.
How To Reach There:
Pookkot Lake is situated on the way to Kalpetta from Kozhikkode. The route map is given. For those who are coming from Kannur, the better route is through Boys Town- Mananthavadi- Kalpetta- Vythiri- Pookotu Lake. (only 200Kms). Check the Route Map below.
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NATIONAL: Many Australians are still concerned about the federal government’s carbon tax, despite the findings of a new poll, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.
The Fairfax/Nielsen poll, taken about a month after the introduction of a carbon price, shows 52 percent of respondents feel the carbon tax has made no difference while 38 per cent feel they are worse off.
“That means that a very, very large number are concerned,” Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
“I have just come back from the United States and China and I’ve got to say that there is no way other countries are going down this path.
“It’s going to damage our economy, it’s going to hurt our cost of living and it’s not going to do anything at all to help the environment.”
The previous poll taken before the carbon tax began on July 1 found that 37 per cent felt it would make no difference against 51 per cent who believed they would be worse off.
The latest poll also found Labor’s primary vote was 30 percent, up two percentage points from last month.
Labor’s two-party vote also increased by two points percentage points to 44 percent.
Despite the rises, there would still be a six percent swing to the coalition and election oblivion for the government.
Labor MPs said on Monday the minority government had work to do to boost support.
“The reality is we have a long way to go to convince Australians about the positive plans that we have,” backbencher Graham Perrett told Sky News.
Labor MP Nick Champion said the government was getting on with the job, citing last week’s “historic” agreement with the states to set up four trial sites for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“I think it’s a little bit more important for the nation’s politicians to focus on people who often can’t get a decent wheelchair than it is to navel gaze about polling,” he told ABC Television.
Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer said the government couldn’t take too much comfort from the poll – even from the change in responses to the carbon tax.
“Even in just four weeks we have seen even more confusion with the carbon tax,” she told Sky News.
“Let’s look at this over coming months because the impact that will flow through the economy is very significant.”
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We’ve been so busy pointing fingers at the people who caused the MLLA crisis here in Mammoth that we have hardly touched a couple of central questions.
What would it feel like to put a town of 7,000 people at risk? How does a person sleep comfortably, knowing that a little, small town in the mountains would have to reduce its resources to below bare-bones levels?
What would it be like to forge faux friendships and relationships in a small little town, only to figure out a way to con them into a $29.5 million grift and make them pay for 23 years?
Those are the questions we have for Terry Ballas and the Mammoth Lakes Land Acquisition lawyers. Does it feel good? Does it feel like it was the right thing to do?
It is not a legal question. It is, rather, a moral one.
There is no question that the MLLA lawyers badly outmaneuvered then-town attorney Peter Tracy in the Bridgeport courtroom, resulting in the astonishing judgment of $30 million in damages over Ballas’ hare-brained condo/hotel/retail airport project.
The Court of Appeals agreed and the Supreme Court rightfully turned the case away, such was our dreadful legal advice.
OK, so Mammoth lost the legal battle, fair and square, and we can live with that, probably. In retrospect, it was like sending the Little Sisters of the Poor up against the 1927 Yankees. But the question before us is not about a legal victory or loss. It is about greed.
Greed, by definition, is wanting and taking more than one morally deserves. Many people confuse greed with avarice. Avarice by itself does no harm, and may even do good by pumping fairly-earned money into the collective American economy.
But greed is different. Greed depends on the absence of sympathy. Greed also exploits ignorance—the kind of ignorance that informed the woefully hoodwinked jury in Bridgeport.
The real tragedy is that we’d like to believe that we don’t really think of ourselves as Gordon Gekko types up here in the mountains. Everybody knows everybody, and there is a collective effort to make things right for everyone and his or her neighbor.
Then along come the hardball players, playing smash-mouth capitalism, and all it’s going to cost us is a loss of seven police officers and six others on the town staff. Maybe Ballas himself should tell the families how it is that they are responsible for a lost job and income.
It means we lose the use of our swimming pool and a park; it means we put up for sale our open space (the Bell Shaped Parcel), and that our services will be reduced across the board. We’d like one of the MLLA lawyers to explain that to the kids on the Mammoth Sharks swim club and maybe even to the deer and bears that cross our open spaces.
The roads are not going to get needed ongoing maintenance. Over the next few years, they’ll likely deteriorate. Maybe Ballas should explain personally why it is such a good thing that he caused that to happen.
Had the town not reached the settlement that it did, U.S. Judge Elizabeth Perris suggested that Mammoth itself might have ceased to exist as a government.
We’d like to hear from the Gekkos at MLLA how any of this is fair.
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Parents representing Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum (CRC) generated buzz last week by protesting against Montgomery County's sex-ed pilot program with signs that read ''Health Before Politics'' outside public schools.
But they weren't able to derail the eighth and tenth grade curriculum. Instead, the county's plans to introduce the program continued last week with its introduction in six more schools, with plans for five more to be added by the end of March.
Michelle Turner, CRC's vice president, is asking parents to get angry, be vocal and ''demand something better'' -- that is, ''better'' than a curriculum that strives to define sexual orientation and is inclusive of gays. In the meantime, CRC awaits a response to an appeal request on behalf of the group against the county's Board of Education, that is expected to be decided on by July.
''Montgomery County is one of the best school systems in the county, and this is the best they can come up with?'' she asks.
Turner's main frustration with the program stems from what she describes as a lack of factual information, including the use of condoms and anal sex.
''We're not presenting that as just a homosexual issue,'' she says. ''There [are] a great deal of heterosexual youths who are engaging in anal sex to avoid pregnancy.... They need to know that condoms are not designed for anal sex.''
CRC also takes exception with the program's ''one-sided view,'' that homosexuality is innate. Turner says that if there is information for people who ''choose to be'' gay, there should also be information for those who would rather be ''ex-gay.''
Jim Kennedy, a social psychologist and president of Teach the Facts, a group that is in favor of the current curriculum, says Turner's modification requests are ''ridiculous,'' and predicts that the program will successfully go forward to encompass all of the schools in Montgomery County by the fall of 2007.
''If you are an 'ex-gay,' I guess that means that you were gay and are not anymore,'' Kennedy says. ''Then you would be straight, heterosexual. It doesn't need its own category. Never mind the fact that if they were going to teach that, they should also teach about 'ex-straights' and about 'ex-ex-gays,' people who claim to be 'ex-gay' and are now gay again, which far outnumber 'ex-gays.'''
Kennedy suspects that CRC will once again file a lawsuit against the Montgomery County School Board if its appeal request does not yield the result it seeks.
''This time the school districts have more lawyers and have looked at everything that got developed carefully.... I don't believe [CRC has] got a chance in winning,'' he says, adding that CRC is specifically targeting gays through their campaign to include ''ex-gays.''
''The big issue is sexual orientation and people like Michelle Turner...would like to keep gay people in the closet,'' he says. ''That's really their goal.''
But Turner claims her group is not ''homophobic.''
''We are not gay bashers. We are not Nazis,'' she says. ''Our primary concern is if the school system is going to introduce [sexual orientation] into the classroom, it needs to be factual [and] balanced. ...
''[Students] need to know that there's no reason for them to have to endure harassment, teasing or bullying, that there is an avenue to address [that],'' she continues. ''They also need to know that it's wrong to harass, tease or bully an individual who chooses to live their life that way, the same way that it's wrong to harass someone who is 300 pounds, or someone who can't afford to shop at the Gap.''
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My friends say the problem with today’s robber barons is that they’re greedy egomaniacs, but I don’t think that nails it. What, after all is egomania? It’s some extreme on a continuum I ride too.
No, it’s not all about me, but for me, it’s mostly about me. I thrive on endorphment, the endorphin rush of getting endorsed. Who doesn’t? Likewise, with greed. I purr when I win. I prefer personal gain to personal loss.
There’s no clearly marked line between standard issue ego and egomania or between normal and abnormal pursuit of personal property. Some crimes are easy to identify. If you kill someone, you’ve crossed the line into murder. But greedy egomania? Pretty fuzzy line to cross. I’m not hypocrite enough to fault today’s robber barons for being like me.
No, what I object to is the mindlessness of their greedy egomaniacal campaigns. Like all of us, today’s robber barons have lucked into the game of life, a game whose object they get to make up for themselves. With their talent and resources they have extraordinary range in choosing the object of the game, and the best they can come up with is to accumulate as much money as possible and to spend it on the fussy props of grandeur, more stuff than they can find time to enjoy.
Even the original robber barons did better than that. They too got their egos stroked accumulating wealth, but they also created railroads, oil fields, and factories. They harnessed their greedy egomania in ways that contributed to general welfare. Most of today’s robber barons, especially in the financial sector undermine general welfare. A few set up big foundations that serve the broader community, but most don’t.
We, the lucky living are burdened and graced with the question, “What should I do with my life?” “What’s the most I can do with what I’m dealt?” Today’s robber barons have come up with laughably lame answers.
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Bootleg recordings, supposedly the first time Ringo Starr performed with the Beatles at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, will not be released until the case of ownership is resolved. A federal judge approved the agreement between Apple Corps Ltd., the London-based group formed by the Beatles, and Miami Lakes-based Fuego Entertainment, Inc. Allegedly, these are recordings the band made in 1962. Eight unreleased tracks are said to be among the recordings, including Paul McCartney singing Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" and McCartney and John Lennon singing "Ask Me Why."
I'm not sure where "Lovesick Blues" is from as it is not listed as a track on any live performance at the Star Club, c. 21-31 December 1962 in Richie Unterberger's The Unreleased Beatles Music and Film. However, "Ask Me Why" is included at that time although the tune is available on the German and the U.S. 1977 LP versions of The Beatles Live! At the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany, 1962 recording. "Ask" is included which became only their second B-side original and released in 1963.
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Friday, November 14, 2008
Let's talk about how smart donkeys are
Are some of you wondering how Pistol is doing since his donkey pals, Ian and Brownie, were adopted?
The day that Ian and Brownie were picked up wasn't just rough on me, it hit Pistol pretty hard, too. I witnessed something with him that afternoon I never would have believed had I not seen it personally.
Seconds after Mary's big diesel truck, carrying Brownie and Ian, pulled out of my barn driveway and started to drive down the road, I went into the barn to let Pistol out of his stall and into the pasture.
He walked slowly out of his stall, walked through the gate and into the pasture and just stood there for a moment, as if assessing:
And then he started off down the hill:
Slowly at first, then he broke into a run:
...until he reached the bottom of the hill. The way our property is situated, the road that took Brownie and Ian away winds along two sides of our property. As I stood there wondering what the heck he was doing, it dawned on me that Pistol was running after the sound of the truck engine - and his pals! He had watched from his stall as they were loaded into the truck and was now following the truck as it wound its way down the road on the other side of our property. Can you see him down there?:
How about now, when I enlarge it a bit:
He ran as far as he could go, then stood there for the longest time, looking in the direction that the diesel truck had driven. He let out the most plaintiff bray. Nothing I did could distract him from his post. He just wanted to stand there, watching and listening, even long after the engine noise had disappeared:
Donkeys aren't meant to be alone. They have an incredible need to be with others of their kind. While we humans might like to think our company is all they really require, I believe donkeys become sad and confused when their number dwindles to one.
Once the boys were truly gone, and Pistol gave up his fence-staring vigil, he started following me everywhere I went. This is not usual behavior for him. He would have even walked into the chicken coop with me if I had let him:
If I walked outside to see him, he'd hurry over to see me:
If I walked away, he'd be right behind me:
Yet every time he heard an unusual noise or saw a movement out of the corner of his eye, he would stop and stare:
This isn't the stance of a cautious donkey who just heard something, this is the stance of a donkey hoping he's merely overlooked his pals, who've really come back and are over there behind those trees:
Dinnertime used to be so much noisier:
Fortunately, there's hope for my big guy. He won't be alone for long.
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"The thing which keeps life romantic and full of fiery possibilities is the existence of these great plain limitations which force us to meet the things we do not like or do not expect."
"Does man need God, or can we do quite well without him? When, in the first phase of God’s absence, his light continues to illumine and sustain the order of human existence, it appears that things can also function without God. But the more the world withdraws from God, the clearer it becomes that man, in his hubris of power, in his emptiness of heart and in his longing for satisfaction and happiness, increasingly loses his life. A thirst for the infinite is indelibly present in human beings. Man was created to have a relationship with God; we need him."
When Light Does Not Reach Our Hearts
“What keeps us alive, what allows us to endure? I think it is the hope of loving, or being loved.
“I heard a fable once about the sun going on a journey to find its source, and how the moon wept without her lover’s warm gaze.
“We weep when light does not reach our hearts. We wither like fields if someone close does not rain their kindness upon us.”
- Meister Eckhart
“God doesn’t ultimately judge us for how adept we are at following the rules of the Church, but by how much we’ve loved other people. “ – A comment made by my sister a few weeks ago.
For years now, I have been moving in circles when it comes to what to believe about the Church. Somehow, I still think that what we believe has an impact on our hearts and the way we live. Yet I keep having to ask: To what end do we believe? For what purpose do we go to Church?
I have all these lofty ideals about love and humanity, but actually loving self-sacrificially? I can’t even bring myself to go to lunch with a person who simply needs to be listened to.
It’s easy to give time to a friend that gives back, but there are an abundance of broken, lonely individuals that are only able to take. I worry of being depleted. But how is anyone to be restored unless they are given medicine? I’ve been in that needy place before. Why am I unwilling to give, now that I have something to offer?
If I love God as much as I think I do, what would I do if it were the Christ that was suffering from debilitating loneliness? Why did he say “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt 25:40)?
Am I going to awaken one day before God’s face and realize I could have given 1% of the love he gave me and it would have been enough?
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal 5:14)
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Bill Binney believes he helped create a monster.
Sitting in the innocuous surroundings of an Olive Garden in the Baltimore suburbs, the former senior National Security Agency (NSA) official even believes he owes the whole American people an apology.
Binney, a tall, professorial man in his late 60s, led the development of a secret software code he now believes is illegally collecting huge amounts of information on his fellow citizens. For the staunch Republican, who worked for 32 years at the NSA, it is a civil liberties nightmare come true.
So Binney has started speaking out as an NSA whistleblower – an act that has earned him an armed FBI raid on his home. "What's happening is a violation of the constitutional rights of everybody in the country. That's pretty straightforward. I could not be associated with it," he told the Guardian.
Binney, a career NSA employee who first volunteered for the army in the mid-1960s, has now become a high-profile thorn in the side of NSA chiefs when they deny the programme's existence.
At a hacking conference this summer in Las Vegas, NSA director General Keith Alexander said the NSA "absolutely" did not keep files on Americans.
"Anyone who would tell you that we're keeping files or dossiers on the American people knows that's not true," Alexander told an audience of computer and security experts. But Binney himself was at the same conference and publicly accused Alexander of playing a "word game".
"Once the software takes in data, it will build profiles on everyone in that data," he told a convention panel there.
Binney's outspokenness has earned him media appearances on shows across America's political spectrum ranging from ultra-conservative Glenn Beck's TV show to the liberal radio icon of Democracy Now.
"This is not a political issue. People on both sides are concerned," Binney said.
The story Binney tells is one of extreme over-reaction by America's national security establishment post-9/11. He recounts developing a small software system, called ThinThread, in the late 1990s at the NSA where he was the technical director of the organisation's 6,000-strong World Geopolitical and Military Analysis Reporting Group.
ThinThread correlated data from emails, phone calls, credit card payments and Internet searches and stored and mapped it in ways that could be analysed.
Binney wanted to use ThinThread to track foreign threats but it worked too well and kept catching data on Americans too.
So Binney's team built in safeguards that encrypted that data. But, by 2000, the NSA decided to go with developing a larger scale programme called Trailblazer to be built by outside contractors (that eventually failed to make it past the design stage) and ThinThread was effectively mothballed.
Then September 11 happened. Within a few weeks, Binney says, he realised parts of ThinThread were now being used by the NSA in a massive and secret surveillance operation.
But his safeguards had been removed allowing for far more targeted surveillance of American citizens. "I knew the dangers so I built in protections. And you could still find the bad guys with the protections in it. But that wasn't what they wanted so they took those things out," Binney said.
Binney quickly left the agency and kept his silence. But that was not the end of the story. In late 2005, the New York Times broke the story that the NSA was engaged in large-scale warrantless electronic surveillance.
The scandal eventually led to the passing of amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 2008 which, many critics say, simply gave legal protection to the agency's data-mining operations.
The programme has thus effectively continued under the Obama administration, which has launched a ruthless crackdown on national security whistleblowers, especially those leaking NSA secrets.
Binney gradually began to protest behind the scenes. Yet that earned him an FBI raid by armed agents as he showered at his home. "Here's a guy coming into my shower and pointing a gun at me. I'd been co-operating with these people. Why are they doing this?" he said.
Over the past year Binney has gone fully public, detailing what he believes is a massive effort under the Obama administration to collect virtually all electronic data in the country, from Facebook posts to Google searches to emails.
It is a deeply secret programme, Binney says, that is called Stellar Wind. He points to the NSA's creation of a giant data centre at Bluffdale in Utah as part of the system.
The gigantic building is set to cost $2bn and be up and running by 2013.
It is being designed to store huge amounts of accessible web information – such as social media updates – but also information in the "deep web" behind passwords and other firewalls that keep it away from the public.
As an example of Stellar Wind's power, Binney believes it is hoovering up virtually every email sent by every American and perhaps a good deal of the people of the rest of the world, too.
"I didn't expect it from my government. I thought we were the good guys. We wear white hats, right?" he said.
For Binney, Bluffdale is a symbol that the national security policy conducted by Obama has been little different than that of Bush.
Obama has renewed the Patriot Act, tried to broaden the powers of detention of American citizens for national security reasons, and deployed the anti-spy Espionage Act more times than all other presidents combined.
"They are still continuing the same programmes – actually, Obama is doing more in some areas," Binney said. Nor is Binney optimistic of rolling back the surveillance.
Last week the House of Representatives voted for a five-year extension to the controversial 2008 FISA amendments.
Yet Binney believes there has been too much of a sacrifice of civil liberties in order to fight terrorism. "People should feel the ability to go out there and and do anything that they want to without being looked at all the time. Monitored. Watched," he said.
"The terrorists win, OK? We've lost because we have destroyed our society just to combat them and there was really no reason to do that."
Binney is also determined to keep on speaking out. "I don't see any other recourse. Everybody needs to wake up to what we are doing here and whether we want it or not. There is a big hole at the end of this tunnel and it drops off to nowhere." he said.
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WARREN - Tom Horton said he took a leap of faith when he quit his landscaping job to attend Eastern Gateway Community College's shale natural gas training.
"I've been hearing about it, so I wanted to see what it's all about and what it might be able to offer me," Horton, 34, of Warren, said. "It wasn't easy making this move but I believe it's going to be worth it. I hope so."
Horton, who is married with one child and another on the way, is one of 12 students participating in the course to explore opportunities in the well drilling industry.
Tribune Chronicle / Virginia Shank
Eastern Gateway Community College ShaleNET instructor Michael Lorms, left, and George Kaschak, review maps with students at the Trumbull County Auditor’s Office. Kaschak is geographic information systems?coordinator at the auditor’s office. The third and final week of the college’s first ShaleNET course to prepare for jobs in the natural gas well drilling industry begins Monday.
The three-week training program provides students with an intensive look at positions in the industry and the steps they need to take to pursue those jobs, instructor Michael Lorms said.
The tuition-free course is paid for through a $4.96 million ShaleNET community-based job training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Several community colleges from Pennsylvania and West Virginia also are participating.
"We already know there are a lot of opportunities in the industry," Lorms said. "This course gives people a better look at what options exist for them.
Drilling of one well requires 400 people working in nearly 150 occupations. About 47 percent of a well's work force consists of jobs that do not require a four-year degree - 20 percent general labor, 17 percent heavy equipment operators and 10 percent commercial driver's license on- and off-road truck drivers.
"These guys start early and leave late," he said. "I can't say that they will all be ready for a job when they're done. They need to be practical. But I think some of them definitely will be.
''We try to give them as much information and training as we can in these three weeks. It's intensive and it's a lot of information. But it's good preparation."
The class is scheduled to start its third week on Monday.
Lorms said much of the classroom focus has been on safety, building on skills students already have and adding new ones, and job readiness. This past week, students received CPR training and made a field trip to the Trumbull County Auditor's Office to look at mapping procedures.
"We go over resumes and updating them and the online application process," he said. "This is an introduction to the oil and gas industry but we really look at everything, all elements that we can look at to help these students with their job seeking efforts."
Applicants are required to undergo criminal background checks, physicals and drug screenings.
Earlier this year, Eastern Gateway, in partnership with the City of Warren, conducted two free sessions designed to provide information about job opportunities in the shale natural gas industry, and the training required to land those jobs. Although some 500 people attended those sessions, a dozen are in the college's initial training course in Warren.
"It's disappointing," Eastern Gateway president Laura Meeks said. "But we are hoping that by getting the word out, through word-of-mouth, more people will see the opportunity that's available to them."
Eastern Gateway is offering the training course tuition-free to eligible participants through the college's partnership with ShaleNET, a federal grant to train workers for targeted jobs in the shale gas industry. The college is offering pre-employment training sessions as well as training courses to prepare individuals to work in these jobs.
Eastern Gateway officials have reported an 86 percent placement rate in the program and an 85 percent retention rate.
"Anybody who doesn't grab this opportunity while the door is open is shooting themselves in the foot," Dave Hawk of Salem, a laid-off welder, said.
"This doesn't just give you an idea about one job but shows you the opportunities that are in the field. You get the chance to learn about the field, to see what's out there, what's available, where the jobs are, and this course is free. Why wouldn't you do it?'' Hawk said.
The college has scheduled another training course in August in Steubenville. Ann Koon, Eastern Gateway's public information officer, said the college is prepared to offer additional training in the Mahoning Valley based demand. For more information, call 800-682-6553, Ext. 311, or visit www.egcc.edu.
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Born: October 1, 1946 Primary Instrument: Bass
Amid endless choices, the sound of a Dave Holland bass line compels attention. A master of tone and rhythm, the bassist, composer, and bandleader is now in his fifth decade as a performer and his music possesses a rich and kaleidoscopic history. One of Holland's mentors, the affably sage-like saxophonist Sam Rivers, gave him a tip once. Sam said, ‘Don't leave anything out?play all of it,' Holland once told a radio interviewer. That's become almost a mantra for me over the years, he says, as I've tried to find a way to build a vehicle which lets me utilize the full spectrum which includes the tradition, playing the blues and improvising freely. I love all that music, and there's been a desire to reconcile all those areas, to make them relevant, hopefully, in a contemporary context, as one music.
Holland is not the only accomplished bassist in music, an instrument rich in authoritative figures like Charles Mingus and Scott LaFaro. But he's the only Dave Holland, and the vivid personal imprint he brings to the music performs stamps it with a sound that transcends any arbitrary descriptions of genre or format. He is a seminal figure in post-1960s jazz, but has never allowed his work to be limited by tradition.
This path has led him from the frontiers of free improvisation to his modern ensembles that fully embody Rivers' philosophy of playing all of it.
Born in 1946, the Wolverhampton, England, native was a steady figure on the London jazz scene when Miles Davis saw him at the fabled Soho jazz club Ronnie Scott's in1968, playing in a combo that opened for the Bill Evans Trio. Miles heard something in his sound and his ideas, recalled Jack DeJohnette, who was Evans's drummer on the date. A month later, Holland was on the bandstand with Davis at Count Basie's Harlem nightclub. He then joined the rhythm section on Filles de Kilimanjaro, and the revolutionary In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew sessions. It was a heady two years, but Holland was quickly developing his own ideas about music.
He recalls that one of his earliest and hardest lessons was how to make his own space in Davis' music, which at the time was electronically evolving. When I first joined Miles' band, he didn't say much to me. I now know that to be one of his great gifts to artists: to encourage us to not play like the guys who came before us, but to explore our own creative solutions. At the time I remember reading a quote from the Sufi tradition that said, 'Plant your banner firmly in the desert sand.' That resonated with me. I knew I had to figure out what I could bring to the table to represent how I heard and felt the music.
Eager to pursue his own radical new sounds, Holland did what many of his peers would not have contemplated. He quit Davis' band, giving up the arena gigs at vast venues like Madison Square Garden to commit to the creation of his own music. And then he got even busier. The 1970s found Holland prolific. Solo, and in collaboration, he became a dominant voice in the new music. Along with fellow Miles alum Chick Corea, he formed the shortlived supergroup Circle, and then joined Rivers for the epochal Conference of the Birds. The 1972 album, one of Holland's first for the ECM label, was a quartet session that also featured multi- reedist Anthony Braxton and drummer Barry Altschul (both of Circle). Inspired by the birds that frequented the yard of Holland's London home, and a 12th century Persian epic written by Farid ud-Din Attar, the album became a classic: outward-thinking music that made the avant-garde swinging and coherent, suffused in feeling yet attentive to form. Holland also explored the essence of his instrument in the duo record with Barre Phillips, Music for Two Basses (1971) and the remarkable solo album Emerald Tears (1977).
Interestingly enough, Holland's solo albums--which also include the cello-driven Life Cycle (1983) and One's All (a 1993 release on the German Intuition label)--brought him back full circle to his earliest fascination with the bass and strings. I loved the richness of the sound and the instrument's expressiveness, he says, recalling his exposure as teenager to albums featuring Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. But what really knocked me out--and is still the key to playing this music--is the communicative quality of those players. The idea of the communion of playing struck me deeply. How they complemented each other during solos and how they interacted. This was so far ahead of anything I had heard up to that point. I saw a much wider horizon ahead to reach for. The emotion of jazz moved me. It knocked me off my feet
DeJohnette marvels at his musicianship in this setting: Dave is one of a few bassists who can get an audience on their feet during a solo. He learned from Miles to have a point of view in his playing. Singling out Bach's sonatas, Holland says that he's carrying on a stringed instrument tradition: On my solo recordings and in my solo concerts, I try to find a variety of ways to play the bass so the music isn't boring and repetitive. There are different ways of pacing, and, of course, you can turn on a dime when you're playing by yourself.
It was Holland's strengths as a collaborator that marked many of his most notable efforts of the decade. His ongoing association with Rivers, Braxton and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler saw Holland's presence on a slew of important sessions, including a pair of improvisatory duets with Rivers and multiple credits on Braxton's Arista recordings, such as the splendid New York (Fall 1974). Joining forces with DeJohnette again and guitarist John Abercrombie, Holland joined the collective Gateway trio from 1975-77 recording a pair of albums for ECM. (The trio recorded twice again in the 1990s and continues to play the occasional concert).
Ever versatile, Holland also recorded with folk and rock musicians. As the only acoustic bassist living in Woodstock, NY, at the time, the Englishman was in demand. Michael Cuscuna, who produced several Braxton sessions with Holland on board, solicted his talents for Bonnie Raitt's Give It Up. Holland also got in the studio with bluegrass legend Vassar Clements and John Hartford. (It was in the same spirit that Holland found himself jamming with Jimi Hendrix one fleeting night in 1969 with drummer Buddy Miles).
Holland formed his first working quintet in 1983, featuring alto saxophonist Steve Coleman, trumpeter Wheeler and trombonist Julian Priester. A series of albums recorded over the next four years--including Jumpin' In, Seeds of Time, and Razor's Edge--laid the foundation for Holland's songbook.
Subsequently, he formed the Dave Holland Trio (with Coleman and DeJohnette) for the 1988 album Triplicate, and teamed with Coleman, electric guitarist Kevin Eubanks and drummer Marvin Smitty Smith for Extensions in 1989.
The bassist also continued to enjoy strong collaborations with a vast range of his peers, often connecting with celebrated figures from the previous generation of jazz icons. The following year, Holland got together in a unique trio of jazz legends, drummer Billy Higgins and pianist Hank Jones to record The Oracle--a genuine power summit. Other stellar projects included Question & Answer with Pat Metheny & Roy Haynes as well as Like Minds with Gary Burton. This has been a consistent pattern in Holland's career. During the ‘90s, he renewed an affiliation, begun in the 1970s, with Joe Henderson, joining the tenor saxophonist on So Near (So Far), Porgy & Bess, and the Joe Henderson Big Band. Likewise, Holland reunited with vocalist Betty Carter, touring and recording the live album Feed the Fire. Fellow Davis album Herbie Hancock invited Holland to tour with him in 1992, subsequently recording The New Standard, Holland joined Hancock's band again in 1996 and, more recently, was part of the sessions for River: The Joni Letters, winner of the 2008 Grammy for Album of the Year.
Throughout the '90s into the new century, Holland moved from strength to strength, both building and consolidating his position as one of the music's important and creatively seeking bandleaders. He launched his third quartet--and released Dream of the Elders (1995), which introduced the vibraphonist Steve Nelson to his ensembles. The Pittsburgh native has been a mainstay in all of Holland's bands, save for his sextet, since the mid-‘90s. He's one of the great improvisers I've had a chance to play with, Holland says. He brings something new to the table every time. I see guys scratching their heads at what he's doing. I wanted a chordal instrument in the group. I didn't necessarily want a piano. I wanted something to give more openness to the music, chordally. Steve's approach to playing can be very spacious at times. He knows when to lay out and when to play. There are often long stretches where he's not playing and then he comes in just at the right moment. A lot of people ask me why I'm using vibes. The reason is Steve Nelson.
Holland also formed his current quintet, which includes tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, trombonist Robin Eubanks and, a more recent addition, drummer Nate Smith. Among their notable recordings are Not for Nothin, Prime Directive and Extended Play.
Eubanks, who has been in Holland's ensembles since the mid-1980s, brings an expansive range to the band. He can get a very pure French horn-like sound on the high register and can go from that to a real gutbucket sound, and all the points in between, Holland says. It's really important to me that the musicians are deeply grounded in the tradition of the music but at the same time are looking to move that forward. Not only in their playing but in their composing as well.
Holland first heard Potter when the award-winning tenor saxophonist was about 19, and playing alto with Red Rodney at the Blue Note. I was doing a gig there with Joe Henderson, Holland recalls. Later, he joined Potter on a recording session with DeJohnette and John Scofield. I was struck by the composure he had for a young musician and his sense of balance. He played with a great deal of assurance. Potter also knew Eubanks from their stints in the Mingus Big Band, which already made for great chemistry in the horn section.
Drummer Nate Smith was also quite young when Holland first encountered him, during a visit to the University of Virginia in Richmond, Va., where Smith was a student. After another encounter at a memorial concert for Betty Carter, with whom Smith performed in the voclalist's last years, Holland invited him to join the quintet in 2003. He's got a great warmth to his playing, a great sense of community, Holland says. I always need players who can really get into a dialogue with each other in the music and are really listenjng to each other and are not up there playing for themselves. And, again, he's another fine composer in the band. Because of his generation, he brings a particular perspective to the music, as does Chris, which I really appreciate and enjoy.
When Holland talks about the musicians, it's clear that he's found an ideal mix of talents and attitudes with which to develop a full, complex and exciting sound that is, above all, of the moment. We're all looking to play music that is relevant to the time we live in, he says. In the quintet we're interested in a wide range of context for the music to work in. I'm not looking for a book of music that is only following one direction. I'm lookikng for something that covers a very broad range of approaches to improvisation, a balance between composition and improvisaton, and different compositional settings that have different influences on the performance.
Holland has only gathered momentum with the new century. In 2000, he debuted his Big Band and its debut What Goes Around. As a player, I like the situation where you point me in a direction, and let me give a piece momentum, says Holland. That's my aim, giving everyone in the big band the opportunity to delve into their own creative possibilities. There's a fine line for balance?utilizing the band for my composing and arranging, but also keeping the flexibility and freedom in the music.
Potter, an MVP in multiple settings for Holland, says the leader's core bass lines allow him to launch his saxophone improvisations in many different directions. As a leader, Dave approaches the band as something you wind up and let go, he says. Of course, he's serious about the music. He wants us all to play at our highest level. He's very curious to see how far we can take an idea and run with it.
In 2005, Holland formed Dare2 Records, after a 34-year relationship with ECM Records, the label where he became a signature artist. Originally, Holland created Dare2 Records as an imprint to have more control over the entire process of releasing an album, he says. But in the long term, there's a lot of promise in making music this way, especially with the changing environment in the recording industry. Sharing the bandstand with the best of a younger generation of players in his fan-favorite quintet, he now has three albums out on Dare2: the Grammy-award winning Overtime (2005), Critical Mass (2006) and Pass It On (2008). The debut recording from the Dave Holland Octet, entitled Pathways, will be released in the fall of 2009 on Dare2 also. As he has in his music, Holland has embraced change and new ideas in business like few of his generation or younger.
Dave Holland Quintet, Pass It On (Dare2, 2008)
Dave Holland Big Band Dave Holland Quintet, Critical Mass (Dare2, 2006)
Dave Holland Big Band, Overtime (Dare2, 2005)
Kenny Wheeler, What Now? (CamJazz, 2005)
Dave Holland Quintet, Extended Play: Live at Birdland (ECM, 2003)>
Dave Holland Big Band, What Goes Around (ECM, 2002)
Dave Holland Quintet, Not for Nothin' (ECM, 2001)
Dave Holland Quintet, Prime Directive (ECM, 1999)
Dave Holland Quintet, Points of View (ECM, 1998)
Dave Holland Quartet, Dream of the Elders (ECM, 1996)
Michael Brecker, Tales from the Hudson (Impulse!, 1996)
Gateway, Homecoming (ECM, 1995)
Dave Holland Quartet, Extensions (ECM, 1990)
Pat Metheny/Dave Holland/Roy Haynes, Question and Answer (Geffen, 1989)
Dave Holland Trio, Triplicate (ECM, 1988)
Dave Holland Quintet, The Razor's Edge (ECM, 1987)
Dave Holland Quintet, Seeds of Time (ECM, 1985)
Dave Holland Quintet, Jumpin' In (ECM, 1984)
Dave Holland, Life Cycle (ECM, 1983)
Dave Holland, Emerald Tears (ECM, 1978)
Kenny Wheeler, Gnu High (ECM, 1975)
Dave Holland Quartet, Conference of the Birds (ECM, 1973)
Miles Davis, Bitches Brew (Columbia/Legacy, 1969)
Miles Davis, In a Silent Way (Columbia/Legacy, 1969)
Disclaimer: All About Jazz is not responsible for the accuracy of the discographical data at the website(s) provided. If a link is no longer valid, please contact email@example.com. Thank you.
Hudson Valley, NY
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Prince Charming escaped The Queen's dungeon, but she magically transported him to the Infinite Forest. There, he met and dueled Rumplestiltskin. When the fight was over, Rumple offered Charming a deal: he would help him rescue Snow White in exchange for forcing a beast to swallow a case containing a potion of True Love. Charming agreed and faced the sorceress Maleficent in her dragon form at the Forbidden Fortress. He was able to cram the case down her gullet and escape with his life, so Rumplestiltskin lived up to his end of the deal. Prince Charming awoke Snow White with True Love's Kiss and they were soon married and pregnant with a baby girl. When The Evil Queen vowed to enact a Dark Curse that would steal everyone's happiness, Charming, Snow and their friends crafted a plan to create a magic vessel that could protect one person from the Queen's spell. The plan was for the pregnant Snow White to be saved, but when she gave birth to Emma early, Prince Charming and Snow White had no choice but to send Emma alone. Charming fought valiantly against many of The Queen's soldiers to safely get his newborn daughter into the magic wardrobe, but he was injured in the attempt. His true love held him as The Queen and her Curse arrived, changing their fates forever.
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- Special Sections
- Public Notices
They left the comfort of their surroundings and went to strange places where they were called upon to do things unnatural to civilized humanity. Some are buried in foreign lands. Some are buried at sea. The status of some is unknown. There is a story for each of the many thousands who went away to war. I offer this one.
In 1966, a young man named Lindell Ray “Butch” Stegall was relentless in requests to his parents that they sign a waiver so he might enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was only 17.
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Cañete la Real is one of Spain’s growing number of tiny towns with huge debts. With no more than 2,000 inhabitants the town hall owes more than 580,000 euros in unpaid social security contributions on behalf of employees. An astronomical amount bearing in mind that only 24 people work for the local corporation.
Cañete is one of the ten municipalities in the province of Malaga that are behind with their payments according to statistics for the month of June provided by the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social. In total the town halls have negotiated, or are due to negotiate, the payment of more than 240 million euros. The figure rises to more than 300 million if the social security debts of municipal companies are included in the total.
Top of the list of debtors are Marbella and Torremolinos, who owe so much that they are dealing directly with Madrid. In the case of the former, money owed to the Seguridad Social was as much as 190 million last year. In Torremolinos neither the local government nor the opposition have revealed the current extent of the debt, which in 2009 was 41 million euros, according to the local authority.
The list continues with Estepona, Arenas, Guaro, Manilva, Sayalonga and La Viñuela as well as Cañete la Real. In Vélez-Málaga it is only municipal firms that owe money.
Town halls can apply to pay off the debt in instalments without having to put up a guarantee. However they can only negotiate the part payable by the employer and not the workers’ contribution deducted directly from their wages. Municipal firms on the other hand do have to provide a guarantee and if they fail to meet the payment plan negotiated they have to surrender assets.
If the town halls fail to comply with the negotiated plan, three opportunities to rectify are given, after which the town’s share of state income (income tax and VAT) is seized. Social security sources explain that this threat is the reason why there are relatively few local authorities with this type of debt, as many survive exclusively on this allowance from the state.
The 190 million euro debt run up by Marbella council is inherited from the ‘GIL era’. This, along with another 77 million euros owed to the tax office, obliges the Town Hall to pay a million euros a month just to cover interest. The debt was run up between 1991 and 2006.
Town Hall sources point out that Estepona’s social security debt, at more than 50 million euros altogether, is also an inheritance from previous local governments. The council is currently paying back 500,000 euros a month.
Meanwhile the mayor of Cañete la Real, Josefa Jurado (PSOE), admits to feeling “overwhelmed by problems” pointing out that she too discovered the situation when she came into office. However the 580,000 euro social security debt is not her only headache. The 24 council workers have not been paid for five months.
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An expert in the sector will look into how “quality and regulation” can be improved amid growing concern that pensioners and disabled people are receiving substandard treatment from the NHS and local councils.
The Department of Health believes the failures at the private hospital run by Castlebeck, where undercover filming exposed the abuse of adults with learning disabilities, are “totally unacceptable”.
Whitehall sources say they will not tolerate poor standards at a company paid millions of pounds by taxpayers to protect some of society’s most vulnerable members.
But it is also felt that there is room for improvement at the Care Quality Commission, the super-regulator for health and social care, which initially ignored a whistleblower’s complaints about Winterbourne View home in Bristol.
In addition, there have been repeated calls for statutory training and regulation of healthcare assistants, who help pensioners and disabled people eat, wash and dress themselves in many homes and hospitals as a “cheap alternative” to nurses but who are not currently overseen by a professional body or required to meet national standards.
A Whitehall source said: “We are committed to learning the lessons from the shocking abuse uncovered at Winterbourne. That's why we have drafted in expert independent advice as we pull together all of these reports to get a sense of what went wrong and how.
"The regulator acknowledges there are questions to be answered and that problems such as these must be detected at the earliest opportunity. Professional regulation also has an important part to play, as this week's Health Select Committee report highlighted.
"In the end, the events at Winterbourne View show that the current care system is in need of fixing. And that is why this Government is working to do just that."
The CQC will on Thursday publish a report on all 24 properties run by Castlebeck after visiting them in a series of spot checks, which will likely call for several improvements. Winterbourne View was closed down after the BBC expose in May, which showed members of staff bullying and assaulting residents, while the company chairman Paul Brosnan has resigned.
The regulator last week produced a study on the Bristol hospital, which found a “systematic failure to protect people or investigate allegations of abuse”.
The CQC said Castlebeck was failing to meet 10 legally required “essential standards” of care. Serious incidents including injuries to patients were not reported; complaints and allegations of abuse were not investigated; recruitment policies were inadequate and residents were not protected against “excessive use of restraint”.
In response to the Winterbourne View scandal and the wider review of Castlebeck, which has come amid a series of reports highlighting the neglect of pensioners and the vulnerable, the Department of Health will today announce a new review of quality and regulation in social care.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that the independent project will be led by Imelda Redmond, the chief executive of the charity Carers UK.
She is expected to look into the standards of care homes, healthcare workers and home-help services around the country, as well as the way in which they are monitored.
Her recommendations will be included in a highly-anticipated White Paper on adult social care due next year, which is also expected to disclose future funding options for elderly care.
The abuse uncovered at Winterbourne View is still being investigated by a range of authorities.
It will be the subject of a Serious Case Review run by South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board, as well as a Serious Incident Review conducted by the NHS.
Police have arrested 12 people in connection with “allegations of abuse and mistreating of patients”, which could lead to a criminal trial, while two nurses have been suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and face fitness to practise hearings.
Meanwhile, the British Medical Association, the main doctors' union, has issued new guidance telling medics they must speak out if they think vulnerable adults are being abused or poorly treated by health workers.
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Markets, whether large or small, keep communities thriving. But conflicts, disasters and a lack of infrastructure can prevent people from conducting the daily transactions on which all growth and progress depend. Around the world, Mercy Corps discovers why commerce is stuck.
In some places, manufacturers need loans to purchase equipment and young people desire job skills. In others, key transportation routes to market must be rebuilt or farmers require better storage to keep their inventory fresh until sold.
Our economic development projects provide financing, equipment, training or technical support. These projects help people find jobs, build their businesses, supply their communities with the goods they need —and improve their lives.
All stories about Economic opportunity
Afghanistan: Well worth the effort July 28, 2009
For most of us, putting a meal on the table involves a trip to the store to purchase food and some time in the kitchen to prepare it.
Niger: Multiplying their bounty July 28, 2009
Four years ago, a widespread food crisis in the West African nation of Niger threatened the lives of nearly 3.5 million people in more than 3,800 villages.
Tajikistan: What would you do for an interview? July 22, 2009
Amy promised me pancakes if I wrote a blog entry, and I’ve accepted her terms.
Afghanistan: Renewing a family’s dream of land June 30, 2009
Kosovo: More than run-of-the-mill progress June 29, 2009
The village of Milosheva is a pastoral community of 10,000 residents in the heart of central Kosovo's agricultural lands. It is a typical Kosovo village: still recovering from the conflict of 1999, with high unemployment and few income-earning opportunities for residents.
The multiplier effect of wine June 22, 2009
I have to admit, one of my favorite field visits involved moderate intoxication, plates of sausage and gales of hearty laughter.
Tajikistan: It's lunchtime! June 22, 2009
Working out in the field is exhilarating for so many reasons. It’s a chance to see the program in action; to meet with locals and hear their stories; and to take in the stunning landscape that this country offers so effortlessly. Oh, and then there’s lunch.
Becoming Abla June 19, 2009
A man does what he must to provide for his family. But in the small West African nation of Togo, it goes much deeper than that: each man is assigned a name based on the things he does, and is constantly judged by it.
Kosovo: Creating opportunities for Kosovo's youth June 11, 2009
Kosovo is the youngest country in Europe, both in terms of its statehood and its demographics. Half of the country’s population is under the age of 25, and many of these young people depart for work abroad or are supported by relatives.
Indonesia: Dishing out healthy street food June 10, 2009
This photo was taken at a Mercy Corps-sponsored food cart in north Jakarta, Indonesia. The woman in the photo is the Vice Governor of Jakarta. She was in a neighboring community and heard about the Healthy Street Foods project and got so excited that she stopped by the opening event.
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March 4, 2013
Check out this Infographic from Center for American Progress. The facts are clear and concise. We can decrease gun violence. Join our call to Congress today - Sign for an Assault Weapons Ban here .
March 4, 2013
February 27, 2013
Today the Senate Judiciary Committee focused on assault weapons. The hearing was chaired by longtime gun advocate and author of the 1994 ban, Sen. Dianne Feinstein-CA and backed by President Obama’s administration. The committee discussed points about legislation to reinstate a new assault weapons ban.
Neil's sincerity is impossible to deny. All of us can empathize with such an unspeakable loss of the person we love. He speaks of his son's final days and the simple moments of life-- to change so quickly and darkly at just 6 years old. Neil opens by saying how difficult it is to testify, but he does so in hopes that the laws will change and no one will ever have to make such testimony again.
"I'm hear to speak up for my son, because many things have to happen."
"It breaks my heart that something like this could happen in this country, at an elementary school..."
"Jesse grew up with guns, just like I did. I started skeet when I was 8 years old. My dad was a vice president for years at local gun club. He started taking me shooting when I was 8...He taught me respect guns, just like I taught Jesse..."
"Some guns just don't have any place in the hands of civilians. The assault weapons we're talking about today, their sole purpose is to put a lot of lead out in a battlefield quickly. That's what they do. That's what they did at Sandy Hook Elementary. That wasn't a killing' it was a massacre. Those guns and those clips let Adam Lanza massacre those kids. And my son was one of them."
"I've always thought it wasn't a real good idea for people to be walking around the streets with military weapons, but I probably wouldn't have said anything...But right now isn't about politics."
"Let me tell you, when you're sitting at a firehouse and it's one in the morning and you're hoping against hope that your son is still hiding somewhere in that school, you want any change that makes it one bit more likely that you'll see you boy again. If keeping those unnecessary weapons off the street would have let one more of those children leave that school building."
"I asked a question a month ago, what purpose those (assault weapons) served in civilian's hands or on the street. I never got an answer- but they did blurt the second amendment. It wasn't about the second amendment- I uphold the second amendment- I want to see that upheld and regulated and it hasn't been."
February 25, 2013
In Salt Lake City this Saturday, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre blasted forth the same second amendment post apocalyptic rhetoric again. As a featured speaker at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo, LaPierre renewed attacks on universal background checks. Most misleadingly he preached that universal background checks would create a national gun registry which would ultimately confiscate American’s guns. Of course, this is completely illogical yet that hasn't seemed stop the CEO.
The video opens with a ‘Stand and Fight ’commercial—which could be easily confused as an ad for anarchy.
2:30—2nd amendment is “not a frivolous suggestion... the very heart of what this country was founded upon” Yes, excellent point, everything is pretty much exactly like it was when we had 13 colonies. After all, Queen Elizabeth could decide to reclaim the Americas at any moment.
4:05—Clearly, LaPierre believes Dianne Feinstein is an old cat lady sitting in dark cave biding her time till a horrific crisis takes place— then she will slap legislation on the table to take all ze firearms! Mwahahaha. #accurate
6:44—Powerful elites have security… like Obama’s daughters? I think we can all agree the American President’s daughters might need a security guard or two. Thanks.
6:53—“When the glass breaks in the middle of the night”—Yup, no idea.
7:33—LaPierre admits he is crazy.
8:04—LaPierre warns against “so called” background checks—not as reasonable as you think because: criminals do NOT follow laws. By this logic, why have any laws? Hooray anarchy again.
9:20—LaPierre brought footage! “One of the biggest gun haters on the planet” celebrating NY Senior senator Chuck Schumer’s strong stance on gun safety. Calling it the most honest moment in Schumer’s career.
10:17—Imagine your name on a massive government list. Let’s see Social Security, Voter registration, Drivers Liscenses, Taxes, petitions, hmmm… why am I not afraid?
Answer at 11:13, good old Wiki-leaks and China. Both care lots (and I mean lots) about how many guns Grandpa Joe and Aunt Ruth have.
13:50—President Obama has Mexican friends. These Mexican friends... he’s gonna give them lists of all America’s gun owners.
17:00—“The vast majority of American people are behind us”—Funny, because I’m pretty sure they’re not… Moreover, every credible poll since Sandy Hook has shown overwhelming support from Americans including NRA members to see stronger gun safety legislation.
17:15—LaPierre:“By 2014, we’re gonna be a lot stronger.” –Ok, now I’m afraid.
17:55—Weird pause. Pretty awkward.
18:48—LaPierre tells the crowd to stand up. Like literally stand up which magically secures LaPierre a standing-O—probably the best show of tact he’s had all night.
LaPierre’s fanatical 'fears' or 'claims' about gun safety legislation are not only misleading, they're false. No one, not even the most progressive Democrats, are speaking about overturning the Second Amendment. LaPierre's goals are purely to distract the American people from taking aim at the gun industry he protects. All we are talking about is legislation that promotes responsible gun ownership so our children and families are safe. Comprehensive universal background checks are an effective way to do that. An assaults weapons ban would dramatically do that—and if you haven’t already, please, sign here and join our call to congress.
February 20, 2013
The owner, Jay Laze claims 80% of his customers have walked in with a gun since his new discount began last week—including a customer carrying an AK-47—yup, that's a Russian assault weapon.
Laze says, “It’s been awesome.” In fact, he’s considering making the new business model permanent. Most incredible is that this crazy unsafe promotion is apparently legal. Because the state of Virginia has open carry laws—a person with a gun can go just about anywhere including a pizza joint, the bank, hospital, store, or a bar.
Most shockingly, Laze’s model isn’t the first. In Utah, a frozen yogurt shop “Farr’s Fresh” gives a $1 discount to customers who bring in concealed carry permits—it was this that inspired Laze’s move: “I though it was a great idea, and I was wondering why nobody here was doing it. It should be happening all around the country”
Thankfully, it is not happening all around the country. However, models such as this encourage the same irresponsible behavior that lawmakers and safety specialists discourage against. Despite this, Laze continues to promote this bizarre pitch, as he openly says he hires delivery men with gun permits.
It is truly mind-blowing that in this point in time, when most of the country is becoming more and more aware of how impotent are gun laws are—a restaurant promotes ‘packing heat for pizza’—with no satire. This is not an SNL skit, this is a real place in Virginia Beach and Jay Laze is a real business owner.
Join our effort to take down the Tea Party Congress, and replace them with a more open-minded, open to compromise, rational Congress. We want to see real and rational change for gun safety. After you join, head on over here and donate to help fund our initiatives to bring more progressives to Congress in 2014.
February 14, 2013
At the State of the Union, the President made an emotional appeal for improved gun safety -- an appeal echoed by the thousands of Americans whose families and communities are ripped apart by gun violence every year.
Americans like John Woods. John was a student at Virginia Tech when a shooter massacred 32 people, including John's girlfriend, Maxine. His message is heartbreaking and powerful -- and we're going to make sure it's heard in Washington.
Washington's lawmakers and power-brokers pay close attention to the Sunday news programs -- and they'll notice when we run our ad on Sunday's This Week. But we need to raise $25,000 by Friday to get our ad on the air for this Sunday's show.
This is going to be a tough fight. The gun lobby is already mobilized to crush even the most common-sense reforms, like universal background checks. They've had plenty of practice, and have the Hill connections and money to do it again.
But the tide is turning. The tragedies in Newtown, Aurora, and Blacksburg have moved millions of Americans to call for action. And this ad will cause more to step up and demand change. Because as the President said, the victims of gun violence deserve a vote.
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By Victoria Cepeda
A few months back we shared the trailer of a movie called A Better Life which depicts the struggle of a day laborer residing in the U.S. undocumented but working in the landscaping business and trying to provide his teenage son with a better future. We shared the trailer because it reminded us of the cruel reality thousands of day laborers, many of them undocumented, live everyday. Well A Better Life just got more attention thanks to last night’s best leading actor Oscar nomination for Mexican actor Demián Bichir who is competing for the prize against George Clooney and Brad Pitt among others. Bichir’s heart wrenching performance is testimony of the unending extent to which parents would go in order to grant their children the opportunities they lacked.
Earlier today, in an e-mail that I received from Pablo Alvarado on behalf of the National Day Laborer Organization Network, he states that the ”movie transcends the scapegoating and shows a family struggling to make it, something we all can relate to.”
During an interview Bichir was asked about his take on illegal immigration. In his opinion ”homeland security means knowing our neighbors.”
A Better Life was directed by Chris Weitz (also director of the Twilight series) in an attempt to open up the dialogue and stop the hate. Although we doubt that this film will quiet down the anti-Latino/illegal immigration talk among politicians and some of their constituents, it at least portrays day laborers in a more positive light than usual. By talking about this topic, supporting the movie and bringing awareness we help fight the stereotypes. Pa’lante.
Join National Day Laborer Organization Network (NDLON) on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NDLON.
We support, sponsor, write and showcase current events in the Arts, history, politics as well as community service. Please feel free to email us at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Even if your final destination is the renowned Peninsula de Valdés, you cannot bypass the traditions and attractions that you will find in the city of Trelew.
This is the neuralgic center of the area. Most bus companies and airline flights stop here.
Trelew is located 50 km. south of Puerto Madryn, being the most populated city of the region and a great cultural center.
Its name comes from joining two Welsh words "Tre" (means town) and "Lew" (for Lewis); this is "The town of Lewis". This Celtic name is a tribute to Lewis Jones, one of the first Welsh settlers arriving at these lands.
The Celtic origin of the first Welsh immigrants left its mark in this picturesque town. The diversity of creeds of these settlers originated the construction of more than 30 chapels, many of which are still standing.
The regional museum, located at Fontana Ave. at its crossing with Lewis Jones Street, is a very good alternative to visit. It is possible to observe many objects related to the Welsh immigration days, documents and testimonies of these first settlers' relationship with the Tehuelches aborigines, original inhabitants of this part of Patagonia.
But there is something you definitely cannot miss; the Paleontological Museum. The richness of the materials being exhibited here is known worldwide since in many cases they are original pieces instead of copies. It features several rooms, chronologically ordered, each one featuring a distinct environment according to the characteristics of the time period during which the existence of the animals whose fossils are being shown took place. The tour starts at a replica of the Hands Cave, at River Pinturas, done in such a way that the visitor gets the feeling of actually inhabiting one of those caves and enables him to look at the surrounding landscape just like our prehistoric counterparts did.
The birds room is also amazing; reconstructions made out of fossils are exposed hanging from the ceiling, thus giving the impression of being flying over the visitors' heads. And there is of course a room devoted to sea fossils and a very interesting video about the origins of the universe and its evolution. All the visit can be self guided or escorted by expert, multilingual guides. Visiting this Museum is really a worthy activity to perform while in Trelew.
Another attraction in Trelew is the literary-musical festival, called Eisteddfodd, where the main figure is the bard, who recites in English language. This event takes place once a year in October and the creativity that encourages friends, relatives and strangers to participate is thrilling. Prizes are won by the best performers in diverse cultural areas.
The picturesque town of Gaiman is a few kilometers away; there you will be able to walk along its charming streets and meet the Welsh. And it will be quite difficult for you to avoid the temptation of tasting a complete Welsh tea, prepared according to unique standards and accompanied by delicious homemade pastries.
Trelew is a must in the coastal circuit of the Province of Chubut.
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Regardless, I think we all hold a place near and dear to our hearts for the cube. It is a timeless symbol of geekiness! Let us not forget it!
In this instructable, I will teach you how to pay tribute to this awesome cube. It's simple to do and anyone can achieve the awesomeness that is the final project. Wow your friends and read on!
Step 1: Bake the cake
You will need:
-Recipe or cake mix of your choosing X2
-9x9 square inch cake pans. (You can either have three or you can bake the cake in shifts)
-Your choice of frosting
-Your choice of filling
-LOTS of food coloring in red, green, yellow, and blue. -This will be for the squares
-Either black food coloring or dark chocolate ganache.- Depends on your taste. This will cover the cube. Black food coloring tends to dye mouths purple and a ganache can be shinier. However, you might achieve more of a black by using food coloring. More on this later.
-Fondant- I highly recommend making your own marshmallow fondant. It's simply, delicious, and looks very professional
So, get started baking your cake. You will want to prepare double your recipe for this cake. I like to use box mixes because they are no fuss and turn out delicious. I do, however, think it makes a world of a difference to prepare your own frosting. Poor your batter into designated square pans. If you have to rotate one pan to bake all three, it won't hurt, but it will take longer. ;) Bake until the cakes lightly bounce back when you touch them or just before.
FYI- Cakes actually continue baking in their pans even when you pull them out of the oven. To get a really moist cake, pull the cake out just before it looks done and it should cook to perfection. In my opinion, nothing beats a moist cake. Another thing I suggest to maintain moistness is to put some cling wrap over the cake when it cools a bit. It will collect the condensation and keep your cake very moist! I usually only do this for cakes that have a tendency to dry out more such as chocolate, but do what you like!
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Haulover Canal Bridge Closure
The Haulover Canal Bridge will be closed for construction beginning May 6, 2013. The bridge will be closed to all traffic for about 7 weeks. Access to the facilities on the north and south sides of the bridge will be open and unaffected.
CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE NEWS RELEASES - 2013
Did You Know?
Canaveral National Seashore is an important nesting area for several species of threatened and endangered sea turtles. As many as 4,500 nests have been recorded each summer along the 24-miles of protected beach.
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Integrated graphics performance
Now that we've beaten the CPU performance horse to death and well beyond, let's take a look at integrated graphics performance. Before we start, I should mention a few considerations.
First, you'll notice below that we've added the Core i3-2105 to the mix. We didn't include it explicitly in the CPU performance tests because its CPU specs and performance are identical to the Core i3-2100's. However, the 2105 has better integrated graphics and is probably the closest match, price-wise, to the A8-3850.
Next, we've added a few more configurations. We've tested both the Core i3-2100 and the A8-3850 with a relatively low-priced discrete graphics card, the Radeon HD 6670. We used the 1GB GDDR5 version of the 6670, which currently sells for $99.99. Having this card in the mix allows us to see how a relatively inexpensive discrete GPU compares to the IGP solutions. The 6670 is capable of running in a Dual Graphics team with the A8's integrated Radeon, so we've included that, as well. We also benchmarked the A8-3850's IGP while using 1600MHz memory (rather than the 1333MHz speed we used everywhere else.) This config will give us taste of how faster RAM speeds affect IGP performance.
Finally, although we are comparing the performance of the Llano and Sandy Bridge IGPs head to head, there are in fact major differences in texture filtering and image quality between them. The Intel IGP isn't doing as much work and is producing a much lower quality result. For more on this issue, see this page of our mobile Llano review.
Bad Company 2
Yes, we used a relatively high resolution of 1680x1050 for much of our IGP testing. That's in part because we had some trouble finding a common resolution exposed in the different video drivers we were using. We'd probably have tested at 1440x900, had it been consistently available.
Regardless, the A8's IGP cranks out acceptable frame rates, with a low of 25 FPS. Our seat-of-the-pants evaluation during testing was quite positive. Obviously, the Intel IGPs can't keep up; the HD 3000's frame rates are roughly half the A8's and are nowhere near playable.
Bumping the memory clock up to 1600MHz doesn't do wonders for the Llano IGP, nor does it make that IGP much more competitive with the discrete Radeon HD 6670, which is unquestionably superior. That big gap between the Radeon HD 6550D IGP and the Radeon HD 6670 discrete GPU probably helps explain why there's not much performance gain when Dual Graphics is enabled. Most likely, the two GPUs aren't splitting work evenly; instead, the 6670 probably renders two frames for every one rendered by the IGP. That means performance won't scale as well as it would in a true 1:1 teaming config.
Dual Graphics doesn't make an appearance here because, unlike regular CrossFire setups, it's not compatible with DirectX 9 games like this one. At these settings, the A8's IGP can't really deliver acceptable performance, and the Intel IGPs are hopeless.
|Gigabyte offers early peek at Z87 motherboards||20|
|The PC graphics market was kind to Nvidia last quarter||3|
|Deals of the week: IPS displays, graphics cards, storage, and games||15|
|Which game is the new champ of PC visuals?||119|
|Intel-powered Lenovo Yoga 11S lands at $799.99||22|
|Coffee Talk with Timmy Cook||22|
|Pre-orders begin for Nvidia's Shield||39|
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ECCLESIA IN EUROPA
ECCLESIA IN EUROPA
OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE JOHN PAUL II
TO THE BISHOPS
MEN AND WOMEN
IN THE CONSECRATED LIFE
AND ALL THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON JESUS CHRIST
ALIVE IN HIS CHURCH
THE SOURCE OF HOPE FOR EUROPE
A proclamation of joy for Europe
1. The Church in Europe was closely united to her Bishops as they gathered in Synod a second time and contemplated Jesus Christ, alive in his Church, the source of hope for Europe.
This is a theme which I too wish to proclaim to all the Christians of Europe at the beginning of this third millennium, as I join my Brother Bishops in repeating the words of the First Letter of Saint Peter: “Have no fear, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you” (3:14-15).(1)
This proclamation resounded throughout the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. The Synod was celebrated on the eve of the Jubilee and was closely connected with that event, serving as a kind of door opening upon the Jubilee.(2) The Jubilee itself was “one unceasing hymn of praise to the Trinity”, an authentic “journey of reconciliation” and a “sign of true hope for all who look to Christ and to his Church”.(3) Bequeathing to us the joy of a living encounter with Christ, “the same yesterday, today and for ever” (Heb 13:8), it once again set before us the Lord Jesus as the one unshaken foundation of authentic hope.
A second Synod for Europe
2. From the outset, a deeper appreciation of the theme of hope was the principal goal of the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops. As the last of a series of continental Synods celebrated in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000,(4) its purpose was to analyze the situation of the Church in Europe and to offer guidance in promoting a new proclamation of the Gospel, as I emphasized when I announced its convocation on 23 June 1996, at the conclusion of the Eucharist celebrated at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.(5)
The synodal Assembly had to take up, re-examine and study the issues which surfaced in the preceding Synod for Europe, which was held in 1991, following the collapse of the walls, on the theme: “That we may be witnesses of Christ who has set us free”. That first Special Assembly emphasized the urgent need for a “new evangelization”, in the awareness that “Europe today must not simply appeal to its former Christian heritage: it needs to be able to decide about its future in conformity with the person and message of Jesus Christ”.(6)
Nine years later, the conviction that “the Church has the urgent task of bringing the liberating message of the Gospel to the men and women of Europe” (7) once more emerged with compelling force. The theme chosen for the new synodal Assembly set forth that same challenge, this time from the standpoint of hope. There was a need, in other words, to proclaim this message of hope to a Europe which seems to have lost sight of it.(8)
The experience of the Synod
3. The synodal Assembly, which met from 1 to 23 October 1999, was a precious opportunity for encounter, listening and dialogue: it enabled Bishops from different parts of Europe to have a better knowledge of one another and of the Successor of Peter. As a group we were able to support and inspire one another, thanks above all to the witness of those who under the former totalitarian regimes endured harsh and prolonged persecutions on account of their faith.(9) Once again we experienced moments of communion in faith and charity, led by a desire to bring about a fraternal “exchange of gifts” and mutually enriched by the diversity of each other's experiences.(10)
This led in turn to a readiness to hear the call which the Spirit makes to the Particular Churches in Europe to face new challenges with decision.(11) With a loving gaze the participants in the Synod did not hesitate to look at the present reality of the Continent, noting both its light and its shadows. There was a clear recognition that the current situation is marked by grave uncertainties at the levels of culture, anthropology, ethics and spirituality. There was also a clear and growing desire to understand more deeply and to interpret this situation in order to see the tasks which await the Church: what resulted were “useful orientations to make the face of Christ increasingly more visible through a more incisive proclamation confirmed by a consistent witness”.(12)
4. The Synod experience, lived with evangelical discernment, also led to a growing awareness of the unity that, without denying the differences derived from historical situations and events, links the various parts of Europe. It is a unity which, rooted in a common Christian inspiration, is capable of reconciling diverse cultural traditions and which demands, at the level of both society and Church, a constant growth in mutual knowledge open to an increased sharing of individual values.
Throughout the Synod, a powerful impulse towards hope gradually became evident. While taking seriously the analyses of the complexity characterizing the Continent, the Synod Fathers saw that possibly the most urgent matter Europe faces, in both East and West, is a growing need for hope, a hope which will enable us to give meaning to life and history and to continue on our way together. All the reflections of the Synod were geared towards responding to this need, taking as their starting-point the mystery of Christ and the Trinity. The Synod wished to set forth once more the figure of Jesus, alive in his Church, who reveals God as Love, a communion of the three divine Persons.
The icon of the Book of Revelation
5. In this Post-Synodal Exhortation I am pleased to be able to share with the Church in Europe the fruits of this Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops. In this way I intend to respond to the desire expressed at the end of the synodal Assembly, when the Fathers gave me the texts of their reflections and asked me to offer to the pilgrim Church in Europe a document on the theme of the Synod.(13)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches” (Rev 2:7). In proclaiming to Europe the Gospel of hope, I will take as a guide the Book of Revelation, a “prophetic revelation” which discloses to the community of believers the deep and hidden meaning of what is taking place (cf. Rev 1:1). The Book of Revelation sets before us a word addressed to Christian communities, enabling them to interpret and experience their place in history, with all its questions and its tribulations, in the light of the definitive victory of the Lamb who was slain and who rose from the dead. At the same time, it sets before us a word which calls on us to live in a way which rejects the recurring temptation to construct the city of man apart from God or even in opposition to him. For should this ever happen, human society itself would sooner or later meet with irreversible failure.
The Book of Revelation contains a word of encouragement addressed to believers: beyond all appearances, and even if its effects are not yet seen, the victory of Christ has already taken place and is final. This in turn causes us to approach human situations and events with an attitude of fundamental trust, born of faith in the Risen One, present and at work in history.
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HOPE
“Fear not, I am the first and the last
and the living one” (Rev 1:17-18)
The Risen One is always with us
6. At a time of persecution, tribulation and bewilderment for the Church (cf. Rev 1:9), the message resounding throughout the vision of the writer of the Book of Revelation is a message of hope: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one, I died and behold I am alive for ever more, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Rev 1:17-18). We thus find ourselves before the Gospel, the “good news”, that is Jesus Christ himself. He is the First and the Last: in him all history finds its beginning, its meaning, its direction and its fulfilment. In him and with him, in his death and resurrection, everything has already been said. He is the Living One: once he was dead yet now he lives for ever. He is the Lamb standing before the throne of God (cf. Rev 5:6): sacrificed, because he shed his blood for us on the wood of the Cross. He is standing, because he has come back to unending life and has shown us the infinite power of the Father's love. He holds in his hands the seven stars (cf Rev 1:16), the persecuted Church of God, which struggles against evil and sin, yet nonetheless has every right to be joyful and victorious since she is in the hands of the One who has already triumphed over evil. He walks among the seven golden lampstands (cf. Rev 2:1), for he is present and active in his Church at prayer. He is also “the one who comes” (Rev 1:4), thanks to the Church's mission and the activity throughout human history; he will come as the eschatological reaper, at the end of time, in order to bring all things to completion (cf. Rev 14:15- 16; 22:20).
I. Challenges and signs of hope
for the Church in Europe
The dimming of hope
7. This message is also addressed today to the Churches in Europe, often tempted by a dimming of hope. The age we are living in, with its own particular challenges, can seem to be a time of bewilderment. Many men and women seem disoriented, uncertain, without hope, and not a few Christians share these feelings. There are many troubling signs which at the beginning of the third millennium are clouding the horizon of the European continent, which “despite great signs of faith and witness and an atmosphere undoubtedly more free and unified, feels all the weariness which historical events – recent and past – have brought about deep within the hearts of its peoples, often causing disappointment”.(14)
Among the aspects of this situation, so many of which were frequently mentioned during the Synod,(15) I would like to mention in a particular way the loss of Europe's Christian memory and heritage, accompanied by a kind of practical agnosticism and religious indifference whereby many Europeans give the impression of living without spiritual roots and somewhat like heirs who have squandered a patrimony entrusted to them by history. It is no real surprise, then, that there are efforts to create a vision of Europe which ignore its religious heritage, and in particular, its profound Christian soul, asserting the rights of the peoples who make up Europe without grafting those rights on to the trunk which is enlivened by the sap of Christianity.
Certainly Europe is not lacking in prestigious symbols of the Christian presence, yet with the slow and steady advance of secularism, these symbols risk becoming a mere vestige of the past. Many people are no longer able to integrate the Gospel message into their daily experience; living one's faith in Jesus becomes increasingly difficult in a social and cultural setting in which that faith is constantly challenged and threatened. In many social settings it is easier to be identified as an agnostic than a believer. The impression is given that unbelief is self-explanatory, whereas belief needs a sort of social legitimization which is neither obvious nor taken for granted.
8. This loss of Christian memory is accompanied by a kind of fear of the future. Tomorrow is often presented as something bleak and uncertain. The future is viewed more with dread than with desire. Among the troubling indications of this are the inner emptiness that grips many people and the loss of meaning in life. The signs and fruits of this existential anguish include, in particular, the diminishing number of births, the decline in the number of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and the difficulty, if not the outright refusal, to make lifelong commitments, including marriage.
We find ourselves before a widespread existential fragmentation. A feeling of loneliness is prevalent; divisions and conflicts are on the rise. Among other symptoms of this state of affairs, Europe is presently witnessing the grave phenomenon of family crises and the weakening of the very concept of the family, the continuation or resurfacing of ethnic conflicts, the re-emergence of racism, interreligious tensions, a selfishness that closes individuals and groups in upon themselves, a growing overall lack of concern for ethics and an obsessive concern for personal interests and privileges. To many observers the current process of globalization, rather than leading towards the greater unity of the human race, risks being dominated by an approach that would marginalize the less powerful and increase the number of poor in the world.
In connection with the spread of individualism, we see an increased weakening of interpersonal solidarity: while charitable institutions continue to carry out praiseworthy work, one notes a decline in the sense of solidarity, with the result that many people, while not lacking material necessities, feel increasingly alone, left to themselves without structures of affection and support.
9. At the root of this loss of hope is an attempt to promote a vision of man apart from God and apart from Christ. This sort of thinking has led to man being considered as “the absolute centre of reality, a view which makes him occupy – falsely – the place of God and which forgets that it is not man who creates God, but rather God who creates man. Forgetfulness of God led to the abandonment of man”. It is therefore “no wonder that in this context a vast field has opened for the unrestrained development of nihilism in philosophy, of relativism in values and morality, and of pragmatism – and even a cynical hedonism – in daily life”.(16) European culture gives the impression of “silent apostasy” on the part of people who have all that they need and who live as if God does not exist.
This is the context for those attempts, including the most recent ones, to present European culture with no reference to the contribution of the Christian religion which marked its historical development and its universal diffusion. We are witnessing the emergence of a new culture, largely influenced by the mass media, whose content and character are often in conflict with the Gospel and the dignity of the human person. This culture is also marked by an widespread and growing religious agnosticism, connected to a more profound moral and legal relativism rooted in confusion regarding the truth about man as the basis of the inalienable rights of all human beings. At times the signs of a weakening of hope are evident in disturbing forms of what might be called a “culture of death”.(17)
An irrepressible yearning for hope
10. Yet, as the Synod Fathers made clear, “man cannot live without hope: life would become meaningless and unbearable”.(18) Often those in need of hope believe that they can find peace in fleeting and insubstantial things. In this way, hope, restricted to this world and closed to transcendence, is identified, for example, with the paradise promised by science or technology, with various forms of messianism, with a hedonistic natural felicity brought about by consumerism, or with the imaginary and artificial euphoria produced by drugs, with certain forms of millenarianism, with the attraction of oriental philosophies, with the quest for forms of esoteric spirituality and with the different currents of the New Age movement.(19)
All these, however, show themselves profoundly illusory and incapable of satisfying that yearning for happiness which the human heart continues to harbour. The disturbing signs of growing hopelessness thus continue and intensify, occasionally manifesting themselves also in forms of aggression and violence.(20)
Signs of hope
11. No human being can live without looking towards the future. How much more so the Church, which lives in expectation of the Kingdom yet to come and already present in this world. It would be unjust not to acknowledge the signs of the influence of Christ's Gospel in the life of societies. The Synod Fathers sought them out and emphasized them.
These signs must include the recovery of freedom of the Church in Eastern Europe, with its new possibilities for pastoral activity; the concentration of the Church on her spiritual mission and her primary commitment to evangelization, also with regard for social and political realities; the growing missionary awareness on the part of all the baptized in the variety and complementarity of their gifts and their tasks, and the increased presence of women in the life and structures of the Christian community.
A community of peoples
12. If we look at Europe as a civil community, signs of hope are not lacking: when we consider these signs with the eyes of faith, we can perceive, even amid the contradictions of history, the presence of the Spirit of God, who renews the face of the earth. At the conclusion of their labours, the Synod Fathers described these signs in the following way: “We joyfully recognize the growing openness of peoples to one another, the reconciliation between countries which have been hostile and at enmity with each other for a long time, the progressive opening up to the countries of Eastern Europe in the process of seeking deeper unity. Mutual recognition, forms of cooperation and exchanges of all sorts are being developed in such a way that little by little, a culture, indeed a European consciousness, is being created. This we hope will encourage, especially among the young, a sense of fraternity and the will to share. We note as a very positive factor that the whole of this process is developing according to democratic procedures, in a peaceful way and in the spirit of freedom which respects and fosters legitimate diversity, encouraging and sustaining the process leading to the growing unity of Europe. We welcome with satisfaction all that has been done to safeguard the conditions and ways to respect human rights. Finally, in the context of the legitimate economic and political unity in Europe, while acknowledging the signs of hope seen by the attention given to the rights and to the quality of life, we sincerely hope that, in creative fidelity to the humanist and Christian traditions of our continent, there will be a guarantee of the primacy of ethical and spiritual values”.(21)
Martyrs and witnesses to the faith
13. I intend, however, to draw particular attention to some of the signs which have emerged in the life of the Church herself. In the first place, together with the Synod Fathers, I want to point out to everyone, so that it will never be forgotten, that great sign of hope represented by the many witnesses to the Christian faith who lived in the last century, in both East and West. They found suitable ways to proclaim the Gospel amid situations of hostility and persecution, often even making the supreme sacrifice by shedding their blood.
These witnesses, and particularly those who suffered martyrdom, are an eloquent and magnificent sign which we are called to contemplate and to imitate. They show us the vitality of the Church; they stand before us as a light for the Church and for humanity because they caused the light of Christ to shine in the darkness; to the extent that they came from different religious traditions, they also shine forth as a sign of hope for the journey of ecumenism, in the certainty that their blood “is also a vital source of unity for the Church”.(22)
Even more radically, they tell us that martyrdom is the supreme incarnation of the Gospel of hope: “In this way, martyrs proclaim 'the Gospel of hope' and bear witnesses to it with their lives to the point of shedding their blood, because they are certain that they cannot live without Christ and are ready to die for him in the conviction that Jesus is the Lord and the Saviour of humanity and that, therefore, only in him does mankind find true fullness of life. According to the exhortation of the Apostle Peter, their example shown them ready to give reason for the hope that is in them (cf. 1 Pt 3:15). Furthermore, martyrs celebrate the 'Gospel of hope', because the offering of their lives is the greatest manifestation of the living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which constitutes true spiritual worship (cf. Rom 12:1), and the source, soul and summit of every Christian celebration. Finally, martyrs serve the 'Gospel of hope', because they express in their martyrdom a love and service of humanity to a high degree insofar as they demonstrate that obedience to the law of the Gospel begets a moral and societal life which honours and promotes the dignity and freedom of every person”.(23)
The holiness of many
14. One fruit of the conversion brought about by the Gospel is the holiness of so many men and women in our time: not only those whom the Church has officially proclaimed saints, but all those who with simplicity and amid the circumstances of their daily lives testified to their fidelity to Christ. How can one not think of the countless sons and daughters of the Church who throughout Europe's history have lived lives of generous and authentic holiness in the hiddenness of their family and their professional and social lives? “All of them like 'living stones' adhering to Christ 'the cornerstone', have built Europe as a spiritual and moral edifice, leaving a most precious inheritance to the future generations. The Lord Jesus promised: 'He who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father” (Jn 14:12). The saints are living proof of the fulfilment of this promise, and they encourage the belief that this is possible in the most difficult hours of history”.(24)
The parish and ecclesial movements
15. The Gospel continues to bear fruit in parish communities, among consecrated persons, in lay associations, in groups devoted to prayer and the apostolate and in various youth communities, as well as through the presence and growth of new movements and ecclesial realities. In each of them the one Spirit finds ways of awakening renewed dedication to the Gospel, generous openness to the service of others, and a Christian life marked by Gospel radicalism and missionary zeal.
In today's Europe too, both in the post- Communist countries and in the West, the parish, while in need of constant renewal,(25) continues to maintain and to carry out its particular mission, which is indispensable and of great relevance for pastoral care and the life of the Church. The parish is still a setting where the faithful are offered opportunities for genuine Christian living and a place for authentic human interaction and socialization, whether in the situations of dispersion and anonymity typical of large modern cities or in areas which are rural and sparsely populated.(26)
16. At the same time, together with the Synod Fathers, I express my great esteem for the presence and activity of the different apostolic associations and organizations, and for Catholic Action in particular. I also wish to note the significant contribution that, in fellowship with other ecclesial realities and never in isolation from them, they can offer to new movements and to new ecclesial communities. Such groups, in fact, “help Christians to live a more radically evangelical life. They are a cradle for different vocations, and they generate new forms of consecration. Above all, they promote the vocation of the laity, and they help it to find expression in different spheres of life. They favour the holiness of the people. They are able to be both the messenger and the message for people who otherwise would not encounter the Church. Frequently they promote the journey of ecumenism and they open the ways to interreligious dialogue. They are an antidote to the spread of sects and an invaluable aid to the spread of joy and life in the Church”.(27)
The journey of ecumenism
17. We give thanks to the Lord for the great and consoling sign of hope which is the progress made in the journey of ecumenism under the standard of truth, charity and reconciliation. This is of the great gifts of the Holy Spirit for a continent like Europe which gave rise to tragic divisions between Christians during the second millennium and which still suffers from their consequences.
I am moved as I remember certain moments of great intensity experienced during the synodal labours and the unanimous conviction, also expressed by the Fraternal Delegates, that this journey – despite the problems which remain and the new ones which are emerging – cannot be halted, but rather must continue with renewed enthusiasm, with deeper determination and with a humble openness to mutual forgiveness on the part of all. I readily agree with some of the observations made by the Synod Fathers, since “the progress in ecumenical dialogue, which has its deepest source in the same Word of God, represents a sign of great hope for the Church of today: the growth of unity among Christians is, in fact mutually enriching for all”.(28) We need to “look with joy at the progress that has so far been made in the dialogue both with our brethren of the Orthodox Churches and with those of the Ecclesial Communities born of the Reformation, recognizing in them a sign of the working of the Spirit, for which we must praise and thank the Lord”.(29)
II. Returning to Christ,
the source of all hope
Confessing our faith
18. From the synodal Assembly there emerged the clear and passionate certainty that the Church has to offer Europe the most precious of all gifts, a gift which no one else can give: faith in Jesus Christ, the source of the hope that does not disappoint;(30) a gift which is at the origin of the spiritual and cultural unity of the European peoples and which both today and tomorrow can make an essential contribution to their development and integration. After twenty centuries, the Church stands at the beginning of the third millennium with a message which is ever the same, a message which constitutes her sole treasure: Jesus Christ is Lord; in him, and in no one else, do we find salvation (cf. Acts 4:12). Christ is the source of hope for Europe and for the whole world, “and the Church is the channel in which the grace pouring from the pierced Heart of the Saviour flows and spreads”.(31)
This confession of faith causes our hearts and lips to raise “a joyful confession of hope: 'Risen and living Lord, you are the new hope of the Church and of humanity. You are the one true hope for the human family and for history. Already in this life, and in the life to come you are “among us the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). In you and with you, we find truth: our life has meaning, communion is possible, diversity can become richness, and the power of the kingdom is at work in history and helps to build the city of mankind. Love gives an eternal value to human efforts. Suffering becomes salvific, life will conquer death, creation will share in the glory of the children of God' ”.(32)
Jesus Christ our hope
19. Jesus Christ is our hope because he, the Eternal Word of God, who is always with the Father (cf. Jn 1:18), loved us so much that he assumed our human nature in all things but sin and shared in our life, for the sake of our salvation. The profession of this truth stands at the very heart of our faith. The loss of the truth about Jesus Christ, or a failure to comprehend that truth, prevent us from appreciating and entering into the mystery of God's love and the Trinitarian communion.(33)
Jesus Christ is our hope because he reveals the mystery of the Trinity. This is the core of the Christian faith, and it can still make a significant contribution, as it has in the past, to the creation of structures which, inspired by the great values of the Gospel or measuring itself against them, are capable of promoting the life, history and culture of the different peoples of the Continent.
Many are the spiritual roots underlying the recognition of the value of the human person and his inalienable dignity, the sacredness of human life and the centrality of the family, the importance of education and freedom of thought, speech and religion, the legal protection of individuals and groups, the promotion of solidarity and the common good, and the recognition of the dignity of labour. These roots have helped lead to the submission of political power to the rule of law and to respect for the rights of individuals and peoples. Here we should mention the spirit of ancient Greece and Rome, the contributions of the Celtic, Germanic, Slav and Finno-Ugric peoples and the influence of Jewish and Islamic culture. Yet it must be acknowledged that these inspiring principles have historically found in the Judeo-Christian tradition a force capable of harmonizing, consolidating and promoting them. This is a fact which cannot be ignored; on the contrary, in the process of building a united Europe there is a need to acknowledge that this edifice must also be founded on values that are are most fully manifested in the Christian tradition. Such an acknowledgment is to everyone's advantage.
The Church “is not entitled to express preferences for this or that institutional or constitutional solution” for Europe, and for this reason she consistently desires to respect the legitimate autonomy of the civil order.(34) Nevertheless, she has the task of reviving faith in the Trinity among the Christians of Europe, knowing full well that this faith is the herald of authentic hope for the continent. Many of the great paradigms of reference mentioned above, which are at the core of European civilization, have their deepest roots in the Church's trinitarian faith. This faith contains an extraordinary spiritual, cultural and ethical potential which is also capable of shedding light on some of the more important questions discussed in Europe today, such as social disintegration and the loss of a meaningful point of reference for life and history. Hence the need for a renewed theological, spiritual and pastoral meditation on the mystery of the Trinity.(35)
20. The Particular Churches in Europe are not simple agencies or private organizations. Rather, they carry out their work with a specific institutional dimension that merits legal recognition, in full respect for just systems of civil legislation. In their self-reflection, Christian communities need to appreciate anew that they are a gift which God has given for the enrichment of the peoples living on the continent. This is the joyful message that they are called to bring to every person. In coming to a deeper appreciation of their own essential missionary dimension, they must constantly testify that Jesus Christ “is the one and only mediator of salvation for all of humanity. Only in him do humanity, history and the cosmos find their definitively positive meaning and receive their full realization: he has in himself in his life and in his person the definitive reason of salvation. He is not only the mediator of salvation but salvation's very source”.(36)
Consequently, in the context of the ethical and religious pluralism which increasingly characterizes Europe, there is a need to profess and proclaim the truth of Christ as the one Mediator between God and men and the one Saviour of the world. Therefore, in union with the whole Church, I invite my brothers and my sisters in faith – as I did at the end of the synodal Assembly – constantly to be open in trust to Christ and to allow themselves to be renewed by him, proclaiming to all people of good will in the power of peace and love that whoever encounters the Lord comes to know the Truth, discovers the Life, and finds the Way leading to it (cf. Jn 14:6; Ps 15:11). From the tenor of life and the witness of Christians, the inhabitants of Europe will come to discover that Christ is the future of man. In the faith of the Church, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).(37)
21. For believers, Jesus Christ is the hope of every person because he grants eternal life. He is “the Word of life” (1 Jn 1:1), who came to the world so that men and women “may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He shows us that the true meaning of man's existence does not remain confined within the horizons of this world, but opens instead upon eternity. The mission of each Particular Church in Europe is to take note of every person's thirst for truth and the need for authentic values which can enliven the people living on the continent. With renewed energy, each Particular Church must again bear witness to the newness which is its life. This means initiating a well-structured cultural and missionary outreach, demonstrating by action and by convincing arguments how the new Europe needs to rediscover its ultimate roots. In this context, all those who are inspired by the values of the Gospel have an essential role to play, which is part of the solid foundation for building a more humane and peaceful coexistence respectful of one and all.
The Particular Churches in Europe need to restore to hope its primordially eschatological thrust.(38) True Christian hope, in fact, is theological and eschatological, founded on the Risen One who will come again as Redeemer and Judge and who calls us to resurrection and our eternal reward.
Jesus Christ alive in his Church
22. By returning to Christ, the peoples of Europe will be able to rediscover the hope which alone can give full meaning to life. Today too they can discover that hope, for Jesus is present, alive and at work in his Church. He is in the Church and the Church is in him (cf. Jn 15:1ff.; Gal 3:28; Eph 4:15-16; Acts 9:5). In the Church, by virtue of the gift of the Holy Spirit, he unceasingly continues his saving work.(39)
With the eyes of faith we are enabled to see the mysterious presence of Jesus in the different signs that he has left us. He is present first of all in Sacred Scripture, which everywhere speaks of him (cf. Lk 24:27, 44-47). Yet in a unique way he is present in the Eucharist. This “presence is called 'real' - by which it is not intended to exclude all other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, the God-Man, is wholly and entirely present”.(40) In the Eucharist, in fact, “is contained truly, really and substantially the Body and the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, together with his soul and divinity, and therefore the whole Christ”.(41) “Truly the Eucharist is a mysterium fidei, a mystery which surpasses our understanding and can only be received in faith”.(42) Also real is the presence of Jesus in the other liturgical actions of the Church, which she celebrates in his name. Among these are the Sacraments, actions of Christ which he carries out at the hands of men.(43)
Jesus is also present in the world in other very real ways, and especially through his disciples who, in fidelity to the twin commandment of love, worship God in Spirit and truth (cf. Jn 4:24) and testify by their lives to the fraternal love that sets them apart as followers of the Lord (cf. Mt 25:31-46; Jn 13:35; 15:1-17).(44)
THE GOSPEL OF HOPE
ENTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH
OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM
“Awake, and strengthen what remains
and is on the point of death” (Rev 3:2)
I. The Lord calls to conversion
Jesus speaks today to our Churches
23. “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the golden lampstands..., the first and the last, who died and came to life..., the Son of God” (Rev 2:1,8,18). It is Jesus himself who speaks to his Church. His message is addressed to all the individual Particular Churches and concerns their inner life, which is at times marked by the presence of ideas and ways of thinking incompatible with the Gospel tradition, frequently subjected to different forms of persecution and, what is yet more dangerous, beset by troubling symptoms of worldliness, the loss of an earlier faith, and compromise with the “logic” of the world. Not infrequently communities have lost their first love (cf. Rev 2:4).
One sees how our ecclesial communities are struggling with weaknesses, weariness and divisions. They too need to hear anew the voice of the Bridegroom, who invites them to conversion, spurs them on to bold new undertakings and calls forth their commitment to the great task of the “new evangelization”. The Church must constantly submit to the judgment of Christ's word and live her human reality in a state of purification, so as to be ever more perfectly the Bride without spot or wrinkle, adorned with fine linen, bright and pure (cf. Eph 5:27; Rev 19:7-8).
In this way Jesus Christ is calling our Churches in Europe to conversion, and they, with their Lord and by the power of his presence, are becoming bearers of hope for humanity.
The work of the Gospel throughout history
24. Europe has been widely and profoundly permeated by Christianity. “There can be no doubt that, in Europe's complex history, Christianity has been a central and defining element, established on the firm foundation of the classical heritage and the multiple contributions of the various ethnic and cultural steams which have succeeded one another down the centuries. The Christian faith has shaped the culture of the Continent and is inextricably bound up with its history, to the extent that Europe's history would be incomprehensible without reference to the events which marked first the great period of evangelization and then the long centuries when Christianity, despite the painful division between East and West, came to be the religion of the European peoples. Even in modern and contemporary times, when religious unity progressively disintegrated as a result both of further divisions between Christians and the gradual detachment of cultures from the horizon of faith, the role played by faith has continued to be significant”.(45)
25. The Church's concern for Europe is born of her very nature and mission. Down the centuries the Church has been closely linked to our continent, so that Europe's spiritual face gradually took shape thanks to the efforts of great missionaries, the witness of saints and martyrs, and the tireless efforts of monks and nuns, men and women religious and pastors. From the biblical conception of man Europe drew the best of its humanistic culture, found inspiration for its artistic and intellectual creations, created systems of law and, not least, advanced the dignity of the person as a subject of inalienable rights.(46) The Church, as the bearer of the Gospel, thus helped to spread and consolidate those values which have made European culture universal.
With all this in mind, the Church of today, with a renewed sense of responsibility, is conscious of the urgency of not squandering this precious patrimony and of helping Europe to build herself by revitalizing her original Christian roots.(47)
Showing the true face of Church
26. The entire Church in Europe ought to feel that the Lord's command and call is addressed to her: examine yourself, be converted, “awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death” (Rev 3:2). The need to do so is also born of a consideration of the present time: “The serious situation of indifference towards religion on the part of so many Europeans, the presence of many people even on our continent who do not yet know Jesus Christ and his Church and who are not baptized, the secularism which poisons a wide spectrum of Christians who habitually think, make decisions and live, 'as if Christ did not exist', far from extinguishing our hope, make this hope more humble and more able to trust in God alone. It is from his mercy that we receive the grace and call to conversion”.(48)
27. Although at times, as in the Gospel episode of the calming of the tempest (cf. Mk 4:35-41; Lk 8:22-25), it can appear that Christ is asleep and leaves his barque to be tossed by the tumultuous waves, the Church in Europe is called to grow in the certainty that the Lord, through the gift of his Spirit, is ever present and at work in her midst and in all human history. He prolongs his mission throughout time and makes the Church a stream of new life coursing through the life of humanity as a sign of hope for all.
In a context where a temptation to activism is also attractive at the pastoral level, Christians in Europe must continue to be a transparent image of the Risen Christ, living in close communion with him.
There is a need for communities which, by contemplating and imitating the Virgin Mary, the figure and model of the Church in faith and holiness,(49) cultivate the sense of liturgical life and of interior life. Before all and above all, they should praise the Lord, worship him and hear his Word. Only in this way will they be able to partake of his mystery and live totally in relation to him as members of his faithful Bride.
28. In the face of recurring impulses to division and opposition, the different Particular Churches in Europe, strengthened also by their bond with the Successor of Peter, must be committed to being a true locus and means of communion for the whole People of God in faith and love.(50) They should therefore foster a climate of fraternal charity, lived with Gospel radicalism in the name of Jesus and in his love; they should create cordial relationships, communication, shared responsibility and participation, missionary consciousness, concern and readiness to serve. They should be prompted by attitudes of esteem, acceptance and mutual correction (cf. Rom 12:10; 15:7-14), as well as of service and reciprocal support (cf. Gal 5:13; 6:2), mutual forgiveness (cf. Col 3:13), and mutual edification (cf. 1 Thes 5:11). They need to set in place a pastoral programme which by maximizing all legitimate diversity would also foster ready cooperation among individuals and groups. They need to revitalize participatory bodies as valuable instruments of communion aimed at a united missionary activity, and enabling the emergence of adequately trained and qualified pastoral workers. In this way, the Churches themselves, enlivened by the communion which is the manifestation of God's love, the ground and reason for the hope which does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5), will be a more brilliant reflection of the Trinity, as well as a challenging sign which invites belief (cf. Jn 17:21).
29. If communion in the Church is to be experienced more fully, there is a need to make the most of the variety of charisms and vocations which increasingly converge on unity and can enrich it (cf. 1 Cor 12). In this regard, the new movements and the new ecclesial communities must “abandon every temptation to claim rights of primogeniture and every mutual incomprehension”, advance along the path of more authentic communion between themselves and with all other ecclesial realities, and “live with love in full obedience to the Bishops”. But it is also necessary for the Bishops “to show them that fatherhood and that love which are proper to Pastors” (51) and to acknowledge, maximize and coordinate their charisms and their presence for the building up of the one Church.
Thanks to an increase in cooperation between the different ecclesial bodies under the loving leadership of their pastors, the whole Church will be able to present to all a more beautiful and credible face, a clearer and more evident reflection of the Lord's own face, and will then be able to give new hope and comfort both to those who seek her and to those who, even though not seeking her, nonetheless need her.
In order to respond to the Gospel's call to conversion, “we must join in making a humble and courageous examination of conscience, in order to acknowledge our fears and our mistakes, sincerely confess our slowness to believe, our omissions, our infidelities and our faults”.(52) Far from fostering an attitude of hopelessness and discouragement, the evangelical acknowledgment of one's sins will surely awaken within the community the experience of each one of the baptized: the joy of profound liberation and the grace of a new beginning which will enable it to set out with greater vigour upon the path of evangelization.
Advancing towards Christian unity
30. Finally, the Gospel of hope is also a forceful summons to conversion in the field of ecumenism. In the conviction that Christian unity corresponds to the Lord's prayer “that they may all be one” (cf. Jn 17:11), and that it is essential today for greater credibility in evangelization and the growth of European unity, all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities need to “be assisted and encouraged to see the journey of ecumenism as a 'travelling together' towards Christ”(53) and towards the visible unity which he wills, so that unity in diversity may shine forth within the Church as a gift of the Holy Spirit, the builder of communion.
If this is to happen, there is need for patient and persevering commitment on the part of all, a commitment inspired both by genuine hope and sober realism, aimed at “the enhancing of all that already unites us, sincere reciprocal esteem, the elimination of prejudice, knowledge and mutual love”.(54) Consequently, the pursuit of unity, in order to have a firm basis, cannot fail to include the passionate search for truth through dialogue and discussion which can acknowledge the progress already made and consider it an incentive for even greater progress in resolving the disagreements which continue to divide Christians.
31. Dialogue must continue with firm resolve, undaunted by difficulties and hardship. It should be carried on “under different aspects (doctrinal, spiritual and practical), following the logic of the exchange of gifts which the Spirit awakens in every Church; it should train the community and the faithful, and young people in particular, to experience moments of encounter and to make ecumenism, rightly understood, an ordinary dimension of ecclesial life and activity”.(55)
Such dialogue represents one of the chief concerns of the Church, especially in this Europe, which in the last millennium witnessed the rise of all too many divisions between Christians and which is today moving towards greater unity. We may not halt on this journey nor may we turn back! We need to continue this journey in a spirit of trust, so that mutual respect, the search for truth, cooperation in charity and above all the ecumenism of holiness, will not fail, with God's help, to bear fruit.
32. Despite the inevitable difficulties, I ask everyone to acknowledge and appreciate, in love and fraternity, the contribution which the Eastern Catholic Churches can offer for a more genuine building up of unity (56) through their very presence, the richness of their tradition, the witness of their “unity in diversity”, the inculturation which they have accomplished in their proclamation of the Gospel, and the diversity of their rites. At the same time I wish to assure once more the pastors and our brothers and sisters of the Orthodox Churches that the new evangelization is in no way to be confused with proselytism, without prejudice to the duty of respect for truth, for freedom and for the dignity of every person.
II. The whole Church is sent on mission
33. Serving the Gospel of hope by means of a charity which evangelizes is the commitment and the responsibility of everyone. Whatever the charism and ministry of each individual, charity is the royal road prescribed for all and which all can travel: it is the road upon which the whole ecclesial community is called to journey in the footsteps of its Master.
The commitment of ordained ministers
34. In a special way priests are called by virtue of their ministry to celebrate, teach and serve the Gospel of hope. Through the Sacrament of Orders which configures them to Christ the Head and Shepherd, Bishops and priests must conform their whole life and all their activity to Jesus. By the preaching of the word, the celebration of the sacraments and their leadership of the Christian community, they make present the mystery of Christ, and in the exercise of their ministry “they are called to prolong the presence of Christ, the One High Priest, embodying his way of life and making him visible in the midst of the flock entrusted to their care”.(57)
As men who are “in” the world yet not “of” the world (cf. Jn 17:15-16), priests are called in Europe's present cultural and spiritual situation to be a sign of contradiction and of hope for a society suffering from “horizontalism” and in need of openness to the Transcendent.
35. In this context priestly celibacy also stands out as the sign of hope put totally in the Lord. Celibacy is not merely an ecclesiastical discipline imposed by authority; rather it is first and foremost a grace, a priceless gift of God for his Church, a prophetic value for the contemporary world, a source of intense spiritual life and pastoral fruitfulness, a witness to the eschatological Kingdom, a sign of God's love for this world, as well as a sign of the priest's undivided love for God and for his people.(58) Lived in response to God's gift and as a mastery of the temptations of a hedonistic society, it not only leads to the human fulfilment of those who are called to embrace it, but proves to be a source of growth for others as well.
Celibacy is esteemed in the whole Church as fitting for the priesthood,(59) obligatory in the Lat- in Church (60) and deeply respected by the Eastern Churches.(61) In the present cultural context, it stands out as an eloquent sign which needs to be cherished as a precious good for the Church. A revision of the present discipline in this regard would not help to resolve the crisis of vocations to the priesthood being felt in many parts of Europe.(62) A commitment to the service of the Gospel of hope also demands that the Church make every effort to propose celibacy in its full biblical, theological and spiritual richness.
36. We cannot fail to see that the exercise of the sacred ministry today is fraught with many difficulties on account of the prevailing culture and the lessened numbers of priests, together with the increase of pastoral responsibilities and the fatigue which this can involve. Consequently, all the more esteem, gratitude and support is due to those priests who carry out with praiseworthy dedication and fidelity the ministry which they have received.(63)
To these priests, making my own the words of the Synod Fathers, I also wish to offer, with confidence and gratitude, my own encouragement:
“Do not lose heart and do not allow yourselves to be overcome with weariness! In full communion with us Bishops, persevere in your invaluable and indispensable ministry in joyful fraternity with your brother priests, in generous collaboration with those in consecrated life and with all the lay faithful”.(64)
Together with priests I also wish to mention deacons, who share, albeit to a different degree, in the one Sacrament of Holy Orders. Sent forth in service to ecclesial communion, they exercise, under the leadership of the Bishop and his presbyterate, the “diakonia” of liturgy, word and charity.(65) In their own way, they are at the service of the Gospel of hope.
The witness of consecrated persons
37. Particularly eloquent is the witness of consecrated persons. In this regard, acknowledgment must first be made of the fundamental role played by monasticism and consecrated life in the evangelization of Europe and in the shaping of its Christian identity.(66) This role must continue to be played today, at a time when a “new evangelization” of the continent is urgently needed and, with the creation of more complex structures and relationships, it stands at a critical turning point. Europe will always need the holiness, prophetic witness, evangelizing activity and service of consecrated persons. Attention also needs to be paid to the specific contribution which Secular Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life can make thanks to their aspiration to transform the world from within through the power of the Beatitudes.
38. The specific contribution which consecrated persons can make to the Gospel of hope takes as its starting-point several characteristics of the present-day cultural and social face of Europe.(67) The demand for new forms of spirituality, now making itself felt throughout society, needs to find a response in the acknowledgment of God's absolute primacy which consecrated persons experience in their total gift of self and their permanent conversion in a life offered up as true spiritual worship. In an atmosphere poisoned by secularism and dominated by consumerism, consecrated life, as a gift of the Spirit to the Church and for the Church, becomes an ever greater sign of hope to the extent that it testifies to life's transcendent dimension. In today's multicultural and multireligious world, there is also a demand for the witness of that evangelical fraternity which characterizes the consecrated life and makes it a stimulus to purifying and integrating different values through the reconciliation of divisions. The presence of new forms of poverty and marginalization ought to call forth that creativity in the care of those most in need which has marked so many founders of Religious Institutes. Finally, the tendency to a certain self-absorption can find an antidote in the readiness of consecrated persons to continue the work of evangelization on other continents, despite the decrease of numbers in various Institutes.
Concern for vocations
39. Since the commitment of ordained ministers and consecrated persons is decisive, some mention must be made of the disturbing shortage of seminarians and aspirants to religious life, especially in Western Europe. This situation calls for everyone to be involved in an effective pastoral programme of promoting vocations. “Whenever the person of Jesus Christ is presented clearly to young people, he inspires in them a hope that motivates them to abandon everything in order to follow him in response to his call, and to bear witness to him among their peers”.(68) The pastoral care of vocations is thus a vital issue for the future of the Christian faith in Europe and, in turn, for the spiritual advancement of the very peoples who inhabit the continent. It is a challenge which must be met by a Church which wishes to proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of hope.(69)
40. To create a much-needed pastoral programme of promoting vocations, it is beneficial to explain to the laity the Church's faith regarding the nature and dignity of the ministerial priesthood; to encourage families to live as true “domestic churches”, so that in their midst the variety of vocations can be discerned, accepted and nurtured; and to engage in pastoral work aimed at helping young people in particular to choose a life rooted in Christ and completely dedicated to the Church.(70)
In the certainty that the Holy Spirit is still at work today, and that the signs of his presence are not lacking, it is mainly a question of making the promotion of vocations a part of ordinary pastoral care. There is a need “to rekindle a deep yearning for God, especially in young people, thus creating a suitable context in which generous vocational responses can be made”; it is urgent that a great movement of prayer spread across the ecclesial Communities of the European continent, since “changed historical and cultural situations demand that the pastoral care of vocations be perceived as one of the primary objectives of the entire Christian community”.(71) It is also indispensable for priests themselves to live and work in a way consistent with their true sacramental identity. For if the image they project is unclear or indifferent, how can they attract young people to imitate them?
The mission of the laity
41. The contribution of the lay faithful to the life of the Church is essential: they have an irreplaceable role in the proclamation and the service of the Gospel of hope, since “through them the Church of Christ is made present in the various sectors of the world, as a sign and source of hope and of love”.(72) As full sharers in the Church's mission in the world, they are called to testify that the Christian faith constitutes the only complete response to the questions which life sets before every individual and every society, and they are able to imbue the world with the values of the Kingdom of God, the promise and guarantee of a hope which does not disappoint.
Europe yesterday and today has experienced the presence of important and illustrious examples of such lay persons. As the Synod Fathers emphasized, grateful mention must be made especially of those men and women who have and who continue to bear witness to Christ and his Gospel by their service to public life and the responsibilities which this entails. It is supremely important “to prompt and sustain specific vocations to serve the common good: persons who after the example and manner of many so-called 'Fathers of Europe' can be builders of tomorrow's European society, establishing it a on a firm spiritual foundation”.(73)
Equal esteem is due to the work carried out by Christian lay persons, often in the hidden- ness of daily life, through humble acts of service capable of proclaiming God's mercy to the poor; we must be grateful to these men and women for their fearless witness of charity and forgiveness, values which bring the Gospel to the vast frontiers of politics, social life, the economy, culture, ecology, international life, family life, education, professional life, the world of labour and the caring professions.(74) This calls for programmes of training capable of preparing suitable lay persons to apply their faith in temporal affairs. These programmes, based on a serious introduction to the Church's life and particularly the study of her social doctrine, ought to be able to provide them not only with teaching and encouragement, but also with adequate grounding in spirituality in order to strengthen their commitment, lived as an authentic path to holiness.
The role of women
42. The Church is very much aware of the specific contribution of women in service of the Gospel of hope. The history of the Christian community demonstrates that women have always had an outstanding place in bearing witness to the Gospel. Mention must be made of how much they have done, often in silence and obscurity, to receive and pass on the gift of God through physical and spiritual motherhood, education, catechesis, the accomplishment of great charitable works, through the life of prayer and contemplation, and through mystical experiences and writings rich in the wisdom of the Gospel.(75)
In the light of their splendid and powerful witness in the past, the Church expresses her confidence in all that women are capable of doing today for the growth of hope at every level. There are aspects of contemporary European society which represent a challenge for women's capacity to receive, share and bring to birth in love, with determination and generosity. One thinks, for example, of the prevalent scientific and technical mind-set which eclipses the areas of affectivity and emotional life, the lack of generosity, the widespread fear of giving life to new children, the difficulty of relating with others and of accepting those who are different. It is in this context that the Church looks to women for the life-giving contribution of a new wave of hope.
43. For this to happen, however, the dignity of women must be promoted above all in the Church, inasmuch as woman and man enjoy equal dignity, for both have been created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:27) and each has been given proper and specific gifts.
It is to be hoped, as the Synod emphasized, that the full participation of women in the Church's life and mission will be fostered by making better use of their gifts and by entrusting them with ecclesial roles reserved by law to laypersons. There must also be a due appreciation of women's mission as wives and mothers and their dedication to family life.(76)
The Church has not failed to raise her voice in denunciation of injustice and the violence perpetrated against women wherever and however this occurs. She demands that laws protecting women be enforced, and that effective measures be taken against the demeaning portrayal of women in advertising and against the scourge of prostitution. She also expresses the hope that the domestic work done by mothers will be considered, like that of fathers, as a contribution to the common good, even through forms of financial retribution.
THE GOSPEL OF HOPE
“Go, take the scroll which is open ...
take it and eat” (Rev 10:8.9)
I. Proclaiming the mystery of Christ
Revelation gives meaning to history
44. The vision of the Book of Revelation tells us of “a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals” and held “in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne” (Rev 5:1). This writing contains the God's plan of creation and salvation, his detailed design for all things, for persons, things and events. No created being, on earth or in heaven, is able to “open the scroll or to look into it” (Rev 5:3) so as to understand its contents. In the confusion of human affairs, no one is able to declare the unfolding of the future and the ultimate meaning of things.
Only Jesus Christ gains possession of the sealed scroll (cf. Rev 5:6-7); only he is “worthy to take the scroll and open its seals” (Rev 5:9). Only Jesus is able to reveal and bring about the plan of God hidden therein. Left to himself, man is not capable of giving meaning to history and to human affairs: life remains without hope. Only the Son of God is able to dispel the shadows and to show the way.
The open scroll is given to John and, through him, to the whole Church. John is told to take the book and to eat it: “Go, take the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land ... take it and eat it” (Rev 10:8-9). Only when he has assimilated it deeply will he be able to communicate it properly to others, to whom he is sent with the order to “prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings” (Rev 10:11).
The urgent need for proclamation
45. The Gospel of hope, received and assimilated by the Church, calls for daily proclamation and witness. This is the proper vocation of the Church in every time and place. It is also the mission of the Church in Europe today. For “evangelizing is the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. The Church exists in order to evangelize, that is to say in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of his death and glorious Resurrection”.(77)
Church in Europe, the “new evangelization” is the task set before you! Rediscover the enthusiasm of proclamation. Hear today, addressed to you at the beginning of this third millennium, the plea heard at the beginning of the first millennium, when a man of Macedonia appeared in a vision to Paul and begged him: “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” (Acts 16:9). Even if it remains unexpressed or even repressed, this is the most profound and genuine plea rising from the hearts of Europeans today, who yearn for a hope which does not disappoint. This hope has been bestowed on you as a gift which must then be joyfully given away in every time and place. Let the proclamation of Jesus, which is the Gospel of hope, be your boast and your whole life. Carry on with renewed zeal in the same missionary spirit which, down these twenty centuries, beginning with the preaching of the Apostles Peter and Paul, has inspired so many holy men and women, the Saints who were authentic evangelizers of the European continent.
A first proclamation and a renewed proclamation
46. In various parts of Europe a first proclamation of the Gospel is needed: the number of the unbaptized is growing, both because of the significant presence of immigrants of other religions and because children born into families of Christian tradition have not received Baptism, either as a result of the Communist domination or the spread of religious indifference.(78) Indeed, Europe is now one of those traditionally Christian places which, in addition to a new evangelization, require in some cases a first evangelization.
The Church cannot shirk the responsibility of making a courageous diagnosis which will make it possible to decide on appropriate therapies. On the “old” continent too, there are vast social and cultural areas which stand in need of a true missio ad gentes.(79)
47. Everywhere, then, a renewed proclamation is needed even for those already baptized. Many Europeans today think they know what Christianity is, yet they do not really know it at all. Often they are lacking in knowledge of the most basic elements and notions of the faith. Many of the baptized live as if Christ did not exist: the gestures and signs of faith are repeated, especially in devotional practices, but they fail to correspond to a real acceptance of the content of the faith and fidelity to the person of Jesus. The great certainties of the faith are being undermined in many people by a vague religiosity lacking real commitment; various forms of agnosticism and practical atheism are spreading and serve to widen the division between faith and life; some people have been affected by the spirit of an immanentist humanism, which has weakened the faith and often, tragically, led to its complete abandonment; one encounters a sort of secularist interpretation of Christian faith which is corrosive and accompanied by a deep crisis of conscience and of Christian moral practice.(80) The great values which amply inspired European culture have been separated from the Gospel, thus losing their very soul and paving the way for any number of aberrations.
“When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8). Will he find faith in our countries, in this Europe of ancient Christian tradition? This is an open question which clearly reveals the depth and the drama of one of the most serious challenges which our Churches are called to face. It can be said as the Synod emphasized that this challenge frequently consists not so much in baptizing new converts as in enabling those already baptized to be converted to Christ and his Gospel: (81) in our communities we need to be seriously concerned about bringing the Gospel of hope to all those who are far from the faith or who have abandoned the practice of Christianity.
Fidelity to the one message
48. Proclaiming the Gospel of hope calls for steadfast fidelity to the Gospel itself. The Church's preaching, in all its forms, must be increasingly centred on the person of Jesus and increasingly converge on him. Vigilant care must be taken that Christ is presented in his fullness: not merely as an ethical model, but above all as the Son of God, the one, necessary Saviour of all, who lives and is at work in his Church. If our hope is to be true and unshakable, “an integral, clear and renewed preaching of the Risen Christ, the resurrection and eternal life” (82) must be a priority for pastoral activity in coming years.
Although the Gospel to be preached is the same in every time, this preaching can be carried out in different ways. All are called to “proclaim” Jesus and their faith in him in every situation; to “draw” others to the faith through models of personal, family, professional and community life which reflect the Gospel; “to radiate” joy, love and hope, so that many people, seeing our good works, will give glory to our Father in heaven (cf. Mt 5:16) and be won over; to become “a leaven” transforming and enlivening from within every expression of culture.(83)
By the witness of life
49. Europe calls out for credible evangelizers, whose lives, in communion with the Cross and Resurrection of Christ, radiate the beauty of the Gospel.(84) Such evangelizers must be properly trained.(85) Now more than ever a missionary consciousness is needed in all Christians, beginning with Bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, catechists and teachers of religion: “All the baptized, since they are witnesses of Christ, should receive a training appropriate to their circumstances, not only so that their faith does not wither for lack of care in a hostile environment such as the secularist world, but also so that their witness to the Gospel will receive strength and inspiration”.(86)
Our contemporaries “listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if they do listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”.(87) The presence and the signs of holiness are thus decisive: holiness is the essential prerequisite for an authentic evangelization capable of reviving hope. What is needed are forceful, personal and communal testimonies of new life in Christ. It is not enough that truth and grace are offered through the proclamation of the word and the celebration of the sacraments; they need to be accepted and experienced in every practical situation, in the way Christians and ecclesial communities lead their lives. This is one of the greatest challenges set before the Church in Europe at the beginning of the new millennium.
Training for an adult faith
50. “Europe's cultural and religious situation today calls for the presence of Catholics who are adult in their faith and for missionary Christian communities who testify to God's love before all mankind”.(88) The proclamation of the Gospel of hope thus implies a concern to foster the movement from a faith supported by social tradition, important as this is, to a more personal and adult faith, one marked by knowledge and conviction.
Christians are therefore “called to have a faith capable of critically confronting contemporary culture and resisting its enticements; of having an real effect on the world of culture, finance, society and politics; of demonstrating that the fellowship between Catholics and other Christians is more powerful than any ethnic bond; of joyfully passing on the faith to new generations; and of building a Christian culture ready to evangelize the larger culture in which we live”.(89)
51. Along with ensuring that the ministry of the word, the celebration of the liturgy and the exercise of charity are directed to building up and sustaining a mature and personal faith, Christian communities need to work at proposing a catechesis adapted to the varying spiritual journeys of the faithful at different ages and in different life situations, and to provide for suitable programmes for spiritual accompaniment and for the rediscovery of one's own Baptism.(90) Naturally a fundamental point of reference in this commitment will be the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Given its undeniable priority in pastoral activity, there is a particular need to cultivate and, if need be, reinstitute the ministry of catechesis as a means of education and faith development for each individual, so that the seed planted by the Holy Spirit and passed on by Baptism can grow and reach maturity. In constant reference to the word of God, preserved in sacred Scripture, proclaimed in the liturgy and interpreted by the Church's Tradition, an organic and systematic catechesis constitutes beyond the shadow of a doubt an essential and primary means of forming Christians in an adult faith.(91)
52. In this same context, the important task of theology must also be emphasized. There is an intrinsic and inseparable link between evangelization and theological reflection, since theology, as a science possessed of a proper status and methodology, draws its life from the Church's faith and stands at the service of her mission.(92) Theology is born of faith and is called to interpret faith, preserving its unbreakable link to the Christian community in all its different forms; as a service to the spiritual growth of all the faithful,(93) it introduces them to a deeper understanding of the message of Christ.
In carrying out her mission of proclaiming the Gospel of hope, the Church in Europe expresses esteem and gratitude for the vocation of theologians, she values them and supports their work.(94) With respect and affection I encourage theologians to persevere in the service which they render, to combine their scholarly research with prayer, to engage in attentive dialogue with contemporary culture, to adhere faithfully to the Magisterium and to cooperate with it in a spirit of communion in truth and charity, immersed in the sensus fidei of the People of God and helping to nurture it.
II. Bearing witness in unity and dialogue
Communion between the Particular Churches
53. The power of the proclamation of the Gospel of hope will be all the more effective if it is linked to the witness of a profound unity and communion in the Church. The individual Particular Churches cannot face alone the challenge before them. There is need for genuine cooperation between all the Particular Churches of the Continent as an expression of their essential communion; a cooperation which is also called for by the new reality of Europe.(95) Here mention must be made of the contribution offered by continental ecclesial bodies, beginning with the Council of European Episcopal Conferences. The Council is an effective means for exploring together appropriate ways of evangelizing Europe.(96) Through an “exchange of gifts” between the various Particular Churches, the experiences and the reflections of Western and Eastern, Northern and Southern Europe are shared and common pastoral approaches emerge. The Council is becoming an increasingly significant expression of the collegial sentiment linking the Bishops of the Continent, aimed at proclaiming together, boldly and faithfully, the name of Jesus Christ, the sole source of hope for everyone in Europe.
Together with all Christians
54. The duty of fraternal and committed ecumenical cooperation also emerges as an irrevocable imperative.
The future of evangelization is closely linked to the witness of unity given by all Christ's followers: “All Christians are called to carry out this mission in accordance with their vocation. The task of evangelization involves moving towards one another and moving forward together as Christians, and it must begin from within; evangelization and unity, evangelization and ecumenism are indissolubly linked”.(97) Therefore I once again make my own the words written by Paul VI to Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I: “May the Holy Spirit guide us along the way of reconciliation, so that the unity of our Churches may become an ever more radiant sign of hope and consolation for all mankind”.(98)
In dialogue with other religions
55. As is the case with the overall commitment to the “new evangelization”, so too proclaiming the Gospel of hope calls for the establishment of a profound and perceptive interreligious dialogue, particularly with Judaism and with Islam. “Understood as a method and means of mutual knowledge and enrichment, dialogue is not in opposition to the mission ad gentes; indeed, it has special links with that mission and is one of its expressions”.(99) Engagement in this dialogue must avoid yielding to a “widespread indifferentism, which sad to say, is found also among Christians. It is often based on incorrect theological perspectives and is characterized by a religious relativism which leads to the belief that 'one religion is as good as another' ”.(100)
56. It is rather a matter of being more vividly aware of the relationship which binds the Church to the Jewish people and of Israel's unique role in salvation history. As was already clear from the First Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops, and was reaffirmed in the latest Synod, there is need for acknowledgment of the common roots linking Christianity and the Jewish people, who are called by God to a covenant which remains irrevocable (cf. Rom 11:29) (101) and has attained definitive fullness in Christ.
Consequently it is necessary to encourage dialogue with Judaism, knowing that it is fundamentally important for the self-knowledge of Christians and for the transcending of divisions between the Churches, and to work for the flowering of a new springtime in mutual relations. This demands that each ecclesial community engage, to the extent that circumstances permit, in dialogue and cooperation with believers of the Jewish religion. This engagement also implies that “acknowledgment be given to any part which the children of the Church have had in the growth and spread of antisemitism in history; forgiveness must be sought for this from God, and every effort must be made to favour encounters of reconciliation and of friendship with the sons of Israel”.(102) It will likewise be appropriate to mention the many Christians who, sometimes at the cost of their lives, helped and saved, especially in times of persecution, these their “elder brethren”.
57. It is also a question of growing in knowledge of other religions, in order to establish a fraternal conversation with their members who live in today's Europe. A proper relationship with Islam is particularly important. As has often become evident in recent years to the Bishops of Europe, this “needs to be conducted prudently, with clear ideas about possibilities and limits, and with confidence in God's saving plan for all his children”.(103) It is also necessary to take into account the notable gap between European culture, with its profound Christian roots, and Muslim thought.(104)
In this regard, Christians living in daily contact with Muslims should be properly trained in an objective knowledge of Islam and enabled to draw comparisons with their own faith. Such training should be provided particularly to seminarians, priests and all pastoral workers. It is on the other hand understandable that the Church, even as she asks the European institutions to ensure the promotion of religious freedom in Europe, should feel the need to insist that reciprocity in guaranteeing religious freedom also be observed in countries of different religious traditions, where Christians are a minority.(105)
In this context, “one can understand the astonishment and the feeling of frustration of Christians who welcome, for example in Europe, believers of other religions, giving them the possibility of exercising their worship, and who see themselves forbidden all exercise of Christian worship” (106) in countries where those believers are in the majority and have made their own religion the only one admitted and promoted. The human person has a right to religious freedom, and all people, in every part of the world, “should be immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups and every human power”.(107)
III. Evangelizing the life of society
The evangelization of culture
and the inculturation of the Gospel
58. The proclamation of Jesus Christ must also reach contemporary European culture. The evangelization of culture must show that in today's Europe too it is possible to live the Gospel fully as a path which gives meaning to existence. To this end, pastoral practice must undertake the task of shaping a Christian mentality in ordinary life: in families, in schools, in social communications, in cultural life, in the workplace and the economy, in politics, in leisure-time, in health and in sickness. What is needed is a calm critical assessment of the current cultural situation of Europe and an evaluation of the emerging trends and the more significant contemporary events and situations in the light of the centrality of Christ and of Christian anthropology.
Today too, in recalling Christianity's contributions to culture throughout the history of Europe, there is a need to demonstrate the Gospel approach, both theoretical and practical, to reality and to man himself. Furthermore, considering the great importance of the sciences and technological achievements in European culture and society, the Church, through both her institutes of study and in her practical pastoral initiatives, is called to be constructive in her approach to scientific knowledge and its applications, pointing out the insufficiency and inadequacy of notions inspired by a scientism which recognizes only experimental knowledge as objectively valid, and presenting ethical criteria which man possesses as inscribed in his very nature.(108)
59. An important part of any programme for the evangelization of culture is the service rendered by Catholic schools. There is a need to ensure the recognition of a genuine freedom of education and equal juridical standing between state schools and other schools. Catholic schools are sometimes the sole means by which the Christian tradition can be presented to those who are distant from it. I encourage the faithful involved in the field of primary and secondary education to persevere in their mission and to bring the light of Christ the Saviour to bear upon their specific educational, scientific and academic activities.(109) In particular, greater recognition is due to the contribution made by Christians who conduct research and teach in universities: in their “service to thought” they hand down to the next generation the values of an intellectual tradition enriched by two thousand years of humanistic and Christian experience. Convinced of the importance of academic institutions, I also ask the various local Churches to promote an adequate pastoral care of the university community, favouring whatever corresponds to present cultural needs.(110)
60. Nor should we overlook the positive contribution made by the wise use of the cultural treasures of the Church. These can be a special element in the rekindling of a humanism of Christian inspiration. When properly preserved and intelligently used, these living testimonies of the faith as professed down the ages can prove a useful resource for the new evangelization and for catechesis, and lead to a rediscovery of the sense of mystery.
At the same time new artistic expressions of the faith should be promoted through a constant dialogue with those engaged in the arts.(111) The Church in fact needs art, literature, music, painting, sculpture and architecture, because she “must make perceptible, and as far as possible attractive, the world of the spirit, of the invisible, of God”,(112) and because artistic beauty, as a sort of echo of the Spirit of God, is a symbol pointing to the mystery, an invitation to seek out the face of God made visible in Jesus of Nazareth.
Training young people in the faith
61. I encourage the Church in Europe to give greater attention to the training of young people in the faith. As we look to the future, we cannot but think of them: we need to make contact with the minds, the hearts and the character of the young in order to provide them with a sound human and Christian formation.
Wherever many young people are present, it is hard not to perceive the wide variety of their attitudes and approaches. We can see their desire to be together and to come out of their isolation, and their thirst, recognized in differing degrees, for the absolute; we see in them a secret faith needing to be purified and desirous of following the Lord; we become aware of their decision to continue the journey already begun and the need to share their faith.
62. To this end, there is need for a renewed youth ministry, organized by age groups and attentive to the varying situations of children, adolescents and young adults. It will also be necessary to provide this ministry with a more organic structure and consistency, and to be patiently concerned with the questions raised by young people, in order to make them protagonists of the evangelization and the building of society.
In this process opportunities should be provided for encounter among young people, so as to foster a climate of mutual listening and prayer. There is no need to fear making demands upon them with regard to their spiritual growth. The way of holiness should be pointed out to them and they should be encouraged to make demanding choices in their following of Jesus, drawing their strength from an intense sacramental life. In this way they will learn to resist the enticements of a culture which often proposes values which are merely superficial or even contrary to the Gospel, and become capable of demonstrating a Christian approach to every sphere of human life, including entertainment and leisure.(113)
I can still see clearly the joyful faces of so many young people, the true hope of the Church and of the world and an eloquent sign of the Spirit who unceasingly causes new energies to arise. I have met them during my travels to various countries and during the unforgettable World Youth Days.(114)
Attention to the mass media
63. Given the importance of the means of social communication, the Church in Europe must necessarily pay particular attention to the multi-faceted world of the mass media. This would include, among other things: the adequate training of Christians who work in the field of communications and of those who make use of the media, for a better understanding of the new kinds of language employed in the media. Special attention should be given to choosing properly trained persons to communicate the message through the media. It would also prove very helpful to have an exchange of information and of strategies between the Churches about different aspects and initiatives concerning this communication. Nor should the creation of local instruments of social communications be neglected, also on the parish level.
At the same time, it is a matter of becoming involved in the processes of social communications, in order to make them more respectful of the truth of information and of the dignity of the human person. In this regard, I invite Catholics to contribute to the establishment of a code of ethics for those who work in the field of social communications, letting themselves be guided by the criteria which the competent agencies of the Holy See have recently indicated,(115) and which the Bishops in Synod have listed as follows: “respect for the dignity of the human person, for his or her rights, including the right of privacy; service to truth, to justice and to human, cultural and spiritual values; respect for diverse cultures to avoid their disappearance within the majority, protection of minority groups and of the weak; pursuit of the common good, over and above particular interests and the predominance of economic criteria alone”.(116)
The mission “ad gentes”
64. A proclamation of Jesus Christ and his Gospel limited to the European context alone would betray symptoms of a disturbing lack of hope. The work of evangelization is animated by true Christian hope when it is open to universal horizons, which lead us to offer freely to all what we ourselves have received as gift. In this way the mission ad gentes becomes an expression of a Church shaped by the Gospel of hope, which is continually renewed and rejuvenated. Down the centuries this has been part of the self-awareness of the Church in Europe: countless hosts of missionaries, going forth to meet other races and other civilizations, have proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the peoples of the whole world.
The same missionary ardour must animate the Church in Europe today. The decrease in the numbers of priests and of consecrated men and women in some countries must not prevent any Particular Church from making its own the needs of the universal Church. Every Church will find a way to prepare its faithful for the mission ad gentes, and thus respond with generosity to the appeal of many peoples and nations which desire to know the Gospel. The Churches of other continents, particularly Asia and Africa, still look to the Churches in Europe and expect them to continue to carry out their missionary vocation. Christians in Europe cannot be unfaithful to their own history.(117)
The Gospel: a book for the Europe
of today and tomorrow
65. As I stepped through the Holy Door at the beginning of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, I held high the Book of the Gospels, showing it to the Church and to the world. This same ritual action, carried out by all the Bishops in the different cathedrals of the world, points to the task awaiting the Church of our Continent now and for ever.
Church in Europe, enter the new millennium with the Book of the Gospels! May every member of the faithful hear the Council's plea “to learn 'the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ' (Phil 3:8) by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. 'Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ' ”.(118) May the Holy Bible continue to be a treasure for the Church and for every Christian: in the careful study of God's word we will daily find nourishment and strength to carry out our mission.
Let us take up this book! Let us receive it from the Lord who continually offers it to us through his Church (cf. Rev 10:8). Let us devour it (cf. Rev 10:9), so that it can become our very life. Let us savour it deeply: it will make demands of us, but it will give us joy because it is sweet as honey (cf. Rev 10:9-10). Filled with hope, we will be able to share it with every man and woman whom we encounter on our way.
THE GOSPEL OF HOPE
“To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might
for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:13)
A community of prayer
66. The Gospel of hope, as a proclamation of the truth which sets us free (cf. Jn 8:32) is meant to be celebrated. Before the Lamb of the Book of Revelation there begins a solemn liturgy of praise and adoration: “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever!” (Rev 5:13). This vision, which reveals both God and the meaning of all history, takes place “on the Lord's day” (Rev 1:10), the day of the resurrection, as re- lived by the Sunday assembly.
The Church which receives this revelation is a community of prayer. In her prayer she listens to her Lord and hears what the Spirit is saying to her. She worships, gives praise, offers thanks, and ends by imploring the coming of the Lord: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:16-20). She thus declares that salvation comes from him alone.
Church of God dwelling in Europe, you too are called to be a community which prays, celebrating your Lord in the Sacraments, in the liturgy and in your whole life. In prayer you will discover the Lord's life-giving presence. By making him the foundation of all your activity, you will thus be able to invite Europeans to an encounter with him, our true hope, the One who alone knows how to satisfy fully the yearning for God hidden in the different forms of religious quest now reappearing in contemporary Europe.
I. Rediscovering the Liturgy
The religious sense in today's Europe
67. Despite the dechristianization of vast areas of the European Continent, there are signs which suggest an image of a Church which, in believing, proclaims, celebrates and serves her Lord. Indeed examples are not lacking of authentic Christians who experience contemplative silence, faithfully take part in spiritual activities, live the Gospel in their daily lives and bear witness to it in the different settings in which they are involved. Moreover, we can discern examples of a “popular holiness” which indicate that in contemporary Europe too it is not impossible to live the Gospel individually and in an authentic community experience.
68. Together with the many examples of genuine faith, there also exists in Europe a vague and at times deviant religiosity. Its signs are often generic and superficial, or even contradictory, in the very persons who manifest them. There are evident signs of a flight to spiritualism, of religious and esoteric syncretism, of a frantic search for extraordinary events, even to the point of making aberrant decisions, such as joining dangerous sects or engaging in pseudoreligious experiences.
The widespread desire for spiritual nourishment needs to be accepted with understanding and purified. To the person who becomes aware, even if in a confused way, of not being able to live by bread alone, the Church must be able to give convincing witness to the words which Jesus spoke to the tempter: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4).
A Church which celebrates
69. In the context of today's society, often closed to transcendence, oppressed by consumeristic behaviour, easily falling prey to old and new forms of idolatry yet at the same time thirsting for something which goes beyond the immediate, the task that awaits the Church in Europe is both demanding and exciting. It consists in rediscovering the sense of “mystery”; in renewing liturgical celebrations so that they can be more eloquent signs of the presence of Christ the Lord; in ensuring greater silence in prayer and in contemplation; in returning to the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance, as wellsprings of freedom and new hope.
For this reason, I urgently invite you, the Church living in Europe: be a Church that prays, praises God, recognising his absolute primacy, magnifying him with joyful faith. Rediscover the sense of mystery: live it with humble gratitude; testify to it with conviction and contagious joy. Celebrate the salvation which comes from Christ: welcome it as a gift which makes of you its sacrament; make your life a true spiritual worship pleasing to God (cf. Rom 12:1).
The sense of mystery
70. Certain signs point to a weakening in the sense of mystery in the very liturgical celebrations which should be fostering that sense. It is, therefore, urgent that the authentic sense of the liturgy be revived in the Church. The liturgy, as the Synod Fathers noted,(119) is a means of sanctification; it is a celebration of the Church's faith, and a means of transmitting the faith. Together with Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Fathers of the Church, it is a living source of authentic and sound spirituality. As the tradition of the venerable Eastern Churches also clearly emphasizes, it is through the liturgy that the faithful enter into communion with the Most Holy Trinity and experience their sharing in the divine nature as a gift of grace. In this way the liturgy becomes a foretaste of final blessedness and a sharing in the glory of heaven.
71. Liturgical celebrations need once more to put Jesus at the centre, so that we can be enlightened and guided by him. Here we can find one of the most forceful responses which our communities are called to make in the face of any kind of vague or inconsistent religiosity. The purpose of the liturgy of the Church is not to placate people's desires or fears, but to hear and receive the living Jesus, who honours and praises the Father, in order that we may praise and honour the Father with him. The Church's celebrations proclaim that our hope comes to us from God through Jesus our Lord.
This involves experiencing the liturgy as a work of the Trinity. It is the Father who acts for us in the mysteries being celebrated; it is he who speaks to us, forgives us, listens to us and gives us his Spirit; it is to him that we turn, it is he whom we hear, praise and invoke. It is Jesus who effects our sanctification by making us sharers in his mystery. It is the Holy Spirit who by the working of his grace makes us the Body of Christ, the Church.
The Liturgy must be lived as proclamation and anticipation of our future glory, the ultimate goal of our hope. As the Council teaches, “in the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy which is celebrated in the Holy City of Jerusalem towards which we journey as pilgrims, until Christ our life will appear and we too will appear with him in glory”.(120)
72. Although in the period following the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council real progress has been made towards experiencing the authentic meaning of the liturgy, much remains to be done. Continual renewal and constant training are needed for everyone: the ordained, consecrated persons and the laity.
True renewal, far from depending on arbitrary actions, consists of constantly developing an awareness of the sense of mystery, in order to create liturgical moments of communion with the great and holy mystery of the Trinity. By celebrating the sacred actions as a relationship with God and an acceptance of his gifts, the expression of an authentic spiritual life, the Church in Europe will truly be able to nourish her hope and offer that hope to those who have lost it.
73. To this end a great effort of education is needed. Aimed at fostering an understanding of the true meaning of the Church's liturgical celebrations, it requires, in addition to an adequate instruction in the rites, an authentic spirituality and formation in experiencing those celebrations fully.(121) Consequently an authentically “liturgical mystagogy” needs to be better promoted, with the active participation of all the faithful – each according to his or her proper role – in the sacred mysteries, and especially the Eucharist.
II. Celebrating the Sacraments
74. A prominent place need to be given to the celebration of the sacraments, as actions of Christ and of the Church ordered to the worship of God, to the sanctification of people and to the building up of the ecclesial community. In the knowledge that in them Christ himself is acting through the Holy Spirit, the sacraments should celebrated with the greatest care and under appropriate conditions. The Particular Churches on the continent will have to make efforts to strengthen their pastoral practice with regard to the sacraments so that their deepest reality is understood. The Synod Fathers have stressed the need for this in order to respond to two dangers: on the one hand, certain sectors of the Church seem to have lost sight of the genuine meaning of the sacraments and might trivialize the mysteries being celebrated; while on the other hand, many of the baptized, following customs and traditional practices, continue to have recourse to the Sacraments at significant moments of their life, yet do not live in accordance with the Church's teaching.(122)
75. The Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to the Church, makes present in mystery the sacrifice of Christ offered for our salvation: “in the most blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch”.(123) The pilgrim Church draws sustenance from the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life”,(124) and finds there the source of all her hope. The Eucharist in fact “spurs us on our journey through history and plants a seed of living hope in our daily commitment to the work before us”.(125)
We are all invited to profess faith in the Eucharist, “the pledge of future glory”, in the certainty that the communion with Christ now experienced by pilgrims in their mortal lives is a foretaste of their ultimate encounter with him on that day when “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn 3:2). The Eucharist is a “taste of eternity within time”, it is God's presence and our communion with that presence; as the memorial of Christ's Passover, it is by its very nature a bearer of grace within human history. It opens us to the future of God; as communion with Christ, with his body and blood, it is a sharing in God's own eternal life.(126)
76. Along with the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Reconciliation must also exercise a fundamental role in the recovery of hope: “a personal experience of the forgiveness of God for each one of us is, in fact, the essential foundation of every hope for our future”.(127) One of the roots of the hopelessness that assails many people today is found in their inability to see themselves as sinners and to allow themselves to be forgiven, an inability often resulting from the isolation of those who, by living as if God did not exist, have no one from whom they can seek forgiveness. Those who, on the other hand, acknowledge that they are sinners, and entrust themselves to the mercy of the Heavenly Father, experience the joy of an authentic liberation and can continue life without being trapped in their own misery.(128) In this way they receive the grace of a new beginning, and again find reasons for hope.
For this reason the Sacrament of Reconciliation needs to be revitalized in the Church in Europe. It must be reaffirmed, however, that the form of the sacrament is the personal confession of sins followed by individual absolution. This encounter between the penitent and the priest should be encouraged in any of the forms provided for in the rite of the sacrament. Faced with the widespread loss of the sense of sin and the growth of a mentality marked by relativism and subjectivism in morality, every ecclesial community needs to provide for the serious formation of consciences.(129) The Synod Fathers have insisted on the recognition of the reality of personal sin and the necessity of personal forgiveness by God through the ministry of the priest. Collective absolutions are not an alternative way of administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation.(130)
77. I appeal to priests and I encourage them to give generously of their time in hearing confessions and to be an example to others by their own regular reception of the Sacrament of Penance. I urge them to keep current in the field of moral theology, in order to approach knowledgeably the issues which have lately arisen in personal and social morality. Furthermore, they should be particularly concerned for the concrete living situation of the faithful, and capable of patiently guiding them to a recognition of the requirements of Christian moral law, so as to help them experience the sacrament as a joyous encounter with the mercy of the Heavenly Father.(131)
Prayer and life
78. Together with the celebration of the Eucharist, there is also a need to promote other forms of community prayer (132) and to help people to rediscover the bond linking the latter and liturgical prayer. In particular, in fidelity to the tradition of the Latin Church, different forms of Eucharistic worship outside of Mass should be promoted: private adoration, Eucharistic exposition and processions, which should be seen as an expression of faith in the continuing real presence of the Lord in the Sacrament of the Altar.(133) In both personal and communal celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours, which the Second Vatican Council recommended as also of great value for the lay faithful,(134) efforts should be made to show their relationship with the Eucharistic mystery. Families should be encouraged to make time to pray together, and thus to interpret the whole of marriage and family life in the light of the Gospel. In this way, starting in the family and in hearing the word of God, a domestic liturgy will gradually emerge, which will then mark every event in the life of the family.(135)
Every form of community prayer presupposes individual prayer. Between the individual and God there arises that true converse which finds expression in praise, thanksgiving and petition addressed to the Father through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Personal prayer, which is as it were the very breath of the Christian, should never be neglected. There is also a need to help the faithful to rediscover the link between this personal prayer and liturgical prayer.
79. Special consideration also needs to be given to popular piety.(136) Widely diffused in different areas of Europe through confraternities, pilgrimages and processions to numerous shrines, it enriches the unfolding of the liturgical year and inspires traditions and customs in families and in society. All these forms of popular piety should be carefully evaluated through a pastoral effort of promotion and renewal aimed at helping them to accent those elements which authentically express the wisdom of the People of God. An example of such devotions is surely the Holy Rosary. In this Year dedicated to the Rosary, I once more heartily recommend its recitation, for “the Rosary, reclaimed in its full meaning, goes to the very heart of Christian life; it offers a familiar yet fruitful spiritual and educational opportunity for personal contemplation, the formation of the People of God, and the new evangelization”.(137)
With regard to popular piety, constant vigilance is needed in order to prevent ambiguities in certain of its manifestations, to preserve them from secularizing influences, crass commercialization or even the risk of superstition, and to keep them within sound and authentic forms. This calls for a work of education aimed at explaining how popular piety must always find expression in a way consonant with the Church's liturgy and in relation to the sacraments.
80. It must not be forgotten that the “spiritual worship holy and acceptable to God” (cf. Rom 12:1) takes place above all in daily life, lived in charity through the free and generous gift of self, even at times of apparent powerlessness. In this way life comes to be inspired by indestructible hope, for it is entrusted to the certainty of God's power and the victory of Christ alone. It becomes a life filled with the consolations of God, with which we, in turn, are called to bring comfort to those whom we encounter along the way (cf. 2 Cor 1:4).
The Lord's Day
81. The Lord's day is a a highly evocative and defining moment in the celebration of the Gospel of hope.
Nowadays it is more and more difficult for Christians to be able fully to experience Sunday as the day of encounter with the Lord. Not infrequently Sunday is reduced to a “weekend”, a simple time of recreation. Thus there is need for a structured pastoral programme with educational, spiritual and social components which can help people to experience the true meaning of Sunday.
82. Consequently I renew my encouragement to “recover the deepest meaning of the day of the Lord.(138) Sunday should sanctified by sharing in the Eucharist and by rest enriched with Christian joy and fellowship. It needs to be celebrated as the heart of all worship, an unceasing prefigurement of unending life, which reinvigorates hope and encourages us on our journey. There should be no fear, then, of defending the Lord's day against every attack and making every effort to ensure that in the organization of labour it is safeguarded, so that it can be a day meant for man, to the benefit of all society. Indeed, were Sunday deprived of its original meaning and it were no longer possible to make suitable time for prayer, rest, fellowship and joy, the result could very well be that “people stay locked within a horizon so limited that they can no longer see 'the heavens'. Hence, though ready to celebrate, they are really incapable of doing so”.(139) And without the dimension of celebration, hope would have no home in which to dwell.
THE GOSPEL OF HOPE
“I know your works, your love and faith and service
and patient endurance” (Rev 2:19)
The way of love
83. The word which the Spirit speaks to the Churches contains a judgment about their life. It concerns facts and forms of conduct. “I know your works” is the introduction which, like a refrain with minor variations, appears in the letters written to the seven Churches. If those works prove positive, it is because they are the result of effort, constancy, endurance in trial and tribulation, poverty, fidelity in time of persecution, charity, faith and service. The letters can thus be read as the description of a Church which, even more than proclaiming and celebrating the salvation which comes to her from the Lord, concretely “lives” it.
In order to serve the Gospel of hope, the Church in Europe is also called to follow the path of love. This path takes the form of a charity which evangelizes, a broad gamut of commitments in the service of others, and a decision for a generosity which is persevering and knows no limits.
I. The service of charity
In communion and solidarity
84. For every person, charity received and given is the primordial experience which gives rise to hope. “Man cannot live without hope. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own. If he does not participate intimately in it”.(140)
The challenge for the Church in Europe today consists, therefore, in helping contemporary man to experience the love of God the Father and of Christ in the Holy Spirit, through the witness of charity, which possesses an intrinsic power of evangelization.
In the end this is the real meaning of the “Gospel”, the good news meant for every human being: God first loved us (cf. 1 Jn 4: 10, 19) and Jesus has loved us to the end (cf. Jn 13:1). Thanks to the gift of the Spirit, God's love is offered to believers, enabling them to become sharers in his own capacity to love: it becomes a powerful force in the heart of every disciple and in all the Church (cf. 2 Cor 5:14). Precisely because it is a gift of God, charity becomes a commandment for everyone (cf. Jn 13: 34).
To live in charity thus becomes good news addressed to every person, and makes visible the love of God who abandons no one. In the last analysis, it means giving those who have lost their way real reasons for continuing to hope.
85. It is the vocation of the Church, as a “credible sign – even if imperfect – of an existential and experiential love, to lead men and women to an encounter with the love of God and Christ, who comes in search of them”.(141) The Church bears witness that she is the “sign and instrument of communion with God and of unity among men” (142) when individuals, families and communities live intensely the Gospel of charity. In a word, our ecclesial communities are called to be true training-grounds for communion.
By its very nature the witness of charity must extend beyond the confines of ecclesial communities and reach out to every person, so that love for everyone can become a stimulus to authentic solidarity in every part of society. When the Church is at the service of love, she also facilitates the growth of a “culture of solidarity” and thus helps to restore life to the universal values of human coexistence.
In this context we need to rediscover the authentic meaning of Christian volunteerism. Born of and continually nourished by faith, Christian volunteer work should combine professional skills and genuine love, impelling those engaged in it “to lift their feelings of good will towards others to the heights of Christ's charity; to renew every day, amid hard work and weariness, their awareness of the dignity of every person; to search out people's needs and, where necessary, to set out on new paths where needs are greater but care and support weaker”.(143)
II. Serving men and women in society
Giving new hope to the poor
86. The whole Church is called to give new hope to the poor. In the Church, to welcome and serve the poor means to welcome and serve Christ (cf. Mt 25:40). Preferential love for the poor is a necessary dimension of Christian existence and service to the Gospel. To love the poor, and to testify that they are especially loved by God, means acknowledging that persons have value in themselves, apart from their economic, cultural, and social status, and helping them to make the most of their potential.
87. There is a need, then, to confront the challenge of unemployment, which in many nations of Europe represents a grave blight on society. To this can be added the problems connected with the increase in migration. The Church is called to remember that labour constitutes a good for which society as a whole must feel responsible.
While restating the ethical criteria which must guide the marketplace and the economy in scrupulous respect for the centrality of the human person, the Church will not fail to engage in dialogue with persons involved in political life, unions and business.(144) This dialogue should aim at building a Europe seen as a community of peoples and individuals, a community joined together in hope, not exclusively subject to the law of the marketplace but resolutely determined to safeguard the dignity of the human person also in social and economic relations.
88. Due importance must also be given to the pastoral care of the sick. Since sickness is a situation which raises fundamental questions about the meaning of life, “in a prosperous and efficient society, in a culture characterized by idolatry of the body, dismissal of suffering and pain and by the myth of perennial youth”,(145) the care of the sick is to be considered a priority. To this end, an appropriate pastoral presence needs to be ensured in the different places where the suffering are found, as for example through the committed work of hospital chaplains, members of volunteer associations and Church-associated health care institutions, while on the other hand support should be provided for the families of the sick. There is also a need for a suitable pastoral presence among medical and paramedical personnel, in order to support them in their demanding vocation in the service of the sick. In their work, health care personnel daily render a noble service to life. They too are called to offer patients that special spiritual support which builds on the warmth of an authentic human contact.
89. Finally, it cannot be forgotten that at times improper use is made of the goods of the earth. By failing in his mission of cultivating and caring for the land with wisdom and love (cf. Gen 2:15), man has in fact devastated woodlands and plains in many regions, polluted bodies of water, made the air unbreathable, upset hydro-geological and atmospheric systems and caused the desertification of vast areas.
In this case too, rendering service to the Gospel of hope means committing ourselves in new ways to a proper use of the goods of the earth,(146) encouraging that sense of concern which, in addition to safeguarding natural habitats, defends the quality of the life of individuals and thus prepares for future generations an environment more in harmony with the Creator's plan.
The truth about marriage and the family
90. The Church in Europe at every level must faithfully proclaim anew the truth about marriage and the family.(147) She sees this as burning need, for she knows that this task is integral to the mission of evangelization entrusted to her by her Bridegroom and Lord, and imposes itself today with unusual force. Many cultural, social and political factors are in fact conspiring to create an increasingly evident crisis of the family. In varying ways they jeopardize the truth and dignity of the human person, and call into question, often misrepresenting it, the notion of the family itself. The value of marital indissolubility is increasingly denied; demands are made for the legal recognition of de facto relationships as if they were comparable to legitimate marriages; and attempts are made to accept a definition of the couple in which difference of sex is not considered essential.
In this context the Church is called to proclaim with renewed vigour what the Gospel teaches about marriage and the family, in order to grasp their meaning and value in God's saving plan. In particular it is necessary to reaffirm that these institutions are realities grounded in the will of God. There is a need to rediscover the truth about the family as an intimate communion of life and love(148) open to the procreation of new persons, as well as its dignity as a “domestic Church” and its share in the mission of the Church and in the life of society.
91. According to the Synod Fathers, recognition is due to the many families who, in the simplicity of a daily existence lived in love, are visible witnesses of the presence of Jesus who accompanies and sustains them with the gift of his Spirit. In order to support their journey, it will be necessary to enrich the theology and spirituality of marriage and family life; to proclaim with firmness and integrity, and to demonstrate by convincing examples, the truth and the beauty of the family founded upon marriage and understood as a stable and fruitful union of a man and a woman; and to promote in every ecclesial community an adequate and integrated programme of pastoral care for the family. At the same time the Church will need, with maternal concern, to provide assistance to those who are in difficult situations, such as single mothers, the separated, the divorced, and abandoned children. In all events it will be necessary to encourage, assist and support families, both individually and in associations, who seek to play their proper role in the Church and in society, and to work for the promotion of genuine and adequate family policies on the part of individual States and the European Union itself.(149)
92. With respect to young people and engaged couples, particular attention must be given to providing education in love through special programmes of preparation for the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony, as a means of helping them to live chastely as they prepare for this moment. In her educational activity the Church must also demonstrate a concern to provide guidance and support to newly-married couples after the celebration of their wedding.
93. Finally, the Church is also called to be present with maternal affection to those marital situations which could easily appear hopeless. In particular, “with regard to the large number of broken families, the Church feels called not to express a harsh, detached judgement, but rather to let the light of God's word, accompanied by the witness of his mercy, shine deep within so many tragic human situations. This is the spirit in which the pastoral care of families must also address the situation of the faithful who are divorced and civilly remarried. They are not excluded from the community; rather, they are encouraged to share in its life, while undertaking a journey of growth in the spirit of the Gospel's demands. The Church, while not concealing from them the truth about the objective moral disorder of their situation and its consequences for sacramental practice, wishes to show to them all her maternal closeness”.(150)
94. If serving the Gospel of hope calls for giving adequate attention and priority to the family, it is equally the case that families themselves have an irreplaceable responsibility for the Gospel of hope. With confidence and affection, then, I renew my invitation to all Christian families living on this continent of Europe: “Families, become what you are!” You are a living sign of God's love: indeed, you have a “mission to guard, reveal, and communicate love, and this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in God's love for humanity and the love of Christ the Lord for the Church his Bride”.(151)
You are “a sanctuary of life: the place in which life – the gift of God can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth”.(152)
At the service of the Gospel of life
95. The growing age and declining population in various European countries cannot fail to be a cause of concern; the falling birthrate is in fact symptomatic of a troubled relationship with our own future. It is a clear indication of a lack of hope and a sign of the “culture of death” present in contemporary society.(155)
Together with the decline in the birthrate, mention should be made of other factors that have obscured the sense of the value of life, and led to a kind of conspiracy against life. Sadly, among these factors must be numbered, first of all, the spread of abortion, also through the use of chemical-pharmaceutical preparations which make abortion possible without the involvement of a physician and in a way detached from any form of social responsibility. This is favoured by the fact that the legal systems of many European countries contain legislation permitting an act which remains an “abominable crime” (156) and which always constitutes a grave moral disorder. Mention must also be made of attacks involving “forms of intervention on human embryos which, although carried out for purposes legitimate in themselves, inevitably involve the killing of those embryos” or the incorrect use of prenatal diagnostic techniques, which are placed at the service not of early detection and possible treatment but of “a eugenic intention which accepts selective abortion”.(157)
We must also mention the presence of a tendency in certain parts of Europe to consider it permissible to make a conscious decision to end one's own life or that of another human being: the result is the spread of covert, or even openly practised euthanasia, the legalization of which is often sought and, tragically, at times achieved.
96. Given this state of affairs, it is necessary to serve the Gospel of life through “a general mobilization of consciences and a united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life. All together, we must build a new culture of life”.(158) This is the great challenge which we must accept as our responsibility, in the certainty that “the future of European civilization greatly depends on the resolute defence and promotion of the life-giving values which are the core of its cultural patrimony”.(159) This means restoring to Europe her true dignity as a place where every person is affirmed in his or her incomparable dignity.
I gladly make my own these words of the Synod Fathers: “The Synod of European Bishops encourages Christian communities to become evangelizers of life. It encourages Christian couples and families to support one another in fidelity to their mission as cooperators with God in the generation and education of new creatures. It values every generous effort to react to a selfishness in the area of transmitting life encouraged by false models of security and happiness. It asks the States of the European Union to enact far-sighted policies aimed at fostering concrete conditions of housing, employment and social services suitable for favouring the establishment of families and enabling them to respond to the call to parenthood, and also to assure today's Europe of its most precious resource: the Europeans of tomorrow”.(160)
Building a city worthy of man
97. A charity which bears fruit in works makes us committed to hastening the coming of the future Kingdom. It therefore cooperates in promoting the authentic values which are the basis of a civilization worthy of man. As the Second Vatican Council recalled: “Christians, on pilgrimage towards the heavenly city, should seek and savour the things which are above. This duty in no way decreases, but rather increases, the weight of their obligation to work with all people in building a more human world”.(161) Our expectation of new heavens and a new earth, far from withdrawing us from history, intensifies our concern for the present life, which even now contains that newness which is the seed and the sign of the world yet to come.
Inspired by these certainties of faith, let us strive to build a city worthy of man. Though it is impossible to create within history a perfect social order, we know that God blesses every sincere effort to build a better world, and that every seed of justice and love planted in the present will bear fruit for eternity.
98. In building a city worthy of man, a guiding role should be played by the Church's social teaching. Through this teaching the Church challenges the continent of Europe about the moral quality of its civilization. This social doctrine arises from the encounter of the biblical message and human reason on the one hand, and on the other with the problems and situations involving individual and social life. By the body of principles which it sets forth, the Church's social doctrine helps lay solid foundations for a humane coexistence in justice, peace, freedom and solidarity. Because it is aimed at defending and promoting the dignity of the human person, which is the basis not only of economic and political life, but also of social justice and peace, this doctrine proves capable of upholding the supporting structures of Europe's future.(162) It contains points of reference which make it possible to defend the moral structure of freedom, so as to protect European culture and society both from the totalitarian utopia of “justice without freedom” and from the utopia of “freedom without truth” which goes hand in hand with a false concept of “tolerance”. Both utopias portend errors and horrors for humanity, as the recent history of Europe sadly attests.(163)
99. Because of its intrinsic connection with the dignity of the human person, the Church's social doctrine is also capable of being appreciated by those who are not members of the community of believers. It is urgent, then, that this doctrine be better known and studied, and that more and more Christians become familiar with it. The new Europe now being built demands this, since it requires individuals formed in these values and disposed to working for the attainment of the common good. This will require the presence of Christian lay faithful who, by their various responsibilities in civic life, the economy, culture, health care, education and politics, are able by their activities to imbue these spheres with the values of the Kingdom.(164)
Towards a culture of acceptance
100. The challenges presently facing our service of the Gospel of hope include the growing phenomenon of immigration, which calls on the Church's ability to welcome each person regardless of the people or nation to which he or she belongs. This phenomenon is also prompting European society and its institutions as a whole to seek a just order and forms of coexistence capable of respecting everyone, as well as the demands of legality, within a feasible process of integration.
If we consider, among the causes which lead many to leave their own land, the state of extreme poverty, underdevelopment and insufficient freedom which unfortunately still characterizes various countries, there is a need for courageous commitment on the part of all to bring about a more just international economic order capable of promoting the authentic development of every people and country.
101. The phenomenon of migration challenges Europe's ability to provide for forms of intelligent acceptance and hospitality. A “universal” vision of the common good demands this: we need to broaden our gaze to embrace the needs of the entire human family. The phenomenon of globalization itself calls for openness and sharing, if it is not to be a source of exclusion and marginalization, but rather a basis for solidarity and the sharing of all in the production and exchange of goods.
Everyone must work for the growth of a mature culture of acceptance which, in taking into account the equal dignity of each person and need for solidarity with the less fortunate, calls for the recognition of the fundamental rights of each immigrant. Public authorities have the responsibility of controlling waves of migration with a view to the requirements of the common good. The acceptance of immigrants must always respect the norms of law and must therefore be combined, when necessary, with a firm suppression of abuses.
102. There is also a need for commitment in identifying possible forms of genuine integration on the part of immigrants who have been legitimately received into the social and cultural fabric of the different European nations. This demands not yielding to indifference regarding universal human values and a concern for safeguarding the cultural patrimony proper to each nation. Peaceful coexistence and the exchange of mutual interior riches will make it possible to build a Europe capable of becoming a home for everyone, in which each person can be welcomed and none will suffer discrimination, where all people are treated responsibly and can live responsibly as members of a single great family.
103. On her part, the Church is called “to continue her activity in creating and continually improving her services of welcome and her pastoral attention for immigrants and refugees”,(165) in order to ensure respect for their dignity and freedom and to promote their integration.
In particular, specific pastoral care needs to be given to the integration of Catholic immigrants, with respect for their culture and their distinct religious traditions. To this end, contacts should be encouraged between the Churches in their native countries and those to which they have migrated, in order to study forms of assistance which could include the presence among immigrants of priests, consecrated men and women, and properly trained pastoral workers from their own countries.
The service of the Gospel also requires the Church, in defending the cause of the oppressed and excluded, to call on the political authorities of the different States and the leaders of European institutions to grant refugee status to those who have left their country of origin because of threats to their life, to help them return to their countries, and to create conditions favouring respect for the dignity of all immigrants and the defence of their fundamental rights.(166)
III. Let us commit ourselves to charity!
104. The appeal to exercise an active charity, which the Synod Fathers addressed to all the Christians of the European continent,(167) represents the happy synthesis of an authentic service of the Gospel of hope. I now propose it anew to you, the Church of Christ in Europe. The joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of contemporary Europeans, especially the poor and the suffering, must also be your joys and your hopes, your sorrows and your anxieties. May nothing which is genuinely human lack an echo in your heart. Look upon Europe and upon its future with the sympathy of one who appreciates every positive element, yet do not close your eyes to all that is inconsistent with the Gospel and denounce it forcefully.
105. Church in Europe, welcome every day with renewed freshness the gift of charity which your Lord offers to you and enables you to accept.
Learn from him the content and the measure of love. Be the Church of the Beatitudes, constantly conformed to Christ (cf. Mt 5:1-12).
Free from all forms of hindrance and dependency, be poor yourself and a friend to the poor, welcoming every person and attentive to all forms of poverty, both old and new.
Continuously purified by the Father's goodness, see in the attitude of Christ, who always defended the truth yet still showed mercy towards sinners, the supreme norm of all your actions.
In Jesus, at whose birth peace was proclaimed (cf. Lk 2:14), in him whose death broke down the walls of enmity (cf. Eph 2:14) and brought true peace (cf. Jn 14:27), be a builder of peace. Encourage your sons and daughters to allow their hearts to be purified of all hostility, selfishness and partisanship, and to favour at all times mutual dialogue and respect.
In Jesus, who is the justice of God, never grow weary of denouncing injustice in all its forms. Living in the world with the values of the Kingdom to come, you will be a Church of charity and you will make your indispensable contribution to the building in Europe of a civilization ever more worthy of man.
THE GOSPEL OF HOPE
FOR A NEW EUROPE
“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven” (Rev 21:2)
The newness of God in history
106. The Gospel of hope resounding throughout the Book of Revelation opens our hearts to the contemplation of the newness brought about by God: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Rev 21:1). God himself says as much, in the words explaining the vision which has just taken place: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).
The newness of God which can only be fully understood against the backdrop of the old things, made up of tears, mourning, lamentation, travail and death (cf. Rev 21:4) – consists in leaving behind the state of sin and its consequences in which humanity finds itself; it is the new heavens and the new earth, the new Jerusalem, in contrast to the old heaven and earth, an obsolete order of things and an old Jerusalem, tormented by its rivalries.
The image of the new Jerusalem coming down “out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev 21:2) is a direct reference to the mystery of the Church and is not irrelevant for building the city of man. It is an image which speaks of an eschatological reality which transcends human possibilities and is a gift of God which will appear in the last days. Yet it is not a utopia: it is a reality already in our midst. This can be seen by the present tense of the verbs which God uses: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5), and, as a further clarification: “It is done!” (Rev 21:6). God is already at work renewing the world; the newness of God is already found in Jesus' Pasch. It is this which brings the Church to birth, inspires her life, and renews and transforms her history.
107. This newness begins to take shape first of all in the Christian community, which is even now “the dwelling of God with men” (Rev 21:3), in whose midst God is already at work, renewing the life of all who yield to the Spirit's breath. The Church is for the world a sign and instrument of the Kingdom which comes about first in human hearts. A reflection of this newness can also be seen in every form of human coexistence inspired by the Gospel. It is a newness that speaks to society at every moment of history and in every place on earth, and in particular to European society, which for so many centuries has heard the Gospel of the Kingdom inaugurated by Jesus.
I. Europe's spiritual vocation
Europe as a promoter of universal values
108. The history of the European continent has been distinctively marked by the life-giving influence of the Gospel. “If we turn our gaze to the past centuries, we can only give thanks to the Lord that on our continent Christianity has been a primary factor of unity among peoples and cultures and of the integral promotion of man and his rights”.(168)
There can be no doubt that the Christian faith belongs, in a radical and decisive way, to the foundations of European culture. Christianity in fact has shaped Europe, impressing upon it certain basic values. Modern Europe itself, which has given the democratic ideal and human rights to the world, draws its values from its Christian heritage. More than a geographical area, Europe can be described as “a primarily cultural and historical concept, which denotes a reality born as a continent thanks also to the unifying force of Christianity, which has been capable of integrating peoples and cultures among themselves, and which is intimately linked to the whole of European culture”.(169)
Today's Europe however, at the very moment it is in the process of strengthening and enlarging its economic and political union, seems to suffer from a profound crisis of values. While possessed of increased resources, it gives the impression of lacking the energy needed to sustain a common project and to give its citizens new reasons for hope.
The new face of Europe
109. In the process of transformation which it is now undergoing, Europe is called above all to rediscover its true identity. Even though it has developed into a highly diversified reality, it needs to build a new model of unity in diversity, as a community of reconciled nations open to the other continents and engaged in the present process of globalization.
To give new impetus to its own history, Europe must “recognize and reclaim with creative fidelity those fundamental values, acquired through a decisive contribution of Christianity, which can be summarized in the affirmation of the transcendent dignity of the human person, the value of reason, freedom, democracy, the constitutional state and the distinction between political life and religion”.(170)
110. The European Union continues to expand. All peoples who share its same fundamental heritage have a vocation to take part in it, on a short-term or a long-term basis. It is to be hoped that this expansion will come about in a way that respects all people, valuing their historical and cultural distinctions, their national identities and the great contributions which can come from new members. It should also take place in a way that puts into practice in an ever more fully developed manner the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity.(171) In the process of the continent's integration, it is of capital importance to remember that the union will lack substance if it is reduced to its merely geographic and economic dimensions; rather, it must consist above all in an agreement about the values which must find expression in its law and in its life.
Promoting solidarity and peace in the world
111. Saying “Europe” must be equivalent to saying “openness”. Despite experiences and signs to the contrary, which it has not lacked, European history itself demands this: “Europe is really not a closed or isolated territory; it has been built by expanding overseas and meeting other peoples, other cultures, other civilizations”.(172) Therefore it needs to be an open and welcoming Continent, continuing to develop in the current process of globalization forms of cooperation which are not merely economic but social and cultural as well.
There is one need to which Europe must respond positively if it is to have a truly new face: “Europe cannot close in on itself. It cannot and must not lose interest in the rest of the world. On the contrary, it must remain fully aware of the fact that other countries, other continents, await its bold initiatives, in order to offer to poorer peoples the means for their growth and social organization, and to build a more just and fraternal world”.(173) To carry out this mission adequately will demand “rethinking international cooperation in terms of a new culture of solidarity. When seen as a sowing of peace, cooperation cannot be reduced to aid or assistance, especially if given with an eye to the benefits to be received in return for the resources made available. Rather, it must express a concrete and tangible commitment to solidarity which makes the poor the agents of their own development and enables the greatest number of people, in their specific economic and political circumstances, to exercise the creativity which is characteristic of the human person and on which the wealth of nations too is dependent”.(174)
112. Europe must moreover become an active partner in promoting and implementing a globalization “in” solidarity. This must be accompanied, as a pre-condition, by a kind of globalization “of” solidarity and of the related values of equity, justice and freedom, based on the firm conviction that the marketplace needs to be “appropriately controlled by the forces of society and by the state, so as to guarantee that the basic needs of the whole of society are satisfied”.(175)
The Europe handed down to us by history has witnessed the rise, especially in the last century, of totalitarian ideologies and extreme forms of nationalism which darkened the hopes of individuals and the peoples on the Continent and sparked conflicts both within and between nations, leading up to the immense tragedy of the two World Wars.(176) More recent ethnic conflicts, which have again led to bloodshed on the continent of Europe, have once more demonstrated to everyone how fragile peace is, how it requires an active commitment on the part of all, and how it can be ensured only by opening up new prospects of exchange, forgiveness and reconciliation between individuals, peoples and nations.
In this state of affairs, Europe, with all its inhabitants, needs to work tirelessly to build peace within its borders and throughout the world. In this regard, it must be recalled that “on the one hand, national differences ought to be maintained and encouraged as the foundation of European solidarity, while on the other, national identity itself can only be achieved in openness towards other peoples and through solidarity with them”.(177)
II. The Building Up of Europe
The role of European Institutions
113. In the work of creating a new face for the continent, the role of international institutions is in many ways decisive. Associated with and operating principally on European territory, they have left their a mark on the course of historical events without being engaged in operations of a military character. In this regard I wish to mention first of all the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which works to maintain peace and stability, also through the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and through economic and environmental cooperation.
There is also the Council of Europe, made up of those states which were signatories to the 1950 European Convention for the safeguarding of fundamental human rights and the 1961 Social Charter. Connected to them is the European Court of Human Rights. These two institutions seek, by means of political, social, juridic and cultural cooperation, as well as by the promotion of human rights and democracy, to build a Europe of freedom and solidarity. Finally, the European Union, with its Parliament, its Council of Ministers and its Commission, proposes a model of integration which is to be perfected by the eventual adoption of a common fundamental charter. This body has the aim of achieving greater political, economic and monetary unity between the member states, both present and future. In their diversity and on the basis of the specific identity of each, the European Institutions promote the unity of the continent, and, more profoundly, are at the service of mankind.(178)
114. Together with the Synod Fathers,(179) I ask these same European institutions and the individual states of Europe to recognize that a proper ordering of society must be rooted in authentic ethical and civil values shared as widely as possible by its citizens; at the same time I would note that these values are the patrimony, in the first place, of the various social bodies. It is important that the institutions and the individual states recognize that these social bodies also include Churches and Ecclesial Communities and other religious organizations. Even more so, in those cases where these already existed before the foundation of European nations, they cannot be reduced to merely private entities but act with a specific institutional import which merits being given serious consideration. In carrying out their functions the various national and European institutions should act in the awareness that their juridical systems will be fully respectful of democracy, if they provide for forms of “healthy cooperation” (180) with Churches and religious organizations.
In the light of what I have just emphasized, I wish once more to appeal to those drawing up the future European constitutional treaty, so that it will include a reference to the religious and in particular the Christian heritage of Europe. While fully respecting the secular nature of the institutions, I consider it desirable especially that three complementary elements should be recognized: the right of Churches and religious communities to organize themselves freely in conformity with their statutes and proper convictions; respect for the specific identity of the different religious confessions and provision for a structured dialogue between the European Union and those confessions; and respect for the juridical status already enjoyed by Churches and religious institutions by virtue of the legislation of the member states of the Union.(181)
115. The European institutions have as their declared purpose the defence of the rights of the human person. In carrying out this task they contribute to the building of the Europe of values and of law. The Synod Fathers called upon the leaders of Europe in the following words: “Raise your voices in the face of the violation of human rights of individuals, minorities and peoples, beginning with the right to religious freedom; pay utmost attention to everything that concerns human life from the moment of its conception to natural death and to the family based on marriage: these are the foundations on which our common European home rests; ... respond, with justice and equity and with a great sense of solidarity, to the growing phenomenon of migration, and see in it a new resource for the future of Europe; make every effort to guarantee young people a truly humane future with work, culture, and education in moral and spiritual values”.(182)
The Church for the new Europe
116. Europe needs a religious dimension. If it is to be “new”, by analogy with what is said about the “new city” of the Book of Revelation (cf. 21:2), it must open itself to the workings of God. The hope of building a more just world, a world more worthy of man, cannot prescind from a realization that human effort will be of no avail unless it is accompanied by divine assistance: for “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (Ps 127:1). For Europe to be built on solid foundations, there is a need to call upon authentic values grounded in the universal moral law written on the heart of every man and woman. “Not only can Christians join with all people of goodwill in working to build this great project, but they are also called to be in some way its heart, revealing the true meaning of the organization of the earthly city”.(183)
One and universal, yet present in the multiplicity of the Particular Churches, the Catholic Church can offer a unique contribution to the building up of a Europe open to the world. The Catholic Church in fact provides a model of essential unity in a diversity of cultural expressions, a consciousness of membership in a universal community which is rooted in but not confined to local communities, and a sense of what unites beyond all that divides.(184)
117. In her relations with public authorities the Church is not calling for a return to the confessional state. She likewise deplores every type of ideological secularism or hostile separation between civil institutions and religious confessions.
For her part, in keeping with a healthy cooperation between the ecclesial community and political society, the Catholic Church is convinced that she can make a unique contribution to the prospect of unification by offering the European institutions, in continuity with her tradition and in fidelity to the principles of her social teaching, the engagement of believing communities committed to bringing about the humanization of society on the basis of the Gospel, lived under the sign of hope. From this standpoint, the presence of Christians, properly trained and competent, is needed in the various European agencies and institutions, in order to contribute – with respect for the correct dynamics of democracy and through an exchange of proposals – to the shaping of a European social order which is increasingly respectful of every man and woman, and thus in accordance with the common good.
118. The Europe which must be built up as a “union” also impels Christians towards unity so that they can be true witnesses of hope. In this context, the exchange of gifts, which in this last decade has had significant expressions, should be continued and developed. When it takes place between communities with different histories and traditions, it leads to more durable bonds between the Churches in different countries and their reciprocal enrichment through meetings, exchanges of ideas and mutual assistance. In particular the contribution of the cultural and spiritual tradition offered by the Eastern Catholic Churches needs to be better appreciated.(185)
An important role in the growth of this unity can be played by continental organizations of ecclesial communion, which need to be further encouraged.(186) Among these a significant place must be given to the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, which is called on the continental level “to provide for the promotion of an ever more intense communion among Dioceses and the national Episcopal Conferences, for the growth in ecumenical cooperation among Christians and the overcoming of obstacles which threaten the future of peace and the progress of peoples, for the strengthening of affective and effective collegiality and of hierarchical communion”.(187) Together with the Council, acknowledgment must also be made of the service provided by the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community, which, in following the process of consolidation and enlargement of the European Union, favours the sharing of information and coordinates the pastoral initiatives of the European Churches involved.
119. The strengthening of union in Europe motivates Christians to cooperate in the process of integration and reconciliation through a theological, spiritual, ethical and social dialogue.(188) Indeed, “in the Europe which is proceeding towards political unity, can we accept that the Church of Christ is herself a factor of division and of discord? Would this not be one of the greatest scandals of our time?”.(189)
From the Gospel, a new enthusiasm for Europe
120. Europe needs to make a qualitative leap in becoming conscious of its spiritual heritage. The impetus for this can only come from hearing anew the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the responsibility of all Christians to commit themselves to satisfying this hunger and thirst for life.
Consequently “the Church feels it her duty to repeat vigourously the message of hope entrusted to her by God” and says again to Europe: “ 'The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty Saviour!' (Zeph 3:17). Her invitation to hope is not based on a utopian ideology; on the contrary, it is the timeless message of salvation proclaimed by Christ (cf. Mk 1:15). With the authority she has received from her Lord, the Church repeats to today's Europe: Europe of the third millennium, “let not your hands grow weak! (Zeph 3:16); do not give in to discouragement, do not resign yourself to ways of thinking and living that have no future because they are not based on the solid certainty of God's Word!”.(190)
Taking up anew this invitation to hope, I repeat to you again today: Europe, as you stand at the beginning of the third millennium, “Open the doors to Christ! Be yourself. Rediscover your origins. Relive your roots”.(191) Down the centuries you have received the treasure of Christian faith. It has grounded your life as a society on principles drawn from the Gospel, and traces of this are evident in the art, literature, thought and culture of your nations. But this heritage does not belong just to the past; it is a project in the making, to be passed on to future generations, for it has indelibly marked the life of the individuals and peoples who together have forged the continent of Europe.
121. Do not be afraid! The Gospel is not against you, but for you. This is confirmed by the fact that Christian inspiration is capable of transforming political, cultural and economic groupings into a form of coexistence in which all Europeans will feel at home and will form a family of nations from which other areas of the world can draw fruitful inspiration.
Be confident! In the Gospel, which is Jesus, you will find the sure and lasting hope to which you aspire. This hope is grounded in the victory of Christ over sin and death. He wishes this victory to be your own, for your salvation and your joy.
Be certain! The Gospel of hope does not disappoint! Throughout the vicissitudes of your history, yesterday and today, it is a the light which illumines and directs your way; it is the strength which sustains you in trials; it is the prophecy of a new world; it is the sign of a new beginning; it is the invitation to everyone, believers and non- believers alike, to blaze new trails leading to a “Europe of the spirit”, in order to make the continent a true “common home” filled with the joy of life.
Entrustment to Mary
“A great portent appeared in heaven,
a woman clothed with the sun” (Rev 12:1)
The Woman, the Dragon and the Child
122. The Church's journey through history is accompanied by “signs” which are visible to all, yet need to be interpreted. Among such signs the Book of Revelation presents the “great portent” which appeared in the sky, which speaks of a conflict between the woman and the dragon.
The woman, clothed with the sun, in travail and ready to give birth (cf. Rev 12:1-2), can be seen as the Israel of the Prophets which gives birth to the Messiah “who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron” (Rev 12:5; cf. Ps 2:9). But she is also the Church, the People of the New Covenant, subjected to persecution and yet protected by God. The dragon is “the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9). The conflict is an uneven one: the dragon seems to prevail, so great is his arrogance before the defenceless and suffering woman. Yet in reality the triumph belongs to the son born of the woman. In this conflict one thing is certain: the great dragon has already been defeated; “he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him” (Rev 12:9). He was defeated by Christ, God made man, through his death and resurrection, and by the martyrs “through the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11). And even when the dragon continues his opposition, there is no reason for fear, since his defeat has already taken place.
123. This is the certainty which heartens the Church on her pilgrim way; in the story of the woman and the dragon she reads her own history ever anew. The woman who gives birth to her son also brings to mind the Virgin Mary, especially at that moment when, transfixed by suffering at the foot of the Cross, she begets her Son anew as the victor over the prince of this world. She is then entrusted to John who in turn is entrusted to her (cf. Jn 19:26-27), and thus she becomes the Mother of the Church. Thanks to the bond uniting Mary to the Church and the Church to Mary, the mystery of the woman becomes clearer: “Mary, present in the Church as the Mother of the Redeemer, takes part, as a mother, in that 'monumental struggle against the powers of darkness,' which continues throughout human history. And by her ecclesial identification as the 'woman clothed with the sun' (Rev 12:1), it can be said that 'in the Most Holy Virgin the Church has already reached the perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle' ”.(192)
124. The whole Church, then, looks to Mary. Thanks to the countless Marian shrines dotting the nations of the continent, devotion to Mary is very strong and widespread among the peoples of Europe.
Church in Europe! Continue to contemplate Mary, in the knowledge that she is “maternally present and sharing in the many complicated problems which today beset the lives of individuals, families, and nations” and is “helping the Christian people in the constant struggle between good and evil, to ensure that it 'does not fall', or, if it has fallen, that it 'rises again' ”.(193)
Prayer to Mary, Mother of Hope
125. In this contemplation, inspired by genuine love, Mary appears to us as a figure of the Church which, nourished by hope, acknowledges the saving and merciful action of God, in whose light she reads her own journey and all of history. Today too Mary helps us to interpret all that happens to us in the light of Jesus her Son. As a new creation moulded by the Holy Spirit, Mary causes the virtue of hope to grow within us.
To her, Mother of hope and consolation, we confidently lift up our prayer: to her we entrust the future of the Church in Europe and the future of all the women and men of this continent:
Mary, Mother of hope,
accompany us on our journey!
Teach us to proclaim the living God;
help us to bear witness to Jesus,
the one Saviour;
make us kindly towards our neighbours,
welcoming to the needy,
concerned for justice,
impassioned builders of a more just world;
intercede for us
as we carry out our work in history,
certain that the Father's plan will be fulfilled.
Dawn of a new world,
show yourself the Mother of hope
and watch over us!
Watch over the Church in Europe:
may she be transparently open to the Gospel;
may she be an authentic place
may she carry out fully her mission
of proclaiming, celebrating and serving
the Gospel of hope
for the peace and joy of all.
Queen of Peace,
Protect the men and women of the third millennium!
Watch over all Christians:
may they advance confidently
on the path of unity,
as a leaven of harmony for the continent.
Watch over young people:
the hope of the future,
may they respond with generosity
to the call of Jesus.
Watch over the leaders of nations:
may they be committed
to building a common house
which respects the dignity and rights
of every person.
Mary, give us Jesus!
Grant that we may follow him and love him!
He is the hope of the Church,
of Europe and of all humanity!
He lives with us, in our midst, in his Church!
With you we say:
“Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).
May the hope of glory
which he has poured into our hearts
bear fruits of justice and peace!
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 28 June, the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in the year 2003, the twenty-fifth of my Pontificate.
JOHN PAUL II
(15) Cf. ibid., 12-13, 16-19, loc. cit., 4-6; Idem, Relatio ante disceptationem, I: L'Osservatore Romano, 3 October 1999, 6-7; Idem, Relatio post disceptationem, II, A: L'Osservatore Romano, 11-12 October 1999, 10.
(19) Propositio 5a. Pontifical Council for Culture and Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Jesus Christ The Bearer of the Water of Life. A Christian Reflection on the New Age, Vatican City, 2003.
(37) John Paul II, Homily during the Concluding Mass of the Second Special Assembly of the Synod for Europe (23 October 1999), 3: AAS 92 (2000), 178; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus (6 August 2000), 13: AAS 92 (2000), 754.
(39) Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem (18 May 1986), 7: AAS 78 (1986), 816; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus (6 August 2000), 16: AAS 92 (2000), 756-757.
(40) Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Mysterium Fidei (3 September 1965): AAS 57 (1965), 762-763. Cf. Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium (25 May 1967), 9: AAS 59 (1967), 547; Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1374.
(44) Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7; Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 50; Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Mysterium Fidei (3 September 1965): AAS 57 (1965), 762-763; Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium (25 May 1967), 9: AAS 59 (1967), 547; Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nos. 1373-1374.
(101) Cf. Synod of Bishops – First Special Assembly for Europe,, Final Declaration (13 December 1991), 8: Ench. Vat., 13, Nos. 653-655; Second Special Assembly for Europe, Instrumentum Laboris, 62: L'Osservatore Romano, 6 August 1999 – Suppl., 13; Propositio 10.
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Since my last post I’ve been to a film festival in Mexico.
I was invited to speak at a university in the border town of Mexicali, in a fertile farming region east of San Diego. The UABC, Auotnomous University of Baja California, held its first film festival and I had the honor of opening the event with a presentation on the Writer’s Journey. My host was the head of the UABC film school, Professor Sergio Ortiz, a passionate documentarian of Mexican life and a renowned teacher of film-making. He filled my head with tales of “magic Mexico” and introduced me to a rich world bubbling with creativity and spirit.
Like most North Americans I knew next to nothing about Mexicali but quickly discovered it is the center of a unique universe, a separate world as distinct as Portugal, South Korea or Bavaria, with many surprising influences. The region is a below-sea-level desert like Death Valley, with some of the hottest temperatures anywhere, but enterprising explorers recognized that it had once been an ancient seabed, and that its soil and sunshine could produce abundant crops if water could be provided. So railroads and a canal were built by Chinese laborers, bringing water from the Colorado River. Chinese far outnumbered Mexicans in those days because the tycoons refused to hire Mexican laborers, and Mexicali still has a thriving Chinese population, largest in Mexico, and a Chinatown-style district, called La Chinesca. The desert floor was turned into huge farms growing cotton, fruits and vegetables and the area is still a major supplier of food to the U. S. It’s also become another Silicon Valley with tech companies building “maquiladoras” or factories near the border. Nearby are other towns where French, German and British influences can be found in customs and cuisine because of early attempts to colonize or exploit the resources of the place.
Like all places in the world it is haunted, swarming with the spirits and ideas of all those who have lived and died there, peopled by dream figures, heroes and monsters, devils and temptresses. We jumped at the chance to take a drive with a young film professor, Paulina, and a student, Luis, out to a mysterious region known as La Rumorosa, a high plateau amidst stony mountains, whose name suggests the wind that constantly whispers up there. We wanted to see some rock paintings made by the people who lived there as nomads a thousand years ago, including one famous image of a figure with strange snaky horns sprouting from his head, called El Diablito, the Little Devil. Supposedly the winter solstice sun shines through a cleft in the rocks, sending a shaft of light that illuminates just the eyes of the figure. He looked like a playful shaman to me, a Trickster.
All summer and fall I traveled to different countries to conduct my workshops and feel like a stone being tumbled in a mechanical rock polisher. Each country has done something to me, grinding away at what I thought was an already fully-formed personality. I emerge from the tumbler smoother, calmer somehow. It has to do with the people in all these countries. They have changed me. It started in Portugal, where I could see that people were warmer and more open, more human, than is ordinary in L.A. I enjoyed this feeling and tried to bring it back with me to the city, discarding the nervous, guarded, suspicious attitude that is the L.A. social norm. I found if I greeted strangers with the open, curious, accepting view I had seen in Portugal, they soon relaxed and treated me more humanly, even in L.A.
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"Last Peony" by Michael Parkes
Limited Edition Bronze Sculpture
Sculpture Size: 16.5 X 6 X 6 in.
Edition Size: 60
"The peony flower in ancient Greece was the symbol for the physician of the gods," explains artist Michael Parkes. "Here he stands alone as the last of his kind. The male figure in "The Last Peony" represents the old world of magic/medicine that came from the line of the ancient Egyptian and Greet gods. The angel brings the feminine energy to balance this power, and to help the world that is slowly descending into chaos."
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Looks like social media is following the technological progression of IM clients that consolidate all your IM logins (msn, yahoo, google, AIM, AOL etc) to enable chat with different providers using one piece of software (MIranda and Trillian come to mind)
Thanks for the shoutout, Lynda! I appreciate it. I think these four museums did an amazing job using Twitter. If people are interested, I have 3 affordable Twitter tutorials for museum professionals available on my online learning website. Hope they are helpful getting people started using the power of Twitter. :)
Jim Richardson's Museum Marketing blog lists top museums on Twitter for September 2009. Worth checking out.
According to Jim "As always I should say that I believe that the depth of the engagement that Twitter allows a venue to have with it’s audiences is more important then the number of followers any one museum achieves." Worth keeping in mind...
They just don't have the English speaking population centres that give them the big followerer numbers ...
Here are the Australian institutions on the list:
National Motor Museum
South Australian Maritime Museum
QUT Art Museum
Henry Kendall Cottage
The University of Sydney Art Gallery
The South Australian Museum
Plus 5 New Zealand museums make it on the list.
In my research on museums and social media I have found that almost all institutions do not make their social media profiles and links prominently visible on their web pages. A museum might Twitter or have a blog or a Facebook fan page but you have to search quite avidly to find a link to these on their home page, or hidden away on some sub page.
I have also found the search function in Twitter itself quite limiting and have had difficulty finding institutions which I know have a Twitter profile but do not come up the first or even second time I search for them.
It would be fantastic if someone could devise a list of all museums and related institutions which have a Twitter profile and include their Twitter handle/user name. Making them known would increase their followers and encourage more people to follow museums on Twitter. I know this would be a fairly intensive task and I appreciate Jim's offer to add any that are not on his list. Perhaps there should be a global call-out for institutions to submit their Twitter details?
I can see why Jim would just list the museums with the most followers but I think this is ultimately doing a disservice to smaller institutions, particularly non-English speaking institutions.
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With the release of the Freeh Report on the Penn State scandal and how far the cover-up went, NCAA President Mark Emmert is forced to consider giving Penn State the Death Penalty.
For those who don’t know, the Death Penalty is when a school is forced to stop all football operations for a full calendar year. It has been given out by the NCAA only five times and only once to a Division-I football team, Southern Methodist University in 1987.
While the things that went on at Penn State are horrible, unbelievable acts, giving the school’s current football team the Death Penalty would be punishing those who had nothing to do with Sandusky and the cover-up.
Granted it would be punishing the University as a whole for what happened, but what would punishing the new staff trying to correct this egregious mistake help do?
Consider this: when Paterno and university president Graham Spainer first learned of the allegations against Sandusky, in 1998, Christian Hackenberg, the number one quarterback in the Class of ’13 and a Penn State commitment, would have been three-years old. Does he deserve the Death Penalty for what Spainer and Paterno, men he will have no contact with during his time at Penn State, did to hide Sandusky’s crimes?
New head coach Bill O’Brien was working at Georgia Tech at the time as their running backs coach, should he be denied his first chance as a head coach because of the Death Penalty? Should he have to go from the Offensive Coordinator with the Patriots in 2011 to trying to field a team after the punishments have been lifted in 2013?
This isn’t suppose to be some plea that ‘Penn State is being punished unfairly’ because it is not anywhere close to that. Penn State University should go bankrupt trying to pay out civil damages to all of Sandusky’s victims. Had Joe Paterno not passed away I believe he should be in jail, along with Spainer, AD Tim Curley and Spainer’s VP Gary Schultz.
In the Freeh Report, Spainer decided turning Sandusky in wouldn’t be the ‘humane thing to do.’ Fine, if you believe that garbage you think and can still sleep at night, fine. But at least they got him off the Penn State campus right? Wrong, Sandusky was allowed to stay, but Spainer drove home every other meaningless NCAA bylaw while the biggest crime of all happened. Dan Wetzel described the ‘major’ infractions that Spainer decided to stop, including the buying of a suit by an agent for a player to attend an award show.
This entire scandal goes to show what happens when one man becomes bigger than the university that employs him. Hopefully every school in the country can learn from this and may despicable acts such as these never occur on a college campus by a man who uses his power to prey on innocent children.
I pray it never does, but if something as repulsive as this ever happens again hopefully the people in charge will act to stop the monster roaming their campus, because that will truly be the ‘humane thing to do.’
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When the tires of your Mitsubishi 3000gt rotate, they produce lots of friction that can weigh down or perhaps ruin sections of your car. So as to lessen the friction generated by the wheels and help carry the car's weight, your car is installed with a wheel bearing. Lubrication is contained inside the bearing, increasing its ability to reduce friction. Lubricant may leak out when the bearing seals wear down, decreasing its usefulness opposed to friction and may trigger it to break. Always have your Mitsubishi 3000gt wheel bearing checked and rinsed every 30 thousand miles for fast detection of issues so that you could plan a remedy.
Never postpone in changing your Mitsubishi 3000gt wheel bearings if they could be compromised and should be replaced. Using a malfunctioning wheel bearing, your Mitsubishi 3000gt and its different parts are subjected to additional pressure resulting from the bearing's reduced efficiency. For better efficiency and increased sturdiness, use a Mitsubishi 3000gt wheel bearing that conforms to OE criteria.
Get wheel bearings from some of the prime Mitsubishi 3000gtrs such as Beck Arnley, Ruville, and Luk, which are just several of the numerous choices available. Parts Train features a vast selection of parts and accessories at low prices for all of your car maintenance needs, like a aftermarket replacement Mitsubishi 3000gt wheel bearing.
Use our Part Fit Checker to view parts compatible with your vehicle.
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So, the Ontario Libs have published their Ontario budget. Realizing we’re kind of in debt (this year, the INTEREST on the debt alone is nearly $11 B dollars!), what does the government do? They INCREASE spending, and ADD TO THE DEBT to the tune of $10B/yr.
Now, I know these numbers tend to not mean very much to the average Torontonian. (I single out Torontonians, because they are largely responsible for re-electing the current bunch of schemers we have occupying the Legislature today).
2011 Ontario Election Results:
So, to make things a bit easier, here’s a different look at the numbers:
1. The sum of the following currently pays for the INTEREST on the debt:
- All of the health tax
- All of the Gas Tax
- All of read more
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Bringing Fair Trade to Indigenous Farmers
Bats’il Maya is a micro-industry that was started in September 1993 in Chilo, Chiapas, Mexico. The enterprise organizes indigenous coffee producers so they are not subject to pricing abuse. In this audio interview, COO Alberto Irezabal speaks with Ashkon Jafari, Stanford Center for Social Innovation correspondent, about the social environment in Chiapas that led to the founding of the organization, and how the co-op works. He discusses the process for organic and fair trade certification, the establishment of coffee stores in Mexico City, and goals for expansion.
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(RNN) – Surrounded by a host of female lawmakers, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced at a news conference Wednesday that she will run for another term as House Minority Leader.
"You are looking into the future of empowerment of women in America," Pelosi said.
She spoke about standing behind women's rights and violence against women.
Wednesday marks Pelosi's 10 year anniversary of her ascension to Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
Pelosi also served as the 60th Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011.
The 72-year-old California Democrat made history as the first woman Speaker of the House and is said to be the highest-ranking female politician in history.
A reporter asked Pelosi if by staying in leadership she was preventing younger leaders from taking command of House Democrats.
The Democratic women surrounding her booed, Pelosi said, "Next. You always ask that question except to Mitch McConnell."
"Let's for a moment, treat this as a legitimate question, though it's quite offensive. Everything I have done in my decade of leadership is to elect younger and newer people to Congress," she said. "The answer is no."
She is currently serving her 13th term in Congress and was re-elected in last week's elections from her largely Democratic district in San Francisco, CA.
Since coming into party leadership in 2002, Pelosi has raised $328 million, including $85 million in the 2012 election cycle alone, according to Pelosi aides.
In March 2010, Pelosi cemented her place in political history when she finessed the passage of President Barack Obama's historic health-care reform legislation.
Pelosi was ranked 35th in Forbes magazine's 100 most powerful women, and was also Time's person of the year in 2009.
Copyright 2012 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
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In their book How To Write Movies for
Fun and Profit, Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon explain why so many Hollywood movies quote, suck donkey balls, unquote. Studio pictures notoriously cycle through writers as execs quest for the chimerical ideal balance between elements that will draw in audiences, leaving those who greenlit them unfired. As projects go through draft after draft, characters and concepts accrete to the screenplay. When a film feels like an unrealized mishmash, it’s because those elements survived to the shooting script, when though the moments they were meant to support didn’t, and are now nowhere to be seen.
The example they cite concerns the for tough-guy-meets-kids comedy, The Pacifier, which, when they first worked on it, was meant to star Jackie Chan. In their version, Jackie brings the children a live duck. Their faces light up in excitement. Jackie gets out his meat cleaver, ready to cut off the duck’s head, to prepare it for dinner. The children, being westerners, react in horror. So that's why The Pacifier prominently features a pet duck. Except that Chan dropped out of the project, which ultimately starred Vin Diesel. The meat cleaver gag got cut, because it made no sense with a non-Asian actor.
But the duck stayed in the movie.
We can extrapolate this into a saying, which we can mutter knowingly to one another as we depart in disappointment from a film that obviously lost its coherence during development hell.
“Wow, that one sure left the duck in.”
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The Work Truck Show is a great opportunity to learn the latest about equipment and services from truck manufacturers.
Need some help? The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) offers its members free access to extensive vehicle engineering, specification, and design resources.
The NTEA's engineering staff can explain best practices for specifying chassis, selecting truck bodies and equipment for specific applications, performing weight distribution calculations, and conducting accurate payload analysis.
The NTEA also keeps members updated on important regulatory changes, including Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, CDL licensing requirements, and federal lighting regulations.
A wealth of free information is available at www.ntea.com, including a directory of hundreds of suppliers that have products available for installation on work trucks, a glossary of industry terms, and several articles about specifying vehicles.
Another valuable resource is The Work Truck Show, Feb. 25–28 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Produced by the NTEA, this is the largest event in North America dedicated to Class 1-8 vocational trucks and equipment. The event offers fleet managers an opportunity to check out specialized equipment and receive training that is helpful in specifying truck chassis, bodies, and equipment.
This year's event will feature the opportunity to compare truck chassis, bodies, components, and accessories from more than 500 suppliers. Many exhibitors also bring engineering and technical staff to answer your questions. An educational conference offers 40 technical sessions on topics such as life cycle cost analysis, new and updated federal regulations, methods for reducing maintenance costs and downtime, vehicle specifications, and updates on new chassis from the leading manufacturers.
The show is held in conjunction with the 44th Annual NTEA Convention. For more, visit www.ntea.com.
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MONTREAL — Prince William and Kate arrived Sunday in Quebec City after spending the night on a Canadian navy frigate as it sailed down the picturesque St. Lawrence Seaway, but once ashore they face more protests from French-speaking separatists.
The newlyweds are on the fourth day of a nine-day trip to Canada in what is their first official overseas trip since their April 29 wedding.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge encountered small but vocal protests in Montreal, the French-speaking province's biggest city, on Saturday after being cheered by tens of thousands the previous day in Canada's largely English-speaking capital of Ottawa.
Great Britain's 1759 Conquest of New France and a desire by some French to separate from Canada is still a sensitive issue in Quebec.
Prince William and Kate sang hymns as they took part in an interfaith prayer service on the deck of the HMCS Montreal before heading ashore for a meeting with residents of La Maison Dauphine, a center that helps homeless youths.
The royal couple was likely to face more protests by French-speaking separatists outside City Hall where another protest is planned for Sunday outside City Hall where Prince William is due to make remarks.
More about the Royals
Vocal yet vastly outnumbered protesters failed to cause any disruption to the royal couple's events in Montreal on Saturday, other than aggravating some of the pair's supporters.
About 35 protesters, including members of the separatist group Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois, or Quebecker Resistance Network, stood outside Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre in Montreal chanting "A united people will never be vanquished."
The protesters were outnumbered about 10 to one by William and Kate supporters gathered outside the children's hospital where the newlyweds visited cancer patients and the hospital's neonatal care facility. "Give me one good reason why you should hate someone. They're good people," said Elyane Lafontaine, 51.
Protesters carried signs that read "Parasites go home," "War Criminals," and "Your fortune came from the blood of our ancestors."
"It's a symbol of English dominance over Quebec," said 30-year-old lawyer Antoine Pich of the couple's visit.
Dressed in black capes, the protesters were drumming and booing as the royal couple's motorcade pulled up to the hospital. William was whisked into the hospital as Kate stepped out of the car and smiled at the crowd before going in.
The demonstrations were a rare moment of criticism aimed at the young royals, who have for the most part been welcomed with open arms by Canadians eager to see the glamorous newlyweds.
After leaving the hospital, the royal couple headed to the Institut de Tourisme et D'Hotellerie du Quebec, where they were met again by a handful of protesters dominated by about 150 supporters.
Many of the detractors loudly protested with megaphones and booed as the motorcade arrived. There were vulgar chants about William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and a few middle-finger salutes.
Once inside, Kate and William donned aprons and took part in a cooking workshop at the facility, which is a government agency that conducts training and research in the hotel, tourism and food service industries.
Wearing white cooking jackets, the pair got into the pots and pans to whip up some authentic Quebec fare. They helped make foie gras with toasted brioche, Charlevoix lamb, lobster souffle and a cheesecake-type dish with caramel and meringue. The couple also dined with Quebec Premier Jean Charest and his wife Michele.
A 2009 visit by Prince William's father, Prince Charles, to Montreal was disrupted by more than 200 separatist protesters. The protesters sat in the street, blocking the prince's way into a ceremony planned at an armory, and threw eggs at the soldiers who were accompanying him and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. The couple were forced to enter the building through a back door and missed an elaborate welcoming ceremony that had been planned.Video: Will and Kate wow crowds in Canada (on this page)
In 1990, Canada Day celebrations were disrupted briefly by protesters from Quebec who booed and turned their back on Queen Elizabeth.
Protesters were angry that Canada still has ties to the monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is still the country's figurative head of state and new Canadian citizens still pledge allegiance to the Queen during their swearing-in ceremony. Others said they were angry that taxpayer money is being used to pay for the royal tour.
However, support for the separatists among Quebeckers has been on the decline in recent years as the 80-percent French-speaking province has enjoyed plenty of autonomy even without quitting Canada.
"As far as I'm concerned they're welcome here anytime. These young people need a chance. If their ancestors messed up, they need a chance to be forgiven," said John Harbour, 58, a French-Canadian master mariner, who was among dozens of onlookers hoping for a glimpse of the royal couple at the Quebec City waterfront.
Before heading to Montreal, Prince William and Kate finished their Ottawa visit Saturday with a tree-planting ceremony at Rideau Hall, or Government House, that has become a royal family tradition and a visit to the Canadian War Museum to meet with veterans of conflicts from World War II and war brides.
The royal couple were to fly later Sunday to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They leave Canada for a three-day trip to California on July 8.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Durango is best known for its free-flowing river, majestic mountains and historical railroad.
But besides being a destination city in Southwest Colorado, what do people think of when they hear the name, Durango?
Chances are they equate it with tourism, outdoor pursuits and the Old West – many of the things Durango the city has come to represent. And this may be why several companies have taken an interest in the name and applied it to their products.
Some of the products include a tent, martini, mountain bike, pair of video-recording sunglasses, a video game console, and, of course, an SUV.
So what’s in the name? And how did so many companies come to adopt it as their own?
“Durango the place is really synonymous with our brand,” said Chris Cox, owner of Pivothead, which manufactures a pair of $299 sunglasses that record high-definition video of whatever is in front of the person wearing them. “It really represents the outdoor lifestyle – biking and the outdoors. That really was a good fit for our brand.”
Cox said he is a Colorado native and has visited Durango on several occasions.
“I had to give ode to my home state,” he said of the name choice.
He also likes the word, Durango.
“It’s just a really cool sounding word,” he said. “It’s got three syllables. It’s like Du-ran-go. It just rolls off the tongue and sounds cool.”
Ellen Hartsfield, who teaches linguistics at Fort Lewis College, said the word comes from a city by the same name in the Basque region of northern Spain.
Names don’t always have a meaning, she said, and if they do, the meaning can easily become lost. It has been suggested Durango means a meeting place or a place with a river running through it.
Names like Durango can evoke certain associations, Hartsfield said.
“For me, that would probably be adventure, maybe a little bit of the Wild West, fun, skiing – all those outdoor pursuits,” she said.
It is possible the name appeals to younger generations for its outdoor connotations and older generations for its suggestion of freedom and the Wild West, Hartsfield said.
“The word is very different than say, Manhattan,” she said.
No one knows for certain how the city became named Durango, said Duane Smith, a local historian. There used to be a Durango mine here, he said, but it “didn’t amount to a hill of beans.”
Whatever the meaning then, it has taken on its own meaning now, he said.
“I think the name pretty well reflects what happens down here in Durango,” Smith said. “We’re a town of a lot of young people. We’re a town, as Will Rogers said, ‘Out of the way but glad of it.’”
Product naming is big business, and specialized companies put a lot of time and research into finding a marketable brand name.
Specific sounds often have similar meanings across various countries and languages. For example, “ba” tends to be a friendly sound, while “ka” is a “fast” sound – fortunate for Camaro and Corvette, Hartsfield said.
Durango has the “dur” sound, as in durability or duration, she said, and it has “go,” as in “go, go, go.” A car manufacturer would like these sounds in conveying a product that lasts a long time and works well, she said.
“I think that would be one of the things that they would have thought of,” she said.
Perhaps the most widely recognized Durango product is the Dodge Durango, which has been around since 1999.
Naming rights for the SUV can be traced back to our city.
As the story goes, engineers were test driving the new Dakota in the 1990s. They started in Denver and headed west on Interstate 70 and up the mountain passes to Leadville to test the car’s performance and fuel economy at high altitudes, said Patrick Hespen, a spokesman for Dodge, in an email to the Herald.
Members on the team commented on the name of existing Dodge trucks – including Ram and Dakota – and noted how they personified the West. Over drinks and dinner, the group began discussing names.
Members in the group were searching for places to stay and hit upon Durango, Colo., Hespen said.
“It was right there on the map,” he said in relaying the story to the Herald. “They just wouldn’t let it go, saying it portrayed perfectly our Western truck theme plus had the Dodge alliteration.”
Durango has played a role in the naming of other products.
Coleman, a manufacturer of camping gear, used to make a Durango tent for about $60 but has since discontinued sales.
Jamis Bicycles, which has wide distribution in the U.S., has a line of mountain bikes bearing the Durango name. It is an entry-level bike with front suspension, said Russell Zimmerman, owner of Durango Cyclery, 143 E. 13th St., which sells the make.
“It’s helped us in selling them that they say Durango on them,” he said. “I think (Jamis) just attached the name, Durango, because we are this mountain biking mecca.”
Durango is also renowned for its Western heritage, which might explain the boots, saddle and clothes that incorporate the name.
The Durango Ranch Roper Saddle from Royal King is made with real leather and retails for about $600.
Durango, a company based in Nelsonville, Ohio, has an entire line of boots – mostly Western-ranch style, but also stylish city and motorcycle boots.
Other places to find the Durango brand:
Die-hard video gamers are anxiously awaiting the release of a new Xbox, which is a follow-up to the 7-year-old Xbox 360 by Microsoft. The new console has been “code named” the Durango Xbox 720. The company did not respond to an email seeking comment, and it is unknown if the name will stick once it is released.
After a long day, why not relax with a martini? Dos Caminos, a restaurant with locations in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Nevada, offers a Durango martini for $13. The drink includes chili-infused tequila, papaya and agave.
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Argentina rejects Israeli summons over deal with Iran
BUENOS AIRES — Argentina’s government rejected Israel’s summons of its ambassador to explain the agreement signed between Argentina and Iran advancing the investigation of the 1994 AMIA bombing.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued Jan. 29 that the attack was suffered by its people and did not involve any Israeli citizens. It said the victims were mostly Argentines and included six Bolivians, two Poles and one Chilean.
“Argentina has never summoned an Israeli ambassador to demand an explanation over his government’s actions,” the statement said. “Therefore, the Argentine Foreign Ministry states that this summons to demand explanations on sovereign decisions of Argentina is an improper act that we reject vigorously and that goes against the traditional relations of friendship between the two nations.”
Also on Jan. 29, Argentina’s foreign minister, Hector Timerman, who is Jewish, held a meeting with representatives of the AMIA Buenos Aires Jewish community centre and the DAIA Jewish political umbrella, and relatives of the bombing victims to explain the details of the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran. The parliaments of both countries must ratify the agreement, which creates a commission of truth consisting of five independent judges, none from either Argentina or Iran. Suspects may be interrogated by Argentine justice officials, but only in Tehran.
Timerman said later in a news conference that he told DAIA and AMIA “that the Commission of Truth will only produce a recommendation to the Executive, but not to the Judiciary, which will work with total independence.”
Local and global Jewish leaders slammed the agreement.
“The idea of establishing a ‘truth’ commission on the AMIA tragedy that involves the Iranian regime would be like asking Nazi Germany to help establish the facts of Kristallnacht,” said American Jewish Committee executive director David Harris in a statement. “It is offensive not only to the families of the 85 murdered and hundreds wounded, but to the entire Argentine nation, which for more than 18 years has sought justice."
“We are surprised that the Argentine government would team up with the Iranian government to seek out justice,” B’nai Brith International President Allan Jacobs said in a statement. “Given Iran’s deplorable judicial track record and its refusal to turn over those previously implicated in the bombings, there’s little reason to believe anything substantial will come out of this commission.”
Argentine lawmakers from opposition parties said they’ll vote against the agreement.
The pact was signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries on Jan. 27 in Ethiopia on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa.
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird decried the agreement, citing concerns over its impartiality and noting “there is credible evidence to suggest that Iran was implicated in this act of terrorism.”
“We are concerned that it appears Iran will now be investigating itself,” Baird said in a statement.
“Iran’s ongoing support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas and its incitement to genocide of the Jewish people are all well documented. Those affected by this incident deserve justice, and that is simply not feasible if Iran joins this investigation.”
In 2012 Canada listed Iran as a state supporter of terrorism in the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act. It also listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code.
With files from Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf
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Brussels, 27 January 2011
The European Commission has today requested Poland to establish transparent and non-discriminatory procedures for allocating air traffic rights between Poland and non-EU countries in accordance with its obligations under EU law. As a result airlines from other EU Member States may be excluded from flying on routes between Poland and non-EU countries. The request takes the form of a reasoned opinion under EU infringement procedures. If the Polish authorities fail to inform the Commission within two months of measures taken to ensure compliance with EU law in this respect, the Commission could refer the case to the EU Court of Justice.
The EU rules
Regulation 847/2004 lays down a set of principles designed to ensure an adequate exchange of information within the EU, so that Member States, in their bilateral relations with third countries in the area of air services, do not risk infringing EU law. In particular, it requires Member States to ensure that where a Member State concludes an agreement with a non-EU country that provide for limitations on the use of traffic rights or the number of Community air carriers eligible to be designated to take advantage of traffic rights, that Member State shall ensure a distribution of traffic rights among eligible Community air carriers on the basis of transparent and non-discriminatory national procedures.
The reason for today's action
Poland still has not established such a procedure although the Regulation entered into force more than six years ago Poland is the only EU Member State without any rules regarding the allocation of limited traffic rights on routes to non-EU countries.
The practical effect of non-implementation
The absence of such procedures in Poland prevents an EU air carrier registered outside Poland from competing for traffic rights between Poland and non-EU countries. This results in a potential exclusion from the market of EU air carriers wishing to operate in Poland, and thus infringes the very principles of the common EU aviation market.
For more information on EU infringement procedures, see MEMO/11/45
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Get well soon cards are expressions of our sincerity, a translation of our innermost true sentiments about our ill friends, family or relatives. When it comes to what to write in a get well soon card, many times people buy get well cards from the stationary shops and stick with decades old clichés and write few formal words inside them.
But a handmade get well card with a warm transference of feelings works wonders, warms the soul and aids in a speedy recovery.
What is the purpose of a get well soon card?
Get well soon card writing is an expression of our sincerity, a translation of our innermost true sentiments about our ill friends, family or relatives. When it comes to what to write in a get well soon card, many times people buy get well cards from the stationary shops and stick with decades old clichés and write few formal words inside them. But a handmade get well card with a warm transference of feelings works wonders, warms the soul and aids in a speedy recovery.
A get well soon card provides solace and consolation to the ill person and brightens their long, gloomy days. Their spirits are uplifted when they see people around them caring for them and being concerned for them. Get well card is a physical manifestation of that love and concern.It gives them an instant energy boost which enhances their healing.
Creative Ideas for a Get Well Soon Card
Analyze how grave is the situation. Decide what type of a card would be asynchronous with the ailment and sentiments of a person. For instance, if the person happens to be suffering from a terminal illness, do not send them a get well soon card; instead reach out for a “Thinking of you card” as this would be more appropriate according to the situation.Sending a get well soon card in such a condition would seem inconsiderate to the ill person.
Mention his or her name
In order to add personal and warm effects to the card, write the name of the person on top inside the card. If you have an intimate relationship with the person to whom the card is being sent to, you can always use a nickname for them. Use an official language if the recipient is not a close friend.
Employ an empathetic tone
State that you are sorry for them being ill and low. Don’t highlight their injury, ailment or the details of the situation. Neither underestimate their sickness. If they happen to be suffering from a typhoid fever, don’t say,
Typhoid is nothing. You will be fine soon.
Instead use words like,
The last time I got a typhoid fever, I learnt that taking my medicine on time aided me in making a swift recovery.
Try to be as jovial and amiable as you can. Use statements like “Get well soon” or “Wishing you a swift recovery” in the card.
Boost them up
Use encouraging phrases and words which will help the patient think more optimistically and help them feel better. Express heartfelt wishes and feelings that would give them an instant uplift. If suitable, offer a prayer, and give them credit for their support and close friendship.
Reassure them and comfort them that healing will soon take place. Mention that you would like to visit them, or call them if it’s feasible at their end, but say that you do understand if it’s not possible with them.
Make them smile
If the patient happens to suffer from a minor illness or injury, send them a funny get well message. Make a mental list of funny jokes and quotations that you can share with the ill person in case you plan to visit them.
Conclude with cordial and loving phrases
End your card with suitable phrases such as “Yours loving”,“Yours truly”, or “Sincerely”depending upon what type of an intimate relationship you share with the recipient.
What to Write in a Get Well Soon Card Message
In case you are brainstorming about what to write in a get well soon message inside the card, here are some bright and creative ideas for you:
Sending a big bunch of bright wishes for you to feel better soon!
If I told you to “Get Well Soon,” it wouldn’t be soon enough. Get Well Now.
You have places to go, people to see, lots of fun times to be enjoyed. Get well soon.
Here’s a gift to give you a lift! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Get well soon, so I can come over and bother you.”
Heard that you’ve been under the weather. Hope things clear up soon.
Be on the mend, my friend!
Hope my surprise gives you a reason to smile, and you feel better. Get Well Soon!
Sending loads of love your way for a speedy recovery.
What to Write in a Get Well Soon Poem
You Are Deeply Missed
Get well real fast, my friend, That’s what I wish for you, For while you’re sick you’re deeply missed, So I am sad and blue.
So have some pity on me, Don’t leave me in the dump. Return to health real soon, my friend, Or I will be a grump!
By Karl Fuchs
Illness means something’s not working quite right, So do what it takes to get mended. When you are sick, it gives me quite a fright, So please, let your illness be ended!
I care about you and miss you!
By Karl and Joanna Fuchs
Funny Get Well Soon Messages, Quotations & Sayings
Studies clearly indicate that those who get ‘Get Well’ cards sooner and more often have a 80% faster recovery rate, so I want to wish you a Happy Birthday
You must have forgotten to eat your apple. Now you have to see the doctor.
Get well soon
I found the most serious ‘Get Well’ card I could find, because there’s nothing funny about being sick.
Mommy, get well soon. I don’t want dad to cook anymore.
(for mom, if dad is not a good cook)
There are three things that are scientifically proven to cure illnesses: Mom’s chicken soup, kisses from mom, and ‘Get Well’ cards from me.
Get Well Soon
This is what happens when you mess up and forget to eat your apple one day.
I’m sick of you being sick.
I’ve known that you were sick for a very long time, but this isn’t the kind of sick I was thinking.
So now that you’ve had enough info about what to write in a get well soon card, just make a lovely get well card and inscribe all your heart-felt feelings for the ill person (messages, poems, funny card messages, etc.) and be sure that they will be on a speedy recovery journey.
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By Shobhana Chandra
WASHINGTON - The trade deficit in the U.S. narrowed more than forecast in December, led by record exports of petroleum that gave the world’s largest economy a boost at the end of 2012.
The gap shrank 20.7 percent to $38.5 billion, lower than any estimate in a Bloomberg survey of 73 economists and the least since January 2010, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The jump in fuel sales to overseas buyers, combined with purchases of the fewest barrels of imported crude in almost 16 years, led to the smallest petroleum deficit since August 2009.
The figures probably mean the economy managed to eke out a gain in the fourth quarter of last year, revised data may show later this month, even as military spending dropped by the most since the Vietnam War era. Record exports to South and Central America and to Newly Industrialized Countries including South Korea and Singapore indicate American companies such as Caterpillar Inc. will benefit from improving global growth.
“The improvement in exports is encouraging,” said Brian Jones, a senior U.S. economist at Societe Generale in New York, who projected the gap would drop to $43.3 billion, the third- lowest in the Bloomberg survey. “With Europe looking less weak and Asia getting better, the outlook for U.S. exports has got to be pretty positive.”
Stock-index futures remained little changed after the figures as investors watched corporate earnings. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index maturing in March rose less than 0.1 percent to 1,506.3 at 8:44 a.m. in New York.
The median forecast in the Bloomberg survey of economists called for the deficit to shrink to $46 billion. Estimates ranged from gaps of $42.3 billion to $48 billion. The Commerce Department revised the November shortfall to $48.6 from an initially reported $48.7 billion.
For all of 2012, exports climbed 4.4 percent to a record $2.2 trillion. Imports advanced 2.7 percent to $2.74 trillion. That pushed the trade gap last year down to $540.4 billion from $559.9 billion in 2011.
In December, exports increased 2.1 percent to $186.4 billion, the second-highest on record after September’s $187.1 billion.
Imports dropped 2.7 percent to $224.9 billion in December. The decrease reflected a plunge in purchases of barrels of crude oil, which dropped to the lowest level since February 1997.
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The UK government is expected to use a conference in support of the creative industries to reveal details of an international anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (Acta) being thrashed out in secret.
The agenda for the three-day Creativity and Business International Network (c&binet) event will focus on four main themes: access to finance for creative industries; new business models for online content; developing talent; and securing creative rights.
These discussions are unlikely to get far without government input on the Acta talks. The UK Intellectual Property Office has been leading the UK's involvement with Acta discussions. A spokesman for the office referred questions to the European Commission's trade directorate. Officials at the departments of business, innovation and skills, and culture, media and sport, declined to comment on the substance of the talks.
However, Wikileaks, which published the original draft Acta documents, has posted a searchable draft of the proposed agreement.
The last round of Acta negotiations was held in Rabat, Morocco, in July, and the next will be in the Republic of Korea in November 2009. A press statement issued after the July meeting said, "Participants confirmed their intention to conclude the agreement as soon as possible in 2010."
Establishing international standards
There has been widespread anger and suspicion about what is on the table. Initial documents were apparently prepared by US music and film publishers' associations and posted on the Wikileaks website.
These suggested it gave border control authorities Draconian powers to detain and inspect travellers' electronic products for unlicensed goods. It also appeared to license massive surveillance of internet traffic to detect illegal file sharing of copyright material, and to criminalise the possession of unlicensed material.
To defuse the controversy, the US trade department issued a summary in April of the topics under negotiation. It said then that a comprehensive set of proposals for the text of the agreement did not yet exist.
It said Acta aimed to establish international standards for enforcing intellectual property rights to fight the growing problem of counterfeiting and piracy more efficiently.
"The intended focus is on counterfeiting and piracy activities that significantly affect commercial interests, rather than on the activities of ordinary citizens," it said.
"Acta is not intended to interfere with a signatory's ability to respect its citizens' fundamental rights and civil liberties, and will be consistent with the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) and will respect the Declaration on TRIPS and public health," it said.
Protecting the creative industry
The Creativity and Business International Network was set up to help businesses solve problems through international dialogue about the creative economy, the government said.
Phil Smith, managing director of Cisco Systems UK, and Ashley Highfield, Microsoft UK's managing director of consumer and online, are panellists, while keynote speakers include business secretary Lord Mandelson, Jean-Bernard Lévy, chairman and CEO of Vivendi, and Elio Leoni-Sceti, CEO of EMI Music.
The c&binet event takes place from 26-28 October 2009 at The Grove in Hertfordshire.
Leading figures from the creative and financial industries are helping to shape the c&binet agenda.
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Wed March 6, 2013
Arkansas House Overrides Governor's Veto Of Strict Abortion Bill
Originally published on Thu March 7, 2013 11:49 am
MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
And I'm Audie Cornish. Today in Arkansas, the country's most restricted ban on abortion survived a veto challenge. The Arkansas House voted to override the Governor's veto. The new law bans most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. NPR's Kathy Lohr has this story.
KATHY LOHR, BYLINE: The bill called the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act is set to become law now that the House has overridden the governor's veto. They needed just a simple majority.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANN CLEMMER: Arkansas law declares a 12-week-old baby in utero a person. And this bill only restricts abortions, elective abortions, after the 12th week.
LOHR: That's the House sponsor, Republican Representative Ann Clemmer, speaking just before the 56 to 33 vote. She says the state's unborn victims of violence law already defines when life begins, and Clemmen(ph) says this extends that idea to abortion.
CLEMMER: So if a woman is attacked and in the attack loses her child, the attacker can be charged with manslaughter, negligent homicide or murder. We already draw a line there at 12 weeks saying that this is a person.
LOHR: Arkansas recently passed a 20-week abortion ban, but Clemmer says the 12-week version will have a greater impact. Democratic Governor Mike Beebe vetoed both laws, but the Republican-controlled legislature overrode both vetoes. In a statement, the Governor said taxpayers will waste money defending the laws, which he says blatantly violate the U.S. Constitution.
The U.S. Supreme Court has said states can only ban abortion after the fetus can survive outside the womb. Talcott Camp is with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project.
TALCOTT CAMP: This seeks to take away this personal, private, terribly important medical decision that really must rest as a constitutional and moral matter with a woman and her family and her doctor. This is just a gross intrusion by politicians into people's lives and people's doctor's offices. It is outrageous.
LOHR: Abortion rights activists say the law ignores 40 years of Supreme Court precedent. Under the law, doctors who perform abortions after 12 weeks would have their license revoked, except in cases of rape, incest to save the life of the mother and some fetal conditions. Camp says the ACLU will file suit to block the measure which is set to go into effect this summer.
The number of states enacting bills to ban abortion earlier in pregnancy has increased since 2010, according to Elizabeth Nash with the Guttmacher Institute. That's when Nebraska passed the first 20-week ban.
ELIZABETH NASH: And that bill really kicked off this whole series of states trying to ban abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization and then last year, Arizona tried to do it at 18 weeks post-fertilization. So we're really seeing this race to the bottom, in a sense, where legislators are very hesitant to ban abortion entirely but are willing to ban abortion at earlier and earlier points in pregnancy.
LOHR: Nash says the bill will affect more than 10 percent of the abortions performed in the state. The House sponsor, Arkansas Representative Clemmer, says she voted her conscience, and she says the courts will determine whether the law is valid.
CLEMMER: The job of the legislature is to make laws. And if someone doesn't like the law that's passed, then it can be challenged.
LOHR: No other state has considered a bill to ban abortions at 12 weeks, but 10 states have enacted 20-week bans and half a dozen are considering measures that would outlaw abortions at six weeks. Kathy Lohr, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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